Tag: historical fiction

Interview with Author Marina Osipova

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

The idea of becoming a writer never entered my mind until I moved to the United States from Russia. With my little English, I, inevitably, should have set my mind on studying the language seriously. I signed up for an ESL course in Manhattan, NY. To evaluate the level of my knowledge, the teacher asked me to write a quick test. “My name is . . . I was born in . . . I came from . . . Something like that,” she said. Boring, I thought. Let me write a story, I decided, and I did. It was about a young man in the subway car, who took a sit facing me. He blew his nose into his blue and white floral kerchief, scrutinized the result, then wound the kerchief around his head covered with dark, long, braided hair.

Next time I had the class, during the break, I presented my very first literary opus to the teacher. While she was reading it, I watched her eyebrows shooting up several times. Returning the paper with my scribbles, she said, “You should publish it.” Years later, after two manuscripts, one of 600 pages and the other of 260 (eventually, I buried them somewhere in the bottomless deposits of my PC) the idea of writing a story, which would be set up during WWII came to my head. Since then, I have published seven books, all WWII historical fiction, except for the last one, which is a bit different.

Advertisements

 2) What inspired you to write your book?

My own life. I was born in East Germany, in Beelitz-Heilstätten, a Soviet military hospital, and since I can remember myself, I wanted to visit the place. My desire came true in 2018. The history of the place is so rich and ominous, I couldn’t help but to tell its story to my readers.

 3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

WWI, WWII . . . Other wars . . . Before and after . . . Wars wasted millions of innocent lives. What for? The territories? Subsoils with deposits of minerals? Somebody’s (or of a group of individuals) ambitions? Lust for power and recognition? Why do some people become murderers? Isn’t it all relevant today?

I hope the readers of my book will close the last page and ask themselves, “Why?” and “Should we remember?”

“The one who doesn’t remember history is bound to live through it again.” — George Santayana.

 4) What drew you into this particular genre?

All my published books are historical fiction. This one, to some extent, is too. To integrate my personal life experiences and biographical details, I resolved to turn to the elements of time-slip, thriller, and psychological drama so to broaden my readership, to make my book more appealing to those who are interested in these other genres.

Advertisements

 5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

Writing WWII historical fiction, I subconsciously wanted to come face to face with Adolf Hitler—his inescapable presence is obvious in all my books. I made this wish come true in this story. If you read it, you’ll feel my feelings and disgust at this evil of the 20th century. Unfortunately, his insidious influence on some minds expands—a sickening trend tendency!

 6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Bloggers like you, Anthony, and FB helped me to find most of the like-minded people, writers and readers.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Who was it who said that everyone has a story to tell? If you feel you can’t continue living without telling your story/stories to the world or just to yourself, don’t suppress this inner push – write and see if it makes you happy. Don’t think about fame and money. Only a bunch of authors live on royalties. Do it for your inner peace and excitement. Trust yourself. Write only if you feel you’ll “drown” if you don’t. Write from your soul. If the process, however difficult, brings you joy, it’s a sign you are a writer.

 8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

My problem is that too many enticing stories live in my head, waiting to be spilled into my PC screen. Time will show which one will win next time.

Advertisements

About the author

Marina Osipova was born in East Germany into a military family and grew up in Russia, where she graduated from the Moscow State Institute of History and Archives. When she was five, she decided she wants to speak German and, years later, she earned a diploma as a German language translator from the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Languages. In Russia, she worked first in a scientific-technical institute as a translator, then in a Government Ministry in the office of international relations, later for some Austrian firms. For many years, she lived in New York, working in a law firm, and then in Austria for several years. In the spring of 2022, after spending ten months in Russia, some unfortunate world events brought her back to the United States.

A long-standing member of the Historical Novel Society, she is dedicated to writing historical fiction, especially related to WWII. Her books garnered numerous literary awards, including a 1st Place WINNER of the 2021 Hemingway Book Awards novel competition for 20th Century Wartime Fiction (a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards). At some point or another, all her books hit the Amazon Top 100 lists in Historical Russian Fiction and Historical German Fiction and even #1 or #2 in War Fiction in Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Her readers praise her books for emotional realism, for taking on a subject few authors have touched, for writing with heart and compassion while not holding back from hard cold realities of war, for giving an authentic and in-depth look at a culture that tends to baffle westerners.

Osipova is passionately dedicated to the stories she writes, but when away from her desk and laptop, she, even if for one time, knows how it feels to fly with a helicopter over the Alaskan glaciers, to jump with a parachute upstate NY, to dive to the bottom of the Black Sea with a scuba gear, to fish on a little boat in the Gulf of Siam and catch a real shark however small. She brags about mounting a pensive elephant in Thailand, or an apathetic camel in Gran Canaria. She will never forget her experience riding a retired Russian circus mare who tried to throw her off, which she found much scarier than riding a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle at a speed of up to 260 km/h (about 162 mph). She experienced a thrill while zip lining through boreal forests at a dizzying height. She will never forget that feeling of humble ecstasy while performing on stage of an off-off (but close) Broadway; the most profound excitement she experienced as Marquerite in Camino Real by Tennessee Williams and Queen Elizabeth in The Dark Lady of the Sonnets by George Bernard Shaw. What other dreams does she have? Well . . . to find herself inside a Cheops pyramid (not like a mummy) and write all the stories that populate her head. The To-Write-List is big and growing.

Website: https://www.marina-osipova.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marina.osipova.14/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4701687.Marina_Osipova

Rune of Whispers (Outside the Thalsparr Series Book Five) by Bjorn Leesson Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A seasoned warrior must traverse the game of Saxon politics in author Bjorn Leesson’s “Rune of Whispers”, the fifth book in the Outside the Thalsparr series.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Myrgjol the Dokkrsdottir’s path may be fraught with physical dangers and battle, but some wars are fought with whispered words and deceitful lies. While in Saxon lands, she must learn to maneuver the battlefield as well as her position on the board in the game of Saxon politics. Will she be successful?

And though she is blind to all the pieces in The Game, a Saxon gamemaster plays on her behalf as well as his own against many others, and the enormity of the risk spirals out of control for everyone.

The Review

This was a welcome addition to the historical fiction and dark fantasy series! The author found a way to keep the series fresh and showcased the depth of the world this series inhabits, giving readers a fresh new perspective by exploring the politics of Saxon life and Myrgjol’s impact on that world. The way the action takes a backseat to the atmosphere and the tension politics played at that time made the overall narrative feel elevated for readers. 

The mystery and intrigue this turn of events took in the story was evenly matched by the rich historical context and fantasy mythos the series has brought to life so vividly. The more emotional context of the protagonist’s story felt fully realized in this narrative, and the evolution of her allies and how life in Saxon lands evolved among some of the Norse settlers at that time was an intriguing subplot that readers will instantly get lost in.

The Verdict

As a longtime fan of Game of Thrones, Vikings, and The Last Kingdom, author Bjorn Leesson’s “Rune of Whispers” is a must-read historical fiction and fantasy novel and an excellent entry into the Outside the Thalsparr Series.  The suspense and drama that this novel plays into, as well as the more intimate and emotional character development, will give longtime fans of this series a new perspective on which to invest. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today.

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Bjorn Leesson has always been fascinated with many topics to include history, the supernatural, and writing. These interests combined led to the Outside the Thalsparr series, with the first book in the series, “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir.” Bjorn was not formally trained as a writer and has worked in the industrial manufacturing field his entire life. Writing his stories and hoping others enjoy them is a passion and not a career.

PRESS RELEASE: Tong Ge’s The House Filler is a 2025 Maxy Award Winner

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Creative Edge Publicity Press Releases, PRESS RELEASESLeave a comment

In conjunction with Asian Heritage month, Tong Ge’s historical epic, The House Filler is a 2025 Maxy Award Winner

Advertisements

Ironically and in conjunction with Asian Heritage Month, critically acclaimed author Tong Ge’s debut novel, The House Filler, was the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Maxy Award in the Historical & Adventure category. 

This recognition of acknowledgement in a contest of this magnitude complements her latest accomplishments including award wins at the 2024 Independent Press Award for new fiction, the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) Award for Literary Fiction, as well as being a finalist at the 2023 Eyelands Book Awards, the 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards for fiction, and second place for 2025 BookFest Award for literary-historical fiction. 

About The Maxy Awards

The Maxy Awards were designed to not only support writing and reading, but also to help those who may not have been fortunate enough to hold an iconic book in their hand and read it from cover to cover a hundred times

More information can be found at: Maxy Awards

Advertisements

About Tong Ge

Born and raised in China, Tong Ge moved to Canada in the late 1980s as an international student, earning a Master of Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1992. Since 2012, she has written under both her real name and the pen name Tong Ge, publishing poetry, prose, and short stories in English and Chinese across North America, England, and Taiwan. A recipient of six literary awards and a finalist for five others. Her debut novel, “The House Filler,” was published in Canada in 2023. It is a finalist for the 2023 Eyelands Book Awards and the 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards for fiction and won the 2024 Independent Press Award for new fiction and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) Award for Literary Fiction and second place for 2025 BookFest Award for literary -historical fiction. To learn more about her work, please visit her website at tong-ge.com.

The Washashore by Marshall Highet & Bird Jones Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

In the Prohibition-era Martha’s Vineyard, a young woman forced to live with a mysterious Aunt must adjust to high society and discover the truth behind the disappearance of her Aunt’s friend in the novel The Washashore by Marshall Higher and Bird Jones.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Martha’s Vineyard, 1929. Prohibition is in full swing, and Emily, a Midwest transplant, has never met her wealthy Aunt Isabel. That is until, after her mother’s death, the courts declare Isabel her guardian. Their first meeting is a disaster. Emily’s clumsy curtsy earns her only a frosty glare, and she quickly realizes she’s in for a crash course in East Coast high society. But manners take a back seat to mystery when Isabel’s dear friend, an accomplished sailor, vanishes at sea. Convinced it’s murder, Isabel recruits her niece to catch the killer, pointing the finger at two dangerous men: a ruthless Mob boss and the fastest rumrunner in the harbor. While Emily crosses paths with gangsters on the island, she may just find home on its miles of coastline and among its quirky inhabitants-her stoic Aunt Isabel included.

The Review

This was such a profound and gripping mystery novel. The balance between historical fiction, mystery, and suspense was perfectly captured in this book. The intrigue and tension the authors built throughout the narrative feel like the perfect amount of atmosphere in the story, allowing the readers to get lost in the danger and violent nature of prohibition and the shocking realities that the lifestyle brought during that era. 

The heart of this story is in the grand themes the authors explore and the rich character dynamics that show their evolution and progress throughout the novel. The relationship between Emily and Isabel, especially as readers begin to understand the losses they both endured and how that bridges the gap in both their societal upbringings and emotional connections, was so heartfelt and gripping, while the exploration of class systems during this historical period, the negative impact Prohibition had on society and organizzed crime alike, and the way others see us versus how we see ourselves were perfectly brought to life on the page.

The Verdict

With an atmosphere that fans of The Great Gatsby and Somewhere in Time will love and a mystery element that harkens back to the days of Agatha Christie novels or more recent films like Knives Out, authors Marshall Higher and Bird Jones’s “The Washashore” is a must-read historical fiction mystery. The twists and turns in the narrative will keep readers on the edge of their seat and the emotional character growth will keep readers invested in these strong protagonists that exude a sense of feminism in a time that didn’t often get to show feminism as a whole, a standout that made this novel feel even more potent in its writing style. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on June 10th, 2025 or preorder your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Authors

MARSHALL HIGHET is a professor and writer. Spare Parts—her YA sci-fi novel—was published in 2014 and has an educational bent, with science as its foundation. Hold Fast, written with Bird Jones, is a swashbuckling adventure with historical facts holding it up. Blue-Eyed Slave came out in 2022. Currently living in Baltimore, Marshall’s newest venture is brewing her own kombucha. 

BIRD STASZ JONES holds a doctorate from Syracuse University and is a professor Emerita of Elon University. An ethnographer by training, her love of stories and story collecting has taken her from Appalachia to Central Asia. There she worked in collaboration with ministries of education, global donors and village teachers to support innovation in the literacy classroom. Awarded a Fulbright, she was able to visit and work in the farthest most school on the Afghan/Tajik border—literally the roof of the world. Bird has published in academic journals and spoken at conferences.

https://www.theothersideofthefire.com/washed-ashore

Interview with Author Tong Ge

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

Born and raised in China, I moved to Canada after earning a degree in banking and finance and later a Master’s in Agricultural Economics. My love for storytelling ignited during China’s Cultural Revolution, when my father, a targeted professor, secretly shared banned stories by candlelight during power outages, sparking my lifelong interest in reviving those tales. Facing childhood bullying, I used storytelling as a shield, sharing these stories and folk tales with classmates for protection. My writing received early recognition in elementary school when my diary was used as school-wide reading material, and I further honed my performance skills by joining the school storytelling team in Grade 4. I began writing poetry in college.

After living in Canada for sixteen years, I decided to write my family stories into novels. I immersed myself in writing courses and voracious reading. My first English piece was published by PRISM International in 2012. Since then, my poems, prose, and short stories in both English and Chinese have appeared across North America, England, and Taiwan, earning six literary awards and finalist nominations for five others. My debut novel, “The House Filler,” published in Canada in 2023, was a finalist for the 2023 Eyelands Book Awards and the 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards for fiction. It also won the 2024 Independent Press Award for new fiction, the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) Award for Literary Fiction, and second place for the BookFest Award in literary-historical fiction.

Advertisements

What inspired you to write your book?

My books are all inspired by the stories of my family and my own life experiences.

What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

What happened in early 20th-century China is still relevant today—wars, totalitarian regimes, poverty, and the ongoing issue of gender inequality in many parts of the world. As a species, we haven’t advanced as much as we might think. People need to be aware that freedom is never truly free; it can be taken away in an instant if we’re not vigilant.

I also want my readers to consider this question: Are humans inherently cruel, merely pretending to be civilized until circumstances like war strip away our veneer? Or are we fundamentally kind, with war turning us into beasts? I believe that without consequences, humans are capable of committing atrocities against one another. While some readers have cried while reading the book and even warned others to have tissues ready, I hope they do not only feel sadness. Instead, I want them to be inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and to recognize that we are stronger than we realize. As long as we are alive, there is hope.

What drew you into this particular genre?

The House Filler is based on my grandmother’s story and covers the time span between 1920 and 1966, making it historical fiction.

If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

it would be my grandmother. The character of Golden Phoenix is based on her life story, and I would ask her for more details to enrich the narrative further.

Advertisements

What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

It is WeChat groups for me.

What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

To succeed as a writer: first, be driven by passion, as financial rewards are often delayed. Second, be prepared for years of hard work and long hours, fueled by your love for writing. Third, dedicate yourself to continuous learning by taking courses, reading craft books, and, most importantly, reading widely to learn from others and identify pitfalls. Cultivate humility by being open to feedback; multiple people pointing out an issue likely means it needs revision. Finally, perseverance is crucial. Writing is a long journey, so never give up, even when facing significant time investments and rejections.

What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

My next book, inspired by my parents’ lives, will also be historical fiction. The third book is based on my own story; it is character-driven and reflects my love of poetry and language, making it a work of literary fiction.

Advertisements

About the Author

Born and raised in China, Tong Ge moved to Canada in the late 1980s as an international student, earning a Master of Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1992. Since 2012, she has written under both her real name and the pen name Tong Ge, publishing poetry, prose, and short stories in English and Chinese across North America, England, and Taiwan. A recipient of four literary awards and a finalist for five others. Her debut novel, “The House Filler,” was published in Canada in 2023. It is a finalist for the 2023 Eyelands Book Awards and the 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards for fiction and won the 2024 Independent Press Award for new fiction and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) Award for Literary Fiction. 

Interview with Author Alison McBain

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

Writing is probably the only thing I’ve done my whole life. The first story I ever wrote (according to my parents) was when I was four and it was a horror story about the monster in the closet. And while I don’t think that original story will ever see the light of day, I haven’t stopped writing since then.

Advertisements

2) What inspired you to write your book?

My novel The New Empire is an alternate history, and it asks the question: What if the Chinese Empire sent ships to the Americas much earlier than the Europeans – how would it have reshaped the world? My inspiration actually came from an article I read many years ago that said there was some archeological evidence that this might have happened, and that Chinese ships, which were the most technologically advanced at the time, could have landed on the West Coast of South America. It sparked my imagination, and the story took off from there.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I feel that most books, no matter the genre, do have some commentary that is relevant to modern readers. So, while my book is set in the past, there are a lot of themes that are important to what’s happening in the world today. There’s the struggle between the haves and the have-nots, the many injustices of the power system, and the duality most of us feel in today’s global world. My main character happens to be trapped in between a number of worlds, and I think that’s something a lot of people today can identify with.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I’m a history buff – I studied African history and classical literature in university, but long before that, you could have found me in the depths of a library as a child with my nose in a book. What’s come before now is fascinating to me—how our present has been built, layer by layer, upon the events of the past. There’s the old adage, “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” Well, I feel that we will always be doomed in such a way when there are people in power who don’t take their lessons from human history. Since I’m not a politician, all I can do is open up the door to the past (and the imagined past) with my words.

Advertisements

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

I think I would sit down with Onas, the slaveowner who’s at the center of so much that happens in my novel. But I don’t know if I would ask him any questions. I would wait and let him to reveal his wisdom to me, and he would probably do so through the stories and legends of the past from the Amah Mutsun and Onödowáʼga peoples.

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

I’m on several social media platforms, but I have to say two of the most helpful have been Medium.com and Vocal.media. Both are blogging platforms where you can share your writing and interact directly with readers, and I enjoy getting that personalized feedback and talking to others who love to read.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

There’s so much advice out there, and some of it’s very specific and some of it’s very general. But the problem as a new writer is getting bogged down in advice and not actually doing any writing! So, what I like to say is: ignore all the advice. Just sit down and write the story you want to tell. After you write “The End” is when you should open up all the advice books and start editing and looking for a publisher or agent. The most important thing is getting the words on the page.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Last year, I just finished a project called “Author Versus AI.” Essentially, I was setting out to write a book a week for a year, using NO AI at all – just to show a human author can write almost as fast as a computer, but hopefully much better. I didn’t quite reach my goal of 52 books, but ended up with 34. However, as you probably know, a first draft is not a final draft. Right now, I’m going through all the books and editing them, which will probably keep me occupied for the next year or more!

Advertisements

About the Author

Alison McBain’s novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual was longlisted for the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she’s a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. She’s currently pursuing a project called “Author Versus AI,” where she’s writing a book a week over the course of a year, using NO AI at all (52 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada.

https://www.alisonmcbain.com/

Amanita Virosa: The Destroying Angel by Barry Harden Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

In author Barry Harden’s novel Amanita Virosa: The Destroying Angel, a band of citizens rises up to fight against the corruption of 1980s London.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

It’s the 1980s, and London is crumbling under the weight of political corruption while the have-nots are further victimized by unfettered rogue gangs. Children are lured into the dark, lurid chambers of Whitehall, some never to be seen again. Citizens are coerced through intimidation and threats of harm against their families. Utter chaos reigns. Amanita Virosa, a courageous Roma fighter who fled the horrors of war-torn Bosnia, sought refuge in the heart of North London, only to discover that the specter of corruption and injustice haunts her adopted home. Forming an alliance with Everard, a young, homeless firebrand, and Doris, a feisty pensioner, the group embarks on a daring mission to sever the insidious grip of Whitehall’s corruption and the extortion and violence perpetrated on the innocent. Sedition, conspiracy, murder and betrayal all have a voice; some are quickly silenced, while others persistently challenge the very existence of those bold enough to defy the status quo. Loosely based on actual sociopolitical events in eighties London, Amanita Virosa is a riveting warning about the perils of government overreach and the indomitable power of the individual to resist oppression. Will their collective courage be enough to shatter the chains of oppression, or will they become casualties in a war that demands the ultimate sacrifice?

The Review

This was a compelling and intriguing read. The author established a visceral, gritty atmosphere and tone that set the stage for a unique setting that has not been widely discussed in modern history. The action and graphic violence the book depicts highlight the narrative naturally, allowing these relatable and impactful characters to grow and evolve at an even pace as the story and the stakes escalate. 

This fast-paced read prominently displayed the themes of greed, power, control, and fighting against corruption. The way the author stepped into this grim reality immediately allowed the reader to feel the desperation and how these characters became fed up and disillusioned with how those living on society’s fringes were treated. The personal connections these characters form with one another and the emotional bond they form with one another, especially Amanita and Richie later on in the book, keep the reader engaged and invested in this growing and dangerous world the author has brought to life on the page.

The Verdict

Author Barry Harden’s “Amanita Virosa: The Destroying Angel” is a must-read thriller that is memorable, engaging, and chilling. The real-life connection to historical events in London during the 80s and 90s and the adrenaline-fueled action gave readers a unique perspective and thrilling narrative that is nearly impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Barry Harden is the author of a memoir, five novels, two books of poetry and a collection of short stories in the genres of political thriller, satire, Gothic fantasy poetry, and allegorical short stories. An animal rights, environmental protection, and civil rights proponent, he often injects his affinity for such in his writings.

“Words can be like gems or sticks. A coalition of words can become a diamond necklace or a broken picket fence, whichever way one wishes to use them, and as such, I use them for my works of fiction and poetry. Dark fantasy can be alluring but dark reality is sometimes unavoidable and can cascade one’s imagination deep into the hollowed skulls that litter the subsoil beneath our feet, to be returned once again to the world in the voice of a poet.” ~Barry Harden

Some of Mr. Harden’s poetry can be viewed in video format on YouTube: Dark Gothic Poetry and Stories.

www.barryhardenauthor.com

BEELITZ-HEILSTÄTTEN: Where Ghosts Never Die by Marina Osipova Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A Russian-American writer on a journey of discovery unearths dark secrets tied to WWI and WWII in author Marina Osipova’s “BEELITZ-HEILSTÄTTEN: Where Ghosts Never Die.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

What if rediscovering your birthplace unearthed a secret so powerful it could rewrite history—and your own identity?

A Russian-American writer obsessed with her birthplace – a ghostly derelict German military hospital near Berlin

Her Austrian husband, who pines for the father he never met

A passionate young doctor destined for darkness

A demonic figure who changed the course of history

Interrogation reports stolen from the Soviet secret police

What mysterious force connects them all?

This genre-bending time-slip narrative bridges 2018 to the haunting eras of WWI and WWII, interweaving together the ghosts of history and a shocking secret that threatens the present.

The story will appeal to fans of Kate Morton’s The Forgotten Garden and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale.

The Review

What a profound and moving read! The author did a remarkable job of finding a unique balance between the rich history set during both world wars and the thriller and romance settings with a paranormal time-bending twist. The characters feel dynamic and vivid, harkening back to eras long gone yet familiar in their motivations and emotional depth, drawing readers further into the narrative. 

The almost rhythmic nature of the author’s writing style was a significant draw into the story more and more. The imagery brought these settings to life so eloquently, highlighting the stark contrast between the desire of the protagonist to understand her birthright and the horrors of war and the growing hostility that grew for certain marginalized groups amongst the people of Germany at the time. The honesty and depth for which the author explores both teh highs and lows of humanity as a whole, from the emotional connection the protagonist and narrator forms with the figures of the past she comes into contact with, to the haunting realities of Nazi experimentation and heinous acts they committed during WWII, allowed the reader to connect with the protagonist on a more personal level.

The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and engaging, author Marina Osipova’s BEELITZ-HEILSTÄTTEN: Where Ghosts Never Die is a must-read historical fiction meets thriller and paranormal mystery novel. The narrative’s twists and turns and the complex emotional journey the narrator finds themselves on speak to the questions of identity, being honest with oneself, and learning from the past that this book’s themes explore easily. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Marina Osipova was born in East Germany into a military family and grew up in Russia, where she graduated from the Moscow State Institute of History and Archives. When she was five, she decided she wanted to speak German and, years later, she earned a diploma as a German language translator from the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Languages. In Russia, she worked first in a scientific-technical institute as a translator, then in a Government Ministry in the office of international relations, later for some Austrian firms. For many years, she lived in New York, working in a law firm, and then in Austria for several years. In the spring of 2022, after spending ten months in Russia, some unfortunate world events brought her back to the United States.

A long-standing member of the Historical Novel Society, she is dedicated to writing historical fiction, especially related to WWII. Her books garnered numerous literary awards, including a 1st Place WINNER of the 2021 Hemingway Book Awards novel competition for 20th Century Wartime Fiction (a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards). At some point or another, all her books hit the Amazon Top 100 lists in Historical Russian Fiction and Historical German Fiction and How Dare the Birds Sing even #1 or #2 in War Fiction in Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Her readers praise her books for “emotional realism,” for “taking on a subject that few authors have touched,” for “writing with heart and compassion while not holding back from hard cold realities of war,” for “giving an authentic and in-depth look at a culture that tends to baffle westerners.”

To learn more about Marina Osipova and her captivating books, visit her website at marina-osipova.com.

You can find her also on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marina.osipova.14/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4701687.Marina_Osipova

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marosikok

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-osipova-65b81418/

The Traveler of Truth: America’s First Superhero (The Sojourner Truth Story) by Gee Monte Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Gee Monte shares the incredible life of Sojourner Truth in the novel “The Traveler of Truth: America’s First Superhero (The Sojourner Truth Story)”. 

Advertisements

The Synopsis

A slave woman escapes with her infant daughter in the dead of winter then returns to the town she had escaped from to legally outwit her former master, winning freedom for her abused son. She then went on to fight for women’s rights and laid the groundwork for allowing women to vote. All the while, risking her life to help other slaves and abolish slavery. Amazingly, she wasn’t able to read or write but met with three presidents, hundreds of politicians, gave speeches to crowds all over the country, found jobs for freed slaves. She spoke in front of congress. Challenged the first desegregation laws and helped shape the future of America becoming a national hero during the Civil War.

America’s First Real Superhero nobody hears about,

The Traveler of Truth (•Sojourner Truth).

This is not the normal boring documentary about Sojourner Truth. This is real. Her personal story. Why she escaped. The people she met. The problems she had to overcome. How she became so intertwined into American History and why the nation loved her.

The Review

What a powerful and moving read. The author does an incredible job of writing in a way that feels transportive, taking the reader into the era and capturing the tension and the horrors that people endured before and after the end of slavery in the United States. The visceral nature of the events surrounding this period and the powerful imagery that brought this setting and period to life drove readers to understand and learn from the horrors of the past and recognize the work so many good people put into ending such a horrific act.

This novel’s heart rested in the protagonist’s phenomenal character development. The historical fiction arc given to the life of Sojourn Truth, and the acts of civil rights and battles for liberty she fought so hard for were significantly felt as the author brought their life to the page. The detail the author went into bringing the abuses and the struggles she and her family endured, from the earliest memory of being taken from her family as a child to fighting to save her children’s lives and so much more, made this reading experience both chilling and inspiring at the same time.

The Verdict

Remarkably written, thoughtful, and engaging, author Gee Monte’s “The Traveler of Truth” is a must-read historical fiction book. The depth of detail and the author’s ability to transport the reader to such a powerful and tumultuous time made this a novel readers won’t be able to put down, and will have them eager to read again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Gee Monte is a single parent of three successful children, a son and two daughters, and has traveled worldwide visiting thirty-eight countries and living long term in six of them. Over the years, Gee has come across fabulous stories of amazing women, some who have changed the world. In the waning years of life, Gee wanted to pass these stories along to the next generation, so these women are never forgotten. Currently living in both Florida and Georgia, United States, Gee continues traveling around the world visiting small towns and villages on every continent.

The series of books focus on historical women that have made a difference from every time period and nation. Gee never wanted to be an Author but couldn’t resist retelling the stories.