Synopsis

 

In October 1939, Albert Einstein warns President Franklin D. Roosevelt that Nazi Germany is actively pursuing an atomic bomb and urges him to make sure that the United States develops the bomb first. Roosevelt heeds the warning and launches the “Manhattan Project” in June 1942.

In October 1942, Roosevelt tells Einstein that prudence calls for the U.S. to have a back-up plan to the Manhattan Project in case Hitler gets the bomb first. Roosevelt commissions Einstein to secretly construct a usable time travel machine code named the “White Hole Project.”

In June 1974, an adventurous group of teenage friends, who call themselves the “Bad Love Gang,” discover a tunnel leading to the White Hole Project. They learn how to use the time machine and become the first known humans to travel back in time and return. Their mission is to save Jews and Gypsies from the Holocaust in November 1944 by using a U.S. Air Force B-17 bomber that was known as “The Phantom Fortress.”

 

 

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Trailer

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

On this Wednesday night in June 1942, something happened that forever changed the course of history for Indian Spring Airfield in the remote southwestern Nevada desert.

As they all approached within a couple hundred yards of the site, it became apparent that this was not a plane crash.

What Bucky and his small team of enlisted soldiers were looking at from one hundred yards away was a metallic-appearing space craft that glowed white, and the blue tint was emanating from the material that was leaking or extruding from breaches in the hull due to the crash damage.

He was more excited to discover the truth than afraid for his own safety.

Everything began to change at Indian Springs Airfield as the reality of the alien spaceship cash began to sink in.

One day before the alien ship crashed at Area 51 (AKA Groom Dry Lake, or Indian Springs Airfield) on June 16, 1942, Roosevelt had approved the all-out effort for the U.S. to be the first country to build the atomic bomb.

What has not been known until recently was that there was a separate, even more secretive project running parallel to the Manhattan Project, one that far fewer people knew even existed.

I happen to believe that time travel in the wrong hands could be far more devastating to world history and mankind than atomic weaponry.

I saw a sign with the phrase The White Hole. My heart jumped in my chest and time stood still; my life would never be the same again.

We set out to learn about the secrets of the White Hole and this marvelous time machine, how it worked, and what we could do with this life-changing discovery.

The more I read about the Holocaust, the more it haunted me.

“This whole White Hole Project is a time travel machine that was designed as a backup plan to the Manhattan Project.”

Being from Oak Ridge, all of us knew about the Manhattan Project, and had since we were very young.

This will be an adventure above and beyond any movie or science fiction novel any of us have seen or read, only this is big, real, and bad!

A virtually brand-new Eighth Air Force B-17G Flying Fortress named Bad Love, on its third mission ever, hijacked and commandeered by the Bad Love Gang, was about to bomb a Nazi German oil refinery.

It’s time to stand and deliver! Let’s see if our grand plan will sink or swim.

Our take off into the destiny of time travel in a WWII B-17 named Bad Love…

I already knew that we were going to have to shoot our way out of here.

What happened next was one of those moments of hope and destiny that defy gravity.

When we discovered time travel, we made it our first mission to save some Holocaust souls from certain death.

From my perspective and that of the other fourteen-time travelers, the time travel process in no way matched what Hollywood or television shows had made it out to be. It was a totally different experience!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

 

Kevin L. Schewe, MD, FACRO is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for 32+ years. He is an entrepreneur, having founded Elite Therapeutics and Bad Love Cosmetics Company, LLC. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of a small, publicly-traded, renewable, green energy and animal feed company called VIASPACE, Inc. Bad Love Strikes is his debut novel.

 

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Author: Stephanie Ward

Illustrator: Shaney Hyde

Age Range: 4 – 8 years

Grade Level: Preschool – 3

 

Synopsis

 

Arabella is a beloved only child who has everything a little girl could want. That is, until her brother, Avery, the master of mayhem, comes along. While she certainly loves him, she finds that it’s sometimes very hard to like him. So she spends her days creating marvelous, magnificent things with her magic pencil, and trying to ignore him. But when he spoils her perfectly proper tea party, she decides drastic action is required and she erases him from her life. Oops! But things aren’t the same without him — can she get him back?

Arabella and the Magic Pencil is a charming story, which will appeal to any child coming to terms with a new sibling and to caregivers who are supporting changing family dynamics, as well as those who love fantasy and engaging alliterative language.

 

 

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Review

This book is perfect for anyone that has a child and is expecting another or recently had another child. Or really for any family with siblings.  I was the oldest of five, so I remember not wanting younger siblings especially my youngest sister that born close to my birthday.  Thankfully, that was just when I was younger and I have the best relationship with all of my siblings.

Arabella is an only child and you might say she is a bit spoiled.  That is until her new brother, Avery, comes along.  She quickly learns that having a younger sibling isn’t always calm and peaceful until they aren’t around anymore.

This book is magical and will draw young children into a world of make-believe.  I can only imagine what children could come up with if they had their own magic pencil that would bring whatever they drew to life.  It also teaches them to have patience with a younger sibling.

I really enjoyed the illustrations.  They are colorful, whimsical, and depict the story very well.  They help bring the story to life.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

Activities to do in conjunction with the book

 

Teaching Notes

 

Magic Pencil Craft * Paper Doll Craft * Coloring Pages

 

About the Author

 

Stephanie Ward is the author of Arabella and the Magic Pencil. Her next picture book is due for release in 2020, but it’s all under wraps at the moment so stay tuned for details! After many years in marketing, Stephanie now spends her time writing sweet, silly and side-splitting stories for children. Originally from Spokane, Washington, Stephanie currently lives in London, England with her husband and young son.

 

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About the Illustrator

 

Shaney Hyde is an Early Childhood Teacher from Melbourne who runs art workshops for children and draws inspiration from her own playful childhood. Arabella and the Magic Pencil is the first book Shaney has illustrated, fulfilling a long-held dream.

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Why Me?: Chimeras, Conundrums, and Dead Goldfish
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Taylor and Seale Publishing LLC (November 18, 2019)
Paperback: 255 pages

 

Synopsis

 

In ancient Greece, the chimera was a bad omen. In WHY ME?, it’s a motive for murder. Bryn Baczek, a Seattle consultant, is vacationing in Scotland, hiking alone in a downpour, surrounded by midges, when she sees a body at the bottom of a ravine. Before she can return to the scene with the mountain rescue team, the body disappears. She learns that he was a scientist and that his laptop containing his cutting-edge research has disappeared. Rumors that Bryn has the laptop make her a target.

 

 

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Review

 

This is a delightful and quirky new mystery and it will definitely keep you on your toes.

Bryn stumbles across a dead body while on vacation in Scotland and she never could have imagined what would happen when she returned home.  Some bad people think she took something from the dead man’s backpack and they want it back.  Sadly, she doesn’t have it but these people will stop at nothing to retrieve the item(s).

We are introduced to some engaging characters that keep the story interesting.  Bryn has two good friends, Sophie and Logan.  Logan lives on a boat near hers with his partner Judd.  The good thing about this partnership is that while Logan is a bit of a wildcard, Judd manages to balance his personality and ground him.  Sophie is a good friend, but a bit of a flake IMHO.  She bailed on a trip for a guy that she just met?  Then there is Ben, a hunky detective that I think might have a thing for Bryn but only time will tell.  There is a wildcard – Keith.  He is rather suspicious with some of his actions, but is he a bad guy or a good guy?

The author does a great job of throwing many red herrings into the mix.  While I kinda suspected the killer, I didn’t have a lot to go on and it was more of a gut feeling.

I think this is going to make an interesting series and I can’t wait to see what is on tap next for Bryn and the gang.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

In a world filled with uncertainty and too little chocolate, Charlotte Stuart, PhD, has taught college courses in communication, gone commercial fishing in Alaska, and survived being the VP of HR and Training for a large credit union. Her current passion is for writing lighthearted mysteries with a pinch of adventure and a dollop of humor. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys watching herons, eagles, seals and other sea life from her Vashon Island home office.

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Wizard for Hire: Magic Required

 

by Obert Skye

 

Publication Date: 4/7/20 Hardcover

Page Count: 416

Middle Grade Fantasy

Book Design: © Shadow Mountain

Cover Illustration: Brandon Dorman

Art Direction: Richard Erickson Design: Sheryl Dickert Smith

 

Synopsis

 

The final answer to the existence of magic.

Ozzy and his friend Sigi are in more danger than ever before. After being injected with the mindcontrolling serum, Ozzy is learning to control the minds of people, but he is still being hunted by Ray, the power-mad villain who will stop at nothing to find and possess the formula. And on top of that, Rin still claims he’s a wizard, but he and Clark are missing, leaving Ozzy to wonder once again if magic really does exist.

When it becomes apparent that the minds and free will of all mankind are in danger of being controlled by whoever controls the serum, Ozzy and Sigi join forces with strange new friends that claim magic-like abilities. When Rin finally returns, Ozzy will discover once and for all what happened to his parents, what really happens at those popular fantasy conventions, and if magic truly exists.

 

 

 

 

Praise for the series

 

“Concludes a rambunctious trilogy with wacky conversations and adventurous wizardry.” –Foreword Reviews, starred review

 

“Be sure to have all three books on hand for ravenous Skye fans.” –Booklist

 

“A sequel that…continues to deliver mystery, humor, and real-life magic.” –Kirkus

 

“Thoroughly engaging and a prize for personal and public library YA fantasy collections.” –Midwest Book Review

 

“The juxtaposition of weird science and dodgy magic is…successful, thanks to the tongue-in-cheek humor Skye weaves throughout the story.” –Publishers Weekly

 

“Winning characters and witty humor elevate the plot. A solid purchase for large collections where light magical fantasy circulates.” –School Library Journal

 

 

About the Author

 

Obert Skye is currently writing this short bio you are now reading. He is worried that saying he has many best-selling books and has won numerous awards might sound braggy. Likewise, he is concerned that listing some of his titles—like the Leven Thumps series, or the Pillage trilogy, or The Creature from My Closet, or Mutant Bunny Island—might sound brash and uncouth. Sure, he’s good at doing underwater handstands and reciting the alphabet by memory, but pointing out things like that only feels as if he’s showing off. And is it too personal to mention that he is married and has multiple kids and lives somewhere warm? Who knows?

What’s important is that Obert Skye is coming to the end of writing his current bio and is wrapping things up by saying that the best way to question or bother him is by going to his website or finding him on Twitter

 

 

Synopsis

 

Freelance correspondent, Mike Walker, has made it his mission to condemn ethnic cleansing in Palestine and the West’s complicity in senseless wars of attrition in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere in the world.

Wars in which Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) provide assistance – legitimized, packaged, and presented by PR consultancy companies as “risk management” and “security solutions” – to governments and corporate interests operating in high-risk, complex environments for the purpose of extracting national resources.

In short, he’s playing with fire and he knows it. But he won’t be intimidated.

He won’t stop reporting the true facts that these “security solutions” which cost billions of dollars every year result in gung-ho mercenaries committing heinous crimes and premeditated femicide. Or the corruption, cruelty, and crimes against humanity which happen everywhere on a daily basis.

When a British PMSC begins paying him close attention, however, and MI5 get involved, has he finally gone one report too far?

Will he and his girlfriend escape the intrusive surveillance?

Or will he be silenced forever?

Find out in this fast-paced, exciting, gripping page-turner of a political thriller.

 

 

 

Read for Free on Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

1

 

Wednesday 30, August

 

Kutupalong Refugee Camp

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

 

 

“The devastating cruelty to which these Rohingya children have been subjected is unbearable — what kind of hatred could make a man stab a baby crying out for his mother’s milk. And for the mother to witness this murder while she is being gang-raped by the very security forces who should be protecting her.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

 

The usual power and athletic vibrancy of the body had slumped into a despondent stoop; the dark brown hair was tousled and damp; the appealing features with prominent cheekbones and well-defined chin were obscured by days of unshaven stubble; and the usual empathetic honesty that glowed in the eyes had faded into a gloom blurred by another humanitarian crisis. Despite being easy-going by nature, Mike Walker had never managed to contain his feelings of incomprehensible outrage whenever confronted by humanity’s emotional detachment from the barbarity being perpetrated daily against millions of innocent people.

Emotional detachment from the plight of others — easily achieved by simply looking the other way — always favoured the perpetrators rather than the victims who were reduced to being inconsequential nonentities; were persecuted and denied legal and human rights; were starving, sick, and dying; were victims of Apartheid policies with racial segregations inclusive of political and economic discrimination; were harassed, internally displaced, or forcibly deported; were imprisoned, tortured, or simply “disappeared”; were enslaved, exploited, or trafficked; and were ultimately the victims of mindless massacres that defied the comprehension of anyone even remotely humane.

As a freelance war correspondent covering conflicts for over a decade, Walker was no stranger to humanity’s capacity for ethno-religious hatred and brutality as had once again become evident. The Katupalong camp — just another of the more the 140 camps around the world currently harbouring a record number of over 65,000,000 refugees stripped of their past and without any hope for the future — started out as a refuge in 1991 following the influx of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing from neighbouring Myanmar (formerly Burma) where military forces had launched a campaign dubbed “Operation Clean up and Beautiful Nation.” That still ongoing task of “cleaning up and beautifying” Myanmar by ridding it of Rohingya “pests,” had intensified to the extent of becoming a full scale genocide that prompted Walker’s visit to the region.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 723,000 Rohingya Muslim men, women, and children had so far fled to Bangladesh with estimates of at least 18,000 women and girls raped, 116,000 beaten, and 36,000 thrown into fires. Those who suffered most were the women and girls who bore the mental scars of shocking sexual violence, pregnancy as a result of rape, and the duress of a forced hazardous journey.

Equally appalling for Walker was the high number of unaccompanied children who had either lost their parents or were in some cases brought over by extended family or friends. Walker’s outrage was still simmering as he and his companion set off on the drive back to Myanmar. He had no illusions about the horrendous crimes yet to be encountered; the regular reminders — that irrespective of any optimistic declarations about mankind owing “the child the best it has to give” — mankind had so far failed miserably to do so; and that further unforeseen hazards ahead would have to be overcome.

There was also the ever-present threat from Myanmar’s intelligence services whose fanatical dedication to preserving the Union had combined with the military leadership’s intention to impose a ruthless stranglehold on the population. In pursuit of its main objectives for stability, unity and sovereignty, Myanmar’s government relied on mass surveillance, arbitrary detentions, and indiscriminate torture: three possibilities constantly faced by journalists.

 

 

Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert

North of Al Hudaydah on Yemen’s Red Sea Coast

 

Despite the shortage of rainfall during the summer months from June to September when temperatures reached 40ºC, there was still sufficient moisture coming from the thick Red Sea fogs to sustain the native flora and fauna that had so far managed to survive the lack of wildlife conservation and environmental protection. Further inland, however, most of the Arabian Peninsula consisted of desert where this morning Arabian darkling beetles were busy burrowing into the sand for some respite from the heat of the blazing sun; overhead, sharp-eyed lappet-faced vultures soared effortlessly on rising columns of warm air in search of scarce sustenance; and the low-pitched squeaking sound of singing sand dunes was being marred by the lamentable whimpering of a dusky, unshaven, and perspiring Colombian mercenary in sweat soaked battle fatigues.

He had been taken by surprise, disarmed, and with a Glock 9mm automatic pointing at his head, forced to kneel in the sand by Stuart Maclean, a wiry, red-haired Scotsman. On realising that begging for his life would be to no avail, the Colombian desperately sought divine intervention with a shaking hand on heart and pleading squint towards the blinding blueness of the sunlit sky. The gods, however, were not in a forgiving mood. They granted the weatherbeaten wretch only enough time for a hurried prayer and one final loving thought of his wife and two children before presiding over his swift deliverance from this life to the next. The full metal jacket bullet fired from Maclean’s automatic shattered the desert’s tranquility and blew the back of  his head away.                                    “Bas no Beatha,” Maclean proclaimed with heartfelt jubilation in Scots Gaelic. He paused momentarily to contemplate the spattered blood and brain tissue that was already starting to sizzle and shrivel on the burning hot sand. He figured the corpse would not be around for long. Vigilant vultures would soon spot it and with ravenous haste clean it to the bone. Maclean’s nonchalant lack of compassion was the consequence of many years exposure to death and destruction. Apart from believing that his actions were always justified in the struggle between good and evil, Maclean in all his time as a soldier and mercenary had never paused to wonder why it was that those entrusted with protecting human life, were also the ones most responsible for ending it.

He wiped the beads of sweat that were rolling down his face with a shirt sleeve and holstered the automatic. Bending down to reach into the dead Latino’s rear pocket, he removed a wad of $100 bills which he pocketed before ambling back to the open top desert patrol vehicle. The hour plus journey back across the border to Jizan in the south-west corner of Saudi Arabia would be the first stage of his return to the UK where he was urgently needed to prevent any further revelatory and negative reports about Myanmar by an English war correspondent. The options for doing so included blackmail, intimidation, or if necessary, some more drastic course of action.

Maclean was already familiar with the persuasiveness of blackmail: a word derived from the Scots “mail” which in Scots English used to mean “tax” or “rent.” In ancient times, farmers living along Scotland’s border were in constant danger of being robbed by criminal gangs. As they lacked the means to defend themselves, the poor peasant farmers made payments in exchange for immunity from attack and plunder. Such extortion became known as “blackmail,” meaning “black tax” or “black rent.” While Maclean appreciated the potential of blackmail as an effective weapon for coercion, past experience and an unforgiving gut instinct had taught him that the only sure-fire way to get rid of troublesome people was to snuff them out completely.

 

Excerpt with Permission from William Hanna

 

About the Author

 

William Hanna is an accomplished writer based in London. He has published a wide range of articles and books on democracy and human rights. His first book, Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Philosophy was published in August 2017 and has since been translated into multiple languages. Further articles, reviews and videos from the author are available on his website.

 

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BREAKFAST AT THE HONEY CREEK CAFÉ

 

A Honey Creek Novel

 

by

 

Jodi Thomas

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Zebra

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

Number of Pages: 336 pages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Mornings on Main and Indigo Lake, comes this heartwarming new novel set in Honey Creek, Texas—a small town where family bonds and legends run deep, and friendship and love are always close at hand . . .

Piper Jane Mackenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, won’t let a major scandal rip her quirky hometown apart or jeopardize her dream of one day running for higher office. So she’s willing to welcome undercover detective Colby McBride, hired to help solve the mystery behind her wannabe fiancé’s disappearance. Colby’s cover? That he is an old boyfriend now begging Piper for a second chance—always when there are plenty of townsfolk around to witness his shenanigans.

Piper hardly knows whether to laugh or cry, especially when she finds herself drawn to the handsome rascal. He’s not the only newcomer she has to deal with. There’s a new interim preacher in town, Sam Cassidy. Drifting from one assignment to another since his one love died, Sam isn’t sure he’s the right fit for Honey Creek. But as Piper knows, this is a place chock-full of surprises. And if she can keep her town—and her heart—from going completely off the rails, there may be a sweet, unexpected future in store . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Order Now

 

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With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.

 

In July 2006, Jodi was the eleventh writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITAs to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.

 

Thomas was honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and served sixteen years as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

 

When not working on a novel, or inspiring students to pursue writing careers, Thomas enjoys traveling with her family, renovating a historic home, and “checking up” on two grown sons and four grandchildren.

 

 

 

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Selah’s Stolen Dream (Dream Horse Adventures)
Young Adult
4th in Series
Publisher: Hastings Creations Group (January 1, 2020)
Paperback: 262 pages
Digital Publisher: Hastings Creations Group (March 1, 2020)
Print Length: 217 pages

 

Synopsis

One girl’s victory is another’s tragic defeat.

Thirteen-year-old Selah’s perfect life unravels when her beloved horse is stolen. Then ten-year-old Emma buys the dream of a lifetime at a horse auction. When she learns the horse was stolen, even removing her hearing aid won’t drown out the voice telling her to make it right.

But two girls can’t divide the horse they both adore. So will life surprise them with an answered prayer?

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

How many twists and turns can one person take before they figure out what they were born to do? Susan Count’s degree is in Applied Science–nothing in that prepared her to write novels for children. But one day, she began to write with no preconceived ideas. No one could have been more astounded than she was when it turned into a middle-grade equine series. As a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, she takes the craft of writing seriously and considers revision to be her super-power.

She writes at an antique secretary desk that occupies a glass room with a forest view. Fittingly, it once belonged to the same wise grandmother who introduced Susan to the love of reading via Walter Farley’s horse books. That desk has secret compartments that hold memories, mysteries and story ideas.

Susan is a lifelong equestrian and is owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse. She is convinced that the only thing more delightful than riding the forest trails might be writing horse adventure stories. She invites you to saddle up and ride along.

 

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Synopsis

 

Claire DeNardo finally has her own detective agency, DeNardo and Son. The son, being her beloved dog, Charlie. Their first client is the wife of a wealthy Cleveland power broker who hires Claire to find her missing daughter. But Claire soon discovers her client’s family is hiding more secrets than there are sprinkles on Aunt Lena’s doughnuts—secrets that result in several murders.

This dangerously spicy case leads Claire to uncover a widespread criminal enterprise in which the names are changed to protect the guilty. Her easy-to-look-at fiancé, Police Detective Brian Corrigan, and his annoyingly stunning new partner, Abby, warn Claire to drop the investigation. But Claire is driven to uncover the truth and prove her client’s innocence, even if it puts her and her trusty sidekick, Charlie, in danger.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

Claire is a tough woman that isn’t afraid to get in there and solve the crime.  It’s a good thing she is a PI because that grants her a little more latitude with potential suspects.  They don’t think twice about answering her questions about the victims or potential murderers.  It doesn’t matter that her fiance is a police detective, he doesn’t like her poking her nose into his cases despite the fact that she is able to unearth details or clues that will help them solve the crime.

This is the first book that I have read in this series and I will say, start with book 1.  While the crime/mystery stands alone, there are details about her relationship with Brian and even the mob that isn’t fully explained in this book.  Setting that aside, I still enjoyed getting to know Claire, Brian, Ed, Lena, and the rest of the gang.  The mystery was well written and while the killer was someone I suspected, I didn’t read anything that really gave it away that it was this character.  There are several different situations happening throughout the book and I liked seeing how it all tied together in the end, or mostly anyway.

There is a character that is somewhat of a threat to Claire and Brian’s relationship, but not too much if these two lovebirds recognize her games and act accordingly.

Overall we thought this was an interesting book but would suggest starting with the first book to understand the relationship between all of the charcters.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Carole is the author of the new cozy mystery series, The Terrified Detective. She has also written a number of stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul and other similar anthologies. She’s published several books of short stories. She currently lives in Dallas, Tx.

 

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Miranda and the D-Day Caper
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Boutique of Quality Books (March 1, 2020)
Paperback: 338 pages

 

Synopsis

 

A modern day mystery with WWII tactics, old-time heroes and values, and the efforts of two amateur cousin sleuths from the Heartland.

On a sparkling spring morning in the Blue Ridge, small-town realtor Miranda Davis approached the tailgate market, intent on dealing with her whimsical cousin Skip’s unexpected arrival from New York. It turns out that Skip was on the run and, in his panic, grabbed his beloved tabby Duffy, recalling that Miranda had a recent part in solving a case down in Carolina. His predicament stemmed from intercepting code messages like “Countdown to D-Day,” playfully broadcasting the messages on his radio show over the nation-wide network, and subsequently forced to flee.

At first, Miranda tried to limit her old childhood companion’s conundrum to the sudden abduction of Duffy the cat. But the forces that be were hell-bent on keeping Skip under wraps by any means after he now stumbled close to the site of their master plan. Miranda’s subsequent efforts to decipher the conspiracy and somehow intervene placed both herself and her old playmate on a collision course with a white-nationalist perpetrator and the continuing machinations of the right-wing enterprise, with the lives of all those gathered for a diversity celebration in nearby Asheville and a crucial senatorial vote on homeland security hanging in the balance.

 

 

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Guest Post

A Guest Post from Skip

 

Hi, my name is Skip. You’re probably wondering why I’m writing this but I figure maybe if I can get it down on paper I can try to make some sense out of the predicament I’m in. Like how in the world I wound up in this little mountain town of Black Mountain a few miles east of Asheville when just a few days ago I was in the Big Apple of Manhattan filling in for an old acquaintance from the Heartland on his late night radio show.

First of all, I should explain that I’m an incurable storyteller. Very whimsical I might say. It just comes naturally to me. Second of all, I’ve done a lot of improv with a Second City troupe out of Chicago plus children’s theater.  In short, I’ve been trained to jump on anything that comes along and use it. Anything can be tapped and serve as a trigger. That’s the fun of it, that’s what gives you the great sense of freedom. Riding that wave into the unknown, making discoveries along the way. I love it, listeners and audiences love it. It’s kind of magic making something out of nothing.

At any rate, I’m about to go on following this pundit Russ Mathews who’s a kind of blowhard carrying on about how awful everything is and what this country needs is a big shakeup.  Sort of “Get them before they get you.” The other night, when he starts using World War II code—“D-Day is coming” words like that, I couldn’t take it any more. The minute he left the station after the five minute commercial break, I follow my opening kazoo signature theme doing a take-off on good ol’ Russ. I mean, I’m on the air to get all the insomniacs out there across the country to relax and hopefully go to bed. The last thing they need is to get all riled up by fear-monger Russ. So I start winging it, make it so D-Day is almost upon us, the center can’t hold, there’s a breach in the castle walls, we’ve got to take action. My ratings are going up almost immediately, call-ins are encouraging me like mad. My prospects are unlimited.

Next thing I know, I’m getting threatening phone calls. Back in my sublet in Hoboken, I receive a non-discloser form in my mailbox to sign or else. Shots are fired through my front window. To make the old long story short, I wind up grabbing my cat Duffy and hightailing it. Pretty soon, after being tailed to Pennsylvania, I try to shake them and head west and then due south.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. But I’ve got a cousin Miranda, an old playmate back in the day in Indiana who, as it happens, has received some notoriety lately as an amateur detective.  And also happens to live in a little secluded mountain town. Maybe she can help, offer me a little advice, offer me her services.

Oh, didn’t I say? The phantom posse just made off with my ginger tabby Duffy.

 

 

About the Author

 

Shelly Frome is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a professor of dramatic arts emeritus at the University of Connecticut, a former professional actor and, all told, has written over twenty-five plays in addition to his articles and novels.

A frequent contributor of articles on all facets of creative writing and acting, Shelly appears in numerous periodicals including Southern Writers Magazine where he is the film columnist. He is also a contributor to writers’ blogs and websites in the U.S. and the U.K.

His fiction includes Twilight of the Drifter, The Twinning Murders, and Lilac Moon. His Hollywood crime caper Tinseltown Riff was released in March 2013. His latest crime novel Murder Run was just released in August.

Among his works of non-fiction are the acclaimed The Actors Studio and texts on The Art and Craft of Screenwriting and writing for the stage. Shelly lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

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Destiny’s Way

 

A Novel of the Big Bend

 

by

Ben H. English

 

Historical Fiction / Suspense

Publisher: Creative Texts Publishers

Date of Publication: January 18, 2020

Number of Pages: 363

 

 

 

 

Kate Blanchard woke up one morning in a dream home she could no longer afford, with a young son who needed a man’s influence, and not a friend among those who had claimed to be prior to her husband’s mysterious disappearance.

About all she had left was a ramshackle ranch along Terlingua Creek, sitting forlornly in the desolate reaches of the lower Big Bend. It was the only place left she could go. There she finds a home and a presence of something strange yet comforting that she can’t put her finger on or fully understand.

With that ethereal presence comes Solomon Zacatecas, a loner with his own past and a knowledge of her land near uncanny in nature. He helps her when no one else can and is honest when no one else will be, but she suspicions that he is not always completely so.

Yet her quiet, unassuming neighbor proves to be more than capable in whatever situation arises. That includes when standing alone against those who would take everything else that Kate had, including her life as well as her son’s.

 

Praise

 

“This is one of those rare books that you simply can’t put down. Ben English ‘s writing style is pure magic. He really brings this historical fiction book to life. Immediately, you are drawn to the main characters Kate and Solomon and feel as though you are right there next to them, experiencing what they are experiencing. Destiny’s Way is one that would do well on the Silver Screen.”  — Catherine Eaves, published author

“Ben does a superb job with this book! Excellent characters, true-to-life environment that is part and parcel of the story, twists and turns enough to make you wonder what is going on, and a slice of life down in Big Bend that rings true. That area has historically been full of ‘characters’ throughout its history, and Ben brings those characters into the book, raising the hair on the back of your neck. Highly recommended!”  — J. L. Curtis, author of the Grey Man series

“Ben, I love how your words and your memories reach out and connect the past with the present and touch so many people along the way. You are the connector! Bravo Zulu, my friend.”  — Matt Walter, Museum of the Big Bend Curator

 

 

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Excerpt from Chapter 6 of Destiny’s Way

 

 

Gideon lived to a ripe old age, beating all odds of survival. Was he haunted by the demons of the dead for what he had done? No one knows, because no one dared ask. But in that time he went from being a man of some local repute to a living legend named after a ferocious predator. Some say his spirit still roams the Big Bend and when those of evil intent feel a sudden unexplained chill, it is the ghost of El Tigre warning them that he is still out there, some place.”

Zacatecas fell silent and Jamie stared at him with large, saucer-sized eyes, fixated on what had been said. Kate Blanchard might never have admitted it, but she herself had been swept up and away by this grim tale of vengeance. It was not only the story itself, but also how the saga was told by this quiet man sitting at her kitchen table. It was as if he himself had been there when it had all occurred.

“Time to get ready for bed, Jamie.” Kate nearly startled herself as she spoke, it had been so quiet in the interlude after Solomon finished.

“Yes, Mommy.” The small boy slid out of his chair and started from the room. But in the doorway he stopped and turned around, a question in his eyes.

“Solomon” he asked, “do you believe the ghost of El Tigre still wanders the Big Bend?”

“Yes, I do Jamie,” Zacatecas replied. “Sometimes when by myself, I get a strange feeling and look up, half expecting to see him horseback high on some ridge, watching.”

“Aren’t you ever scared?”

“No. I know in my heart that Gideon would never harm me. Nor would he ever do anything to you or your mother. Only bad people need to fear The Tiger.”

Jamie thought about Solomon’s last remark for a moment, then grinned and ran quickly up the stairs.

“That was quite a story, Mr. Zacatecas” Kate said, looking carefully at her dinner guest. “I have never heard of ‘El Tigre’ until now. But are you certain there was not just the tiniest bit of embellishment involved?”

“The story of Gideon Templar needs no embellishment, Mrs. Blanchard,” Solomon replied. “Everything I related was factual, and in truth only a small part of what happened in his life.”

“Even the part about his spirit still wandering the Big Bend?” she asked.

“The Mexicans across the river still sing their canciones de frontera norte about him, Mrs. Blanchard. They admonish their children to be good, or El Tigre will come and get them in the night. He was the last of the truly hard men, ma’am.”

Later, much later that evening, Kate was awakened from her sleep with a fitful start. Though the bedroom had been relatively cool, her nightclothes were dampened with her own sweat. Lying there, it took some time to come back to the here and now from where here unconscious mind had been. As cognizance and reality returned, Kate realized she had been dreaming; one of those disjointed, confusing dreams that nevertheless seems so real.

In it, she was at the original house doing some daily chores, as if preparing for company. There was nothing particularly disturbing or unusual about that in itself, she had done much the same when living there or just tidying the old place up.

But this time there was something different, something disturbing that became more evident as the dream continued on. In the artistry of her mind, the setting seemed to have shifted back to many years ago. The surrounding furnishings dated themselves as did the clothing she wore. Kate recalled glancing out the front window and having the sensation that something was missing from the scene. Then she realized what it was.

In her dream she rushed to the window, moving the curtains aside and looked out. The new house was not there, just a rock and cactus studded open flat. Off to the southeast, about a quarter of a mile away, sat a grouping of rock pens with walls some six feet high.

There was something else too; or rather, someone. It was a lone rider on a buckskin horse moving slowly toward her. He was dressed in the manner of a man from the early Twentieth Century, carrying a long-barreled lever action rifle in his right hand, muzzle high with the stock nestled between the saddle pommel and his leg. Kate could not see the rider’s face, his large brimmed felt hat was pulled down low, shadowing his features.

The man’s manner appeared alert and yet casual in nature, as if he was riding into a place he had come to many times before. He also seemed to know that she was watching him, in fact it was as if he was expecting her to be at that particular window.

And though Kate Blanchard had never seen the rider before, she knew exactly who he was…

 

 

 

Ben H. English is an eighth-generation Texan who grew up in the Big Bend. At seventeen he joined the Marines, ultimately becoming a chief scout-sniper as well as a platoon sergeant. Later he worked counterintelligence and traveled to over thirty countries.

At Angelo State University he graduated Magna Cum Laude along with other honors. Afterwards Ben had a career in the Texas Highway Patrol, holding several instructor billets involving firearms, driving, and defensive tactics.

His intimate knowledge of what he writes about lends credence and authenticity to his work. Ben knows how it feels to get hit and hit back, or being thirsty, cold, wet, hungry, alone, or exhausted beyond imagination. Finally, he knows of not only being the hunter but also the hunted.

Ben and his wife have two sons who both graduated from Annapolis. He still likes nothing better than grabbing a pack and some canteens and heading out to where few others venture.

 

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4/2/20	Guest Post	Max Knight
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4/9/20	Author Interview	That’s What She’s Reading
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