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February 21, 2023

Interview with author Jessica Kimball

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

Hi! My name is Jessica Kimball. I live in north-central Minnesota with my husband and our three young daughters. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I intend to keep it that way! I’ve been passionate about writing for as long as I can remember; I’ve got some old “books” I wrote from when I was a child, they’re quite comical! I also love gardening, spending time with my family, reading, painting, and meditation. My greatest passion in life is motherhood.
I am also currently working on building a business as a full-spectrum doula – something our rural community does not yet have. My passion for motherhood drives my initiative to make it a positive, life-changing, fulfilling experience for all mothers. I hope to bring that to our small community so other mothers can embrace their unique motherhood journeys.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Own Your Motherhood”?

I struggled with word count along the way – at first it seemed daunting to write enough content for an entire book, even a bite-sized one like mine. I was worried my readers wouldn’t enjoy the book if it was on the short side, but I quickly realized that it’s about the quality of what I’ve got to say, not the quantity.

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

I really enjoy anything with a conversational tone and relatable content. I find that it makes it easier to immerse myself in the author’s words if I feel as though we’re sitting down talking over a cup of coffee.

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

Unfortunately, my family and I don’t travel as much as we’d like – it’s difficult with young children. I do personally love the ocean and Yellowstone National Park. I have fond childhood memories in both places! I’d love to share these types of experiences with my own children someday. Thankfully we live in an area rich with lakes, state parks and forests, and many outdoor activities so we can embrace and thoroughly enjoy the area we live in.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

I think you should jump in and start writing! You may need to revise again (and again, and again) but that’s the beauty of it. You can make as many revisions as you want before you share your work with the world.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Own Your Motherhood’?

It only took me a couple of months once I finally picked a topic I could talk about for hours.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

You can find my book online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, in both ebook and print!

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Own Your Motherhood’?

The book cover was a little project of mine during the writing process. When I wasn’t investing time in writing the words themselves, I was drawing the cover art – inspired of course by my family. The title didn’t come until partway through the book after I’d actually written the words “own your motherhood” down. It clicked instantly!

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

I carry a notebook with me to write down thoughts, blurbs, questions, ideas, etc. on the fly. Writing in the moment allows me to accurately capture my emotions and keep the story relevant. I can look back later on my notes and recall situations and ideas with much more clarity that way. It also allows me to write down passing thoughts that would otherwise float away and potentially not come back – always a risk with small children running around!

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

There aren’t many hidden secrets inside of this book – it’s just stories and experiences from your run-of-the-mill mom. There is a lot of honesty, and I do write about my biggest mistake as a mother; one that almost cost my daughter her life. I hope it resonates with other mothers about the commonality of mistakes in parenthood – it just comes with the territory. I try to maintain a relatable nature so my readers can really see themselves inside of the pages.

Buy Own Your Motherhood by Jessica Kimball

February 21, 2023

Watching From the Shore

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Watching From the Shore 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Dima Dupéré ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
‘Watching From the Shore’ is an epistolary novel written by the author Dima Dupéré. The story features Melanie and her brother David. Melanie was five years old when she was orphaned and separated from her brother David. Both of them were sent to multiple foster homes. They felt unloved and hoped to find each other one day.

One day, Melanie got to know that her brother is in prison. David told her how an accidental murder landed him there. He feels guilty for whatever happened and couldn’t sleep at night. Read this story to know what Melanie would do. Will she ever find love in life?

I enjoyed reading this book in the form of letters. The way Melanie was there for David without even knowing why he is in jail represents the strong sibling’s love. Will David receive forgiveness from the man whose wife he killed accidentally?

This is a beautiful story that touched my heart. I am glad to read it. The writing style of the author is amazing. The title is perfect and suitable according to the story. The pace of the story is fast and I enjoyed that. I am definitely interested in reading more novels by the author in the near future.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

Buy Book

February 19, 2023February 20, 2023

Interview with author Emeka Enu

1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know you better

My name is Emeka Enu. I have a background in pharmaceuticals and business. I live in Connecticut with my wife and our children.

2. What is your inspiration behind your book “Prop and Friends: Prop and Oz the Osprey”?

My inspiration came from my son who did not like the books I was reading to him at bedtime. He loves airplanes and wanted a story about them. He has a toy propeller plane in his room and that’s how the idea came to me.

3. When did you realize you want to be an author?

I do not see myself as an author. I see myself as a storyteller. It was my wife who convinced me to start writing these stories in the hopes of sharing them with other children like our son.

4. Please tell us something about your book “Prop and Friends: Prop and Oz the Osprey”?

This is a book about an unlikely hero. The protagonist is given a difficult task against great odds even though he does not fit the profile to accomplish it. It is the typical story we have all read in our childhood-David and Goliath, Frodo, Harry Porter, the Ugly Duckling.

5. For which age group is your book suitable for?

Prop and Friends is suitable for children ages five to eleven years.

6. What is your favorite Quote?

A quote from the philosopher Seneca, “We suffer more in imagination than reality”

7. What do you like the most about your country?

I like that I am given the freedom to write whatever I want. If people like it, great and if people do not like it, they can move on.

8. What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?

We are so busy but taking a few minutes each day to read to your children, especially at bedtime is critical in their development. There is something magical when parents read to their children. Personally, it is a bonding experience where you get to know the character of your children. Ask them questions about the story, ask them to name their favorite character(s) and in turn, allow room for them to ask questions.

I am currently reading, “How to Train your Dragon” series and I am learning a lot about my kids and we get into discussions on how the protagonists act’s during certain situations.

9. What does literary success look like to you?

As long as people keep reading my books, I will keep writing. My goal in writing stories is to make a kid smile or laugh before they go to bed. My dream is that kids and adults turn off the TV, put the phone down and pick up a book.

10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

This is a hard question and yet an easy one to answer. My inspiration in life are my family, especially my wife. She brings the best out of me. If someone told me that I would be writing books, especially children’s books, I would say, they are crazy. However, my wife was ahead of me, because she knows me, she encouraged me to put to paper all these stories that are stored and formulated in my head.

Buy Prop and Friends on Amazon

February 17, 2023

Brown Girl

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Brown Girl 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Leilani Taneus-Miller ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
This novel gives Insight into all experiences big and small that chip away at a person’s sense of worth.

I can really relate with the main character of the story, Shelly – being a brown kid in a white neighbourhood is not easy, not at the time the novel is set in early 1980’s, not so far off the changes coming out of the civil rights movement where prejudice was as yet deeply rooted.

Shelly is isolated at school and gets sent to the Headmaster’s office frequently – not for her wrongs but to keep her out of the way and in many cases to keep her out of harms way, away from the relentless preteens who bully her because she is black. It seems so unfair yet entirely believable.

I was so surprised that the Headmaster of her school constantly turned a blind eye to the physical and emotional abuse being doled out on a daily basis by Shelly’s would-be peers and class teacher. The only way she can shut out all the sneers and insults is to retreat into her inner world of stories, books and fantasies about being in her ancestral homeland (which are fantastically written).

I kept wondering will she be successful in befriending any of her classmates? And hoping the kids in her school would go against the grain to be her friend.

I liked Shelly’s character so much and I also loved the character of Dolly in the story – they both handle life with intrigue and humour. And I couldn’t help but fall in love with Hetty just as much as Shelly does.

Although Shelly sees herself as not brave, I found her incredibly courageous to carry on day in and day out, as if she is holding out for the other people in the novel to change. I found myself thinking that maybe she brings about their change with her patience and tenacity.

This is an intriguing story that I couldn’t put down until I finished it. The title of the story couldn’t have been better than this as this is truly the story of a brown girl.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023

Interview with author Dima Dupéré

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

My name is Dima Dupéré. I live in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). I am a social worker and teach therapeutic writing (journal writing with a deeper purpose). I also write, draw, and am constantly creating something.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Watching from the Shore’’? And how long did it take you to write it?

I started writing this story in 2010. I wrote 11 chapters and then went to Grad school to complete a Masters in Social Work. In 2016, I picked up the story again while at a Novel Writing Marathon. I rewrote it from the perspective of a different character, in an epistolary style. I spent a lot of time trying to think about how I wanted to present it so that people would have the feeling of reading actual letters. I hand wrote letters thinking I could create a picture book. Then, in 2021, I had a heart attack and that slowed me down quite a bit. I was able to proofread, make some changes and recently decided the best way to present this story is in an e-book because I can use different fonts for the different characters. I love this story, especially since it had such a complicated ‘birth’.

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

I love simple story lines written with emotion. One of my favourite authors is Carol Shields who had a way of connecting deeply with me through her words. I also love the poems of Mary Oliver. Generally I tend to read a lot of memoirs.

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

I love Newfoundland (Canada) in particular the small town of Woody Point. They have a spectacular Writers Festival each year that combines authors, musicians and nature. It’s located in the middle of Gros Morne National Park, on Bonne Bay. Being by the ocean is very healing to me, and the festival very inspiring.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

I tend to sit with a story and think about it for a long time before actually writing. I will do some research if necessary to make sure my facts are accurate. Once I have a sense of exactly where I will go then I start writing. But often as I start writing the characters tell me where they want to go.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Watching from the Shore’?

See question 2

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

My book is available on the book’s website (watchingfromtheshore dot com) and also at Kobo books. It can be found on OverDrive Library Network – which means you can request it at your library if it offers e-books.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Watching from the Shore’?

The title and the book cover have a direct connection with something that happens in the story. Without saying too much, the last time Melanie and her brother were together as children they were watching their parents canoeing from the shore.

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

This story though relatively short has a lot of twists and turns. The format of letters makes it fast paced and different from a regular book.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Part three will take the readers in an unexpected place. I have to keep some secrets.

February 17, 2023

Surviving You

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Surviving You 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Mariah Johnson ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Surviving You is an intriguing story written by the author Mariah Johnson. The story features an eight-year-old girl, Sophía Pérez. Sophía lives in a family of four. Her parents and her younger brother Elias are her world. At the age of eight years, she was stripped of her childhood.

Her mother grieves the loss of her husband and wasn’t herself. Sophía was given the responsibility to take care of her younger brother. Sophía also found her mother’s behavior strange. Ballet was not just the hobby of Sophía. She was quite serious about it. Read this book to know how Sophía will deal with things.

The story is written well. Losing a partner or a parent is the biggest tragedy of life that could happen to someone. Reading about Sophía’s family’s grief broke my heart while reading. I could relate to this story as my cousins lost their mother in seventh grade and have to take care of themselves at a very young age. Go for this book. I am sure you would love it. Great work by Mariah in this book.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

February 17, 2023

Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Martin M. Nuza ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise” written by the author Martin M Nuza is a crime novel. This novel is based on real events and crimes that happen on cruise ships.

The main character of the story is a young woman named Chloe. She went on a five day cruise with her best friend Alexis. Chloe’s father Ethan Moore is a police detective and he is 45 years old. When Chloe went on the cruise, his father was concerned for her. At the cruise, Chloe and Alexis were involved with strangers and had a great time. They didn’t have any idea about the monsters that were on the ship.

Read this story to know what will happen to Chloe on the cruise. Will she return safely to her father or will she never return? The story is fast paced. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Before reading this novel, I didn’t have any idea about the crimes that happened on the cruise. I am grateful to the author for this book and for increasing my awareness. I strongly recommend this book to all my fellow readers.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

February 16, 2023

Long Enough to Love You

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Long Enough to Love You 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Kirsten Pursell ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Long Enough to Love You” by Kirsten Pursell is a romance book. The main character of the story is Jenn who is an empty nester. Jenn’s husband Mark supported her when she walked away from her career to be a stay-at-home mom. They both are good parents but Jenn feels unappreciated by her husband. She feels she is in a loveless marriage.

Jenn decided to be safe in a marriage instead of leaving her husband. I could relate Jenn’s character to some extent with my mom or most of the women who spend most of their life taking care of their kids. In her relationship, Jenn was starving for validation from her husband and when she didn’t receive any, she started having resentment. Jenn had even considered the pros and cons of getting separated from her husband.

Things took a turn when Jenn reconnected with her first love Tripp. He makes her feel loved, wanted, etc. Read the story to find out whether Jenn will choose to be safe or wanted. I enjoyed every bit of this story. It fits my reading taste. The writing style of the author is nice. This is a captivating story and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

Romance lovers should definitely read this one. You would be delighted to read this well written book. I am interested in reading more books by the author in the near future.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023

More than Human

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: More than Human 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Paul Knight ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
More than Human is a fantasy book written by the author Paul Knight. The story features Professor Caine, Dr Abridge and Rutland. They have shared the news to the world about the ten superhumans. These superhumans are collectively known as The Guild.

The media is interested in knowing more about the superhumans. They asked Professor Caine if they are born or genetically altered but it’s too soon for the professor to share anything with the media.

Zethar and Raziel, the superhumans have high profile rescues and they have caught most of the attention from people. Read this story to know more about these superhumans.

The storyline is interesting and the pace of the story is fine. The world building is interesting. The way superhumans could touch even those from whom the cops are scared is amazing. This book will take you on the rollercoaster ride. Action lovers should go for it without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

February 10, 2023

Regent Alpha: Part One

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Regent Alpha: Part One 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Jakcub Anthonnie Young ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Regent Alpha: Part One” written by the author Jakcub Anthonnie Young is a paranormal fiction. The main character of the story is Jacqueline. She has always looked forward to college. When she was leaving home for college, she felt excited and scared at the same time.

At college, Jackie felt a headache, pain in her body. She felt hunger she couldn’t control. Her classmate Laird Hendrix tried to tell Jackie about why she is feeling like that. Hendrix had gone through something similar and so he could help Jackie. Will Jackie accept his help? It was interesting to see her whole life turning upside down in a moment.

If you enjoy reading stories involving fantasy, mystery, action, etc then go ahead with this one. The story is interesting and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the writing style of the author. I am really curious to read part two of the series as well.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon