In 1956 Juan Goytisolo, one of Spain’s most influential contemporary writers, took a bus to the eastern part of Almería, a province in Andalusia. Under Franco, this was one of the country’s most impoverished regions, exploited by mining companies and neglected by the government. Goytisolo had come to tell the stories of the people who […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/06/24/the-land-of-dust-and-plastic/
“Defining wildness is not an easy task,” writes David Quammen in an essay we published online last month, but at the least it “requires living creatures of many different forms entangled in a system of surging and ebbing interactions.” These are the insights of a writer who has spent a great deal of time camping […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/06/24/who-swims-with-the-scientist-david-quammen/
Drakomunda follows three unlikely heroes who must navigate treacherous paths, face overwhelming adversaries, and unravel their destinies to save their realm from forces that threaten to unravel reality. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Most fantasy worlds are about a straightforward battle between good and evil. With Drakomunda I wanted to do something different. Here, the overarching conflict is between two different types of evil, and the various characters that employ those forces. That is not to say there is no goodness in this world; only that it comes purely from the hearts of individuals, and not some great army dressed in white.
Your characters are intriguing. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
It is often said that characters go on a journey, and by their experiences become someone different. I much prefer the idea that people do not become anything; deep down, they already are everything, and it is only in the unfolding of events that their hidden truth is uncovered.
In a sudden relationship, each can draw out the buried qualities of their other: light from a dark soul and its converse.
Some achieve self-mastery, but only in darkness. Even these blackest souls, however, retain the capacity for mercy.
A laggard and a clown might just have a hero inside them, but who would ever know? Only when driven by selflessness does an insuperable courage appear.
What if a hero is a monster and a monster is a hero? If they are an inverse reflection, perhaps they are destined to meet.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The mythos of the serpent is primaeval. To prehistoric people the spirit of the Earth found its form in that of a snake. Legends of winged serpents with magical powers that guard fresh water springs are amongst the most ancient to be found in human culture. Snakes, with or without wings, hold the power of destruction and creation, resurrection, and contain both the male and female principles.
The serpent is a creature of both light and darkness. For us humans, born from the Earth, it mirrors our innermost nature. It is ours to draw upon… if we but dare.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I originally intended for Drakomunda to be a two volume work. It now looks set to run to three. The next part will see the conclusion of Spider Heart, following Prince Yvain and his bloodcurdling desire for revenge. When the full nature of his archenemy’s sorcery is revealed I hope people will be as horrified and disgusted as I was.
With a bit of luck, it should be ready next year.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/06/24/what-if-a-hero-is-a-monster/
Those Darn Stripes shares with readers parts of your life focusing on the connection you had with your father. Why was this an important book for you to write?
My father was my best friend, and his death left a hole in my soul. Writing stories about him became a way for me to fill the emptiness that enveloped me after his passing. And recounting these events also kept me connected to my dad because I relived the memories as I typed them.
But the book, in all honesty, is an act of love — a means for me to pay homage to my old man. Honored to be his son, I wrote Those Darn Stripes to honor him.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Chapters 21 and 22 proved to be the toughest section to complete.
“The Red Oak”, which describes the last walk I ever went on with my pop, was extremely hard to compose. We revealed such painful and powerful things on our stroll. I vividly recall bawling right after I pressed the final period. In fact, I continue to cry every time I read that chapter.
“So Long, Squeak” was very difficult to finish, too. To put down Pop’s cat—his loyal companion of nearly two decades—just days after he died devastated my already fragile condition. The thought of petting Squeak at the vet, in her fading moments, haunts me to this day. I still catch myself staring at the ceiling in the wee hours now and then.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Love was a central concept I wanted to cover. Be it between son and father, formed among friends, or found at first sight, I sought to share the varying types of love I experienced.
Loss was another one of my key themes. Saying goodbye to a partner, a parent, and a family pet took an emotional toll on me. I lost my confidence and felt like I was losing my mind at times. My reactions were raw, and I intended for readers to appreciate them in their purest form.
Laughter consistently made it onto the pages as well. Because it was important for me to incorporate humor, I often tried to poke fun at myself or joke about certain situations. My goal was to make people crack up as much as they teared up.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
My dad was always his authentic self, no matter who or what he faced. I really admired that about him, which is why I aimed to author Those Darn Stripes in a style he would be proud of. Whether I was furious, confused, joyridden, or grief-stricken, it was crucial for me to convey the wide range of emotions I encountered during this pivotal juncture in my life. I want these genuine feelings to come through and, hopefully, readers can relate to them.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
The days slowly start to look brighter for the writer nevertheless. He unexpectedly finds love again. He eventually finds work that is meaningful. Just when he turns the corner, though, Nelson runs into another awful trot: he learns his best friend is going to die.
Those Darn Stripes captures an intimate and intense period which precedes and succeeds the death of Ty’s father. Using his bond with nature—a connection he learned from and shared with his dad—the author pictorially sets the scene of each vignette, taking his readers to meet memorable gals and gents, on foreign jaunts, to old haunts, and through moments that continue to haunt him.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/06/24/honored-to-be-his-son/
Centuries have witnessed the enduring oppression faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, with the church prominently positioned at the forefront of this inhumane movement. Instituting laws designed to suppress the LGBTQ+ community, the church went to extreme lengths, even resorting to the severe punishment of death sentences for alleged offenders. Furthermore, scriptures were often misinterpreted to justify these horrific treatments. However, the dawning of the 21st century brought about reformation across various spheres of society, including the perception of the LGBTQ+ community. In light of this new wave of change and transformation, it is crucial to explore the evolving stance of the church on matters pertaining to LGBTQ+ individuals: what has changed, what has remained the same, and how credible is the steadfast belief held by the church as an institution riddled with numerous inconsistencies?
Why The Clergy Lied by D.L. Day emerges as an erudite academic report delving into the intricate relationship between LGBTQ+ individuals and Christianity. Through extensive research, the author sheds light on accounts of maltreatment and propaganda perpetuated by church leaders in collusion with rulers dating back to the time of the Crusades, all aimed at victimizing members of the LGBTQ+ community. The book also examines the various adjustments and revisions the church has made over time to foster greater integration of LGBTQ+ individuals in administrative and service roles. By critically scrutinizing these changes, the author aptly highlights both the positive strides and the inherent absurdities present within these reforms. Despite a slightly disorganized arrangement of the book’s contents, the author admirably manages to articulate the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals while also acknowledging the shortcomings within the LGBTQ+ community. The absence of bias in the author’s critique of both the church’s structure and the LGBTQ+ community further enhances the credibility of this work as an educational resource.
Readers, regardless of their affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community, will find this book to be an enlightening and thought-provoking read, offering valuable insights into an ongoing dialogue of immense significance.
Pages: 368 | ASIN: B0BYB7776K
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/06/24/why-the-clergy-lied-a-journalists-academic-report-on-lgbtq-and-christianity/
Stony Place delves into the aftermath of a catastrophic event in the harmonious community of Cadence, forcing its citizens to confront the limits of peace and the persistent specter of racism in a transformed world. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I get my inspiration from what’s going on in the world, from past and current events. The great world leader, Winston Churchill, once wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” And that is what the characters in Stony Place learn. The tragic massacre that occurred in 1921 forced the community into hiding for 100 years—The Rightful Future (A Cadence Mystery, Book 1) is the foundation book of this series and tells the origin story of the fictional town. The survivors thought the country would evolve and equality would be the norm by the time 100 years had passed. Unlike the way this country has never truly acknowledged its racial history, the people of Cadence are forced to confront the community’s tragic past. They learn the past still has the power to affect and define current events and people’s lives.
How did you navigate the challenge of balancing an extensive cast of characters while maintaining a cohesive narrative?
Lots of notes and keeping track of details! And getting to know my characters so intimately they appeared in my dreams. But the underlying theme of A Cadence Mystery series is the concept of community and the greater good, and even though this community is small, even small towns have a diversity of individuals who interact regularly. Like Louise Penny who has a rather large cast of characters in her Gamache/Three Pines books, some characters are in most scenes and the story is largely about them, and then other characters may come into focus and be part of the story then fade into the everyday life of the community, so you may see them again in another book in the series.
Can you discuss the significance of the 1921 massacre in the United States and why you chose to incorporate it into the story?
It’s important to understand that our racial history shaped and molded who we are as a country today. The transgressions of hatred, oppression, and violence committed over hundreds of years by powerful men, who were often motivated by their greed and self-interest, were codified into law and an economic model that benefitted only some and disadvantaged others. The systems they created still exist systemically and institutionally through inequities like voter suppression, red lining of real estate, unequal distribution of resources, the justice system, and gentrification. And like the characters who live in the fictional world of Cadence discover in the last chapter, we must accept how the past still influences the present and future, especially if we’ve practiced turning a blind eye to certain painful aspects of our history.
I endeavor to study the history of race relations—and sometimes finding the truth is difficult because the ones in power shape and control the historical narrative. A lot of people may not know that the Tulsa massacre was just one of many racially motivated massacres that took place across the United States after the Civil War and during a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan after World War I. Black soldiers fought in the war, but when they came home in their uniforms, many were beaten or killed just for wearing the uniform and that didn’t only happen in the segregated South. The months of April through September 1919 are known as the Red Summer because white supremacist race riots, mass murder, and acts of terror happened in thirteen cities and one rural area in Arkansas over those months. Tulsa was not the only place with a thriving Black community that was decimated by race massacres in the history of this country: Colfax, Louisiana; Atlanta, Georgia; Elaine, Arkansas; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Rosewood, Florida were other areas where Black communities were viciously attacked and destroyed.
Currently, the FBI has named domestic terrorism as the biggest threat to homeland security, and many racially motivated mass shootings are still occurring today. Recall the mass shootings in Buffalo, New York and El Paso, Texas and at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the historically significant Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
As the community of Cadence discovers, history can and does repeat itself.
What do you hope readers will take away from the thought-provoking dialogues and ethical dilemmas presented in the book?
We watch coverage of mass shootings on the news and social media sites—the repeated video clips, the number of emergency vehicles called to the scene, the count of lives lost and those injured, the interviews with community members who are often suffering from shock and post-traumatic stress, and the even more difficult interviews with family members who lost loved ones. But what conversations take place inside the homes and communities of those who suffer that kind of large-scale devastation and loss? How do individuals and communities put their lives back together? Is there a path to healing, and what does it look like? How does an event like this change individuals and communities? That’s the personal world I wanted to open for readers.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/06/24/the-past-still-has-the-power/
Trial and Redemption is an intriguing fantasy novel blending medical and legal fiction into the storyline. What was the inspiration for this book?
My inspirations were twofold. The first was to continue the entertaining storyline of magical suspense introduced in my first book, Chasing Time. Second, was the goal to describe to the reader the exciting, challenging, and very personal struggles of a biomedical researcher career.
What were some challenges you felt were important to defining your characters in this story?
As a writer, it was important for me to detail the characters’ struggles as they rebounded from their own personal tragedies. I wanted to provide a bit of magical realism in the form of the Janus key to aid them in their struggles, but not to lessen the degree of courage and persistence required to achieve their redemptions.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
At the start, I had a central plot in mind, but many twists and turns occurred to me as I was writing and rewriting.
Will there be a third book in the Janus Key Series? If so, what can you tell readers about it, and when will it be available?
I am planning a third book in the Janus Key series. Once again it will combine magical suspense and medical fiction. No timeline is available.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
In his latest inspirational and suspenseful novel, Trial and Redemption, Reilly continues the saga of a mystical Janus key and its time-bending influence on 21st-century characters, first introduced in the award-winning Chasing Time.
Disgraced scientist Brian Ellis finds an improbable ally in Julie, a college student trying to reset her life after a family tragedy. Guided by a Janus key with magical powers to predict future events, they embark on a crusade to bring a corrupt pharmaceutical executive to justice, prevent a medical tragedy, and restore peace to their shattered lives. However, Brian guards a dark secret that may imperil both their mission and their redemption.
Filled with unexpected twists and turns, memorable characters, and heart-stopping suspense, Trial and Redemption is an emotive mix of medical and legal fiction with a touch of fantasy.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/06/24/magical-suspense/
Best romance books of 2023 so far, as chosen by Amazon Editors
Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html%3Ftheme=light?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light
Behind the book: ‘Cassandra in Reverse’, autism, and self-acceptance
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Behind the book: ‘Cassandra in Reverse’, autism, and self-acceptance
Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/interviews.html%3Ftheme=light?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light