Synopsis for my first novel.
After Tom Brown loses his business to an economic downturn and his home to foreclosure, he convinces his wife, Kate, and daughter, Stacie, to move to Los Angeles for a new beginning. When money runs out and Tom still hasn’t found work, he makes a decision that will change his life forever. As Tom’s life grows more surreal, he questions his physical existence and his sanity. Tom thinks he’s lost everything, including reality.
The Second Virgin Birth by Tommy Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Second Virgin Birth was unique. The premise of a virgin giving birth to another Jesus Christ through the magic of science is controversial and intriguing. A variety of characters, including a Pope determined to make sure Christ is never born again, make for a complex story. There are many obstacles, some not fully realized (i.e. too little time spent on them), and a host of personal agendas that take place as events unfold. Some of the problems and near-crises could have been further expanded because the idea of them was that interesting. There are many loose ends left to the reader’s imagination and the book’s finale is open-ended, perhaps for a sequel. Overall, the story is well-paced, believable, and invites contemplation on several modern day topics. Could DNA of Christ be found? Could another Christ child be born? What would happen to the world’s religions in this case? Very, very intriguing.
A lot of people consider making New Year’s resolutions. I’m not one of them. It’s a nice idea, but I really think I’d just be setting myself up for failure and ultimately guilt. So the only resolution I have ever kept is the one to quit making them just because I had to remember to use a new date when I wrote checks.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t seek change, especially for the better. So in reflection of the past year, I’d like to share a few things I actually accomplished. Mind you, some of them were not accomplished alone. But having good people in your life can be an accomplishment in and of itself. The good people in my life take part in the joy of my 2011 accomplishments.
I’m not numbering them because that would indicate I need to accomplish more next year, when really the only goal is to keep moving forward in a positive way.
A. I wrote, illustrated, and published four (count them – 4) children’s books. If you haven’t read them, please take the time now. This post is way less interesting than the books.
Camel Lot was a short story that grew too long for a writing contest. Rob suggested I finish it in lieu of finding a job (I didn’t really want a job but had no easy out until he said this) and we’d publish it. New services, like the one I use KDP, are sprouting up all the time to help authors get their ebooks to vendors. So I finished the story and did some illustrations and (WOW) got it out there to the ether for people to buy and read. And they have. Not millions, but thousands, and maybe one day, millions.
Bermuda’s Triangle, Area 50 Juan, and Santa Monica came quickly enough. Each new story allowed me to explore other styles of artwork. Area 50 Juan seemed to need something more dark and sketchy. Santa Monica is a modified anime/kodomo style which I thought would be cute. And with each successive title, we learned a little bit more (a drop in the bucket to the ebook industry knowledge that exists) about getting the books completed, adding the illustrations, what people like (and don’t like), formatting, writing software, pricing, and getting books out to the public. It’s enough to make my head spin. Or it would be if I didn’t leave most of the technical stuff to Rob.
So one of my favorite accomplishments of 2011 is becoming a published author. I didn’t get a book deal, but I have books out there in cyberspace and that’s a heck of a big deal to me.
B. I beat addiction*. You were a druggie?! Well, aren’t we all really. In one way or another. Come on, didn’t you pay attention in high school chemistry class when they discussed caffeine? Yes, I realize some of us out there really do treat our bodies like temples, but the fact is, most of us treat them more like trash bags. Dump in whatever garbage we find and tie a bow in the top.
So what did I beat? Well, drugs. Prescription that is. And caffeine, but more on that later. I began taking prescription pain medication when I broke my ankle (5 places – 5X the pain). It seemed absolutely appropriate that I be on pain medication and even when I’d been taking it over a year, it didn’t raise any suspicions in my pain-medication-soaked brain. Curious, I know. Again, it took one of those people in my life to make me even think, “Hey, there might be a problem here.” I was lucky. The process wasn’t horrendous like some cases you read about online. And I’m so glad I (or Rob) realized I needed to clean the pain meds out of my system. I feel so much better and many of the “problems” I was medicating for disappeared when I got clean.
C. I beat caffeine*. Yes, caffeine is a drug, albeit legal. But it gets it’s own category under accomplishments because if you’re a casual user of caffeine there really is no reason to quit using it. So not using caffeine is more of a personal choice rather than a healthy necessity. Remember, some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others and it could be a healthy necessity to them. But, in general, caffeine is nearly harmless in moderate doses even over prolonged use. I however, was not a moderate user. I was a pot of coffee, 4 large Red Bulls, iced tea into the evening kind of user. Seriously, I don’t see how my jitters didn’t set off seismic waves.
So, how’d I do it? Cold tofurky. That’s the vegetarian version of stopping abruptly. Make a note here: DO NOT do it this way. I highly recommend you take the weaning approach to rid yourself of caffeine. Because, YOWZA, that was one really miserable withdrawal. Yep, I could have given in and had a smooth Green Tea Frappe to sooth my butchered temples. But, no, I decided to stick it out. Ultimately I recovered and all is well, but it was a pain I won’t soon forget.
D. I gave up HRT*. For those out there who are young and nubile, never giving menopause a moment’s thought, or of the male gender, therefore never giving menopause a moment’s thought, HRT stands for Hormone Replacement Therapy. There’s a lot of information (good and bad) out there about HRT. You just have to judge for yourself and decide if it’s right for you. I’d taken it for years because of surgically-induced menopause, but now that I’m really at the age of biological menopause, I’ve decided to quit treating my body as if I’m of child-bearing age. Menopause is a natural part of life for a female. So, I’m moving forward in a more natural state, sans HRT.
E. I finally tried juice fasting*. I’ve always wanted to try juice fasting. I’ve read about it numerous times over the years. I agree it’s an extreme nutritional approach, but with all the chemical changes I’ve put my body through, I felt the overabundance of nutrients common to juice fasting would do me a world of good.
The basics of the juice fast are simple. Buy a good juicer, buy the best produce available (preferably organic), and juice as often as you like (or can stand breaking down and cleaning your juicer), while consuming no foods you actually get to chew. Also no sugar, or other sweeteners in your caffeine-free tea. There are all kinds of modified juice fasts out there and a quick Google search will bring up more than anybody wants to know on the subject. But, I was super psyched to give it a whirl.
Now, I didn’t buy a really good juicer. I bought a centrifugal instead. Because of price. It was a fine juicer, if you’re concerned about quantity and speed and price. It made a lot of juice (not so much with green leafys) and it did it quickly. It wasn’t too horrible in the clean up department. And it was cheap. But… centrifugal juicers chop up your produce into fine bits and spin it faster than a black hole in space, thus damaging (with frictional heat) some of the vital enzymes you’re probably juicing to get. And you have to drink your juice immediately (within 15 minutes) because spinning adds damaging oxygen to your juice making the enzymes die off pretty quickly. So you can’t make a great big batch of juice to last you all day and only clean the juicer once. Ultimately you put a lot of fruits and veggies through your centrifugal juicer and get very little nutrition in return. You get plenty of juice, but that wasn’t my entire purpose.
Did I get any health benefits? Yep. But you’re results will vary depending on how unhealthy you are when you start out. I think I was pretty sad in the health department, so I noticed some results even though I wasn’t using a great juicer. I noticed that I slept better almost immediately. The reason for that could be the lack of digestion going on to keep me awake. I also noticed that I could see better when driving in dark, rainy conditions. When I quit juicing this perk seemed to fade. I also had more energy some days and felt like a sloth on others. No idea what caused either situation.
Will I juice again? You betcha’. I’ve already got my eye on a great juicer touted by many juicing aficionados as one of the best in it’s price category. The Omega J8006 is a single gear, masticating (means chew) juicer which produces great quantities of juice with no spinning (thus no oxygenation) and no heat (thus no cooked juice). I can’t wait to see how the better nutritional quality juice will effect my health.
Oh, I almost forgot. When I juiced, I lost nearly 20 pounds. That’s a perk too, right?
*Please note: This post is opinion and personal experience. It is in NO WAY to be taken as advice. If you need advice, please see a medical professional regarding addiction, fasting, or any of the other topics. Except book publishing. See Amazon about that. 😉
My very first (why do people say very first, if it’s the first, how does the word very make it any more the first) children’s book, Camel Lot, is a Kindle Edition Exclusive.
Synopsis: Three siblings, Arty, Lance and Gwen, set off for their Mother’s forbidden flower garden to play. They dream up the grand kingdom of Camel Lot with a courageous king, a daring knight and a princess with a pink magical unicorn. But somewhere else in the garden, trouble is brewing. It’s not their orange tabby, Marlin; it’s the neighbor-boy, Dwayne.
Camel Lot is a fantasy adventure for bedtime or anytime. Written to be read aloud to children of any age or read alone by children ages 8-12. Approximately 3,400 words.
Camel Lot was inspired by a short story writing contest. In the contest, a picture was provided and the writer needed to tell a story related to that picture in 1,000 words or less. Somewhere around 2,000 words it was obvious I couldn’t submit mine so I quit writing. I didn’t finish the story. It just sat there.
When I returned from LA, I couldn’t find work. Rob suggested I finish the story and maybe we could publish it. Ebooks were really taking off and there were many distributors cropping up to help you get your formatting correct and get your books out to the different sellers. So I finished the story and did some illustrations to go along with it. The cover is my favorite, closely followed by the cat, Marlin, wallowing in the flowers on his back.
I hope you enjoy Artie, Lance, Gwen, and Marlin in their backyard adventure. A sequel to Camel Lot will be coming in 2012 called Nights of the Brown Table. Per request, I’ll do illustrations including the kids this time.
My second children’s book, Bermuda’s Triangle, is a Kindle Edition Exclusive.
Synopsis: Screeching violins, rasping clarinets, and drums beaten to death were just the beginning. Bermuda longed to be part of the school band. She tried countless instruments, but couldn’t make any of them produce pleasing sounds. Her parents were ready to give up. Her music teacher was at her wits’ end. But, her friends had an idea.
Bermuda’s Triangle is a musical adventure for bedtime or anytime. Written to be read aloud to children of any age or read alone by children ages 8-12. Approximately 2,200 words with full-color drawings.
My third children’s book, Area 50 Juan, is a Kindle Edition Exclusive.
Synopsis: Juan’s goal to save the aliens on Jade Island is threatened by a military search for the downed craft. Juan and his friends; Andy, Davie, and Earl, befriend a young airman named Ziggy who wants to help. With Ziggy on their side, they rush to help the visitors return to their world before the military arrives to search Area 50.
Area 50 Juan is a science fiction adventure for bedtime or anytime. Written to be read aloud to children of any age or read alone by children ages 6-12. Approximately 7,500 words with full-color, full-page illustrations.
Santa Monica, my fourth children’s book in the Misplaced Adventure series, is a Kindle Edition Exclusive. Santa Monica is a fantasy adventure for bedtime or anytime. Written to be read aloud to children of any age or read alone by children ages 8-12. Approximately 9,500 words.
Each of my children’s books currently has it’s own illustration style. I don’t promise that will always be the case, it just has been so far. With Santa Monica, I found inspiration in the anime and kodomo (such as Hello Kitty) artistic styles. I adapted those to suit me and thought the style was perfect for the characters. I hope you enjoy the illustrations.
Synopsis: Monica dreams of playing Santa in the holiday performance presented by her local theater group. But will her theater coach, Mr. Shelley, be willing to cast a girl as Santa? What will her parents think? Will her friends ridicule her for wanting a boy’s role? Will her super talented friend, Eric, get the role just because he’s a boy? Follow Monica on her quest to play Santa Clause as she prepares for her audition, copes with her friends comments and questions, and ultimately follows her heart to be anything she wants to be.
One reviewer says: “As the tale unfolds, the reader learns about compassion, generosity and friendship.”
V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There’s nothing I enjoy more (okay, a few things, but this isn’t the place for that kind of talk) than a Kinsey Millhone mystery/crime/romance. This one had everything.
Kinsey is hired by a widower to look into the alleged suicide of his fiancé who was recently arrested for shoplifting when Kinsey caught her stuffing a lace teddy and two pair of silk pajamas in her bag at Nordstrom’s. What Kinsey uncovers about the woman’s past leads her to more than she ever thought and pulls the reader through a delicately woven plot of organized crime, dirty cops, blackmail, deceit, and romance.
The story opens on a spoiled college graduate, Phillip, with a penchant for gambling. Can he beat the system and pay back what he borrowed from a “financier” named Dante? Can he go to his parents for help?
Nora is an upscale housewife. When she discovers her husband cheating, she sets out to be prepared for the inevitable. While trying to sell an expensive ring, she meets an intriguing man. But is he a crime boss?
Dante runs his family business with an unusual moral code not common in the crime world. But, he’s under investigation and it looks like they might have him this time. Will Dante throw in the towel for a married women with a wandering husband? Will he leave the family business to Cappi, his bumbling thug of a brother?
How are all these lives tied together? It’s a mammoth web of intertwined lives with a full line-up of characters. Sue Grafton has outdone herself. I’ve loved all of the alphabet mysteries, but this one is by far my favorite.
Mercury Rises by Robert Kroese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A sequel to the hilarious Mercury Falls, Mercury Rises gives readers a insightful backstory on Mercury and his relationship to Tiamat who vows to make Lucifer’s rebellion look like a toddler tantrum. I can see satan kicking and screaming now.
And who would have guessed the ark had a name? Noah makes a wonderful appearance with his big boat and been-cooped-up-too-long family and we learn what really happened to certain mystical creatures.
The apocalypse looms large yet again and much-loved characters return. This installment in Mercury’s story is rife with plot lines moving faster than a particle collider and more twists and turns than a Tawani mountain crevice.
Kroese’s whimsical version of Biblical events is pure genius. But will the world survive his next book? Beware the sparkly apples.
The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Who doesn’t enjoy a little deception? The third book in the Pink Carnation series was wonderfully entertaining.
The Emerald Ring introduces readers to more characters in the spy world of the 19th century. Letty Alsworthy joins the story in a fun twist on “wrong girl, right time.” Geoff Pinchingdale is the hero of this spy tale. Once in league with the Purple Gentian, he lacks the swagger of the aforementioned and the sardonic humor of Miles Dorrington (book 2), but he has many fine qualities, his poetry writing aside.
Old favorites are also in attendance. Henrietta is impersonating a bobble-head type lady with Miss Gwen in tow impersonating her aunt. And what reader doesn’t want to run out and buy a parasol after a few chapters of Miss Gwen? I’d love to read one of the novels she is forever working on. But, I digress. It seems everyone is someone they’re not in this volume, including our Letty Alsworthy. Is she a spy too?
The plot thickens around Lord Vaughn and the Black Tulip over the course of the book and there seems to be more questions than answers. A trait I love in a book as long as it isn’t the last one.
Things move forward, albeit slowly, for Eloise on the modern-day side of things. Her fidgety demeanor and obsessing about not obsessing over Colin are lighthearted and somber at the same time. This book didn’t give me enough of Eloise’s story, but thank goodness there’s another book.
Alexander Death by J.L. Bryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The final installment in the Pox series is pure torment. You can’t stop yourself from turning the pages as fast as possible, but you fear the end as if Tommy has you by the shoulder. It’s like being shoved back and forth between Tommy and Ashley:
“I love it so much.” *crazy grin*
“I’m near the end!” *scream*
“I can’t stop reading, it’s so good.” *maniacal giggle*
“The end is close!” *scream*
Jenny meets Alexander Death (although they’ve met before) and he sets her on a path she hasn’t trod before. It’s interesting to see a character you already enjoy explore other aspects of who they are. Her behavior may seem a little odd at times, but she is being greatly affected by Alexander Death. As am I.
Alexander has powers like Jenny, Seth, Tommy, and Ashley. He has the power to command the dead. Think zombie puppets and you get the idea. He also has a different outlook on life and uses his gifts in unique ways. This takes our heroine to new life experiences, some good. Will Jenny follow Alexander into a new life full of possibility? Will she return to Seth? Ah, what’s a desirable, plague-infested girl to do?
As for this girl, I’ll just patiently wait for my Pox. There is so much more these characters can do. Let’s hope another trilogy is out there soon.
Took Allyson to Hobknobb Coffee Shop to make homework more palatable. I’d barely finished my pumpkin spice latte when I heard, “Karen!?”
It was a friend I hadn’t seen in ages. I use “ages” to avoid giving away increments of time that can be compiled to determine my real age.
The funny part of this story is discovering she co-authored a book and she was holding a signing in the coffee shop. On the day my most recent children’s book hits cyber-shelves. It was kismet.
So, obviously, I bought the book, got it signed and it’s moved to the head of my reading list.
You can find it at Live Unbroken.
Area 50 Juan is finally on the virtual shelves. I’m very excited about my third children’s book. There are more illustrations and they’re full-color full-page.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Pox thickens…
The second installment in the Jenny Pox series, Tommy Nightmare, is a wonderful dream come true. More Jenny, more Seth and more fantastic characters with unexpected powers.
This book picks up where Jenny Pox left off and as things return to normal (sort of) in Fallen Oak after the apoxalypse, new friends and enemies emerge. But how do you tell them apart? I don’t know! That’s what’s great about this series. Just when I think I know something, I get slapped right in the face. This book series has it all: fascinating plot, fresh ideas, detailed characters, heart-wrenchingly sad moments, skin-crawlingly (is that a word?) spooky moments, intelligent dialogue, twists, turns and double parking. Love, love, love this series.
So, in the words of the famous Ninja Turtle, Raphael, “I do hope there’s more o’ them.”
I use a service called eReaderIQ to watch Kindle books for a price-drop or FREE offering. I usually get an email daily and scan it for books on my to-read list or anything that looks good.
Today I scroll down my eReaderIQ email and find a book I’d been planning to read. I download it since it’s free even though I swear I’m not starting another book until I finish the three I’m currently reading. Scroll some more. I see another book that looks like it might be good. After checking it out I decide to pass. Scroll some more… What’s this?:
My own books are listed. As a promotion leading up to the release of Area 50 Juan: A Misplaced Adventure, I’m offering Camel Lot and Bermuda’s Triangle for FREE for a limited time. I go to Amazon to check it out. And guess what I find. Go ahead, guess.
Yep, that’s my first children’s book, Camel Lot: A Misplaced Adventure, listed as #1 in Children’s Action & Adventure. Bermuda’s Triangle wasn’t far behind at #4.
While you have the chance, grab Camel Lot and Bermuda’s Triangle so you can catch up on all the Misplaced Adventures before my next book in the series is released. I’ll be publishing Area 50 Juan: A Misplaced Adventure today and it should appear within 2-3 weeks.
Camel Lot: A Misplaced Adventure, Kindle Edition Exclusive
Bermuda’s Triangle: A Misplaced Adventure, Kindle Edition Exclusive
Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m totally infected with Jenny Pox. I began this book by reading the first chapter as an excerpt at the end of another book. I was so totally enamored of the lead character, Jenny, that I immediately purchased a copy to continue the story. That’s talent right there – grabbing my full attention so easily. I probably would have read the entire book in one sitting if I hadn’t needed to work.
Poor Jenny is plagued – in more ways than one. She suffers extreme loneliness and isolation due to the fact her slightest touch can spread a deadly disease. Her character is brilliantly portrayed. You suffer right along with her. You feel her joys, her heartaches, her struggles. Others in the book are equally believable and intriguing. You love some, you hate some, and you pity others. You know who should be held accountable. You know others really shouldn’t, should they? Very twisty with my emotions there, Mr. Bryan.
The plot of Jenny’s plague-ridden touch is a unique one. With such a fresh storyline you’d expect to be surprised or caught off guard now and then. No disappointment here. The plot turns unexpectedly toward the end of the book. Then another surprise. Then yet again – surprise! I love that. Catch me off guard once – good for you. Catch me off guard twice – good for me. Catch me off guard a third time – now I’m completely infected.
Until Death by Karen Woodward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Until Death requires a little effort at first, but there’s a big payoff at the end. The beginning (the effort portion) was slow and for several chapters I had a hard time focusing because my head kept screaming, “Come on… get to it a’ready!” There’s nothing wrong with that, per se, as a slow build can be quite titillating. But I’m afraid readers might give up too soon. My advice – keep going until the going gets really good (the payoff part). And it does.
The heroine-ish main character is Darla. She’s a bit of a bumbler, a grumbler and has plenty of anxiety to make her interesting. She’s just turning 18, and all that that implies. She’s portrayed very well in the context of the story and readers are sure to adore her as I did. In the book, she discovers something about herself which leads to some very revealing truths that have been hidden from her for nefarious reasons.
Her counterpart, Kael, is a demon. Now, this has some amazing potential. His character doesn’t receive the attention that the Darla character does. Readers will be left wondering over his backstory and details of his personality. But, oooooh, it’s enough to leave me wanting to know more. I believe (and hope) Until Death is just the beginning for this series which will fully develop the Kael character in the next installment.
I started to give this book three stars. Most people seem to be giving it three. Then I realized, despite a slow beginning, a couple confusing character choices (briefly explained below), a continuity issue (see below if you don’t worry about spoilers), I can’t wait to read the next one. That makes four stars in my book. Pun intended.
**POTENTIAL SPOILER**
The continuity issue began in Chapter 23 where Darla can shield herself (and does) for protection, then later in Chapter 28, she can no longer do this. No explanation of her later failure is given. I was also confused by a couple of events. In one, Darla makes a decision regarding her father that seems sudden and out of character for her. The other event seemed like an obvious long-term eventuality, but it reads as if it occurred near instantly. Perhaps the author, Karen Woodward, was “wrapping things up” and a longer passage of time was not as obvious to the reader as it should have been. However, the event I allude to would have been far more fun if we’d had a nice, tortuous wind-up before culmination. *wink, wink*
The soul peers out to view the day,
through bright, hazel windows.
It sees the bright and the gray,
all colors of the rainbow.
The soul searches, explores and learns,
taking in all it can.
Seeing God in all, it yearns,
to see God in man.
The Preacher’s Bride by Jody Hedlund
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve read, and enjoyed, historical romance before. But, this is the first one I’ve encountered based on the Puritan way of life. I normally go for a good mystery or a crime drama with offbeat humor. Lately I’ve been indulging in young-adult paranormal. I’m also a big sic-fi fan and I throw in the occasional classic now and then. So, it would stand to reason that I might hold a small fear of this book turning out to be dull. I mean, come on… Puritans. How can that be engaging and romantic?
But, engaging and romantic it is. The book opens with a heart-wrenching scene that grabs the reader and the plot never lets go. You’re immediately thrust into the lives of the main characters, John and Elizabeth, with a special peek into their hearts. Fear, worry, doubt and second-guessing. These topics of romance are always in season, Puritan or not. But, the Puritan part of the story is essential. It’s the love of God that causes the steadfastness of conviction that leads to much of the story. It’s an imbedded part of who the characters are and what makes them tick. But, you don’t have to be religious or a believer to fully fall in love with the Puritan’s of The Preacher’s Bride and be wringing your hands or cheering with fulfilled hope depending on the page.
This novel is based on the real lives of John and Elizabeth Bunyan. Writer’s license is taken with the romance of the couple, as well as creating personalities of the townspeople, while keeping most historical moments intact. John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress. A book I’ve never read, but I’m going to now.
So grab this one. Don’t let it pass you by because you think it’s all about religion. It’s about people. Their hopes, dreams, fears and struggles. It’s an awesome, intriguing page-turner for anyone regardless of your usual reading genre.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An explosive wrap-up to a very enthralling trilogy. I was drawn in from page one. I can’t say enough good things about the Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Suzanne Collins must have a love affair with the keyboard because she produces some mighty brilliant text. I consider The Hunger Games a must read. And read again. I’m looking forward to the movie. I really hope they do a good job of it.
Mockingjay went a new direction from the first two installments. We still have our heroine, Katniss, and her vastly different but intriguing potential mates, Gale and Peeta. President Snow is still villainous, but new threats from unexpected quarters enter the picture. I was totally caught off guard on more than one occasion and this pleases me. I hate being able to keep pace with a story and foresee what will happen next. I adore the twists and turns, the unexpected hurts and joys and the oh-so-NOT-Hollywood ending to this epic, epic tale.
“Do you ever wonder if there’s life out there?” As usual, Juan was thinking about aliens. Ever since his parents had taken him into Roswell to visit the UFO Museum, he’d been obsessed with visitors from other worlds. He devoured books on the subject and read his Dark Horse Aliens comics over and over.
The other boys rolled their eyes, but Juan couldn’t tell in the firelight. “I just think its crazy to believe we’re the only inhabited planet.”
“The Hubble Telescope has observed at least 125 billion galaxies. I’d say there has to be something out there,” Davie suggested helpfully.
Earl snuggled down into his sleeping bag. “I doubt they’ll invade tonight. Let’s get some sleep.”
We took a vacation to Los Angeles, California in July 2011. We each had several items on our list of things to do. Some things were new and some we’ve done before but they definitely deserved repeating.
Allyson wanted to ride bikes on the Strand with her friend. We didn’t get the chance to do that last year. This time we made it top priority. It was loads of fun for the girls. Okay, for us too. Rob and I walked the Strand taking pics of the ocean while the girls peddled their hearts out.
I wanted to indulge in those amazing sweet potato fries at The Veggie Grill. I’ve really missed those fries. I don’t know how they make their sweet potato fries so much better than everyone else’s, but they truly are. Maybe their seasoned with Heaven Salt.
We all couldn’t wait to play in the Pacific Ocean. Last year we had Dixie much of the time and couldn’t take her on the beach. This year, we all walked in the water. FYI – Occasionally one wave will be larger than the others. Be prepared for thigh-deep water. Choose shorts over capris when beach/wave walking.
One thing we wanted to do during our time in LA last year was attend a movie at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. We never did because the films they were showing at the time weren’t what we call “full price” events. They were only “rental” worthy (think $1 Redbox or Netflix) to us and we didn’t want to waste money or our first visit to the famous theater on less than a spectacular movie.
Grauman’s Chinese Theater is located on Hollywood Blvd. It’s just down the street from the equally famous Kodak Theater where they film American Idol and do the Oscars. But Grauman’s is where they immortalize the rich and famous by suggesting they step into concrete. And you thought only the Mob could do that.
So, what spectacular “full price” amazing movie did we choose to see on our first outing to Grauman’s Chinese Theater? Harry Potter, of course. We got tickets to see the long-awaited, highly-anticipated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. In 3-D. With free popcorn.
We arrived a couple hours early because we had no idea what we were in for on America’s most famous street in front of America’s most famous theater for the last installment of one of the biggest movie franchises possibly ever (filmed in Britain).
Hollywood Blvd. is also home to the Walk of Fame. Countless stars are immortalized on the sidewalk with their names etched in gold on black stars. This draws quite a crowd regardless of time of day, day of the week, or week of the year. This place is always packed. If you come, the street performers run the gambit of ridiculous and rude to fabulous and friendly. FYI – they are working for tips to support themselves, so if you want a picture with one of them, be polite and be prepared to tip. Performing here might well be the only job they have.
Once inside the theater, we find seats and send Rob for snacks. The place is decorated beyond imagination. I’ve never seen such a beautiful theater. The seats are plush and there are thick, red velvet curtains (which they use) hanging in front the screen. The balconies are ornate and everywhere you look the scrollwork is beautiful.
The movie is in 3D, so we all get those adorably flattering and highly-sought-after viewing specs. Jealous? Settled into our amazing seats, free popcorn in hand, the show starts.
Don’t worry, no spoilers here. Like there’s still someone who hasn’t seen the last installment of Harry Potter. Yeah, right.
Our impression of the movie was: Wow! Phenomenal! Stupendous! Seriously, I think it was one of the best in the series and an excellent way to wrap things up. What about the 3D? I know 3D takes a lot of grief for not being particularly good, which in many cases, it deserves. But in Harry Potter, it was spot on. The beginning title shots were far more 3D-ish than the rest of the film. But, the rest of the film gives you an overall sense of depth without any of the corny vampire fish leaping out of the screen effects meant just to cause you to jump.
After the movie, you can’t just file back out into the warm, California sunshine. No. You have to visit the displays set up around the lobby. In large plexiglass cases are costumes worn by the cast. Pictures are allowed and even encouraged, but don’t take too long. They only have one screen at Grauman’s and another showing of Harry Potter will be coming up soon.
To sum it all up: Excellent movie, free popcorn, beautiful theater = one fantastic event.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
How can you take two main characters and put them through similar traumas and not let it get dull? I have no idea, but apparently Ms. Collins is the one to ask?
Catching Fire continues the Hunger Games saga in new, breathtaking and riot-inducing ways. The characters get more complex and intertwined as we’re introduced to new elements in this twisty and elaborately-woven story of power-greedy big brother and the inextinguishable spirit of humankind.
Wow – I can’t wait to read the next one.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I can’t say much here, except WOW! Read this book. It’s wonderful regardless of your preferred genre.
On the technical side: I love the fluid use of present tense and first person. I’ve read few books that do that as brilliantly. On the artistic side: The characters are beautifully created and brought to full-blooded, realistic life. The inner workings of Katniss are presented in such a way that anyone can see themselves as her, facing the unspeakable, staring down the challenges, defying those who deserve defeat.
Yowza! – I gotta kick some butt before I explode. If you don’t find yourself wishing you could run through the gray-clad crowd throwing your sledgehammer into big brother’s giant televised face, then you didn’t get the point.
It’s been way too long waiting on Bermuda to hit the virtual shelves. When it appeared this morning on Amazon a Kindle Edition Exclusive, it was just one of those laugh-out-loud moments. Here’s why:
On the top, you’ll see the Cover Art posted to Amazon’s website. The background is black and the images seem to be under x-ray examination. On the bottom, you’ll see the Cover Art as it’s supposed to appear. And it does appear that way when you download the book.
The sound of trees being wrested from the ground and torn apart woke the boys instantly. The deafening noise lasted only a minute, then died away suddenly with only the occasional pop of a breaking branch reaching the boys’ straining ears.
“What was that?!” demanded Earl, blinking in the dark since the campfire had abandoned them.
“It sounded like a T-rex rampaging through the trees!” cried Davie.
“There’s no dinosaurs anymore, Dave,” was Andy’s calm reply. He unzipped his sleeping bag and felt around the hard-packed ground for his shoes.
“Where’re you going?” asked Davie, nerves getting the best of his voice and making it squeaky.
“I’ll go with you,” suggested Earl, bouncing up and grabbing a flashlight.
An urgent whisper grabbed everyone’s attention, “Wait! What if it’s aliens?”
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ve really enjoyed the characters in the Trylle Trilogy. This last book in the series wraps everything up with a wonderful ending. The conclusion where good triumphs evil was well played and exciting. There was cheering in my head. Details of the events and emotional upheaval the characters go through were enjoyable and kept you right in the action.
With that said, I was a little confused at the growth and changes in the heroine, Wendy. She seemed to evolve so quickly and do things that were out of character for her. Perhaps the extreme circumstances warrant these fast-paced changes and it was merely a maturity taking place. And it wasn’t just the main character. Another character in the book, Finn, responded to Wendy’s behavior in a way that was not typical for him. It started out typical in the scene and then did a 180. To me it ended up seeming a little forced to move the characters into the scenario the author wanted.
Still a wonderful climax to an enchanting story. And it didn’t all play out the way I would have wanted. Not entirely a Hollywood ending which is two-thumbs-up in my opinion.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book I’ve read with gargoyles as the main characters. But, I wasn’t hesitant. I thought it sounded like a great idea. And it was.
Valor follows a tried-and-true formula of attraction, danger, and mystery. But don’t let tried-and-true make you think it’s typical. It’s not. You’ll meet some amazing characters, human and otherwise, and a pretty awesome dog – I love books with canine influences. The gargoyles are vividly brought to life in the descriptions and dialogue as the story reveals some (but not all) of their past, and some (but not all) of their current story. Oh, how my appetite for gargoyles has been piqued.
This edition (it’s titled “book one”) is heavy on the introduction to the characters and light on those catastrophic happenstances that make books sometimes so involved you have a hard time getting to know and care about the people in them. Action driven it isn’t, but character driven it is. And in such a good way. I’m way past sixteen, but could totally see myself in MacKenzie’s shoes. Not just see, but wish. And the boys (gargoyles) are each unique and intriguing making you wish you could talk with them for hours over lattes. I want to meet them all and have them stay at my house.
I so very thoroughly enjoyed this book. Do yourself (and your teenage daughter) a favor, and grab this one right away.
Scent of Danger by Autumn Dawn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Scent of Danger was formerly titled Something Wild. Yet again, I’ve read a book right out of the middle of a series. I’ve got to be more careful. Luckily, this one does a really good job of being a stand-alone if you haven’t read the previous ones. The author does a wonderful job of introducing knowledge from previous books in the series without making the reader feel out of the loop. If I hadn’t been enjoying it so much and Googled author Autumn Dawn, I might have never found out. Lucky for me I did, so I can read all the rest.
The book focuses on dark, brooding Mathin and disenchanted, practical Andrea. She is human and he is, well, not. The characters and their world are brought to life through Andrea’s interaction with new and strange people with alien customs and chemistry. The querulous relationship she forms with Mathin is a bit Twilight-ish, but Twilight fans will enjoy it immensely and it doesn’t detract from the story. However, many a scene is stolen by the Stag. I think a whole book could be devoted to this funny, obstinate creature. You’ll have to read Scent of Danger to see why.
The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Second in the series, The Masque of the Black Tulip was just as delightful (perhaps more fun even?) as The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. If you’ve read Pink Carnation, then you’ve already met the main hero and heroine of Black Tulip. Henrietta Selwick, younger sister of the notorious Richard Selwick, is funny and bright and even occasionally silly. There’s a scene where she hides from Miles Dorrington that it just hilarious. Miles is, of course, the hero of this story. Being Richard’s best friend from childhood and very close to the whole Selwick family, he is deeply involved in all things spy. Miles is deliciously awkward and gets distressingly tangled up in things he shouldn’t, including Henrietta.
This was a fun romp full of mystery, romance and humor. A fantastic addition to the series. And don’t forget, you get to follow along with modern-day Eloise and her budding crush on Colin Selwick, a descendant of Lord Richard, the Purple Gentian.
