Manuel Alfonseca answers your questions

Hi Manuel. Can I nominate my new novel for discussion? Catatonia by C.S.Crane.

Manuel Alfonseca See my answer to the other question.

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Hi Manuel again. Re: my earlier question, would it be helpful to see a review I've received? You have touched on the profound core of Christianity - binding ourselves to Him on the cross and what He did for us. And prayer - our conduit to Him. Your characters are all too real especially in today’s world which seems so askew and insane. I find it incredible that a writer could have captured all this.

Manuel Alfonseca Yes, Courtney, you can nominate your novel here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..., and in the same comment you can include a summary or a link of the review.

Your novel will be added to the end of the nominations list (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) and after some time it will eventually pass to the voting list (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) and be subject to voting by the members of the club.

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Would the group consider a book of reflections? Specifically, "Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore", which was just published. It's meant to be read during Eucharist Adoration.

Manuel Alfonseca Why not? You can nominate it by adding a comment here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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Hello. How can I get my new novel on the bookshelf? Catatonia by C.S.Crane self-published on Amazon. Thank you.

Manuel Alfonseca It is already on the Goodreads bookshelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Or do you mean another bookshelf?

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Saludos Dr. Alfonseca, Por lo general creo que la mayoría de libros teológicos ahora son publicados en Inglés o alemán (y a veces en francés). Esto significa que por lo general nos enfocamos sobre los temas que interesan el mundo anglohablante. Ud. viene del mundo hispanohablante, pudiera ud. recomendar algunos libros u autores de teología o de temas relacionados que vienen de su contexto?

Manuel Alfonseca Aunque son un poco antiguos, debo citar a San Josemaria Escrivá de Balaguer, fundador del Opus Dei, y a José María Cabodevilla. Ambos son eminentemente divulgativos, no se dirigen a teólogos, sino al público en general.

También podría mencionar a Alfonso López Quintás, que fue profesor mío, y que tiene publicados muchos libros sobre diversos temas relacionados directa o indirectamente con la teología.

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Hi, Manuel! I am wondering if the Catholic Book Club would like to vote on my new book as a possible read this summer? I am a debut author of a book of short stories titles "King of the Lake and Other Stories." These are 9 short stories. I would be pleased and honored if the Club chose this book. To find out more about me as an author, my website is: https://www.kira-marie-mccullough.com/

Manuel Alfonseca Thank you for asking!

In the Catholic Book Club, anyone can propose or nominate a book for common reading, even the authors of the books. This is done by going to this address (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) and adding a comment with the book information.

The problem is, we have many books nominated. Just now, there are about 70. For this reason, we have two different lists:

a) A voting list, of 15 books. Every month the next book to be read is chosen from this list by the votes of the members.

b) A nomination list. Newly nominated books are added to the end of this list. Empty places in the voting list are replaced by the books in the nomination list, in their order.

So we cannot guarantee that your book will be chosen between here and next summer. However, you can nominate it and wait some time until it has the opportunity to be chosen.

I hope this answers your question.

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Please send a copy of the new book, Emerald Journey to my Kindle: ZGENim@Kindle.com If you can? Please, and Thank you. Faith

Manuel Alfonseca I have sent a mobi copy of my book (The Emerald Tablet) to the address you specified. Please tell me whether it worked.

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Estoy interesado sobre todo en novela de no ficción. Y a la vez quiero empezar a leer sus libros. ¿Cuáles de sus libros no son de ficción (ensayos, investigaciones, etc.)? En caso de no existir ¿Cuáles considera que son los más parecidos a un género de no ficción (por ejemplo porque traten temas científicos de una manera muy aproximada a lo real)? Muchas gracias de antemano.

Manuel Alfonseca Estos son algunos de mis libros de ensayo:
El tiempo y el hombre
El Quinto Nivel de la Evolución
Todo es número ¿Es matemática la realidad?
Preguntas sobre ciencia y fe: Respondidas por profesores de Universidad
Evolución biológica y evolución cultural en la historia de la vida y del hombre
¿Es compatible Dios con la ciencia? Evolución y cosmología
Cómo hacer juegos de aventura

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Manuel, this is not an author-related question, but I couldn't private message you. Our moderator in the Catholic Readers group seems to be missing. (I hope she's ok!) Would you consider becoming a moderator for our group?

Manuel Alfonseca If you need me, I'm ready. However, I think the current moderator should be the one to take this decision. Are you sure she can't be contacted somehow?

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My book "Francis and Clare The Struggles of the Saints of Assisi" just won a 2020 award from the Catholic Media Association. The CMA says “Francis and Clare is a wonderful book that shows the humanness and struggles of two of of our greatest saints. For all those interested in the Franciscan charism and for those who have not yet been introduced to it, this book will not disappoint.” Could this be a BOTM? Thank you!

Manuel Alfonseca You should put a comment at this address asking your book to be put in the nominations list:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

There is a long list. It may take some time until your book comes to the voting list.

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I'd like to nominate a book for discussion. "American Dirt" by Jeanine Cummins is fiction. It is not overtly Catholic but the characters are, and they are not portrayed as simpletons. There are many priests encountered in the tale and they are courageous, holy, and kind. The story taught me politics, history, and current events without me realizing it. How can this book be put on the nomination list?

Manuel Alfonseca Add a comment here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
nominating the book. It will be put at the end of the currently nominated book list, and after some time it will be promoted to the voting list, which is limited to 15-16 books.

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Hello Manuel, thank you for moderating this group that I just found. I am happy to observe and contribute to the group, however, I do have a question. I am a writer that has co-authored 2 books on miracles, most recently by Hachette in 2021. My co-author and I are both Jesuit educated, cradle Catholics. Is it okay to suggest our most recent book to the group? Thank you. Katie Mahon

Manuel Alfonseca Yes, it is okay. You should add a comment in this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

In the Catholic Book Club authors are allowed to nominate their own books. But remember that it will be some time before the book enters the voting list; we have a long list of nominated books just now (more than 50).

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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Manuel Alfonseca I'll think about it :-)

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Wonder if you would consider putting my book in the October Catholic Book list? (The Saint Monica Club: How to Wait, Hope and Pray for Your Fallen Away Loved Ones).

Manuel Alfonseca You can do that yourself. Authors in this club are allowed to nominate their own books.

To do that, you can go to this address:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
and add a comment nominating the book.

The book will then be added at the end of the currently nominated books (message 3 in that address). Just now there are 48 books in that list. These books pass to the voting list when other books leave that list, either because they have been chosen as the book of the month, or because they have got zero or one votes only.

Also, in November there will be a special voting to reorder the books in the nominated list.

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Thank you. I thought you were the Moderator. ?

Manuel Alfonseca Yes, John and I are the two moderators of the Catholic Book Club. We work in parallel :-)

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I have written a Y.A. novel titled The Orange Dragon Bowl that is pro-Catholic, pro-life, pro-family, pro-tradition, and pro-virtue that has already gotten nine 5-star reviews, and one 4-star. Honestly, people's enthusiasm for the book has surprised me. Regardless, I'm hoping to gain further interest in the book among Catholics. Perhaps you could help?

Manuel Alfonseca I advise you to nominate this book for reading by writing a comment in the Current Nominations thread in the Catholic Books Club: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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During the lockdown, Pope Francis wrote reflections to help our world become a better place after the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2020, Francis published a book containing a new path after this time of crisis: “Let Us Dream – The Path to a Better Future.” In this book, Francis asserts that the pandemic is a time of crisis and that every crisis is a time of change. May this book be added as a choice?

Manuel Alfonseca Yes. of course, go to the Current Nominations thread and add a comment proposing this book. Say also if you think that this book should go to the Current Interest List, in which case it could get faster to the Voting List. This is where you should add the comment: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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What could be better? Great articles, especially the second re literary items etc. I will share the link. Please consider, thoug sharing my recent experience or just the US censorship its about. Ty.

Manuel Alfonseca Here is another post about censorship in my blog: https://populscience.blogspot.com/201...

I'll take a note of your case to use it in my next post on censorship. Thanks for the information.

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Would you please widely expose censorship? Here's my recent encounter with it, but please make yhis a new topic of discussion. Facebook just banned me for posting a prompt to pray for just exposure of corrupt politicians, and for exposure & justice concerning FB, Twit & Leftist media censorship that manipulates the electorate. Ponder that a moment! Fight un-American practices!

Manuel Alfonseca I have exposed censorship in the following posts in my blog (among others):
http://populscience.blogspot.com/2019...
http://populscience.blogspot.com/2017...

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Manuel, I'm new to goodreads. It appears that this group chooses a book each month and then comments on the book throughout the month. How does one have a "discussion?" Sorry for such elementary questions -- but I couldn't find any page that explains how to participate in a digital club. Thanks for steering me in the right direction. Marcia Whitney-Schenck (Chicago)

Manuel Alfonseca On the 15th of every month we make a voting poll where each member can vote for up to two books in a list of 15 candidates. The book with most votes is chosen to be read on the following month. On the first of every month, one of the moderators proposes a set of questions to be discussed while reading the book of the month. Every member can take part in the discussions by writing comments, and even add additional questions if they consider it advisable.

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