Posted on March 31, 2021 Leave a Comment
Molly Golubcow’s memoir focuses on growing up in Atlanta City in the early 1970s between it’s early hay day and the modern day casino boom. Her parents, Holocaust survivors who grew up in a Polish shtetl, become the proprietors of the Seacrest, near the boardwalk, which was home to a colorful cast of residents.
Golubcow’s book consists of seventeen unique stories of life in the hotel and the interesting characters who called it home. The stories are well-crafted and relatable. While this is a non-fiction work, the stories contained in this book would make for an excellent TV series, or possibly a film. I thoroughly enjoyed the very engaging writing.
The book also gives a sweet depiction of the author’s parents, Harry and Sonia, and her beautiful memories of them. I highly recommend this book.
Even as a child, Molly Golubcow expressed herself – with words as well as her pen (or Crayon). To her family’s chagrin, she often wrote and drew inside the blank pages of her older brother’s books – why else were the pages left empty?
With a degree in English, Molly was able to write professionally her entire career. As a technical writer, she covered an array of topics ranging from NASA telemetry systems to health care policy & procedures. In her spare time, she entertains the right side of her brain writing non-technical short stories, articles, and interviews. Her works have been published in several anthologies as well as in newspaper and magazines: Atlantic City Weekly, Montgomery Life, Boardwalk Journal, New Jersey Lifestyle, South Jersey, & JerseyMan. Her favorite subjects to write about center around her home, her roots – Atlantic City and New Jersey in general.
Her first book, The Hotel on St. James Place: Growing up in Atlantic City between the Boardwalk and the Holocaust tells her story – a hybrid of memoir and vivid vignettes that juxtapose her parents, Holocaust survivors and proprietors of a small hotel in Atlantic City, next to some colorful characters ranging from pimps to runaways. All promising to add up to an unforgettable journey of resilience, survival, and acceptance.
Molly is currently working on her next book – a detective novel set in Atlantic City – you never know what can be happening on and under the Boardwalk.
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By Zhanna Slor Masha and Anastasia are sisters who immigrated to the United States from the former USSR as children, in the 80s. The two spent their adolescents in the gritty counter-culture neighborhood, Riverwest, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In her early twenties, Masha makes a journey of self-discovery, immigrating to Israel but returns to Milwaukee, at…
By Jonathan Yalon Set in a fictional kingdom, in Eurasia, King Genghis I is a satirical rom-com with a political twist. Turan was born in this kingdom but raised in New York. The kingdom is led by a monarch who is more like a modern-day dictator. Turan is persuaded to return home through an invitation…
By Lesléa Newman This poetry collection explores the father-daughter relationship based on the author’s relationship with her own father. The collection is progressive in time as her father ages and reaches end of life. Newman’s writing is emotional and raw as she wrestles with issues so many face as parents age. Coping with difficult issues…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
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As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on March 31, 2021 Leave a Comment
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly features.
Authors, are you interested in having your book reviewed? Interested in an interview about your work? Visit the Contact Me page and complete the form. Requests receive a response within 48 hours.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchases made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Masha and Anastasia are sisters who immigrated to the United States from the former USSR as children, in the 80s. The two spent their adolescents in the gritty counter-culture neighborhood, Riverwest, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In her early twenties, Masha makes a journey of self-discovery, immigrating to Israel but returns to Milwaukee, at the insistence of her father, when her sister, now 19, cuts off communication with her family.
This is Slor’s debut novel and I’m already excited to read more from her. The writing is raw and emotional, exploring a number of thought-provoking themes. Masha and Anastasia come of age in a different world from that of their parents and grandparents. The generational divide is well-explored throughout the story. Both sisters are intriguing and complex in their own way. Masha’s exploration of her Jewish identify creates an inner conflict for her as it takes her away from her family.
Slor does a masterful job of maintaining suspenseful tension as the story progresses with Masha hunting for her sister, while facing her own past. This one is a must read. The book is currently available for pre-order ahead of it’s release on April 20th, 2021. I’d like to thank the author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
An 1866 change to the constitution of Romania eliminated the right to citizenship for all non-Christians, leaving Romanian Jews with limited rights. On-going anti-semitism across Europe eventually made it necessary for Jews to immigrate away from Europe. By the early 1900s, a group of Romanian Jews, known by the Yiddish name of Fusgeyers, which means “wayfairer” organized themselves into groups in order to immigrate first to western Europe and, eventually the United States and Canada. Fusgeyers were generally very poor but, by organizing, they were able to pool resources in order to afford immigrating.
Jill Culiner’s book retraces the Fusgeyers’ journey, exploring European culture, and the life lived by this lesser-known group of Jews.
Culiner’s work is intriguing as she explores the past and present of Jewish life in Europe. The author’s prose brings this story to life as she retraces the steps of a group of people who include her own ancestors. This is a group who were faced with incredible odds in seeking a more prosperous life in a more tolerant place. The writing is incredibly poignant and does the important work of shedding light on potentially forgotten history within the Jewish community of Eastern Europe.
This is a fascinating read for anyone interested in genealogy and history. I’d like to thank the author for the free copy of the book I received in exchange for my honest review.
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This poetry collection explores the father-daughter relationship based on the author’s relationship with her own father. The collection is progressive in time as her father ages and reaches end of life.
Newman’s writing is emotional and raw as she wrestles with issues so many face as parents age. Coping with difficult issues such as knowing when it’s time to take the keys away. Her writing is powerful and reflective. I appreciated her use of humor to brighten the mood at times. The collection is a follow up to her earlier work, I Carry My Mother.
This work will resonate with a wide audience. I look forward to reading more by this author. I would also like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Set in a fictional kingdom, in Eurasia, King Genghis I is a satirical rom-com with a political twist. Turan was born in this kingdom but raised in New York. The kingdom is led by a monarch who is more like a modern-day dictator. Turan is persuaded to return home through an invitation to an audience with the king. He is excited by the opportunity until he learns, he can’t leave.
This story is a bit of a slow burn until it reaches a suspenseful ending which quickly runs to the conclusion. The writing style is fluid and descriptive. The political humor is timely and relatable. This was an enjoyable, relatively lighthearted satire which provides a welcome bit of escape.
This is an enjoyable read.
A sequel to Caledonia, we rejoin Hanna Duncan three years after the original book, pursuing her doctorate in archeology. Her studies take her to Central America where she finds herself in danger at the hands of a gang. Meanwhile, her ancestor, Anna’s story continues in the new world. She encounters danger of her own at the hands of a cook from the ship, fixated on revenge.
I have been looking forward to this book for some time now. Ostroff, once again, brilliantly weaves past and present to create wonderful parallels between the two heroines of her story. The book is thoroughly researched and kept me engrossed from beginning to end. I found the references to the Jewish experience, post the Spanish Inquisition, while difficult to read, very interesting.
Ostroff has crafted a perfect sequel in Mannahatta. You won’t be able to put this one down. I would like to thank the author for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
James Letta is a breakout star in the music industry. Despite amazing success as a vocalist, behind the scenes, James is sad. While on a tour, promoting his latest album, James experiences a particularly rough day. That is until he is visited by a ghost who takes him on a tour of his own album. Her goal is to show him the deeper meaning behind the lyrics.
This is Ashley Amber’s debut novellette and I’m excited to read more from her. Framed in a similar style to A Christmas Carole, the story trope is immediately familiar. James is a well-developed character, which is challenging to do in short-fiction but Amber does it artfully. This novellette is cleverly crafted and left me eager to read more.
I look forward to more work by this author. I would also like to thank her for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Molly Golubcow’s memoir focuses on growing up in Atlanta City in the early 1970s between it’s early hay day and the modern day casino boom. Her parents, Holocaust survivors who grew up in a Polish shtetl, become the proprietors of the Seacrest, near the boardwalk, which was home to a colorful cast of residents.
Golubcow’s book consists of seventeen unique stories of life in the hotel and the interesting characters who called it home. The stories are well-crafted and relatable. While this is a non-fiction work, the stories contained in this book would make for an excellent TV series, or possibly a film. I thoroughly enjoyed the very engaging writing.
The book also gives a sweet depiction of the author’s parents, Harry and Sonia, and her beautiful memories of them. I highly recommend this book.
Operative Koyla Petrov is tracking Mihai Cuza, a decedent of Vlad the Impaler. Cuza is suspected of plotting meltdowns at nuclear power plants around the world. But whenever Petrov closes in on his target, he loses a member of his team. Petrov’s agency decides to deploy a ‘trojan horse’, or a computer virus, to help with their mission to stop Cuza. But the plot puts Petrov in a dangerous situation where he must decide between his own life and putting a stop to Cuza.
Manning does an outstanding job of grabbing the reader in the first five pages and keeping them guessing until the very end. The book is fast-paced and action packed. The characters are well-developed and easy to empathize with. Manning keeps the tension high throughout the story.
I enjoyed the double meaning in the title. First, the trojan horse refers to a common form of a computer virus, introduced into a system through the download of a seemingly friendly file. Second is an allusion to the planting of a spy in the enemy camp.
This is one that is hard to put down.
Make planning your next reading list fun and easy! Download a free copy of Reading Bingo! Thirty fun ideas for selecting your next read.
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So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Posted on March 30, 2021 Leave a Comment
James Letta is a breakout star in the music industry. Despite amazing success as a vocalist, behind the scenes, James is sad. While on a tour, promoting his latest album, James experiences a particularly rough day. That is until he is visited by a ghost who takes him on a tour of his own album. Her goal is to show him the deeper meaning behind the lyrics.
This is Ashley Amber’s debut novellette and I’m excited to read more from her. Framed in a similar style to A Christmas Carole, the story trope is immediately familiar. James is a well-developed character, which is challenging to do in short-fiction but Amber does it artfully. This novellette is cleverly crafted and left me eager to read more.
I look forward to more work by this author. I would also like to thank her for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Ashley Amber grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and wrote her first picture book when she was 9 years old that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest, earning a certificate from LeVar Burton.
Five years later, she rediscovered her love of writing at the age of 14. A+’s and AP English recommendations in school let Ashley know a career in writing was a possibility, but it wasn’t until she was well into her 20’s that she realized it was her destined career.
The Flip Side of Sad has been over 10 years in the making, an idea Ashley had at age 16. After finding the old story on her computer, she decided to rewrite and edit, turning it into this novelette.
When Ashley isn’t writing, she’s on YouTube making videos as an “Authortuber.”
Ashley is currently on the journey to literary representation and major publishing for her LGBTQ+ NA book series.
Ashley is an active philanthropist, best known for her work with Stand Up 2 Cancer. As part of their top fundraising team – Crush Kids Cancer – Ashley ran fundraising projects and attended the live Stand Up 2 Caner broadcast in Los Angeles in 2012. Ashley is also an advocate for voter registration, volunteering with HeadCount at several events since 2019. In 2020, Ashley participated in Jen Lilley’s Voices That Give competition, personally raising over $5,000 for Project Orphans.
Website: https://ashleyamberauthor.com/
Ashley Amber is a 26-year-old author who calls Boston home. Whether it was her first picture book that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest at 9 years old, loads of fanfiction as a teenager, or her own novels, Ashley has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she’s making videos as an “Authortuber.” Ashley…
Do you have a book in new of review? Would you like to be interviewed about your latest project? I’d like to work with you! Please visit my Contact Me page to complete the form with your details.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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By Zhanna Slor Masha and Anastasia are sisters who immigrated to the United States from the former USSR as children, in the 80s. The two spent their adolescents in the gritty counter-culture neighborhood, Riverwest, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In her early twenties, Masha makes a journey of self-discovery, immigrating to Israel but returns to Milwaukee, at…
By Jonathan Yalon Set in a fictional kingdom, in Eurasia, King Genghis I is a satirical rom-com with a political twist. Turan was born in this kingdom but raised in New York. The kingdom is led by a monarch who is more like a modern-day dictator. Turan is persuaded to return home through an invitation…
By Lesléa Newman This poetry collection explores the father-daughter relationship based on the author’s relationship with her own father. The collection is progressive in time as her father ages and reaches end of life. Newman’s writing is emotional and raw as she wrestles with issues so many face as parents age. Coping with difficult issues…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on March 30, 2021 Leave a Comment
Today, I’m excited to share with you the books I’m looking forward to reading in March. These are the titles that will be appearing in my weekly book review posts throughout the month.
What books are on your list this month? I hope you’ll add your suggestions in the comments.
Are you an author, publicist, or publisher with a book in need of review? I’d like to work with you. To submit your book for review, please visit Contact Me and complete the form. I’ll review your request and respond within 48 hours. I’m also happy to work with authors on interviews. To set up an interview, please use the same form.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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Fisherman, publican, father – his influence reaches throughout North East England. Meet Jerry Compton, a friendly man, a just man, a reasonable man. The fairest of his profession. The Monarch, a modern masterpiece, is a searing portrayal of 1990s Northumberland, England and the North of Ireland. It is also the intimate story of the Swaddle family, at once drawn together and ripped apart by its unique position at the core of Northumbrian society in the aftermath of the Miners’ Strike, Ireland’s Troubles and industrial and agricultural decline. Throw in a young Irish woman and her young family for good measure to further expose the regions’ issues whilst hopefully choosing a path to success and enlightenment. Will they succeed and embrace the coming century, or will they succumb to the negative fatalism so typical of many of their forbears? Marrying traditional English and North Eastern dialects with a free and elaborate style, the author employs realism and streams of consciousness to portray North East England and Ireland in a way that resonates with audiences today and far beyond.
Starting over, reinventing the self—loving and laughing all the way
How do you come back and thrive after your husband dies four days after you are laid off from a job that was supporting your family?
It’s not easy, but I did it, and I can show you how I got stronger, so you might better understand how you can get stronger, too.
In 2010, I was laid off from my full-time job as a communications specialist in a hospital while I was on a family medical leave, taking care of my husband in his last days. I heard my boss tell me my position had been eliminated as I stood on my front steps; Ed lay in a hospital bed in my living room just inside the door. He died four days later. I had no income. No partner, and two teenaged children to raise.
I told the story of that devastating loss in my first memoir, “Divine Renovations,” which was published in 2011. My new book, “Willful Evolution,” is a sequel to the first book, and it is poignant, inspiring, and at turns, downright funny. The book shows how I reinvented myself, building not one but two successful businesses and otherwise turning vulnerability into strength.
When you read “Willful Evolution,” you will hear stories of my travels to far-away places, meet some of the wacky men I met while online dating, hear how I used yoga, exercise, and adventure to gain physical and emotional strength, and see how I met the man I wanted to marry after learning in my gut that I would be fine without another man.
My book is about wrestling fear, building relationships, and finally growing up—in my mid-fifties. Think “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert; “Love, Warrior” by Glennon Doyle; and “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown. My book is as inspiring, amusing, and powerful as these. “Willful Evolution” will make you laugh and empower your soul.
My hope is that people who read my book will find new strength in their own lives, take risks, set new goals, and reinvent themselves!
I publish my book through my business Janice Beetle Books, through which I help authors bring their book to the bookshelf. I am not just another self-published author. I have been a writer in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts for over three decades. I have worked for various daily newspapers, earning front-page headlines in the Daily Hampshire Gazette and Springfield Republican; I have published in magazines, including Nick Jr. Magazine; and I wrote promotional materials for prestigious organizations in the Valley.
I promise you will enjoy my book and that something you read will resonate and make you feel creative and inspired.
Thomas Tallant, a young and ambitious Spice Merchant, returns from India to find his city in turmoil.
A bitter struggle is brewing between King Charles I and Parliament, as England slides into civil war. The capital is simmering with dissent. The conflict is ready to boil over.
But Thomas soon has other troubles to contend with. A wealthy merchant, Sir Joseph Venell, is savagely killed; then his partner Sir Hugh Swofford plunges to his death, in the Tallant household.
Suspicion falls on Thomas, who is sucked into a mire of treachery and rumour within the City of London. As the merchant struggles to clear his name, he becomes captivated by the enigmatic Elizabeth Seymour, whose passion for astronomy and mathematics is matched only by her addiction to the gaming tables.
Pursued by the authorities, Thomas races to unmask the real killer who claims a third victim to implicate him further, toying with his future in a deadly cat and mouse game.
In a desperate race against time, Elizabeth applies her powers of logic and deduction to unearth the clues that will point to the killer, but her way is barred by a secret message from the grave.
Can she crack its code before Thomas, now a wounded and exhausted fugitive, succumbs to the chase?
And, if she succeeds, has Thomas the strength to face his tormentor and win his life and reputation back?
In the near future, fresh food is scarce, controlled either by the government or shady underground operatives. Water is rationed. Unemployment is growing, sending millions of people to live on the street. Those with the means distract themselves behind their screens from the impending apocalypse, and while America elects a new president, the world is on the verge of nuclear war.
Anarchy and Other Lies is a farcical look at modern society through the lens of new age everyman, Jake Anderson, as he transforms from a silverware designer to reluctant vigilante, living on the outskirts of society with a pair of terrorists. Anarchy peels back the many mini-catastrophes taking place right under our noses and examines our inability and disinterest in confronting them.
The story follows Jake as he is pulled aimlessly through a dying world. Searching for a purpose, he falls in love with a mysterious pink-haired woman. At first, Jake is eager to impress Sam, but the longer he stays trapped in her orbit, listening as she waxes poetically about revolutionaries she doesn’t seem to understand, the more he becomes disenchanted with both her and her mission to sow chaos.
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Belgium, 1940. Melly Bottner is just eighteen with a three-week old newborn son when the Nazi occupation of Belgium begins. She and her young husband Genek live in fear as it becomes obvious that all Jews will soon be taken. Watching friends and neighbors disappear as the Germans carry out their shocking purge, the young family confronts an awful truth: if they are to survive, they must rip their own family into pieces.
In this biography from Melly’s point of view, author and granddaughter Tammy Bottner delivers a true and moving family memoir. This meticulously written and researched account brings to life the horrific decisions Bottner’s grandparents had to make simply to survive. Through their monumental choices, Tammy Bottner’s grandparents ensured the survival of their family and made their post-war reunion possible.
Among the Reeds is a deeply personal family memoir that is part-biography, part psychological observation of the extraordinary wartime lives of a persecuted people. If you like true stories of courage, heart-stopping near misses, and tear-jerking choices, then you’ll love Tammy Bottner’s compelling account.
The first book to pair the story of a Holocaust victim with that of a liberator, All the Horrors of War compels readers to consider the full, complex humanity of both.
For auld lang syne, my dearFor auld lang syneWe’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yetFor days of auld lang syne As 2020 is quickly coming to a close (and not a moment too soon, am I right?!), I compiled a list of my top ten reads from the year. In no particular order, whether particularly…
With Hanukkah fast approaching, I’ve assembled a list of my most recommended books, with a Jewish voice, as a gift guide for the book lover in your life. This list contains a wide variety of genres, including mystery/thriller, romance, historical fiction, and non-fiction. Enjoy! This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made,…
People often ask me for recommendations when they’re looking for a book to read. So I have complied a list of my top ten recommended books. These are in no particular order. I’ve provided links to Amazon for your convenience (not affiliate links) along with what I find meaningful about each of them. A Cry…
“Summertime and the living is easy” Trying to figure out your summer reading list for time spent by the pool? I’ve put together a list of 10 of my favorite reads to help get you started. These are in no particular order and all come from my Ultimate Reading List. Need more suggestions? New subscribers…
Posted on March 30, 2021 Leave a Comment
Born in Northern California. Wife, mother to three amazing children, and author of fantasy and adventure. Brings adventure with a mix of fantasy to the pages. Advocate for people who have Russel Silver Syndrome, and epilepsy.
A prince adopts a dragon egg, and it leads to a big adventure.
From just all the fantasy novels I have read in the last twenty years. Reading from J.R.R. Tolkien…C.S. Lewis, and George R. Martin. They created worlds, and got their readers addicted!
Ella is my baby and my first. It has been many readers’ favorite.
Dain was a supporting character that the protagonist meets when his life is becoming complicated. Dain has a dark past that he does not mention a lot til later on. That he becomes a mentor to Liam.
Ella is so unique. She was an egg and became a dragon. Becoming an important part of Liam’s life.
People have loved my style of writing, and some prefer other ways.
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My imagination. Because in my heart I am a storyteller and the way to do it is with writing.
That people have a path to follow. How people need help along the way.
I have a few. Not so much lately due to my recent ankle injury that I am recovering from.
I have one I am being quiet about. It is with my editor and its taking time. But will be published this spring.
https://twitter.com/Sammerz1149
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https://www.instagram.com/sammerz149/
If you want to write, then it is easy. Write it down, and tell a story!
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Interested in working with me on an interview? Complete the form on Contact Me. I’ll be in touch within 48 hours. I look forward to working with you!
Sherry V. Ostroff is the author of two books, The Lucky One, is a memoir originally published in 2016, and Caledonia, a work of historical fiction was published last year. She is a winner of the Indie Diamond Book Award. Q: Can you sum up Caledonia in 20 words or less? Caledonia is the tale…
AJ Sidransky is joining my blog today to tell us about his newest novel, The Interpreter. We’re also getting insight into the third installment in his Forgiving series, Forgiving Stephen Redmond, set for release early next year. Q: Can you sum up the The Interpreter book series in 20 words or less? The Interpreter is…
Ashley Amber is a 26-year-old author who calls Boston home. Whether it was her first picture book that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest at 9 years old, loads of fanfiction as a teenager, or her own novels, Ashley has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she’s making videos as an “Authortuber.” Ashley…
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As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on March 24, 2021 Leave a Comment
A sequel to Caledonia, we rejoin Hanna Duncan three years after the original book, pursuing her doctorate in archeology. Her studies take her to Central America where she finds herself in danger at the hands of a gang. Meanwhile, her ancestor, Anna’s story continues in the new world. She encounters danger of her own at the hands of a cook from the ship, fixated on revenge.
I have been looking forward to this book for some time now. Ostroff, once again, brilliantly weaves past and present to create wonderful parallels between the two heroines of her story. The book is thoroughly researched and kept me engrossed from beginning to end. I found the references to the Jewish experience, post the Spanish Inquisition, while difficult to read, very interesting.
Ostroff has crafted a perfect sequel in Mannahatta. You won’t be able to put this one down. I would like to thank the author for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Sherry V. Ostroff earned a Bachelor’s in education from Temple University and a Master’s in history from Millersville University. She has taught all levels: elementary, secondary and college. Ostroff happily devotes her time to writing, her family, and traveling around the world. She lives with her high school sweetheart in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The author’s first book is THE LUCKY ONE. It is based on her mother’s memoir detailing her frightening escape from Eastern Europe in the 1920’s. Her second book, CALEDONIA, is an award-winning historical novel about two women living 300 years apart but bound by mysterious circumstances. The story covers a little known historical event that changed the course of history. The sequel, MANNAHATTA, will be out in the Spring 2021. Visit the author’s website at sherryvostroff.com. The author is available to meet with book groups and offers PowerPoint programs on the art of writing.
Sherry V. Ostroff is the author of two books, The Lucky One, is a memoir originally published in 2016, and Caledonia, a work of historical fiction was published last year. She is a winner of the Indie Diamond Book Award. Q: Can you sum up Caledonia in 20 words or less? Caledonia is the tale…
By: Sherry V. Ostroff In order to do this story justice, I’m going to use the summary from the back cover to avoid any errors in the details: Ita was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. The place was the former Pale of Settlement which was a large swath of land in…
By: Sherry V. Ostroff Anna Isaac is a fifteen year old Jewess living in 17th century Scotland. Her father is determined to see her settled before his poor health becomes worse so he tasks her angry and vindictive brother with choosing her groom. Faced with an impossible choice, Anna seeks the help of a visiting…
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By Zhanna Slor Masha and Anastasia are sisters who immigrated to the United States from the former USSR as children, in the 80s. The two spent their adolescents in the gritty counter-culture neighborhood, Riverwest, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In her early twenties, Masha makes a journey of self-discovery, immigrating to Israel but returns to Milwaukee, at…
By Jonathan Yalon Set in a fictional kingdom, in Eurasia, King Genghis I is a satirical rom-com with a political twist. Turan was born in this kingdom but raised in New York. The kingdom is led by a monarch who is more like a modern-day dictator. Turan is persuaded to return home through an invitation…
By Lesléa Newman This poetry collection explores the father-daughter relationship based on the author’s relationship with her own father. The collection is progressive in time as her father ages and reaches end of life. Newman’s writing is emotional and raw as she wrestles with issues so many face as parents age. Coping with difficult issues…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on March 23, 2021 Leave a Comment
Originally from South Amboy NJ, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. It took a while, but he eventually decided to take writing seriously. His first published novel, Division Zero, released in 2014.
His books span adult, young-adult, and middle-grade fiction in multiple genres, predominantly science fiction, cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic, and fantasy.
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, developer of various homebrew tabletop RPG systems, and a fan of anime, British humour, and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of humanity, reality, life, and what might happen after it.
He is also fond of cats, presently living with two: Loki and Dorian.
It’s a mostly humorous, sometimes dramatic, story where this normal suburban teen abruptly finds herself turned into a vampire and… goes home to her parents.
At the time I started planning this series, most of my books were published with a small press. The writing on the wall said the press was probably failing. (It ultimately did but not for half a year after this point). Anyway, I’d recently taken a first step into self-publishing with The Forest Beyond the Earth and I decided it would probably be a good idea to write a series and self-publish it. I somewhat randomly picked the idea of vampires for a series and the first thing that came to mind was bucking the trope of the vampire (or characters like George in Dead Like Me) being forced to leave their mortal life entirely behind. So, after Sarah figures out what’s happened, she gets this intense feeling of homesickness and can’t bear the thought of allowing her family to believe she died. The guilt is too much. So, she goes home. There are some pretty heavy emotional topics here and there in the series but I try to keep it overall mostly a comedy (if a dark one) and much to my surprise, it seems to be resonating with readers.
Hmm. It’s a pretty hard call. I think How Not to Summon Demons (book 6) is perhaps the funniest, though book 13 may give it a run for its money.
Probably Petra. She’s evil in a way that’s challenging to visualize for me. I understand there ARE people out there who take passionate delight in completely destroying everything about another person. To me, it’s hard to think in that headspace.
Toss up between Sarah, her sister Sophia (I like cute) or Blix. It’s difficult for me to pin down a favorite character… I like them all 🙂
The neatest thing anyone has said about this series so far is to call it a ‘reverse Buffy’ where the girl’s the vampire. I had a few people mention in their reviews of the earlier books they adored the family dynamics and wanted to see possibly some short stories from the Littles (her siblings’) perspective. I decided to experiment by adding some POV chapters from Sarah’s sisters’ and brother’s perspective. Most of the reviews seem to be quite positive. A few people grumbled about wanting ‘more Sarah’ so I may alternate books being all from her POV and then one with Littles chapters.
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I love living in worlds other than the real one. A side benefit of that is being able to tell stories set there. My inspiration comes from years of thinking up characters and settings for a roleplaying game habit I developed as a kid. Don’t really play the games anymore, but writing novels scratches a similar itch. It’s much easier to get the characters to follow the story properly in novel format than when dice (and other people) are involved. The phrase ‘herding cats’ comes to mind.
I didn’t intentionally write this series for the purpose of sending a message like that. I suppose the ‘value of family’ is baked into the story given Sarah’s motivation. Really, this series is here to give people a chance to laugh to maybe cry a little, share in Sarah and her family’s crazy life.
Catching up on some of JR Rain’s back catalog for a project I’m about to work on with him.
The sixth book in my Evergreen (YA post apocalyptic realism). Present working title is “The World We Make.”
Divergent Fates and other worlds
Twitter: @Mscox_Fiction / https://twitter.com/mscox_fiction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewSCoxAuthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/mscox
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/matthewcox10420/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7712730.Matthew_S_Cox
Instagram: DivisionZeroPress
Thank you for hosting my interview! I’m always happy to hear what readers have to say, so if anyone who happens upon this interivew decides to check out the Vampire Innocent series (or any of my other stuff), feel free to drop me a comment somewhere and let me know what you think. I’ve also got a sampler ebook out there on perma-free (A Thousand Lifetimes) that contains a bunch of chapter-ones from the majority of my books.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Interested in working with me on an interview? Complete the form on Contact Me. I’ll be in touch within 48 hours. I look forward to working with you!
Sherry V. Ostroff is the author of two books, The Lucky One, is a memoir originally published in 2016, and Caledonia, a work of historical fiction was published last year. She is a winner of the Indie Diamond Book Award. Q: Can you sum up Caledonia in 20 words or less? Caledonia is the tale…
AJ Sidransky is joining my blog today to tell us about his newest novel, The Interpreter. We’re also getting insight into the third installment in his Forgiving series, Forgiving Stephen Redmond, set for release early next year. Q: Can you sum up the The Interpreter book series in 20 words or less? The Interpreter is…
Ashley Amber is a 26-year-old author who calls Boston home. Whether it was her first picture book that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest at 9 years old, loads of fanfiction as a teenager, or her own novels, Ashley has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she’s making videos as an “Authortuber.” Ashley…
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Posted on March 23, 2021 Leave a Comment
Michael is a pantser. He writes by the seat of his pants. His claim to success is that he has the imaginative mind of a young boy.
It was a visit to a clairvoyant that insisted he write! he did do and hasn’t looked back. Hi is also an actor and voice actor and has
won a number of awards for his books, some of which are best-sellers.
The best fairy story book of all time!
Children first, then the Covid lockdown, the beginning of my series The Big Fairy Adventures and finally the building of my fairy garden.
No. In many ways this was the easiest of all the 18 books I have written so far, maybe because I let my heart take control and not my head!
I have 72 fairies drawn by local children that are in the book…reading a 5 year-olds handwriting was very challenging at times!
Oh yes, she is called Tinker Tanker. On the front cover of the book it shows me meeting her. She is a little overweight, but has a heart of gold. (She just likes her nectar too much)
she is on a keep fit course now, and so she has changed her name from `Tinker Supertanker, to just Tinker Tanker.
They love it, especially the children themselves and parents and even grandparents. I never realised how many people believe in fairies!
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Please don’t tell anyone, but I still have the mind of a 6 year-old boy, full of imagination. Most of the books I write are fantasy books.
No. And there are so many varieties of fairy. We all know the tooth fairies, but there are comical fairies that are there to make other fairies laugh, Fairies who specialize
in making fairy wands, also some that make the baby fairy wings even for young fairy babies. Did you know that every time a human baby laughs, a baby fairy is born!
In all honesty, I don’t read other books when I am in the middle of writing my own books which i do constantly. I am just worried other authors ideas may come into my head! I want my stories to be as original as possible
I have two projects. Currently I am writing the 3rd book in my Big Fairy Adventures series called PIGSNOUT THE FAIRY EATER. But very actively involved in promoting books for children,
getting them to appreciate books, to look after them and hold them close. I am working with children in the UK, Croatia and at schools in the United Arab Emirates
website: www.thewand.me
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thetalentedauthor
https://twitter.com/wandchronicles
(@wandchronicles)
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thewandchronicles/_created/
https://www.instagram.com/thewandchronicles/?hl=en (thewandchronicles)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ross-280532166/
Instagram: @thewandchronicles
I really do believe we must nurture children’s love of books.
In fact, just recently I was chatting by zoom to some children. One asked me, why are books so important?
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Interested in working with me on an interview? Complete the form on Contact Me. I’ll be in touch within 48 hours. I look forward to working with you!
Sherry V. Ostroff is the author of two books, The Lucky One, is a memoir originally published in 2016, and Caledonia, a work of historical fiction was published last year. She is a winner of the Indie Diamond Book Award. Q: Can you sum up Caledonia in 20 words or less? Caledonia is the tale…
AJ Sidransky is joining my blog today to tell us about his newest novel, The Interpreter. We’re also getting insight into the third installment in his Forgiving series, Forgiving Stephen Redmond, set for release early next year. Q: Can you sum up the The Interpreter book series in 20 words or less? The Interpreter is…
Ashley Amber is a 26-year-old author who calls Boston home. Whether it was her first picture book that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest at 9 years old, loads of fanfiction as a teenager, or her own novels, Ashley has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she’s making videos as an “Authortuber.” Ashley…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on March 22, 2021 Leave a Comment
If you are a follower of my Bookstagram feed, then you know that I regularly feature inspirational literary quotes in my posts and captions. I’ve compiled a list of eighty of my favorite quotes. Whether you need quotes for your Instagram or just need some inspiration, I hope you enjoy!
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As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Is your book club reading a nonfiction selection? Not sure how to facilitate a meaningful discussion with nonfiction? As it is currently, “Nonfiction November”, I’ve put together a list of questions for a book club discussion of a nonfiction book. Download a printable copy for your next club meeting. Discussion Questions for Nonfiction 1. What…
Do you belong to a book club? If not, now is a great time to get your friends together for an hour or so to discuss your current reads. Not sure what to talk about? I’ve put together a list of questions, perfect for discussing any fiction book, in order to help you facilitate a…
The Mitzvah of Teaching Children The Torah commands us to teach our children and with Rosh Hashanah fast approaching, so too is the start of the religious school year in many synagogues and temples. As a teacher myself, I’m also preparing for the return to the classroom. I teach a group of children ranging in…
April Short Story Feature One of the highlights of my tenure as a member of Toastmasters was coordinating a Murder Mystery theme meeting. Keeping members engaged and motivated to continue working toward their goals can be a challenge. So in an effort to liven things up a bit, I worked with a few other members…
Attention writers! This month’s short story contest theme is: A Short Story Inspired by Your Career Entries must be received by midnight April 24th, cst. Selected stories will be featured during the month of October. Read on for further guidelines. Short Story Contest Guidelines Stories are to be 1,500 to 3,000 words. All genres welcome.…
Posted on March 17, 2021 Leave a Comment
Set in a fictional kingdom, in Eurasia, King Genghis I is a satirical rom-com with a political twist. Turan was born in this kingdom but raised in New York. The kingdom is led by a monarch who is more like a modern-day dictator. Turan is persuaded to return home through an invitation to an audience with the king. He is excited by the opportunity until he learns, he can’t leave.
This story is a bit of a slow burn until it reaches a suspenseful ending which quickly runs to the conclusion. The writing style is fluid and descriptive. The political humor is timely and relatable. This was an enjoyable, relatively lighthearted satire which provides a welcome bit of escape.
This is an enjoyable read.
Jonathan Yalon is the author of King Genghis I, a wild, bitingly satirical adventure novel.
He was born in South Africa in 1978 and moved to Israel at a young age. At 24 he published his first book, a collection of short stories called Beloved by the Girls. Five years later he created a computer game called Happiness Without Borders, which was downloaded by 200,000 Israelis–2.5% of the population–and chosen as the best Israeli computer game of all time. After publishing King Genghis I, he also published The Last Prince, a historical novel about Cyrus the Great.
Jonathan lives in Ra’anana with his wife, two children, and dog. In his spare time, when not writing books, he works as VP Marketing for a global tech firm.
Do you have a book in new of review? Would you like to be interviewed about your latest project? I’d like to work with you! Please visit my Contact Me page to complete the form with your details.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
By Sergio Olguin Veronica Rosenthal, a young journalist, decides to get away from it all, touring scenic northern Argentina. While relaxing off the beaten path, she encounters two foreign tourists. One girl from Italy, the other from Scandinavia. The trio become fast friends, deciding to travel together, spending time at the country house of Veronica’s…
By Alexander Watson River Queens follows the story of two unlikely boat owners who purchase and restore a wooden yacht. They then embark on a journey, along with their dog, exploring the American heartland, traveling by river from Texas to Ohio. The story details their adventures of life on the river. Watson does a remarkable…
By Zhanna Slor Masha and Anastasia are sisters who immigrated to the United States from the former USSR as children, in the 80s. The two spent their adolescents in the gritty counter-culture neighborhood, Riverwest, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In her early twenties, Masha makes a journey of self-discovery, immigrating to Israel but returns to Milwaukee, at…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Heidi Slowinski 