Book: Robinson, IL And Other Flash Fiction Stories
Author: Dennis Milam Bensie
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“Robinson, IL and Other Flash Fiction Stories” is the first book that I have read penned by the author Dennis Milam Bensie. This book introduced me to the meaning of flash fiction.
I really enjoyed the Kiddie pool story when little Denny pee in the pool wearing a pink swimsuit. The way author has put words in this story made me felt like I am reading it directly from the heart of a kid.
Sunday Drive is another interesting story highlighting father’s realization later to punish the one who molested his son fifteen years ago. Molestation could fill rage in a kid that may stay with him as years passes by.
I enjoyed reading “The Miller Family Reunion” in which the family met Denny’s new wife Julia and one of his cousin Jeremiah travelled on his bike from Chicago to surprise his parents.
All the flash fiction stories that are part of this book are worth reading. There are so many characters in this book. One could enjoy couple of flash fiction stories in one go in their short breaks. Author’s writing style is amazing and I enjoyed reading this book overall. Language used in the book is straightforward and easy to understand. Since length of the book is 130 pages only, one could also read it in a single or two sittings. Go ahead with it without thinking twice. I am sure you will enjoy it.
Treason Flight written by the author T.R. Matson is the debut book of the author who has over two decades of both military and civilian aviation experience. It is the story of a young navy pilot Jack “Rattler” Owen on a combat deployment who struggles with life at sea. Jack grew up in small suburban town in New Jersey. While growing up he wanted to get paid to have fun so football was his focus. After first year of college, Rattler’s focus shifted back to military and soon he arrived at Texas A&M. After finishing flight school, he began training in E-2C Hawkeye in Norfolk, Virginia.
Once when Rattler was flying over the Persian Gulf, he saved the crew by landing the broken E-2C Hawkeye safely. Clipper who is Rattler’s number two guy was happy to see Rattler safe. He helped a lot with the landing. Later, Clipper told Rattler that there is something wrong with the skipper. He didn’t give Rattler a flying cross for his historic act because he didn’t get one himself. As the story progresses, the danger increases. The failure of hydraulic system was just the beginning. Grab a copy of this book to unveil what happens next.
If you love reading military thrillers then don’t miss to grab this amazing book. Initially I had to google meaning of few military terms but once I got the grip, I enjoyed this story. Language of the book is medium. Story is full of action all the time and kept me on the edge while reading. Length of the book is 196 pages that makes it a perfect binge read book for weekend reading.
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hi – So my name is Nadia Bruce-Rawlings. I was born in Canada and lived in Texas, Cairo, Egypt, Norway and Denver before moving to Los Angeles at the age of 21. I also lived in the Bahamas and in London. I worked in the film industry for about 30 years. I am a recovering drug addict and alcoholic with 23 years sober, I was a homeless crack-head and shoplifter before I got sober thanks to a 6-month stay in rehab, a place called Alcoholism Center for Women. Once I got sober, I had my daughter Sophia as a single-mom, and when she was 10 I re-met an old boyfriend, Brian Rawlings. We ended up getting married, and I gained 5 more kids! In 2011, just after we married, we moved to Nashville, where I ended up writing both of my books.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Driving In The Rain’ book?
It was my second book, and I was having a difficult time writing after finishing Scars. I wasn’t sure what to write about or where to begin again. My publisher, Iris Berry of Punk Hostage Press, worked hard with me into the wee hours of the morning on my stories and poetry and the direction the book should take. I couldn’t have done it without her.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I love Hemingway and Kerouac, who both influenced my early writing a tremendous amount, as did Sandra Cisneros and her groundbreaking book House on Mango Street. I even have a poem in Driving in the Rain, called Linoleum Roses, which was inspired by her book.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
The ocean, whether on the West Coast or the East Coast. The ocean is my “higher power,” it is where I find true spirituality and inspiration. It’s the one thing I miss about living in Los Angeles – well that and my best friend.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
For me, not really, because my books have all been short stories and poetry collections. I don’t have to keep track of a plot or various characters. I just write when inspired! Sometimes that is while driving – a sentence will come to me, or a paragraph, and I’ll have to write it down as soon as I can so I don’t forget it. I often use my phone to make voice-notes. Then I find them ages later and don’t recall what they were for!
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Scars’ book?
It took some time! Some of the stories were written years before others, but they fit in when it came time to publish. What happened was that I had a story I really liked (“Fire”), which I sent to a woman who turned out to be my mentor and idol. I’d heard of Iris Berry as she was famous in Los Angeles for her writing and music and performance art. I’d seen her over the years and knew her well enough to say hello, but that was it. I took a chance and sent a copy of Fire to her to get her feedback, fully not expecting to hear back. About 6 months later, she called me and said they wanted to publish a book of my short stories! I was blown-away! I put together all the stories I had sitting on a back-burner and wrote a few more. It took some time to edit, but we published it in November of that year (2014).
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find your books to buy?
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover and the title of your books?
My first book, Scars, I used a photo by my brother, Geoff Cordner. I knew I wanted to use one of his photos on this book, as his images are very haunting. Iris ended up choosing just the right image. On Driving in the Rain, again, Iris chose! I was sending her a couple images by my sister, Denise Cordner, and told her to ignore the one with the rain. She immediately said, No! That’s the one!! And it’s going to be called Driving in the Rain! So…I wrote a poem that day by the same title, and it all worked out great.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I’m not sure, to be honest! I was worried my second book would be too similar to Scars, but it turned out ok. I know my third book will have to take a different turn. I don’t even know where to begin – I don’t want to bore my readers!
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
One of the challenges of Scars was that most of the stories are true, so that when people read Fire they thought it was a true story as well. It is not! It is, however, based on a news article that I read about a woman who burned her father to death in her house one day. After I read the article, I wanted to get inside her head to see why she would do that! I wrote it late one afternoon in our big house in Nashville.
“Fynn and Mr Wallace Meet the Buggingtons” is a Children’s Book written by the author Jenny Dillon. Story features a little boy Fynn. He has a best friend Mr Wallace. Mr Wallace is a blue and red puppy with long, floppy ears and bright green button eyes. One day when Fynn and Mr Wallace were in their backyard, they saw a big hole. Fynn was so curious to find out what’s there in the hole so he pulled the dirt away from the hole. Grab a copy of this book to know what gonna happen next.
This is an interesting story. Kids who love adventures will enjoy reading this book. Cover photo is nice and title of the book is appropriate. I enjoyed reading this story. Language of the book is lucid so kids could understand it easily. Parents hurry up and grab this adventurous story book for your little readers.
“Detroit Madam: My Girls, My Rules, My Night” written by Ayanna Williams-Jones is based on true events. The story is about author’s life in the entertainment industry. In 1994, Ayanna was working at IHOP as a waitress. She received a hefty tip and when she looked up, her eyes fell on Dominic. Dominic was ten years senior than her. They went on a double date but it didn’t went properly. At the age of eighteen, Ayanna had a son and she saw Dominic again. They started dating soon.
Dominic took good care of Ayanna and her son. Soon, he introduced her to the concept of swinging. Reluctant at first, when Ayanna tried it she thought to turn it in a business and she got the name Detroit Madam. Soon, more and more people started getting involved and they even applied for DBA (Doing business as) license. Grab a copy of this book and find out more about the Detroit Madam.
Language of the book is lucid and because of the mature content present in this book, I like to recommend it to adult readers only. Cover photo of the book is nice. Ayanna’s entertainment industry have so many girls to fulfill the wishes of their clients. Her story is unique. Go ahead with this book.
“Rivalry in Riding Boots” written by the author Annie Le Voguer is a contemporary new fiction book set in the world of horses. This is the first installment in the Wingfield Equestrian Book series. Lilly Marshall runs Wingfield Equestrian livery yard for a living. She had thirty horses in her care. She love the horses but she sometimes get fed up with the horse owners who ask for impossible things for their horses.
She was asking to approve the formation of the three-day horse trials on the grounds of Wingfield Estate. Piers Wingfield Brown is the owner of the manor and Mark Larch is the Director of Wingfield Aggregates whom Piers trust but not Lilly. When she was given the go ahead, Lilly got the opportunity to fulfill her dream. Alison her head groom helped her to look after the yard. One of Lilly’s client’s horse has eaten himself into colic and this made Lilly to frustrate because the horse was suffering. As the story moves forward, we get to meet more and more character: Jay – first man that Lilly allowed into her life after her heart was broken. She met Jay because of her best friend Rico at the summer ball for the local pony club.
Those who have knowledge of horses will be able to enjoy this book more. There are so many characters in the story to keep track of. If you like stories with many characters then you definitely gonna adore this one. Plot is interesting and I got to know so much about the horses and the yard. Cover photo is nice and title couldn’t have been more appropriate. Enjoyed reading this novel.
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hi I’m Marcus Abston. I’m the author of Bloodlines (A Dying Truth Exposed, Book One). I’m from the south-side suburbs of Chicago, and an alumni of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Bloodlines’ book?
The key challenges I had was deciding on an editor. Editing can be very expensive, and then you have to look at the editor’s past work. Also advertising is difficult because it’s the only way people know your book has been released.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I have to say C.S. Lewis, Michael Crichton, Stephen King, Maya Angelou, and J.J. R. Token are some of my favorite authors. I haven’t actually been influenced by any.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Going to certain parks in the city of Chicago are meaningful to me. There’s a lot of good memories in the city of Chicago.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
Not for me. The stories really come from the heart.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Bloodlines’ book?
It took me about three years because I was also balancing school at the time.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Bloodlines’ book to buy?
My book will be in the ebook form and as a paperback.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Bloodlines’?
Looking at the over topic of the storyline and discussing with my editor with the suggestion of a friend.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I always have to remember everyone is my story has a different personality, and that helps keep the story fresh.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
The secret I can tell is that Annabelle and Judy Mays will meet again.
Side Adventure written by the author Artin Nazarian is a kinda book that gonna help many youngsters of today. In a job, once I had put so much hard work but I didn’t got anything in return. So, I totally agree with the author when he mentioned that even though he was climbing corporate ladder, it was slow and not equal to the value he was adding.
In this book, he has shared his own story. He has also given tips to readers on managing time, personal relationships, finances, fund raising, etc. He has mentioned once we are financially stable, we can even quit our job.
This book will increase your chances of promotions thereby making you successful in the corporate world and also it will guide you towards fulfilling your entrepreneur dreams.
Title of the book is appropriate. Author has named this book as Side Adventure because a side venture is like an adventure in itself. If you are excited to find your path to happiness and to become the best version of yourselves, then grab this book right away. Language of the book is lucid. Cover photo is nice. I like to recommend this book to all those who are in the corporate world. Such a great guidebook that is full of author’s own experiences.
The Deadly Disguise is the debut novel of the author Nora Valetta. Story features Francesca Russo who had lost her loving and caring husband Troy in a tragic accident due to harsh weather. Francesca has a son Brodie who adore his father but he is too young to understand that he won’t be seeing his father again. Troy was a great husband and father that resembles the image of every girl’s expectation from their partner.
Francesca works at The Centre for
Child Protection and Family Aid. Her boss Gilbert Pierce is a lonely widowed man who liked Francesca the moment he saw her. Francesca reminded him of his niece who visits him sometime. Francesca is working to provide good future to children by protecting them from domestic violence. She is currently looking at the case of Corey Hess who abuse his girlfriend Lia and their son Julian. Francesca finds it hard to swallow how can a woman put her child career at risk by staying in such a toxic relationship. Grab a copy of this novel and finds out what happens next in the story.
It’s a rollercoaster read that is full of mystery. Cover of the book looks spooky. Storyline is so captivating that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Narration is smooth and easy to follow. Characters are well written. Storyline is so intriguing that I didn’t feel like it’s the debut book of the author. Her writing is polished and I am definitely interested to read more books by her in future.
Book: NewBee: Lessons Learned while Cross-Pollinating my Life, Discovering my Passions, and Creating my Honey
Author: Ernesto Mandowsky
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“NewBee: Lessons Learned while Cross-Pollinating my Life, Discovering my Passions, and Creating my Honey” is a great book penned by the author Ernesto Mandowsky. Like most of us, Ernesto had no idea what he was going to do after growing up. He had multiple interests and passions. He didn’t want to follow the path laid in front of him by his family as his interests are different. So, he decided to create a rewarding career experience made up of his various interests. This is Cross-pollinating.
I loved Ernesto’s idea of creating a vision board by looking at which we will realize everytime what we actually want to achieve in life. I loved when family was also a part of his vision board as I also wanna stay around my loved ones. This book takes the readers on author’s journey as he explored different areas during his school, college life, while volunteering, etc. I could connect well to this book as even I had done engineering and have tried my hands at various options in life.
If you have the curiosity to discover your passion and create your own one-of-a-kind honey then this book is for you. This book motivated me to read SECRET as well to know about the Law of Attraction. Through this book, author is inspiring readers to face their fears in life. I am gonna now create my own vision board and will work towards achieving my goals so one day they could become real components of my life. It’s a well written book that I like to recommend strongly to today’s youth.
Sassy Reviews 