“The Presidents Did What?” is an interesting story book penned by the author Wag Harrison and illustrated by C Rod Unalt. Millard Fillmore is a former president and current ghost at the White House. He was a one-term president. There were many others like Millard who were one-term presidents. They all made poor decisions during their years in the White House.
This book takes the readers through rooms of the White House and readers will be introduced to US history. It is a fun way of teaching the kids about US History. The illustrations made the book more engaging. It was amazing to read how ghosts are spending their afterlives giving yours to the Executive Mansion.
This is a unique read. I enjoyed every bit of this book. It is thought-provoking. I like to recommend this book to parents for their kiddos. It could also be included in their school syllabus. Cover photo of the book is nice and the title is suitable.
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hello there, fellow soul traveler! My name is Jessi. I am an author, a poet, a wife, a mother, and simply a human being trying to find meaning in this world I live. I live in Olathe, KS, but am from a small town in Wyoming. I live with my husband and one year old son. I love the challenge life offers in that it gifts me experiences to become more and more kind and more and more loving. There are times I fall flat on my face and times I soar, but what inspires me is sharing my raw, heartfelt truth–even when it’s “broken” or “ugly”. I am not perfect and I am a mess-making machine, but aren’t we all?… and isn’t that what makes us all so beautiful? So I thank you for being interested in reading my book and extend the invitation for you to email me with any questions, suggestions, or comments at mayionlyleaverosepetals@gmail.com.
With gratitude,
Jessi (J.S. Drake)
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘May I Only Leave Rose Petals’ book?
Most of the challenges were my own “inner demons”. I had to face the wounds within me that said, “You are not good enough. You are a failure. You’re unworthy!” This process took me standing up to these negative belief systems with love and conviction over and over—I had to affirm: “No! I am worthy! I matter and I want others to feel they matter, too, so I’m writing this book and am going to publish it no matter how many times I have to face and overcome these doubts and fears.” It was one of the most healing inner journeys I’ve taken and it is my greatest hope my book acts as a catalyst for others’ inner healing as well.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
As a teen I read Oriah Mountain Dreamer’s book, “The Invitation”. It was so healing for me and I was greatly inspired by her and hoped one day to write like her. However, what created the catalyst for me to compose, “May I Only Leave Rose Petals” was reading “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I love to be anywhere that’s in nature. I find nature so healing. One of my favorite places I’ve been is in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It is like being in a fairytale. 💗
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
Yes. Mostly it’s the mental battle for me…overcoming doubts, fears, and negative belief systems. Once that is taken care of, it flows.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘May I Only Leave Rose Petals’ book?
Many of the poems are from my teenage years and young adult life…I’d say it’s been in the works years before I was inspired to compose it into a book. Once I got the inspiration it took 6 months to a year from start to finish.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘May I Only Leave Rose Petals’ book to buy?
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘May I Only Leave Rose Petals’?
This process was very intuitive. I meditated on the title and heard it during one of my meditations and it comes from a concept taught by Louix Dor Dempriey—my Guru—who inspires each of us to only leave rose petals in every moment and circumstance in our lives (to bless everyone and everything especially when it’s most difficult to do so—i.e when someone cuts us off in traffic—instead of giving the finger—let us choose instead to bless that one).
The cover came to me in a meditation as well and I shared my thoughts with the book publisher and they created the image from what I shared.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
It’s important to be gentle with yourself when writing a book or doing a big project. “The energy you are in when you create is what you create”- Louix Dor Dempriey. When I found myself getting impatient or frustrated, I’d take a break and breather and return when I felt inspired and more centered. The energy that one is in when creating anything in life (a book, a meal, wrapping gifts, etc) is translated to the finished project and can be picked up on, consciously or unconsciously, by those who partake in the finished product.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
I simply want my readers to know, “You matter. I see you. And I hope and pray that by reading my journey through pain and darkness that you feel less alone. This journey on Earth can be so challenging, heartbreaking, and chaotic…May I only leave rose petals in your hearts and lives by you reading this book.
Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I was born in Vermont but grew up primarily in Massachusetts. My parents were both teachers, and I developed an interest in literature at an early age. Although I aspired to be a writer, I put that ambition aside for a stable job, first in retailing, then in banking, and finally in the Federal government. I retired from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2018 after a forty-year career that included nineteen years in SBA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., and ten years as SBA’s Area Director for Government Contracting in Fort Worth, Texas. I began writing The First Robot President soon after I retired and published it in 2020. It is my first published novel.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The First Robot President’ book?
I had a good outline before I started writing the novel and knew what the key events would be and how the story would end. However, since I had not done any creative writing in more than 50 years (I am turning 77 next month), I had to figure out how to connect the dots, so to speak, and move the story forward from one high point to the next. Fortunately, I read so many novels when I was young that storytelling is second nature to me now. I believed that the technique would come back to me quickly, and it did.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Since The First Robot President is science fiction (science fiction and political satire), you may be surprised to learn that I didn’t read much science fiction prior to writing my own novel, other than a couple of novels by Jules Verne in my early teens: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. During this period, I read many historical novels, including several by Thomas Costain (The Black Rose and The Silver Chalice), A.B. Guthrie, Jr. (The Way West and The Big Sky), and Kenneth Roberts (Northwest Passage, Arundel, and Rabble in Arms). In my late teens and early 20s, I read books by other famous American writers, including Mark Twain, Henry James, Thomas Wolfe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner. I also read novels by some of the great European and Russian writers, including Charles Dickens, George Eliott, Thomas Hardy, D.H. Lawrence, Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Thomas Mann, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Therefore, I would conclude that my writing has been influenced by dozens of writers, primarily American but some European and Russian writers as well.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I love to visit Massachusetts, which is where I grew up from the age of 12. Along with Virginia, Massachusetts was one of the first places in North America that Europeans settled in the early 1600s, and some of the original buildings in Boston and Salem have been preserved to this day. I love to drive the highway known as Route 1A through the historic towns of Salem, Beverly, Wenham, Hamilton, Ipswich, Rowley, and Newburyport. Also, just a few miles off Route 1A are the famous fishing villages of Rockport, Gloucester, and Manchester-by-the Sea. Gloucester still serves a major seaport, and all of these towns have wonderful beaches on the Atlantic Ocean.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive dive in and start writing a book?
As I mentioned above, I prepared an outline of the entire book before I started writing the first chapter. I had finished the outline before I retired, so I was ready to start writing soon after I retired.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The First Robot President’ book?
I started the novel in April 2018 and finished it in March 2020, so it was about two years; but I didn’t work on it continuously because of an operation and other interruptions during this period. I figure that I actually spent about 18 months writing, revising, and editing it.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can which platforms can readers find ‘The First Robot President’ book to buy?
Up until now, it was primarily available on Amazon, although the print editions could (and still can) be ordered from any bookstore in the United States. At this moment, I am in the process of “going wide,” which means that the eBook will soon be available through Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, Rakuten Kobo, and the Google Play Bookstore in addition to Amazon’s Kindle. I encourage readers who prefer a print edition to order it through a traditional brick-and-mortar bookstore rather than Amazon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The First Robot President’?
The title was a no-brainer based on the story, and it came to me soon after I came up with the idea. I hired a professional artist to do the cover.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I make extensive use of dialog. For example, in Chapter 8, “The Debate,” where the robot is debating the other candidates for the office of Vice President, I include comments from the robot’s husband, daughter, and mother-in-law, who are sitting in the audience, in addition to the dialog between the moderator, the panelists, and the three candidates. This breaks up the political discussion and allows me to interject an element of humor into the story.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
I don’t want to spoil the plot by revealing too much, but I can mention one or two things that don’t touch on the plot. Although the story is set 500 years in the future, I was very careful to be accurate in my description of the White House and the U.S. Capitol, as well as restaurants, streets, and avenues in Washington, D.C., and Virginia, where the novel takes place. I even called the U.S. Congress to verify the name of the building and the room number where the Small Business Committee meets. This attention to detail may be the result of all the historical novels I read when I was young. Also, I originally named the robot Lucy, but I changed the name to Esmeralda before I finished the book because I think Esmeralda is a beautiful name—my favorite female name, actually.
The First Robot President is the debut science fiction novel written by the author Robert Carlyle Taylor.
This is an interesting story about Thomas Jenkins and his robot wife Esmeralda. Thomas’s mother and sister were shocked to know that he had ordered a robowife. He wants a wife with a high IQ with whom he can carry an intelligent conversation. General Google Motors is the manufacturing company in America where they make robowives. Thomas’s mother Geraldine insisted Thomas and Esmeralda get married so they had a wedding.
Thomas’s family is very centered on politics. His late father was a Congressman for forty years. Esmeralda has a knowledge equivalent to someone who has a college degree with a double major in political science and economics. Robots can’t have their own babies so they adopted a kid. Esmeralda ran for the Congress and won. Read this story to know will there be any challenges in Esmeralda’s path?
Esmeralda is the center of the story. The plot is written nicely. The storyline is unique and the author has done a wonderful job with the concept, technology, etc. Those who enjoy science fiction stories set in the future should get their hands on this book. Cover of the book is well designed. This is a story worth reading.
Tenacious written by the author Caleb Thornton is a short read. Story features a guy named Matthew who navigates his way into the first year of high school. He has a crush on tall and handsome guy Carter Mitchell who is in Grade 11.
At high school, everyone ignores Matthew. Carter bullies Matthew at school. But when Carter gave his address and number to Matthew, Matthew couldn’t believe why Carter was so in a rush to call him at his place for homework. Read this story yourself to know why Carter called Matthew to his place and what is gonna happen between them?
The story is short and could be finished within two hours. Since the content of the story is mature, this book is recommended only for adults. Cover photo of the book looks nice. Those who love reading short stories with adult content should get their hands on this book.
Convalesce written by the author Enne Zale is a poetry book. In this book, we find both bitter and sweet moments mixed with each other as they are in life. These poems are not associated with any headings. Enne has penned them freely. She has expressed the emotions to which most of us could relate to.
I could very well relate to below lines:
Missing you is kind of unbearable So I close my eyes and revisit every moment Spent with you My heart races I can’t tell if it’s fear, pain or bliss I take this pen and scribble out the faces Of every person who plays a part in my story
Some poems have illustrations with them. Those images help the readers to relate with the poems more. Author being an artist, has designed the cover of the book very well.
I really liked these lines from the book: Replies are suffocating. But so is the silence.
This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. There is pain, love, broken hearts, nostalgia, etc. Writing style of the author is nice. This book will inspire the readers to revisit their demons and become resilient. It motivates us to acknowledge the truth. That way, we would have peace. Those who love to read poetry will enjoy this collection by Enne. A worth reading poetry book that one could enjoy reading by sitting on their front porch with a hot cup of coffee.
The Fading Bud is a poetry book penned by the author Suryansh S Chauhan. It is a collection of 51 poems written by a teenager. These poems are based on love, motivation, observation, etc.
The poem Vacation is about spending summer vacation at grandparents’ house. The narrator’s grandparents live in a village away from cities and the narrator doesn’t have to worry about school or waking up early.
The poem Peace is very well written. I could relate to it a lot because I used to be emotionally flooded but now I don’t care what others think of me. I feel peaceful and happy now.
Some of my favourite poems from the collection are: summer night, in the moment, lost paradise, etc. Language used in the book is lucid so I could understand it easily. I read a couple of poems in one sitting. One could enjoy these poems with a hot cup of coffee by sitting on a front porch.
Because of the simple use of language by the author, you could understand these poems easily even if you aren’t an avid poetry reader. I enjoyed reading these poems as I could relate to many of them. Would love to read more poetry books by the author in future.
“Kaiden sure missed his friends” is an interesting children’s story book penned by Takiya Jackson and inspired by Kaiden Wheaton.
Story features a boy, Kaiden, who was unable to attend his in-person school because of a pandemic. He has to stay at home and has to attend school online. Readers can easily relate this story with their life as they all experienced this situation. Read this story to know how things have changed when he went to school after the pandemic and will he be able to enjoy his school in the same way as he used to? This story clearly depicts how children miss their school friends.
A wonderful story that I will surely share with my friends. Great addition to the children’s bookshelf. This book is a good read. The story is fast paced and exciting. Great book with colorful pictures. Cover photo of the book is attractive and the language is lucid so kids can understand it easily. I am definitely interested in reading more books by the author.
The Fading Bud is a poetry book penned by the author Suryansh S Chauhan. It is a collection of 51 poems written by a teenager. These poems are based on love, motivation, observation, etc.
The poem Vacation is about spending summer vacation at grandparents’ house. The narrator’s grandparents live in a village away from cities and the narrator doesn’t have to worry about school or waking up early.
The poem Peace is very well written. I could relate to it a lot because I used to be emotionally flooded but now I don’t care what others think of me. I feel peaceful and happy now.
Some of my favourite poems from the collection are: summer night, in the moment, lost paradise, etc. Language used in the book is lucid so I could understand it easily. I read a couple of poems in one sitting. One could enjoy these poems with a hot cup of coffee by sitting on a front porch.
Because of the simple use of language by the author, you could understand these poems easily even if you aren’t an avid poetry reader. I enjoyed reading these poems as I could relate to many of them. Would love to read more poetry books by the author in future.
Blue Eyes Brown is an intriguing memoir written by the author Michelle Marez. This is the story of Michelle who was born in Pueblo, Colorado in 1972. She is half Slavic and half Hispanic. She has no memory of her parents being married or living together. Therefore, Michelle didn’t feel like having an ideal family. Michelle lived with her grandparents for an initial couple of years. Michelle’s mom married Chris, her third husband. By living with different family members and at different places, Michelle started feeling confused. It is important to have a sense of belonging in life. That is what Michelle also wanted.
She has shared about her mom who acted differently inside and outside the house. Michelle spent most of her time at her mother’s place or her grandparents’. She loved being with her Grandma and Grandpa Garza. When Chris moved out, Michelle felt broken, disconnected, etc. As Michelle was in different grade years, she moved a lot, also learnt about her dad being in prison. Read this story to know what all secrets and mysteries Michelle came across in her life.
I really appreciate the author for sharing about her journey with us. Language used in the book is lucid so I was able to understand it easily. Cover photo looks nice. This story is an insightful read. Also, this book is an inspiration to many people who are having difficult times in their life. It will inspire them to come out of their moments of pain. Pace of the story is fast and I didn’t feel bored anytime while reading it. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.
Sassy Reviews 