A P RIL 2017

Your guide to self-publishing

Dealing with Authorial Envy Ask the Editor, with Betty Sargent
Indie Scouting Report
Book Cover Redesign 111 New Titles Listed

Me, Myself,
and I
How a bestselling indie
author manages her YA
and thriller personas
BY JENNIFER MCCARTNEY

S
arah Dalton writes young adult novels.
Shes earned a following among fans
of YA genre fiction with such specula-
tive series as Blemished, Mary Hades, and
White Hart. Daltons big break, however,
came under her pen name, Sarah A. Denzil.
Denzil is the author of Silent Child, a psy-
chological thriller about a kidnapped boy,
which was the top-selling book in the paid
digital category on amazon.co.uk. The thriller
was also a top-10 Amazon bestseller in the
U.S. and hit #1 in such categories as kidnap-
ping and crime. Its the English authors third
foray into adult fiction, with her thrillers
Saving April (also a top 100 Kindle bestseller
in the U.K.) and The Broken Ones released
in 2016.
Writing and publishing in two genres under

38 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
INDIE SUCCESS
If you dislike the
genre and have
no love for it, readers will
sense that straight away.
her real name as well as a pen
name has been a learning experi-
ence for Dalton. I first and fore-
most read as many psychological
thriller books as I could, she says
of her decision to switch genres.
She also followed media coverage
of high-profile crimes and kidnap-
pings. Crime thrillers are trickier,
she notes.
Dalton says that her YA books
are relatively research free,
which allows her to make every-
thing up. So when it came to a
setting for Silent Child, Dalton
compromised: the setting is a
realistic-but-fictional English
village. Writing about an actual
place comes with constraints, she
explains.
What if I wanted to move the
train station to the other side of
town to improve the story? Dalton
asks. Then I would have readers
contacting me to tell me the train
station is in the wrong place.
Writing about everyday people
also helps her avoid too many
logistical issues. If I wanted to
write a book from the perspective
of the police, I would need to do
some more in-depth research,
she says.
Using a Pen Name
My YA books are written for teen-
agers from around 13 and up,
whereas the Sarah A. Denzil nov-
els contain a lot of adult themes
and are for an older audience,
Dalton says. I felt that it wouldnt
be appropriate to write psycho-
logical thrillers for adults under
the same name.
Though Dalton doesnt hide the
fact that she writes under both
names and cross-promotes the
books on social media and in her
newsletters, she says the distinc-
tion discourages younger readers
from accidentally picking up her
thrillers. I dont think creating a
new pen name is always necessary,
but you might feel that its appro-
priate if you want to write in two
very different genres, she says.
Dalton also learned some valu-
able lessons about what to expect
from her existing readership: her
YA fans havent necessarily fol-
lowed her from one genre to the
next. I learned that a long time
ago, when I switched from writing
YA dystopia to YA horror, thinking
that most YA readers will read
anything as long as its YA, she
says.
Instead, Dalton found new read-
ers in the horror subgenre. Her
advice is to write a book that will
appeal to fans of your new genre
and not the fans you already have.
The plot, cover, and blurb should
all be consistent with the genre
Sarah Dalton
you want to write in.
Dalton has two Twitter accounts
her original one as Sarah Dalton
and a second under her pen name.
She says shes stopped worrying
about how many Twitter and
Facebook followers she has, how-
ever, and is concentrating on
building her mailing listsone for
each genre. I do r un some
Facebook adver ts targeted at
people who like psychological
thrillers, and they have been quite
successful for me and helped give
my sales a boost when I first pub-
lished Silent Child, she says.
Dalton also ran ads on Amazon,
which she says helped readers
discover her book by linking it to
other popular thrillers on the site.
A lot of authors talk about writ-
ing to market, which means writ-
ing a book in a popular genre
because theres more chance of
making a living, Dalton says. But
one thing to remember is that if
you dislike the genre and have no
love for it, readers will sense that
straight away. She believes that
the key to success is for authors
to add their own flourishes to the
genrewhich requires research,
reading, and a love of writing.
Jennifer McCartney is a free-
lance writer and editor, and the
author of the novel Afloat.
B O O O K L I F E .C O M 39
 COVER ART

Cover Redesign
This month, Deborah Bradseth at Tugboat Design
reimagines the cover of Misdiagnosed by Nika C. Beamon,
who said of the new cover, I couldnt be more thrilled.
See Bradseths new cover art and design notes below.
To submit your book for a free cover redesign, email us at booklifeeditor@booklife.com. Original Cover

The redesign The title and

highlights subtitle were
parallels with hard to read at
the TV show thumbnail size
House by using on the original,
a man with a so in the rede-
cane to repre- sign, I made
sent Dr. Gregory sure they are
House. prominent and
eye-catching.

Readers are
more likely to
have emotional
reactions to
the new cover,
which features
a woman in the
hospital, as The black,
opposed to the orange, and
original, which blue color
featured a scheme is
stethoscope. eye-catching
and sets the
tone for
the story.

40 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
ON WRITING
Slaying the
Green-Eyed
Monster
What writers need
to know about envy
BY BROOKE WARNER
I
f you write, youve likely expe-
rienced a panic moment or a
few about someone scooping
your idea. Youve probably looked
at another writers success and
wished something like that would
happen to you. Maybe youve found
yourself stewing over the success
of another writer whose work is
like yours. Ive known writers
whove lost friends after becoming
successful. Ive witnessed authors
nurse wounds and hold grudges.
Though writing is not a sport,
its certainly cutthroat enough to
rank right up there with other
high-stakes competitions. Anyone
whos ever written and tried to
publish knows how incredibly
competitive it is. The barriers to
entry in traditional publishing
are higher than theyve ever been,
and the chosen few who get book
deals are looked upon by the cul-
ture and aspiring authors as a
royal class of writers.
Its not surprising then that envy
comes up for writers. According
to Psychology Today columnist
Mary C. Lambia, envy is an emo-
tion directed at another or others,
wanting their qualities, success,
or possession[s], and it stems
from shame. Knowing this can
allow for some helpful self-inquiry.
If we can allow ourselves to go
there, we can address the mani-
festations of shameaddiction to
approval; hypersen-
sitivity to rejection;
feelings of not being
good enough; taking
things personally;
all-or-nothing think-
ingfor what they
really are.
The truth is that
this industry will beat
you down if you let it.
If youre waiting for
approval, your writ-
ing dreams will wither
on the vine. If you let rejections
from agents and editors be the
sole measure of your work, you
will lose sight of what it is about
writing that feeds and moves you.
Im lucky because I work mostly
reenie raschke
Brooke Warner
with authors who choose to green-
light their own work, sometimes
because those aforementioned
barriers are so hard to penetrate,
and sometimes because theyre
preemptively taking themselves
out of the game altogether. As a
result, Im able to see
authors letting go of
e n v y. S o m e t h i n g
beautiful happens to
authors who decide
to green-light them-
selves. Because
theyre choosing
themselvesand opt-
ing in rather than
allowing rejection to
sideline their dreams
they find the access
to inner courage and
self-validation that results in the
dissolution of envy.
This is not to say that envy wont
ever pop up again. In one of her
Big Magic podcasts, Elizabeth
Gilbert talked about the envy she
B O O K L I F E .C O M 41

felt when reading Donna Tartts
The Goldfinch. In her transparent,
self-deprecating way, Gilbert was
endearing when she confessed
her fear that shed never be able
to write prose like Tartt. But then
she confronted her envy, remind-
ing herself that she had something
to strive for. She had not yet fully
arrived, and that was okaymaybe
even a good thing. The message
for aspiring writers was inspiring:
if Elizabeth Gilbert feels this way,
we can all turn our envy into moti-
vation to improve our craft.
Recently, on a webinar with Dani
Shapiro, author of the new memoir
Hourglass and many other books,
I asked her about envy. Her reply
was compassionate but firm: Envy
is a waste of energy for writers.
No one can tell your story. Do the
work. This advice may be difficult
RADIO_THIRD_V_1114_Layout 1 11/11/14
10:45 PM Page 1
to
Join the
community of
book lovers at
PW Radio
Now on
Hosted by PW
42 B O O K L I F E , A P R I Leditors
2 4 , 2 0Rose
1 7 Fox and
Mark Rotella,
ON WRITING
The truth is that this
industry will beat you
RADIO_THIRD_V_1114_Layout 1 11/11/14 10:45 PM Page 1
down if you let it. If youre waiting
Join the
forcommunity
approval, your writing dreams
of
will wither
book onat
lovers the vine.
PW Radio
heed if youre up to your eyeballs and first-place trophies. Loud
in envy, but if thats the case, you applause erupted after the little
need to find ways to reframeand ceremony, and Id never seen him
fast. grin so broadly. When he found
I take inspiration from children. me in the audience, he looked at
My six-year-old son participated me wide-eyed and said, Next time
in a karate tournament recently. I want to get a trophy!
Hes still getting the hang of things, This was a reminder that the
and he was a runner-up. He got a best kind of competition is against
medal for his effort, and he was yourself. My son might earn a
beaming with pride while other trophy next time if he improves
kids received Now
theiron
third-, second-, enough to best the other kids. And
the same is true in our writing. We
will not get ahead by envying oth-
ers success. We might think others
success is unmerited or unfair, and
Hosted by PW
editors Rose Fox and sometimes that is the case. What
Mark Rotella, can we do about all that? Nothing
PW Radio but work on our craft and be hon-
brings juicy
est about whats coming up.
book gossip right to your
Naming envy is one way to let it
headphones.
go, so be like Elizabeth Gilbert and
Every Friday and on demand, listen to fess up. Putting your head down
PW Radio and get the app at
and getting to work is another
iHeartRadio.com.
way to let go of envy. So be like
PublishersWeekly.com/pwradio Shapiro and discover how freeing
@PubWklyRadio it is to fully acknowledge what a
waste of time envy is. And finally
theres inner confidence, which
is ours for the taking, so be like
my son and embrace how awesome
PublishersWeekly.com
it is to be a runner-up, with your
eye on the long game and the
future yours for the taking. 
PublishersWeekly @PublishersWkly
Brooke Warner is publisher of
She Writes Press and SparkPress,
PublishersWeekly pubweekly president of Warner Coaching,
and author of Green-Light Your
Book and Whats Your Book?
 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN REAL
TALK GETS A LITTLE TOO REAL?
Thats the 800-lb. gorilla confronting the Office of the Sheriff.
This character-driven saga by author Brian Cook puts the rear echelon in
the crosshairs as Hands Across the Sea delves into the professional and
personal sides of the badge where the rubber meets the road.

The funny yet insightful narrative on

what happens behind the scenes in law
enforcement agencies, will entertain not
just readers interested in reading about
police personnel, but also every reader
who enjoys novels offering an amusing
take on office politics.
ONLINE BOOK CLUB

BLE in
AVAILA ACK
B
PAPER LE
& KIND

Dare to Cross the Blue li(n)e // briancooknovels.squarespace.com

ISBN / 978-1491754351
AISN / B00SN70KQQ AVAILABLE ON
Pages / 624
& OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS
Distributor / Litfire Publishing
 BOOKS TO WATCH

Scouting Report
In this months roundup of the best-reviewed BookLife titles,
we highlight a resource book for parents raising children
with disabilities, a guide to what you need to do before you
die, a science fiction bundle, and a whole lot more.

Cadicle Omnibus Uncommon Voyage

AMY DUBOFF LAURA SHAPIRO KRAMER

Synopsis: This omnibus col- Synopsis: Recounting the

lects the first three volumes challenges and joys of caring
of DuBoffs galaxy-spanning for a child with cerebral
epic SF series full of politics, palsy, the author offers a
sabotage, kidnapping, useful guidebook for
telekinesis, and clones. parents of children with
PWs Takeaway: DuBoff special needs.
weaves together sympathetic PWs Takeaway: Kramers
characters, an intriguing plot, devious villains, experience and empathy
exciting space adventure, and hopes pinned on shine through. This is a well-thought-out guide
a chosen savior. for parents that provides a flexible and compas-
Comparable Titles: Enders Game, Dune sionate approach to learning how best to help
Sample Line: The planet was soon obscured by your child and yourself.
the moon that stood out as a white orb against Comparable Titles: Kids Beyond Limits
the surrounding darkness, barren compared to Sample Line: I was undeterred in my mission to
most of the moons he had encountered in his get everything I could for my son; that is who I
travels. became.
Read the Review: Read the review:
publishersweekly.com/ASINB01DQ74GWQ publishersweekly.com/9781483592725

Kicking the Shattered Riven

Bucket List KIMBERLY RAE JANE ALVEY
GAIL RUBIN Synopsis: In book HARRIS
Synopsis: A not-so- two in the Broken Synopsis: Emilys
grim look at how to series, Jean has life is a mess; her
reap lifes benefits fallen in love, but fantasies offer
while preparing for her emotional answers.
the inevitable: death. scars run deep. PWs Takeaway: Harriss writing
PWs Takeaway: This invaluable PWs Takeaway: Rae admirably is polished. She effectively
book is an easy-to-read, enlight- approaches a difficult subject explores Emilys maelstrom of
ening reality check. with a nice balance of romance, psychological coping mechanisms.
Comparable Titles: The Art of intrigue, and wit. Comparable Titles: The Raven
Dying Comparable Titles: The Shack Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Read the review: publishers- Read the review: publishers- Read the review: publishers-
weekly.com/9781943681150 weekly.com/9781523290048 weekly.com/978-1-5440-5417-9

44 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
 FIRST LINES

First Lines George and the Rabbit

DANIEL OGILVIE
She looked like a broken doll.
Our monthly look at some of the best
opening lines from titles by BookLife
authors Kindred Intention
RITA CARLA FRANCESCA MONTICELLI
This month, our authors obsessions with death She saw Mikes head turn, before
and the bizarre continue. To submit a first line to hearing the muffled sound of a
BookLife, email booklifeeditor@booklife.com. gunshot.

Kissd Heavenly Father

D.C. REEP AND E.A. ALLEN H.L. GREY
I wonder if Aunt Connie will want Dearest and most generous reader:
me to join her weekly sances this The following will offend pretty much
summer. everyone in the world.

Braineater Jones Finding Claire

STEPHEN KOZENIEWSKI PAMELA HUMPHREY
I woke up dead this morning. The night I woke up in the back of a
van with my hands bound, my whole
world changed.

Aphorisms, Adages & Advice For the Children

I N e v e r
From Author Len Tomaka
H a d
In the preface to his book, author Len Tomaka notes that through the
years he has collected various sayings that relate powerful lessons.... the
book is nicely laid out and well-edited. Although much of this advice is
widely available elsewhere, the author has a reassuring and kind fatherly
voice that might appeal to new college graduates or those
starting life over after big changes.

D i s c ov e r w i s d o m i n t i m e - t e st e d say i n g s f r o m a m a n
w h o h as b e e n t h e r e . L e a r n va l u a b l e l e s s o n s f r o m h i s
r i c h e x p e r i e n c e s a n d b e i n s p i r e d to pav e yo u r ow n pat h to
i m p r ov e yo u r f u t u r e .
Tomaka passes helpful life advice on to others in this appealing collection.
Len Tomaka shares a lifetimes worth of knowledge and experience in [his
book].These life lessons have broad origins, from Shakespeare to Dr. Seuss...
Aphorisms, Adages & Advice has a simple layout and contains delightful
phrases that lend it wide appeal. Tomakas collection is appropriate for an
audience interested in passing on helpful advice to others.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-5127-5608-1 www.lentomaka.com westbowbowpress.com

46 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
WRITING ADVICE
Ask
the
Editer
A veteran editor answers
your writing questions
BY BETTY KELLY SARGENT
Dear Editor:
W hen writing a medical-linked
novel, how much scientific
background should one give to
readers? What are the warning
signs that one has gone too far
in explaining scientific material?
My question refers specifically to
toxic nanoparticles in cosmetics.
Sean Hillen
B y all means, explain what
nanoparticles are and how
they can seriously damage our
health, even cause cancerbut
keep your language clear, keep
the prose engaging, and keep
the plot moving. The trick is to
weave this information seam-
lessly into the story. Perhaps you
could mention some key facts in
dialogue between two of your
characters, or have one of your
characters cite a recent study
about the prevalence of toxic
nanoparticles in cosmetics and
how shocking it is that the FDA
doesnt even require manufactur-
ers to identify their presence on
the label of the package. Also,
be sure to avoid technical words
that the lay reader will not under-
stand.
From my quick research on
nanoparticles, it seems to me that
the problem is that because they
are so tiny (line up 10,000 of them
to get the width of a hair), they
easily pass through the human
skin barrier, get into circulation
sy stems, and cause havoc in
unsuspecting victims. I had never
even heard of a nanoparticle and
had no idea that they could do
so much harm. By exploring and
explaining nanoparticles in your
medical novel, you will not only
be entertaining your readers: you
will also be performing a public
ser vice by educating them on
t h e e xtreme dangers of this
increasingly prevalent potential
threat.
If you have a question for the
editor, email Betty Sargent at
booklifeeditor@booklife.com.
B O O K L I F E .C O M 47
 PAID LISTINGS

PW SELECT LISTINGS

New Titles from

Self-Publishers
Booksellers, publishers, librarians, and agents are encouraged to look at the 111
self-published titles below. Each appears with a list of retailers that are selling the
book and a description provided by its author. Some of these writers are waiting to
be discovered; others have a track record and a following and are doing it on their
own. If you are a self-published author interested in listing titles in this section,
please visit publishersweekly.com/pw-select for more information.
Fiction In 1922, a German fascist assassin on A hunted man named
Alexanders Short Stories trial for his life is offered forgiveness if he Walter seeks sanctuary
De-Witt A. Herd. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (62p), repents. How Germanys Weimar democ- in the no-mans-land of
ISBN 978-1-5245- racy became the Third Reicha caution- downtown Seattle just
0808-1; $3.99 e-book, ary tale. as the World Trade
ISBN 978-1-5245-0807-4 Organization hits the
Amazon Being SY shores, the protests
This book plays on David M. Antebi. RoseDog commence, and the
three epic journeys Publishing. $25 hard- riots break out.
into a vast imagination. cover (245p), ISBN 978-
You will find yourself in 1-4809-7559-0 Free Fall to Black
worlds filled with great adventures and Amazon John H. Cunningham.
terrifying secrets. A man struggles to Greene Street.
reconcile the beliefs of $4.99 e-book,
Because of Me, Vol. 1 the community he was born into, the ASIN B06XKRJ1DR
Robin S. Garland. Full Syrian Jews of Brooklyn, N.Y., in this tale Amazon
Feather Press. $10.95 of self-examination and healing. Travel back to 2006
paper (190p), ISBN 978- and the peak moment
0-9896428-8-0 The Burning Obsession of Bucks success, when he discovers an
Amazon, BN.com, Faith Durham. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (28p), ancient treasury in Guatemala, then marries
Booktopia, Full Feather ISBN 978-1-5144- a supermodel and basks in his 15 minutes
Press 3279-2; $3.99 e-book, of famebefore it blows apart.
An accidental murder causes a mother ISBN 978-1-5144-
and daughter to change their identities 3278-5 Gabby Care
and leave Texas for Independence, Mo., Amazon B.A. Coots. WestBow
to join an all-woman wagon train headed This book has a physi- Press. $19.95 paper
for new lands in Oregon. ological twist, following (244p), ISBN 978-1-
the journey of a young girl who grew up 5127-5299-1; $3.99
Before the Court of differently from other girls. e-book, ISBN 978-1-
Heaven 5127-5298-4
Jack Mayer. Long Trail Empty Bottle of Smoke Amazon
Press. $19.95 paper Conon Parks. Brave Dog Dead Dog Art Works. When Gabby Rendons coworker accuses
(530p), ISBN 978-0- $14.99 paper (148p), ISBN 978-0-9975163- her of embezzlement, she is forced to
9841113-4-3 0-2 resign from her job. Little does Gabby know
Amazon, BN.com, Ingram Amazon, BN.com this is just the beginning of her problems.

48 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
 PAID LISTINGS

PW SELECT LISTINGS
Harold Hardscrabble The Lions Den One Sitka Summer
G.D. Dess. Lone Wolf Books. $28.95 hard- Norma Cook. iUniverse. $20.99 paper (296p), Lois Lindenfeld. iUniverse. $12.95 paper
cover (320p), ISBN 978- ISBN 978-1-5320- (166p), ISBN 978-1-4917-4885-5; $3.99
0-9985589-0-5; $16.95 0243-4; $2.99 e-book, e-book, ISBN 978-1-
paper (326p), ISBN 978- ISBN 978-1-5320-0242-7 4917-4884-8
0-9985589-1-2 Amazon Amazon, BN.com,
Amazon, Baker & Taylor, In this action-adventure iUniverse
Ingram romance, a photojour- Through all of Elizas
This novel recounts nalist and a conserva- experiences, adven-
the journey of its tionist embark on an tures, and family crises,
ordinary, quietly charming protagonist, international journey to the truth as lives, she comes to under-
whose search for self-realization goes hearts, and the future of a presidency stand that God is always there and watching
extraordinarily wrong. hang in the balance. over her.

The Healing of Howard Brown Missing Earth Polk, Harper & Who
Jeb Stewart Harrison. CreateSpace. $13.95 C.H. Byart. CreateSpace. Panayotis Cacoyannis.
paper (336p), ISBN 978- $16.95 paper (358p), CreateSpace. $9.99
1-5309-0028-2; $2.99 ISBN 978-1-5426- paper (237p), ISBN 978-
e-book, ASIN 6202-4 1-5202-4685-7; $2.99
B01KNEJ9SQ Amazon e-book, ASIN
Amazon, BN.com When he was just a B01N5CXTPJ
A 60-year-old retired child, Galen was cured Amazon
teacher embarks on a by two Druids and Yeshua (Jesus). He was Told tenderly and with humor, this is a
personal journey to told of his special destiny. It will take him contemporary tale of complex family
unravel his dysfunctional family history a lifetime to understand his true purpose. relationships, friendships being put to
and gain self-discovery. the test, and imperfect London love
The Noble Rebellion within imperfect London lives.
In the Glow of the Lavalamp: Joshua G. Fensterstock.
Stories of Bad Sex Outskirts Press. $19.95 Riot:
and Other Misfortunes paper (432p), ISBN 978- A 1960s Love Story
Lily Wilson. Wandering in 1-4327-7661-9 Charles S. Isaacs.
the Words Press. $9.99 Amazon, BN.com Harpers Ferry Press.
paper (182p), ISBN 978- Terrorists murder $29.95 paper (458p),
0-9976355-6-0 every Federal official ISBN 978-0-692-48696-2
Amazon, Ingram except for Max Noble. Amazon
Stories of sex gone A young man falls in
hilariously wrong, set in bathtubs, back- One Chance for Glory: love, fights to end the Vietnam War, and
seats, and battlegrounds, confirm that First Nonstop Flight is jailed and beaten by police, all leading
bizarre is the nature of the universe and Across the Pacific to a transformed consciousness, of the
humor may be the best path through it. Edward T. and Robert L. world and of himself.
Heikell. AuthorHouse.
The Least of These: $19.95 paper (248p), Spurs
Mask of Matthew ISBN 978-1-4969- Robert Burns Clark.
K.E. Wass. Archway 1039-4; $3.99 e-book, Xlibris. $19.99 paper
Publishing. $13.99 paper ISBN 978-1-4969-1037-0 (314p), ISBN 978-1-
(172p), ISBN 978-1- Amazon 5245-5057-8; $5.99
4808-1997-9 Historical fiction that charts the extraor- e-book, ISBN 978-1-
Amazon, BN.com dinary life of Clyde Pangborn, an 5245-5056-1
A fictional account accomplished Washington-born aviator. Amazon
based on real-life cases of the pain and He was the first to fly the 4,500 miles Two boys have known nothing but violence
suffering caused by online child pornog- nonstop across the Pacific in 1931. in life, usually solving a problem by killing
raphy. A different and hopeful approach their antagonists. This story follows their
to a very dark topic. search for peace and redemption.

B O O K L I F E .C O M 49

The Ugly Guys Club
Dan K. Oh. Tellwell Talent.
$9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-
1-77302-158-4
Amazon, Chapters
A funny, whimsical
story about an ever-
grumbling antihero
who mourns about a bride that got away.
So he presents his case against God and
embraces a newfound religion, atheism.
When Brothers Meet
John Henry Hardy.
CreateSpace. $9.99
paper (149p), ISBN 978-
1-5413-8434-7
Amazon, BN.com
America has over-
whelming debt, China
wants to annex Southern California and
Russia a part of Alaska., and invasion
forces head for the U.S. during Operation
Dragon.
Poetry
Bipolar Poems Before & After Lithium
Gene Olson. Outskirts
Press. $10.95 paper
(83p), ISBN 978-1-
4787-6784-8
Amazon, BN.com
A poetry collection that
is raw, courageous,
compelling, and enter-
tainingshedding some much-needed
light on the shadows of mental illness.
Graffiti Mural:
My Off the Wall Creative Writing
Eartha Watts Hicks.
Earthatone Enterprises.
$15.95 paper (128p),
ISBN 978-0-9914892-
3-7
Amazon, BN.com
Creative writing
needs to breathe
somewhere. Why not where it can be
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(32p), ISBN 978-1- presidency on trade, encouraging better 77609-4
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B O O K L I F E .C O M 57
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REVIEWS
Fiction
And Then Mine Enemy:
Feathers in the Wind, Book 1
Alison Stuart. Oportet Publishing, $2.99
e-book (202p) ASIN B01N64EU0O
Stuarts first novel of the English Civil
War will appeal to readers who prefer stories
with romantic elements over more explicit
romance novels. Adam Coulter, done with
fighting in a bloody civil war abroad,
returns home only to find England gearing
up for a similar conflict. But hes deter-
mined to remain neutral and settle into the
countryside for a more bucolic existence.
Determined, that is, until his half-brothers
draw him into the fray and he is challenged
to choose a side: king or Parliament? He
chooses the latter, leading to a clichd battle
of brother against brother. As a woman,
Perdita Gray can enjoy the luxury of
remaining neutral, even when her betrothed
joins Adams brothers on the side of the
monarchy. The narrative meanders through
two years of missed opportunities and cross
purposes as the complex character of Adam
and the cypher that is Perdita resist and
then succumb to both fate and their mutual
attraction.
Big: Beginnings
Greyson Bryan. Magneto, $15.95 trade paper
(442p) ISBN 978-1-5306-8077-1
International lawyer Bryan puts his pro-
fessional experience to good use in his
engrossing first novel and series launch.
High-powered L.A. lawyer Duncan Luke
takes his time driving home to Santa
Monica after a trip to Loyola Marymount
University, where hes about to start
teaching as a visiting professor at the
business school. On the way, he stops to
buy a pizza that he hopes will please
both his 10-year-old autistic son, Sam,
and his wife, Gracie, with whom hes been
quarreling. When Duncan gets home,
Gracie announces that shes filing for
divorce. To pay the fees in the ensuing cus-
tody battle for Sam, Duncan goes to work
for a demanding new client, Ghislaine
Bingham, who requires that he jet to places
like Tokyo and Panama and back, in an
effort to prevent the hostile takeover of her
investment group. Duncan must rekindle
old friendships and business relationships,
form new alliances, and sidestep treach-
erous adversaries. Readers will root for the
sympathetic Duncan as he morphs into a
more grounded version of James Bond or
Jason Bourne.
Cadicle Omnibus
Amy DuBoff. BDL Press, $4.99 e-book (606p)
ASIN B01DQ74GWQ
This omnibus collects the first three vol-
umes of DuBoffs enjoyable, galaxy-span-
ning epic series (currently at six install-
ments, with no end in sight). Appealing
characters and detailed worldbuilding draw
the reader into a tale of politics, sabotage,
kidnapping, telekinesis, and clones. The
million-year-old Taran civilization has
established colonies throughout the galaxy.
The Priesthood of the Cadicle controls the
six High Dynasties, which in turn own the
major corporations. Cristoph Sietinen, heir
to the Third Region, escapes his palace to
join the Tararian Selective Service, which
teaches him to use his extraordinary teleki-
netic ability, a skill the priesthood vilifies.
Cris learns that TSS Commander Banks is
in collusion with the priesthood, whose
multigeneration breeding program to
produce the Cadicle, the most powerful
telepath, is realized in Criss son, Wil. Wil
is so powerful he is being groomed to sin-
glehandedly defeat the barbarous Bakzen,
a clone race that has been at war with the
Tarans for hundreds of years. Fearful of the
priesthoods power, Cris and Wil vow to end
it. Drawing on classic science fiction
themes from Dune, Enders Game, and Firefly,
DuBoff weaves together sympathetic char-
acters, an intriguing plot, devious villains,
exciting space adventure, and hopes pinned
on a chosen savior.
Devil in the Dark
Chris Lindberg. CreateSpace, $10.99 trade
paper (290p) ISBN 978-1-539796-24-4
In Lindbergs pulse-pounding sequel to
2011s Code of Darkness, an outrage at a
Texas border crossing prompts the authori-
ties to turn to the operative known only as
Rage, a weapon of justice with unique
abilities embedded within his DNA that
enabled him to command speed, quickness,
and strength like no other living being.
Rage must go after Javier Escondido
Oropeza (aka the Jackal), the head of
Mexicos most powerful drug cartel, whos
believed responsible for the three car
bombs and the barrage of rocket-propelled
grenades that destroyed three U.S. Customs
and Border Protection buildings at a
checkpoint and killed more than 50 people.
That the Jackals nephew Enrique Castillo
happened to have been at the checkpoint at
the time makes Enrique a suspect and forces
him to seek his uncles help. Another sur-
vivor of the attack, Border Protection officer
Otis Brown, a veteran of the Afghanistan
War, is tempted to join a vigilante group in
response. Jason Bourne fans will find a lot
to like.
Faerie Fruit
Charlotte E. English. Charlotte E. English,
$3.99 e-book (244p) ASIN B01MRYKBKQ
A village is threatened by a heritage it
forgot long ago in this charming, but over-
long, fairy tale. Berrie-on-the-Wyn was
once famous for its orchards, but the trees
havent produced fruit in generations.
When miraculous fruits start appearing
on once-empty branches, most villagers
cant resist the temptation, but each person
who consumes a fruit is irrevocably
changed: a sick woman is healed, an alco-
holic stops drinking, a talkative man is
silenced, and the village slowly disappears
into Faerie. A strange, fey piper warns vil-
lagers not to meddle, but human help will
be key as the piper tries to fix a supernatural
mix-up. English draws on familiar fairy tale
elementsmagical seeds and fruit,
enchanted shoes, adventurous villagers, and
large helpings of wit and whimsyto tell
her story. Theres little surprise in the plot,
but readers who enjoy the old-fashioned
language of classic fairy tales will be pleased
with this one.
The Guardian
Jacquie Biggar. Jacquie Biggar, $0.99 e-book
(226p) ISBN 978-1-988126-03-6
In the first Mended Souls paranormal,
Biggar (Tidal Falls) pursues both romance
and mystery, leaving readers wanting more
of both. Lucas and Scott have the world at
their feet. The two men, who grew up in
difficult circumstances together with
Scotts sister, Natalya, are now bona fide
movie stars. Their lights, however, are
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58a

quickly snuffed out in a car crash in
Chicago that only Scott survives. Tracy
York is the medical examiner responsible
for determining the cause of the crash.
What begins as a very simple investigation
takes a turn when unexplained incidents
threaten her life. A not-so-chance
encounter between Tracy and Scott gives
them both a chance for justice and
romance. A parallel story line, which gets
equal time, features Lucass adventures in
the afterlife: he is offered a chance to
redeem himself by acting as Scotts
guardian angel. The ending of the novel
leaves open more questions than it answers,
paving the way for future installments that
seem destined to explore Lucass postdeath
experiences in greater detail.
Leave a Crooked Path
Simone Paradis Hanson. Shadowlight, $10
trade paper (158p) ISBN 978-0-692-74557-1
At a mere 150 pages, Hansons short but
significant debut is bittersweet and pow-
erful. Fourteen-year-old Claire Au Clair
and her younger sister, Grace, live in a
close-knit French-Canadian community
in Maine with their impenetrable
German-born mother, Marie, and their
creative, passionate, angry alcoholic father,
Frank. Set during a summer in the 1970s,
Claires memoirlike account is deepened
by several poignant flashback chapters
revealing her childhood with her compli-
cated and recalcitrant father. Mature
beyond her years, Claires largely matter-
of-fact tone, devoid of self-pity, is reminis-
cent of Jeannette Wallss voice in The Glass
Castle. Hansons beautiful imagery is
worthy of noteThe better part of our
grief was gone, seeped into the earth like
a wave spread thin across the beach, disap-
pearing before the tide is able to pull it
back. There is just enough humor to bal-
ance the despair; Claires wry comments
convince us she has not lost hope nor
should we, even in the darkest moments.
Though readers might feel like the ending
is wrapped up too quickly and neatly, its
easy to empathize with Claire, her family
members, and her community. In the end,
Hansons sensitive portrayal allows readers
to walk away from the story believing for-
giveness transcends sadness.
58b B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
New Dawn
Attila Orosz. Lulu, $12.99 trade paper (306p)
ISBN 978-1-5333-5380-1
Oroszs first novel is filled with tension,
action, emotion, and too many unfortunate
grammar errors. If the last can be over-
looked, an intriguing writing style and
fascinating story will reward the reader. The
setting is the near future, and a wall has
been built around The United States of
Europe to keep people of color from
entering the pristine interior. Like many
other refugees, Jumaane climbs over the
wall to leave the exterior war-torn countries
behind. Most immigrants are shot on sight,
but unusual circumstances allow Jumaane
to escape instant death. A humanitarian
activist named Alex is determined to help
Jumaane reach the deepest interior, where
a better life is promised. Jumaane and Alex
are relentlessly pursued by soldiers
throughout one very long night and the
following day. In addition to a fast-paced
story, Orosz includes a number of well-
developed characters from different coun-
tries facing language barriers and being
treated without respect. Orosz is a talented
storyteller with a fresh, raw, compelling
voice, but he is in dire need of a competent
editor.
Not Flowers but Love
Krys Batts. The Real Ideal, $2.99 e-book
(233p) ASIN B010OVVZEO
Driven professional Jamie Dubois goes
from being fully engaged in her casual long-
distance relationship with Ken St. John to
fully enraged when he becomes a coworker.
Jamie and Kens relationship consists of
meeting in different locations for passion-
filled hookups. When Ken shows up to take
a new job at Jamies Houston office, he com-
plicates her extremely compartmentalized
work and personal lives. Jamies angry reac-
tions toward Ken are at times excessive and
make her character inconsistent and unlik-
able. However, readers will sympathize as
her sudden lack of control gives rise to inse-
curities and cynicism, which are effectively
combined with office politics to provide
compelling tension. The use of flowers as a
metaphor softens the rough edges of the
story as Jamies views on flowers, and love,
gradually change.
REVIEWS
Pretty Ugly
Sean Hillen. CreateSpace, $16.95 trade
paper (332p) ISBN 978-1-5233-6115-1
A one-vehicle accident on a Missouri
highway sets the stage for Hillens obser-
vant, expansive medical mystery. The
vision of the driver, fashion model Patricia
Roberts, was inexplicably compromised;
Patricias passenger, a fellow model, now
lies in a coma, and Patricia is recovering
physically and psychologically at a Boston
hospital. When Patricias skin care spe-
cialist, Doctor Gray, contacts Belfast-born
Colm Heaney, a lovelorn medical reporter,
about her case, Colm investigates whether
Patricias temporary blindness and addi-
tional tissue damage were caused by rogue
chemicals contained in a skin concealer
utilizing experimental nanotechnology.
His quest for information leads him to the
folklore-steeped Irish countryside, where
Patricia later undergoes skin treatments
at the hands of an eccentric biologist tap-
ping the restorative powers of Irish bog
peat. The backroom discussions among
secondary characters representing the
legal, medical, cosmetic, and media indus-
tries can be dizzying, but Hillens cau-
tionary tale about the perils of unregulated
technology will resonate with many
readers.
Random Hits
William Muir. CreateSpace, $4.99 e-book
(420p) ASIN B00NVC84VQ
British author Muir chronicles his pro-
tagonist Jamess life, bleakly observing
how some groups are more highly valued
than others in contemporary British
society. Incarcerated, James is offered a bid
at freedom if he works on a covert parapo-
lice team charged with scaring young
hoodlums straight, which often involves
the less-than-legal delivery of prompt
physical punishment. From the first
chapter, the reader has a sense that Jamess
course is not going to turn out well for him.
James is a dark, complex character, tough
and resourceful, and yet at times senti-
mental. He is often only a bystander to the
brutality inflicted by others, yet he can be
callous, too. Though the story is too long
and gets bogged down in too much detail,
Muirs book is thought-provoking.
REVIEWS
Satans Treasure
Lou Volpentesta. Lou Volpentesta, $15.99
trade paper (262p) ISBN 978-1-988387-00-0
CPA Frank Ryman, the villain of
Canadian author Volpentestas inept serial
killer novel set in New York City in 1997,
goes on a murderous rampage targeting
models. Tasked with stopping the unknown
killer is Det. Sgt. Lionel Jackson, who is
fighting for respect after botching a hostage
incident. Meanwhile, Robert Molinaro, a
mediocre radio show host, gives Frank a
platform on which to rant against the cult
of female beauty. And Rachel Curran, a
model trying to turn actress, enters a beauty
pageant to launch her career. Will Rachel
become Franks next victim? Too much
detail about ordinary routines, a plethora of
backstory, and digressions on such issues as
gender, race, and poverty undercut the sus-
pense. Frank is a stock character who was
abused and neglected by his mother, a
model and prostitute. The plot offers no
surprises as it plods to a predictable close.
Shattered:
You are More Than Your Fears
Kimberly Rae. Narrow Way, $14.99 trade paper
(376p) ISBN 978-1-5232-9004-8
In Raes (Shredded) second installment in
the Broken series, Jean has fallen in love with
Grant, whom she met in book 1, but her
emotional scars run deeper than her love for
him. As she learns to let go, her heart begins
to heal. Jean relies often on her friend in faith
Candy, whose refreshing sense of humor and
positive outlook never ceases, to astound as
she spiritually challenges the ladies at their
church. Although Candys plan to start a
strip club ministry horrifies them, they soon
realize the critical need the strippers have
for freedom from their protective club owner
and themselves. Looking for redemption,
Candys friend Champagne is released from
prison only to be blackmailed into betraying
her former friends to protect her sister.
Although they dont believe in her inno-
cence, the church community protects her,
risking their lives to help her. The outcome
is a chilling chase that results in heartache
and hurt. Rae admirably approaches a diffi-
cult subject with a nice balance of romance,
intrigue, and wit, while proving that no one
is too far gone to overcome their past.
The TimeKeepers
Jenn Bregman. Triborough, $12.99 trade paper
(334p) ISBN 978-0-9981441-0-8
Bregmans legal thriller featuring a
plucky solo practitioner fighting for the
little guy should appeal to John Grisham
fans. Sarah Brockman spent two years as a
litigation associate at a large California firm
before her lack of job satisfaction led her to
set up her own practice focusing on repre-
senting plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Her compassion trumps her business sense
when she gets involved in another time-
intensive, not particularly lucrative lawsuit
after she witnesses a truck strike a pedes-
trian in a hit-and-run. Six months later, the
victims son turns to her for help; the truck
driver, Paul Rodriguez, was sentenced to
just a $200 fine, and the victim, who suf-
fered grievous facial injuries, wants to sue.
Sarahs investigator soon finds evidence
undercutting the ostensible basis for the
lenient sentence Rodriguez received, his
indigence. That proves to be just the first
bread crumb that puts Sarah and her allies
on the trail of a complex conspiracy.
Romance fans will enjoy a subplot involving
a male attorney whose message that hed call
Sarah lingered in the air like an overstuffed
mosquito.
The Zorzi Affair:
A Novel of Galileos Italy
Sylvia Prince. Amazon Digital Services, $2.99
e-book (154p) ASIN B01N9JQBTN
Set in Renaissance Italy, this coming-of-
age story follows a delightful heroine in
Zaneta Lucia Zorzi, a beautiful 15-year-old
with a desire to study science, who is being
forced into marriage. Zaneta Lucia is the
daughter of a once-illustrious Venetian
family that is seeking to repair its fortunes
with her prestigious marriage. After a glit-
tering engagement party, Zaneta Lucia real-
izes she cant give up her clandestine pursuit
of learning to marry a controlling man with
a hostile, pregnant mistress. She dons a
boyish disguise, adopts the name Luca
Manelli, and runs away to Padua, hoping to
make a new life for herself at the university
and meet Galileo. On her journey, she for-
tuitously meets Paolo, a University of Padua
student who is a boarder in Galileos home.
While maintaining her disguise, Zaneta
Lucia rents a room from Galileo while
studying for the entrance exams. Meanwhile,
her infuriated parents have sent someone to
Padua to find her and bring her back.
Threats, a mystery, and the ever-present risk
of exposure enhance a story already distin-
guished by Princes elaborate descriptions
of people and towns, and by the portrayal of
female subjugation in academia, in families,
and, offhandedly, in conversation. The ren-
derings of Zaneta Lucias inner life and
journey of self-discovery make this romantic
adventure a winner.
Nonfiction
Christianity Matters:
How over Two Millennia the Meek
and the Merciful Revolutionized
Civilizationand Why It Needs to
Happen Again
David T. Maloof. 70x7 Publishing, $16.99
trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-0-6928-0455-1
If Christians acting on their faith have
been agents of change in the world before,
there is hope they can be again, says Maloof,
an international peace activist and former
investigative reporter. Tracing trends
throughout history, the author examines
how Christians following Christs example
have influenced justice, made peace, helped
the poor, and generally improved society.
Chapterssome more in-depth than
othersare anchored in the Beatitudes and
study historical circumstances and the
numerous believers who were catalysts for
change. Blessed Are the Merciful, for
example, covers a wide range of topics in
various sections (not in sequence), including
movements for eliminating female infanti-
cide, establishing hospitals and access to
health care, forging democratic govern-
ments, and demanding civil rights.
Education and economic reform, peace-
making, and foreign relations are some of
the other topics explored. Maloof cites
believers who have made a difference over
the years and includes many women (some
famous, some lesser known) in the account.
He challenges readers to master what he
terms the ninth Beatitudeforgiveness
and follow Beatitudinal Christianity,
which, he asserts, can result in personal as
well as societal benefits in modern times.
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58c

Drifting in the Push
Daniel Garrison. Tongue & Groove, $11.95
trade paper (265p) ISBN 978-0-9976-3630-7
Garrison, a restless college student, puts
an often hilarious modern spin on On The
Road in this gonzo tribute to young wan-
derlust and overcoming difficulties through
grit, determination, and humor. His par-
ents divorce was the start of his quest for
adventure and freedom from family con-
flicts, and he went off in a nomadic search
for belonging amid a series of unsatisfying
jobs. The comic relief in this cycle of inter-
dependent short essays is ably provided by
Garrisons best pals, Bryan and Shane, and
his loyal canine, Hank, as he recounts set-
ting up camp in one place after another
throughout the U.S. and Mexico. He col-
lected a motley crew of colorful characters
and crises, venturing out into the wilder-
ness but often returning home. His travel
bug sent him out solo, leapfrogging from
hostel to hostel and train to train through
country after country; he made it to Turkey
before going broke. Some episodes fall flat,
but taken as a collection, they pack a zany
wallop. In Garrisons world, enlightenment
and sensibility come through besting obsta-
cles and challenges while avoiding failures
and disappointment.
Getting Naked for Money:
An Accidental Travel Writer
Reveals All
Edie Jarolim. Invisible, $15.99 trade paper
(292p) ISBN 978-1-5374-1504-8
Jarolim (Arizona for Dummies) shares tales
from her extensive career as a travel editor
and freelance writer in this lighthearted
insiders view of the travel industry.
Opening with a 2003 travel assignment
that required her to check into a nudist
resortreplete with speculation about her
fellow nudists plus a few irresistible puns
the narrative follows chronologically as she
conveys the less-than-glamorous transfor-
mation travel publications underwent in
the digital era alongside the creative chal-
lenges inherent to working in the industry
(there are only so many possible riffs on a
simple theme of bed, bath, chairs, and desk,
she notes). The best pages are concise por-
traits of characters she encountered through
her work, among them Dick Brooks, who
recruited her to handle the Wall Street
58d B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
Journal Guides to Business Travel. Jarolims
keen sense of humor coupled with her insid-
ers perspective add a fresh spin to this travel
memoir.
Gourmet Ghosts 2
James T. Bartlett. City Ghost Guides, $19.95
trade paper (347p) ISBN 978-0-9975829-0-1
In this volume, Bartlett (Gourmet Ghosts)
compiles stories of murders, suicides, fatal
accidents, and deaths by natural causes in
Hollywood, culled from news articles from
recent years and from articles dating back
to the 19th century. The locations of the
deaths range from Hollywood landmarks to
bars, restaurants, and hotels. Deaths occur
at the Hollywood sign, the Hollywood
Heritage Museum, the Frolic Room, the
Hollywood Plaza Hotel, the Chocolate Bar,
the El Carmen Restaurant, and many more
places. There are also anecdotes about
ghostly encounters with the deceased, but
the majority of the stories in this book focus
on the death rather than the afterlife of a
particular subject. When hauntings are
described, they have less impact than might
be expected: the descriptions are mostly just
short quotations taken from newspaper
reports and lack verve. Bartlett doesnt
organize the entries by any conventional
means, with the consequence that finding
what you are looking for entails flipping
through the entire book. The large number
of death sites described and witty prose up
the entertainment value of this off-kilter
travel guide.
Holocaust Postal History:
Harrowing Journeys Revealed
Through the Letters and Cards of
the Victims
Justin Gordon. Six Point Watermark, $29.95
(170p) ISBN 978-0-9978401-0-0
Gordon, who has studied postal history
for the past 40 years, reveals his superb col-
lection of Jewish philatelic items related to
the Holocaust. His beautifully reproduced
postcards and envelopes with cancelled
stamps (called covers) create a unique portal
into the personal lives of the Jews of Europe
during WWII, whose lives were ended or
catastrophically changed by the Nazis. This
historically resonant collection also has an
emotional potency; the actual correspon-
dence is a time-stamped chronicle of the
REVIEWS
instant that a writer reached out for help,
encouragement, or simply news that a loved
one was still alive. The book is arranged
into nine sectionsthe rise of Nazi anti-
Semitism, anti-Jewish decrees, Nazi propa-
ganda, ghettos, the Nazis model Jewish
ghetto Theresienstadt, concentration
camps, Jewish labor camps, unsung heroes,
and the postwar era and formation of
Israelwith historical background mate-
rial and relevant letters, cards, and stamps
displayed within the text. The book is thor-
ough, with one section detailing the Nazis
highly organized censorship activity. There
were 15 censorship offices throughout the
Reich, which utilized elaborate stamps,
censor tape, and inserts to explain the cen-
sorship actions they took. According to
Gordon, every cover tells a story and
serves as a poignant reminder of the real
people behind each piece of correspondence.
This collection will appeal especially to
stamp hobbyists, historians, geography
enthusiasts, and readers interested in
WWII. Color illus.
Koan Kreativity
Tim Ljunggren. Gentle Thug, $9.99 trade paper
(130p) ISBN 978-0-692-83758-0
Ljunggren, an Episcopal priest and artist,
contemplates the creative process and shares
quotes from famous artists as well as koans,
riddle-like tales meant to be meditated
upon by Zen Buddhist monks. Koans are
integral to the Zen students path to
enlightenment because they empty the
mind, allowing for insight to enter. Each of
Ljunggrens loosely organized chapters fea-
tures a koan followed by commentary and
personal anecdotes. The first, A Cup of
Tea, relates a koan in which a Zen master
overfills a professors teacup. When the pro-
fessor exclaims, the master tells him that
like the cup, the professors mind is filled
with opinions and needs to be emptied
before learning Zen. In Three Days More,
a pupil cannot solve the enlightenment
problem to hear the sound of one hand,
and after three years, the teacher tells him
to kill himself if he does not attain enlight-
enment; the student attains enlightenment
two days later. Each of these chapters is
short, and Ljunggrens comments are not,
despite the theme, particularly enlight-
ening. He advises readers to find strength
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and courage to become our own mentors
but doesnt give detailed, concrete advice
on how to do so. Ljunggrens collection is a
fun read for those open to riddles, but might
not necessarily inspire creativity.
Kicking the Bucket List:
100 Downsizing and Organizing
Things to Do Before You Die
Gail Rubin. Rio Grande Books, $15.95 trade
paper (128p) ISBN 978-1-9436-8115-0
Rubin (A Good Goodbye), a certified than-
atologist, takes a not-so-grim look at how
to reap lifes benefits while preparing for
death. Rubins common-sense approach is
broken down into 100 succinct steps that
cover a wide range of activities, from gen-
eral decluttering and mental preparations
to more specific tasks involving legal docu-
ments and choices to make closer to death.
Rubins approach is holistic, considering
the practical need to organize ones affairs
to decrease the stress for surviving family
and the emotional need to simplify and
enjoy life. Her tone is encouraging, com-
forting, and even humorous as she system-
atically navigates through the vast prepara-
tion process while providing a plethora of
ideas to inspire action without over-
whelming. Rubins steps take into account
diverse personalities and spiritual beliefs,
and also include charitable and environ-
mentally responsible ways of donating
propertyincluding ones body. This
invaluable book is an easy-to-read, enlight-
ening reality check and an insightful and
sensitive reminder to preplan today, so you
and your loved ones can enjoy the rest of
your life.
My Mother, the Bunny, and Me
Edith Kunhardt Davis. Shakespeare & Co.,
$20 trade paper (123p) ISBN 978-0-9975682-4-0
Davis, a childrens book author and
daughter of Dorothy Kunhardt, who wrote
the groundbreaking interactive childrens
book Pat the Bunny in 1940, writes a quietly
moving literary memoir. Narrating in a
measured, matter-of-fact manner, Davis
paints an idyllic portrait of her early child-
hood in rural New Jersey, where her free,
creative household was colored by her
mothers sensibilities. She details the events
of her mothers life, including her associa-
tions with the Bank Street School, which
developed a kinetic, child-centered
approach to teaching and writing for chil-
dren. Beneath Daviss nostalgia are ribbons
of melancholy that suggest a deeper raw-
ness. Davis describes her feelings of shame
surrounding having her mother write her
papers for her, including a speech she deliv-
ered her senior year, for which she was cen-
sured: That moment was to haunt me for
30 years. Davis makes fleeting mention of
memorable encounters with authors,
including Carl Sandburg and Isak Dinesen,
and offers casual insights into childrens
publishing. Later reflections on the tensions
in her parents marriage, as well as her own
struggles with relationships, solitude, and
alcoholism, broaden this snapshot of a
family, an era, and a beloved childrens
book.
The Plate Spinner Chronicles: A
Working Mothers Epic Adventure
Barbara Valentin. Gemma Halliday, $9.99
trade paper (158p) ISBN 978-1-5153-0239-1
Romance author Valentin (Flight Risk)
gathers her columns for the Chicago
Tribunes TribLocal into this slim collec-
tion, which explores the travails of working
full-time while mothering five boys.
Valentin defines a plate spinner as a prevent their childrens needs from con-
project-managing, child-rearing, meal-
planning, rule-instilling, errand-running
superhero. Some chapters are meditations
on workaday challenges such as adjusting
hems and replacing faulty furnaces; others
provide facile tips for back-to-school shop-
ping (when one can experience the thrill
of the hunt for erasers) and achieving work/
life balance (delegate, delegate, delegate).
While the epic adventure of the subtitle
suggests a unified narrative, the columns
operate on different timelines and lack con-
nection. As a result, the book feels dis-
jointed and bogged down by repetition (six
of Chapter Sevens eleven sections focus on
Christmas). Brevity and milquetoast humor
hold Valentin back from true introspection,
though readers will enjoy the lovingly
drawn Running with Aspergers, in
which she describes one of her sons finishing
his first cross-country race, buoyed by
cheers from parents and teammates alike,
and the moving portrait of Valentins
deceased brother-in-law in Fathers Day in
Memoriam. Working parents may nod
along with the trials she describes, but these
chronicles are long on tongue-in-cheek
advice and short on insight.
Uncommon Voyage:
Parenting Children with Special
Needs; A Guidebook
Laura Shapiro Kramer. BookBaby, $7.99 trade
paper (198p) ISBN 978-1-48359-272-5
Kramer, author of a 1997 book (also
titled Uncommon Voyage) that recounts her
struggles to find alternative therapies to
treat her sons cerebral palsy, returns with a
guidebook to help parents cope with the
burdens and joys of raising a special-needs
child. As she explains to new readers, after
her son, Seth, was diagnosed with cerebral
palsy, she found herself dissatisfied with
what conventional medicine was offering
and thus sought out new treatments.
Throughout this new book, Kramers expe-
rience and empathy shine through. Parents
are encouraged to recognize that they are
experts on their own children and that they
should feel confident in their own knowl-
edge. There is ample guidance regarding
finding the help your child needs as well as
an extensive resource section. Kramer also
offers practical advice to parents on how to
suming them. The concern and respect
Kramer shows for the children of her readers
and the advice she gives to parents about
their children are informed by her sons
willingness to speak for himself in a world
uncomfortable with disabilities. This is a
well-thought-out guide for parents that
provides a flexible and compassionate
approach to learning how best to help your
child and yourself.
Whispers in the Windstorm:
A Journey of Gods Blessed
Assurance During My Year with
Breast Cancer
Kathryn Danylko. Peregrine, $15.99 trade paper
(384p) ISBN 978-0-9973983-9-7
In her first book, a collection of personal
journal entries, Danylko chronicles her
cancer journey. Beginning a few short
weeks after she was diagnosed with breast
cancer and concluding with her decision to
refuse more chemotherapy, Danylko pro-
vides intimate insight into the ways cancer
has affected her life, faith, and loved ones.
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58e

She vividly recalls the physical pain of a
mastectomy and chemotherapy, as well as
the emotional turmoil of losing a breast and
making myriad difficult decisions, such as
whether the benefit of treatment outweighs
the side effects. True to her lived reality, the
book is not solely about her medical
journey, but provides glimpses into her
family life, marriage, career, mission work,
and (most importantly for Danylko) faith.
Much of the book, in fact, is dedicated to
describing her mission trips to Haiti and
her ruminations on a Christian obligation
to share wealth with the poor. Though
some readers may not agree with all of
Danylkos viewpoints or decisions, this
book provides a moving and often heart-
wrenching glimpse into what its like to
experience cancer.
Childrens/YA
Now I Know Its Not My Fault
Laurie B. Levine. CreateSpace, $14.99 paper
(352p) ISBN 978-1-5355-1158-2
Set in the 1980s, Gellers first novel is a
frequently uncomfortable coming-of-age
story about Alexandra Geller, whose loss of
her mother and chilly relationship with her
father leave her longing for the love and
approval of a parental figure. She finds it,
at age 14, from her self-assured and uncon-
ventional science teacher, Paula. The young
teacher flirts openly with male students,
sings in a band, and makes plain that
teaching is only a small part of her life.
After Paula takes Alexandra under her
wing, their relationship becomes increas-
ingly intense. Levine realistically details
the ways in which Paulas motherly tenden-
cies can rapidly transform into acts of coer-
cion, manipulation, and humiliation. Side
charactersnotably Alexandras terse and
emotionally unavailable fatherdont
have the nuance that Levine brings to
Alexandra, and the storys 1980s setting,
mainly conveyed through references to
big hair and pop stars, can be ill defined.
Yet Levine sympathetically conveys
Alexandras confusion concerning her rela-
tionship with Paula and her ambivalence
when it comes to taking the necessary steps
to end it. Ages 14up.
58f BOOKLIFE, APRIL 24, 2017
Resthaven
Erik Therme. Kindle Press, $2.99 e-book
(220p) ASIN B01C3FFIYC
Thermes (Mortom) first book for teens has
a promising premise but doesnt make the
most of it. Kaylee has just moved to a new
town with her mother following her par-
ents divorce. After some prodding, Kaylee
agrees to go to a party, where host Jamie
introduces a scavenger hunt to be played in
Resthaven, an abandoned retirement home.
After an argument between Kaylee and
Jamie, the party attendees find themselves
locked inside and separated from each other.
While looking for the others, Kaylee stum-
bles on a young boy, as well as an old man
who seems determined to keep them locked
in Resthaven. Thermes characters have a
wide variety of realistic backgrounds and
circumstances, but while the setup natu-
rally leads to some tense moments, the story
too often strays into melodrama and heated
emotional outbursts. The girls often act
younger than their age would suggest
(oddly, they are described as being both 15
years old and in middle school), leading to
some dubious choices, including hiding in
a freezer and participating in whats essen-
tially a kidnapping. Ages 12up.
Riven
Jane Alvey Harris. CreateSpace, $12.99 paper
(326p) ISBN 978-1-5440-5417-9
Harris debuts with a heady psychological
fantasy, first in a planned trilogy, that
unfolds in the aftermath of trauma. For as
long as 17-year-old Emily can remember,
she has immersed herself in the magical
world of the First Realm, which is occupied
by the Faecreatures that, when visiting
Earth, disguise themselves as insects like
cicadas and spiders. Emilys home life offers
plenty of reasons to escape: her mother is
abusing prescription drugs, her father is in
jail, and Emily is responsible for her younger
brothers and sisters. After her mother over-
doses, Emily, her siblings, love interest
Gabe, and her Aunt Nancy travel to a rela-
tives vineyard to await the release of Emilys
father, whom Emily fears for reasons she is
unable to confront. Harriss writing is pol-
ished, and she effectively explores Emilys
maelstrom of psychological coping mecha-
nisms. Secondary characters serve as wel-
come lodestars during the murky visits to
REVIEWS
the First Realm. When Emily finally
awakens to reality, becoming able to recon-
cile her fractured identity, readers will feel
a great sense of relief. Ages 12up.
If You Were Me and Lived on...
Mars
Carole P. Roman, illus. by Mateya Arkova.
CreateSpace, $12.99 (44p) ISBN 978-1-5408-
6972-2
In this addition to the If You Were Me
and Lived On series, Roman lets readers
imagine themselves as future Mars colonists
in the year 2054. Using conditional
phrasing and writing in second person,
Roman balances a sense of adventure with
nitty-gritty details of what readers might
expect to see, do, and encounter during
their time on Mars (If you first landed on
the southern hemisphere of Mars, you
would be prepared for a short and extremely
hot summer). However, the tense often
changes from sentence to sentence, making
for convoluted reading (Your father is a
scientist who plans to help farm the red
planet. He would plant seeds in a room
filled with both Earth and Martian soil.
Scientists have tested the soil for years).
Arkova works in a soft, smudgy style, as
though the scenes are siphoned through a
layer of planetary dust, though her human
characters feel rough and gestural compared
to her Martian landscapes. Roman includes
information about Marss atmosphere,
moons, and gravity, but the flattened
delivery mutes the excitement of what
ought to be an exciting foray into the
unknown. Ages 48.
The preceding reviews of
self-published titles ran in
Publishers Weekly during the
past month.