Nancy May's Blog
September 25, 2015
Maple Leaf Book Promotion
Just in time for Fall! I am excited to be part of the Maple Leaf Book Promotions book tours and reviews. Keep an eye out for upcoming book tours.
August 25, 2015
New book tour for YA fans!
Just where do these authors come up with these intriguing plots?
Tomorrow is the book blast launch for Nacreous, the latest book in the Harmany Run series by Sarah Elle Emm.
The blurb:
After two members of The Freedom Front are arrested and interrogated by the UZTA’s tyrannical President Nicks, Rain Hawkins and her friends face the alarming reality that their plans to liberate the mixed zones across the United Zones of The Authority might not come to fruition. While the resistance movement is growing outside the walls of the zones, the president’s forces are strengthening and putting citizens everywhere in more peril than ever. When Rain receives warnings that her cousin, Calista, has agreed to support plans to kill the mixed zones, and that her life could be on the line at the upcoming pure zone initiation ceremony, she must decide where her loyalties lie and if all of her allies can be trusted. As The Freedom Front use their abilities to unravel the mystery of the ceremony, The Authority captures some of their friends, forcing TFF to either go into hiding, or plan a rescue mission that could jeopardize everything they’ve been fighting for.
Hosted by the award winning blog, b00kr3vi3ws.in. You can check out other great books at:
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in
Tomorrow is the book blast launch for Nacreous, the latest book in the Harmany Run series by Sarah Elle Emm.
The blurb:
After two members of The Freedom Front are arrested and interrogated by the UZTA’s tyrannical President Nicks, Rain Hawkins and her friends face the alarming reality that their plans to liberate the mixed zones across the United Zones of The Authority might not come to fruition. While the resistance movement is growing outside the walls of the zones, the president’s forces are strengthening and putting citizens everywhere in more peril than ever. When Rain receives warnings that her cousin, Calista, has agreed to support plans to kill the mixed zones, and that her life could be on the line at the upcoming pure zone initiation ceremony, she must decide where her loyalties lie and if all of her allies can be trusted. As The Freedom Front use their abilities to unravel the mystery of the ceremony, The Authority captures some of their friends, forcing TFF to either go into hiding, or plan a rescue mission that could jeopardize everything they’ve been fighting for.
Hosted by the award winning blog, b00kr3vi3ws.in. You can check out other great books at:
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in
June 10, 2015
Review: Clusters: A Case of the Missing
A little girl quietly played in her yard with her dog in a house that's tucked away near a national forest, then inexplicably goes missing. A small bicycle with pink tassels sticking out of the handle bars remains out in the yard, a reminder of a young life that ends mysteriously and tragically. So starts Clusters: A case of the missing, T.M. Williams' intriguing un-put-down able novel.
The novel starts with tugs at the heartstrings and goes on to grip the reader's curiosity the way highway accidents invite rubbernecking fascination. Williams uses a clever technique of interspersing real life cases of missing persons to mingle with the fictional cases, as a way of blending fact and fiction.
Ethan Franco, a journalist for the Washington Gazette, is assigned by his editor- in-chief Jameson Stone to find out why there are so many unsolved missing person cases going on in national parks. Franco's failure to overcome past troubled relationships has recently caused his work to suffer. Stone pushes his once stellar investigative reporter to get him out of his slump.
After researching other cases, Franco discovers that there may be a pattern in all of these mysterious cases. Fiction, or perhaps just what many would consider wild conjecture, takes over the last part of this novel that will satisfy fans of Dean Koontz and Stephen King.
The writing is crisp, inventive and rather skeletal, giving just enough information to leave the reader to flesh out the relationships and personalities of the main characters. At times, the characters could have more vividly drawn, particularly the relationship between the main character, Ethan Franco and Sheriff Moore. What made Sheriff Moore take a particularly paternalistic friendly interest to an otherwise typical nuisance of a reporter? Yes, he saw the Franco's vulnerability but what made his so unique that the sheriff formed an instant bond? As a reader, these things have to be accepted at face value.
Nevertheless, Clusters: A Case of the Missing is highly recommended as a satisfying read.
The novel starts with tugs at the heartstrings and goes on to grip the reader's curiosity the way highway accidents invite rubbernecking fascination. Williams uses a clever technique of interspersing real life cases of missing persons to mingle with the fictional cases, as a way of blending fact and fiction.
Ethan Franco, a journalist for the Washington Gazette, is assigned by his editor- in-chief Jameson Stone to find out why there are so many unsolved missing person cases going on in national parks. Franco's failure to overcome past troubled relationships has recently caused his work to suffer. Stone pushes his once stellar investigative reporter to get him out of his slump.
After researching other cases, Franco discovers that there may be a pattern in all of these mysterious cases. Fiction, or perhaps just what many would consider wild conjecture, takes over the last part of this novel that will satisfy fans of Dean Koontz and Stephen King.
The writing is crisp, inventive and rather skeletal, giving just enough information to leave the reader to flesh out the relationships and personalities of the main characters. At times, the characters could have more vividly drawn, particularly the relationship between the main character, Ethan Franco and Sheriff Moore. What made Sheriff Moore take a particularly paternalistic friendly interest to an otherwise typical nuisance of a reporter? Yes, he saw the Franco's vulnerability but what made his so unique that the sheriff formed an instant bond? As a reader, these things have to be accepted at face value.
Nevertheless, Clusters: A Case of the Missing is highly recommended as a satisfying read.
June 5, 2015
Fiction is Good For You?
The classics (Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities are my most recent classic have-reads for my Goodreads reading challenge), have always been a stumbling block for me and often I am tempted to give them less stars than they deserve just because I "didn't get it". If not for the Reading Challenges, I'd just shelve them under the did-not-finish shelf.
But I know, as George Castanza would say, "it's me not you." In my case, it's me and not the book.
After all, these books have been and will be around a lot longer than I.
So this recent article (http://blog.theliteracysite.com/ficti...), inspired me to keep reading those hard to read fiction books. Seems they help you become a more empathetic person, a more broad minded person.
Well, I kind of already knew that, but here science proves it.
On another note, just finished Clusters: The Case of the Missing by T.M. Williams. Talk about page turner! Look for my review next week.
But I know, as George Castanza would say, "it's me not you." In my case, it's me and not the book.
After all, these books have been and will be around a lot longer than I.
So this recent article (http://blog.theliteracysite.com/ficti...), inspired me to keep reading those hard to read fiction books. Seems they help you become a more empathetic person, a more broad minded person.
Well, I kind of already knew that, but here science proves it.
On another note, just finished Clusters: The Case of the Missing by T.M. Williams. Talk about page turner! Look for my review next week.
June 1, 2015
Blog Tour for Mystery Lovers
Join me for the following blog tour! Starting June 7.
Clusters : Case of the Missing
by T.M. Williams
Seven year old Olivia Baxter and her dog vanish while playing in the front yard of her family's home. After a week of searching, Olivia's body was suddenly found in the closet, even after the police had thoroughly investigated the home.
Ethan Franco is a troubled journalist working for the Washington Gazette. His inability to move on from the past has deflated the passion he had for his career, causing him to lose his edge. Frustrated with Ethan Franco, but not wanting to lose his once star journalist, Editor-in-Chief, Jameson Stone assigns him a story to cover as a last chance to prove he could be the reporter he once was.
Ethan Franco begins his investigation into the mysterious death of Olivia Baxter and other unexplained disappearances, believing there may be a connection in the cases. No sooner did Franco begin his investigation then he realizes he is being tailed by government agencies.
Large footprints in the woods, strange sounds, foul stenches, and a looming government presence become pieces of the puzzle in cases of the missing.
Inspired by real events, the author of the Bohemian Grove trilogy and the Apocalypse brings forth a story that has been kept a secret for over a century -- a story that a large group of people are still trying to keep under wraps.
Mystery
Hardcover, 290 pages
Published February 4th 2015 by AZ Publishing Svcs
LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=x...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clust...
¬¬¬
About the Author
T.M. Williams began her writing career by accident when a song inspired a story. Once she discovered the writing bug she couldn't stop. Since starting her writing career late in 2012 she has gone on to write several more novels, including two Amazon best-sellers.
Genre: Experimental Fiction and Non-Fiction
To stay up-to-date on her work, book-signings, and events, you can follow her on her website or her blog.
She is published by AZ Publishing Svcs. Undead Winter, the novella, is a self-published piece.
LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Website: http://www.theaccidentalwriter.com/
Blog: http://theaccidentalwriterblog.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imTMWilliams
Clusters : Case of the Missing
by T.M. Williams
Seven year old Olivia Baxter and her dog vanish while playing in the front yard of her family's home. After a week of searching, Olivia's body was suddenly found in the closet, even after the police had thoroughly investigated the home.
Ethan Franco is a troubled journalist working for the Washington Gazette. His inability to move on from the past has deflated the passion he had for his career, causing him to lose his edge. Frustrated with Ethan Franco, but not wanting to lose his once star journalist, Editor-in-Chief, Jameson Stone assigns him a story to cover as a last chance to prove he could be the reporter he once was.
Ethan Franco begins his investigation into the mysterious death of Olivia Baxter and other unexplained disappearances, believing there may be a connection in the cases. No sooner did Franco begin his investigation then he realizes he is being tailed by government agencies.
Large footprints in the woods, strange sounds, foul stenches, and a looming government presence become pieces of the puzzle in cases of the missing.
Inspired by real events, the author of the Bohemian Grove trilogy and the Apocalypse brings forth a story that has been kept a secret for over a century -- a story that a large group of people are still trying to keep under wraps.
Mystery
Hardcover, 290 pages
Published February 4th 2015 by AZ Publishing Svcs
LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=x...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clust...
¬¬¬
About the Author
T.M. Williams began her writing career by accident when a song inspired a story. Once she discovered the writing bug she couldn't stop. Since starting her writing career late in 2012 she has gone on to write several more novels, including two Amazon best-sellers.
Genre: Experimental Fiction and Non-Fiction
To stay up-to-date on her work, book-signings, and events, you can follow her on her website or her blog.
She is published by AZ Publishing Svcs. Undead Winter, the novella, is a self-published piece.
LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Website: http://www.theaccidentalwriter.com/
Blog: http://theaccidentalwriterblog.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imTMWilliams
May 31, 2015
Giveaway!
I'm having a Dogs Don't Talk Giveaway here at Goodreads. I have five copies to give away. Enter by June 25. Good luck!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh....
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh....
April 27, 2015
Diamonds in the Indie Rough
One recent Goodreads poll asked readers how they selected books to read. I'm one of those readers who goes from a classic, to a YA, to a bestseller to a book that just catches my fancy. Peni Jo Renner's Letters to Kezia is one such book.
Letters to Kezia is from "The Puritan Chronicles" series and takes place in Hereford Connecticut right after the infamous Salem Witch Trials (which is covered in the first book of the series, Puritan Witch, the Redemption of Rebecca Eames). While the novels are based on actual characters and events, Renner weaves fictional aspects into the story that are so believable, it is like peeking into their diaries.
Kezia is the "baseborn" daughter of Mary Case, spinster daughter of a Puritan minister. After discovering letters her mother had kept hidden, Kezia discovers who her real father is.
Letters to Kezia is a very satisfying read on so many levels. Renner's imagery and tone has an economy and craftsmanship that her Puritan ancestors would applaud (if Puritans ever applauded!). The story line has the twists and turns of a mystery and the sweetness of a romance.
What is most satisfying about both books is how they portray the Puritans in an evenhanded way instead of the indictments given in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and Miller's The Crucible, making them more enjoyable to read. English and History teachers should consider adding "The Puritan Chronicles" as resource books.
Love to hear from readers who have their own diamonds in the rough!
Letters to Kezia is from "The Puritan Chronicles" series and takes place in Hereford Connecticut right after the infamous Salem Witch Trials (which is covered in the first book of the series, Puritan Witch, the Redemption of Rebecca Eames). While the novels are based on actual characters and events, Renner weaves fictional aspects into the story that are so believable, it is like peeking into their diaries.
Kezia is the "baseborn" daughter of Mary Case, spinster daughter of a Puritan minister. After discovering letters her mother had kept hidden, Kezia discovers who her real father is.
Letters to Kezia is a very satisfying read on so many levels. Renner's imagery and tone has an economy and craftsmanship that her Puritan ancestors would applaud (if Puritans ever applauded!). The story line has the twists and turns of a mystery and the sweetness of a romance.
What is most satisfying about both books is how they portray the Puritans in an evenhanded way instead of the indictments given in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and Miller's The Crucible, making them more enjoyable to read. English and History teachers should consider adding "The Puritan Chronicles" as resource books.
Love to hear from readers who have their own diamonds in the rough!
April 15, 2015
Interview on Intermat
Talking to Mark Palmer of InterMat Wrestling was a delight. Having come from a journalism background myself, it was interesting to be on the receiving end of an interview. Mark is not only a wrestling enthusiast and writer, but but a seasoned pro at interviews.
Enjoy!
http://www.intermatwrestle.com/articl...
Nancy May
Dogs Don't Talk
Enjoy!
http://www.intermatwrestle.com/articl...
Nancy May
Dogs Don't Talk
April 1, 2015
Dog Imperfect
Spring is usually the time to think about new life. But this spring brought my family the loss of our sweet dog Petey. He was the inspiration for Marty in Dogs Don't Talk.
Having to say goodbye to our beloved dog was something I always envisioned for the distant future. I heard others speak of the grief of losing a dog and could never really grasp their depth of grief. Yes, I had a bit of the "it's just a dog" attitude. After all, that's a rational way of thinking about the death of a creature. But that attitude didn't inoculate me from the pain that can only be understood once having gone through it. Now the question I always thought a little silly - "Is there a dog heaven?"- becomes an important theological question.
In his death, Petey has taught me that loss is an inevitable and painful part of life. Having lost a parent I already knew this and yet it is a lesson that must be learned over and over again.
This has also been a time for reflection as well. Was I a good dog owner? Did I spoil him too much? To be sure, he wasn't a perfect dog: Counter surfing, more than a few accidents in the house and boy, despite training, I never got the Dog Whisperer role completely down as we went on our daily walks.
But his big black eyes always had the "little pup lost" expression that melted away my anger after discovering a half-eaten sandwich. I took his pulling on the leash because he detected a smell along side our path as unabashed enthusiasm, not the uncontrolled animalistic urges I should have addressed better.
Loss brings reflections and lessons on how we can go on living more fully and effectively. Thornton Wilder expressed it so eloquently in the character of Emily in his play, Our Town:
"Let's really look at one another!...It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another...Oh, earth, you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you."
So I can only imagine how much better heaven is! And there, God's creatures are at peace and full of joy. See you soon, Petey.
Having to say goodbye to our beloved dog was something I always envisioned for the distant future. I heard others speak of the grief of losing a dog and could never really grasp their depth of grief. Yes, I had a bit of the "it's just a dog" attitude. After all, that's a rational way of thinking about the death of a creature. But that attitude didn't inoculate me from the pain that can only be understood once having gone through it. Now the question I always thought a little silly - "Is there a dog heaven?"- becomes an important theological question.
In his death, Petey has taught me that loss is an inevitable and painful part of life. Having lost a parent I already knew this and yet it is a lesson that must be learned over and over again.
This has also been a time for reflection as well. Was I a good dog owner? Did I spoil him too much? To be sure, he wasn't a perfect dog: Counter surfing, more than a few accidents in the house and boy, despite training, I never got the Dog Whisperer role completely down as we went on our daily walks.
But his big black eyes always had the "little pup lost" expression that melted away my anger after discovering a half-eaten sandwich. I took his pulling on the leash because he detected a smell along side our path as unabashed enthusiasm, not the uncontrolled animalistic urges I should have addressed better.
Loss brings reflections and lessons on how we can go on living more fully and effectively. Thornton Wilder expressed it so eloquently in the character of Emily in his play, Our Town:
"Let's really look at one another!...It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another...Oh, earth, you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you."
So I can only imagine how much better heaven is! And there, God's creatures are at peace and full of joy. See you soon, Petey.
March 8, 2015
April is Autism Awareness Month
Yes, it's only the middle of March but after all, that is the month to "March Forward!" With that in mind, may I suggest putting Dogs Don't Talk on your to-read list as part of Autism Awareness Month? Not only is this novel about the McDowell's rescue dog Rosie, but Dogs Don't Talk tackles, as reviewer Jane Lynch wrote, "aspects of self-confidence, dealing with bullying, and not being afraid to be yourself."
Benjamin must tackle those issues as many teens do. But because his family won the "autism lottery", he gets embarrassed for standing out in ways he doesn't want. Dogs Don't Talk is a funny, yet warmhearted look at how autism effects a family.
Benjamin must tackle those issues as many teens do. But because his family won the "autism lottery", he gets embarrassed for standing out in ways he doesn't want. Dogs Don't Talk is a funny, yet warmhearted look at how autism effects a family.
