Aaron Patterson's Blog: I am giving away a FREE KINDLE!

Aaron Patterson's Blog: I am giving away a FREE KINDLE!: Who wants to win a FREE KINDLE? No joke... Free. How you might be asking with your eyes full of glee!? Step One: RE-Post this message to ...

Mary Called Magdalene

by

Margaret George

given to me as a gift

Mary Magdalene has been an interesting figure throughout history.  She's been regarded as both a saint and a prostitute.  Dan Brown's fictional book "DaVinci Code" elevated her tarnished reputation to that of a wife/mother. 
 Margaret George is a fantastic author.  Her books hold more weight when she has information to work from, there is very little actual knowledge about Mary's life.

In Ms. George's novel, Mary is viewed as a tormented sould.  She is the victim of demonic possession.  Jesus cleanses her of her 7 demons.  She is later presented as a disciple of Jesus. 

The book delves into Mary's life after Jesus' crucifixion, but after his death, the book loses some of its luster.  I don't really understand why, he was not presented as an engaging character in the novel.

I really enjoyed this book.  I look forward to reading more biographies by Margaret George.

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                                 STEVE JOBS  1955-2011

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check out the beautiful new cover for Shaun Allan's Sin

the older book cover for those of us who already have the book

We are trying something new today.

We have a guest author.

Please welcome:

SHAUN ALLAN

author of 

SIN

Shaun has kindly stopped by to answer some of our questions.

1.     What is the last book you read?

Whatever Became of the Squishies by Claire Chiltern.  A very offbeat YA fantasy novel.  I don’t normally go for these types of books but am very pleased I did.

2. Who or What was your inspiration to become an author?

I’ve written, so I’m told, from being very young.  I used to write stories and draw pictures to go along with them.  The big turning point, however, was when my English teacher read To Kill A Mockingbird to the class.  We were all listening intently.  From that point on I wanted to write a book that would hold people like that.  Perhaps I have.  Sin has been described as ‘incredible’ and a ‘masterpiece’ and has been compared to Hitchcock, Koontz and King.  The only thing I can say to that is a hushed ‘wow’!

3. How did you create your characters?

Am I allowed to say I don’t know?  Because I don’t.  I get a name or an idea, and the story – and characters flow.  I don’t know where the initial idea for Sin came from, but he ended up being a huge part of me.  Sort of my ‘Dark Half’.

4. How do you react to negative reviews?

They’re a fact of life.  They can’t be helped.  Everyone has their own opinion.  I have had a one star review that says the reviewer couldn’t finish Sin.  I didn’t mind.  That’s their choice.  Every other reviewer has said the book is excellent.

5. Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?

Sin seems to have a life of his own.  The sequel is in the works and he has his very own blog – like his diary from within his asylum.  I really enjoy writing from his point of view.  It’s like I’m getting into the shadowy corners of my own head.  I’ve just finished a short story called the Four Wotsits of the Doodad, a humorous take on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and am writing a Christmas collection of children’s poetry as a follow up to my collection Zits’n’Bits.  Add to that Sin’s sequel and finishing off a children’s story I’d written 30,000 words of and then forgotten about, I sometimes don’t know what to pick up.  But if an idea occurs I have to follow it.

As for those ideas, I never know how they’re going to come out.  I start writing and the story flows so I don’t actually know what is going to happen until it does!

And, finally, Sin is about to be released in print!  It has a fantastic new cover and will be available in bookstores.  SO exciting!

a little bit about the book "SIN"

What would you do? Could you kill a killer? Does the death of one appease the deaths of a hundred? What about that hundred against a thousand? What if you had no choice? Meet Sin. No, not that kind of sin, but Sin, crazy as a loon and proud of it. He has a problem... Flip and catch. 

'

a little bit more about Shaun

A writer of many prize winning short stories and poems, Shaun Allan has written for more years than he would perhaps care to remember. Having once run an online poetry and prose magazine, he has appeared on Sky television to debate, against a major literary agent, the pros and cons of internet publishing as opposed to the more traditional method. Many of his personal experiences and memories are woven into Sin’s point of view and sense of humour although he can’t, at this point, teleport.

Shaun can be reached at:

Website: http://www.shaunallan.co.uk
Twitter: singularityspnt

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Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com

you can check out my review of the book SIN 

here

just for the record, it's a 5 star review!!

The Reading Fish: 200 Follower Giveaway!

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given by author for review

What a wonderful trilogy this is turning out to be.  I can't wait for the next book!  For a brief review ***spoilers*** in book one we meet Cameron Martin.  A 17 year old spoiled, self centered individual.  A spell is cast upon him by an angry witch.  He ages one year each day.  When he reaches senior citizenship, the spell is reversed.  The ordeal has left him a better man.  The saga continues in book 2.  Cameron is now 18 years old, in love and engaged to be married.  He begins to question his decision about marriage.  Incidentally, the woman he's marrying is the witch who placed and reversed the aging spell.  When he tries to explain his concerns about getting married at such a young age, she becomes angry and inadvertantly places another spell  on Cameron.  This time, he goes backwards, he gets one year younger each day.  To make matters worse, another witch enters the scene.  One who is not so nice.  One thing leads to another and Cam and Liesel (his bride to be) escape from captivity.  I won't divulge any more of the story.  Let's just say part of the ending threw me for a loop.  It was unexpected.  I cannot wait for book 3 to see how the story ends.