Book Review: "Artificial Light" by Crystal Connor

“You’ve stumbled out of The Darkness just to find yourself wandering through Artificial Light.” (quote from book trailer)

Crystal Connor left readers wondering more and more about her main character, Artemisia (AKA The Alchemist), at the end of the The Darkness (first book in The Spectrum Trilogy). What exactly is she capable of? How far will she go in her pursuit of “divine knowledge?”  These questions and many more are addressed in the highly anticipated sequel, Artificial Light (January 2012).

This book begins sixteen months after the shocking ending of the The Darkness. We learn that Adam fathered twin boys, Adam and Assyrian. The twins are now five months old and already showing signs of possessing the same amazing abilities as their father—including telepathy and telekinesis. The plot thickens when it is revealed that the Skyward Group was not the only organization working to advance science in unimaginable ways.  Dr. Farley from the Lotus Research Foundation for Alternative Treatment was in the midst of researching ways to clone consciousness when he was arrested and imprisoned.  Upon learning about Dr. Farley’s clinical trials, Artemisia and The Skyward Group successfully campaign for his release.  These two plotlines— Dr. Farley’s scientific miracle of rebirth and Adam, a creation of science, having sired a set of exceptional twins—combine and intertwine, creating a fast-paced, thrilling adventure .

New characters are introduced and old characters return in Artificial Light. Three witches are among the returnees: Inanna, a powerful witch with a personal vendetta, Logan, a descendant of Myrddin the Deadly, and Abigail, one of the most powerful sorceresses of all time. One of my favorite new characters, Homicide Detective Kenya O’Callaghan, leads the investigation of a serial killer—you’ll have to read the book to learn more about this plotline.  Following insightful observations of the crime scenes and tarot card clues, O’Callaghan gets closer and closer to catching the killer.

In reviewing this book, I have only touched on a few of the major plotlines running through this book. At times the transitions from one storyline to the next were unclear and difficult to follow. I found myself re-reading passages and paging back to previous chapters. Despite this, Artificial Light is a fascinating novel about the beauty and horrors of magic and science.

I simply cannot wait for book three, In the Valley of Shadows, to come out! I recommend Artificial Light to readers who enjoy horror, fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers—this crossover novel has elements of all four.

Book Review: "Nerve" by Taylor Clark

Reviewed by Jennifer Shaw

Fear, anxiety, and stress plague tons of people in their day-to-day lives. Anxiety and stress definitely play a big part in my daily life so I was excited to see what benefits Nerve (March 2011) would bring to my situation. Clark’s Nerve takes on the subject in a light but thought-provoking way. He uses case studies to introduce the different topics covered throughout Nerve that are easy to understand and very relatable. His ease of storytelling definitely makes for a riveting and educational read that I found to be quite helpful.

While Nerve is an intriguing enough read and gives tons of information, I was hoping it would be more of a ‘how to get from point A to point B’ guide than a collection of anecdotes. Although this book is mostly comprised of case studies, readers can take away valuable information from each study. There are plenty of helpful hints that are sure to help a sufferer get on the right track. This helps balance out the lack of a comprehensive how-to guide.

Clark goes one step further for those looking to better their anxiety, stress, and/or fear by providing a thorough ‘suggested reading’ list.

Overall, Nerve is a fascinating and informative read. The amount of research Clark did is obvious on every page. Nerve offers readers a chance to better understand why some excel while others do not, and how to break the cycle of fear, anxiety, and stress.

Book Review: "Screams and Whispers" by Randall Peffer

Reviewed by Jennifer Shaw

After reading the summary for Screams and Whispers (July 2011), I was immediately intrigued and had high hopes for a thrilling tale filled with adventure. Peffer is a new author to me and I’m always up for experimenting with different authors. Upon requesting this novel for review, I was unaware that it was the sixth book in the Cape Island Mystery series and hoped that reading them out of order wouldn't leave gaps in the character history, etc.


In this book, Michael Decastro and his father, Caesar, travel to Saigon to help Tuki Aparecio, a long lost client. They find out that she is mixed-up with The Dragon Lady, a dark force in the underworld of Indochina. The Dragon Lady will go to great lengths to acquire a special, and very valuable, gem that Tuki has in her possession.

I was expecting a captivating read that would thrust me into the lives and hearts of the characters and Saigon, but found that I dreaded the idea of picking the book up once I set it down. The character known as The Dragon Lady was inconsistent, straddling the line between hero and villain. Apart from The Dragon Lady, the characters were well-developed and interesting. My favorite character was Tuki. I couldn’t help but cheer for her.

Overall, Screams and Whispers was interesting but isn’t a book I would highly recommend. Peffer obviously did a fair amount of research, which made the novel more enjoyable. However, character inconsistency is a big pet peeve I just can’t overlook. Being that Screams and Whispers is the sixth book in the Cape Island Mystery series, I feel compelled to look into the earlier installments to get a better grasp on his writing style.

What's Next? LIbby Chats with Liz Moore

It has been four and a half years since the release of Liz Moore’s debut book, The Words of Every Song. Liz’s second book, Heft, is available in bookstores starting today. Liz was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about her books and writing career.

“The first thing you must know about me is that I am colossally fat.” So begins your second book, Heft. Can you introduce us to your main character, Arthur Opp, and tell us more about his struggles?

The biographical details of Arthur Opp are as follows: he's 58, a former academic, a lover of culture, and a total recluse who has not left his rambling brownstone in Brooklyn in a decade.  He also weighs 550 pounds.  I think of Arthur as trapped at the start of the book--in his body, in his mind, and in his house.  He's grown used to what's around him and that's dangerous for him (or for any of us, I guess)--he's become accustomed to a certain level of sadness and gloom, and it feels easier to him to maintain it than to risk a change that could send him in one of two directions.

Most straightforwardly, he struggles with compulsively eating and with his weight; underneath that, he also struggles with an abiding loneliness that in and of itself has become a companion.

Your debut book, The Words of Every Song, was published in 2007. How have things changed for you, in your writing career, since then?

For one thing, I got my MFA in Fiction at Hunter College, which was a really wonderful experience, in large part because it let me give myself permission to do nothing but write for two years.  (Well, that's not entirely true--I also did some research work and began my teaching career--but it really let me focus on writing!)  My music "career," if you can call it that, has also slowed down.  Because I teach full-time now at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, I have had to prioritize what I do with the time I'm not grading or preparing for class, and writing usually trumps music, these days!

Being a musician and singer-songwriter it’s no surprise that your first book was about the music world. What inspired you to write Heft?

There are two main characters in the book, Arthur and Kel, and I suppose I had a different source of inspiration for each of them.  When I set out to write Arthur, I'd been thinking a lot about isolated people, the thousands or millions of people in the world who are quite disconnected from the rest of humanity, not always by choice.  I was interested in the challenge of writing about a character who was almost entirely internal (at least at the start of the book).  Kel, on the other hand, is a seventeen-year-old high-school baseball star who's incredibly popular and talented, but is facing his own set of struggles that he's rarely open about.  I wrote him because I'm interested in the particular set of struggles that teenage athletes face, especially male athletes, I guess--the idea that teenage boys are still kids, and yet have to perform this bravado and stoicism that must be incredibly difficult at times, especially for those of them with difficulties at home (like Kel).

For many authors, music is a catalyst for their writing. What role does music play in your writing? Did you listen to specific tracks while working on Heft?

I did!  I almost always listen to music while I write, but I'm incredibly particular about the kind of music I listen to while I'm writing (different music for different characters, scenes, etc).  Writing Heft took almost four years, so I went through phases while I wrote it. Here are some of the albums I listened to while writing the book: Astor Piazzolla En Suite, the soundtrack to the movie An Education, Glen Gould's Goldberg Variations, Chopin's Nocturnes as played by Maurizio Pollini, and Satie's 3 Gymnopedies as played by Pascal Roge.

What are your marketing plans for Heft? Will you be participating in online blog tours, book signings, or book tours?

I have four events coming up in the next month in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston (more information on my website: www.lizmoore.net) and they all involve signings, readings, or conversations before an audience.  And now I must admit that I've never heard of an online blog tour.  I'll have to look into that.  It sounds fun, though--sign me up!
*************************
Libby is the book review editor and chief contributing writer for the What's Next? series.

What's Next? Libby Chats with Naomi Benaron

We are excited to welcome Naomi Benaron to Author Exposure today. She is the author of two award-winning books, Love Letters from a Fat Man (won the 2006 Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction) and Running the Rift (won the 2010 Bellwether prize for a Novel of Social Change). Naomi was kind enough to take on a few questions!

Your second book, Running the Rift, was published earlier this month by Algonquin Books. It is a coming-of-age novel about a Rwandan boy named Jean Patrick Nkuba. Can you introduce us to your main character and tell us more about his struggles?

In Rwandan myth, Nkuba is the god of thunder, so Jean Patrick carries with him, through his name, the characteristics of swiftness, strength, and power. Jean Patrick, a Tutsi, is coming of age in Rwanda during the years leading up to the genocide; when we meet him, it is 1984, ten years before the genocide. Jean Patrick is 10 years old, and in the first chapter, his father dies in a traffic accident. Jean Patrick wants two things very badly: to excel academically--specifically in the sciences--and to run in the Olympics. We follow him as these dreams become increasingly difficult for a Tutsi and as the noose of the approaching genocide tightens around the neck of the country.

We've been following you since the release of your debut novel, Love Letters from a Fat Man. How have things changed for you, in your writing career, since then?

First, I am thrilled to hear that you know Love Letters from a Fat Man. I was very excited to win the Sharat Chandra Prize for that collection, and my experience with BkMk Press has been wonderful. It still gives me chills to look at that book and to hold it in my hands, and I think winning the prize gave me the confidence to continue on with my writing and most importantly to begin the novel that became Running the Rift. But short story collections are a difficult sell, and unfortunately, it has been a struggle to gain recognition for the book, so I have to say that it was the phone call from Barbara Kingsolver, telling me I had won the Bellwether Prize, that caused my writing life to veer off suddenly and irrevocably in an entirely new direction. A wonderful side benefit to the recognition I have been receiving for Running the Rift is that finally, more people are discovering Love Letters from a Fat Man.

Your debut book was a collection of short stories and Running the Rift is a novel. What was it about writing a full-length novel that appealed to you? What kind of advantages does it present to you as a writer? Disadvantages?

At first, I was terrified of writing a novel, and I had to convince myself in steps; I told myself I was writing a long short story, then a novella, and finally, I knew that the story I needed to tell could only be told in a novel. The first draft was 600 pages. Truthfully, I don't think writing a novel appealed to me initially at all, but since my first writing mentor told me about the Bellwether Prize, I wanted to win it more than anything in the world. And there was that little inconvenience of having to actually write a novel in order to win. It wasn't nearly the terror I expected it to be. It's like running a marathon or doing an Ironman in a sense. Once you're committed, there is no way back, and then, you begin to enjoy the process and all the accompanying pain.

How has your journey to publishing your second book compared to that of your debut book?

My first book grew out of the short stories I had written: first, for classes I took at the local community college and then for my MFA program. The process was more like waking up one day and thinking, "Oh! I have enough stories to make a book!" I probably spent two or three days ordering and reordering the stories and then sending them off. Of course, I had worked long and hard on the visions and revisions of each story, but there was never this long, anguished procedure of creating a book. And then I was lucky enough to win the Sharat Chandra, so I didn't have to go through those agonizing moments of self doubt, wondering if I needed to rework stories, reorder, or throw the whole mess in the e-trash. Writing Running the Rift took years of research, four extended trips to Rwanda, more drafts than I can count, and many, many moments of self doubt. In 2008, I was a finalist, and when I didn't win, I spent a month crawling around through the muck of self excoriation and self pity. But I could not let go of the book nor of my need to tell the story, so I picked myself up, wrote another uncountable number of drafts, and then at the last moment, after a seemingly endless round of agent rejections, I submitted agian to the Bellwether. And then I won. I really don't know where I would be today if I hadn't won. I don't like to think about it.

What are your specific marketing plans for Running the Rift? Will you be participating in online blog tours, book signings, or book tours?

I can't speak highly enough of Algonquin. I have a fabulous publicist, Megan Fishmann, who takes care of everything in the publicity department. Tomorrow I leave on this insane book tour that has me in about 25 cities in thirty days. And then there are all the reviews and interviews she has helped find for me including Running Times, O Magazine, and (yes!) AARP. I will be posting tour updates on Facebook and on my website, www.naomibenaron.com, as well as blogging for The Writer's Life blog.
******************************
Libby is the book review editor and chief contributing writer for the What's Next? series.

Book Review: "An Accidental Mother" by Katherine Anne Kindred

Reviewed by Tiffany Schlarman

A mother does not always bear a child.  Sadly, quite often those who do bear a child are not mothers.  A mother loves unconditionally, sacrifices without complaint, and puts her children before herself in all aspects of life, thinking of them first.  A mother knows more about their child, down to the silliest little things, because she is invested in her child’s life.  Katherine Anne Kindred is a mother, though the child she did not bear.  She is a mother whose child was taken from her, though she wanted him forever.  Katherine’s story begins within the pages of this book though it is not yet over.

After Katherine Anne Kindred’s divorce, she reconciled her life to be one without children.  Then, she met Jim and fell in love.  Jim, the father of a two-year-old boy, promised Katherine he would never take Michael from her though they would not marry.  Katherine was prepared to adopt Michael as her own until their six year relationship ended and Jim denied her any contact with his son, a son who was in every way hers.  It was then that Katherine realized what a true broken heart felt like.

An Accidental Mother (September 2011) tells Katherine’s story, but mostly celebrates the life of a mother.  Through Katherine’s cherished memories, the reader is introduced to the life of a mother who raises someone else’s child.  Anyone who has ever loved a child, raised a child, or taken care of a child for an extended period of time will be able to relate to the emotions and realities in this short, well written memoir.

I enjoyed Katherine’s smooth writing style.  She does not try to be elegant or fancy with her words.  Instead they are words of truth, reality, and joy in heartache.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs or talks of motherhood.  It will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the simplistic complications of life.

Book Review: "Sticks and Stones" by K.J. Larsen

Sticks and Stones (February 2012)  is an entertaining novel about a private investigator specializing in nabbing liars and cheaters.  As many reviewers before me have stated, this Cat DeLuca Mystery series will certainly appeal to fans of the Stephanie Plum series. Having said that, I think the writers behind K.J. Larsen (three sisters) have proven themselves worthy to shine in their own spotlight, rather than in the shadows of Janet Evanovich.

While this book has all the ingredients of a good mystery, it’s the people in it that make Sticks and Stones a must-read. Cat DeLuca is a smart, witty woman who comes from a large Italian family, most of whom have served or are serving on the Chicago Police Department. Her mother has three wishes for her thirty-year-old daughter: find a man, settle down, and make grandchildren. But being in the business of finding liars and cheaters and in the midst of a self-proclaimed “dating slump” since her divorce, Cat isn’t looking to get married. In Sticks and Stones, Cat’s Pants on Fire Detective Agency is not only working to catch cheating husbands, but they’re also in the middle of a murder investigation. Cat’s client-turned-assistant, Cleo, is accused of murdering her ex-husband and Cat vows to prove Cleo’s innocence.

You don’t want to miss this Cat DeLuca mystery! I would recommend Sticks and Stones to anyone looking for a laugh-out-loud, quick read. I can’t wait to see more of this new heroine. Be sure to check out Liar, Liar by K.J. Larsen, the first installment of this series.

What's Next? Libby Chats with Paul Byers

We are excited to welcome Paul Byers to Author Exposure today. His action-packed thrillers have been well-received by readers worldwide. Today we are celebrating the release of his first short story collection, Act of God. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the conversation!

Today you are releasing Act of God, your first collection of short stories. What is it about the short story that appeals to you? What kind of advantages does it present to you as a writer? Disadvantages?

I like short stories because they fit in with today’s lifestyles where everything is go, go, go. You can take a moment to relax, escape and be entertained without a big time investment. Shorts also let you to travel to many different places, if you will, in a small amount of time.

As a writer, short stories allow you to take more risks. For example, you can kill off a main character, not necessarily for the shock value, but to put a greater twist to the story that the reader wouldn’t expect and that you couldn’t get away with in a full length novel. Plus your twists have a bigger impact on the story that would get lost or diminished in a longer story.

But as with most things, there are two sides to the coin. One of the biggest drawbacks to some short stories is that you don’t have the time to fully develop your characters. You know who they are but not always what makes them tick. Another drawback is there is little room for a back story or painting descriptions that can really help set the mood of the story.

Can you tell us a little bit about the title story, "Act of God"? Why did you select this particular story for the title? How did you decide which stories to include in this collection?

From a writing stand point, Act of God exemplifies the rest of the collection. The human condition if you will, ordinary people put into extraordinary circumstance. Each of the tales has a Twilight Zone feel to them and I not only hope the reader will enjoy the stories, but I hope they find themselves asking the question, “What would I have done in that situation?”

From a marketing standpoint, Act of God was the best title. It provided the best punch and sparks the imagination more than the other titles. I sent the stories to my illustrator, Andy Wenner, not telling him which title I had chosen and he picked out Act of God on his own. Designing a book cover is hard enough when you are telling just one story, but when you’re telling seven, it’s especially challenging. I think he did a remarkable job of capturing the mystery, intrigue and the essence behind themes of the stories.

Congratulations for being selected as one of the judges for the International Thriller Writers 2012 Awards. What does this nomination mean to you and your writing career?

Thank you. I look upon being tapped as a judge as a big honor. Whether they drew my name out of a hat or reviewed my work and liked what they saw doesn’t matter. I look at it as a plaque to hang on my cyber wall of accomplishments. I think it lends a sense of creditability to my work that says: Hey this guy is serious about what he does.

As you mention on your website, one of the greatest writers, Mark Twain, once said, “Write what you know.” How does this advice inspire your writing? What passions do you write about?

Readers can tell when you’re just quoting facts or cranking out a story just to beat a deadline and make another buck. Trust me, I have nothing against making money and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do here too, but there has to be more to your motivation in your writing than just dollar signs. My first novel, Catalyst, was a labor of love, if you will, combining my interest in WWII history and aviation into an exciting thriller. I wrote Arctic Fire, in part, to prove to myself that I really could write and that I wasn’t just a one hit wonder.

I thoroughly enjoy writing and making the reader think, and I hope to be successful at it, but thinking about it, I’d say my real passion is sharing and encouraging others to follow their dreams of writing. Without fail, whenever I’m doing a book signing, I have one or two people come up to me and either say they’ve thought about writing something or they ask me about the publishing process. I encourage them whenever possible telling that, hey, if I can do it and get published at 50, with all the distractions of a family, a day job and a stupid dog who eats rocks, then anyone can succeed.

I give talks in the local high schools in their creative writing classes. There are usually 2-3 kids who really have no interest and they have that deer-in-the-headlight look, which is okay, not everyone is a writer. The majority of the class listens politely, showing mild interest, but then there are those one or two. Their eyes light up as I speak and they get it. They see the vision and have the spark of passion for writing smoldering just under the surface. Moments like that are what make it worthwhile.

What are your specific marketing plans for Act of God? Will you be participating in online blog tours, book signings, or book tours?

For starters, I’ll be announcing it through the social medias first—Facebook, Goodreads, LinkedIn and a few others—then move on to the local and regional papers, letting them know that a local author has a new book out. In the cyber world, as with Arctic Fire and Catalyst, I’ll be setting up book reviews and interviews along with guest blog spots that I hope will build momentum and excitement and keep Act of God and my other books in the public’s eye. Book signings are always a great way to spread the news, and of course through my website, www.paulbyersonline.com.

A lot of new releases open with a big launch party then the excitement and hoopla slowly fizzles out. My goal is to do a little marketing everyday if I can and, as I said earlier, to keep the books popping up all over the net on new blogs and review sites weekly. After all, if they don’t know it’s out there, how will they read it?

**************************

Want to learn more about Paul Byers or his books? Check out his website.

Libby is the book review editor and chief contributing writer for the What's Next? series.

Book Review: "Hustle" by Jason Skipper

“In this powerful debut novel, an alcoholic ex-con man grandfather, his restless, philandering seafood salesman son, and his hopeful musician grandson struggle to make up for their past and somehow set course for the future.” (quote from back cover synopsis)

I agree with this quote taken from the back cover synopsis of Hustle (May 2011). This book is powerful—one I will not soon forget. Jason Skipper did a wonderful developing his characters into real people. In reading it, I felt like the main character, Chris Saxton, was a friend of mine, sharing his hopes, dreams, and struggles with me.

This coming-of-age story begins when Chris is ten years old and follows him through his young adulthood. The reader is with him through his parent’s divorce, his band’s first performances, his first love, and his first experiences with death. In just nine short years, Chris experiences so much. The reader is there with him as he searches for what we all desire—forgiveness and redemption.

At first I was frustrated that I couldn't devote enough time to read this book in a couple sittings. Life just kept interrupting my reading time. However, now I’m glad it took me extra time to finish. As difficult as it is to put Hustle down, it is better to read and enjoy it in small quantities.

If you are looking for a good book to start the New Year with, look no further—pick up a copy of Hustle. I promise you will not be disappointed. Jason Skipper is a talented writer; one you ought to watch in 2012.

Happy New Year and Thank You

It's the end of 2011 and we would like to take this time to say THANK YOU for your support, referrals, and loyalty.  We strive daily to bring authors that excite, challenge, or educate you in some way. Likewise, we strive to bring authors a new audience for their literary works. It's a delicate balance that we have enjoyed since 2008.

We hope you have found a favorite book or author and we look forward to introducing you to many new authors in 2012.

Here are some year-end news drops that will make for some interesting conversation starters..

 

USA TODAY does an excellent job looking back at the pivotal book moments in 2011.

WASHINGTON POST issues their Best Books of 2011

NEW YORK TIMES pulls in The Most Notable Crime Book of 2011

THE HUFFINGTON POST has a thing or two to say about BANNED WORDS in 2012



Happy New Year!!

Traci, Libby and the Entire Review Team!