I recently grabbed a book Victims for Sale by the author Nish Amarnath to read it. Victims for Sale is a gripping thriller that one should read for sure. The main character of this thriller is a journalist named Sandy Raman who discovered a human trafficking ring. She wanted to study Master’s programme in media governance. On her family insistence, she took the decision to live as a paying guest with the traditional Indian family. So, she lived with an Indian family Sawants. She found something suspicious about this family. One day she ran a sting operation at home. As the truth begins to unfold, she got to know about the sex racket.
Since, Nish is a journalist, so she has written this debut novel very well. While reading this book, I got introduced to the world of human trafficking and murder. The story is quite fast paced and is full of suspense. It is a great mystery book for your mind.
I completed this book in two sittings. I couldn’t stop myself while reading this. The entire story is quite interesting and it caught all my attention. It is a must read book for thriller lovers especially. The writing style of the author is mind blowing. I found this fiction book fantastic and wanted to recommend it to others too. I am looking forward to read more books from Nish.
My Rating: 4/5
About the Author:
Nish Amarnath debuted as an author at eighteen with The Voyage to Excellence, a critically acclaimed business biography. She has received awards for her short stories from Scholastic and Infosys, among others. Amarnath was managing editor at Euromoney Institutional Investor and a senior journalist at S&P Global, formerly McGraw Hill Financial, where she was nominated for the Alerian MLP Awards [AMMYS] in 2017. Her enterprise story, ‘Citi and its Scuffle with the Watchdogs’, originally a Master’s thesis for Columbia University reviewed by Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind, was published separately as a book in 2014. A former Londoner, she now lives in New York City.
Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. My name is Roxanne Seubert and Sasquatch is my debut novel. I love telling stories and particularly love fantasy, any books that include Dragons, Witches, Faries, etc. If I open a book and there’s a map in the beginning, then I know almost immediately that I’m going to be a fan. My dream is to continue to publish books for both middle-grade and young adults to read and enjoy.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Sasquatch”?
A2. To write the story, I had to do a lot of research about Sasquatches. Where do they live? What do they eat? What do they look like? How big are their feet? etc. There is a ton of information, books, tv shows, folklore, which I had to sort through. I spoke to several people who had encountered real-life Sasquatches to learn what their first-hand experiences were like. And I took my family out to Money Creek Campgrounds to get a lay of the land. We hiked around the campsite and up a few trails and took hundreds of photos. The research was both interesting and inspiring.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. There are too many to count, but my favorites are Rick Riordan, Johnathan Stroud, Michael Crichton, Taran Matharu, Holly Black and Margaret Rogerson.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. I love going to the Oregon Coast around Cannon Beach where, “The Goonies” was filmed. I love walking along the beach, looking at the tidepools, smelling the ocean air, and listening to the waves crash against the shore. It’s a beautiful place especially with the view of Haystack Rock and the Needles, which are geological formations of large rocks standing out in the ocean. It’s a peaceful place and always brings me joy.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Sasquatch’?
A5. I’ve always believed there are creatures out there which we haven’t encountered yet. Scientists are always discovering new species or finding out that we were wrong about previous beliefs. The folklore of Sasquatch has always fascinated me. There are so many people who swear they’ve seen one. So why can’t they exist?
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Sasquatch’?
A6. It took a year to write and collaborate with an amazing illustrator J. Pares to create the cover and internal illustrations. Then it took another year to edit, and a year to publish the book. So approximately 3 years in total from start to finish.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. Right now, the e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audio book are available through Amazon. The e-book is also available through Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and IngramSpark. However, I’m getting the paperback and hardcover available through these additional platforms soon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Sasquatch’?
A8. I’ve always loved the Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin Bigfoot footage. The unidentified creature was filmed in 1967 in a grainy black and white movie. It is the only real-life Bigfoot footage that experts haven’t been able to debunk. The most famous section of the film is slide # 352 of the Bigfoot looking back towards the camera. This was the inspiration for the cover. It’s a well-known image and seen in lots of merchandise. I decided to call the book Sasquatch because I grew up knowing the creature by this name. It wasn’t until much later in life that I learned there were many other names for the same creature, Bigfoot, Yeti, Yowie, Tek Tek, etc.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. Once I had the idea for the book, to tell a story about a group of young kids finding the Sasquatch in the woods, the story blossomed from there. I had a great idea for the ending but when I pitched the idea to my friends, they told me that it had been done before in the movie, “Harry and the Hendersons,” which I hadn’t seen. So, I watched the movie and decided I had to rethink the ending to my story. My friends said I still could use fake Sasquatch prints in the snow to lead the hunters away. But I felt it had been done before and I needed to produce something new. This is how I came up with the chase seen for Connor running away from the hunters.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. The best writing advice I have ever given is that while you are writing and realize you don’t know the name of something or need to research a place, just add a placeholder. This way you can keep writing until the scene is done and you have momentum. Then later, you can go back and research the object or location you need to add. This way you don’t interrupt your flow and keep yourself from getting sidetracked. It really helps.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Karmic Selling: Earning Business by Earning Trust 📚 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Stan Gwizdak ✍️ . .
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: “Karmic Selling: Earning Business by Earning Trust” penned by the author Stan Gwizdak is an insightful read. In this book, the author has shared the successes and failures that helped him grow his business. This book is a testimony to when we do good, even more good will come our way.
The case studies and reflection exercises would help readers a lot. The author suggests us to have an however-i-can-help mindset. I could relate with Stan when he mentioned that not everybody wants to be helped. I learned this fact the hard way after being wronged. I loved the ideas to spark a connection. By taking notes, we can remember important things about a person. I appreciate the author’s tips on creating genuine connections so we can create our own circle.
This book aligns with my values and inspires me more to serve with a clean heart and cultivate lifelong business relationships. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially business professionals. Once you start reading it, you won’t be able to put it aside. I really appreciate the author’s choice of title for this book. It is a wake up call for the readers to build genuine connections as connectivity benefits us personally and professionally.
I am going to implement these tips in my personal and professional life. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: “A Sister Ago” penned by the author Caitlin Buhr is a gripping read. The story features two sisters: Christine and Rachel. Christine is a responsible sister and Rachel is a careless one. Rachel battled drug addiction. One day, she moved back home to Spokane. Christine didn’t visit Rachel after she moved back home.
Instead, she was relieved that she no longer lived at home. Once, Christine receives a call from her dad informing her that Rachel is gone. Rachel died because of an overdose. Christine’s therapist Walter Anderson wasn’t very helpful and Christine stopped visiting him. One day, she received a call from a stranger named Keji who told her that Walter had shared her contact number with her. Angry by the breach of confidentiality, the two girls decided to confront the therapist. Did Rachel die of overdose or is there more behind her death?
The writing style of the author is nice. The story moves between different timelines so one has to be careful while switching timelines. The cover photo of the book is well designed and the story is well paced. Christine’s character is written well by the author. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts. The narration is smooth and strong. I had a great time reading this book.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: The Invisible Soul 📚 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: George Beasley ✍️ . .
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Through this book, the author wants us to identify more clearly the invisible soul that lives deep within us and speaks volumes of silent destruction into our life. George has mentioned how the invisible soul within us has no morals. For Jesus to heal us, the author has mentioned it’s important for us to believe that we can be healed.
George believes that God is a god of restoration. He can take away our pain if we trust Him. In this book, the author has shared his struggles with us so we can understand better how Jesus has healed him. George has opened up with us about the abuse and the torture he suffered at the hands of evil people.
Through this book, the author is giving hope to the readers that Jesus can heal us of all our pain and restore us to a person of purpose and joy. I appreciate George for sharing his file with us. The language used in the book is lucid so more readers can benefit from this book. After reading this book, I realized that I have more potential in me but I give in to my invisible soul. Now, I am inspired to rise up in life with God’s grace.
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Those who enjoy reading thriller suspense books should get their hands on N F Webber’s book “Whisper Island.” The main character of the story is Ella. She was sixteen years old when Kirsten died in an accident. Instead of informing the police, Ella, Henry, Noah and others hide Kirsten’s skeleton and get on with their lives.
Eighteen years passed by and the police didn’t find anything about Kirsten. When Ella’s friend Lauren passed away, suddenly everyone’s lives turned upside down. Kirsten’s body was found and the police had reopened her case. Ella, Henry, Noah, Lucas, etc decided to go for a vacation at an isolated Whisper Island and discuss what they should do. They are thinking of bringing justice to Kirsten and handing them over to the law. Read this story to know what will happen when they visit Whisper Island.
This is a gripping story. The twists and turns in the story kept me on the edge of my seat. The storyline is interesting and one won’t be able to put this book down without finishing it. The characters are written well by the author and Ella’s character is my favorite. I loved the title and the backdrop setting. Looking forward to reading more books by the author in the near future. Go ahead with this psychological thriller suspense without any second thoughts.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: A Place To Hide: Equipping Ordinary Moms To Survive A Public Shooting 📚 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Christian M. McShaffrey ✍️ . .
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: “A Place To Hide: Equipping Ordinary Moms To Survive A Public Shooting” penned by the author Christian M. McShaffrey is an intriguing read. Through this book, the author wants to prepare the readers to survive a public shooting event.
In this book, the author has shared practical advice for staying safe in various environments. Christian also teaches us various principles related to situational awareness, avoiding risky situations, etc.
When I first read about the school shooting in the news, I was shocked. A school shooting is the worst nightmare for a mother. Christian has mentioned the Run, Hide, Fight school safety protocol.
The writing style of the author is amazing. This book is easy to read. It is a unique read. I haven’t read any book earlier that guided me to survive a school shooting. The author has undoubtedly done great work in this book. I strongly recommend my fellow readers to read this book in advance and stay prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Dystopian and science-fiction fans would enjoy reading Brian Penn’s latest novel “The Wall”. The main character of the story is Asher, the last son of The Great Defiance. The year is 2099. There is The Wall located in the middle of the former United States of America. It separates Zion from the Middleland.
Asher’s fiancée Sarai is in Zion and Asher is in Middleland. Both of them are eager to know whether their soulmate is alive. Sarai’s father built The Wall fourteen years ago.
Six months after her engagement, Sarai died in an accident. She was secretly given a second-life protocol. When Asher got a chance to enter Zion, he immediately agreed to it. Asher is all set to enter a territory that could be dangerous for him but he could go to any extent to reunite with his love.
I appreciate the vivid imagination of the author in world building. The character of Asher is well written and my favorite from the story. The book is well paced and there are no dull moments in it. The writing style of the author is nice. The cover photo is eye-catching and I loved the title of the book. Add it to your tbr.
Hello, I’m Ronald Hunter, author of Angel Finally Found His Wings. I’m 64 years old. I was born and grew-up in New York City and currently reside in the Tampa Bay Florida area. I’m retired from US ARMY and American Airlines. Many people are shocked when I tell them that I’m the youngest of 22 children but that’s only a small part of my life. Dad died when I was five years old, and mom soon went to a mental institution due to her severe schizophrenia and I went to an orphanage. After several years, she was released, and I went to live with her, but she “gave” me to a neighborhood Boy Scout Leader. Tragically, he forced me into the child prostitution sex trade in New York City by continuously blackmailing me. If caught, he promised to have my mother sent back to the mental institution. Years later, I escaped his control and started my new life. Angel Finally Found His Wings is my story and how I survived it all. After being a part of the Oprah 200 Men Who Survived Sexual Abuse show, it inspired me to write my book.
Remember, never allow the past to define your future. I AM A SURVIVOR!
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your memoir, Angel Finally Found His Wings?
As with any writing project, I spent a lot of time determining the flow and how best to tell my story. For me, my memoir is about a horrific childhood that includes my years on 42nd Street in New York City as a child prostitute. Writing my memoir forced me to relive many difficult times. There were numerous times I put the pen down because I needed time to further process what happened to me. In fact, writing Angel Finally Found His Wings took 13 years to complete.
Additionally, there was so much to tell, I had to structure the memoir so that I didn’t overwhelm the reader to the point they would put the book down. I purposedly did not want to sensationalize my story nor embellish it.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
John Knowles A Separate Piece John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men James Frey A Million Little Pieces James Baldwin Giovanni’s Room
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? What makes it special to you?
New York City because it’s where most of my life took place. I can reconnect to places and streets. It’s therapeutic because I visit places and try to understand how they played a part in my life.
Q5. What inspired you to write Angel Finally Found His Wings?
For years, my friends and family that knew my story encouraged me to write Angel Finally Found My Wings. But it wasn’t until I was part of Oprah’s 200 Men That Survived Sexual Abuse Show, that I began writing. That experience opened my eyes to the amount of pain and suffering that victims of sexual abuse have and the daily struggle they live with each day. Yes, others and I were victimized but I’m a survivor and I saw the real need for others to see themselves as a survivor and not a victim.
Angel Finally Found His Wings was written so that other survivors have a voice through me, and I want them to know we’re not broken, we can love and be love and we can trust others.
Q6. How long did it take to write Angel Finally Found His Wings?
A total of 13 years but that does not mean I wrote continuously for 13 years. There were numerous times I took a break from it to emotionally get to a better place. In fact, I wouldn’t write for a year or two. I had to seek the professional help I needed to move forward.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy Angel Finally Found His Wings?
It can be purchased on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as a hardcover, paperback, or Kindle as well as many other sites both here in the USA and internationally. The audiobook will be available soon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and title Angel Finally Found His Wings.
The Boy Scout Leader that took me away from my mother and forced me onto the streets had destroyed every I had including pictures and other personal items. This was one of the many ways he controlled my life. But there was one single picture of me that I kept from him and that is the photo on the cover. This is me at 11–12 years of age. In fact, until recently, it was the only photo of me from the age 6 to my late teens. It’s also the picture I took with me to when I was a member of Oprah’s 200 Men That Survived Sexual Abuse. The torn edges of the photo represent my life. The blue cover background represents the sky.
The title Angel Finally Found His Wings was created after listening to Martina McBride’s beautiful song,” angel with a broken wing.” My street name was Angel and there’s was no doubt my wings were broken BUT I found my wings and escaped that life!
My dear friend Shayne Mackey designed the cover.
Q9. When writing the book, how do you keep things fresh for both the readers and you?
To be honest, I’m not sure. I know my story so well and it never changes. So, for me, I simply just wrote it as if we were sitting at a table together and I’m telling you, my story. I also wrote it as if it were being told by me as a child. I had poor grammar and sentence structure and wanted the reader to understand how I spoke at that time. The more realistic I could place the reader at that time in my life, the better. It was interesting when the editors began reviewing my memoir. They came back with hundreds of edits because of my intentional poor grammar and writing style. I told them not to change any of that because it’s part of telling my story!
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
Write about what you know. If it’s a memoir, don’t embellish it. Just tell the story.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Nadeem’s Journey: A Heart Wrenching Story of a Loving Mother Losing Her Son to Cancer 📚 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Sherine Anniruth ✍️ . .
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: “Nadeem’s Journey: A Heart Wrenching Story of a Loving Mother Losing Her Son to Cancer” written by the author Sherine Anniruth is the bittersweet story of a mother who lost her first child. Nadeem was Sherine’s first son. From the time he was born till his last days, he continued to amaze his mother with his achievements in life.
Even though Nadeem’s journey was tough because of medical issues, nothing stopped him from achieving more and excelling in academics. Sherine’s sisters played an important role in her life in looking after Nadeem many times. The support of family is very important especially in the challenging times. What would happen when Nadeem and his mother would find out about his cancer?
This story took me on the rollercoaster ride full of different emotions. The writing is descriptive and easy to follow. I loved the cover photo of the book and the title is suitable. I really appreciate the strength and courage the author and her son displayed in their journey. This story made me realise how much the support of loved ones matters in life.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Drawn From Life 📚 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Sarah P. Blanchard ✍️ . .
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: “Drawn From Life” penned by the author Sarah P. Blanchard is an intriguing read. The story features Emma Gillen and her cousin Lucy Harnett. Emma and Lucy were together while growing up because of the circumstances. Lucy’s mother Maggie was in rehab, running with her boyfriends, drinking, etc so Emma’s parents allowed Lucy to stay with them for a few hours, days that turned into months.
One night, when Emma and Lucy went to the store for food, an accident happened that claimed the lives of three people. Emma doesn’t have the memories of who was in the driver’s seat. Was it Lucy or her? Emma has been in survivor guilt for years. Read this story to find out if she will find the truth.
The writing style of the author is nice. The story is gripping and I had a great time reading this book. The title of the book is nice. The characters of Emma and Lucy are well-written. I loved Emma’s character and I appreciate her tolerance with Lucy. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.
Sassy Reviews 