The air was thick and humid, delivered on a warm breeze that belonged to June, on the November morning I brought one of my daughters to a ski swap in our corner of northwest Vermont. We found her some used gear for the season ahead and, for me, a dose of dread: temperatures climbed into […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/apres-ski-the-last-winter-porter-fox/
Visiting the photographer Sim Chi Yin’s show in Berlin was, for me, an exercise in keeping focus. My instinct was to look away. Too many of the faces displayed—whether of eighty-year-olds exiled from their homeland or rural families dressed neatly for studio portraits—resembled those of people I’ve known. In some photographs I could almost see […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/personal-histories-sim-chi-yin/
Beautiful pots have been fashioned for centuries by American makers, whether indigenous, enslaved, or of European origin. But their status in the hierarchy of museum objects has remained precarious. Asian pots are often accorded a reverent, hush-hush setting, and have inspired a centuries-old tradition of connoisseurship, commentary, and ritual: certain raku tea bowls, in particular, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/resistance-pottery-hear-me-now-crafting-freedom/
One half hour in May2019 deepening as ifExpressive of a processLike cancellation butUndergone by stormsThe green dominant inWindows of the scienceLibrary among severalPlaces I recorded this How to say this greenColor rare in natureApart from one reactionHaving almost no chanceThe green of leavesIn the streetlight turnedLast night as you sleptBright yellow threshing fatSegments of illuminated […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/the-denim-jacket-cyrus-console/
Until last month Americans enjoyed guaranteed access to an array of crucial preventive medical services, including screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer; mental health screenings for children and adolescents; genetic testing and counseling for women at risk of hereditary cancers; fluoride varnish for the teeth of young children; breastfeeding supplies, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/04/23/embracing-defeat-joseph-oneill/
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.
Our weather was weird from summer to winter weather. It was seasonally warm with thunderstorms before a cold front came in. We even saw some snow flurries. I had a bug that lasted about 48 hours. I am spending the weekend catching up on reviews and recovering. As always, Stay Caffeinated.
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A special thanks to St. Martin, Tantor Audio, Penguin Audio & Macmillan Audio
I have open book tours. Stop by and join the fun. All social media platforms are welcome. ARCs are available.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/04/sunday-post-572-weird-weather.html
Once Upon A Wonderland follows a young woman trying to find her love while encountering numerous challenges and life-threatening situations. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
The first Wonderland story I wrote – Alice Falls Again – was a self-contained story, where Alice meets characters from the dark origins of popular nursery rhymes. However, when one reader said that the ending begged a sequel, a new story began to grow in my head, where Alice’s quest to discover herself and find love would be taken to the next level. The premise that saving Wonderland is tied to Alice saving herself is present in both stories, even if the second stand-alone story introduces characters from the sinister backstories of fairy tales. It would be disrespectful of me not to mention the overriding inspiration for my version of Alice’s adventures, namely Lewis Carroll’s masterpieces.
Your novel has some very interesting characters that have their character flaws but are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
On a very practical level, I first thought about their role in the main story – in the plot or sub-plots – as well as their motives, fears, likes/dislikes, habits and so on. At times, I felt like a profiler, building up a character profile from clues and bits of evidence. I even Googled and edited images that represented the characters’ physical appearance in order to bring them to life and sit beside me as I wrote. After that, the characters pretty much decided themselves what they did and said as I wrote the story. I knew that if I could keep them true to their characters, then they would reflect the fact that every one of us has strengths and weaknesses and, even in the case of a talking bear or poltergeist, be somewhat credible.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
In the first book – Alice Falls Again – writing was pretty much conscious stream of thought. However, with Once upon a Wonderland, I spent more time planning the plot, sub-themes and cadence, as well as character arcs. I’d say most of the twists and turns were either planned or a result of planning. But not all. For example, I was not aware of the major twists at the end of the story until I got there. I was as surprised as readers will hopefully be. There is a real risk in over-planning and something to be said for conscious stream writing, so I would never want to orchestrate everything beforehand. If I did, my characters would change things anyway.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Never say never but for now Alice is where she wants to be. I have two or three other writing projects that need my attention. On the other hand, life has a way of throwing you curveballs. Life is full of surprises and Alice knows that from experience. With so much curiosity and a strong will, some might say she even embraces upheaval in her life.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Peppered with surreal events, gritty wordplay and the sinister backstories to popular fairy tales, this sequel to Alice Falls Again is a must for younger and older adults alike.
Reviews for the prequel Alice Falls Again:
“A brilliant and amusing reinvention.” KIRKUS REVIEWS
“An ideal fantasy for Carroll fans.” blueink
“Fantastical wonders and head-over-heels adventures abound.” Foreword Clarion
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/23/my-version-of-alices-adventures/
Silent Conversations explores various events from the last few decades and presents your unique perspective on them. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
These poems and essays were written over a period of many years. For a long time I encouraged him to gather them together and publish a book. David wrote poetry even as a child and became interested in politics as a young man. He joined the Merchant Marine in WWII and was influenced by some older sailors who were strong union members. He chose the Merchant Marine because he wanted to serve our country but didn’t want to kill anyone.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The idea of the brotherhood of man was deeply important to David all his life. He felt kinship with all humanity, not just one race, religion, culture or whatever. David had the rare ability to listen and understand people, and could disagree without being judgmental. People could confide in him and feel safe and understood whether or not he agreed with what they said.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Silent Conversations?
The sense that we are all one people and must learn to get along together with respect for and enjoyment of our common humanity.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Since David died in 2011, there will be no more books from him. That makes Silent Conversations even more valuable.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/23/the-brotherhood-of-man/
All the Furs and Feathers is about animals such as cats and rodents that take on human characteristics who learn to live together. I think this original idea is intriguing. How did you come up with this idea and develop it into a story?
I usually write historical fiction so this was a step outside of the ordinary for me. It started after watching my two cats (Smokey and Autumn Amelia) interact when a mouse got into the house. It was funny to see how Autumn, an indoor cat from birth, was chasing the mouse and Smokey, a superb hunter, was watching her in a way that looked like she was mentally critiquing her technique or lack thereof. (I rescued the mouse and put it outside, by the way.) It got me thinking about what Smokey would have said about Autumn’s performance if she could talk.
At the time this occurred, I was recovering from major surgery. As an amusement for myself, I started writing about my cats in a very anthropomorphized way. It wasn’t meant to be a book at first. I was just passing the time while I recovered. But the more I wrote, the more ideas kept flowing and, eventually, it turned into what has become All the Furs and Feathers. I had so many ideas left over after I finished it that I knew it would need to be a series.
This book was really fun to write. It works by using anthropomorphized animals in a way that wouldn’t have worked had I used humans as characters.
I loved the personality and the morals that you gave to Smokey. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The characters of both Smokey and Autumn Amelia are based loosely on the personalities of both of my cats by the same names. Their appearances are described in the book just as they look in real life. In reality Smokey was a bit more high-strung than Autumn. She was older and tried to be a bit bossy. (Sadly, Smokey has since passed to the Rainbow Bridge.) Autumn Amelia, on the other paw, is an easy-going, laid back cat who never let anything Smokey did bother her – something that often annoyed Smokey no end!
As far as their morals go, I think that just flowed out of their real personalities. As I wrote, their characters naturally came to life as I thought about how the real cats might respond to given situations if they could.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The idea of the “oneness” was very important to me. I do believe that we (humans, creatures, and all of creation) are interrelated. We are all kin because we all originate from the same Creator. This is a spiritual understanding. I am far from an expert on science, but I believe that some branches of science indicate that we are all connected on some level as well. It seems inconceivable that we should do other than treat one another, all creatures, and all creation with anything but respect, dignity, and compassion. Yet we do. I think that has something to do with a lack of conscious awareness of the oneness on an everyday basis.
Other themes that were important for me to explore in this book were those of forgiveness, acceptance of one’s self and others, and overcoming obstacles.
Can you tell us a little about where the story goes in book two and when the novel will be available?
In Book 2 Smokey and Autumn will get a huge surprise when they find out there is more to their family than they thought. There will be a wedding (not saying whose yet).
I’m very excited to announce that the book will have an interactive component. Autumn Amelia will start a blog called “Musings from Mama Cat’s Kitchen.” When she writes a blog post, digital readers will be able to click on the post and go straight to a blog that will be connected to my author website and read what she wrote. Reader’s of the physical copy will see the url and can put it into their browser to find the post.
I can’t give a release date yet because I don’t have one. The book has yet to be written. I’m currently finishing up my newest historical novel, The Folklorist, which I expect to be published in October 2023. Once I’ve completed everything I have to do for that, I’ll be diving right into the next book in the Cat Tales series.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
A dream come true? There’s one problem. The proposed park is adjacent to Rodent Way. Activist Jerome J. Ratley, quickly forms R.A.T. (Rodent Action Taskforce) and stages a protest.
Meanwhile, Smokey’s lovable but quirky sister and cooking savant, Autumn Amelia, is busy dishing up meals too delicious for any fur or feather to resist. And wandering uninvited into the kitchens of local restaurants to improve their recipes.
Together with their furred and feathered friends, Smokey and Autumn Amelia must find a way to make the proposed park a reality. But how to abolish the long-standing animosity between felines and rodents?
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/23/outside-of-the-ordinary/
Learning to Feel is a personal story for you, sharing your path of emotional discovery and guiding others on how to do this as well. How hard was it to put this story out in the world for people to read?
This was a difficult book to write since it differs from all of my previous writing. I am accustomed to writing as a subject matter expert on topics from my field. Learning to Feel however was my first attempt to write a personal experience of exploration. Writing in a way that was not overly autobiographical (afterall the book is not really about me – but about the process of discovery) and yet revealing of the challenges I faced was a real tightrope walk. The most difficult part was when I submitted the book for reviews. I experienced a moment of panic and extreme vulnerability I had not felt before.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I think the things that are important drivers for writing Learning to Feel were a sensitivity for how so many of us today are numbed out by the pain, terror and violence evident wherever we look. At some point, many have just said “I can’t handle any more, so I don’t want to feel.” In addition, as a man who has been involved in men’s work and counseling men since back in the late 1970’s I am attuned to how men have been programmed not to feel and not to allow their thinking to be swayed by emotion. But the point here is that the warrior spirit is heavily attuned to emotions as part of our early warning system. SO I am hoping to reach a certain segment of the male population.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about feelings and emotions?
Many people say “I don’t let my emotions rule the day” meaning that when they get up and don’t “feel” like going to the gym, they summon the guts to do it anyway. However I submit that isn’t a feeling – it is a thought! And those folk, having denied their emotions, have also blocked access to their inner thoughts (the producers of emotions). I also think that many people believe that if they access their full array of emotions, they will be run by their emotions – that they will become “too emotional.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Emotions are natural and part of our evolutionary process. Everything we have as elements of our current life form has evolved for a reason and emotions are no exception. It is therefore incumbent on each of us to understand our emotions and the clues they provide about our thoughts and beliefs. That is where the real work is.
What is one thing readers take away from your story?
1. Emotions are natural and good. 2. Emotions provide us clues to how we perceive the world around us and therefore provide a path to how we can become more aware and effective in life by understanding our emotions and their antecedent thoughts and beliefs.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/23/extreme-vulnerability/