Author Lynn Tincher is in the process of setting up a website for her newsletter, The Literary Lynnch Pen. I’ve been a regular contributor and will be listed as part of her ‘team.’ Anyone interested in contributing should contact Lynn – lynntincher AT gmail.com. She wants to keep the newsletter fresh and exciting!
And anyone interested in reviewing Book V…Heather, please see One Arc Tours
* MOVIE REVIEW *
2012
Let me just say that I wisely left my brain at the door for this one!
This is every disaster/end-of-the-world movie rolled into one. The only way the director could top this is to blow up the solar system.
99 % of the movie is completely unrealistic.
That said... this is actually a fun movie. It's incredible eye candy. The sight of L.A. sliding off into the ocean is like WOW. It is a roller coaster of effects and thrills. It does become exhausting at the end, but it's one hell of a ride. A couple characters are a little shallow, but there's certainly more development and story than what the critics claim. (And as one critic stated "You never get off a rollercoaster and complain about the storyline!")
I give it a B
Next week's review will be The Blind Side!!! Football and a sweet, true story? I am so there!
* SPUNKY ON THE ROAD *
11-2pm
Waldenbooks, New Bern, NC
This store is home to Nicholas Sparks - or rather was. New Bern's Waldenbooks will close in January, along with 200 other stores. So this visit will be sad as I say goodbye to Ann, Leslie, Wendy, and the others...
Today I have the honor of featuring my dear friend and mentor, p.m.terrell, and her latest book, River Passage!
Excerpt from River Passage by p.m.terrell:
Sycamore Shoals,
The Watauga Settlement, 1775
They appeared at dawn, rising like apparitions through the mist. The morning dew clung to their bronzed bodies as their sinewy arms sliced paddles through the water in a rhythmic motion borne of hours of toil. They moved silently on the glistening current, their black eyes alert, ever searching for others along the shore and in the gathering canoes. When at last they rounded the final bend, they were greeted with the ghostly vision of braves pulling ashore, their lean, taut bodies gliding out of the vessels, their flat, bare feet touching the cold ground without leaving as much as a footprint on the pristine shore. The canoes were lined up wordlessly, their wooden bodies pressed side by side as dozens and then hundreds gathered.
The men greeted one another with a quiet nod, their eyes meeting for the briefest of moments before they began trotting through the thickening woods. Their figures seemed to morph from the very tree trunks that concealed them into a forest that came alive with their bodies, the branches swaying ever so slightly as they completed a journey across lands where their forefathers’ spirits still roamed.
Their feet found the paths as if they had minds of their own, as if their toes could see the brambles and pine straw stretched out before them, freeing their dark, brooding eyes to stare straight ahead at the scores of men before them. They knew without so much as a glance behind them that others followed in their steps, and that all would gather at the place the white men called Sycamore Shoals…
Bio:
p.m.terrell is the internationally acclaimed author of 11 books, including four computer books, one non-fiction for authors, and four contemporary suspense/thrillers. But her most popular books are her historical suspense/adventures inspired by the true story of Mary Neely: Songbirds are Free and River Passage. A full-time author since 2002, terrell followed in Mary’s footsteps as she joined the river expedition westward from Virginia to Fort Nashborough (present-day Nashville, TN) and again after her capture by Shawnee warriors, when she was taken hundreds of miles from home before she eventually escaped. Photographs and video from her trips are found at Mary Neely and her author web site is pmterrell
About River Passage:
The trip should have taken four weeks. More than 200 people set out for Fort Nashborough in November 1779, expecting to arrive by Christmas. Instead, the survivors limped into Fort Nashborough almost five months later with a harrowing tale. Their river passage had been watched by Dragging Canoe, the leader of the Chickamauga Indians, who attacked them in wave after wave as they struggled westward. Four teenagers were captured, more than 26 were killed, and countless others wounded. In addition, they’d faced frostbite, near starvation, and a small pox outbreak. Mary Neely was on board one of the flatboats with nine brothers and sisters and their mother, and it would be a journey she could never forget.
River Passage has been determined to be so historically accurate that the Nashville Government Metropolitan Archives has admitted the original manuscript into their Archives for future researchers and historians.
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Eternity Falls Marcher Lord Press (October 1, 2009)
by Kirk Outerbridge
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kirk Outerbridge developed a passion for storytelling at an early age. Through years of reading Fantasy and Science Fiction novels, comics, table top gaming and watching endless hours Japanese anime, he developed a keen sense for what made stories enjoyable and more importantly—what didn’t.
While pursuing an engineering degree in college, Kirk endeavored to tell his own stories, choosing writing as the easiest and cheapest medium to master—or so he thought. Several years and several hundred thousand words later, he produced a Sci-fi trilogy that shall never (God willing) see the light of day, but that did teach him much needed lessons about the craft of writing fiction.
After college Kirk returned to his homeland of Bermuda where he reunited with his childhood friend and future wife, Ria. But before marrying his lovely wife, Kirk entered an even greater marriage and devoted his life to Christ in 2002.
With a new found direction in life, writing fell by the wayside but the urge to tell futuristic stories never left. After much prayer and contemplation, Kirk purposed his writing for God’s Will, seeking to draw to Christ those who shared his passions for all things futuristic and Sci-fi.
Kirk currently lives with his wife Ria and 18 month old son Miles in beautiful Bermuda. He is a faithful member of the Church of Christ and is a professional engineer employed by the government.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In the future, death is only a problem if you can’t afford the price. Such is the promise of Gentec Corporation’s “Miracle Treatment”, a genetic anti-aging elixir that grants eternal life—or does it?
When a Gentec client suddenly dies of natural causes, the powers that be will stop at nothing to ensure their version of eternity remains unchallenged; even if it means concocting a religious sabotage conspiracy to cover a lie.
With the media about to blow the story wide open, the credibility of Gentec and the lives of millions of clients rest on one man’s ability to uncover the truth.
Enter detective Rick Macey, religious counterterrorist expert and Gentec executive Sheila Dunn’s last hope for salvation.
Now with the clock ticking and the corporate brass seeking their own solution at any cost, Macey must track down a religious zealot out to destroy the Miracle Treatment for good.
But when Macey finds himself not only falling for his client, but confronted with the possibility that the culprit could hold a connection to his shaded past, the truth suddenly becomes a dangerous thing.
Only through a test of faith can he stop the crisis before it’s all too late and eternity falls.
Twelve Days of Terror by Richard G. Fernicola, M.D.
Today's Photo Tuesday involves the solid oak bookcase that resides in our living room. It's filled with favorite hardbacks, some movie books, favorite paperbacks, my books (of course!), and some Laserdiscs. (LOL - remember those?!)
My recent reading has consisted of marketing and self-help books, so thought I would grab one off the shelf for you today!
Twelve Days of Terror by Richard G. Fernicola, M.D.
Hardback - April 2001, ISBN-13: 9781585742974
Paperback - April 2002, ISBN-13: 9781585745753
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
400 pages
I am an animal lover and fascinated with sharks. I never miss Shark Week on Discovery! When this book was released in 2001, I simply had to pick it up. I'd heard about the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks for years and wanted to know more about this tale. And I was not disappointed!
400 pages of documentary might sound boring, but this was a fascinating read. The author chronicles each day and every attack in detail in a narrative form that reads more like a novel. He is precise with dates, names, & quotes, and presents the story from every possible angle. There are photos and drawings scattered throughout the book and a large portion is compiled in the middle.
Each chapter entices one to read more, gripped with anticipation. The story of how one shark held an entire coastline hostage for twelve days loses nothing in the retelling. The attacks in fresh water are especially intense. (Attacked by a shark while swimming in a river - how scary is that?) The 1916 New Jersey shark attacks were also the inspiration for Peter Benchley's thriller Jaws. Once you read this book, you'll realize that reality is far more frightening than fiction, too!
Was it a rougue shark? A tiger or great white? And why did it attack? Read and decide for yourself...
I give it 9 out of 10. If you love sharks and history, you will love this book!
Today I want to welcome a very special author and a friend dear to my heart, Jamieson Wolf. We may spell our names different, but we are brother & sister at heart!
Tell us a little about Hunted, Book One in The Hunted Series-
Well, in Hunted – The Hunted Series Book One, we meet Susan Halliway…
Susan Halliway is desperate to change her life. But something is desperate to hunt her....
A serial killer begins to leave increasingly frightening notes for Susan after he kills each of his victims. Little girls with blond hair and bright eyes. She receives details of the killings days before the bodies are found. The trouble is, the killings match a storyline on the soap opera "Hope Falls". The storyline where Susan's old character was the final victim.
Turning to Erin Edwards, the script writer who wrote the "Hope Falls" storyline, they both try to solve the puzzle of who is killing little girls and why they've targeted Susan. Meanwhile, Derrick Madison, Susan's old flame comes back into her life.
Will Derrick's flame for Susan get in the way of his police investigation? Or will Susan's lust for Derrick blind her to powerful secrets that Derrick may be withholding from her. They will need all their cunning, all their daring, if they are to reach the end of this hunt alive....
What are some of the other books you write?
Well, I seem to be all over the place!
I write romance novels for Breathless Press (Cupids Delight and Starlight Starbright are out now!) and erotic romance for Cobblestone Press (including The Written Word Series, The Owen Diaries and The Other Trilogy).
I’ve also written a dark young adult book (The Ghost Mirror), a book of short stories (Light in the City of Shadows) and some micro fiction collections (The Sleepless Book of Dreams and The Wakeful Book of Desire).
I’ve also written quite a bit of non-fiction and some how to write books for those that want to try their hand at the craft of writing. I’ve even written poetry and some science fiction.
Like I said, I seem to be all over the place!
I know you have a special manuscript that you hope to have published soon – and thank you for allowing me the chance to read it! Can you tell us a little about it and why you were inspired to write it?
Well the book is called One Step at a Time.
It’s a memoir about my life living with Cerebral Palsy. People often ask me what it's like living with a disability.
I usually don't like talking about it. I've been teased and ridiculed enough growing up to be conditioned to the idea that no one really cares; they just ask out of sympathy. I know this is not the case, but it is a hard habit to break.
So it remains a little talked subject in my life. I exist day to day and try to ignore the pain as much as I can. And I remain quiet about my disability.
Until now.
After finding out that my niece possibly had Cerebral Palsy, I was inspired to write something that might help her, that might aid her in her difficult years that were ahead. I wanted to write a memoir so that she knew she was not the only person suffering with Cerebral Palsy.
I wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone.
Later I found out that my niece didn’t have Cerebral Palsy, but I had already begun. The words were already set free, so I decided to continue.
I knew that writing about my life would be difficult. I also knew that it would not focus solely on Cerebral Palsy. Having grown up as a disabled homosexual and survivor of abuse, I knew that there would be many ghosts clamouring for attention.
I wanted the benefits of this memoir to be threefold: I wanted to let go of past ghosts and move on with life. I wanted to go through a healing process that would help me achieve that. And I wanted to write something that would be an inspiration to others.
I wanted to write something that would let other people with disabilities that they were not alone. I wanted to write something that would be of some help to other survivors of physical and sexual abuse.
I can only hope that I have succeeded.
Despite the difficulties in my life, I am thankful for every single aspect, every single thing that has happened to me. That may seem odd to some, considering what I have been through, but I know that it has taught me to be a better person.
It has taught me how to be a better human being.
The book is incredibly personal to me and it was incredibly difficult to write. It’s also had an incredibly hard journey with publishers at the moment. It was supposed to be published with one publisher in the summer of 2008. Then that publisher went bankrupt. Then it was supposed to be published with another publisher in November 2009. Then that publisher closed its doors due to family problems.
I am beginning to wonder whether or not I will find a publisher for it, but I won’t give up hope. I believe that it’s a book that deserves to be read and possibly the most important thing I’ve written.
(And I hope that it is published, as it's incredibly powerful!)
You not only write a lot of books, but you read a lot, too! When do you find the time? What are some of your favourite genres and books?
You know, books are like air to me. I need books like I need oxygen, food and water. In fact, though my husband insists that books are a luxury, to me they are a necessity.
I read any time I can. I always have a book with me. I read on the bus, the elevator (when you live 21 floors up in a high rise, that elevator ride can be VERY long), in line ups. Anywhere I can read, I do.
I also read pretty fast. I usually read about two or three books a week, sometimes more depending on the size of the book. Obviously something the size of the later Harry Potter books or the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon take me longer, but it’s all about finding a balance right?
As for genre’s, I read anything and everything. Like my writing, I’m all over the board on this too.
As I’m a writer of paranormal, speculative and horror fiction, I tend to read a lot of that. I love Caridad Pineiro’s Calling Series, the Choices Trilogy by Sandy Lender (she writes some incredible high fantasy that’ll knock your socks off) and I love the experimental novels by Caroline Smailes (Black Boxes is one of the most amazing novels I’ve read in years).
I love historical fiction, biographies, anything having to do with Anne of Green Gables and Lucy Maud Montgomery. I love fantasy, sci fi and I really love Anne Rice’s new Christian oriented novels: Christ the Lord Out of Egypt, Christ the Lord The Road To Cana and Angel Time. I have a real hankering for Young Adult books as of late too.
But if I had to pick a favourite? Well, that would have to be Stephen King hands down. He constantly surprises and scares me and I always go back for more!
How long have you participated in The Muse Online Writer’s Conference?
I’ve been teaching workshops for The Muse Online Writers Conference since it began four years ago. Every year I teach a new and different workshop that focuses on a different area of writing.
It’s always amazing to take part in something like that. Not only is it a good chance to market yourself and network, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to help people become better writers.
In fact, if you go to the non fiction page of my web site at Jamieson Wolf you can download all of my workshops for free! They’re available from Night Wolf Press LLC, something I’ve been working on for a little while. But there are five different workshops to choose from, so download them and write to your hearts content!
What advice would you tell a new writer?
Don’t listen to the people who tell you not to bother writing.
If you want to write, you’ll know that it’s a compulsion that shouldn’t be ignored. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks as long as it’s something you want to do. Just ignore them and make sure to write every day.
Also, don’t get discouraged! When I look at some of my early writing, I cringe. But the lovely thing about the craft of writing is that by writing more and reading more, you constantly grow as a writer and become better at the craft of writing.
And I can’t stress this last part enough: read read read! Read as many books as you can get your hands on. Stephen King once said that if you don’t read, you don’t have the will or the tools to write.
I couldn’t agree more!
Would your cat Mave like to add a word? Tell us something about her human owner perhaps?
Hold on a second, I’ll check…what’s that Mave? No, I can’t say that in an interview…no, I can’t say that either and I don’t know where you picked up that kind of language young lady!...What do you mean you heard it from me?...I would never say something like that! You’ve been watching cop drama’s again haven’t you?
What? Oh, okay, I can say that: Mave says that I can be terribly stubborn, anal retentive and just a tad neurotic…oh, Mave, that’s not a very nice thing to say about someone you know. Maybe we have to send you to the vet…
Oh, Mave says that I’m an incredibly wonderful person and she loves me very, very much, oh, what’s that? Oh yes, she says send money. Or books…and cat nip….what? Oh, alright, I added in the money and books part, but she did ask for cat nip.
To where would you like to travel?
As I’ve been all over Canada and to some parts of the United States, I’d love to go further. I’d love to go to Ireland and Egypt, Las Vegas and New York. I’ve love to go to Italy or to Venice. Anywhere really, as long as I get to come home.
Where can we find your books?
Well, you can find links to buy my books and excerpts at my web site which you can find here: Jamieson Wolf
And if you’re out and about on the web, you can find me here:
Well, I’ve got something really special for all your blog readers!
Hope Falls – The Hunted Series Book Two will be coming out in paperback early next year! Hunted is already out in paperback and has been a huge best seller!
To celebrate the release of Hope Falls in paperback, I’m giving away ebook copies of Hunted! How awesome is that?
If your readers click on the following link, they’ll be able to download their very own copy of Hunted – The Hunted Series Book One absolutely free! The Hunted Book One
It was one of my absolute favourite books to write and I hope you all enjoy reading it!
Thanks for having me here today Diane! You’ve been lovely as always and this tea was fantastic!
17th 6 - 9 pm
Roanoke-Chowan CC, Ahoskie, NC
*seminar - How to Promote Your Book Now!
* Photo of the Day *
What I miss most about Albuquerque is the International Balloon Fiesta, the largest in the world. We went every year and I usually shot about eight rolls of film a day.
This shot was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I was taking photos of this little balloon as they laid it out and began inflating. One of the men noticed me and gestured me forward. To my surprise, he allowed my husband and I to step inside the balloon through the slit and take photos from within. I was shooting B&W at the time, but even without color, the photo is still pretty wild!
