I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man and his twin brother discover after the death of their mother that they are not in fact Jewish as they once thought, and must go on a series of misadventures through the American South as they wrestle with their conflicted relationship with their heritage and their faith in author Reuven Fenton’s “Goyhood: A Novel”.
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The Synopsis
Reuven Fenton’s novel Goyhood is a brilliant debut about a devoutly Orthodox Jewish man who discovers in middle age that he’s not, in fact, Jewish, and embarks on a remarkable road trip to come to grips with his fate; it’s Chaim Potok’s The Chosen meets Planes,Trains and Automobiles.
Funny, poignant, and revelatory while plumbing the emotional depths of the relationship between estranged brothers, Goyhood examines what happens when one becomes unmoored from a comfortable, spiritual existence and must decide whether coincidence is in fact destiny.
When Mayer (née Marty) Belkin fled small town Georgia for Brooklyn nearly thirty years ago, he thought he’d left his wasted youth behind. Now he’s a Talmud scholar married into one of the greatest rabbinical families in the world – a dirt poor country boy reinvented in the image of God.
But his mother’s untimely death brings a shocking revelation: Mayer and his ne’er-do-well twin brother David aren’t, in fact, Jewish. Traumatized and spiritually bereft, Mayer’s only recourse is to convert to Judaism. But the earliest date he can get is a week from now. What are two estranged brothers to do in the interim?
So begins the Belkins’ Rumspringa through America’s Deep South with Mom’s ashes in tow, plus two tagalongs: an insightful Instagram influencer named Charlayne Valentine and Popeye, a one-eyed dog. As the crew gets tangled up in a series of increasingly surreal adventures, Mayer grapples with a God who betrayed him and an emotionally withdrawn wife in Brooklyn who has yet to learn her husband is a counterfeit Jew.
The Review
What a profoundly moving and engaging read. The author does a fantastic job of balancing the culture and thought-provoking study of the Jewish faith with the deep and heartfelt character studies the author puts out there from these two distinct protagonists. The rich imagery and quirky dialogue shared between these brothers and the way they connect with people they encounter along their journey made this book so compelling to get lost in.
The heart of this narrative was in the character development, as the author could weave humor, wit, and emotional moments into both brother’s stories. The themes of faith, family, and how we connect were so eloquently brought to life on the page, and the tense atmosphere that cut through all the humorous and relatable moments shared on this road trip helped highlight the divide between the brothers, and the work they put into closing that divide together.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and thoughtfully developed author Reuven Fenton’s “Boyhood: A Novel” is a must-read genre fiction novel that meets coming-of-age contemporary drama. The twists and turns these brothers face along the way and the thought-provoking examination of the Jewish faith and culture help bring a lovely harmony to the overall narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Reuven Fenton has been covering murder and scandal for the New York Post since 2007, and has earned national recognition for his exclusive reporting on a myriad of national stories. Mr. Fenton was inspired to write “Stolen Years” after covering an unforgettable court hearing in 2013, in which a Brooklyn judge freed David Ranta, who had been wrongfully convicted for murdering a rabbi twenty-two years earlier. The sensational story sparked an investigation into misconduct by both the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the lead detective in the case. Mr. Fenton is a graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, and lives in New York City with his wife and two sons. Follow @reuvenfen on Twitter.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Twenty years after radio waves suddenly powered down, a group of people are brought together when the radio turns back on in author Adam Wilson’s “Last of the Pops”.
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The Synopsis
Not many people noticed the day the airwaves went silent. Thousands of radio stations across the country powered down for the last time. Twenty years on, even fewer noticed the day the towers came back to life, broadcasting on repeat, a handful of songs that don’t exist.
An experiment in sequential and epostolary storytelling, Wilson, Demus, Paratone, and Jamit present the soundtrack of a wannabe podcaster, a teen graffitti artist and her estranged brother, a former disc jockey, the newest owner of a vinyl legacy, and a tortured singer on the cusp of greatness.
The Review
This was such a fantastic, well-written graphic novel. The distinctive difference between artistic styles alternating between each story highlighted the talent and tone each illustrator brought to the narrative. The emotional depth of each character’s experiences in their respective chapters and the way music and sound highlighted each story helped elevate the significance of each character’s arc.
This graphic novel stood out because it honed in on relatable, everyday emotions. Rather than focusing on how the radio stations disappeared and reappeared two decades later, the chapters honed in on how music and sound, in general, impacted the character’s feelings and overall journey. The stories tapped into everything from friendship and love to inspiration and connectivity among our fellow human beings.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, memorable, and engaging author Adam Wilson’s “Last of the Pops” is an incredible and exciting graphic novel. The depth and heart that went into these characters and their journey, as well as the thoughtful approach to such deep subject matter, kept me enthralled by the developing stories in this book. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A former comic editor, Adam Wilson is one of the co-publishers of Read Furiously and an award winning comic writer, His works includes Brian & Bobbi, In the Fallout, Helium, and the upcoming graphic novel Last of the Pops. He co-writes the graphic novel series The MOTHER Principle and edits the anthology series Life in the Garden State with his partner S. Atzeni. Together they live in West Trenton with their son and cat.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A Norse woman in the Viking Age must face her supernatural destiny and her status as a legendary warrior in author Bjorn Leesson’s “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir”, the first book in the Outside The Thalsparr Series.
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The Synopsis
The Dokkrsdottir is not your ordinary Norse woman of the Viking age. One of the great warriors of her time, she soon learns that the hardest battles are not always those fought with a sword and shield. Through countless trials and tests, she is led by visions and omens on numerous adventures with the help of steadfast friends and family to discover her mysterious supernatural destiny, one more extraordinary than anyone could ever have imagined.
RUNES OF THE DOKKRSDOTTIR (Book 1)
The story of Myrgjol the Dokkrsdottir begins with her birth in 800s Scandinavia where it becomes immediately obvious that she is very different in so many ways.
After adventures abroad and continuously making friends and loyal allies, and after suffering many losses and setbacks, she bravely travels the many winding paths of her destiny – facing and defeating a dark foe she never expected to face.
The Review
This was such a compelling and gripping read. The rich blend of historical fiction meets fantasy and the immersive way the author uses imagery draws the reader into the sea-faring settings of this novel, making the world-building feel larger than life on the page. The author’s use of mythology and detail in the narrative allows the reader to feel transported back to the Viking age, keeping the reader invested in the story.
Yet, it was the dynamic development of the protagonist that fueled this story. The rich and thoughtful detail that went into the protagonist’s backstory, from the tragic circumstances that brought her father over to live amongst the Norse people as a child to the tragedies she faces and the supernatural prophecy that hung over her head as she spent her life struggling to balance the light and darkness within her, made her character arc and journey so much more impactful and engaging.
The Verdict
Remarkable, thoughtful, and entertaining author Bjorn Leesson’s “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir” is a must-read historical fantasy. The shocking events, significant narrative twists, and open ending leave readers wanting more from the author’s “Outside the Thalsparr” series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Bjorn was born in the Lowcountry of South Carolina a long, long time ago. He has worked in manufacturing all his working life to feed himself but has nourished his mind with the study of many topics; history of all eras, the paranormal, astronomy, writing of different types, photography, archeology, genealogy, vexillology, some other -ologies, even stock car racing for a couple of years, and on and on. Bjorn finds just about everything fascinating in some way and has been accused of being too easily entertained. A blend of a few of his interests led to the creation of the Thalsparr Universe. The first installment of the series will be “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir,” with a release date to be determined. He currently lives in the Midlands of South Carolina with his wife of 25 years on their hobby farm.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I fell into writing as one falls into a lake, when they are stumbling drunk down a wooden dock looking at the stars. At first, I didn’t consider myself an author even though I have a #1 Amazon Best Selling Novel, but then I learned that writing is not what you do, but who you are.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
I wrote this book in San Quentin when I was there for something I didn’t do, so I was very inspired. It’s a novel made of blood, sweat, and too many tears.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I want the readers to realize the justice system has now become latent with corruption. It purposefully hurts people and pretends like it is rehabilitating. But most importantly, I want people to see the power of the human spirit.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I had no idea narrative non-fiction was even a thing until I wrote it. Oh well.
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5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I don’t do social media, but my book, Infectious Injustice, in just one month, became the #1 Amazon Best Seller in 3 languages across eight categories!
-Law Ethics & Professional Responsibility
-Society & Social Sciences in Spanish
-Criminal Procedure
-Law Procedure & Litigation
-Law in Spanish
-Law in French
-eBooks in Other Languages
-Alternative Dispute Resolution
I’m so grateful for the response from the community and reviewers.
6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Do not write for anyone other than yourself, or your art turns into a floppy mush puddle of mutated words and sentences. Also, write something you would like to read.
7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I’m writing a new book, Abyss of Tyranny, the second part which will come out next year
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About the Author
Justin Cook was born in Nevada. He’s a technical architect who has worked at the most prestigious companies and holds over fifty technical certifications, including top-tier status among the technical community worldwide. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature, a master’s in information systems, and is pursuing a PhD in information systems. He also taught at a college in Nevada and was a faculty member in the information technology department. He is a marathon runner who has also stupidly run with the bulls in Pamplona, twice. He speaks four languages, which he developed while living abroad in Spain, France, and Germany. He has traveled to over thirty countries, which translates to he doesn’t know how to save money. He enjoys teaching Kenpo, where he holds a black belt, playing piano, snowboarding, and hiking. He is much better at being divorced than he was at being married. He is a father of rambunctious kids who enjoy reminding him that he is no longer cool and is gaining weight. He now lives in a house free of bars that is made for naps, reading books, and drinking too much coffee. Most days, you will find him lounging in his Kirkland sweats from Costco, writing, where he transports readers to a place where bold heroes have endearing flaws, as he broadly addresses the human experience. The swashbuckling action-adventure Infectious Injustice is his first novel.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man continues his journey of discovering his identity in author Matt Duggan’s “In Extremis”, the second book in The Rosy Dream series.
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The Synopsis
In Extremis is the second novel in Matt Duggan’s The Rosy Dream trilogy and takes readers on an immersive journey through the contrasting landscapes of 1990s and 2008 Los Angeles. Jack, the protagonist, navigates a series of misadventures and encounters with peculiar characters, uncovering a web of secrets and revelations that challenge his understanding of life and his own identity. The novel skillfully weaves together the two timelines, immersing readers in the vibrant energy of Los Angeles and its gritty underbelly. With suspense, introspection, and dark humor, In Extremis explores the depths of human nature, the search for meaning, and the unexpected paths one may take.
The Review
This was a compelling sequel to the author’s first book in this series. The changing perspective in timelines and the rich setting of California allowed the personal story of Jack to evolve and grow naturally, and the balance of witty absurdism with mounting permitted tension the narrative to feel alive on the page. The way Jack’s story mirrors the life of so many people who seek to make their dreams come true in Los Angeles is very engaging, and the wealth of different characters he encounters during his adventures will leave the reader eager for more.
The heart of this narrative rests in the continuing evolution of Jack, the story’s protagonist. His growth and changing perspective on life between the ’90s and 2008 were fantastic to read about. His growing desire to educate and gain knowledge of anything involving the abstract and his laid-back, almost carefree outlook on life that he took on when undertaking any situation made him such a relatable character, as readers either identify with or know someone like Jack intimately.
The Verdict
Though thought-provoking, entertaining, and deeply heartfelt, author Matt Duggan’s “In Extremis” is a must-read novel. The sense of adventure and exploration of 90s era Los Angeles will stay with readers long after they finish this book, and the humor that the author pierces the tension within the book with makes this feel like such a well-rounded journey for the protagonist, leaving readers eager to get their hands on the final book in the trilogy. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Matt Duggan, an award-winning writer based in Los Angeles, California, boasts a rich and diverse creative background. After graduating from Boston College with degrees in English and Communications, Matt immediately jumped into the world of filmmaking. As one of the first members of the renowned Annex Film Group, Matt contributed to the production of their critically acclaimed short films, recognized with numerous awards and global screenings.
Duggan’s directorial debut, Inverse, a feature film which he produced, wrote, and directed, garnered widespread acclaim, winning multiple accolades throughout its yearlong festival tour. Notably, Inverse premiered at the prestigious Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival, captivating audiences with its innovative narrative. The film continued to impress, securing Best Sci-Fi Narrative Feature Film at the Philip K. Dick Film Festival and other esteemed awards.
In addition to his successes in film and literature, Matt has garnered acclaim for his web series, including Man Vs. and Not Suitable for Work, demonstrating his versatility across various mediums.
A career highlight for Matt was his involvement in Marlon Brando’s documentary on acting, Lying for a Living, where he had the honor of spending two weeks alongside luminaries such as Robin Williams and Sean Penn.
Matt’s creative endeavors extend beyond the realm of cinema, with his literary works showcased in publications such as The Menacing Hedge and The Literary Hatchet. His debut novel, Ostraca, marked the inception of his compelling The Rosy Dream series, captivating readers with its vivid storytelling and exploration of the human condition.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I was born and raised in a small town on the Hudson River, about an hour north of New York City. I went to school in Boston, then after graduation I drove to Los Angeles to be an actor. I studied acting for three years, but it was more like a graduate program in being an artist. Not long after, I turned my artistic focus onto writing. I became interested in writing back in high school. I took a class on Greek mythology which I loved. I made-up my own Greek mythologies and wrote really bad poems about my made-up gods. In college, I was an English major. I had a creative writing class with Pagan Kennedy, a terrific author and columnist. She gave me confidence in my writing. She highlighted where my strengths were. She was an excellent teacher. I’ve been writing ever since. I started writing plays, then wrote screenplays, and then wrote my first book Ostraca which I published in 2019.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
When I drove across the country in 1996, I camped out most of the way. The encounters and experiences that I had really affected me. I had a powerful desire to write it all down, so I filled a journal with the experiences. Flash forward to 2015. I had an urge to write a novel based on that journal from all those years ago. The result was Ostraca. My inspirations were connection and experience. The protagonist in the novel, Jack Darmody, references Leonardo Da Vinci, who called himself a “disscepolo della sperientia”, a disciple of experience. That resonated deeply with me. That was the driving force behind the novel. Specifically, the experience and connection we have with each other. I was inspired to translate my feelings about this into words.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope readers feel a connection when they read each novel in my trilogy, starting with Ostraca. The world today is especially dark, angry, and disconnected. It shouldn’t be. We should instead focus on human interaction; it draws out the best parts of ourselves. The undeniable truth about us is that we need to be loved, and also, we want to give love. We should live these truths.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
When I was a kid, I hated reading. I wanted to live outside. My parents had to practically drag me into the house each night. I was like a wild animal. Reading was boring. But suddenly in young adulthood, I couldn’t read enough. I devoured books. But my interest was mostly in the literary fiction genre. That genre most appealed to me because, artistically, I’m fascinated with the artist’s voice. With 200,000 years of human existence, we aren’t going tell new stories. The themes, plots, tropes, structure…they’ve all been done. But what stands out is how each story is told. The voice it’s told in. I find that in the literary fiction genre.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I’d sit down with Jack Darmody, my protagonist. I’d ask him, “Why are you running so hard from your past? Why don’t you stop and face the demons?” But of course, unpacking this is what makes the story so fun to write.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I’m awful at social media. I’d rather wander around my backyard and watch the birds return after a long day, or admire the sun arching west. It’s the wild animal in me. I hate staring at a screen, scrolling vitriol. Also, I don’t think I have a good online personality. Too much is lost in translation. I have a very gallows sense of humor; that doesn’t always go over well in a tweet or post. With that said, I will be activating my Twitter/Facebook/Instagram accounts to promote the second installment of my trilogy in May. So, social media is an unavoidable reality, I guess.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
There are two keys to being an author. The first is to write. Write and write. Write and write and write. All that verb requires is elbow grease. Discipline is the second key. You have to be a dictator over your writing. You have to write regardless rain or shine. It is hard work. It is largely unrewarding, mostly without recognition, it requires a lot of sacrifice, and it is always lonely. But if you embrace all of that, and are not deterred by that, you will crack open whole new universes of possibility and joy. And the rest will come. You first have to discover, develop, and embrace your talent and voice. You do that through writing. I’ve written heaps of garbage. You have to sludge through it to find the gems. They’re there.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I’m releasing In Extremis, the second installment of my trilogy, at the end of May of this year. I’m also finishing a streaming series that has some industry interest, called Hell High. Starting in 2025, I’ll begin work on the third and final installment of my Rosy Dream trilogy. That prospect frightens me because I’ve spent nine years now with Jack and his menagerie of characters. It will be very hard to say goodbye.
About the Author
Matt Duggan is an award-winning writer and director based in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from Boston College with degrees in English and Communications, Matt jumped into filmmaking. He was one of the first members of the renowned Annex Film Group, a film co-op that produced sixteen critically acclaimed short films, recognized with numerous awards and global screenings. Duggan’s feature film, Inverse, which he produced, wrote, and directed, garnered widespread acclaim, winning multiple accolades throughout its yearlong festival tour. Notably, Inverse premiered at the prestigious Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival. The film also secured Best Sci-Fi Narrative Feature Film at the Philip K. Dick Film Festival and other esteemed awards.
Beyond film, Duggan’s literary works have been featured in publications like The Menacing Hedge, with his debut novel Ostraca initiating the captivating The Rosy Dream trilogy. He’s also known for his popular web series and his involvement in Marlon Brando’s documentary Lying for a Living.
Currently, Duggan is developing the series Hell High while eagerly anticipating the release of In Extremis, the second installment in The Rosy Dream series, showcasing his visionary storytelling and creative versatility. In Extremis will be published in May 2024.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I started writing songs at the age of 13. When I paralyzed a vocal cord in 2018, I turned to writing short stories to relieve my creative outlet. I also retired early, my husband and I bought a winter home. After a few weeks I knew I needed an outlet or one of us, was not getting through the winter alive.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
An idea hit me regarding the Lord’s Prayer. What if I were to write a short horror story for each line of that prayer? Our Father Who Art, In Heaven became the first story in the book where a boy who loses his dad at a young age, thinks he’s been praying to his father, Art, in Heaven. He ends up with a distant stepfather
who is mean and not good for his mother and decides the man must go. From the first story, to Amen, the last, I loved writing this series.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
The Lord’s Prayer Series is about the struggle between good and evil. Even though we were given this prayer to pray, we are inherently sinners. It’s about man’s fragility and how close we are to stepping off the wrong side of honor.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I have always been fascinated with horror. You take the scariest thing, you can manipulate it, control it to its end. I love the power in that.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
Each story in this book has some great characters. I’d like to find out why they did what they did. Why they went in the direction they did, and why they couldn’t conquer their shortcomings.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Facebook has helped a lot. Author groups are a wonderful support system, we hold one another up.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Don’t give up. If you don’t submit it’s a no. Read, read, read. You learn something new in every book. A phrase, a vision. Something that motivates you to write another story. It is hard to put yourself out there, naked, and exposed but when a publisher says “yes,” it’s so worth it.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
The Lord’s Prayer Horror series is coming out in July 2024 from Myth Mart Publishing. I am currently working on a work I call, The Morgan Dollar Series. Morgan silver dollars, were minted from 1878 to 1904.
I have written a short story for each year about a person whose hands the money passed through. The silver coins either did good or brought out greed in people. I was inspired by my husband showing his coin collection to a neighbor telling her, “Just think, this coin could have been in a cowboy’s pocket.” That inspired me to write where the coins had been, by telling the stories of the owners. I have a handful of stories yet to complete.
Thank you, Anthony, for asking me to interview. Bread Pudding was a fun write. A vampire who is a bit of an agoraphobic germaphobe, was an interesting contradictive character fighting his fears, but enslaved by the creature he has become. I was proud to be the runner-up in that competition.
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About the Author
Dawn DeBraal lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband, a stray cat and a rescued dog. She has published over 600 short stories, drabbles, and poems in online ezines and anthologies. She tends to lean toward the horror genre because it makes her life seem so much better! Falling Star Magazine nominated Dawn for the 2019 Pushcart Award; she was Runner-up in the 2022 Horror Story Competition, two-time Author of the Month, nominated 2020,2022,2023 Author of the Year and received Contributor of the Year 2023 Spillwords Magazine, she was named Member of the Month in Issues 103 and 115 in The World of Myth Magazine and Finalist in the Owl Canyon Roost writing contest. Dawn also writes under the pen name Garrison McKnight.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
When I went to university in Buenos Aires I first signed up to journalism. Mainly because my family tried to derail me from studying acting, and this was the only other thing I wanted to do. I felt I was going to write, not sure what. Maybe for the travel section of a paper one day, or as a correspondent going away around the world on assignments. I left after one year, to study Drama full-time. I still wrote stories for myself, and I minored in Creative Writing.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
I began writing to try to understand what was going on with me at a certain moment. I was very uncomfortable with the expectations placed on me as a woman, being expected to want to get married, to want to change my name, I thought it was outrageous. I was hurting someone I loved with these feelings. At the same time I could not betray myself. I felt alone and wanted to speak to my teenage self, my child self, to figure out my situation, I wondered if there was something very wrong with me. So I wrote a story which now is chapter 5, a day at a wedding when I was a child.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Everyone who connects with the book enough to read it will take their own, I would like to stay out of that. That connection is enough, I just hope they take away something useful for their lives.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
Maybe the introspection I needed. I didn’t mean to write a book or be in a genre. I just wanted to put down a story to make a short film, to talk about the expectations put on me, and then there were more stories that came out because I was in a writing class. After about a year I looked at everything I had written and the short film had been left behind, the book was there plus many more pages to get rid of.
5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Instagram is the only social media I have, and there are new independent publishers and independent book-shops that showcase writers, new ones and older ones. They make curious and want to get new books.
6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Joining a writing workshop to work on ideas was very useful to me. I will do it again. Apart from developing skills there, to feel like I am working with other people. Being an actor I am used to working with groups of people. Then there were times when I had to be writing on my own for a long time of course, but writing is such a lonely thing to do, and quite torturous to me, and this way I felt less alone in it for a while.
7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I am inspired to tell other people´s stories at the moment. I am working on one idea and researching now, I am not sure what shape it will take exactly, but it is already going in a certain direction.
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About the Author
Dolores Reynals was born in Mendoza, Argentina. She started out as a radio actress before moving to London to attain her BA (Hons) in Drama from the University of Surrey. Since then she has worked internationally and now lives nowhere in particular, often between Europe and Mexico.
So—some of the traditional lore around Lewis Carroll’s March Hare and the whole March Madness thing got me stewing.
Can writing (or reading, for that matter) exist as a purely magical experience or in a purely magical space?
I’d like to think so, even for those text-book yawners or codified how-tos on industrial intelligence, for example.
It’s just too damn hard otherwise.
But before we go down that rabbit hole, what exactly compels any of us to learn to read or write at all? The list, of course, grew longer than I anticipated, even after condensing all the reasons we read into an E-list:
Likely there are more, but those are a few of the big ones. And while the lifeblood of traditional publishing continues to require someone(s) to successfully predict which books we’ll read (and for which reasons), I like to think about reading trends another way.
Maybe I’m old school. I look at all those E’s and to me, it still comes back around to this: writing and reading must ultimately touch our hearts in some way. So, we can cite reading trends until the cows come home, but the stories that stay with us (as a reader or a writer) talk to our hearts. Heart-stuff, the way you feel after digesting what you just read.
Did it help you in any way?
Did it raise questions?
Did you feel joy?
Did you find peace?
Did you make a new or stronger connection with something important to you?
I can spew out statistics as quickly as the next guy. Here they are:
1. Kindle hit its stride with electronic books in 2010. 2. YA dystopian fare rebounded in 2014. (Hunger Games, anyone?) 3. Audiobooks surged (again) in 2016. (Age Spoiler: I read audiobooks as early as 1994, on cassette.) 4. Tik Tok became the next go-to book resource in 2022. (Move over, Amazon?)
There’s the rub, though. Even if the rabbit is out about tomorrow’s reading trends, this still doesn’t tell me how to reach inside someone’s heart. Or how to reach inside my own.
Part of reaching the heart begins with recognizing that the heart is more than just a blood mover, more than just a pump. It’s a seine that strains through measured amounts of logic and emotional undercurrents clickety-clack every freaking minute of the day. Sometimes it pitches the sieve aside while we dream. The old ticker is always factoring and fidgeting, and occasionally it puts up defenses (I just can’t take on one more thing!) and tries to declare the kitchen closed.
We get stuck when writing because we don’t have confidence about what our heart really wants to say in the first place. If we don’t feel like reading a particular book, it’s because . . . our heart’s not in it at the moment.
When writing and reading move beyond skill sets, innate creativity, or art appreciation though—they’re going toward the level of the heart.
And at that level, there is magic.
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
The reason I think of writing as coming from a magical place is because it is an act of creating something from nothing.
Both the processes of writing and reading are entertainingideas not yet manifest.
Until they are.
Pulling the rabbit out of the hat.
An activity that produces something living and viable outside of ourselves—that is creative magic. At times, we may even have to act as if in order to set the stage for what is, the reality we desire.
The part we can’t seem to get around: the magus inside also likes to imagine how life would be if anything could be done differently. As the magic in us stares down the daily mundane and those pesky, limiting laws of cause and effect, the heart is also innately considering how we might manipulate those realities for more desirable results . . . if we could.
What if we could?
What if?
Your heart holds the paradigm shift from just writing to realwriting and just reading to realreading.
But before you try to pull a rabbit out of a hat, you need time to set the stage. And, no worries. Your heart already has the ability to see things not only as what they are, but also as what they can be.
Yep, there’s a rabbit down there. I see it.
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About the Author
Julie is a multi-genre author. Her articles and stories are featured in self-help, inspirational, trade, and fiction publications including Writer’s Digest, Coping With Cancer, Complete Woman, and Daily Meditation.
She is the 1999 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition Grand Prize Winner for her horror short story, “House Call.”
Her seventh novel, Falling Stars, is an eleven-time award winner, including the 2023 International Firebird Awards First Place in Urban Fantasy, the 2023 Pinnacle Book Awards Best Book in Fantasy, and the 2023 Outstanding Creator Awards First Place in Medical Fiction.
Other awards include Fade In magazine’s 2005 Screenplay Semi-Finalist for the thriller, Grave Jumper, and the 1998 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition First for her stage play comedy, Garage Sale.Julie works as a remote freelance ghostwriter and editor for julierogersbooks.com and authorsassistant.com in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the setting of her seventh book, Falling Stars. She lives there with her husband, Jim, a primary care physician, their furry children Madison, Kate, Sukie, and mollusks Dewey, Decimal, and System. She has one son, Seth, who works as a video game level designer in Austin.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A lone detective must contend with his past while searching for a missing woman and facing a city of corruption and serial killers in author Alan McGill’s “Bumper City”.
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The Synopsis
In the future, Las Vegas is nearly destroyed. Rebuilt under a dark cloud that blocks all sunlight, Sin City takes on a whole new meaning.
Beneath the neon, The Pagliacci Serial Killers are on the loose and a new drug called “Colors”, infused with nanotechnology, is killing thousands. Violence erupts as the mutant population take to the streets to protest working conditions and the disappearance of their loved ones.
Big Tech, the wealthy elite, and corrupt politicians attempt to cover it up. They can’t allow anything to interfere with the elections, profits, or their plans.
Can hard-nosed detective Alton Cold and his A.I. car Bessimer catch the killers, stop the cabal, and expose the truth? Or will the appearance of a mysterious woman cloud his judgement as the unnatural cloud darkens the sky?
To save the people he cares about, he’ll put everything on the line to confront a darkness far worse than the night.
The Review
This was an incredible book. The author did a great job crafting an engaging narrative that kept the reader invested. The writing style never wavered to the point where I was taken out of the story, and the hook and multi-genre setting will have readers picking up this novel repeatedly.
Detective Rollins was a great character to question loyalties of, as the mystery of who the main “villain” of this story had in their pocket was constantly changing. The killers were terrifying, and the story of Mara and Alton was both romantic and heartbreaking. Penny was a great partner to Alton in his agency, although I would have loved to see more of her story fleshed out and her bond with a certain lieutenant. A future book in this series could shift perspectives to include chapters surrounding Penny and her story. The mysterious ending surrounding Mara also left me wanting more, which I think will work in the author’s favor if they decide to pursue any future novels in this series.
The Verdict
Author Alan McGills’s “Bumper City” is an electric, mysterious, and entertaining must-read sci-fi noir thriller. The action-soaked drama, twists and turns in the narrative, and rich character dynamics helped elevate the explosive finale and open ending, making readers eager for more of this thrilling world. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Alan McGill is an American author who lives in an old farmhouse with a clowder of cats. Alan was close to his grandparents, who grew up during the Great Depression. They were married young and remained together until his grandmother’s passing. His grandfather served in the Navy during WWII and was a gifted storyteller who wove humorous tales about tough events. Alan grew up listening to these stories of right and wrong and watching fictional heroes–such as the Lone Ranger, Adam West’s Batman and Captain America–stand up to bullies and protect those who count not protect themselves. This inspired him to always do what was right in his own life and shaped his love of storytelling. He is a multigenre author whose debut novel, A Cry in the Moon’s Light, combines horror, romance, and mystery. As with all his books, A Cry in the Moon’s Light centers on characters who strive to do the right thing regardless of the adversity they face. The book focuses on the theme of love–a pure and deep love that defeats all evil.
