[Review] Kracken: Dawn of Destiny Series #1 by Ray Ellis

Summary:

The year is 135 New Reckoning. A Godless world is rebuilding itself.

When a stranger from Mike Stone’s past appears on his doorstep, his ordinary life is suddenly and violently destroyed. Mike’s past has come back to haunt him. Now with his family attacked and his home destroyed, Mike finds himself running for his life through a jungle-planet filled with terrors and a monster known only as the Kracken.

In the midst of the chaos, Ted Waters launches his plan for domination. In a post-apocalyptic world, Waters sets himself up as the sole leader of the emerging world government. Using children as slaves, he mines a new narcotic used to subdue the people’s will. 

Kracken, the story of two men, two opinions and two bases of power set on a collision path. When the two collide, Mike finds himself confronted by the God he thought he left behind.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 367 pages (Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Genre: Sci-Fi

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: February 18th 2015 by NCC Publishing 

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What a fun read this was! I thought the blend of science fiction set in a post apocalyptic world with a love story at the true heart of it. This was actually my last read of 2016 and I have to say it truly did end on a strong note. 

This was my first time reading a Ray Ellis book, but he'd been on my radar for some time because he's quite popular in the realm of Christian fiction which I don't dabble in much but for Ray Ellis I think I might venture into the genre a little more often. 

This one read like a great action adventure novel. There was a ton going on in terms of the main character Mike Sloane and his exploits with the various fauna and flora on the planet. I really felt as though I were there along side he and his crew as they were running for their lives. The action was very realistic and I loved how Ellis was able to transport me into the story. 

I thought that Mike Sloane was a great character and I really felt for the guy (for reaasons that will become apparent when you read the book. I thought he was very likable and I enjoyed the way he was depicted. He had a big heart and I couldn't help but feel for the guy. 

I also thought that Ted Waters was a great villain. I thought that he absolutely balanced Sloane out very well. Both have their demons don't get me wrong I am not saying that Sloane was perfect but they were such complete opposites morally and ethically. They just worked very well together. 

This book was more than just a fun read it poses some interesting questions as well for the reader and I feel like the ending wasn't wrapped up perfectly but left open so that we the readers may formulate a bit of our own conclusions.

This is one I'd definitely recommend to fans of science fiction and if you don't mind a bit of a Christian influence in the story Bob's your uncle. I can definitely see myself reading more by Ray Ellis soon.

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Meet the Author

Ray Ellis was ordained into the ministry in March of 1989 and was sworn in as a uniformed police officer in April of that same year. He began writing in the fall of 1991, although like many before him, it had been his lifelong dream to be a writer. He completed his first manuscript, a science fantasy, in late 1999, but it was his fifth book published.

His first three books published was an inspirational mystery series, Nate Richards Mysteries, which was followed by a paranormal short story called “I”. Ray drew from his almost 30 years experience working in law enforcement to create the world of his mystery thrillers and from the same three decades in ministry to integrate the principals and truths of the Christian Gospel throughout all his stories . In his career, he worked as a jail deputy in a maximum-security facility in Orange County, California before being transferred to street patrol. While working in Orange County he also served as the captain of the department’s Martial Arts stunt and demonstration team.

In June of 1997, Ray transferred to Idaho, where he continued to work as a police officer, serving in patrol, then as a sex-crime investigator, and finally as a SRO, School Resource Officer. Being a pastor and a police officer, Ray offers a unique view of the human experience, binding the two worlds to tell his stories from his own distinctive perspective.

Since releasing his first book, Ray has been selected as Top 50 Author for the state of Idaho, a Top 10 Author and the ACFW Author of the Year for the State of Idaho. He has also served as the president of the IWL: Idaho Writer’s League from 2001-2003, and as president of Idahope, a Christian Author’s Writers Group.

He is currently working on the second installment of the Dawn of Destiny Series: Shadow of the Serpent, the follow up to KRACKEN.

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*[Blog Tour Review & Guest Post] Anvil of God (The Carolingian Chronicles #1) by J. Boyce Gleason

Summary:

It is 741. After subduing the pagan religions in the east, halting the march of Islam in the west, and conquering the continent for the Merovingian kings, mayor of the palace Charles the Hammer has one final ambition-the throne. Only one thing stands in his way-he is dying.

Charles cobbles together a plan to divide the kingdom among his three sons, betroth his daughter to a Lombard prince to secure his southern border, and keep the Church unified behind them through his friend Bishop Boniface. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles's death is chaos. His daughter has no intention of marrying anyone, let alone a Lombard prince. His two eldest sons question the rights of their younger pagan stepbrother, and the Church demands a steep price for their support. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles's daughter flees his court for an enemy's love.

Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family's relentless quest for power and destiny.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 440 pages (Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: July 26th 2013 by iUniverse.com

I'd been wanting to read Anvil of God for a good while before I got the invite for this tour and I'd been hearing some pretty good things so obviously I had to sign up for it, and it's a good thing I did because it filled that niche of a book set in a time period I'm not all that familiar with.

I loved that the book was set in France in the 700s, which I don't see very often and thought it was a rare treat and enjoyed the author's take on the lives of Charles "The Hammer" and his children. Some things were very unfamiliar to me like certain references so Google played a good hand in helping me figure out what was what and while some may not like having to looking things up I relish it, because nothing beats a book that makes me curious.

The characters did take some getting used to I'll admit but that's because I ha to get used to the customs and the society of the time but I did come to like them all equally because they all brought something a little different to the story. I especially loved that Trudi, defied the image we hold of women of ages gone by a weak, waifish women more than happy to do what they must happily and naively. She was not like that at all and while I did have a couple issues with her personality I appreciated such a strong female character in a story dominated by men.

I enjoyed the fact that the book had a little bit of everything in it. There was murder, kidnap, corruption, war, betrayal, love, death and religion all mixed together and seeing the characters handle certain situations was great because everything was so interconnected with everything else that it was like a chess game which made for an intriguing read.

I thought it was reasonably paced even though it did slow down towards the middle for me but that was only for a chapter or two so other than that it flowed wonderfully, especially when it came to switching from character to character. Unlike other novels it didn't leave me feeling lost at "shift change" and I'm very, very much looking forward to reading the next book in the Carolingian Chronicles.  I'd recommend this one to all historical fiction buffs who want a book set in a very unique period.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

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Guest Post:

 

The Devil is in the Details

 

I was a reader of historical fiction long before I began to write it.  And all too often, I found that authors are so enamored with creating the time period for their novel that they forget to tell the story.  And if there is one thing I’ve learned about writing, it is to never let anything get in the way of a good story.

When I sat down to write Anvil of God, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles, I promised myself that it would be a story about people first.  I wanted the timeframe to be part of the environment that surrounds the story rather than the story itself.

That’s not to say there isn’t history in Anvil.  Most of the story and the characters are based on actual people and events that took place in France and Germany during the year 741:  Charles the Hammer dies and his death throws his family and the continent he conquered into chaos.  Brother battles brother, Christianity battles Paganism and his young daughter must choose between her family and a love that lives halfway across the continent.
But while my story follows an accurate historical timeline, I focused my attention on discovering why it happens. How did they get to this place?  What beliefs shape their emotions?  Who do they love?  What past events and experiences shape their lives? Are they reticent people or exuberant?  Are they proud or humble? Rich or poor? Happy or sad?  And most of all why are they?

Only after I had a good sense of who they are, did I weave in historical side notes.  What clothes do they have to wear? How often do they bathe?  How many miles a day do they walk? What do they do for entertainment? How do they get their news?  What are their religious practices? Where do they go to the bathroom?  What kind of weapons do they carry?  How do they get their food?  How do they cook it?
Do they know how to read? How does the time shape who they are?

What scars do they bear?  In the eighth century there was little in the way of real medical care. Evidence from disease and trauma would be ever present. Warriors would be scarred. People’s teeth would be crooked, turning black, and falling out.  A bad knee would stay bad.
It’s the details that provide a sense of timeframe.

One of the more troubling details is language.  While there is great precedent for using Medieval language in historical fiction, (Forsooth, milady! Yon ragamuffin doth abscond with thy virtue!) I found no room for such in Anvil.  I was careful to avoid modern language (such as zip, pedal, sandwich etc.) as these words hadn’t been invented by the eighth century, but other than that, I tried to focus more on conveying meaning rather than authenticity. Truth is, none of us would understand Early French of the eighth century. 

Ultimately, you will have to be the judge of whether or not I succeeded. 

 

Let me know what you think. 

Author Bio:

 

With an AB degree in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of what events shaped the past and when, but writes historical-fiction to discover why. Gleason lives in Virginia with his wife Mary Margaret. They have three sons.

His latest book is the historical fiction, Anvil of God, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles.
Visit his website at www.jboycegleason.com.

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*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane (Life in Icicle Falls #5) by Sheila Roberts

 

 

Summary:

When it comes to men, sisters don't share!

After a fake food poisoning incident in L.A., Bailey Sterling's dreams of becoming a caterer to the stars collapse faster than a soufflé. Now Bailey's face is in all the gossip rags and her business is in ruins. But the Sterling women close ranks and bring her back to Icicle Falls, where she'll stay with her sister Cecily.

All goes well between the sisters until Bailey comes up with a new business idea—a tea shop on a charming street called Lavender Lane. She's going into partnership with Todd Black, who—it turns out—is the man Cecily's started dating. It looks to Cecily as if there's more than tea brewing in that cute little shop. And she's not pleased.

Wait! Isn't Cecily seeing Luke Goodman? He's a widower with an adorable little girl, and yes, Cecily does care about him. But Todd's the one who sends her zing-o-meter off the charts. So now what? Should you have to choose between your sister and the man you love (or think you love)?
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 400 pages (Mass Market Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: June 24th 2014 by Harlequin MIRA

The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane was the first book I've read in the Icicle Falls series and the first book I've read by Sheila Roberts period but just because I came into it mid series doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this little gem because I did.

I thought this one was a cute read. For me it was a one sitting read and just what I was craving at the time after reading mysteries just before I started this one and it gave me some of that light heartedness that I needed especially since I love books set in small towns.

While I do wish that I had read the previous books in the series to get more of a feel for the town it still turned out to be an enjoyable read. It had a little bit of romance but I like how it focuses more on the sister Bailey and Cecily though I wish their relationship with each other was less strained. I liked both of our main characters the same because they were so real they could be any pair of sisters in the real world fighting over a man. However, I do wish the conflict between the sisters wasn't over a man at the same time because I just think it's a silly reason to fight with family or anyone really.

I really felt for Bailey the most though. She had to go home with her tail between her legs because someone decided to screw her over and I hate that but I enjoyed that redemption and homecoming were at the heart of this well written story. It was very sweet story that dealt with real life problems which I love seeing in books. I just wish I could say that I liked Cecily. I understand why she is the less likable character but her attitude and the fact that she was stringing two men along really rubbed me the wrong way and I wanted to strangle her for it. Especially since she decided to take out her issues on her little sister. I was team Bailey all the way even when Cecily stopped acting horribly.

I thought this was a cute summer read, and a nice introduction to the series for me. It definitely has me curious about reading the prior books in the series because I loved the side characters in this one and want to see more of the cozy town of Icicle Falls.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Really Liked It!
★★★ 1/2

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*[Blog Tour Review] Run With The Wolves Volume One: The Pack by T. C. Tombs

 

Summary:

 

It is the fifteenth century, and three kingdoms are caught up in the dire conflicts of their time. As the possibility of a peaceful resolution provides hope that a decade-long war will finally end, no one realizes that dark forces are waiting to invoke chaos as a full moon rises.

On a farm nestled beneath the Euralene Mountains along the western border of Medinia, young Willie works for the Smythes as a serf. One moonlit evening when the Smythes are gone to a neighbouring village, Willie hears the terrified cries of animals in the pastures. When he goes to investigate, he discovers that this wolf pack attack is like no other. Badly injured during the raid, he survives-but now he is afflicted by the full-moon madness that will soon transform him into one of the wolf creatures he dreads. With his life seemingly warped forever, Willie must face the prospect of a lifelong descent into horror.

In a time of witchcraft, superstitious folk lore, and fear-some creatures roaming the night, Willie struggles with an uncertain destiny and must seek help from the one man he holds most responsible for the dark fate that awaits him during the next full moon cycle.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 410 pages (E-book)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: E-Book/Paperback

Publication Date: November 7th 2011 by iUniverse.com

 

 

The reason why I wanted to review this book was because I absolutely adore horror/fantasy novels and I love historical fiction so when I see that two of my favourite genres are mixed together I jump on that train faster than you can say "all aboard!".

 

That being said, I actually did enjoy Tomb's novel about the fifteenth century mixed with werewolves, witch craft and other spooky things that go bump in the night and get the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. However this book is very much paced like the typical  historical novel. There's a fair amount of action but there is a whole lot of story telling (without it dragging I promise!) that gets you to the action scenes and it makes it 100% worth it, trust me.

 

I really enjoyed the storyline though and I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was Willie. There was something about him that I just found to be really likable. Maybe it's because I pitied him when he was bitten, but whatever it was about him I thought he made the whole novel worth reading. That isn't to say that the other characters in this story of three Kingdoms weren't just as good, because they were.

 

I also really enjoyed the plot of the book. The idea of two kingdoms trying to come together to finally broker a peace between their peoples was a good one especially with the wild card kingdom of Varakov in the mix that wants nothing to do with this stuff so there was a bit of politics involved in the telling of the story as well.

 

Overall, I thought this was a refreshing read. I haven't seen too many novels that mix historical fiction and horror/Fantasy so this was a great change for me. I really enjoyed the authors voice and the way that the story in volume one was told and can't wait to read volume two. I would recommend this to all fans of fantasy, horror and historical fiction.

 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

Liked  it!
★ ★ ★ 1/2

 

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*[Blog Tour Review] Heart in Hand (Stitches in Time #3) by Barbara Cameron

 

Summary:

 

Anna, a knitter and the oldest of the three cousins, watches the wedding of Naomi and Nick the following fall and remembers her own wedding. A widow, Anna thinks about how short her time with her husband was; as she looks at her grandmother, she wonders if Leah is recalling her own marriage. Her grandparents were married for a longer time than she and her husband were, but Anna and her grandmother lost their spouses only months apart three years ago. Perhaps this is why they have always felt so close. Both know how hard it is to be a widow, to go on with life.
Gideon Beiler approaches Anna one day. Gideon is a wonderful, caring man. He, too, has suffered a loss – his wife, Mary, died and left him to raise their only daughter. Spring is a time for new beginnings, for love to bloom as nature thaws the earth and makes it come alive again after the long cold winter. As love begins to warm Anna’s heart again, she’s afraid to chance losing someone she has come to care so much about. Her grandmother tells her she believes Gideon may be the man God has sent for her to have a second chance at love.
Stitches in time…and place: three cousins who laugh and love and learn about life together with their warm and wise grandmother, Leah, in their special shop. Two generations of Amish women who are bound by strong threads which bind them to their creativity and their community.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 304 pages (paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: February 1st 2013 by Abingdon Press

 

I've only ever read a couple Amish fiction novels so when I signed up for this tour I completely surprised myself but I'm glad I did. Heart in Hand was my first foray into Barbara Cameron's writing and I have to say it was rather enjoyable.

 

Heart in Hand was a nice break from all the other books I was reading at the same time as this. I usually have multiple books on the go and in preparation for the tour I started this one as soon as I got it and read 20 pages here, 50 pages there until I finished it. It was a nice clean read, and not at all like my usual read but I'm glad I gave this a shot like I said because of how out of the norm it was for me.

 

I loved the story of Gideon and Anna, their romance was so sweet I couldn't help but love them as a couple and feel their pain of losing their first spouses and having to start all over again. I really enjoyed the way their story was told. It was sweet, emotional and entirely heartfelt you could tell that the author was very connected to her characters in a way that you only see in the very talented authors out there.

 

I got completely wrapped up in their love story and in the way that I got to know Anna and Gideon's fictional Amish community and I loved getting to know Anna's grandmother who was a sweet old woman with a lot of wisdom that I think she passed down to Anna. As for Gideon it was great to see a gentlemanly character and I found him to be so kind and understanding.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed Heart in Hand. While it is the third book in Barbara Cameron's Stitches in Time Series it can be read as a stand alone easily which was great for me since I had not read the previous two novels and I had no problem following the story in Heart in Hand. This was a sweet, clean romance that I can see appealing to older and younger readers.

 

I would recommend this to fans of Amish and Christian fiction/romance novels. If you aren't familiar with the genre this novel would be a lovely place to start and both older and younger readers can read it. I can see it appealing to mothers and daughters who share novels and I can't wait to read the previous novels in this series because Barbara Cameron has gained a new fan in me.

 

*I received a FREE copy of this book in exchange for my FREE & HONEST review. I was not compensated in anyway and ALL thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.

 

Author Bio:

 

 

Barbara Cameron is the author of 35 fiction and non-fiction books, three nationally televised movies (HBO-Cinemax), as well as the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. When a relative took her to visit the Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she felt led to write about the spiritual values and simple joys she witnessed there.

Her latest book is the Amish fiction, Heart in Hand.

 

Really Liked It!
★★★★

 

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*[Blog Tour Review] Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

 

 

Summary:

 

The Roaring Twenties crumble into the Great Depression, but Virginia Kingsley, New York's toughest and most successful speakeasy owner, is doing just fine. Now that the world is falling apart, bootlegging is a flourishing business, and she's queen of that castle.

Then her infant nephew is kidnapped. Her niece, Laura, and Laura's philandering movie star husband, are devastated. The police have few leads, and speculation and rumors abound in the media circus that follows the celebrity abduction.

Only one reporter, Erich Muller, seems to care enough about the child's welfare and the parents' feelings to report the case responsibly. Over the course of the investigation, Erich Muller and Laura fall in love, but their relationship is doomed to failure since he suspects her beloved aunt Virginia is behind the kidnapping. Laura, jaded when it comes to men, sides with Virginia.

But Virginia has figured out the truth, and she can't tell anyone for fear of losing her niece's affections and having the police ransack her life. So she pursues her own investigation, shaking down, threatening, and killing one petty crook after another during her search.

Little Todd's absence shapes everyone's lives. When he is finally found, the discovery will bring disaster for some and revelation for others.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 318 pages (Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Publication Date: December 12th 2011 by Carol Tibaldi

 

 I love novels like these ones. I haven't read a lot of books set in the roaring twenties but the ones I have read have all been very well written just like Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi turned out to be.  I was really impressed with how well the author was able to capture the time period and I know that she probably had to do her fair amount of research because she had to get the details just right and that work certainly paid off in my opinion.

 

I loved the story line,  I doubt the book would be as successful if it had be written in a later time period because everything seemed to go very well together.However, my favourite part of the book was the characters. I loved how the book was mostly focused on 4 main characters and how their lives all led them on one collision course. Though I do have to say my favourite character was Laura, I couldn't help but like her.

 

The plot itself could have been a just a little stronger. I felt as though at times the book was being rushed along a bit and I wish it had been just a little more drawn out in parts. Those however are minor issues and can easily be over looked because the rest of the novel fits so well together. I loved how it had drama, mystery and romance all wrapped in to one in a nice little package where one genre wasn't fighting for the spotlight more than the others.

 

I would highly recommend this book to those who love historical fiction, historical mysteries and books set in the era of the roaring twenties. This book has so much to offer and if left me wanting more, I can't wait to read more by the author and I hope that if she continues to write that we see more books set in this time period from her because she certainly knows what she's doing!

 

*I received a free copy in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all thoughts and opinions expressed therein are my own.

Really Liked It!
★ ★ ★★

 

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*[Blog Tour Review & Interview] Felice's World's by Henry Massie

 

Summary:

 

FIRST SHE ESCAPED THE HOLOCAUST AND THE POVERTY OF THE SHTETL. AFTER THAT, SHE MOVED IN MANY WORLDS. AND IN EVERY ONE SHE MADE HER MARK.

Felice Massie was a student in France, caught up in the horrors of Naziism when she was 20 years old. Cut off by the war from her family living in a small village in Poland, she shifted from one country to another attempting to find a home for herself and a means to rescue her parents, brother and sister. As the Holocaust descended on her shtetl, she arrived penniless in America. Over time she raised a family and amassed one of foremost collections of American modern art. Her boldness and resilience became a beacon of hope and inspiration for others.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 211 pages

Source: Review Copy

Publication Date: February 14th 2012

 

First off I'd like to thank Deborah from Pump Up Your Book for inviting me to join the tour for Felice's Worlds, without her I doubt I would have found this book and after reading it I am even more glad that she invited me.

 

Felice's World was an interesting and dynamic read, one that I'm super glad to have had the pleasure to read and review for the author Henry Massie. I've not had much experience reading memoirs about Holocaust survivors so in that aspect this book was a departure from my usual reads albeit a very welcome one.

 

The book, written by Felice's son author Henry Massie was a wonderful read.I enjoyed learning about Felice's early childhood and the journey as she grew from a child to a strong, knowledgeable woman. I say I enjoyed it because while the fact that she lived during WWII in Poland until she was able to leave for Palestine I think that the experiences she went through should not be forgotten. 

 

I think what I most enjoyed about the book was the way the author penned it. You could tell through his writing how much he loved, respected and adored his mother and I think this book is the perfect gift from a son to a mother. It was written in such loving detail I couldn't help but be moved by Felice's story.

 

I would recommend this book to all readers who enjoy biographies and autobiographies especially those who have a special interest in accounts told by Holocaust survivors. This was such a good read and it opened my eyes to a lot. I highly recommend this book to all of my followers. This is one biography that you should not miss out on reading.

 

*I received a free copy in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all thoughts and opinions expressed therein are my own.

Really Liked It!
★ ★ ★★

 

To purchase Felice's Worlds via Amazon CLICK HERE

 

 

 

ABOUT HENRY MASSIE

Henry Massie is a psychiatrist, award-winning author, and pioneering researcher in the field of autism. FELICE’S WORLDS–From the Holocaust to the Halls of Modern Art, is the a memoir and biography of his mother, a brilliant and beautiful woman who participated in many of the most critical periods of the 20th Century.

Website Address: www.booksbnimble.com

Twitter Address: @booksbnimble

Facebook Address: www.Facebook.com/booksbnimble

 

Interview with Henry Massie

 

1) First of all, please tell us a special something about what makes you "tick." When you aren't writing, what are you doing.

When I'm not solving my fictional characters' problems or recreating real people's lives on paper, I'm in my office consulting with patients, trying to help them solve problems in real life. I'm a psychiatrist. And when doing none of the above, I may be walking with my dog on Goat Rock beach in northern California.

2) You chose a specific genre, a place and time to write about, what made you choose it?

The genre chose me. Felice's Worlds is a biography of my mother, in a sense her memoir. It is often in the very words she used to tell me about her life and adventures during some of the critical periods of the 20th century. It is also a double-memoir about how her brilliance, boldness and emotional burdens affected me. Her story was dying to be told.

Currently I am working in the very different genre of a highly fictionalized account of how somebody I knew was influenced by his friendship with Marilyn Monroe when he was in high-school and she was in her thirties, in the two years before her death. It is called Prom Date. I fell into writing it because of my fascination with people's desires and dreams and how they turn out.

3) Please share with your readers where you like to write. Do you have a particular space or desk? What can you see from your desk? Do you have props you use to write from? What about special "charms?"

I have three desks: one in my office where I keep charts and so forth, one in a study in my house in Berkeley where I pay bills, and one at my cabin near Guerneville, California, near where the Russian River flows into the Pacific Ocean. The desk at the cabin is where I do my writing. I need to escape from the city desks to the cabin to be creative. "Living on the river," as people say, is to live in another world that fosters fantasies. From my desk there I see three redwood trees reaching to the sky, climbing so high that I can't even see their tops if I put my face to the window and peer up. My desk is completely cluttered with paper, clippings, and notes to myself. My two desks back in town are neat and orderly. The trees outside my window are my writing totems.

4) In your opinion, what makes a book a great one?

A great book has to suck me into it like a whirlpool. After a spell of reading, the characters and their dilemmas in a great book make me feel so tense that I need to put the book down and get some breathing space. The language and imagery has to be alive and poetic. I don't think books that obsess over little details and tiny shades of meaning and feeling are great (I call them dandelion cottage books) even though many critics adore them.

5) Which author(s) most influenced your love of books from childhood?

Starting in about fourth grade I read every Hardy Boy adventure that came out. They still influence my writing. In sixth grade I switched to a series of books about American history for young people. They taught me about real people and events. My interest in character developed in high school when I started reading Faulkner. My favorite was his novella The Bear.

7) Please share with us the underlying message of your book. What would you like your readers to take away after having read the book?

There are several themes running through Felice's Worlds: 1) War endures through millennia in the land called Palestine and Israel because of the never-ending folly of men with guns, 2) Those who suffered the Holocaust have passed their psychological trauma from one generation to the next and the next, 3) Traumatized though they may be, some people show amazing emotional resilience, 4) Beauty may save the soul, but only so far.

I'm content if readers understand these things better after reading Felice's Worlds.

8) Were you able to keep your original title? What was it, if not?

The title of Felice's Worlds was fluid, a shifting about work in progress as long as the book was a work in progress. It didn't crystallize until the book was finished, with help from the publisher.

9) Is there a song or music in general that might best represent your book as a theme song.

Yes, Eastern European klezmer music captures the book. The publisher, BooksBnimble, created a video trailer for Felice's Worlds, with an excerpt of Felice speaking about her past when she was in her seventies, and with pictures of her village on the Polish-Russian border, and her home and art in America. The trailer's klezmer music has snippets of jazz from the 1930s, gypsy rhythms, and Jewish folk melodies. You can access the trailer by going to YouTube, or via the publisher's website, or via the Amazon listing for the book, I believe.

10) If you could write your book again, what would you change?

Felice's Worlds went through three or four drafts, with input from friends and two editors. For the final draft I told myself this time I want to get it right, leave nothing I'm dissatisfied with on the page, say what I want to say, and say it cleanly once a for all. I'm satisfied with what's there.