For many months, the neoliberal government of Emmanuel Macron has confronted a population that rejects its politics en masse. Macron’s proposal to raise the retirement age in France provoked opposition across the board—from far right to far left, and pretty much everyone in between—that united squabbling unions, inspired high-profile work stoppages across major labor sectors, […]
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
The kids went back to school on Thursday. Both were excited to begin the new school year. Poor Hazel is beside herself and wants to know where the kids are. Thankfully, she gets to see them after school. I watched the new season of Lincoln Lawyer, The Witcher, and Sweet Magnolias. We are almost done season 5 of Endeavour on Prime and plan to start Good Omens season 2. Stay Caffeinated.
Last Week on the Blog
Secrets In The Dark By Heather Graham (book review)
Magic Tides & Magic Claims By Ilona Andrews (audio review)
Lovelight Farms By B.K. Borison (guest post/review)
Secrets Of Shooting Star Lake By Susanna Strom (book review)
A Red-Rose Chain By Seanan McGuire (audio review)
This Week on the Blog
Twelve Year Blogoversary (event)
The Drowning Woman By Robyn Harding (audio review)
Resonance Surge By Nalini Singh (guest post/book review)
Only Good Enemies By Jennifer Estep (audio review)
The Murderer’s Son By Joy Ellis (audio review)
New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe
Learn more:
Gray Court by Hailey Edwards
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Burning Justice by Tee O’Fallon
A special thanks to Tantor Audio
Around The Blogosphere
The next #readathon is July 21st and is a Reverse one. Mark your calendars!
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The Big Red Bird Feeder follows a young girl interested in birdwatching who wants to solve the mystery of what is happening to the food she puts out every night. What was the inspiration for this children’s mystery story?
This story was inspired by Nature – the happenings in my own backyard. It was a fun and amusing experience to see the bird food disappear faster than what I expected. The sequence of happenings eventually led to crafting the idea behind The Big Red Bird Feeder children’s story book.
Are you a birdwatcher? If so, how did you get interested in this hobby, and at what age?
Even though I am not a dedicated bird watcher, I have always been interested in bird watching from a very young age. For this reason, we have had a bird feeder and hummingbird feeder in our backyard. It is so delightful to watch them peck at the bird feeder or build a nest in my house on the top of the pillars.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
This story book intends to be a delightful read for young children who are learning how to read. I wanted to spark their curiosity and imagination and reinforce the belief that they can solve any problem or challenge when they put their minds to work.
What is the next book that you are working, on and when will it be available?
I have a story outline in the draft stage: a children’s fantasy story book about what young birds can do with the power of listening and learning.
I am working on the book and would like to publish it by the year 2024-25.
Armed with her binoculars, a healthy sense of wonder, and acute observational skills, Emma notices something strange about the birdfeeder hanging in the backyard. What could possibly be going on with the big red birdfeeder? Come find out in this exciting story!
Read this book with your child to instill a lifelong love of reading or promote independent reading skills and a sense of discovery by encouraging them to read on their own.
This addition to the Reader Sprout Series is sure to become an instant classic in your home with beautiful illustrations, an exciting storyline, and a mystery that’ll delight young readers everywhere to solve. This book also makes a great gift!
White Cat by Simon Cole is an in-depth, cleverly written story of specific people, places, and events during several monumental historical times, including South Africa during the early 1900s and years earlier, during World War 2. The story is narrated through a series of letters and items discovered in Barbara’s home following her death and the review of her personal belongings. As each figurine, letter, or morsel of the past is unfolded, a new piece of her life is told, as if it had just occurred or is happening in the present.
I enjoyed reading this book, mainly how the author captures the historical reality through the experiences of one person and the people and events she interacts with in her life. Each letter is like an old photograph or glimpse into the past, animated through descriptive experiences, fashion, economic realities, and the overall atmosphere from the era. As these specific writings, narrated with personal, emotional impact, the world plunges into a second world war, the apartheid in South Africa, and other major, life-changing events.
This book is ideal for anyone who’s a fan of historical fiction, biographies, and memoirs, as this story weaves a little of each with a series of unique smaller tales. I found that the way each element of Barbara’s life, and the eras she lived through, were presented like pieces of a puzzle that fit together, giving the reader and the discovery of her artifacts a mystery to solve. It’s a gripping story that highlights the serious nature of the time, with a healthy dose of one individual’s perspective.
White Cat by Simon Cole is a riveting story that unfolds from the home of a newly deceased centenarian and the incredible life she lived and shared with others. It’s a fascinating story inspired by actual events and a page-turning read for anyone intrigued with history.
The Story of Evil: An Epic Fantasy Saga takes readers on an epic fantasy adventure through the world of Element. What was the inspiration that drove the development of the world the characters live in?
In creating Element, I wanted to incorporate many real-world cultures to highlight their richness and uniqueness. I spent a lot of time researching how to best accomplish this without crossing the line into cultural appropriation. The finished product resulted in a world the characters can travel through that never becomes stale or repetitive. Each city is different than the last as well as the landscapes between them.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Characters are what drive a book, so they need to be relatable and believable. I mapped out each character arc so I knew where each person began and where they ended up. That made it easy to chart out all the struggles and accomplishments along their journey. None of the protagonists make choices that feel out-of-character. Hopefully, readers find them easy to connect with and root for.
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?
This question brings up the idea of if an author is a “plotser” or a “pantser,” or as George R.R. Martin calls it, a “gardener” or an “architect.” I definitely fall into the camp of someone who plots/architects the story. Many of the plot twists in volumes three, four, and five were planned before I began writing the first one. Although some new characters, settings, and themes naturally arose during the writing process, most of what I wrote was plotted out early on.
When will Volume 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
An Epic Fantasy Saga is the full and complete story (five volumes in one book) so there won’t be a sequel, but I do have ideas for a prequel book. However, I have not determined when I will start that project.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter
The Story of Evil is the first standalone novel in Tony Johnson’s literary universe, The Chronoverse. This book is a giant tome of epic fantasy made up of five volumes (Heroes of the Siege, Escape from Celestial, Three Visions, The Cursed King, and Battle for the Kingdom). During an annual jousting tournament, a mysterious villain attacks the capital with his army. Because of this disastrous event, Stephen Brightflame, an aspiring knight, embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from further destruction. He joins up with a convicted felon, an arrogant warrior, and a Halfling woman, but learns their tragic pasts are just as dark and disturbing as his own. This 430,000 word adventure features everything that makes the fantasy genre great: knights, castles, war, prophecies, magic, monsters, and dragons! After ten years in the making, experience the complete Story of Evil – An Epic Fantasy Saga.
Mary Venner’s memoir, Where Are You This Time?, provides a riveting account of her nomadic life as a financial consultant in far-flung locales such as Kabul and Kyiv, among others. With remarkable precision and lucid prose, Venner’s stories spring to life, captivating readers from the opening lines to the closing punctuation. The narrative unfolds with a mysterious email offering Venner a consultancy role in post-crisis Kosovo, a beginning that quickly gives way to the challenges and triumphs of rebuilding a nation torn by civil unrest, energy deficits, and social constraints.
Venner’s journey as a consultant is not confined to Kosovo. Her zeal to make a difference leads her to traverse a multitude of countries, each facing distinct economic and political challenges. By deftly weaving personal experiences with expert insights into historical contexts, she crafts a literary tapestry that is both rich and engaging.
What sets this memoir apart is its accessibility, particularly concerning the technicalities of consulting and accounting. Rather than overwhelming readers with details, Venner’s explanations are concise and pertinent, allowing for a greater exploration of the cultures and relationships that inform her work. Her introspective reflection on Western-focused ideology initially tinged with a rose-colored optimism, evolves and deepens as she gains experience and understanding.
Where Are You This Time? also excels in character development. Every individual Venner encounters is vividly portrayed, fostering a connection between the reader and the subject. Whether introducing characters that offer comedic relief in a dense narrative or sharing her emotional response to leaving friends behind, Venner’s writing resonates with sincerity.
This memoir stands as a valuable contribution to contemporary nonfiction. It sheds light on a unique career path that might otherwise remain obscured, infusing it with human warmth and intellectual insight. Where Are You This Time? is an exemplary read that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone interested in a combination of personal narrative, global issues, and an insider’s view of a specialized profession. It not only entertains but also educates and inspires.
In The Beautiful Ugliness of Being, Joe Maldonado presents an evocative collection of poems that delve into the profound solitude that can sometimes accompany existence, the radiant beauty inherent in life and nature, the ebullient yet sometimes heart-rending experience of love, and the enduring optimism for brighter days. Maldonado eloquently articulates the intricate nuances of our existence, emphasizing the limitless potential of the human mind and body.
The volume incites readers to contemplate the age-old existential inquiry: What, indeed, is the essence of being human?
Maldonado’s poetic expressions echo the universal longing to liberate ourselves from the burdens of yesteryears and dissolve into the boundless expanses of the cosmos. The craving for refuge from life’s relentless rhythm and the yearning for solace in a serene sanctuary away from the unending anxieties that bedevil humanity will resonate with many. In the face of life’s myriad adversities, we often find ourselves feeling marooned in a crowd.
His exploration of love is equally captivating. Maldonado depicts it as a two-edged blade, with the potential to be simultaneously the most exhilarating and the most crushing experience, depending on the recipient of our affections.
Furthermore, Maldonado probes into the quintessence of poetry and the role of the poet. He discloses that the poet’s duty transcends the realm of mere verbal craftsmanship. It encompasses the challenge of meeting elevated reader expectations and divulging intimate aspects of one’s self. Maldonado boldly exposes his innermost feelings to forge a deep connection with his readers. He has even dedicated poems to his valued readers, further emphasizing his dedication to this bond. His collection sheds light on the transformative power of poetry as a prism for better comprehending the complexities of our world.
While Maldonado’s expressive style is to be lauded, his selection of language may present some obstacles for certain readers. However, his prowess in eliciting profound emotions and stimulating contemplation is indisputable. This book is a recommendation for those who recognize and appreciate the beauty and profundity inherent in the art of poetry.
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For many months, the neoliberal government of Emmanuel Macron has confronted a population that rejects its politics en masse. Macron’s proposal to raise the retirement age in France provoked opposition across the board—from far right to far left, and pretty much everyone in between—that united squabbling unions, inspired high-profile work stoppages across major labor sectors, […]
