Cold Coffee Press's Blog: Cold Coffee Press , page 7

A Berlin Of The Mind by A. Colin Wright

A Berlin Of The Mind
by A. Colin Wright
The novel is set largely during the last days and immediate post-war years of WWII, in the British and Soviet Zones (later German Democratic Republic) of Berlin. Hermine (whose name comes from a novel by Hermann Hesse, proscribed by the Nazis) marries an English academic, Duncan, who encourages her to write her own account. This relates to her complicated experience of (English) Michael, his brother Henry (Heinrich), her German father Wartmann and others. Falling in love with Henry, she heartily dislikes Michael, whose only desire is to seduce as many women as possible.

From the Preface: "If one looks at the events leading to World War Two and resulting from it, it is all too easy to condemn the Germans. How could a highly civilized people have turned to the doctrine of Fascism as dictated by a vicious racist and psychopath? All of this, though, leads to a more basic question: could I, had I been brought up in a different society, ever have behaved in a similar fashion?”
"Henry found himself dreaming: "Oh I'm clever, oh I'm great. I rule. Eurore shudders at my might. I the Fuhrer, the artist they rejected: fools like all rest. I the people, I the nation, I the leader. Cheering me, admiring, fearing me. . . A Berlin of the mind, split between East and West, two hemispheres, left and right, now with an irrevocable dividing wall and the greatest tension at the crossover from one side to another. A peaceful man, a dull man even ... A house in the country, and if I had children there'd be... what is it? . . . 1.7 of them. And there were no signposts. That was the thing about wartime Britain too: so as not to assist the enemy should he invade across the divide all the signs were removed.”

From Chapter One, Hermine:” I was raised in a concentration camp, without which my whole story would have been different. North of Berlin, Ravensbrück was specifically for women and, of course, their children. You can visit the museum there today and see the memorial, which was set up by the Soviets when Berlin was part of East Germany, and part of my story too."

Book Review: As the author says in the book description and I quote, “The novel is set largely during the last days and immediate post-war years of WWII, in the British and Soviet Zones (later German Democratic Republic) of Berlin.”

I found this part of the Author’s Preface most interesting: “A friend of mine once suggested that the period in question was comparable to the Trojan War in the minds of those who lived through it. But I simply do not believe that Germans are fundamentally worse than other people. There are, to my mind, arseholes in all countries: it all depends on historical conditions leading to particular societies. The British can be as bad as Germans, sometimes more so, with their neo-Nazis, soccer riots, etc. The U.S.A has its deep-seated racist attitudes and violent gun culture. Canadians by and large are fortunate, except for their country’s residential schools and relations with its indigenous peoples. And Israel, which suffered more than any country in the holocaust, is unforgivingly anti-Arab. All of this leads to all kinds of abuses, which I have no intention of listing here, for a little thought will reveal them. As for Russia, or the most extreme manifestations of Islam and other religions with their sects—one thinks too of Christianity with Catholicism and others—well, again their problems are evident.”

Prologue, 1945, sets the stage where in the next seven chapter tell the stories of Hermine (survived Ravensbrück), Dr. Michael Warner (the antagonist) and Henry Warner or (again) Heinrich Werner.
The Interlude states: “I learnt later that there were other players in that ultimate drama: Henry’s first wife, Estelle, amongst them.” Chapters Eight to Ten bring us back into Michael’s, Henry’s and Hermine’s life. The book concludes with Epilogue One: Michael and Epilogue Two: Hermine.

This is intense and satisfying reading for history buffs.

I, Theodocia McLean endorse A Berlin Of The Mind by A. Colin Wright as an intellectual read. As intense as this period of time so is the knowledge and passion with which the author writes. I have had the pleasure of reading the authors other book titled Veronica’s Papers. It is important to know his bio and I quote.

“A. Colin Wright was born and raised in the county of Essex, England. After serving as a linguist in the British Royal Air Force, Wright attended Cambridge University, where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. In 1964, he was appointed a professor of Russian at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He remained at Queen's until his retirement in 1999 and still resides there today. Dr. Wright is married and has two grown sons. He acts and directs in the local theatre. With a love of languages (he speaks English, French, German, Russian and Italian, with a smattering of Spanish and Scottish Gaelic), he is adamant about correct grammar in his writing. This unfortunately also makes him highly critical of others! He also loves travel and has led various groups for Craig Travel in Toronto to Russia, Ukraine, China, South Africa, Southern India, Alaska and the islands of the North Atlantic.”

This review was completed on May 28, 2017.

CreateSpace eStore Purchase Link
Print Purchase Link
***************************
Veronica’s Papers
by A. Colin Wright
Veronica’s Papers by A. Colin Wright has an amazing premise that makes the reader think about the likelihood and outcome of such an experiment in his or her own life. Review by Cold Coffee Press.
Gerald Clayton suffering from Amnesia, receives a package of papers from Veronica, a former clinical hypnotist. She tells him they accomplish his fantasy of gathering together, on the ship Marguerite, his past loves with the two of them present, but in disguise. In hopes of discovering his own past Gerald invites the passengers to share in a mystery by guessing what, or who, they all have in common.
Book Review: Veronica’s Papers by A. Colin Wright has an amazing premise that makes the reader think about the likelihood and outcome of such an experiment in his or her own life.Well-developed characters like Gerald Clayton, who finds himself in a nursing-home after losing his memory; his wife Elizabeth; and Veronica Castell (who has assembled papers documenting Gerald’s life along with other people from Gerald’s past) help the reader understand Gerald’s and Veronica’s thought processes.
The unlikely setting is a cruise ship named Marguerite. This ship is of British registry, sailing out of Southampton to a variety of destinations like the Azores and the Canary Islands. Passengers receive an invitation (Compliments of ‘Creative Travel’) awarding them a fully paid seven-day cruise for two that includes a special program geared to meet their individual needs and interests.
The intensity of the author’s style of writing is evident when he writes: “Humans are like individual atoms jostling in time and space in a constantly changing relationship, and every so often what we call chance brings together those who’ve met before so that we wonder whether there isn’t some further purpose. But what of the coincidences that fail to become evident? The odds against Janet’s being on the other side of that train were almost as great, but we’d never have known we were even close. How often have we been in such situations without knowing it? Only our ignorance prevents us from calling those coincidences and from seeing the basic oneness of life.”
A. Colin Wright causes the reader to think and question mortality with its limitations in relationship to moral and spiritual concerns. This passage is an example: “The tragedy is that Christianity could be so much more. Christ’s words, it seems to me, rarely limit people to a narrow morality. Rather it’s Saint Paul and those who followed, more concerned with establishing orthodoxy under the leadership of a politically powerful church-who brought a small-minded understanding to a vision that encompasses all people’s strivings. Christians simply couldn’t tolerate rivals: a pettiness repeated often enough since. Yet there’s no contradiction between the worship of pagan gods, say, and that of Christ, for the reality they represent is the same. Why couldn’t Christianity have had vision enough to see this?”
I, Theodocia McLean endorse Veronica’s Papers by A. Colin Wright as a thought-provoking work of literature that raises the question of whether or not “creation, fantasy and truth are the same”. This review was completed on October 31, 2015.
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
***************************  
A Cupboardful Of Shoes: And Other Stories
by A. Colin Wright
"After a life dedicated to the study of languages, A. Colin Wright has distilled his life’s observations into this engaging collection of short stories, most of which have been previously published in literary journals. Now retired, his life’s adventures, which include serving in the British Air Force, attending Cambridge University, and being a professor of Russian, have inspired this collection.

“I’m a librarian and I kissed a film star once. I touched her nipples too. At least, I think I did.” So begins “Queen’s Grill.” Horatio Humphries, one of the unreliable narrators, strikes up a brief friendship with a movie star on a rough Atlantic crossing, but his “twin” brother doesn’t believe him. In “A Pregnant Woman with Parcels at Brock and Bagot,” an unnamed woman may or may not have an affair with a man she met at a party—depending on whether she can get by a woman in front of her. “Distantly from Gardens,” a variant on the theme of the “double” found often in Russian literature, presents a man with a split personality, inhabited by two narrators who are his past as well as his present. While other stories are told in either the first or third person, the subject here demands the use of the second.

The stories in A Cupboardful of Shoes explore subjects as wide-ranging as disappointed love, violence, and war, sometimes with an underlying religious theme, serving to illustrate Wright’s eclectic style and literary interests."

The following stories make up the collection A. Colin Wright: A Cupboardful of Shoes, published in 2008. Those marked * may be viewed in their entirety at www.authorsden.com/acolinwright."

A Pregnant Woman with Parcels at Brock and Bagot.
A Cupboardful of Shoes
Night Train to Cologne
Only Fair
The Trouble with Saints
The Jump
Frank's Girl
Queen's Grill
Make Someone Happy
Wedding
Bethlehem
Sketches of Natasha
Distantly from Gardens"
Ghost Stations
The Bells of Khatyn
Seven Minutes' Silence
Unknown
The President Reminisces
The Comedy of Doctor Foster
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
**************************  
Mikhail Bulgakov: Life and Interpretations
by A. Colin Wright
Non-fiction, Education, Reference
Amazon Hard Copy Purchase Link
************************  
Sardinian Silver
by A. Colin Wright
To Arthur Fraser, a young Englishman, Sardinia in 1960 is perfect. It's an island filled with Roman ruins, exotic scenery, local customs, and morally traditional values-he loves everything. To assimilate into the strange and belong to a society different from his own has always been his desire.

Arthur arrives in the resort town of Alghero to work as a representative for a tourist company. His ambition is to find a Sard girl for himself. He is quickly thwarted, though, by the unorthodox beliefs of the inhabitants. Unmarried couples cannot meet without chaperones, and anyone with ""continental"" attitudes is immoral. Arthur quickly learns that dating is fraught with real dangers.

When Arthur finally falls in love with Anna, a Sard girl, he discovers that she lives in Rome and is no longer accepted at home. But she then falls in love with one of his best friends, and Arthur becomes irrationally obsessed. He incessantly schemes about winning back her affections, despite her efforts to dissuade him.
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
************************  What I Believe: (But You Don't Have To)
by A. Colin Wright
A brief discussion of religious ideas from a non-traditional viewpoint that should be of interest for all those questioning what life is all about.
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
************************  
Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author A. Colin Wright
A. Colin Wright was born and raised in the county of Essex, England. After serving as a linguist in the British Royal Air Force, Wright attended Cambridge University where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. In 1964, he was appointed a professor of Russian at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He remained at Queen's until his retirement in 1999 and still resides there today. Dr. Wright is married and has two grown sons.
In his fiction he is interested primarily in works dealing with the purpose and meaning of life. Thus he has a horror of post-modernism and simple, sentimental descriptions of everyday life, and has little interest in works dealing with specific problems. Religion in its broadest sense (but not that of specific churches or creeds) is obviously important to him. He tries above all to create a good story, with realistic characters who question established norms of behaviour, with particular reference to the sexual.
He acts and directs in the local theatre.
With a love of languages (he speaks English, French, German, Russian and Italian, with a smattering of Spanish and Scots Gaelic), he is adamant about correct grammar in his writing. This unfortunately also makes him highly critical of others!
He also loves travel and has led various groups for Craig Travel in Toronto to Russia, Ukraine, China, South Africa, Southern India, Alaska and the islands of the North Atlantic.
************************Theatrical Credits:
Directing: (Domino Theatre, Kingston)
Ladies in Retirement (assistant director)
Shadowlands
The Importance of Being Ernest
The Night of the Iguana
The Freedom of the City
The HeiressActing:
The Troll King, Monsieur Ballon and two other roles, Peer Gynt
Malvolia, Twelfth Night
First Voice, Under Milk Wood
Rosenberg, Amadeus(Theatre 5 and Grand Theatre, Kingston)
Father Jack, Dancing at Lughnasa (Domino Theatre, Kingston)
Claude Amory, Black Coffee (Domino Theatre, Kingston)*************************Interview:
Tell us what makes you proud to be a writer from Kingston, Ontario, Canada? Canadian literature is of course well known, but I'd regard myself as a British and international writer rather than just a Canadian one. I was born in Chelmsford, Essex, England. After serving as a linguist in the British Royal Air Force (learning Russian), I attended Cambridge University, where I earned M.A and Ph.D degrees. In 1962 I lived for six months in Sassari, Sardinia, followed the next year by a longer period in Reggio Calabria. I speak five languages reasonably fluently, and can stumble along in two more. In 1964, after a year’s study at the Herzen Pedagogical Institute in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), I was appointed professor of Russian at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. I remained at Queen’s until retirement in 1999 and still reside in Kingston. I am married and have two grown sons.
What or who inspired you to become a writer? My French/German teacher at school in England, who subsequently became a writer of detective novels.
When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? At a relatively early age, I read a book on English history from the local children’s library. I decided to dramatize the kings of England, using paper cut-outs as puppets. The project didn’t get very far, but I still have a few pages of elementary dialogue, such as William II dying by an arrow in the New Forest, with him falling off his horse and saying “Oh blow! It was in 1956 that I began writing with the intension of being published, but I wasn't first published until 1967.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and why? Encouraged by a teacher at grammar school in England, I just wanted to write, trying short stories — which were so terrible that I haven’t the courage to reread them. I studied French, German and Russian, which included their literatures, at Cambridge University and then taught Russian Language and Literature at Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) for 35 years. I've always regarded literature as a serious activity which should challenge readers; thus I dislike post-modernism and simple stories about everyday life, particularly if there's not much plot. Then, when I was teaching at University, I published academic articles on Russian and comparative literature, including a major book on Mikhail Bulgakov. But I still wrote novels, short stories and plays.
Do you come up with your title (s) before or after you write the manuscript (s)? Depends. With my current novel, Sardinian Silver, the title really suggested itself: the name of an actual wine which seemed appropriate symbolically.
Tell us why you write the genre (s) that you write? Well I have written academic works (many articles and a major book published by University of Toronto Press, Mikhail Bulgakov; Life and Interpretations.) I've published about twenty short stories, written novels and plays (some performed locally). In fact I think I've written everything--even some journalism--except poetry, which I don't relate to. Basically I choose whatever genre seems most appropriate.
Tell us your most rewarding experience while in the writing process? Crafting something into good writing.
Tell us your most negative experience while in the writing process? Writer's block, which I've been suffering from for a while now.
Tell us your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Having things appreciated by an audience.
Tell us your most negative experience in your publishing journey? Sending out endless query letters to no avail.
What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Just keep at it if you're sure you want that, but be sure that you do.
Who Is Your Favorite Author? Mikhail Bulgakov, who was my main academic research interest. I regard his ‘The Master and Margarita’ as the greatest book of the twentieth century.
Amazon Author’s Page Professional Websites:
http://www.veronicaspapers.com/a-colin-wright
http://www.canadianauthors.org/national
http://www.sardiniansilver.com
http://www.cupboardfulofshoes.com
Cold Coffee Press
Cold Coffee Café

Free To Be Me: A Book For Teens & Tweens by Tara L. Kay PharmD MBA

Free To Be Me: A Book For Teens & Tweens by Tara L. Kay PharmD MBA
Being a teenager has its ups and downs. Being stuck between childhood and adulthood, it’s hard to know where to fit in. It’s an awkward and insecure time of life. There is the desire for independence coupled with a fear of standing out. Free to Be Me: A Book for Teens and Tweens uses relatable cartoon characters to discuss real issues such as stress, peer pressure, bullying, and teen fears. It also offers constructive ways adults can better support teens.

Free to Be Me validates the thoughts and experiences teens face on a day-to-day basis. While individual experiences may differ, the overall issues faced do not. Hopefully, the discussions within the book’s pages prove helpful not just to teens but also to the adults in their worlds.

Book Review: This small book is packed with information for teens and tweens.

The ‘Free To Be Me’ book cover along with the illustrations inside the book are hand drawn.
Great Advice For Teens Quote: “Embrace Your Individually”.

Subjects Covered:
What Issues Are Important To You As A Teen?StressBullyingPeer PressureAre These Issues Gender, Race, Socio-Economic Or Demographically Specific?What Is Your Biggest Fear Or Concern As A Teen?What Can Adults Do To Support Teens Better?What Programs or Systems Could Be Implemented To Support Teens Better?My thoughts: This book is as much for parents as for teens. The best scenario would be for a teens and parents to read this book together and have open and safe dialog. In addition, I think adults who work with tweens and teens such as school teachers, school counselors, church leaders, scout leaders, civic organization youth leaders, librarians and all care givers should make this book available to youth and provide a safe place for discussion.

I (Theodocia McLean) endorse Free To Be Me: A Book For Teens and Tweens by Tara L. Kay PharmD MBA. When you purchase this book for your teen please download the author’s first book titled ‘Let The Sun Shine In: A Book Of Positive Affirmations For Kids’. As a grandmother I have purchased both these books and highly recommend them. I purchased this book from Kindle on May 11, 2017 and the review completed on May 24, 2017.

Amazon Customer Reviews
Amazon Print
Kindle **************
Let The Sun Shine In: A Book Of Positive Affirmations For Kids
by Tara L. Kay PharmD MBAInspired by Louise Hay’s message, “Your thoughts create your life”, Let the Sun Shine In was created as a tool for children to learn and understand that they have control over their thoughts and words and, ultimately, what happens in their life.

Within the pages of Let the Sun Shine In, kids will learn the difference between negative thoughts and positive affirmations. Child-inspired illustrations and simple text demonstrate how to make the change from negative thoughts and words to positive ones. The happiness, freedom, and confidence that come from this ability are beneficial for children for their entire lives! 

Book Review:  From a Grandmother’s point of view the book cover and title got my attention right away.

The title “Let The Sun Shine In” is above a child’s drawing of two children standing on a green landscape with flowers and blue clouds with the sun’s yellow rays permeating their world brought a smile to my face.

No greater time has our children, grandchildren and adults needed “Positive Affirmations”. The very fact that LifeRich Publishing (trademark of the Reader’s Digest Association Inc.) picked up this book tells me that they have put their stamp of approval on this book.

Author Tara L. Kay PharmD MBA, dedicates this book, “For the children-may you always cherish the gift of your uniqueness, and know that only you define you."

Simple, positive life affirmations fill 24 white pages of this book with beautiful, colorful childrens' drawings (with actual words from the children) will uplift children and adults. The drawing on each page has a border that makes me think they should be sewn into a patch work quilt. My grand-kids will love this book. Every child needs to read and hear these positive affirmations every day.

Tara L. Kay is a licensed clinical pharmacist who has been practicing for over fifteen years in various settings. Additionally, Tara is a certified Reiki master of Dr. Usui’s System of Natural Healing, and she has certification in craniosacral therapy with the Upledger Institute. Tara also practices EFT/tapping, a hands-on healing technique that balances and realigns energy. Tara incorporates alternative therapies into the scope of her practice as a pharmacist to improve the health and well-being of her clients. Tara strives to educate her clients and to facilitate their physical, spiritual, and emotional health and growth as they move along their own path toward enlightenment.

I (Theodocia McLean) endorse 'Let The Sun Shine In: A Book Of Positive Affirmations For Kids' by Tara L. Kay PharmD MBA. I purchased this book from Kindle and the review was completed on July 31, 2016.

Amazon Customer Reviews
Amazon Hard Copy Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link ************************
Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Tara L. Kay PharmD MBATara Kay grew up in Southern Connecticut and currently resides in North of Boston, Massachusetts. She has been a practicing pharmacist for over 15 years in various settings. Tara received her Bachelors in Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, her PharmD from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy/Allied Health, her MBA from Fairfield University and her Ayurvedic Health Practitioner certification from the Natural Healing College. Additionally, Tara is a certified Reiki Master of Dr. Usui’s System of Natural Healing and she has certification in Cranio-sacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute. Tara also practices EFT/Tapping, a hands on healing technique that balances and realigns energy.

Tara incorporates Alternative Therapies into the scope of her practice as a Pharmacist to improve the health and well-being of her clients. Tara strives to educate her clients and to facilitate their physical, spiritual and emotional health and growth as they move along their own path towards enlightenment.
Tara’s practice is inspired by her life-long commitment to health and wellness. She is a dedicated, compassionate and devoted healthcare professional and healer. She takes a unique approach to healing with each client based on their need by using both her knowledge of medications, herbs and supplements and Alternative Therapies.

Tara believes that each individual holds the power to heal themselves and that by honoring the body, mind and spirit many miraculous awakenings can occur.

Tara published her first book entitled, "Let the Sun Shine in, a book of positive affirmations for kids” in June 2016. It was inspired by Louise Hay’s message, “your thoughts create your life, as well as Tara’s own experience with positive affirmations.

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Massachusetts? The North Shore is an incredibly beautiful and inspiring place to live. I feel very fortunate to have moved here 6 years ago. It is a summer destination for many avid beach goers and outdoor enthusiasts, of which I am one and it also offers many cultural, educational and social activities.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I believe my writing endeavor was divinely inspired. I have been a pharmacist for over 15 years and I have incorporated a number of alternative methods into my practice along the way. My focus has always been on health and wellness. While I have benefited from the messages and teachings of authors such as Louise Hays, I never thought about writing. After my divorce, I began using positive affirmations on a daily basis to help me through my healing process. Earlier this year, I took an amazing trip to South Africa where I was deeply moved by Nelson Mandela’s story. I returned home, sat down one evening and wrote the first draft of my book.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? I’ve always had an awareness level beyond my years. I knew this even as a child but didn’t fully understand it. I grew up in a home with a very controlling father and a mother whose voice was rarely heard. I can’t say my upbringing played a conscious role in my writing but it obviously sparked something within me.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? I returned home from an amazing trip to South Africa at the end of January 2016. In February, I left a job of 8.5years, started a new job and moved. During this time of transition, I came home from work one night and wrote the first draft manuscript. By the beginning of March the illustrations were complete. I secured a publisher at the end of March.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? The outpouring of support, encouragement, enthusiasm and excitement. This is my first book. I realize it will be for some and not for others. I’m ok with that. I know in my heart that it will get into the hands of those that need and desire it.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Navigating the world of self-publishing. At first it seemed overwhelming but I had the pleasure of working with a great team at Life Rich Publishing. They guided me step by step and made the process seamless.
How many published books do you have? Two.

Which book title would you like featured in this interview? Free To Be Me: A Book For Teens & Tweens by Tara L. Kay PharmD MBA

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Believe you can and you will.
Who is your favorite author and why? Harper Lee because she never gave up on her dream of being a writer. She persevered at a time when women’s rights are not what they are today. She achieved great honor and success and yet never got caught up in it.

Amazon Author’s Page
LifeRich Publishing
Facebook
Twitter
Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press

Behind The Door: A Sizzling, Psychological Suspense (Hidden Motives Book 1) by A. Gavazzoni

 
Behind The Door: A Sizzling, Psychological Suspense
(Hidden Motives Book 1) by A. Gavazzoni
When Lara dies at the hands of a Manhattan lawyer during a sex game, his defense attorney, Carl, hires Simone, a psychiatrist, professor and author of books on sexual behavior to help him buttress his argument that Lara’s death was accidental.

To help his defense, Carl’s client has written a detailed account of his steamy, year-long relationship with Lara. Carl gives the text to Simone for analysis. While evaluating the presumed killer’s writing, Simone continues to receive psychiatric patients with sexual disorders and unusual fantasies, and to research strange sexual behavior for her next book.

Meanwhile, Simone’s clinical partner, friend and research colleague, Edward, is working with the police to capture a serial killer who is torturing and killing women. From hot and unusual sex and interesting psychiatric patients, to the swing houses of New York and Paris, this fast-paced page-turner is a blend of mystery, suspense, humor, romance and erotica.


Book Review: Behind The Door is book one in Author A. Gavazzoni’s ‘Hidden Motives’ series. This book is a “sizzling psychological suspense” thriller with both erotic romance structured in an adult theme with strong language.

Descriptive writing, strong characters and interesting life situations kept me engaged throughout the thirty chapters. Interesting plot that continually keeps the reader on his or her toes as the story switches between ‘Present Day-Simone’ and ‘Mark’s Journal’.

Simone, an attractive, intelligent and dedicated psychiatrist, author and professor with a large client list of both men and women suffering with sexual behavioral issues such as paraphilia and hipoxiphilia. Maybe you, as with me, before I read this book don’t really know what paraphilia and hipoxiphilia is. Both of these represent sexual behavior that involves fantasy and controlled strangulation with consenting partners.

Life steps up a beat for Simone when Carl, a Manhattan defense attorney hires her in a murder trial. If reading ‘Mark’s Journal’ isn’t enough stimulation for Simone, her “clinical partner, friend and research colleague, Edward, is working with the police to capture a serial killer who is torturing and killing women”.

I would like to share a quote with you from chapter three ‘Present Day-Simone’ to whet your appetite for the read.

“Addiction to adrenalin. The woman warned right at the start that she had a pathology. Her addiction could have been the result of any number of causes.  Normally, some kind of disorder brings it on. The addict seeks intense thrills, sometimes danger. The worst part is that such people have little sense of real danger. They don’t wish for death but they don’t fear it either.
Maybe Carl was right. Lara hadn’t been murdered; her death had been an accident. Accidents happen to people with that kind of problem. What could have been Lara’s pathology? Then there was Mark, a man apparently with his feet on the ground who was drawn to the flame. Many men like him are attracted to psychopaths. But he was rash. And maybe Lara wasn’t psychopathic. It was hard to diagnose with so few pages. But a shrink’s mind can’t read something without diagnosing it. Maybe the whole tale was made up.”

If you have an adventurous mind, I recommend this stimulating read. The story is told well enough that it might end up on the silver screen on day. If you enjoy this book, I encourage you to purchase the next book in the sequel titled ‘Lara’s Journal’.

I (Theodocia McLean) endorse ‘Behind The Door’ by A. Gavazzoni as the genre I might have missed. Maybe murder, maybe a mutual sexual consent that took an unexpected turn? I will leave you with the task of answering this question and follow the trail of a serial killer at the same time. I purchased this book on May 10, 2017 and the review was completed on May 12, 2017

Amazon Customer Reviews
Amazon Print
Kindle
************************  
Lara's Journal: A Sizzling, Psychological Suspense (Hidden Motives Book 2) by A. Gavazzoni
Simone Bennet is on a long vacation, trying to heal from the trauma she suffered at the hands of a serial-killer kidnapper. After looking death in the face, she tries to develop a new outlook on life—live in the moment!

Carl, the charming lawyer, is back, asking once more for Simone’s help, this time in analyzing Lara’s journals, which were discovered by her siblings after her death. In her own words, Lara divulges all her secrets, and reveals a dramatic world of betrayal, passion, and the most unusual sexual behaviors, exposing the beautiful architect’s troubled life.

As Simone tries to deal with the contents of Lara's haunting diaries, one of her patients gets himself into a bit of legal trouble, forcing Simone to return early from her vacation. Although she's happy to be back on her home turf, she finds herself surrounded by a whole new set of problems.

A killer is out there, and this time, he seems to be after the people Simone cares about most. Suddenly, people around her are dying, a stalker/admirer keeps showing up at all the wrong times, and Simone’s dear friend Edward has a new girlfriend—forcing Simone to analyze her feelings for him and her attraction to Carl.

Amazon Customer Reviews
Amazon Print
Kindle
************************
Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author A. Gavazzoni
A. Gavazzoni is a Brazilian author. She just won The Golden Book Award- Readers Choice for her first novel Behind The Door.

Adriana is a lawyer, a former professor of law and a writer of novels and legal books, but she is also a voracious reader.

She speaks four languages: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. When she is not practicing law or writing, she enjoys many interests and is a very active person. She loves to dance (Tango) and workout.

She loves to travel, loves good wine, and has been studying astrology for fifteen years. She paints and loves to cook.

She has two poodles -Gaia and Juno -and loves all animals. She is an aunt of four nieces who enjoy to paint and cook alongside their aunt. She lives in Brazil and is in the process of writing her next novel.
Adriana invites readers to visit her website/blog anytime for updates of upcoming books and events. http://www.agavazzoni.com

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Brazil? Brazil is a blend of cultures, religions, colors and freedom that inspired me to write novels based on all kinds of subjects, from psychiatry to sex, with no bias and no judgments.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? My legal career, the necessity to tell my clients’ stories for judges made me a story teller but also my passion for books, I’m a voracious reader and I love a good story. I believe my love for books inspired me to write.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? My upbringing was great, my parents always gave me a lot of freedom to do things my way, they were always very supportive of my decisions and that helps a lot when you decide to start a different career like writing. To have a supportive family allows me to fly.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? Two years ago, but I have been writing since I was a kid.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? To be able to do what I love most in life, tell stories.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Publishing brought new and wonderful friends among writers and readers to my life, people from all corners of the world. That’s the best in my opinion, to have friends.

How many published books do you have? Three. A legal book published in Brazil and Two Novels.

Please list the titles of all your books: Behind The Door and Lara's Journal

Please tell us the genre of each of your books. Both are Psychological and erotic thrillers.

Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? The first one I was in the middle when the name came to me and the second one I knew from the beginning. Now I'm in the process of writing a new novel and I don't have a title in mind yet.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? My genre is a blend of psychological and erotic thrillers. I’m a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers, because I love to be surprised. I love the unpredictable, so thrillers are my genre.  I wanted my novel to have all right ingredients like Passion, mystery, unpredictability, love and drama that only psychological and erotic thrillers can have.

Which book title would you like featured in this interview? Behind The Door - the first one on Hidden Series.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book (one book) that you are seeking promotion for? I was travelling with my best friend Alisson and we were talking about books and he told me: “we should write, we have lots of stories to tell.” And I told him: “Yes, let’s do it!” So that’s how Behind The Door’s idea start to sprout in my mind.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? If you want to be an author, start writing for yourself and don’t mind about pleasing people, think about writing for your own pleasure and you will have a masterpiece.

Who is your favorite author and why? So many marvelous writers inspired me…to start with, the classical ones, such as Emily Bronte, Stendhal, Dumas, Saad Marquis, Margaret Mitchell…and modern ones, such as Morris West, Marc Levy, Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, John Grisham, and Colleen McCullough…but I could list a hundred here…the poems of Alisson Matos—a Brazilian writer, and poetry from Baudelaire to Allan Poe.

Amazon Author's Page Professional Website Link
Professional Blog Link Face Book Page Link
Twitter Link: @a_gavazzoni
Google Plus Link: A. Gavazzoni Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press

The Lady and The Pirate (The Wildecoast Saga Book 3) by Bernadette Rowley

 
The Lady and The Pirate (The Wildecoast Saga Book 3) by Bernadette Rowley
Lady Esta Aranati, burdened by an impoverished estate, has turned her hand to smuggling. She leads a double life, a mask and wig the only shields that protect her reputation. Swashbuckling pirate Samael Delacost craves her cargo and her heart. But before he can be worthy of her love, he must exorcize the ghosts of his past. An irresistible connection binds them but will that be enough to convince Samael to turn his back on the sea, or for Esta to take a chance on happiness she doesn’t think she deserves?

The Lady and the Pirate continues The Wildecoast Saga, with popular The Lord and the Mermaid characters Nikolas Cosara and his wife Merielle featured in this latest installment from Bernadette Rowley.

Book Review: Book three in the Wildecoast Saga is a stand-alone book that any fantasy romance reader will enjoy whether you have read The Lord And The Mermaid or The Elf King's Lady sagas first.

Twenty five well-written chapters with realistic characters bring the reader into Lady Esta Aranati’s double life.

Even though the author places this at the end of the book, I think it will benefit you to know the meaning of these two terms upfront. Lenweri (the elven people, they have dark skin, pointed ears and are tall and elegant) and Sis Lenweri (the faction of dark elves that wishes to take over the kingdom of Thorius).

Chapter one opens with some suspense aboard the ‘Sea Sprite’ when captain, Lady Esta Aranti’s first mate wakes her up from deep sleep to inform her they have a visitor on board. I quote: “Esta drew a deep and heavy sigh, her heart kicking up a notch as she contemplated who the visitor might be. On a ship miles out to sea at night, there were few possibilities and none of them good.”

In chapter three the mood shifts and I quote:
“Esta moved to the bow and stood with the wind in her face, the black strands of her wig streaming behind her. It was chill but not wet and she reveled in the dance of her ship over the waves. Sea Sprite was one of the joys of her life and sailing one of her great loves. When she was on the ocean, she was free of earthly ties and a little of its wildness seeped into her, giving her strength for the trials of estate life. Lately, she had found it almost impossible to return to the estate without a nagging sense of dread.
“You seem almost happy tonight, sister,” Katrine said, joining her in the bow. Katrine was wildness personified, with a lithe body and long black hair that she rarely tied back. Not for her the wig as she had less need for a full disguise, shunning public life as she did. She wore leather breeches, flowing black shirts and a broad black satin mask decorated with stars. Her piercing blue eyes were now fixed on Esta.
“I am happy, Katrine,” Esta said. “What makes you think I am ever unhappy?”

I invite you to join Katrine and Esta as they sail the sea with visions of finding treasure on their minds.

I hope the quotes above whet your appetite for strong female characters, rugged men, pirates, treasure maps, adventure, sword and sorcery and of course romance.

I, Theodocia McLean endorse The Lady And The Pirate (The Wildecoast Saga Book 3) by Bernadette Rowley. I purchased and reviewed this book from a Kindle format. This review was completed on May 3, 2017

Kindle Purchase Link
************************  The Elf King's Lady: Wildecoast Saga Book 2 by Bernadette Rowley
In the midst of a war between elves and men, two unlikely companions find love. But in this battle of ages, can they defy the very blood that courses through their veins?

The human kingdom of Thorius is once again under threat from the dark elven menace. General Kain Jazara has sworn to protect Thorius from all danger, magical or otherwise – but first he must rescue the highborn family of alluring healer Lady Alique Zorba.

Thrown together in their quest to save Alique's family, and eventually themselves, from the merciless elven clan, the pragmatic General and the impulsive Lady Alique discover an undeniable passion. But when Kain's world is torn apart by a personal revelation, he turns his back on both Alique and his homeland.

Can Kain find a path back to love and victory in time? Or will he allow revelations from his family's mysterious past to destroy his relationship, his happiness, and his kingdom?

Perfect for fans of Nalini Singh and C.L. Wilson.

Kindle Purchase Link
************************ The Lord and The Mermaid: Wildecoast Saga Book 1 by Bernadette Rowley
Fans of C.L. Wilson will love this fantasy romance about two lovers from different worlds who will break the laws of land and sea in their quest to be together.

Mermaid Merielle has fled the sea, disgusted at the actions of her people and desperate to build a life for herself on land. But to truly live as a woman, she must

Lord Nikolas Cosara has lost his brother at sea, and is driven to discover whether his sibling has died at the dangerously seductive hands of a mermaid. But when Nik finds Merielle washed up on the beach, he reluctantly saves her. Despite his antipathy for her kind, Nik is increasingly drawn to Meri, who is slowly working her way into his damaged heart.

Can Nik surrender to his love for Meri before her hopes of a human life are lost forever? Or will a devastating secret bring all her efforts to naught?

Kindle Purchase Link
************************  Princess Avenger: Brightcastle Saga Book 1 by Bernadette Rowley
Princess Alecia Zialni is no ordinary noblewoman but a crusader for Brightcastle’s miserable subjects, disguising herself to exact revenge and minister to the poor. So it is irksome in the extreme when the dark and dangerous Captain Vard Anton rescues her from a mercenary she has attacked.

Alecia manages to slip from his grasp only to discover he has been appointed her protector.

How is she to maintain her secret life with Vard watching her every move? More importantly, how can she safeguard her heart from this mesmerising man?

Vard knows he cannot remain Alecia’s protector and fulfill his mission to kill her father, Prince Zialni. Neither can he defend her when his control of his transformations is so tenuous.

Will the attraction that sizzles between the courageous princess and the daring captain be enough to overcome Vard’s obligation to his heritage and Alecia’s duty to the Kingdom?
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
************************  Princess In Exile: Brightcastle Saga Book 2 by Bernadette Rowley
Princess Alecia flees her arranged marriage with the help of the dangerous Vard Anton, shapeshifter and former army captain. Blinded by love, they believe they can have a life together but every encounter with the mercenaries sent to find them, pushes Vard towards his least controllable form- the gigantic brown bear.

Desperate to find a mentor who will help him control his transformations, Vard and Alecia travel to a forgotten city where a powerful sorcerer resides. But this wizard is in league with the dark elves and the lovers soon discover he has his own dangerous agenda.

Will Vard and Alecia escape the clutches of the sorcerer who would use Alecia’s position to advance the dark elven cause? Can their love survive despite Alecia’s fear of Vard’s animal transformations?

What secret does the princess hold that has the power to destroy the trust Vard has in her?

The answers to all this and more are contained in the pages of Princess in Exile, the dark sequel to Princess Avenger.

Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
************************  The Lady's Choice: Will Love Conquer Duty
(A Spin Off From Princess Avenger) by Bernadette Rowley
Lady Benae Branasar will sacrifice her ‘happily ever after’ for an arranged marriage with a powerful prince. But can she turn her back on her feelings for the prince’s squire, Ramón Zorba?

Ramón is obsessed with the prince’s daughter and tries hard to ignore fiery Benae. As they are drawn inexorably together, Benae and Ramón must choose between keeping personal vows and being true to each other.

Kindle Purchase Link
 ************************ World of Thorius Boxed Set: Princess Avenger
and The Lady's Choice by Bernadette Rowley
Princess Avenger: Passionate Princess Alecia sets out to avenge the slaying of her first love. Captain Vard Anton is dealing with his own dark secrets. When he is appointed Alecia’s protector, both find it hard to ignore the chemistry between them. Can Alecia resist the enigmatic Vard while trying to exact revenge? Will their fatal attraction ultimately lead to tragedy or can love unite Alecia and Vard forever?

The Lady's Choice: Lady Benae Branasar will sacrifice her ‘happily ever after’ for an arranged marriage with a powerful prince. But can she turn her back on her feelings for the prince’s squire, Ramón Zorba? Ramón is obsessed with the prince’s daughter and tries hard to ignore fiery Benae. As they are drawn inexorably together, Benae and Ramón must choose between keeping personal vows and being true to each other.

Kindle Purchase Link
************************ Cold Coffee Press Interview With Author Bernadette Rowley
Bernadette Rowley is a lover of epic fantasy who is a veterinarian by day and an author by night. She is currently published in the genre of fantasy/paranormal romance and has six books published, all set in her fantasy world of Thorius.

When she was a young teenager, an aunt gave her a copy of The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks and Bernadette has lived in various fantasy worlds ever since. So it’s no surprise that her chosen genre when writing romance is fantasy.

“I can see these settings so vibrantly in my mind and hope my readers can too.”

But Bernadette has no desire to spoon-feed her readers by laboriously describing her fantasy settings. She would rather the reader use their own imagination a little.

Along with sword and sorcery, dashing heroes and stunning heroines, this author includes strong healing themes in many of her books- an element which is central to her everyday job.

“When I started writing this series, I never imagined my day job would force its way into my stories as it has.”

And of course there are animals, especially Bernadette’s beloved horses, as well.

Bernadette lives in Brisbane, Australia, with the four heroes in her life- her husband Michael and three grown sons.

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Brisbane, Australia? First and foremost, I’m proud to be an Australian romance author. I believe this genre is incredibly powerful in its message of hope and happily ever after. Secondly, I love the Brisbane fantasy scene which is vibrant with well-known authors in all subgenres of fantasy. There is always something happening here!

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I’ve loved reading from a very young age and still do. I guess that was the driver, but the biggest single thing that happened was when my aunt introduced me to the fantasy genre with Brooks’ The Sword of Shannara. I absolutely love high fantasy and it continually inspires my stories, particularly themes of ‘coming into power’ and ‘the quest’.

As far as writing is concerned, I discovered a serious desire to write a book through a goal setting workshop nearly twenty years ago and since then it has been stepping stones with lots of help from mentors along the way.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? I think the major way my upbringing played a role in my writing was to make me rather self-sufficient. I can easily work alone and don’t need anyone to motivate me. I don’t use critique partners or beta readers but probably should. I do of course use professional editing and love this part of the process. Also, I learned early to accept criticism so I’m not precious about writing critique and have rather a hard skin which helps when you put your work out there.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? I began writing towards publishing in 2007 when I spent a year working on the first book in my space opera series with Louise Cusack. I’d taken this year off work and had moved to regional Queensland so it was the perfect opportunity to devote some time to my writing goals. That series is yet to be published but there are some crazy good ideas in there. Louise urged me to try my hand at romance and I had my first romance published –Princess Avenger- by Penguin in 2012.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? I would have to say working with editors has been amazingly rewarding. I learn something new from each editor I work with. I really love the process of polishing my work.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? There have been so many, it’s difficult to pick just one. I guess getting the call from my Penguin editor to let me know they wanted to publish Princess Avenger has to be right up there and then the email from Pan Macmillan with my two book contract offer was pretty amazing as well.

How many published books do you have? I have six published books. Two of them, The Lord and the Mermaid and The Elf King’s Lady, are published by Pan Macmillan Australia and the others are self-published. Princess Avenger and The Lady’s Choice were my titles originally published by Penguin Australia.

Please list the titles of all your books:
Princess Avenger- Brightcastle Saga Book1
Princess in Exile- Brightcastle Saga Book 2
The Lady’s Choice: A Spin Off From Princess Avenger
The Lord and the Mermaid- Wildecoast Saga Book 1
The Elf King’s Lady- Wildecoast Saga Book 2
The Lady and the Pirate- Wildecoast Saga Book 3

Please tell me the genre of each of your books. All my books are the same genre which I call fantasy romance or paranormal romance

Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? A little of each. Princess Avenger was always exactly that. The Lady’s Choice was written as For Love or Salvation and I was asked to come up with a new name. Princess in Exile and The Lady and the Pirate were written under those names and my Pan Macmillan editor came up with the names for my mermaid and elf king titles. I would say from now on the name will come first.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? I love high fantasy- I adore everything about it- swords and sorcery, paranormal characters, the themes previously stated, the epic nature of the stories and the fact that it lends itself so well to series which I also prefer to read. I never want a story to end when I’m enjoying it. All the books I’ve listed are actually one big series although you can read them on their own. Each of my titles describes a romance and they are principally romance stories set in my fantasy world of Thorius

Which book title would you like featured in this interview? The Lady and the Pirate, please.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book (one book) that you are seeking promotion for? The Lady and the Pirate came about from the ship that’s featured on the cover of The Lord and the Mermaid. An author friend mentioned pirates when we were discussing that book and that’s what gave me the idea for a pirate hero. It’s utterly amazing where inspiration comes from but you have to be open to it.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Write what you know in a genre you’re passionate about.

Who is your favorite author and why? I have so many favorite authors but number one at the moment would be Marie Force. I’ve enjoyed every book Marie has written but especially her romantic suspense Fatal series. A new author for me who I’m really enjoying and who writes historical fantasy mystery is CJ Archer.

Amazon Author’s Page
Professional Website
Professional Blog
Smashwords
Facebook
Twitter Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press

Charge Of An Angel: Love and Redemption Series Book 1 by Linda Diane Wattley

 
Charge Of An Angel:
Love and Redemption Series Book 1 by Linda Diane Wattley
My name is Leona Tillard and I need your help. You see, I have been spending my whole life trying to know who I am. I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, and a product of a temporary single-parent home, I was left without some pertinent information that could have possibly told me who I am. Eventually, still a child, my family structure evolved into a blended family situation. In silence, I cried far more than I laughed.

Don’t get me wrong, there was much love for me. I learned early in life that I was a very special little girl. People loved being in my presence, but more than anything, my body was always desired. I didn’t want for anything, life was good to me, I just didn’t understand love and what is considered being a normal human being. This is where I need your help. Will you listen to me as I tell you my story about my life? Tell me who really loved me. Am I really an angel or a freak of nature? Your help will be highly appreciated. In return, I promise to entertain you from beginning to end. Below find one of my thought processing moments. It came during a time I needed understanding. Until we meet, enjoy!

My body was betraying me in the worst way. “Oh, God, help me! I face you now in my naked and weakened state and beg you to save me.” I prayed silently.”

Book Review

Charge Of An Angel is book one in Linda Diane Wattley’s series titled Love and Redemption.
This is an important quote directly from the book: “Charge of an Angel will reveal why the urgent questioning of sexuality from the home to the pulpit. The children in this story have a lot to show us, let’s get started. They are anxious to share their stories even their parents are going to be in awe when they see who they really are.”

Character Leona Tillard will touch your heart as you read her childhood account. I am certain that as you read this book, you will either relate to some of the family dynamics from your own life or you might know a family with similar dynamics.

Sadly, families usually look wholesome and intact when viewed by an outsider. However, when you pull back the layers like an onion, the raw truth can burn your soul. In Leona’s story, her family has many layers and although she felt loved as child, her perceptions were from a child’s point of view.
Right from birth (like you and me) Leona was set on a path and her encounters wrote on the pages of her life’s story and deep in her heart and soul. The most telling thing that you will discover as you read, is Leona’s perception of herself, her deep questions and even conflicting messages that cause her to even question God.

For children who grown up in a dysfunctional home, this is how they think. I quote not to spoil the story, but to enlighten you so you will want to read further.

“We didn’t hear any more words after that. Sarah and I were just as quiet as Daddy and Priscilla.
In fact, Sarah was already asleep. I could hear snoring from across the room, which was something she normally didn’t do. I couldn’t believe what I had seen between her and Daddy.
I closed my eyes and tried to will myself somewhere other than where I was. I couldn’t help but wonder where my brother and my mother were. This new family thing just did not make me happy at all. I mean, trying to know myself was hard enough without this family mix. One minute I had a mother and then I had no mother. I had a big brother, then no big brother. Now I have two sisters and a brother to go with the one I already had. We were all lost and confused.
We just wanted to know where we belonged.
After that night, we did what we had to do to keep Priscilla and Daddy happy. Nobody cared how we felt. This life was about them. None of us should have been born. We had no parents. All of us were victims of circumstance. We were just sheep—sleeping, eating, and doing what we were told. If Daddy and Priscilla hadn’t gotten married, maybe Momma and Mark might have come back. We could forget about ever seeing them now.”

While reading I was faced with the core truths written on the pages and maybe more importantly between the lines. I wait for Book Two to be published, as I will need to find out where it goes from here. I invite you to read and open your heart and eyes to children around you in your life. This book has adult content.

I, (Theodocia McLean) endorse ‘Charge Of An Angel: Love and Redemption Series-Part 1’ by Linda Diane Wattley. I purchased this book from a Kindle format. Review was completed on March 28, 2017. I also read ‘Soldier With A Backpack: Living and Dying Simultaneously’ by Linda Diane Wattley (Great Read).

Kindle
Amazon Author’s Page
Professional Website Links
http://www.lindadianewattley.com/
http://collectivefaith.com/universalove1957/
https://www.gofundme.com/ptsdfreedom
http://blackauthors.ning.com/profile/LindaDWattley
http://www.faithwriters.com/websites/my_website.php?id=19419
https://www.instagram.com/lindawattley
http://www.thecheers.org/contributors/author-profile-339.htmlProfessional Blog Links
http://www.lindadianewattley.com/blog/
http://anndandridgepublicrelations.ning.com/profile/LindaDWattley?xg_source=activity
https://sites.google.com/site/lindadianewattley1/blog
http://lindadianewattley.blogspot.com/Goodreads
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter: universalove@universalove
Google+
Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press

Advance Chess: Quiet Reflections Of The Double Set Game by Siafa B. Neal

 Advance Chess- Quiet Reflections of the Double Set Game (D4.2.31) - Book 2, Vol. 5 - by Siafa B. Neal is book seven in his line of professional chess instruction books.
Learn Advance Chess from a master as Siafa who uses diagrams, drawings, illustrations and photos displaying key information about the game board. Included in this book are detailed descriptions and equations that actual take you through and allow you to play an entire game.
The gamer needs to understand the fundamental aspects of conventional chess in order to digest and enjoy these master chess instruction books. Whether you are a Beginner, Intermediate, Semi-Professional or Professional you will enjoy the concepts this new, exciting Advance Chess instruction book offers.
If you are a gamer who is bored with conventional chess and is ready to learn and to experience the complexities and the challenges of intense psychological warfare, this book is ideal for you. As a chess player this exciting new concept will help you acquire gaming knowledge about Advance Chess and allow you to progress ahead of the learning curve well above the Masters and the Grand-Masters of conventional chess.
I invite you to enter the pseudo-dynamics and the quasi-kinetics World of Chess in order to explore and to exhaust the opportunities of testing the plasticity boundary limit ranges of your full spectrum cognitive elasticity cognition capabilities and potentialities. By doing so, a reader gains a different perspective about their intelligence levels of Logistics Diagnostics and Prognostics Analysis.
The language of chess is indeed an expression of mathematical spatial relativity and a Universal language.
My Advance 3-D Model chess books allow readers to tap into the seemingly endless potentialities of Advance 3-D Model chess with the hope that the sport of chess gains recognition as an Olympic Sport whereby both humans and robots interact and compete. The possibility exists where Advance 3-D Chess may be a recreational activity for the Martian inhabitants as man reaches further into space to explore and to inhabit other planets.
Theodocia McLean (Cold Coffee Press) endorses Quiet Reflections of the Double Set Game (D4.2.31) - Book 2 Vol. 5 - by Siafa B. Neal as the ultimate battle plan in war games. Reviewed on March 19, 2017.
The inclusion of computers in game board Tournaments raises many compelling issues concerning the dynamics of human intelligence verses robotic (artificial) intelligence capability. Computer software engineers are designing software that surpasses the game play intelligence of Game Board Masters most notably recently for example, with regards to Chinese-checkers ubiquitously known as Goa which originates from the name the Chinese recognize as Qua-Chia.
Scientists are now demonstrating that computers are now capable of conforming to parametric finite set of game rules thus surpassing human intuitive initiatives game play dominance. Game scientists realize that a human player's weakness of fatigue and focus diminishes with time within the duration span of several games. On the contrary, computers are not apt to human related susceptibilities with regards to game plan focus and memory retention however, computers have to remain super cool to retain longevity and to perform tremendous statistical data computational analysis.
Today Chess games software are now ubiquitously recognizable in international markets and are sold at affordable prices. Chess game board software are so compelling in their complexities that is ruffles most Chess Grand-Masters leaving them even more dumbfounded upon the games' completion. The best hope for an aspiring chess players in regards to chess games software is to tie the game; meaning the game ends with a draw leaving no winners.
The Advance Chess game board, Model III, the Longitudinal Star Gate 14 Model as described in this book, Book 2 Volume 5 will prove to be challenging for most software engineers since the already existing platforms for conventional chess games may require the revision of current strategic computational data analysis thus adding value the already the deep thought processing diagnostic analysis for Advance Matrix Vector Logistics Chess of which I am the Founder, Inventor, Instructor and Author.
Best regards, Siafa B. Neal Grand-Master / Founder / Inventor / Instructor / Author / Artist / Photographer / Strategist / Diagnostic Analyst – Advance 3-D Model Matrix Vector Logistics Chess.

Genre: Non-Fiction, Other, Self-Help, Games, Advance Chess, Chess, Hobbies, How-to-Play/Distributive Logistics/Board Games/Advance Chess

Create Space Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link  
 ************************ Advance Chess: Extrapolative Insights Of The Double Set Game: Matrix Logistics Poly-Plextics Informatics (Book 2) (Volume 4)
Chess may possibly be a learning tool to understand why a person respond to certain situations with peculiar behavioral characteristics when an opportunity is available or arises.
Typically anthropological societies have their settings in two types of archaeological communities; the farming communities and the hunting communities. The inferential context to the subject matter concerning chess which is open for discussion is that there are two types of chess players at each end of the kaleidoscopic spectrum.
The first type of chess players are those who employ tactical strategic planning (farming/gathering/harvesting) delays in the instant gratification of checkmating an opponent's King(s).
The second type of chess players are those chess enthusiasts who position his/her pieces for an instant win (hunting type) resulting in a quick checkmate defeat of an opponent's King(s).
The effects of the two types of playing techniques raises the awareness of the strategic notion of chess players who either play with a compassion ( the idea that winning the game(s) is not the only means to an end but rather viewed in the context of enhancing the involvement of the qualitative richness of the strategies. On the contrary the other strategic notion of play involves chess players who play with a passion (the predominance of the idea that winning is the only means to an end while disregarding the other aspects of the strategic domination of the game through qualitative and quantitative data spectral diagnostic and prognostic analysis).
The usage of the quality of playing strategies without precedence to winning or losing a match is a much more effective suggestive topic which is open for discussion. Such a topic may provide a descriptive narrative of the underlying causes of human behavioral characteristics pertaining to the possible application and implementation of a chess player's logic strategic potentialities and capabilities with regards to and in accordance with the understanding of the set of Rules of Engagement or Detante.
Theodocia McLean (Cold Coffee Press) endorses Advance Chess Book Collection by Author and Grand Master Siafa B. Neal. Reviewed on February 8, 2016.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Other, Self-Help, Games, Advance Chess, Chess, Hobbies, How-to-Play/Distributive Logistics/Board Games/Advance Chess
Create Space Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link
************************ 
 Advance Chess- Compilations Pertaining to Random Access to Problematic Probabilities or (R.A.P.P.) The Synthesis Postulations of the Hybridization Polymerization of Matrix Poly-Plexitics Informatics - Double Set Game - Book 2, Vol. 3 - by Siafa B. Neal
Advance Chess- Compilations Pertaining to Random Access to Problematic Probabilities or (R.A.P.P.) The Synthesis Postulations of the Hybridization Polymerization of Matrix Poly-Plexitics Informatics - Double Set Game - Book 2, Vol. 3 - by Siafa B. Neal is book five in his line of professional chess instruction books.
Learn Advance Chess from a master as Siafa uses diagrams, drawings, illustrations and photos displaying key information about the game board. Included in this book are detailed descriptions and equations that actual take you through and allow you to play an entire game.
The gamer needs to understand the fundamental aspects of conventional chess in order to digest and enjoy these master chess instruction books. Whether you are a Beginner, Intermediate, Semi-Professional or Professional you will enjoy the concepts in this new, exciting Advance Chess instruction book.
If you are a gamer who is bored with conventional chess and are ready to learn and experience the complexities and challenges of the intense psychological warfare, this book is for you. As a chess player this exciting new concept will help you acquire gaming knowledge about Advance Chess and allow you to progress ahead of the learning curve well above the Masters and Grand-Masters of the classical games of conventional chess.
I invite you to enter the pseudo-dynamics and quasi-kinetics World of Chess in order to explore and to exhaust the opportunities to test the plasticity boundary limit ranges of their full spectrum cognitive elasticity cognition capabilities and potentialities. Gain a different perspective and test your to intelligence level for Logistics Diagnostics and Prognostics Analysis.
The language of chess is indeed an expression of mathematical spatial relativity.
Siafa B. Neal offers the world a legacy in his writing and pioneering efforts to advance the concepts of Advance Chess gaming in the hopes that his game inventions will be realized in the Olympic Sports arena where both humans and robots are competing participants. His dreams reach far into the future with Advance 3-D Chess serving as a recreational activity both here on earth and with colonists as man reaches further into space and inhabits other planets.
Theodocia McLean (Cold Coffee Press) endorses Advance Chess Book Collection by Author and Grand Master Siafa B. Neal. Reviewed on August 30, 2015.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Other, Self-Help, Games, Advance Chess, Chess, Hobbies, How-to-Play/Distributive Logistics/Board Games/Advance Chess
Create Space Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link
************************ 
 Advance Chess Inferential View Analysis: The Double Set Game Robotic Intelligence Double Set Game - Book 2, Vol. 2 - by Siafa B. Neal
Advance Chess Inferential View Analysis: The Double Set Game Robotic Intelligence - Double Set Game - Book 2, Vol. 2 - by Siafa B. Neal is book four in his line of professional chess instruction books.
Learn Advance Chess from a master as Siafa uses diagrams, drawings, illustrations and photos displaying key information about the game board. Included in this book are detailed descriptions and equations that actual take you through and allow you to play an entire game.
The gamer needs to understand the fundamental aspects of conventional chess in order to digest and enjoy these master chess instruction books. Whether you are a Beginner, Intermediate, Semi-Professional or Professional you will enjoy the concepts in this new, exciting Advance Chess instruction book. If you are a gamer who is bored with conventional chess and are ready to learn and experience the complexities and challenges of the intense psychological warfare, this book is for you.As a chess player this exciting new concept will help you acquire gaming knowledge about Advance Chess and allow you to progress ahead of the learning curve well above the Masters and Grand-Masters of the classical games of conventional chess. I invite you to enter the pseudo-dynamics and quasi-kinetics World of Chess in order to explore and to exhaust the opportunities to test the plasticity boundary limit ranges of their full spectrum cognitive elasticity cognition capabilities and potentialities. Gain a different perspective and test your to intelligence level for Logistics Diagnostics and Prognostics Analysis.
The language of chess is indeed an expression of mathematical spatial relativity. Siafa B. Neal offers the world a legacy in his writing and pioneering efforts to advance the concepts of Advance Chess gaming in the hopes that his game inventions will be realized in the Olympic Sports arena where both humans and robots are competing participants. His dreams reach far into the future with Advance 3-D Chess serving as a recreational activity both here on earth and with colonists as man reaches further into space and inhabits other planets.
Theodocia McLean (Cold Coffee Press) endorses Advance Chess Book Collection by Author and Grand Master Siafa B. Neal. Reviewed on June 17, 2015.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Other, Self-Help, Games, Advance Chess, Chess, Hobbies, How-to-Play/Distributive Logistics/Board Games/Advance Chess
Create Space Purchase Link Amazon Purchase Link  
************************ Advance Chess Inferential Analysis Of Distributive Cognitive Logistics: Hybridization Of Poly – Plextics Double Set Game - Book 2, Vol. 1 by Siafa B. Neal
Advance Chess Inferential Analysis Of Distributive Cognitive Logistics: Hybridization of Poly – Plextics Double Set Game - Book 2, Vol. 1 by Siafa B. Neal is book three in his line of professional chess instruction books.
Learn Advance Chess from a master as Siafa uses diagrams, drawings, illustrations and photos displaying key information about the game board. Included in this book are detailed descriptions and equations that actual take you through and allow you to play an entire game.
The gamer needs to understand the fundamental aspects of conventional chess in order to digest and enjoy these master chess instruction books. Whether you are a Beginner, Intermediate, Semi-Professional or Professional you will enjoy the concepts in this new, exciting Advance Chess instruction book.
If you are a gamer who is bored with conventional chess and are ready to learn and experience the complexities and challenges of the intense psychological warfare, this book is for you. As a chess player this exciting new concept will help you acquire gaming knowledge about Advance Chess and allow you to progress ahead of the learning curve well above the Masters and Grand-Masters of the classical games of conventional chess.
I invite you to enter the pseudo-dynamics and quasi-kinetics World of Chess in order to explore and to exhaust the opportunities to test the plasticity boundary limit ranges of your full spectrum cognitive elasticity cognition capabilities and potentialities. Gain a different perspective and test your to intelligence level for Logistics and Strategics Diagnostics and Prognostics Analysis.
The language of chess is indeed an expression of mathematical spatial relativity.
Siafa B. Neal offers the world a legacy in his writing and pioneering efforts to advance the concepts of Advance Chess gaming in the hopes that his game inventions will be realized in the Olympic Sports arena where both humans and robots are competing participants. His dreams reach far into the future with Advance 3-D Chess serving as a recreational activity both here on earth and with colonists as man reaches further into space and inhabits other planets.
Theodocia McLean (Cold Coffee Press) endorses Advance Chess Book Collection by Author and Grand Master Siafa B. Neal. Reviewed on May 17, 2015.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Other, Self-Help, Games, Advance Chess, Chess, Hobbies, How-to-Play/Distributive Logistics/Board Games/Advance Chess
Create Space Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link  
************************  Renaissance To The Dawn Of A New Age, Single Set Games, Book One Vol. 2 A Qualitative Validation For The Art Of Psychological Warfare (Volume 2) by Siafa B. Neal
Message from Author/Inventor Siafa B. Neal
“The need to add pizzazz to the already complex game of chess has been and still is my fascination. The rudimentary levels of the game of conventional chess was taught to me by my Dad, the Late David Franklin Neal, Sr. In the past there was a fascination to add adventure and intellectual dynamics to the classical conventional game of chess. The result of this inspiration allows me to derive the establishment and discovery of a new form of chess, namely Advance 3-Dimensional Chess, 3-D Chess. The cornerstone of Advance 3-D Chess allows players to use the 2-dimensional concepts of basic chess and exponentially, extrapolate or translate these concepts into holistic 3-D dynamics perspectives. Thus the Longitudinal Star Gate 14 Model, Model III, materialize into reality.
Although this book focuses on the Single Set games, the Longitudinal Star Gate 14 Model, Model III, which initializes as the Long. S.G. 14 Model, resembles a space-aged form of chess that entertains inter and the intra-psychological combative warfare of several combination arrangements of the chess piece initial position set-up. A game may consist of a Single Set, a Double Set, a Triple Set or a Quadruple Set. The participants of the S.G. 14 Model games, namely Model III, may play the game using a simultaneous mode (a chess game that uses two distinct and separate chess sets), a triple mode (a chess game that uses three distinct and separate chess sets), and a Quadruple mode (a chess game that uses four distinct and separate chess sets), whereby all of the chess pieces may engage at the same instant or at intermittent or sporadic intervals. These mode of Play allows a player to challenge between 2 – 4 individual players at the same instant or all at once.
A possible game scenario may allow just two chess players to engage in psychological warfare game plays having a maximum of four possible separate and distinct games which the two players play all at once at the same instant. In this situation, the victor is the winner of three (3) out of a possible four (4) games win. This implies that the winner has to [CHECKMATE] his or her opponent’s King on three (3) separate occasions out of four (4) possible chess events in order to win the four (4) games match. To reiterate, for the sake of simplicity, this book discusses the Single Set game initial set-up arrangement.”
Theodocia McLean (Cold Coffee Press) endorses Advance Chess Book Collection by Author and Grand Master Siafa B. Neal. Reviewed on January 1, 2015.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Other, Self-Help, Games, Advance Chess, Chess, Hobbies, How-to-Play/Distributive Logistics/Board Games/Advance Chess
Create Space Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link  
 ************************
  Advance 3 - D Matrix Chess: The Long. S.G.14 - Single Set Games, Book One Vol.1: The Longitudinal Star Gate 14 Model, Model III: An In-Depth Informatics Single Set Games, Book 1 Volume 1

 ‘Advance Chess - The Long. S.G.14 - Single Set Games, Book One Vol.1’ is the first book in this unique, one-of-a-kind 3-D Chess books with diagrams, drawings, illustrations and photos displaying key information about the game board. Included in this book one are detailed descriptions and equations that actual take you through 3 entire games of this in depth 3-D Matrix Chess.

The gamer needs to understand the fundamental aspects of conventional chess in order to digest 3-D Matrix Chess and enjoy playing the 3 games played out in this book. Whether you are a Beginner, Intermediate, Semi-Professional or Professional you will enjoy the concepts in this new, exciting Advance 3-D Matrix Chess book. If you are a gamer who is bored with conventional chess and are ready to learn and experience the complexities and challenges of the intense psychological warfare of Matrix Chess, this book is for you. As a chess player this exciting new concept will help you acquire gaming knowledge about Advance 3-D Chess and to progress ahead of the learning curve well above the Masters and Grand-Masters of the classical games of conventional chess.

I invite you to enter the pseudo-dynamics and quasi-kinetics World of Chess in order to explore and to exhaust the opportunities to test the plasticity boundary limit ranges of their full spectrum cognitive elasticity cognition capabilities and potentialities. Gain a different perspective and test your to intelligence level for Logistics and Strategics Diagnostics and Prognostics Analysis.

The language of chess is indeed an expression of mathematical spatial relativity. Siafa B. Neal offers the world a legacy in his writing and pioneering efforts to advance the concepts of Advance 3-D Chess gaming in the hopes that his game inventions will be realized in the Olympic Sports arena where both humans and robots are competing participants. His dreams reach far into the future with Advance 3-D Chess serving as a recreational activity both here on earth and with colonists as man reaches further into space and inhabits other planets.

Theodocia McLean (Cold Coffee Press) endorses Advance Chess Book Collection by Author and Grand Master Siafa B. Neal. Reviewed on November 17, 2015.

Genre: Non-Fiction, Other, Self-Help, Games, Advance Chess, Chess, Hobbies, How-to-Play/Distributive Logistics/Board Games/Advance Chess

Create Space Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link   ************************
  
Cold Coffee Press Interview With Author Siafa B. Neal
Siafa B. Neal Is Grand-Master / Founder / Inventor / Instructor / Author / Artist / Designer - Advance 3-D Model Matrix Vector Logistics Chess.
Siafa B. Neal offers Advance 3-D Chess books which contain diagrams, photos, key information about the game board and actual games to enjoy. Inside each book is the opportunity to purchase custom made Chess Boards (with chess pieces) that go specificity with the games. You also receive instructions for booking 3-D Grand Master Siafa B. Neal for private lessons, speaking engagements and game events. If you are a chess enthusiast, this unique one-of-a-kind book series with actual games is for you.
Amazon Author’s Page
Outskirts Press
Sound Cloud
Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press  

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from San Bernardino, California? My sense of pride from being a writer from San Bernardino, California stems from the notion that I am easily able to convey to my readers the practical aspects of Advance 3-D Matrix Chess through the pictorial display of photos in my chess book and E­ Books.
What or who inspired you to become a writer? My cousin, Robert H. Brown, who is currently a British citizen residing in England and who also holds a doctoral degree in English was influential in my decision to try a writing career beside my Engineering interests. Writing is a magnificent tool that enables me to promote ideas of Advance Chess to help enlighten others about the new styles and art forms of playing Advance 3-D Chess as opposed to the draconian ways of conventional chess and to .offer some important moral compass for those readers who have an open mind to newer opportunities to explore and to exhaust the tapestry of psychological warfare under the philosophical guidance to exhaust the possibilities to newer, informative approaches to life in general. My rather unique chess books allow readers to Live for Greatness; the Greatness which comes from their minds and their hearts. It espouses the philosophy that, "You are what you think, you think therefore you are ". The books dare readers to explore and to rediscover their innate and yet dormant passion for excellence in their quintessential cognition quest along a journey that provides fun and entertainment in the process.
When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? My writing began upon conceiving the concepts of Advance Matrix Chess. There was a need to add excitement and pizzazz to the games of classical conventional chess, to raise the bar of the games to higher levels of sophistication, to test the plasticity boundary limit ranges of a human full spectrum cognitive elasticity cognition capacity, potentiality and endurance and to provide chess fender different, dynamic perspectives to their intelligence tests for Logistics and Strategic Diagnostic and Prognostic Analysis. In order to achieve these objectives, I discover newer ways of playing chess using 3-Dimensional models (Model III is just one of these models to name a few) to enhance the potential dynamics and kinetics of the game. Thus, writing provides a practical tool, amongst many, to reach out to the masses, who share similar interests, who are eager to explore and to exhaust newer awareness of concepts of playing chess at Advance Distributive Logistics Levels.
Did your environment or upbringing play a pivotal role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? As children, my three junior brothers and I, were fortunate to attend the college preparation American International School that require high scholastic achievements as a prerequisite for admittance. The acquisition of my academic skills continue to play a crucial role in my writing style today , as I continue to utilize these fundamentally acquired knowledge skills to my advantage which is tantamount to my progressive writing achievements.
Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? The sequence of occurrence is random and or both. If I write the title of my choice before I write the manuscript it may be a random selection choice amongst a list of other perspective titles that represents the dynamic, kaleidoscopic qualities of the manuscript. If I choose a title after I write the manuscript, the choice may be the one that best depicts the ideas and concepts of discussion.
Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? Basically, the genre of my work focuses on Non-fiction, How-to-Play, Board games and Advance Logistics Chess. My preference for this genre portrays my interest and strength in the field of Cognitive Logistics awareness which Advance Matrix Chess demonstrates. Moreover, I am able to utilize and to test some of my photographic skills, despite some of the complications that arises from photographing the images of other perspective models besides Model ill; there are other geodesic and geocentric models which may have possible applications for other forms of interstellar habitat modules that may be utilize for non-geodesic and non-geocentric habitats like the space structures for the Lunar colony of the moon and the Martian colony.
In addition, the reading public has little exposure to chess writers -and especially even more so to Advance 3-D Matrix Chess writers, who are able to uncover the concepts of Advance Chess, to create dynamic game possibilities, to design the game Boards of different types of 3-D geodesic models and to publish the games in print or digital version.
What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are now: seeking to promote? After designing the models, to name a few, which includes Model ill and randomly engaging with a few games on each separate model, the thought of translating the games into several books did spark my interest to publish my findings in order to reach out to the growing numbers of inquisitive chess enthusiasts world-wide and to raise the levels of awareness about the sophistication possibilities and probabilities of the game into incrementally kaleidoscopic dynamics and kinetics postulates.
What has been your most rewarding experiences with your writing process? My writing process provides to me a sense of satisfaction and purpose in life. Although, I have yet to reap the financial rewards for my efforts, I still think that translating my work into published books is therapeutic for an energetic writer as myself , especially even more so that I still have declining youthful years ahead of me. At least, I would be able to leave behind my published accomplishments in the history books of chess which most readers may be able to recall my name with references to my books. I am looking forward to my old age whereby I may be able to test my knowledge base retention skills regarding the games of Advance 3-D Chess with reference to the models in question. My legacy would be that I may be remembered as the Father of Modem Day Advance 3-D Matrix Vector Chess. My motto with regard to age-related memory retention is, "If you don't use it, you lose it”.
What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? I have yet to reap the financial rewards for my books. My publishing company is not presenting to me the Quarterly financial reports which they claim they would do in the contract. My most rewarding ·experiences are knowing that my works are published , acquiring a sense of satisfaction in my efforts to present my findings to the public knowing that my work depicts my best available writing skills at the time of publication, providing me the opportunity to test my photographic skills with my digital camera before publishing the final copy and taking pride in knowing that my efforts may be recorded in the History Book of Chess as being the Founder and Father of the Modem Day Advance 3-D Matrix Vector Logistics Distributive Chess.
What one piece of advice would you give to other authors? The publishing business has a competitive market which many authors both well-known, because the readership love their style or genre of writing and unknown because the author may be new to the industry. It is important that your work in your genre stands out from the crowd of published authors, one may have to ask oneself the following questions concerning success in the publishing industry:
1. What makes my work unique?
2. Why would a reader want to read my novel?
3. Am I allowing my published work speak for itself without being so pretentious?
4. What would compel a reader to purchase my book?
5. Do I emulate a passion for writing my book?
6. Am I consistent with my daily rigorous routine efforts to process and apply my writing skills to my unpublished work?
7. Do I have what it takes, the love, the compassion, the zeal, the time, the resources and effort to become a successful writer with the awareness that the book publishing industry has a competitive market which implies that the financial rewards may not necessarily be immediate or forth coming spontaneously?
8. Am I constantly actively writing my next book despite the fact of accomplishing the current book? 9. Do I apply the right networking skills and exposure for my books?
10. How do I relax while writing the manuscripts for my current book or my next near future books? 11. Do I have the right organizational skills to write my next book in an orderly sequence and format? 12. How do I augment my reading, writing and speaking skills to meet the growing demands of the book publishing market?  

Who are your favorite authors and why? These authors are Robert Louis Stevenson and Charles Dickens. The reason why they are my favorite authors is due to the poetic style of Robert Louis Stevenson and the sophisticated style writing of Charles Dickens. My exposure to their works was at an early stage during my Elementary schooling years and later during my High School education.

************************  
Custom Made Game Board Description and Pricing Special Note: When buying the Advance Chess Single Set and Double Game Books by Siafa B. Neal, please purchase his custom game board (chess pieces included) so you can enjoy playing the games scripted in his books.
 
Classic 4 Wings: Game Board Set # 1: This custom made chess board folds up for easy storage and is designed for gamers on the go. The set includes the color coded (Orange-Blue/ Orange-Red / Red-Purple or other assorted colors) chess pieces (choking hazard for children under age 5). Price $35.00 plus shipping. Please note that all sales are final (no refunds). Prices are subject to change due to the cost of materials.
 
Classic 4 Wings: Game Board Set #2: This custom made chess board (made from a light weight material) is especially designed for all advanced competitive gamers. The set includes the color coded (Orange-Blue/ Orange-Red / Red-Purple or other assorted colors) chess pieces (choking hazard for children under age 5). Price $200.00 plus shipping. Please note that all sales are final (no refunds). Prices are subject to change due to cost of materials.
 
To order please contact author/inventor Siafa B. Neal by email: chessplayer3334@gmail.com

Please include in your email:
Your full nameWhich game board set (number) your are requestingHow many game board sets you are requestingYour full shipping address with zip codeContact phone numberAfter your email is received you will receive a Pay Pal Invoice (they take e-checks, debit and all major credit cards).

Please allow adequate shipping time and know that we are here to answer all your questions.

*************************  
Hire Chess Grand Master Siafa B. Neal To Advance Your Chess Skills
Private Lesson: Advance 3-D Chess Grand Master- $ 2,500.00 per hour.Lecture and Game Play Time Slots Available
8 Hours or Less Time Slot - $ 20, 000.0012 Hours or Less Time Slot - $ 30, 000.00In addition to the fees above please include $2,000.00 for travel and accommodations. Due to high demand all appointments must be scheduled a 30 days in advance. All payments are made in advance through Pay Pal.
 
Please email to schedule with 3-D Chess Grand Master Siafa B. Neal: chessplayer3334@gmail.com Please include in your email:
Your full nameThe date or dates that you are requesting (please try to schedule 30 days prior to engagement)Full address (location) of Private Lesson, Lecture or Game EventArrival Time RequestContact phone numberNo refunds after engagement is scheduledAfter your email is received you will receive a Pay Pal Invoice (they take e-checks, debit and all major credit cards).

We are here to answer all your questions.
 
Amazon Author’s Page
Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press

The Downfall Of Marriage by Else Byskov

 
The Downfall Of Marriage by Else Byskov
Do you have marital problems?
Do you find it difficult to live in harmony in marriage?
Have you never married?
Do you think there is something wrong with you for being single or divorced?
If your answer is yes, then this book is for you. It reveals the real reason for our relationship problems.
There is nothing wrong with you.
The reason is an organic / sexual / mental / emotional change that is happening to all human beings as we evolve. Today we are simply not as suitable for marriage as we were in the past.
It is time we realize that our sexual pole transformation is recreating us to becoming whole, independent and freedom seeking individuals with a corresponding lesser ability to live in relationships.
This book explains the reason for our degenerating ability to live in marriage. It is a helping hand to all those who are confused, insecure and depressed about why their marriages are not working. The book is based on Martinus´ clear, logical and intelligent analysis of the transformation of our sexual poles on our way to becoming real, all-loving human beings.
This book also reveals the real reason for the existence of homosexuality. The real reason for the growth of same-sex relationships has been a mystery until now. This book is a revelation for anyone who is struggling to understand why they are gay.
It is all explained logically in The Downfall of Marriage.
Learn why the present state of the world is a result of our unfinished state as emerging humans.
Get an intimate look at the bigger picture. It is both mind-blowing and positive.
With The Downfall of Marriage we are on the leading edge of thought. After reading this book, you will never look at relationships or sexuality in the same way again.

Book Review
I find it interesting that Author Else Byskov was born in Denmark and it is there where she became fascinated with the visionary and mystic work of Martinus. It is her mission to bring the ideas of Martinus to her readers and I have to give her 5 stars for her knowledge, research and passion. Else writes, “Martinus was born in Sindal in the North of Jutland in August 1890. His mother was unmarried and the boy, born to a single parent, was baptized Martinus Thomsen. He grew up at the smallholding of Moskildvad (1) with his uncle and aunt, as his mother could not have him living with her. He grew up in very modest circumstances and spent much of his childhood herding cows and helping out at surrounding farms. He had a very modest schooling, and since the family could not afford to let him study, he was apprenticed as a dairyman at an early age.”

This book contains 13 well written chapters with titles geared for mature audiences: The divorce culture of today, Why Martinus?,The transformation of the sexual poles, The one-poled being, What is sexuality?, On the way to becoming double-poled, The growth of universal love, Homo- or pansexuality, Sexual derailments, The double-poled human being, The master plan, Notes, and Bibliography.

The author writes with intelligence and passion as she warns, “This book should not be read by people in love, newlyweds or happily married couples. It has not been written for them. This book has been written for those who are unhappy in their relationships, the divorced, the involuntary singles, those who have several broken relationships behind them, and for those  who cannot figure out how to live together as a couple. It has especially been written for the homosexuals who will find a logical explanation to their sexual structure and special preferences in this book – an enlightening explanation that they will not find anywhere else. All open-minded people are invited to read this book, especially those who have realized that we still do not know the whole truth about life, death and our own evolution.”

Opps, I have been happily married for forty-two years and yet I found the book’s prospective interesting because I have an open mind. However, I personally feel that the success of marriage is as simple as genuine love, respect and a common sense approach to give and take.

I always quote a passage of each book that I read so you can judge for yourself.

“The real human being. Many people would probably argue that we are real human beings today and will protest against being called unfinished human beings, so let's just look at what, according to Martinus, it means to be a ´real´ human being. A real human being is somebody who is filled with universal love for all other beings, be it humans, animals or plants. It is a being whose selfishness is dead and who cannot cheat, lie, brag, steal, deceive, hate, injure, maim, kill and feel envy or jealousy. S/he does not want to have goods or gold but lives humbly and only wants to be a source of joy and assistance for others. S/he lives to serve his or her neighbour. A real human being does not want to shine and impress, s/he does not want to be admired, worshipped and made much of, but only wants to live in quiet obscurity and do the best for her or his fellow beings. A real human being does not participate in the killing of animals and therefore lives exclusively on a vegetarian or vegan diet (8).
In stark contrast to the real human being, we find the one-poled predator. The predator lives exclusively to please itself and is basically selfish in everything it does. As an offshoot of the animal selfishness, we find, when the animal has evolved in the human direction and has a human body, the desire to have power over others and to brag, boast, steal, shine, lie, decorate himself with borrowed feathers, deceive, hurt, maim and kill. These ´offshoots´ from the animal selfishness extend their ramifications far into the human kingdom. We can say that to the extent that we are still able to do any of those things, to the same extent do we have an animal mentality. It is only when we have outlived the need to exercise the aforementioned ´activities´ that we can rightly call ourselves real human beings.
Today there are probably not very many people who can say that they are completely free from having one or more of the above tendencies, and in this way it becomes clear that we are not quite finished, real human beings yet.
Now, there is probably someone who would like to know how the process from animal to human takes place. How do we become real human beings, not only physically but mentally and emotionally? How do we throw off our animal skin and become finished, all-loving human beings?”

I encourage you to read The Downfall of Marriage by Else Byskov as it is a perspective that you probably haven’t been exposed to. I (Theodocia McLean) endorse this book in the genre of religion, spirituality, personal growth and mysticism. This author has books written in English, Danish, German and Spanish. Her English titles are ‘Death Is An Illusion’, The Undiscovered Country-A Non-Religious Look At Life after Death’, ‘The Art of Attraction’ ‘The Beginning Is Near’, ‘The Downfall of Marriage-The Great Transformation of Our Sexual and Marital Relations’ and ‘On Foot on Andalucía -40 hiking excursions in Southern Spain’. I purchased and reviewed this book from a Kindle format on March 5, 2017.

Genre: Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Women > Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender eBooks > LGBT Studies > Lesbian Studies > Personal Growth > Mysticism

Amazon Print
Kindle Amazon Author’s Page
Else´s Websites:
http://www.newspiritualscience.com
http://www.elsebyskov.com
http://www.deathisanillusion.dk/
Professional Blog
Cold Coffee Cafe
Cold Coffee Press

The Troll Bridge by Larry Auerbach

 
The Tr oll Bridge by Larry Auerbach
In 1935 west Texas, two teenagers -- Duane McCathern and Tony Picano -- decide to go search for a lost treasure of Confederate gold based on an old tale told by a retired Texas Ranger, involving Indians and a mysterious spirit. As their hunt starts, another boy, a long-time rival, finds them in a cave and they must reluctantly include him in their hunt, It doesn't take them long before they realize they need more help so their new partner brings in someone, an A. B. Conway, that he says has the expertise and the skills they need to get the gold they believe is hidden in that cave. The only problem is that A. B. Conway is Abbie. Tony is at once smitten and Duane is clearly annoyed.

Once they get the hunt underway, Abbie proves her skill at fabricating machinery is beyond their expectations. And that is a good thing as the hunt suddenly takes an unexpected turn as all of them begin to have out of body experiences and they run into other supernatural problems. As they get closer to the gold, the problems mount and Duane and Tony start showing signs of stress. Then things really start getting strange as all four start having visions of the past. A spirit from the past begins influencing their actions, leading Duane in one direction and Tony in another. As both the distant and the recent past begin to reveal themselves, all of them must make decisions that will have long lasting results. Abbie has to choose between Duane and Tony, and Duane must choose between Tony and Abbie. Who, if any, will make it out of the cave and who will make a deal with the Devil.

Book Review
Raised in Vermont I have always been fascinated with covered bridges, railroad bridges and river bridges. So the title ‘The Troll Bridge’ by Larry Auerbach caught my attention right away. The prologue hooked me and it was very hard to put this book down for any reason.
Larry Auerbach is a master story teller and if you ever loved exploration as a kid and dreamed of finding something of value while exploring the farm yards, local woods, railroad tracks, old buildings, river banks etc. around your town, this book will draw you into this teen adventure that involves a hidden cave in West Texas.
Well-developed characters like Duane McCathern, Tony Picano find they need some help when the old town’s folklore about a hidden cave may have more merit than just to spook kids. Here is a quote from the book to peak your interest.
“We’re here, we’re a team, and we’re all going to watch each other’s back. We all share the risk, we all share the rewards—equally,” Duane told him. He put out his hand to Ron, who took it and held it in affirm grip. Tony put his hand over theirs, and all three of them put their other hand on the pile of hands. It was done. Tomorrow they would go to school, and come Friday, the adventure would begin for real. Fame and fortune awaited them in that hole. It was a sure thing, they were all certain. What could possibly go wrong?”
Eleven fast paced chapters will take you on an adventure of paranormal (supernatural) intrigue written for Tweens, Teens and Young Adults along with you if you are young at heart, spirit and mind.
I invite you cross over ‘The Troll Bridge’, feels the spray from the raging water below, walk the river banks if you dare as “Trolls” are known to live under bridges where people and things go missing. Join these teens as they use every creative bone in their bodies and life skills to explore a hidden cave in the hopes they will all make it out alive with treasure worth dying for.
I (Theodocia McLean) endorse ‘The Troll Bridge’ by Larry Auerbach as an adventure worth taking. Other books by Larry Auerbach include Common Threads, The Spirit Of Redd Mountain, A Matter Of Justice, and A Matter Of Honor. I read and reviewed this book from a Kindle format. This review was completed on 02/20/2017.

Print
Kindle
Amazon Author’s Page
Professional Website Professional Blog
Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press

Mice Tales: Persevering Possibilities and Succeeding (Volume 1) by Linda Bunker

 
Mice Tales: Persevering Possibilities and Succeeding
(Volume 1) by Linda Bunker
MICE TALES is a story of a diverse group of mice who experience life's ups, downs and all-arounds, just as humans.
They adopt a motto of persevering possibilities, brilliantly achieving an impossible goal, which in turn results in a happy ending for all.
The story, while comical, accentuates deep acceptance of all earth's species, nationalities, religious or non-religious beliefs, lineage and lifestyles. The Golden Rule works –
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"
How very simple. If mice can do it, why can't humans?
Kelly Morgan (Illustrator)
Book Review
An endearing story with life lessons involving a cast a characters made up of a group of mice who persevere through challenges, never sway from their core values and convictions, while achieving a task so grand that most would have gone away in defeat.
Special mention for Kelly Morgan who did a beautiful job on the book cover and the illustrations throughout the book.
Author Linda Bunker is a great story teller who weaves her own life philosophies into her stories and this is a great beginning to this new series. I found the book’s introduction very interesting with forty-four well written chapters that keep the reader engaged in the life of this unique group of mice living in the mall shops. Two live in the Deli, one in the Tuxedo Shop, three in the Bridal Shop and two in the Yarn Shop. Aishe Vadoma is the proprietor of the yarn shop and her life is about to change in more ways than one.
I invite you to read this uplifting story in a day and time when there is more negative thrown at us then most of us can handle in a day. As a grandmother of two I recommend this book for Tweens (ages 10-14), Young Adults (ages 15-21) and all adults of all ages who are young at heart. We are never too old to listen, learn, accept one another and follow ‘The Golden Rule’. I highly recommend for teens and adult book clubs where discussion is encouraged.
I, Theodocia McLean endorse Mice Tales- Persevering Possibilities and Succeeding (Volume 1) by Linda Bunker. This is the first book in her ‘Mice Tails’ series and I hope it won’t be long until the next book is available. Available in both print and Kindle, I purchased this book from a Kindle format and this review was completed on 01/21/2017. I have also have the privileged to have read Linda Bunker’s dual set of books titled ‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’ and ‘Claudia Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple’.
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
*************************
Your Story Matters: Tell It and Claudia Estelle
The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple by Linda Bunker
This is a dual Book Review is for ‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’ and ‘Claudia Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple’ – by Linda Bunker.
‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’ is a genuine, heartwarming memoir of a friendship between two women that grew into a passionate lifelong commitment and partnership.
Even in the best of circumstances human relationships (gay or straight) are hard work and when there is a strain of secrecy the odds aren’t good. I admire these two women for their love, devotion, and determination to build a successful life together in a period in time where society would have eaten them alive if their secret had been exposed.
Their love, strength, intelligence, compassion, faith and humor allowed them to grow as couple (in secret) while extending love, kindness, generosity to their families, friends and community. Even the local police considered their home as a safe place where they brought community kids that were in danger, abused and neglected in the dark of night to find loving arms, a warm bed, healthy food, laughter and games until proper family, friends or suitable foster accommodations could be agreed upon.
Author Linda Bunker tells her story with candor, assuming the risks of coming out of the closet, detailing historical facts regarding the progression of gay and lesbian rights, in order to leave their legacy of love to the generations of women who will follow.
Linda’s second book titled ‘Claudia and Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple’ is a companion book to ‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’. As the reviewer I encourage readers to purchase these two as a set because the humorous side of their relationship transcends the hardships and secrecy. Linda’s writing style reminds me of the late Erma Bombeck reminding us to look at our life circumstances from the lighter side. I believe that it was the lighter side of these two women that have brought them to the twilight phase of their journey together still embraced in each other’s loving arms.
Theodocia McLean endorses this dual set of books ‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’ and ‘Claudia Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple’ by Linda Bunker as the serious memoir and the humorous short story collection of two women enjoying retirement years from a more normal view outside of the closet. This review was completed in August 2014.
Your Story Matters... Tell It
Amazon Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
Claudia Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple
Amazon Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
**************************   Spotlight Interview With Author Linda Bunker
Linda Bunker was born in 1941 in Waterbury, Connecticut. At the age of sixteen she became aware she was a Lesbian and spent the next fifty-eight years with her life partner.
She graduated from Katherine Gibbs School in New York City in 1959 and for the next several years worked as an executive secretary. In 1973 she partnered with three other people, one of which was her Lesbian partner, and opened their own business – a bridal shop.
After enjoying a prosperous thirty-four years in business, she and her partner retired to Florida, returning to Connecticut after five years and settling in a fifty-five and over adult community in Prospect, Connecticut.
Writing began as a recreation for her at age seventy, but shortly thereafter became a passion. Her first book, YOUR STORY MATTERS (TELL IT) documents her life as a Lesbian assimilating into mainstream while in actuality living in a cocoon. Once she started writing the story, she could not stop. The book was self-published and made available at Amazon and Bella Books. Reviews were exemplary and prodded her to write her next book – CLAUDIA AND ESTELLE (THE EXTRAORDINARY GAY COUPLE). This book is a compilation of short stories covering humorously embellished situations she and her then eighty year old partner experienced since retiring. Each story is illustrated with comical sketches of the two old “hens.” Again the book was self-published and made available on Amazon and Bella Books.
Getting all the “serious stuff” out of the way, she reflected on the days spent in the bridal shop. During that time, a niece was seriously injured in an automobile accident. She made up stories about mice living in the bridal shop, and sent daily excerpts in letter form to the little girl. At age seventy-four she reflected on these letters and wrote her third book, MICE TAILS...Persevering Possibilities and Succeeding. The book poses the question, if mice can do it, why can't humans and is geared to readers of all ages. Also available on Amazon, the book is positioned for more editions.However, at this time the writer finds herself alone, after losing her partner after a long, heartbreaking illness. She has a burning desire to write the sequel to YOUR STORY MATTERS....perhaps using the title IS MY STORY OVER. She is very sad and is praying for a rainbow ending before she starts.
Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Connecticut? I was born in 1941 in Waterbury, Connecticut and at this time am proud to be a writer living in Prospect, Connecticut.
What or who inspired you to become a writer? I think what inspired me to write was the arrival of my 70th birthday. At this stage I had an overwhelming desire and need to put my personal journey into words – to express what my life was like as a lesbian assimilating into mainstream while in actuality living in a cocoon. Here I was in my twilight years still living “in the closet” along with my partner of 55 years.
When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? At first I had the idea that I wanted to write a book to let those people who had hurt me in the past know exactly how I felt. Kind of revenge. It turned out, however, that what I really wanted was to give myself permission to be FREE – to share my journey – one of secrets, deception, guilt, hurts, and immense fear. Selfishly I wanted my truths recorded in a real book - one that I could give to my family and friends; one that they could hand down to their friends and family; and finally, one that I could read over and over for as many years as I have left. This would enable me to compliment myself for accomplishments, chastise myself for not “taking a stand” in some instances, but most of all I could relive the great rewards my lifestyle and my love afforded me.
Did you know that you would publish your first book (let alone two as of now)? No, not at the start. My thought was that I would only have copies printed for my personal distribution. But, after self-publishing, it was offered at Amazon Books and I was amazed at the wonderful reviews I got. This encouraged me to want many, many people to read it. Bella Books also accepted it to sell.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? Definitely.My story is a memoir. Once I started writing I could not stop. My experiences (good and bad) were as clear to me as when they originally occurred.
Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? I didn't give much thought about a title until one day I glanced up at a little plaque which hangs above my computer. Itsays, “Your Story Matters (Tell It)”. That became my title and my motto. I was determined to tell it like it was as accurately as possible.
Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? The genre “Your Story Matters….(Tell It)” is a memoir of my life as a Lesbian, beginning at the young age of sixteen - a time when many didn't even know what it meant to be “queer” including me. I wrote it in sections of decades and at the beginning of each decade wrote what was happening in the country at that time regarding gay people.
What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? Inspiration to complete my story grew as I remembered and related my experiences. When I finished and it was published, I wanted everyone to read it with the hope that it would bring understanding and empathy for the LGBT community. No one would choose to be gay....we are born that way and because of that we deserve to be treated as human beings and not social defects.
What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? My reward in all this is that I came “out of the closet” to the world. Amazingly to me, most everyone knew anyway, but no one dared to broach the subject, so we all went on pretending for 55 years. I now bask in the love of these people – they have accepted me and my partner and we can conduct ourselves as any heterosexual couple. It's wonderful, and this is the happiest time of my life.
What was the most difficult part of the writing process? This is easy to answer. My “lover” is jealous of my computer. I have to write when she is either playing golf, watering the garden, or sleeping late in the morning. I also find that after three o'clock in the afternoon that my body and my brain shuts down. This could be attributed to the fact that they know it is almost “martini” time!
Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? I have had no negative experience with regard to my writing other than the fact that my partner (who is now eighty-two years old) is a bit jealous of the computer at times. She does not like to share me with anyone, and I love it! I self-published with Create Space and my book came out last July and was offered on Amazon and Bella Books. I found them all to be very helpful and I was pleased with the results which made me want to do more to get it circulated. Of course, “Your Story Matters… (Tell It) is my first book, so I really don't have too much experience in any publishing/advertising arenas. I also am not in a position to give other authors advice – I need and welcome any advice and would be glad to share whatever I get.
Who is your favorite author and why? I have always been a reader. I prefer non-fiction and, believe it or not, Christian books. My favorite author is Max Lucado.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? My second book, “Claudia and Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple” has just been published (July 2014). It is a compilation of short, comical stories (with illustrations) relating to humorously embellished situations I and my eighty-one year old partner have experienced since retiring.
Share your message with us: The message I want to send is that it was our hard years of living the secret that has built acknowledgment and acceptance of gays and lesbians today. It was all part of the process. We had to live it to advance it to where it is today. The biggest message is that a lesbian is born a lesbian....why would anyone EVER chose to be one - there certainly are little or no benefits!!! I hope my books promote the idea of real, real love and devotion. There is such a thing! I am the luckiest person to have been blessed with it.
Amazon Author’s Page
Cold Coffee Cafe
Cold Coffee Press

Death of a Sculptor in Hue, Shape and Color by M. C. V. Egan

Death of a Sculptor in Hue, Shape and Color
by M. C. V. Egan
Color coded love stories and revealing female anatomies lead to the murder of world renowned sculptor, Bruce Jones.

In life, the artist loved women, almost as much as women loved him. Adored for his art and colorful personality, Bruce is mourned by the world at large. The tale is launched with the multifaceted perspectives of four ex-wives, the current wife, and his new love interest and their children.
Mary , Bruce’s wealthy first love, is always in perfect pink; the color of love. Mother of Clair the famous actress and Aaron the corporate lawyer.

Leslie The Second’s color is yellow for her sunny nature as much as for her fears and insecurities. Her only son Bobby is vulnerable and lost. Mourning his father’s death, he finds himself.
Petra The Third, is outstanding in orange, representing not only her native Holland but also her love of the fruit. Cherished her freedom and had no children of her own.

Toni The Fourth is a vibrant passionate Italian red and part of the eventual glue that creates and solidifies this dysfunctional Jones family. Her teenage daughters Tina and Isa are as different as night and day.

Brooke The Fifth a gold-digger. Green, her color, reflects the color of money and envy. Her young son’s Kyle and Caleb are too young to understand why their world has been turned upside-down.
Mara, as blue as the ocean was the last woman to steal Bruce’s heart. Mother to newborn Baby Peter is the unexpected gift and surprise.

Bruce Jones’ eight children speak out, too. They are as distinctive as the women he loved, their mothers.

Loose ends are tied up by the insights of Sylvia, Aaron’s wife and a trusted keeper of secrets; Scott, the private investigator and family friend; Nona, the quintessential grandmother everyone loves but to whom few are truly related; and Detective Jim Miller who will not rest until he discovers Bruce Jones’ murderer.
 
Book Review
Although the author has placed this book in the literary, contemporary fiction genre, I would go a step further and also list ‘Death of a Sculptor in Hue, Shape and Color’ by M. C. V. Egan in the psychological crime fiction genre.

This book opens in a most unusual place. We the readers are participates in the funeral of renowned sculptor Bruce Jones. This beginning should have a psychological effect on any thinking reader as this is no ordinary funeral with the normal mourners. In fact the church pew normally reserved for the wife and children of the diseased is filled with Bruce Jones’ five legal wives.

Author M. C. V. Egan casts her characters well and introduces each wife to the reader in the same hue, shape and color that had attracted sculptor Bruce Jones to them. To spice things up a bit, Bruce Jones didn’t die of natural causes and it is Bruce’s daughter-in-law Sylvia who is the keeper of secrets.

All families have secrets, but few have the psychological dynamics of the six women who Bruce brought into the family and the eight children that were conceived by his artistic reflections. Not only is Scott (the private investor), Detective Jim Miller, family friends, in-laws drawn into the drama surrounding Bruce Jones death, but an international community that respects this man as a sculptor and art teacher. His legacy and fortune will touch more than a generation.

Once I read this novelette, my mind created scenarios to answer the many unanswered questions left behind. I invite you read ‘Death of a Sculptor in Hue, Shape and Color’ by M.C.V. Egan. I wish there was a way for me to know, if you the reader come away with the same questions. I can only hope that this book is an introduction to a series where the characters that now live in my head will find their way back to a page where more psychological pieces will craft the completed puzzle with conclusions that will define this Sculptor as the real focus of his art. My mind created a scenario where the story would make a good ‘twilight zone’ episode (if expanded).

Once you have read ‘Death of a Sculptor in Hue, Shape and Color’ by M.C.V. Egan, I invite you to read ‘Defined by Others’ and ‘The Bridge Of Deaths’ as I have enjoyed these books too.
I, Theodocia McLean endorse Death of a Sculptor in Hue, Shape and Color by M.C.V. Egan. I purchased and reviewed this book from a Kindle format. This review was completed on January 11, 2017.

Kindle
************************
Defined By Others (Defining Ways Series Book 1)
by M. C. V. Egan
A word, a single word defines a moment for Anne. She needs to find a new one when her spouse leaves her at the age of 47, coming out of the closet literally in a closet. She finds herself back in her hometown amongst her high school friends which she left behind in her past.

An inheritance from a friend leaves her with the means to meddle and spy on the lives of some of their mutual acquaintances. In an attempt to run from her reality Anne gets engrossed in a game of "fun" and "flirtation" with her friend and fellow sufferer Connie at her side. Anne however did not read all the files and what to her is fun games turns into a deadly reality. It is no longer a game.

Life, death and not even a defining word can stop the reality of manipulation.

Book Review
Like so many in our mobile society, Anne had left her upper middle class town to live, work, travel, get married and have children away from her small town roots, family and friends. At age forty-seven Anne finds herself back in her hometown, where very little has changed. As bad as the small town rumor mill is, time has added a cyber aspect where it seems everyone ‘knows’ and this increases Anne’s pain, guilt, frustration, devastation and anger that her husband has left her for a ‘man’.

Anne prided herself in knowing just the right word for every situation. What word will come to mind after her high school friend Amanda dies? Amanda’s casket had just been lowered into the ground when Anne finds herself alone in an Attorney’s Office starring at Amanda’s final message on video. Almost in a trance, Anne leaves the office with the inheritance held tightly in her hands as questions swirl around in her head.

Connie whose marriage had also taken a bad turn, is a welcome old friend that makes herself at home in Anne’s childhood home. Connie and Anne reminisce, eat, drink, explore Anne’s mother’s secret room and slowly go through and digest the inheritance that Amanda has left.

Together Annie and Connie tap into what they call “our inner bitch” to deal with the cards that life had dealt them. Intrigued by a “game” that Amanda started and manipulated by the detailed instructions left by Amanda; this game engages them in “harmless” cyber fun that allows Annie and Connie to toy with the emotions and even love interests of mutual acquaintances.

If you could secretly know everything about your friends and neighbors, would you want to know?

If you could secretly manipulate those who had hurt you in the past, would you?

How far would you go?

Would you heed the message on the cover of this book? “If you share a secret it will no longer be a secret.^^^Keep your secrets safe.^^^Do not share your secrets.^^^.It will destroy you.^^^Secrets give power.”

I always quote a couple passages from the books that reads, so here goes.

P56 “power is great because it makes you the dominatrix. The psychological manipulator, which is the perfect description for what Amanda was.”

P150 “As we sat there judging and discussing our generation we were ridiculously oblivious to our own behavior. Apparently women often do not realize they are addicted until they are in a heap of trouble, and we were no exception.”

P151 “We were addicted to a variety of deceptions: love deception and sexual deception.”
You must read this book to see exactly what was included in the inheritance that Amanda gave Anne, what was involved in perusing Amanda’s game and what if any consequences, real or imagined in life and in cyberspace.

Defined by Others (Defining Ways Series Book 1) by M.C.V. Egan is a well written Women's Contemporary Fiction with realistic dialog between the characters and a twist of generational similarities and differences.

I, Theodocia McLean endorse Defined by Others (Defining Ways Series Book 1) by M.C.V. Egan which is Women's Contemporary Fiction with realistic dialog and a twist of generational similarities and differences.

I hear rumors that ‘Climbing Up The Family Tree: Defined by Pedigree’ is next in the series. Meanwhile make sure you read The Bridge Of Deaths: A Love Story and A Mystery by M.C.V. Egan. I purchased and reviewed this book from Kindle format. This review was completed on January 27, 2016.

Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link


************************
The Bridge Of Deaths: A Love Story and A Mystery
by M. C. V. Egan
On August 15th, 1939, an English passenger plane from British Airways Ltd. crashed in Danish waters between the towns of Nykøbing Falster and Vordingborg. There were five casualties reported and one survivor. Just two weeks before, Hitler invaded Poland. With the world at the brink of war, the manner in which this incident was investigated left much open to doubt. The jurisdiction battle between the two towns and the newly formed Danish secret police created an atmosphere of intrigue and distrust.

The Bridge of Deaths is a love story and a mystery. Fictional characters travel through the world of past life regressions and information acquired from psychics as well as archives and historical sources to solve "one of those mysteries that never get solved."

Based on true events and real people, The Bridge of Deaths is the culmination of 18 years of sifting through conventional and unconventional sources in Denmark, England, Mexico and the United States. The story finds a way to help the reader feel that s/he is also sifting through data and forming their own conclusions. Cross The Bridge of Deaths into 1939, and dive into cold Danish waters to uncover the secrets of the G-AESY.

Book Review
M.C.V. Egan’s book ‘The Bridge Of Deaths’ is unique because the author is driven by childhood memories, family stories and perhaps the spirit of her grandfather who died when an English aircraft (carrying 5) crashed on August 15, 1939. Her exhaustive research, passion for details and networking abilities brings this fiction (based on real events) to life from archives buried during the chaos of World War ll.

Characters like Bill, Maggie and Catalina draw us into their world with conversations and settings that bring the reader to the table, quenches the thirst for love at first sight romance and delves into a quest for knowledge that reaches into the paranormal realm that few of us would dare venture into.
If you like historical fiction (eliminating dry facts) the time frame and mystery behind this historical plane crash and family tragedy will keep you turning the page. The use of skype conversations was creative and the historical documentation such as the use of actual Western Union Telegrams validates the truth behind the fiction.

I personally would have loved to read more about the author’s family and especially her grandfather’s life and see more photos. Understandably this book is mystery based on a tragic historical event and is not a biography. After reading this well thought out, painstakingly researched fictional accounting of a historical event that few of us even know about, I only have one question. Where will M.C.V. Egan take us in a sequel and what nugget of information might be unearthed by the publication of this book?

The blending of facts with mysticism to arrive at the truth is a payoff even for a reader who holds a skeptical view of the paranormal, use of hypnosis and past-life regression.

I, Theodocia McLean endorse M.C.V. Egan’s book ‘The Bridge Of Deaths’ for the author’s nearly two decades of research, thirst for the truth and family bonds. I purchased and reviewed this book from a Kindle format. This review was completed in September 2014.

Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link

************************  
Spotlight Interview With Author M. C. V. Egan
M. C. V. Egan is the pen name chosen by Maria Catalina Vergara Egan. Catalina was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1959, the sixth of eight children, in a traditional Catholic family.

From a very young age, she became obsessed with the story of her maternal grandfather, Cesar Agustin Castillo--mostly the story of how he died. She spent her childhood in Mexico.
When her father became an employee of The World Bank in Washington D.C. in the early 1970s, she moved with her entire family to the United States. Catalina was already fluent in English, as she had spent one school year in the town of Pineville, Louisiana with her grandparents. There she won the English award, despite being the only one who had English as a second language in her class.
In the D.C. suburbs she attended various private Catholic schools and graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland in 1977. She attended Montgomery Community College, where she changed majors every semester. She also studied in Lyons, France, at the Catholic University for two years.
In 1981, due to an impulsive young marriage to a Viking (the Swedish kind, not the football player kind), Catalina moved to Sweden where she resided for five years and taught at a language school for Swedish, Danish, and Finnish business people.
She then returned to the USA, where she has lived ever since. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Swedish. Maria Catalina Vergara Egan is married and has one son who, together with their five-pound Chihuahua, makes her feel like a full-time mother.
Although she would not call herself an astrologer she has taken many classes and taught a few beginner classes in the subject. She celebrated her 52nd birthday on July 2nd, 2011, and gave herself self-publishing The Bridge of Deaths as a gift. Find M.C.V. Egan and The Bridge of Deaths at http://www.thebridgeofdeaths.com.
Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Florida? I am originally from Mexico City and have lived in a number of places but Florida has been home for a quarter of a century now, and I love it. Hemingway loved it so what’s not to be proud about?
What or who inspired you to become a writer? My affair with words began at a very early age. As the 6th of 8 kids sandwiched between all the males in the house I had a serious need to communicate. When I was 12 we moved from Mexico City to the Washington D.C. area and I had a HUGE list of pen pals, I know that it was through the art of letter writing that I discovered my passion for the craft.
When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? Okay? Dare I answer? Years ago I went to a psychic who said; I don’t think you realize it yet, but you are a writer. I went home and looked at my boxes of notebooks and journals; I had imagined myself a published writer before that, but that day it felt plausible, real you know.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? YES and YES! As I said before my very large family made me search for a voice a strong voice and in THE BRIDGE OF DEATHS the strong influence of researching my grandfather’s mysterious death in a 1939 plane crash which is the central story-line.
Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? If I do it very often changes, sometimes a story ends up guiding you to a title.
Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? To be honest I write in a variety of genres. I can tell you that I am not capable of good fantasy or Sci Fi as much as I love reading said genres. But I can KILL and I can LOVE, and turn a story into chick lit, romance, murder mystery. Lately I am toying with one act plays.
What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? It was in 1993 when I first held the British Airways LTD. Files in the UK and the archivist RIP to whom I dedicated the book said to me, “Can of worms you are about to open young lady.” I just knew a can of worms always makes for a good story and good book.
What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? There are frankly so many I cannot pin-point one. The mere process of writing is so healing and frustrating. It is all a bit like loving a complicated person. I can tell you the worst, editing and re-writing, that is tough!
Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? I did not expect five star reviews and they poured in, so I took them a bit for granted, and then the searing first bad review was a ONE STAR. It felt horrible! I decided to give it as much attention and promoting as I had all the positive reviews. The encouraging feedback was an amazing experience and that one star review became a favorite, of course I prefer good reviews but my negative reviews have made me grow and explore how I can improve.
What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? The good reviews of course!
Have you had a negative experience in your publishing journey? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? There is growth from everything and what might not be great for me is good for others so I am going to stick to the golden rule; “If you don’t have something good to say…” To any writers out there, research your options carefully and contact authors privately with your questions. In a private forum I do voice my negatives.
What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Trust your own personal unique voice. The same story can be told in a million ways, but it can only be told YOUR way by YOU.
Who is your favorite author and why? I have to first say that I have MANY, especially a lot of great Indie authors I have met in the past three years. However I will give you my ALL TIME classic. W. Somerset Maugham, the why is simple, his stories are phenomenal and timeless. However I also have this goose bump thing to share.In 1948 he wrote the book CATALINA which is my middle name and the one I have always gone by. (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99662.Catalina) His book starts on an August 15th and the Plane crash my grandfather died in (the one in The Bridge of Deaths) was on an August 15th, once you get around chapter four Catalina visits a priest to confess and he is Father VERGARA, my maiden name! Now Catalina is far from Mr. Somerset Maugham’s best work, it is not Of Human Bondage or the Razor’s Edge. No Painted Veil, but even at his not so good, OMG the guy was amazeballs.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? I have three blogs and I welcome writers and artists as long as it is not Erotic Art or Erotica writing. I am a mom and I think that my son is at an age where he still needs to learn more by example than anything and that is my reason to avoid that. But all others are welcome for a spotlight or an interview at 4covert 2overt A Place in the Spotlight and for my other two blogs I like people with a historical angle, any era, and any theme. I am happy to welcome any of your members whose genres fit.
Amazon Author’s Page
Professional Website Author M.C.V. Egan’s Blogs
http://www.4covert2overt.blogspot.com
http://thebridgeofdeaths.tumblr.com
http://ishistorytheagreeduponlie.blogspot.com Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press