Monday, October 21, 2013
Mary Sharratt does it again!!!
About ILLUMINATIONS
Publication Date: October 15, 2013
Mariner Books
Paperback; 288p
ISBN-10: 0544106539
Skillfully weaving historical fact with psychological insight and vivid imagination, Illuminations brings to life one of the most extraordinary women of the Middle Ages: Hildegard von Bingen, Benedictine abbess, visionary, and polymath.
Offered to the Church at the age of eight, Hildegard was expected to live in silent submission as the handmaiden of a renowned, disturbed young nun, Jutta von Sponheim. But Hildegard rejected Jutta's masochistic piety, rejoicing in her own secret visions of the divine. When Jutta died, Hildegard broke out of her prison, answering the heavenly call to speak and write about her visions and to liberate her sisters. Riveting and utterly unforgettable, Illuminations is a deeply moving portrayal of a woman willing to risk everything for what she believed.
Praise for Illuminations
"An enchanting beginning to the story of the perennially fascinating 12th-century mystic, Hildegard of Bingen. It is easy to paint a picture of a saint from the outside but much more difficult to show them from the inside. Mary Sharratt has undertaken this with sensitivity and grace."
—Margaret George, author of Mary, Called Magdalene
"I loved Mary Sharratt’s The Daughters of Witching Hill, but she has outdone herself with Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard Von Bingen. She brings one of the most famous and enigmatic women of the Middle Ages to vibrant life in this tour de force, which will captivate the reader from the very first page."
—Sharon Kay Penman, author of the New York Times bestseller Time and Chance
"I love Mary Sharratt. The grace of her writing and the grace of her subject combine seamlessly in this wonderful novel about the amazing, too-little-known saint, Hildegard of Bingen, a mystic and visionary. Sharratt captures both the pain and the beauty such gifts bring, as well as bringing to life a time of vast sins and vast redemptions."
—Karleen Koen, author of Before Versailles and the best-selling Through a Glass Darkly
Buy Links
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/illuminations-mary-sharratt/1110919627?ean=9780544106536
Books A Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Illuminations/Mary-Sharratt/9780544106536?id=5724163155978
Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544106536
my thoughts
Mary Sharratt has done it again. She has a unique talent for taking historical characters and creating fabulous stories about them. She did it with DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL
if you recall, I raved and raved about this book.
Now she does it with Illuminations. A fantastic story, about an inspirational woman. Hildegard was a saint. I would have become bitter and angry if placed in a situation as she was, but she managed to rise above it and become an inspiration. A woman the church should look towards to represent all that is good and honorable in it's children.
Hildegard wasn't always sweet and kind, but she did make the best of her situation.
This is a fantastically written novel. It held my attention from beginning till end. When I turned the last page, the only thought going through my mind " I must find out more about this woman ". That is the hallmark of a fabulous writer.
Mary Sharratt, thank you for this story. You have enlightened me and encouraged me to learn more.
About the Author
The author of four critically acclaimed historical novels, Mary Sharratt is an American who lives in the Pendle region of Lancashire, England, the setting for her acclaimed Daughters of the Witching Hill, which recasts the Pendle Witches of 1612 in their historical context as cunning folk and healers. She also lived for twelve years in Germany, which, along with her interest in sacred music and herbal medicine, inspired her to write Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen. Illuminations won the Nautilus Gold Award for Better Books for a Better World and was selected as a Kirkus Book of the Year.
For more information please visit Mary's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Phantom Dreams
Title: Phantom Dreams
Author: T.K. Harris
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Length: 274 pages
Release Date: June 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0615827827
Imprint: Enigma
Book Description:
FBI Special Agent Jack Matthews finds himself on yet another serial killer case, having barely recovered from the last disastrous hunt. Still stiff from a gun shot wound in his leg, under investigation for a botched job, and having lost his fiancée when she walked out on him, Jack is beginning to wonder if it isn’t time to move on to something new. But, for Jack, these cases are personal and he can’t say no.
Marketing specialist Kathy Gilliam leads a fairly boring life. If she’s not working or caring for her ailing father, then she is doing whatever it takes to avoid going anywhere near crowds of people. Her few distractions include her friend Margo Longfellow, occasional hiking trips, and her increasingly alarming dreams of women dying.
As her nightmares cause her to begin to doubt her sanity, the media releases news of the “Coast-to-Coast Killer” and Kathy discovers her dreams may be related. In a moment of panic, Kathy does something that places her on the FBI’s “persons of interest” list. Suddenly, her life is set on a collision course with Jack who must decide if Kathy is the killer or destined to become a victim.
my thoughts:
Wow. This book begins with a bang and never slows down. I particularly enjoyed the viewpoint of the killer. Imagine hearing the thoughts of a killer- chilling. A slight paranormal twist, although it fits in well with the story. This is not my favorite genre, but I am glad I read this book. Very well written. Holds the readers attention from beginning to end.
4/5 stars
About the Author:
T.K. Harris was born in California and lived a gypsy sort of life traveling the world as a military brat. She has been writing since she was a child and as had several short stories published by various magazines, including one in Woman's World. She currently lives and works in Colorado as a Senior Solutions Architect and IT Instructor and has recently had her first novel, Phantom Dreams, published. She is looking forward to her next two books, already outlined and partially written.
Guest Post from Elaine Cougler, author of THE LOYALIST'S WIFE
Today we welcome author ELAINE COUGLER. We are featuring her fantastic book THE LOYALIST'S WIFE and have a guest post from her. Take it away Elaine!
A considerable benefit to taking my writing career on an extended trip through various social media is the wonderful people I’ve met along the way. Writing can be solitary and full of angst but those people who ease the journey are so appreciated. Thank you, Donna, for inviting me to your blog today!
Finding Secondary Characters Who Rock Your Fiction.
Have you ever learned something about someone from the past which absolutely makes them come to life in the present? Have you used them in your conversation with friends? Or maybe you’ve written about them.
Colonel John Butler was such a character for me.
History will tell you that he led Butler’s Rangers and fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War, distinguishing himself so much that his name is still revered in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. And across the border you will also read about him but with a different slant derived from his fighting against the Americans. History is ever thus, written with special nuances and colorings depending on who is telling the story.
Nevertheless researching Colonel Butler was a pleasure for me as I am twice related to members of his Rangers. That explains my personal interest but when I started to delve into this man’s life I learned personal details which made him come off the page for me and helped me draw him as a distinctive minor character in The Loyalist’s Wife.
My main characters, John and Lucinda, came mostly from out of my head. With the Colonel, however, I found that he was short, rather rotund, had a bit of a speech peculiarity, and wasn’t afraid to stand up for his beliefs. These characteristics I put to good use in my book, bringing him to life. He had a way of repeating parts of his sentences, words or phrases, which made his direct speech very different from any of the other characters, a gift to me as a writer.
“I need you here, Garner. Do you not think every man here has a story about his family? Most of them know their wives and children have been captured, killed or worse and, still, they fight, they fight on to save this country from those patriots. Patriots.” He spat in the spittoon. “They’re ruffians. Just lowborn ruffians. And that Washington doesn’t know, doesn’t know what he’s doing, leading his gang against the British. Against the British. The best army in the world.” He sat at the small desk and stared into space.
The silence grew. John watched the colonel’s lined face and hunched shoulders atop that corpulent body. He sat short behind the desk. He would not be intimidating at all were it not for his flashing eyes. Butler’s brow was creased and his set jaw clenched his remaining teeth. The man’s face softened as, once more, he focused on John.
The next time you’re reading a great book look closely at the various characters’ dialogue. Try to see how the writer used each character’s manner of speech to show unique details. And if they were actually real people, feel how much better you know who they might have been.
The Loyalist’s Wife:
When American colonists resort to war against Britain and her colonial attitudes, a young couple caught in the crossfire must find a way to survive. Pioneers in the wilds of New York State, John and Lucy face a bitter separation and the fear of losing everything, even their lives, when he joins Butler’s Rangers to fight for the King and leaves her to care for their isolated farm. As the war in the Americas ramps up, ruffians roam the colonies looking to snap up Loyalist land. Alone, pregnant, and fearing John is dead, Lucy must fight with every weapon she has.
With vivid scenes of desperation, heroism, and personal angst, Elaine Cougler takes us back to the beginnings of one great country and the planting of Loyalist seeds for another. The Loyalist’s Wife transcends the fighting between nations to show us the individual cost of such battles.
Elaine blogs at On Becoming a Wordsmith which may be found at www.elainecougler.com. She also is frequently found here: @ElaineCougler, Facebook/ElaineCouglerAuthor, and LinkedIn author groups. The Loyalist’s Wife is available on Amazon (print and e-book) and Kobo (e-book). www.amazon.com www.kobo.com
Sunday, October 13, 2013
THE LOYALIST'S WIFE
About THE LOYALIST'S WIFE
Publication Date: June 20, 2013
CreateSpace
Paperback; 342p
ISBN-10: 1490414894
When American colonists resort to war against Britain and her colonial attitudes, a young couple caught in the crossfire must find a way to survive. Pioneers in the wilds of New York State, John and Lucy face a bitter separation and the fear of losing everything, even their lives, when he joins Butler’s Rangers to fight for the King and leaves her to care for their isolated farm. As the war in the Americas ramps up, ruffians roam the colonies looking to snap up Loyalist land. Alone, pregnant, and fearing John is dead, Lucy must fight with every weapon she has.
With vivid scenes of desperation, heroism, and personal angst, Elaine Cougler takes us back to the beginnings of one great country and the planting of Loyalist seeds for another. The Loyalist’s Wife transcends the fighting between nations to show us the individual cost of such battles.
The Loyalist’s Wife is the first of three books in The Loyalist Trilogy. The Loyalist’s Luck is scheduled for release in June, 2014 and The Loyalist Legacy in June, 2015.
Praise for The Loyalist's Wife
“Elaine Cougler has written a page-turning novel of the American Revolution through the eyes of a conflicted loyalist soldier and his indomitable wife. You’ll feel the hardship of homesteading, the fear of the enemy, the blows of battle, and the pain of separation. You’ll be transported through history. This is not just a novel written about another time, it seems written in another time.” Terry Fallis, author of The Best Laid Plans, Stephen Leacock medal winner
my thoughts
I must admit, I've read many books centering around the Revolutionary War. Never have I read a book from the viewpoint of a British supporter. What a book! It will hold your interest from page one until the finish. Lucy and John are amazing people. John joins the British sympathizers Butler's Rangers and has to leave Lucy while fighting against the revolutionaries.
Lucy's story of survival is one of courage and great strength. We see the happenings from both Lucy's and John's perspective. Both underwent amazing ordeals. Here we have two people who just wanted to be left alone to farm their land. They were swept up in the terrible wartime.
I also loved reading about the Native Americans and how they interacted with both the American Revolutionaries and the British soldiers.
I highly recommend this book for any student of history or anyone just looking for a wonderful story. Does true love prevail? You'll just have to read the book to find out.
About the Author
A native of Southern Ontario, Elaine taught high school and with her husband raised two children until she finally had time to pursue her writing career. She loves to research both family history and history in general for the stories of real people that emanate from the dusty pages. These days writing is Elaine’s pleasure and her obsession. Telling the stories of Loyalists caught in the American Revolutionary War is very natural as her personal roots are thoroughly enmeshed in that struggle, out of which arose both Canada and the United States.
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