The 8th Island Trilogy includes Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. Over the three books, we follow the adventures of a quirky family, the Wellsleys. The main characters are frumpy senior citizen Archie, his daughter-in-law, Tessa, and his ill fourteen-year-old granddaughter Ella.

Archie, searching for his missing son, accidentally transports his family—and a cruise ship full of people—to a magical planet. There, they uncover the truth: all worlds are dying. Yet hope is not lost. A way to restore all that will soon be destroyed is revealed, along with the realization that Ella will play a role no one could have imagined—especially not her.

On the mysterious island of Jarr-Wya, many races of creatures battle for dominion and magic lurks around every corner. When the world falls dark, that is when bravery must shine the brightest, and the Wellsleys will reveal the strength they never knew they possessed—as well as the power of love to save the day.

 

 

Synopsis

 

When frumpy senior citizen Archie goes in search of his missing son in the Spanish Canary Islands, he stumbles upon a higher mission: locating a magical cure for his ailing fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Ella. Using a portal-jumping device called the Tillastrion, Archie and a stone-headed creature named Zeno are transported to Jarr-Wya, a magnificent yet terrifying island in a connected realm―along with Ella and her strong-willed mother, Tessa, who accidentally stow away on this not-so-secret quest.

What they find on Jarr-Wya is an island tortured by a wicked Star anchored in the sea, and a raging three-way battle for dominion between the stone-wielding Bangols, the fiery Olearons, and the evil Millia sands. Ella’s wit and resourcefulness emerge in this new world, while Tessa is forced to confront her long-buried secrets and a confusing new love triangle. When Ella is captured, Tessa and Archie―with the help of a company of peculiar allies―set out to save her and unravel the terrible mystery of her cure. A mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night adventure of three unlikely heroes, Above the Star reminds us that even the smallest act of bravery can transform our lives and the fates of the worlds around us.

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Ella Wellsley is not your typical teenager. Cancer left her mute, but not powerless. Trapped in a parallel dimension, Ella rallies her strength to join her family―her mother, Tessa, her grandpa Archie, and her magical boyfriend―in locating the cure to her illness. This cure is entangled in the fate of all worlds, and threatened by the presence of an evil Star anchored in the sea. The Star has thrown life everywhere into chaos―and it is Ella who holds the key to unlocking its mystery.

Caught in a web of betrayal, mistaken identities, secrets, and love triangles, Ella, Tessa, and Archie must overcome their troubled pasts to ensure a future for all worlds. On this journey―armed with unearthly abilities and unexpected allies―each member of the Wellsley family will learn the power of love in the face of their greatest fears.

 

 

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Synopsis

 

All worlds are dying, and it’s up to one broken and dysfunctional family from Earth―the Wellsleys―to save the day.
Cancer-ridden Ella celebrates her fifteenth birthday beneath an enchanted mountain, but it is what lies even farther below―the mysterious Star in the sea―that demands she grow up quickly. While Ella grapples with the sacrifice she must make and the lies she is forced to tell, her mother, Tessa, is hell-bent on protecting her.
Through bizarre encounters, love-sick Tessa realizes that she is not the lonely orphan she believes. Her husband, Arden, and father-in-law, Archie, are not the only ones with magical bloodlines. This revelation changes everything. As Archie chooses to embody his unexpected ancestry, he learns that leading the charge in the ultimate battle against evil won’t be as easy as he thought. He’ll need his family―and the strange allies he has gained―by his side to give Ella enough time to set things right.

Can they defeat the unstoppable Millia sands―and another unexpected foe―before everything they hold dear is destroyed? Or will their adventure tear them apart for good? The finale to The 8th Island Trilogy will hold you spellbound until the final page, and long after.

 

 

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Author Interview

 

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

 

I always knew I was destined to be an artist of many forms. When I was in elementary school, I set up an art studio in my family’s basement and painted and wrote. It was all romantic notions of writing and artmaking, but it was innate and natural for me from as young as I can remember. I began writing my first novel while I was in junior high school. I still vividly remember that story.

 

Who were some authors that influenced you as a youth, and in what ways?

 

The portal fantasy of Michael D. Warden was an early influence for me in writing in that genre. I also loved all the books by David Gemmel. Even the western writer Louis L’Amour had a big impact on me. Their stories taught me about world building, scene mastery, and character development. In terms of being a writer I love Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird and Carolyn See’s Making a Literary Life. Those two were monumental for me as a young writer.

How did it feel when you got to hold your very first advanced copy?

 

Holding the first advanced reader copy of my memoir, Expecting Sunshine which was my first published book, was surreal. I was breathless. My cheeks hurt from smiling. I knew right then that I would write books until I die. The feeling was addictive. It was this epiphany: I created this thing—a finished book—that was a tangible object I could show for all my tireless hard work. It was the greatest payoff!

 

What was the inspiration for The 8th Island trilogy?

 

I am inspired by the idea of resiliency. I’ve witnessed it in others and myself. It’s the desire to get out of bed every morning and live, no matter what we have been through. That ‘what’ for me was the death of one of my children. That event taught me to be strong and brave. It taught me to fight. That is what The 8^th Island Trilogy is all about: how far will we go to protect those we love? To the end of the world—and beyond to other worlds as well? It is book series about love and courage, even when we do not feel courageous.

The order of the trilogy is:

Above the Star

Below the Moon

Inside the Sun

 

At what point during the writing process did you realize it was going to be a trilogy?

 

Once I got to a natural ending for book one in the trilogy, called Above the Star, and the story was no where near over, that was when I knew I must continue. I did make the conscious choice of telling the story in a trilogy, instead of making the series open ended in terms of the number of books it includes. It drives me nuts when series go on forever and drag things out. I like keeping the pace fast and the story tumbling along. When we know the end is in sight, it adds to the tension and excitement.

 

What sort of surprises await us in book three, Inside the Sun?

 

The characters in the story are full of secrets. Some of them do not realize the power that lies dormant inside of them. The mystery of the 8^th island came to fruition in book two—Below the Moon—but that is only the beginning. There are many adventurous plot twists and character epiphanies in Inside the Sun. The ending is truly universal and yet deeply personal. I can’t wait for readers to experience the conclusion. Inside the Sun—the whole trilogy—makes us feel, reminds us that we are alive and that we are all connected. Beyond that, I can say no more!!

 

How has your writing life and launching Inside the Sun changed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?

 

Everything has changed. First, there is the stress that is causing me to write more poetry than any other form of writing. I find poetry wonderful to express abstract feelings, to seek to unearth how I’m coping (or not), to capture the essence of my present experience.

I’m also blogging much more than I ever have. I am posting about Authors Helping Authors and ways people can help their indie author friends, for example. I’ve even been writing creative curriculum I can use when teaching my kids. That’s never something I had imagined myself doing. This is a time where we must support each other however we can.

Launching Inside the Sun has been a new ballgame. I love meeting with readers in person, so I’m finding other creative and meaningful ways to connect. I do feel that The 8th Island trilogy is perfectly timed for the COVID-19 pandemic. The story is about people coming together to fight for what they believe, finding the bravery they need inside themselves in hard times. It’s a story I’m sure we can all relate to, and one that will inspire us in our own challenging times.

 

You’re not only a writer, but also an artist, designer, filmmaker, and curator—that’s amazing! How do you find the time and motivation to juggle all your passions?

 

I’m a master juggler. Ha ha! That was a joke! I mostly cope by scheduling everything on Google Calendar—props to my husband for finally breaking through my old-school ways and teaching me to use the program. I’m a big fan of writing things out by hand, but no more!

My family is a big help with everything I do. Their support is truly amazing and I am beyond grateful for them.

I do many kinds of work— writing, art, curation, filmmaking—but it all ties together. When I need a break from writing, for example, I’ll make visual art, and vice versa. This helps me when I’m feeling stressed, uninspired, or just need a break.

 

What advice do you have for aspiring young novelists? 

 

Time deadlines work wonders for getting words on paper. I wrote the first draft of Above the Star, book one in The 8^th Island Trilogy, during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal with NaNoWriMo is to pen a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Since then I have learned to be disciplined on my own, but that was a great start.

My other advice is to separate the creative writing stage from editing. Write first, edit later. Plus, never feel like you are not ready to write the book that is burning inside of you. You’ll never be ready, so start now, get it done, and continue to write. Writing is a journey and a passion. Always learn and grow.

 

 

About the Author

 

Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning author, artist, photographer, art curator, filmmaker, and public speaker. She has received over 40 noteworthy distinctions for her visual and literary work. Her award-winning fantasy series The 8th Island Trilogy includes, Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. The series has been described as “A WRINKLE IN TIME meets THE PRINCESS BRIDE” by The Perpetual You magazine, and “Fast and bizarre… never a dull moment” by Forward Reviews. The 8th Island Trilogy “weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for blooklovers of all ages” – US Review of Books. Chute’s bestselling memoir, Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss, was a top Kirkus title of 2017 and received a plethora of other literary distinctions. The memoir was accompanied by the feature documentary of the same name, which has screened internationally for the last three years.

Chute received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design from the University of Alberta, Canada, and studied at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. She graduated valedictorian with her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, USA. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker. She has presented on art, writing, bereavement, and the healing capacities of creativity around the world. Contact the Author/Artist for bookings info@alexismariechute.com

When not in her art/photo studio or at her computer, Chute loves to spend quality time with her family, read fiction and non-fiction, watch reality TV, paddleboard, and canoe. She is not a winter person but lives in frosty Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with her husband and their three living children.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

Autographed copy of the entire 8th Island Trilogy (USA only)

(ends August 17)

 

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Synopsis

 

A tragic mystery blending sleuthing and spirituality

​An exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture, Winter of the Wolf follows Bean, an empathic and spiritually evolved fifteen-year-old, who is determined to unravel the mystery of her brother Sam’s death. Though all evidence points to a suicide, her heart and intuition compel her to dig deeper. With help from her friend Julie, they retrace Sam’s steps, delve into his Inuit beliefs, and reconnect with their spiritual beliefs to uncover clues beyond material understanding.

Both tragic and heartwarming, this twisting novel draws you into Bean’s world as she struggles with grief, navigates high school dramas, and learns to open her heart in order to see the true nature of the people around her. Winter of the Wolf is about seeking the truth—no matter how painful—in order to see the full picture.

In this novel, environmentalist and award-winning author, Martha Handler, brings together two important pieces of her life—the death of her best friend’s son and her work as president of the Wolf Conservation Center—to tell an empathetic and powerful story with undeniable messages.

 

 

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Praise for Winter of the Wolf

 

“Martha’s gut wrenching and captivating story may be a work of fiction, but it hauntingly hits home. I felt like I was reading my worst nightmare.”  –Stephanie Ruhle, NBC News

“Handler takes us deep inside one family’s tragedy and shows us how our spiritual beliefs can guide us at our deepest moments of grief. As we travel with fifteen-year-old Bean, through the loss of her beloved brother Sam, we see how friendship, trust, and deeply held beliefs help her navigate the painful aftermath of his death. In a mystery that races forward, Handler shows us the power of sibling love to endure forever.  –Lisa Heffernan, Author of Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults

“All great books open our minds, broaden our visions and strengthen our convictions, and Martha Hunt Handler’s Winter of the Wolf does all three brilliantly. Much like a wolf, 15-year-old Bean follows her intuition, desperate and determined to prove her beloved brother did not choose to end his life. As readers follow her emotional and spiritual journey, they will, undoubtedly, begin to question their own beliefs about life and death and our interconnectedness of all spiritual beings. A breathtaking read from start to finish.”  –Hélène Grimaud, Founder of the Wolf Conservation Center, world-renowned musical artist, writer, and human rights activist

“A true literary masterpiece.  Martha Hunt Handler takes us on an ‘edge of your seat’ thriller, We find ourselves arriving at the fearless collision course between perceptions we hold, and forgives within. A double take on life’s purpose, spirituality, and the distance unconditional love is forced to take through a journey of unfathomable pain, to the bright light we all hold within us.”  –Wendy Diamond, Best Selling Author, TV personality, animal advocate, and founder of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

“Let Winter of the Wolf take you on a journey of the soul to unearth the truth to set you free.”  –Emme, Supermodel and social reformer

“Winter of the Wolf is a compelling, heartfelt tale based on a story close to the author’s heart. She takes what is a difficult subject and weaves a captivating story about life, death, grief and gratitude.  A must read for any age.”  –Mary Ellen Keating, Former Senior Vice President of Communications, Barnes & Noble, Inc.

“What we attempt to capture in our photographs, Martha Hunt Handler portrays with her words in a heartbreaking story that reminds us of our interconnectedness with all that is living and breathing on our planet.”  –Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier, Co-Founders of SeaLegacy, world renowned nature photographers and filmmakers

“Heart-warming and unflinching, Winter of the Wolf explores one family’s struggle to face the complex nature of death and loss. A timely and important tale for all ages, it offers a powerful message of hope for our lives.” –Kristen Wolf, Bestselling author of The Way: A Girl Who Dared to Rise

“Winter Of The Wolf takes you on an amazing and emotional journey through suicide and spiritual discovery.”  –Bria Neff, Teen wildlife artist and advocate

 

 

Guest Post

 

Inspiration for the Plot of Winter of the Wolf

 

By Martha Hunt Handler

 

In 2001, when I was 42, I received a call that rocked my world. My childhood best friend, Gretchen, had just found her 12-year-old son Brendan hanging from a belt in his bedroom. Almost immediately, I felt myself shutting down. I couldn’t process the loss of such a young soul, and I had no clue how to comfort Gretchen. Growing up, she and I were exceptionally spiritual, thanks to the daily teachings of our mothers. We understood that souls, as pure energy, cannot be lost nor destroyed, but only change form. We also believed that each of our lifetimes is part of a long journey that ultimately contribute to our soul’s growth. But when Brendan passed, none of our beliefs seem to make any sense. What could Brendan possibly have learned or accomplished in his short lifetime?

Needing a place to put all my agonizing questions and thoughts, I began to journal. But I was getting nowhere. Brendan’s death still felt like a very dark and mysterious hole. Dark, because neither Gretchen or I was having any luck contacting Brendan, and mysterious because, despite the compelling evidence, Gretchen was adamant that he hadn’t taken his own life, and I trusted her instincts.

About four months later, I began to hear Brendan’s voice. He was requesting that I write a fictionalized account of his story, which sounded absurd. I exclusively wrote non-fiction pieces as an environmental consultant and, more recently, as a magazine columnist and supporter of the Wolf Conservation Center. I didn’t have a clue how to write fiction nor did I believe I had the talent for such an endeavor. And, even if I did, I didn’t know Brendan’s story; I didn’t understand why he was no longer with us. So, what did he want me to write?

A few weeks later, while cleaning out an old chest of my childhood keepsakes, I came across a book I’d written and illustrated when I was seven years old. It brought back a profound and sad memory. I’d spent all evening alone in my room that night as I conceived of this original tale of a runaway bunny. When finished, I presented it to my father and proudly proclaimed that I was going to be a writer when I grew up. Instead of congratulating me, he laughed and told me that writing stories wouldn’t pay the bills. I was devastated, but I didn’t have it in me to challenge him. But now, I wondered if Brendan wasn’t right. Perhaps writing fiction had been my destiny all along.

One of the more important themes in my novel is encouraging young people (and adults) to trust their instincts and not letting others dissuade them from their deep knowing of themselves. When we’re young, we’re incredibly susceptible and vulnerable to the opinions of others. This, and the fact that we feel pressure to “fit in,” results in us hiding or suppressing those unique and magical parts of ourselves, which results in many of us never reaching our full potential.

Remembering this sad incident helped launch my writing. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I dug in, showed up, and wrote as if I were on a mission. I attempted to tell the story from a bunch of different angles but finally settled on having the protagonist be a sister who loses her older brother. Once I found my protagonist and nailed her voice, the story began to come together, just as Brendan had promised.

It has been a long and winding road writing Winter of the Wolf, but it has been the journey of a lifetime for me. In the beginning, I just wanted to get the story out as quickly as possible, because it was painful to sit day after day in the heavy aftermath of a child’s death. But the more I let myself go into the pain, the more light I began to see. So, though it’s a story that begins in a place of profound grief, it moves to a place of profound gratitude.

Though I still can’t tell you what Brendan accomplished in his lifetime, in his afterlife, he helped me re-believe and re-discover my innate storytelling talents, and for this, I will always be grateful.

 

 

About the Author

 

Martha Hunt Handler grew up in northern Illinois dreaming about wolves and has always understood that her role in this lifetime is to tell stories and be a voice for nature. She has been an environmental consultant, a magazine columnist, an actress, and a polar explorer, among other occupations. She has also driven across the country in an 18-wheeler and been a grand-prize winner of The Newlywed Game.

Soon after she and her family relocated from Los Angeles to South Salem, New York, she began to hear wolves in her backyard. This was the start of her twenty-plus-year career as an advocate for wolves at the Wolf Conservation Center, where she currently serves as Board President. When not up near the wolves and her rescue pups, she can be found in New York City with her husband and four adult children.

This is her first novel but definitely not her last.

 

 

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The Nightjar’s Promise (Book 4 of The F.I.G. Mysteries) by Barbara Casey

 

YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 130 pages

 

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy

 

Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press)

 

Release date: April, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Jennifer Torres, one of the three FIGs (Females of Intellectual Genius) who is a genius in both music and art, is the last to leave the closed rehearsal for her upcoming performance over Thanksgiving break at Carnegie Hall when she hears something in the darkened Hall. Recognizing the tilt of the woman’s head and the slight limp of the man as they hurry out an exit door, she realizes it is her parents who were supposedly killed in a terrible car accident when she was 15 years old. Devastated and feeling betrayed, she sends a text to Carolina and the other two FIGs—THURGOOD. It is the code word they all agreed to use if ever one of them got into trouble or something happened that was too difficult to handle. They would all meet back at Carolina’s bungalow at Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women to figure it out.

As soon as they receive the text, because of their genius, Dara starts thinking of words in ancient Hebrew, German, and Yiddish, while Mackenzie’s visions of unique math formulae keep bringing up the date October 11, 1943. That is the date during World War II when the Nazis—the Kunstschutz—looted the paintings of targeted wealthy Jewish families and hid them away under Hitler’s orders. And as Carolina waits for the FIGs to return to Wood Rose, she hears warnings from Lyuba, her gypsy mother, to watch for the nightjar, the ancient name for the whip-poor-will.

As they search for “The Nightjar’s Promise” and the truth surrounding it, Carolina and the FIGs come face to face with evil that threatens to destroy not only their genius, but their very lives.

 

 

 

 

 

Interview

 

Today we are lucky enough to have Barbara here with us on StoreyBook Reviews.  I enjoyed her answers to the questions and I hope you learn a little bit more about her as I did.

 

When writing about the F.I.G.s (Females of Intellectual Genius) and Carolina in The Nightjar’s Promise, did you have a favorite character?

 

Carolina and the F.I.G.s (Dara, Mackenzie, and Jennifer) have been living in my life and imagination for several years now. I am embarrassed to say how attached I have become to them, and writing The Nightjar’s Promise, knowing it would be the final book in the series, was emotional. I guess you could say I love Carolina and each of the F.I.G.s equally because they are so different and in spite of their flaws.

 

Where did you get inspiration for your stories in this series?

 

I lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, for many years. I attended NC State University and then later worked there. Near where I lived was an orphanage, and I think driving by it each day is what first gave me the idea of writing a book about orphans. Then, once I actually started writing The Cadence of Gypsies years later, followed by The Wish Rider, The Clock Flower, and now The Nightjar’s Promise, I researched things that were out of the ordinary that would somehow connect to either Carolina or one of the F.I.G.s. The Voynich Manuscript, the most mysterious document in the world, was perfect for Carolina and her story. In Dara’s story, The Wish Rider, I felt it was important to learn the reason her mother abandoned her in a candy shop when she was a little girl. Mackenzie, in The Clock Flower, also needed to find the answers to the questions she had; such as why was she turned over to an orphanage right after she was born, and who were her parents? And most important, why is she in danger? Jennifer’s story in The Nightjar’s Promise was especially difficult because she was betrayed by the people who should have loved and cared for her the most. By connecting each girl’s genius to the reasons they were in an orphanage to begin with seemed to provide the answers.

 

Are you writing anything now?

 

I have gone back to an adult novel I have been thinking about. I am also thinking about another young/new adult series.

 

Do you have a set routine when you write?

 

Absolutely! That is the only way I can create anything. I have always needed routine in my life, having grown up in a military family. So, early (very early) mornings are my time to write. The rest of the day I devote to my agency and to the independent publishing house that focuses on nonfiction/true crime where I am a partner. There are three rescue cats now in our little family who are learning how to get along, and my mother who lives with us is 97 years old. Everything considered, I have a pretty full day.

 

I want to thank you for inviting me to be a guest on your blog and for your interest in my books. I wish you and your bloggers my very best. ~Barbara

 

 

About the Author

 

Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production.

Ms. Casey has written over a dozen award-winning books of fiction and nonfiction for both young adults and adults. The awards include the National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Dana Award for Outstanding Novel, the IP Best Book for Regional Fiction, among others. Two of her nonfiction books have been optioned for major films, one of which is under contract.

Her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in both national and international publications including the North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Ms. Casey wrote and coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories. Her award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Ms. Casey’s essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation).

Ms. Casey is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where she served as guest author and panelist. She has served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. In 2018 Ms. Casey received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with her husband and three cats who adopted her, Homer, Reese, and Earl Gray – Reese’s best friend.

 

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Giveaway

 

Prizes: ​ Win 1 of 3 print or 1 of 3 ebook of Barbara Casey’s THE NIGHTJAR’S PROMISE, or a $25 Amazon Gift Card (open USA & Canada) (7 win (ends May 29)

 

 

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Asbury High and the Thief’s Gamble: (Asbury High YA Cozy Mystery Series)
Young Adult Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Purple Milk Publishing (February 1, 2020)
Paperback: 260 pages

Synopsis

 

Asbury, although a haven to shoobies (tourists) in the summer, is a divided coastal town. With the rich half living in the East, and the rest living in the West, most friendships stay within their boundaries. Luckily for a spunky-smart tomboy, a clever billionaire athlete, a gossipy-in-the-know cheerleader, and a wrong side of the tracks technological genius, boundaries are a foreign concept. In fact, Maddie, Cornelious, Carly and Pilot have been Asbury’s strongest quartet for years, despite their vast differences.

 

Nevertheless, after a few weeks of starting high school, the foursome’s friendship is tested.

 

After a string of burglaries in East Asbury, the gang decides to solve the crime as a reason to make time for each other. The further they investigate, the more they find themselves constantly side-stepping tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum-like policemen, outsmarting local bully JB and his gang of misfits, and dealing with Cornelious’ billionaire father and Governor—who has disapproved of his son’s choice of friends for years. In addition to these obstacles, the foursome must also adapt to their evolving friendship with each other and their peers.

 

With upperclassmen, teachers, and teammates vying for their attention, the gang must work even harder to root out the red-herrings from the true thief. Aided by Carly’s gossip, Maddie’s boldness, Cornelious’ quick-wit, and Pilot’s knack for technology, the gang soon discovers its edge over the local police department.

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Maddie Petrozza joins us today to share her thoughts about this book and series.

 

Who is your favorite fictional character and how do you think you’re alike?

My favorite fictional character would have to be Neptune’s finest Private Eye, Veronica Mars. She is just too cool. And she doesn’t care what anyone has to say or thinks about her…mostly because she knows how awesome she is. I wish I could apply for my private investigator’s license, but it might be for the best that I don’t actually. Sometimes it’s nice to fly under the radar, and—on the rare occasions that my friends and I get caught— we can just act like we didn’t know any better.

Honestly, I like to think we have quite a few similarities. I may be more athletic than she is, and she may already have her private investigator’s license… but we both love mysteries. And the feeling must be mutual because mysteries sure do have a way of popping up in both of our lives. Which leads to another similarity, I guess. We may not necessarily go looking for crimes (despite what Carly might tell you), but once involved we’re like an opera singer at a karaoke party—we can’t be stopped, and most people won’t even try to anyway.

The last thing we definitely have in common is our 100% faithfulness to our closest friends. Veronica is so successful because she knows she can’t solve crimes all on her own, and although she had to find out the hard way which friends weren’t real, once she realized who her true friends were, they were unstoppable. Just like me and my gang!

 

About the Author

 

 

For as long as she could remember, Kelly Brady Channick loved making up stories and leaving her listeners/readers on the edge of their seats.

Perhaps that’s why she always managed to talk herself out of trouble…

After graduating from NJ’s own Ocean City High School, Kelly accepted a basketball scholarship to Holy Family University, in Philadelphia. As a lifelong athlete, Kelly understands the importance of teamwork and overcoming adversity, something she hopes translates into her books.

Before writing page-turners, she taught first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade — like a dessert menu, she simply had to test them all out. But her favorite job is the one she’s now doing full time: writing. Kelly loves to craft whodunit mysteries, leading readers through various twists and turns filled with red-herrings, hidden clues, and more peculiar characters than a reality show.

Kelly lives in South Jersey with her handsome husband, energetic baby boy, two cookie-stealing dogs, and an awfully smart cat.

 

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Giveaway

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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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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

 

 

 

 

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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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

Jason Lex and Sadie Callahan are together again in their hometown of Salton recovering from personal tragedies and bearing the burden of new secrets. Both are wishing for nothing but normalcy, but when Skyfish swarm and a rogue Bigfoot attacks, Jason and Sadie know looming danger can’t be ignored.

Their friendship is challenged when a vanquished enemy returns from the dead bringing imminent threat to the lives of their friends and family. Sadie turns her back on Jason and he struggles without her to balance his upgraded Guard powers against fears of his own dark destiny, while Sadie is solely consumed on avenging her loss and defeating her adversary once and for all.

After a stunning family revelation, an agonizing betrayal exposes Jason and Sadie to their greatest enemy yet. They must find a way to fight together or suffer the loss of everything and everyone they love.

 

 

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Praise for Wendy and The Rampart Guards series

“[The Rampart Guards is] a delightful novel that delivers a tightly plotted, character-driven story. This paranormal fantasy is not only wildly entertaining, but also undeniably unique. The cast of authentic and endearing characters is one of the novel’s many strengths, along with the brisk pacing, action-packed narrative and creation of the novel’s fascinating creatures. Both adult and YA audiences should find this book appealing.”  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review), named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016

 “Terrien has created an intriguing world that seamlessly integrates the fantastic with the realistic and is supported by a relatable cast of characters.” — Foreword Clarion 5-star review

 “The undeniable strength of Terrien’s writing is not in the action scenes (although they are exhilarating and adeptly rendered), or in the plot (which is intelligently designed and skillfully executed), but in her ability to warmly express the very human nature of her characters as they stumble, grow, and triumph, always with the genuine support of one another.” — Colorado Book Review of The Forge of Bonds

 

Excerpt

 

Jason pulled on his coat, clipped a leash onto Shay’s harness and they headed out into the dwindling light of the wintry afternoon. Three times Skyfish zipped close and Jason dodged each one. Shay paid no attention to them.

Sadie’s right. I need to ignore them, or they will drive me crazy.

He paused, refocused on his route, and asked Shay to heel.

They took the shorter path to Uncle A’s house, traveling along the canal past thickets of chokecherry bushes and scrub oak, near the hidden cove where Jason and Sadie had first met, and where Jason had first encountered Skyfish.

As if triggered by the memory, a tingle crawled around the base of his skull. He scanned the sky but noticed nothing.

Shay froze and growled, her gaze fixed on a thick clutch of bramble on the other side of the canal.

Twigs snapped.

A shadow shifted.

“Who’s in there?” Jason asked. He flexed his fist. Bolts of electricity zipped inside him.

Nothing moved.

Shay pulled to get closer to the bushes. Jason held firm. Steam pumped from Shay’s nostrils as she sniffed and cleared her sinuses, scenting what seemed to be hidden in the waning light of day.

He tightened his grip on her leash. “Hey,” Jason yelled, trying to trigger a reveal. Still, nothing moved. Shay sat but remained trained on the spot. He waited another moment, his senses still triggering, but saw nothing and presumed more Skyfish had caused the alarm. He called to Shay to continue along the path.

Seconds later, something crashed through the brush on the far bank behind them. Jason’s powers flared his arms blue and he pivoted, Shay yanking him toward the sound. A brown figure, seemingly on all fours, barreled into the canal and cannonballed water in its wake. It scrambled up the bank and stopped about forty feet away, facing Jason and Shay, fixated for a moment while water dripped from its fur.

Sparks flashed from Jason’s raised arm.

The creature stepped closer.

His powers flared. Don’t do it…don’t make me do it…

Shay yipped and strained on her lead.

The creature sniffed the air once, twice, water gurgling in its nostrils, then turned and scrambled away.

Shay tugged to take chase. Jason countered her momentum with his and lowered his arm.

If that was a dog, it was the biggest, shaggiest dog I’ve ever seen…

Before using his power, he had to be sure a creature, a cryptid, was dangerous. He couldn’t let himself hurt something or someone when they didn’t deserve it, when they didn’t mean it.

Farther down the path, the figure faded from sight.

Jason’s arms still glowed a fiery blue.

 

About the Author

 

WENDY TERRIEN is an international best-selling author and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2017-18 Independent Writer of the Year. Her debut novel, “The Rampart Guards,” earned a Kirkus starred review and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016. Wendy graduated from the University of Utah and transplanted to Colorado where she completed her MBA at the University of Denver. She is on the board of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and is a member of Pikes Peak Writers, the Colorado Authors’ League, and the Author’s Guild. Wendy lives in the Denver area with her husband, Kevin, and their dogs, Shea and Boon. She is also committed to promoting pet adoption from rescues or shelters.

 

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Brown Books Publishing

Paperback: 200 pages

April 23, 2019

Genre: YA, Sci-fi, paranormal

 

Synopsis

Eric Horton sees fire.

When he sleeps, he dreams of a world screaming in the midst of devastating explosions. These dreams terrify him, and as more strange happenings unfold around him, he’s unable to shake the feeling that what he’s seeing isn’t just a dream.

When a new student, Renee, appears in his science class, he could swear he’s known her forever. But how could that be? As they get to know each other, he meets her father, who explains the experiments he’s been conducting involving “the Universal Energy Field” and “Collective Consciousness”—two things Eric has never heard of before. They seem to be tied to the idea that we are all connected by the same energy and are all more powerful than we realize. Eric begins to learn more about these groundbreaking concepts—but can they be real?

As his life continues to shift and his knowledge of the Field increases, Eric will be tested beyond anything he’s experienced before. He must decide whether he believes in that part of himself which ties him to the world around him, and he must access it—or lose everything he’s been working to keep.

 

 

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Review

This book actually surprised me because sometimes sci-fi/paranormal books are hit and miss with me.  But this story of a young man’s ability to absorb the energy around him and see or sense things intrigued me.  Since this is a YA book, it wouldn’t be complete without the usual teenage drama and young love.

This story follows Eric, an up and coming goalie for the high school he attends.  He has a younger sister and brother with whom he has a good relationship.  Actually, he has a good relationship with all of his family which is refreshing to see considering what we see in the news.  The drama or angst comes from his friends and their shenanigans, which is not uncommon for a teenager.  Eric has some strange dreams and has no idea what they could possibly mean until events prove his dreams to be a reality and not just some weird dream.

I enjoyed the science aspect of this story and the explanations of matter, energy, and harnassing it for the betterment of mankind.  I think that all of this could be possible one day, perhaps sooner than we think.  I also appreciated that the science in this book was thoroughly explained and not just glossed over.  The author definitely put her degree to good use in this book.

There is romance between several of the characters and of course northing runs smoothly as is usual with teens.  However, I felt that the advancement of the various relationships felt solid and realistic.  The relationships were subdued and did not progress too much more than kissing.

We give this book 4 paws up and if you enjoy YA with a sci-fi or paranormal flair, you might want to pick this book up for your next read.

 

 

About the Author

Tracy wasn’t always a writer, but she was always a reader. Her favorite book growing up was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. In a weird way, her life reflects the book through odd synchronicities. She has a degree in Biology like Mrs. Murry and without realizing it she named her children Alex and Katie after Meg’s parents. (Really, it was not intentional, because that would be weird)!

Tracy uses her science background in her writing through her emphasis on environmental issues and metaphysics. Growing up, Tracy’s younger brothers called her ‘sarge’ and once when she took a personality test for a job, the evaluator said she could give a Drill Sargent a run for his money. If you need someone to boss you around, Tracy’s your gal! Tracy lives in Indianapolis.

 

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Title: THE WITCH PORT VIDEO GAME
Author: Leonard Bassed
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 108
Genre: YA

Synopsis

Leonard Bassed had no plan to write a novel titled THE WITCH PORT VIDEO GAME when he set out to create a movie script with a similar name.  “I had written the pilot script first and I kept the same ending for the novel…everything from the script I wrote found its way into the finished book version of ‘The Witch Port Video Game,’ said writer-singer-actor Leonard Bassed.  “I was able to spend more time developing the characters and their world…the whole thing was just such an organic experience and extremely enjoyable, creative for me.”

THE WITCH PORT VIDEO GAME tells the story through the lives of three ordinary teens who live in the fictional town of Cradle Creek, USA – a small town they hope to one day escape, attracted by the bright lights and promise of the Big City.  All three are students at a prestigious performing art school with hopes of one day making names for themselves in the entertainment world.

Mr. Bassed continued about his story, “A chance encounter the three have with a girl named Bianca Morris threatens to derail their plans. Bianca introduces them to an enticing video game, ‘The Witch Port Video Game’.  This encounter, coupled with the arrival of the MacQuoid brothers sets in motion a series of bizarre events that spins their lives into chaos and disarray as the three head into a world of sorcery with an ultimate fight for survival.”

As a young boy growing up in South Africa, Leonard dreamed one day of working in the arts.  He wanted to write, to act, to sing.  While drawn to acting and songwriting, he was also a good storyteller.  “The auditions I would go out for as an actor were never reflective of the kinds of roles I was after to play. It was this realization that led me to write the pilot script which I planned to pitch to TV and movie producers.  But, once I finished the script I’d grown too attached to the characters and the wonders of their world that ultimately led the script into the shape of a full novel,” he went on to say.

 

 

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Praise

“While the book’s final moments leave us with a rather sudden, enigmatic ending, an endnote does indicate a sequel Witch Port Igniting the Coven on the horizon. For those who enjoy the entertaining literary chemistry that results from inquisitive teens and their foray into the mysterious world of sorcery, Bassed’s venture should prove an intriguing reveal.” –Pacific Book Review

 

“Filled with cheeky references to famous pop-culture stories of sorcery and mixed with some classic teenage angst, this book is a fast-paced, suspenseful story. The novel’s premise that some teenagers gain special powers through a video game is an updated, modern take on magic and suits the story quite well for a 21st-century setting. The author sets up the story mechanisms so that everything that happens through the students’ video gameplay also happens in real life. The author states that this novel was originally a screenplay, and those elements shine through, from the descriptive settings to the fast pace in which the action occurs on the page. It will be interesting to see how the protagonists grow with their powers in the sequel.” –The U.S. Review of Books

 

Review

This YA novella is a cross between Charmed (which is actually mentioned in the book) and Sabrina the Teenage Witch and probably a few other teen movies filled with teen drama.  Since the book is shorter we don’t really get to know the characters that well except for Martin since he seems to be the main character.  What we know about him – he is gay, black, artistic (dancer, singer, performer), has some serious facial cleansing rituals, and has two best friends that are girls.  This trio likes to sneak out and do things they probably shouldn’t be doing including drinking.  I’m not quite sure how kids that are 15-16 can pass for legal age in a diner, maybe they look mature for their age?

The story was intriguing and I feel like there is so much more to learn about the characters, what will happen with these powers, who are they up against (demons, warlocks, sorcerers), and does Martin have powers that he needs to learn to control?  This book starts the reader down the path and whets your appetite for more details and what is going to happen next for Martin, Francesca, and Mackenzie.

While I enjoyed the story I do have a few issues with the book.  It is only available in print format (or at least that is how it was offered to me) but the font is TINY.  I had a hard time reading the book and had to make sure I had enough light.  Secondly, there would be multiple characters speaking in the same paragraph.  It was very confusing and it would have been better if the dialogue for each character speaking were separated into its own paragraph.  I do come across a few spelling and grammatical errors but nothing too serious.

Overall this was a good book and if someone enjoys YA books with the magical twist, then you just might enjoy this book.  We give it 3 paws up.

 

 

Excerpt

“I begin to hear an eerie chant being recited in unison as the first three naked women make it to the dark summit. Holding long, makeshift brooms, in their right hands, they chant: “Drink the flight broth, wood in hand. Burn the root …” An elderly woman with lanky hair picks up the goblet, takes a sip of its contents, and inhales the smoke of an already burning smudge stick. The chanting continues: “Then dive from the cliff…” This is perhaps the most startling scene I’ve ever witnessed. The woman runs off the edge of the cliff, seemingly to plummet to her death, but I hear “Not by wind nor by wings, airborne sisters thou shall soar.” Suddenly, the woman who vanished off the cliff reappears, hovering in mid-air on a broom. She begins cackling, and the louder her cackles, the higher she floats. Soon a host of other women mimic her actions, cackling into the night air.” – By Leonard Bassed

 

This is one of my favorite excerpts from my novel, ‘The Witch Port Video Game’ because of the imagery it conjures.

My novel begins with Martin’s recollection of a vision he once had. In the vision, women are seen diving off a cliff and flying on their brooms, true to the stereotypical portrayal of witches in the media and western folklore.

The women are depicted inhaling something resembling a smudge stick this leaves the reader unsure whether they’re indeed flying or having some sort of hallucinogenic experience brought on by the smoke.

 

 

About the Author

Writer-actor-singer Leonard Bassed was born in the town of Middleburg, Mpumalanga and raised in Johannesburg.  He started taking vocal lessons at age eight and studied drama throughout his high school years.  A mentor encouraged him to pursue an acting career.  Leonard went on to complete acting classes in both South Africa and later Los Angeles.  Currently, when not writing or singing, Leonard continues to study acting techniques with the renowned Margie Haber Studio in Hollywood. In his free time, he enjoys travel, reading and movie going.

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