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November 7, 2023

Interview with author Deborah Kent

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Deborah, I am married to a retired farm worker and live in a farmhouse in North Essex.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Cabbages in the Smoke”?

The challenges are being disciplined enough to keep the routine. If you have one bad day don’t carry it through the night. The first draft isn’t the final result.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Books that have influenced me are The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho, The Occult, and Mysteries, both written by Colin Wilson. I loved The Exorcist William Peter Blatty. I also enjoy any true crime stories not to mention my love to soak up anything regarding conspiracy theories. I believe in magic both the dark and the light, and very open minded to its power we are able to tap into.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

I have two favourite places, although they are complete polar opposites really. I adore Covent Garden, London. The shops, the buskers, people watching, occult shops nearby in the side streets and the general quirkiness. With wonderful creative energy, which is great for people watching.

The other is Suffolk, a beautiful county not too far away from where I live. My husband and I go at least once a year. Last time we found a very and I mean very secluded adult tree house. Deer were playing in the woods, adder swimming in the lake, buzzards flying overhead. It’s where we recharge and switch off from life. Breathe deep and watch mother nature going about its business.

Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Cabbages in the Smoke’?

Cabbages In The Smoke seeded very quickly. Rewind my job London Probation working on community service projects all over North London. My job was extremely edgy and thick on your feet. Gangs are a huge problem, and the seed planting was the office ringing to inform me I was to expect a gang member needing his hours to be completed quickly.For our own safety noone was to leave the project or go outside for any reason, adding plain clothed police officers would be circling the perimeter in unmarked cars. A young man entered, polite, and smart. As I looked into his blood shot eyes I saw further than the huge trouble he was in. Where material ruled his world and danger cash was his bread and butter. I wanted to write about a spiritual journey he didn’t know he was on. A chance to change his journey for the better. To turn things around, brushing shoulders with the darkness, and nothing is coincidence.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Cabbages in the Smoke’?

All in all the book took seven years and many re-writes. I enjoyed every moment. Heading into my world, my characters.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?

The book is available on Amazon.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Cabbages in the Smoke’?

The title funnily enough was the first name I thought of. Cabbages In The Smoke. An unlikely setting of a cabbage farm. The smoke part is both spiritual, and the connection to spirit, and London used to be nicknamed as The Smoke because of the coal fired homes made everywhere smoky and foggy.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I keep things fresh by watching everything and everyone, youth what they are doing and communication on the internet. The trends and understanding it isn’t easy growing up.

Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

The most valuable piece of information that has been rubber stamped for me is write what you know. I have never forgotten that, forgot who wrote it and voiced it though!!

Buy Cabbages in the Smoke on Amazon

November 6, 2023

Covered in Flour

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Covered in Flour 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Charles Presti ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Covered in Flour: 1968: A Young Boy’s Perspective on School, Family, and Changing Times” is an intriguing read. The story begins from the year 1968. Carl was in third grade. His teacher Miss Veezi welcomed all the students to third grade. Carl had a 3-ring notebook with him and he was ready to fill it with the homework assignment.

His teacher gave the students an interesting homework assignment to watch a TV series called Julia. The show stars a Negro woman as a nurse. Carl was named after his grandpa Carlos Pozzi on his dad’s side. His mother and father met during a dance practice. They married and started their family. Carl is the only brother to three sisters. His one brother passed away just after he was born and Carl never got to meet him.

This is a coming-of-age story. Throughout the book, we read about Carl’s growing up years and the constantly changing world.

Through this book, the readers would get to know about the complexity of growing up in a rapidly changing America. Even though this is the debut work of the author, the writing style is amazing. I enjoyed reading this book.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

November 6, 2023

Three Weeks in Winter

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Three Weeks in Winter 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Joseph LeValley ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Three Weeks in Winter” written by the author Joseph LeValley is an interesting read. It is a chilling mystery thriller that would send chills down your spine. Deputy Sheriff Tim Jebron was in Chicago when he died. On Tony Harrington’s birthday, Sheriff George Mackey from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation visited him to tell him that his deputy sheriff Tim Jebron had died. George asked Tony to keep this investigation request as a secret. He wanted Tony to go to Chicago and find out what exactly happened to Tim.

According to George, Tim was afraid of heights. He wouldn’t climb the top of a twelve-story building to do suicide. Chicago PD was going to release that Tim committed suicide but George knew that it was not in Tim’s to take his own life. Soon, Tony started the investigation and he started by asking Tim’s wife Melissa about what happened on Saturday evening. Before Tim died, he had an argument with his wife Melissa and he sent a suicide text to her. Melissa is sure that the text wasn’t written by Tim. Soon, Tony went to Windy City to continue his investigation along with Darcy. Tony and Darcy know that Chicago PD has been ignoring evidence. They didn’t even interview the bartender. Through the investigation, they soon found out about ‘Patriots of Victory One’.

This is a gripping story full of suspense. With every turning page, I was curious to know what happened to Tim. The writing style of the author is nice. The backdrop setting is impressive. The characters are written well by the author. The cover photo of the book is nice. This book is full of suspense. Go for it without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

November 6, 2023

My House

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: My House 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: M. Marie Walker ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
My House penned by the author M. Marie Walker is a melodramatic story. The story features three siblings: Mike, Marlon and MyIesha. Mike is the eldest one. He was supposed to set a good example for his siblings. When he was fourteen, he remembers how his father Don wasn’t a loving father. In fact, he was violent.

Jakyra is the youngest among her siblings Johnee and Jermaine. It has been a year since Jakyra separated from Mike. Now, she wants to return to him. Her four-year marriage to Mike ended on bad terms. Mike couldn’t handle him well when his marriage broke up with Jakyra. Seeing his brother in a terrible condition, Marlon and MyIesha don’t want Jakyra and Mike to reunite. Arguments started happening between Mike and MyIesha. Will Mike listen to his sister or will give another chance to his marriage?

This is a captivating story that one would enjoy reading in a single sitting. The cover photo of the book is well designed with a suitable title. The writing style of the author is nice. The story is well paced and there weren’t any dull moments in this book. If you love drama stories then go ahead with this book.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

November 6, 2023

Interview with author Helen Lawrence

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Helen Lawrence. I’m a current university student, in English and Piano, and I’ve dreamed of being an author ever since I could write. Seriously, I started writing before I even understood what a paragraph was. This is my first published book!

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Cards of Power”?

One of the biggest challenges was the re-writing of it. I started my second draft about a year after finishing the first, and it was basically a complete rewrite. I knew I had good bones of a story, but it needed to be written better. The challenge was figuring out how- what plot points needed to be changed, and how scenes needed to be fleshed out or deleted.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Hmm, that’s hard to say. I’ve read a lot of classics, Austen and Dickens are favourites. My current favourite book series is The Lunar Chronicles, by Marissa Meyers. And I’ve always loved the way L.M. Montgomery writes in Anne of Green Gables, especially the way she writes the dialogue so that it really feels like it’s different characters speaking.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

My favourite spot to visit is my home, and the island my home Church is on. I go to university in Toronto, so going back home to the country is so refreshing and beautiful. All seasons, it’s just gorgeous. Nothing beats it.

Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Cards of Power’?

My pastor, in a sermon, said the phrase “holding all the cards of power”, which I thought would be a good book title. Then I was thinking about how multiple people can go through the same situation and be affected differently. These came together and formed the idea that has turned into my book.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Cards of Power’?

Many years. I wrote the first draft in about a year, and up till that point, I’d only ever written first drafts. In my mind, the book was done. After about a year, I re-read it, and realized how great some parts were and how cringy others were. It took a while to re-write, especially since I’d just started university. Then the editing process, which was long. All in all, I’d say it took me 4-5 years to get to where I was sending it out to publishers.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?

Most online book-buying platforms, most notably Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Cards of Power’?

The title, as previously mentioned, was made for me, I just recognized it and chose to take it. For the book cover, I had no idea what I wanted. Luckily, I was only asked to provide general ideas, and it was turned into a cover that is super cool!

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

In the first writing stage, it’s really fun for me. I don’t plan everything out exactly, I just have a general sense of where the story’s heading, and what needs to happen. But I’m almost discovering it as I’m writing it. And if a plot option doesn’t interest me, or flat-out bores me, I don’t write the book that way. If I’m bored writing it, the readers will be bored reading it. Then, in the re-reading, and editing stages, I give myself breaks. If you read something too many times, you lose your perspective and ability to judge.

Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

It’s the dedication to this book. “Never stop writing.” I was told that by my eighth-grade English teacher. Your skills, your voice, your abilities, they all can be developed in only one way: writing. If you want to be a writer, you can’t stop. My first books, which I still have, are so cringy. I can hardly read them now. But they were necessary. Don’t freak out that you might not be writing at the quality you want, keep writing till you are.

Buy Cards of Power on Amazon

November 6, 2023

The Luckiest Unlucky Person I Know

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: The Luckiest Unlucky Person I Know 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Kristin Smith ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“The Luckiest Unlucky Person I Know” written by the author Kristin Smith Westbrook is a must read memoir. This is a practical guidebook that offers practical exercises to find clarity and balance in the face of adversity. Even if you are suffering from a chronic disease, trauma or grief this book inspires you to approach life by being optimistic.

Kristin was diagnosed with a cyst in her breast. She never imagined herself having chemotherapy, joining the peer support group meeting, losing her hair, going through miscarriages, etc. The author has mentioned how she doesn’t want cancer to be a part of her. So, she always says that she lives with metastatic breast cancer. When Kristin was diagnosed with viral meningitis caused by West Nile, she realized that worry doesn’t provide her any solution.

Most of the stress comes from our thoughts about the future and thoughts about the past. If we start living in the present moment, we can enjoy life more. I loved the Star System Meditation. Affirmations play an important role in our life. The author has suggested a few of them like I am enough, I am love, I am peace, etc. ‘Letter from the future’ is my favorite from the book.

Through this memoir, the author wants us to approach challenges and adversities with humor, gratitude, etc. I appreciate the author’s strength and resilience to inspire others after so many adversities in her life. The tips mentioned in this book will help you to live a happy life full of gratitude. This book is worth reading. I strongly recommend it to everyone, especially to those who are struggling currently.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

November 6, 2023

The Christmas Checklist

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: The Christmas Checklist 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Lisa Hepner ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
The Christmas Checklist written by the author Lisa Hepner is an uplifting Christmas romance. The main characters of the story are Emily Richmond and Noah Cole. Emily has lost her mom two weeks before and she is grieving for the loss. She recently found a red envelope with “Open December 1st” written on it by her mother.

Emily didn’t want to open that envelope but she knew that she had to open it for her mother. When December 1st came, her mother wanted her to do all the twelve activities that were written in the Christmas Checklist. Emily started with the first task i.e. “Donate jackets/clothes to a shelter”. When Emily was doing it, she met a stranger named Noah. He is a freelance writer for Gazette. As Noah started helping Emily in completing her checklist, they fell for each other.

Read this book to know what happens next. I enjoyed every bit of this book. The characters are likable. The title of the book is suitable and the cover photo is nice. The narration is smooth and I got all Christmas vibes while reading this book. Lisa has done great work in this book. Looking forward to reading more books by her in the future.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

November 4, 2023

Interview with author Chuck Presti

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

I’m Chuck Presti. I used to be a physician, but these days, I find my joy in simpler things—being a husband, a stepfather, and a brother. The moments I cherish the most are the quiet ones spent with the people I love, including our Wheaton Terrier.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Covered in Flour”?

Translating thoughts to paper was a humbling process. “Covered in Flour” was always there—in my memories, conversations, and personal experiences. The real challenge was giving it structure, making it a story that others could relate to. And as a first-time author, that was daunting.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Harper Lee’s sincerity, Mark Twain’s keen observations, Dr. Seuss’s imagination, and JK Rowling’s storytelling have been cornerstones in my understanding of what literature can achieve.

Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

The place I hold dearest is my own home. There’s a sense of belonging there that I find nowhere else, nurtured by my spouse and the company of our beloved dog. It’s not just a physical place but a haven of emotional connection.

Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Covered in Flour’?

The inspiration for “Covered in Flour” came from the people closest to me. They encouraged me to put to paper the stories I’d often share around the dinner table. The setting of the 1960s adds an extra layer of complexity, mirroring a period that was pivotal for me and my generation.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Covered in Flour’?

Though the ideas have been marinating for years, laying them down in a coherent manner took about a month. That month was a cycle of writing, feedback, and editing, made easier by the unwavering support of my husband and friends, as well as some help from AI.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?

I’ve self-published “Covered in Flour,” and it’s currently available on Amazon.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Covered in Flour’?

The title and the cover were born from intense brainstorming. We wanted to encapsulate the Italian-American experience, the importance of family and food, and the messy journey of growing up. “Covered in Flour” seemed to say it all.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Freshness comes from authenticity. I draw from life, from people I know and experiences I’ve had. Maintaining my own voice amidst the narrative is perhaps my way of keeping it real—for both the reader and myself.

Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

Being a novice in this field, the advice that resonates with me the most is to be authentic and to be a good listener. Authenticity ensures that your voice remains yours, and listening carefully makes that voice worth hearing.

Buy Covered in Flour on Amazon

November 4, 2023

Alien Secrets

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Alien Secrets 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: A M Thomas ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Alien Secrets penned by the author A M Thomas is the second installment in Flight of the Kestrel book series. Shom Reuel, Daniel Hoy and Parks landed on Boka to validate intelligence that the
Bokans had developed a secret weapon. When the three of them were captured by the Bokans, they gave them the story saying they are sociologists studying Bokan culture.

The three of them were interrogated and Parks was tortured too. They also met another prisoner Tanu who was tortured even more than Parks. Reuel felt sympathetic and decided that they will take Tanu to Kestrel as they escape. They executed their plan and attacked the two guards and managed to reach Kestrel. Tanu has only told them that he is an explorer. Is Tanu a friend or an enemy?

Find out by reading this book what happens next. This book takes the readers into the vast universe and I had a great adventure along with the characters. The backdrop setting is done nicely by the author. The story is well paced and there weren’t any dull moments in the book.

Even though it’s the second book in the series, one could enjoy it as a standalone book.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

November 3, 2023

Valuing Gold

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Valuing Gold 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Cynthia L. Simmons ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Qotd: Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? If yes, then get your hands on Cynthia L. Simmons’ book series “Southern Gold”. Mary Beth Roper and Peter Chandler are the main characters of the story. This book is set in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the year 1861. The war has started and there are many concerns among the multiple characters of the story.

Peter is worried about his widowed mother, bank, sister, etc. Mary Beth Roper is worried about her home, bank, father and her life. She loves the peace and safety that her home and Chattanooga offers them. After hearing about the news of his father’s death, Peter left for home. He had a long journey to home and reached after months.

The guy named Eddie whom Mary Beth was courting was killed in the war. This turned her world upside down. She had plans to marry him. What will Mary Beth do and more importantly how the war would affect everything?

The book is well paced and the author has written the entire plot carefully. The cover and the title of the book is suitable. It would be amazing to watch this book series as a movie. I am definitely interested in reading more books by the author in the future.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon