Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 27

An Open Book

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Welcome to the August 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

[image error]Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe by Robert Matzen has been playing inside my husband’s car. The book gives insight into the Army Air Corps during WWII and what the bomber groups experienced. More than Jimmy Stewart,  the actor, Mission is concerned with Jimmy Stewart, the man. Stewart’s family had military roots in the  American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, and he saw such service as his calling (more so than entertaining).

[image error]I finally bumped Cinder Allia by Karen Ullo to the top of my reading list. As the title suggests, the book is a take on the classic Cinderella fairy tale. Only a few elements form the original are retained here, including a slipper lost at a royal ball. The writing is lovely, filled with imagery. The story, which involves a sham prince, a priest/spy, and a mysterious affliction wrought by the tip of the enemy’s arrow, is more intricate than you might expect, involving espionage, war, and shifting loyalties.

[image error]I’m eager to read Broken Brain, Fortified Faith: Lessons of Hope Through a Child’s Mental Illness by Virginia Pillars, with whom I am presenting at the Catholic Writers Conference Live this week.  It is a memoir, “the story of one family’s journey through schizophrenia, navigating the uncharted waters of mental illness to find help for their daughter, Amber, and support for their family. ” It has five out of five stars on Amazon with 47 reviews! I’m looking forward to reading this next.

[image error]School starts in a few weeks, so my son has begun his summer reading project. From a large selection of titles set in medieval times, he selected Timeline by Michael Crichton. (Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott ran a close second.) In a nutshell, young scientists travel in time to medieval France on a daring rescue mission. I’m going to read this time-travelling, swashbuckling thriller when he’s done!

[image error]My soon-to-be fifth grader completed the local library’s summer reading program and was excited to find a book about her favorite thing these days: the American Revolution. In order to prolong her enjoyment, she’s limited herself to a chapter a day of King George: What was his problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn’t Tell You About the American Revolution by Steve Sheinkin and Tim Robinson.  It includes-lesser known but very interesting details about the Revolutionary War and includes maps and battle plans.

[image error]Staircase for the Sisters: A Story of Prayer and Saint Joseph by Pamela Love and John Joseph is an illustrated retelling of the story of the mysterious completion of the staircase in the chapel of the Sisters of Loretto in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1878. It is a quick read about an amazing  (miraculous?) story suitable for about third grade and up. My daughter loved it!

[image error]Handel, Who Knew What He Liked by M.T. Anderson and Kevin Hawkes is another book our family picked up in relation to the library’s music-themed summer reading program. This picture book follows Handel from childhood to the composition of his famous “Messiah” and beyond. My 10-year-old loved the book, but despite the engaging illustrations, the length left my 5- and 6-year-olds drifting off to other activities.

[image error]I’ve added 7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar and Ross MacDonald to my short list of favorite children’s books. The word (and number) play is fabulous! My teenager grabbed this staff pick from the library shelf for his siblings, and we loved it! In a word, 7 Ate 9 is FUN.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
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Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

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Guest Post: Online Writers Conference to Coach Catholic Writers to Succeed

Online–September 14-16, 2018, the Catholic Writers Guild will host, via webinar, an online writers conference focused on helping Catholic writers succeed in their craft. The Catholic Writers Conference Online provides Catholic writers with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, and fellow writers from across the globe. Speakers will discuss writing as a calling, literature as evangelization, and even how genre fiction like horror and science fiction can still reflect Catholic values.

Presenters include Joseph Pearce (Further Up & Further In), Michelle Buckman (Turning in Circles), Karen Ullo (Jennifer the Damned) and many others. Recordings and reference materials from all presentations will be available free to all conference attendees.

The Catholic Writers Conference Online provides Catholic writers with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, and fellow writers from across the globe.
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The webinar conference will also give authors an opportunity to meet with publishing professionals and pitch their writing projects. In the past, publishers from large Catholic presses, including Pauline, Ave Maria, and Our Sunday Visitor, and secular presses like Anaiah Press and Liberty Island, have participated. Of those who pitched at the 2017 online conference, over 10 percent have been offered publishing contracts and several are published, including one finalist for the Catholic Arts and Letters Award, Michelle Buckman.

The Catholic Writers Guild, sponsors the online conference, as well as a live conference in July and a semi-annual writers’ retreat in October. As a religious non-profit organization affiliated with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the CWG uses these conferences to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature.  

CWG President, Joseph Wetterling, says, “The Guild exemplifies the Catholic ‘both/and’ with writers from every part of the world, in every genre, and from every walk of life. We’re diverse in personality and style but united in our loyalty and love of the Catholic faith. The Catholic Writers Conference Live is a unique opportunity to come together in fellowship and sharpen each other toward our united mission: a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”

Registration costs $30 for CWG Members and $45 non-members. To register or for more information, go to https://catholicwritersguild.org/online-conference.

Karina Fabian is a founding member of CWG, always recognized by her black fedora. She’s a wizard at writing–mostly known for science fiction and fantasy, but also writes devotionals. Learn more at http://fabianspace.com.

 

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Seven Quick Takes

 

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Summer Garden Tour Edition

We buried my mother this week and returned home to what seemed like endless days of rain, gloom, and flash flooding. And yet, the sun rises. The flowers bloom. The butterflies flit from flower to flower.

Life is good.

God is good.

Our garden brings no small measure of unadulterated joy.

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For more Quick Takes, visit This Ain’t the Lyceum.

 Thanks for stopping by! Stay a while and look around. Leave a comment. Share with a friend. If you like what you see, please sign up from my author newsletter to keep up-to-date on new releases, extras, and hot deals![image error]

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The Truth Between Us Blog Tour

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Truth Between Us

(Bentwood #2)

By Tammy L. Gray

Inspirational Contemporary Romance

ebook, 252 Pages

July 12th 2018

Nine years to win her. Three years to love her. And one decision that destroyed it all.

April Duncan was raised with three clear truths: the family name is absolute, ambition and success rule over every emotion, and love always comes with strings attached. Image was everything in her carefully crafted world… until the mirror cracked.

Sean Taylor was April’s best friend, the one man who taught her it was okay to let her guard down and to rely on someone. She trusted him. She loved him. Which made his deception the darkest kind of cruelty.

Now, nearly a year later, she’s ready to leave her failed engagement in the past and get back her life and her estranged family, even if it means dating a man solely for his connections. She’ll never again choose love over loyalty.

Sean has spent his entire life breaking barriers, facing challenges, and never giving up. Until one impossible choice destroyed his future and left him no option but to flee from the woman who annihilated his heart.

Now he’s back in Bentwood and determined to make her hear the truth and rebuild the trust he shattered. But April has become a mere shell of the woman who claimed his heart long ago.

Winning her back is more than just seizing a victory, because if he fails… the girl he’s loved for a lifetime will disappear forever.

The Truth Between Us is the second book in the Bentwood series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but it is recommended that you begin with book one to get the full experience among this tight group of family and friends.

Goodreads│Amazon

My Review

The Truth Between Us is the second book in the saga of “The Bentwood Brats,” aptly named, in my opinion. As in the first book in the series, I struggled to relate to most of the characters, whom I found shallow, self-interested, and overly-ambitious, which, of course, gives them room to grow over the course of the story. And no one has more room to grow than cold-hearted, mean April.

More than once, I wanted to shake her ex-fiancée Sean’s shoulders, telling him to move on and find a woman who can actually crack a genuine smile. Sean, however, is more loyal to April than I would have been.

In the second half of the book, Tammy Gray makes even April sympathetic as she finally sees with clarity that her family is little more than an assemblage of soulless creatures whose “love” is conditional, at best.

The last quarter of the book is fast-paced, as the author ties up loose ends and cracks open the hardened hearts of the characters so that real love can spill in. The final book in the series promises the culmination of the rising romantic tension between Beck and Caroline (a Bentwood Brat outsider, whom I DID like) and a healthy dose of suspense.

I appreciate how Tammy Gray has met these characters where they are at, largely broken and faithless. The subtle introduction of Christianity is unseen and realistic, given entry by the desires written on their hearts, the natural law, and those God has put in their path.

I appreciate how Tammy Gray has met these characters where they are at, largely broken and faithless: The Truth Between Us
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Other Books in the Series

Until I Knew Myself

(Bentwood #1)

By Tammy L. Gray

Inspirational Contemporary Romance

ebook, 264 Pages

March 8th 2018

RITA Award-winning author Tammy L. Gray delivers an unforgettable new series following five struggling friends in search of the true meaning of family through secrets, betrayal and the unexpected influence of an outsider…

Tyler Mitchell grew up an orphan, taken in by his best friend’s family when he was only sixteen. Even though ten years have passed, and he’s been given everything he should ever want—a loving home, an adoring girlfriend, a successful career, and lifelong friendships—Tyler has always felt a foreigner in his own life.

When a surprising phone call reveals the death of his biological grandfather, Tyler’s seemingly perfect life starts to unravel. The people he loves most in world have kept from him the greatest secret of all—knowledge of his father’s family.

Now hunting for more information about his past, Tyler discovers nothing is quite as it seems. And the definition of family is far more complicated than choosing between blood and loyalty.

Goodreads│Amazon

About the Author

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. She writes modern Christian romance with true-to-life characters and culturally-relevant plot lines. She believes hope and healing can be found through high quality fiction that inspires and provokes change.

Her characters are real, relatable and deep, earning her a 2017 RITA award in the Romance with Religious and Spiritual Elements category.

When not chasing after her three amazing kids, Tammy can be spotted with her head in a book. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram│Pinterest │Amazon │Newsletter

Tour Schedule

July 16th:

Launch

Remembrancy

Katie’s Clean Book Collection

All-of-a-kind Mom

Christian Chick’s Thoughts

July 17th:

The Power of Words

Uplifting Reads

My Scribbler’s Heart

Locks, Hooks and Books

July 18th:

C Jane Read

Reading Is My SuperPower

Book by Book

Author Austin Ryan

July 19th:

Faithfully Bookish

Wishful Endings

Tell Tale Book Reviews

Rockin’ Book Reviews

July 20th:

Redeemed Hope Dweller

Among the Reads

Christen Krumm

Heidi Reads…

July 21st:

Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

– 1 winner will receive a Kindle ebook of UNTIL I NEW MYSELF, book one in The Brentwood Series, and a $10 Amazon eGift Card

– Open internationally

– Ends July 25th

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: Dystopian Series

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I missed the boat on The Hunger Games and other popular dystopians, coming late to the party with mostly Christian-themed dystopian novels. Here are those that I’ve highly enjoyed!

I’ve listed my review for the first book in each respective series.

The best in Christian dystopian series.
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I Am Margaret Series by Corinna Turner

[image error]I Am Margaret by Corinna Turner

This was my first foray into a dystopian world – one with a Catholic underground, a brave and reckless hero, and a strong and virtuous heroine. Well-drawn characters and enough tension and action to keep you turning pages long after you should have set the book down. I don’t believe my heart has ever thumped like that during a novel’s climax. Can’t wait for book two!

Liberty Series by Theresa Linden

[image error]Chasing Liberty by Theresa Linden

Under the rule of the Regimen in futuristic Aldonia, life and love are separated. God and family are eradicated. Freedom and privacy are non-existent. Or are they?

While the Regimen Custodia Terra has preserved Mother Earth, saving it from the pox of humanity, it has rationed life and personal freedom, creating a morally-bankrupt but compliant society. For Liberty, born of a breeder and raised in age-appropriate governmental facilities, even that cannot extinguish the spark of life within her. By preserving her innocence, privacy, and creativity to the extent allowed, she is able to hear the still, small voice in her heart—the voice she recognizes as her Friend.

The truths that are written on her heart lead her to trust a mysterious stranger who saves her from both physical danger and a life of utilitarian drudgery. For all the effort of the Unity Troops, the Regimen cannot completely quell love and the sacrifices it demands.

Liberty takes the reader on a wild ride through her escape, her first experiences of sacrificial love, God, and community, and her risky return to Aldonia, where recapture means re-education.

Theresa Linden delivers a strong, determined heroine guided by convictions and a virtuous hero, who can treat Liberty with gentleness and compassion in one moment and kick some Regimen butt in the next.

The author creates a realistic vision of a future in which politically-correct, secular, and environmental ideals are taken to the extreme. She paints a physical world so real the reader feels with Liberty her yearning to live free in the natural beauty that has always been kept out of reach.

The ending all but begs for a sequel – one I look forward to reading!

The Gifting Series by K. E. Ganshert

The Gifting by K.E. Ganshert

The Gifting has a little bit of everything – mystery, suspense, romance, action, and a full-out battle between good and evil. In fact, what struck me most about the series, beginning with The Gifting, was the acknowledgement of evil. As a demonic entity tells Tessa, “You see, people have a hard time fighting against something they don’t believe. Their denial makes our job easier.”

The dystopian setting allows the reality of good and evil to penetrate without inducing nightmares. The Gifting hits its mark in making the reader consider unseen realities without fear-mongering.

The sense of immediacy, urgency, and ever-present danger are enhanced by the first person present point-of-view. Seen through Tessa’s eyes, The Gifting will keep you guessing about both her sanity and the loyalty of charismatic, good-looking Luka.

K.E. Ganshert effectively taps into real fears: both those endemic to high school life (being different, ignored by the opposite sex, and misunderstood by parents) and larger, lifelong fears (evil, death, isolation, being unloved, societal collapse). She does an outstanding job of showing the dangers of dabbling in the occult and of deeming certain persons unworthy of life. These threats are such an organic part of the story that the truth shines through without any author interjections or hokey, proselytizing dialogue. Very well done.

The teen romance with all its starts and stops is realistic and clean. Short chapters keep you moving ahead, leading me TWICE to do something I’d never done – click “buy” on my Kindle within seconds of finishing a book because I just couldn’t wait to read more.

The Memoirs of Jane E, Friendless Orphan by Erin McCole Cupp

Unclaimed by Erin McCole Cupp

If you needed proof that Jane Eyre by Chariotte Bronte is a timeless classic, Unclaimed: The Memoirs of Jane E, Friendless Orphan—Book 1 is it.

Erin McCole Cupp expertly re-imagines Jane as among America’s least wanted in the near future: an unclaimed embryo brought to life but unloved then laboring anonymously half a world away from home.

Interestingly, Jane’s hidden existence in a quasi school/sweatshop extends beyond merely weaving textiles, but hidden messages as well. Her only solace is the companionship of the ill Aidann, whose backstory is also modernized, and the compassion of her instructor Bhenji Nealingson.

Unclaimed takes the dear reader to Jane’s first encounter with her absentee employer Mr. Thorne in his fortress beneath the American desert.

Jane Eyre has long been a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed the first part of this retelling immensely. While appealing to the modern reader’s ear, it remains faithful to the truth of the original, even retaining the charm and tone of Bronte’s voice.

You do not, however, have to have read Jane Eyre to enjoy Jane_E. Much like the character herself, chin lifted high, it can stand on its own.

The Uncloaked Trilogy by J. Rhodes

[image error]The Resistance by J. Rodes

I tore through The Uncloaked [renamed The Resistance] in about a day, so I can say it was a smooth read and, particularly in the second half, a real page turner.

The reader witnesses the rapid relegation of religion through the eyes of teen and pastor’s kid Braxton Martin Luther, who fails to recognize the ramifications of the seismic political shift before it’s too late. He’s a flawed but sympathetic character whose devotion to his best friend Eliza is endearing.

Braxton is the most well-developed character, which is to be expected since we are seeing the world through his point of view. I longed for more depth in Eliza, whose strength of conviction is admirable. While I was sympathetic to her circumstances, I would’ve liked to seen more of her personality, particularly her flaws. Braxton chides her stubbornness, but he views her as barely less than perfect in every way.

We get an inkling at the (cliffhanger) end that perhaps there is more resistance to the Party than Braxton or Eliza have known. That detail intrigued me since I wondered at the absence of any organized rebellion in spite of the widespread apathy that ushered in the new regime. It seemed as if a handful of diminishing nondenominational churches were all that stood in opposition to the nationwide demise of religious freedom.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Set in the near future, there’s certainly a lot of food for though for teens about principles, conviction, and responsibility for our country’s political future, particularly in regard to the religious freedom we cherish.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

[image error]Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I did not review this highly popular series, but I very much enjoyed it! Influenced both by classic fairy tales and Star Wars, it is filled with adventure along with humor and romance.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

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Catholic Writers Conference Live 2018 Coming to Lancaster, PA

[image error]The Catholic Writers Guild (CWG) is hosting Catholic Writers Conference Live (CWCL) July 31 – August 2, 2018 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN) Tradeshow. The CWCL, celebrating its 10th anniversary, provides writers, artists, editors, and illustrators opportunities for networking; workshops on writing, publishing, and marketing; pitch sessions; critique sessions; and more.

Attendees have access to the CMN Tradeshow floor, allowing interactions with publishers, vendors, and bookstore owners from across the country. Also in conjunction with CMN, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Adoration, and recitation of the Rosary will be offered.

Marian priest Father Donald Calloway, MIC, will deliver the keynote presentation, “The Power of a Book.” Presenters include Celeste Behe, Regina Doman, Gary Zimak, Lisa Mladninich, and many more.

Attendees are invited to mingle with old and new friends at a game night and social on Tuesday evening.
Separate critique sessions will be offered for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.
Pitch sessions are planned with publishers Ave Maria Press, Ignatius Press, Marian Press, and Our Sunday Visitor.
Also new this year, Meals with Mentors are a chance to share food and discuss a topic of mutual interest with a small group.
Learn more about the Catholic Writers Guild at the annual CWG meeting.

Catholic Writers Conference Live is happening July 31-August 2 in Lancaster, Pa. Register now! https://catholicwritersguild.org/live...
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The CWCL is a thoroughly Catholic, always inspirational mingling of industry professionals, brand-new writers, and seasoned veterans across every genre of creativity. Come for new encounters, shared wisdom, and the chance to share your faith and passions with others.

Information about registration, accommodations, and the conference schedule are available online at https://catholicwritersguild.org/live-conference. The event, which will be held at the Lancaster Convention Center, welcomes CWG members and nonmembers alike. Clergy and religious attend for free.

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Secrets: Visible & Invisible Blog Tour

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Secrets: Visible & Invisible

by Corinna Turner, Cynthia T. Toney, Theresa Linden, Susan Peek, T.M. Gaouette, Carolyn Astfalk, and Leslea Wahl

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A  collection of short stories by seven CatholicTeenBooks.com authors. As described by Mark Hart of Life Teen International, who provides the foreword, “Each story reveals something different about the human heart and our constant (though, often veiled) desire for truth and virtue.”

Secret (n.) – something kept hidden from knowledge or view; a mystery.

In a dystopian future, an innocent picnic turns deadly!
Elijah knows nothing of an elderly stranger’s secret past—until her disappearance changes everything.
A mysterious, ever-changing painting alarms a group of teens.
A cannonball took Dario’s legs . . . Will he lose his soul too?
The arrival of a mysterious girl challenges everything about Jason’s life.
An unlicensed driver. His dad’s truck. What could possibly go wrong?
An old tale of murder and forbidden love leads to a modern-day treasure hunt.

“For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17 RSV-CE)

Buy Now

As an ebook:

Google Books

Kindle

Kobo

Barnes and Noble (Nook)

In paperback:

Amazon

Jump ahead: Book Trailer, Giveaway, My Review, Advance Reviews, Blog Tour Schedule, About the Authors, and find Catholic Teen Books on the the web and social media.

Book Trailer

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review

I don’t rate or review my own books. I mean, I’m hardly objective.  But, I can review the six other short stories in this collection.  The stories are as varied as the authors that wrote them but all are inspired by a shared faith, inspired creativity, and a common theme. The diverse voices and settings offer a small sample of each author’s writing and are varied enough to appeal to both young men and women. Having read many of these stories as drafts and all as finished stories, I can say I am privileged to have my story among them.

As a mother of Catholic children, I’m conscious of the media they consume, including books. There are many, many edifying books that are secular in nature. Fewer that contain Christian themes, and fewer still aimed primarily at young Catholics. I hope that other parents, grandparents, and godparents will appreciate these stories, which stand in contrast to a growing number of young adult books that purport a worldview almost wholly contrary to the values and beliefs held by Catholics. It’s my hope that these stories will foremost entertain but will also support rather than denigrate the faith taught in our homes and in our parishes.

Advance Reviews

“There is a little something for everyone in Secrets, a short-story anthology for Catholic teens. Seven authors cover an array of genres, including dystopian, historical fiction, and romance, while masterfully developing interesting characters and meaningful storylines. Faith is thoughtfully woven into the plots that also creatively incorporate mystery, intrigue, and heart-felt emotion. Fans of these Catholic teen authors will appreciate reading new stories about familiar characters. And first-time readers will be eager to read more in the full-length novels by their new favorite authors.”

Sarah Damm, mom of 6 and writer at sarahdamm.com

“This anthology of short stories for Catholic teenagers is a true literary treasure. It provides genres for every type of reader, each so well written that the reader is invited to fully escape into many different worlds and places. The short stories will take its readers to dystopian Europe, high school hallways, a city block in summer, and a soldier’s medical ward in 16th-century Italy, just to name a few. The characters are diverse, exciting, relatable; their adventures are accessible, mysterious and enthralling. But within these different settings, there is one uniting comfort: God is always there, whether revealed in a desperate prayer to a guardian angel, through pure romantic love, the presence of Christian charity, men and women religious, or within the sacraments. The hope that comes through Catholicism and Jesus prevails in each vignette, and yet there are still heavy doses of drama, suspense and tactful violence. So if your teens seem totally spaced out and properly engrossed, take courage knowing their love of reading and their love of the faith is being fed through these beautiful stories.”

Regina Lordan for Catholic News Service

​“This anthology of Catholic fiction for teens will introduce readers to seven diverse authors. Many of these stories, in a variety of genres but linked by a common theme, offer a peek at characters from full-length novels. Readers already acquainted with these authors will enjoy new perspectives on favorite characters. Kudos to CatholicTeenBooks.com and these seven authors for dreaming up this excellent collection.”

Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS, Editor, CatholicMom.com and Managing Editor, Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine

​“Featuring seven fabulous stories from top authors in Catholic teen fiction, Secrets is as entertaining as it is relevant and thought-provoking. It’s sure to capture your imagination, move your emotions, and stir your soul. Teens and adults alike are sure to enjoy the variety of tales, which are cleverly united by themes of secrets and faith. Packed with powerful, meaningful, memorable stories, this anthology is so good, you won’t be able to keep Secrets to yourself!”

Therese Heckenkamp, Christian suspense author of bestseller Frozen Footprints

​“Seven Amazing Secrets . . . At a time when so much entertainment and fiction for teens is saturated with envy, lust, pride and other moral toxins, the book Secrets: Visible and Invisible is a powerful, and FUN-to-read, virtue-rich alternative. The talented team of authors behind CatholicTeenBooks.com has created the perfect way for readers to enjoy a taste of fresh new fiction that satisfies a deep hunger in the teen soul. Teens . . . you need to get your Catholic parents, grandparents, or teachers to get this book for you. Really. You’ll be glad you did.” 

Cathy Gilmore, Founder/Executive Director of VirtueWorksMedia.com

​“I knew I was in for some great reading when I picked up this collection. What I was not prepared for was how exceptional this collection was. . . . Every story was a remarkable story. Some of the stories were so good, I immediately went back and reread just that story. And then when I finished the book, I reread the whole thing again a few days later. I have a great deal of respect for the seven authors who contributed to this series. And even more so after reading their pieces in this collection.”

Steven R. McEvoy, blogger at Book Reviews & More

“Know a teen reader looking for a book filled with the unexpected? Look no further than Secrets: Visible & Invisible an anthology of 7 short stories from CatholicTeenBooks.com. From tales of bicycles to cars and even a saint standing on the threshold of the “dark side”, there’s plenty here for teen readers to sink their teeth into.”

Pete Socks, The Catholic Book Blogger

​Blog Tour Schedule

July 4

Steve R. McEvoy, Book Reviews and More

July 5

Leslea Wahl, Leslea Wahl

July 6

Barb Szyszkiewicz, FranciscanMom

July 7

Shower of Roses, Shower of Roses

July 8

Carolyn Astfalk, My Scribbler’s Heart

July 9

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur, Spiritual Woman

Sarah Damm, Sarah Damm

July 10

Corinna Turner,  Unseen Books

July 11

Christina Weigand, Palace of Twelve Pillars

July 12

Theresa Linden, Things Visible & Invisible

July 13

T.M. Gaouette, T.M. Gaouette

July 14

Karina Fabian, Fabianspace

July 16

Therese Heckenkamp, Therese Heckenkemp

July 17

Ellen Gable Hrkach, Plot Line & Sinker

CatholicMom, CatholicMom

July 18

Virginia Lieto, Virginia Lieto

About the Authors

CORINNA TURNER is the author of the I Am Margaret series for young adults, as well as stand-alone works such as Drive! and Elfling (for teens) and Someday (for older teens and adults). All of her novels have received the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval (except new releases for which the Seal may be in process).Liberation (‘I Am Margaret’ Book 3) was nominated for the Carnegie Medal Award 2016 and won 3rd place for ‘Teen and Young Adult Fiction’ in the Catholic Press Association 2016 Book Awards. I Am Margaret was one of two runners-up for the ‘Teenage and Children’s Fiction’ Catholic Arts and Letters Award 2016.

Corinna Turner is a Lay Dominican with an MA in English from Oxford University, and lives in the UK. She has been writing since she was fourteen and likes strong protagonists with plenty of integrity. She used to have a Giant African Land Snail called Peter with a 6½” long shell—which is legal in the UK!—but now makes do with a cactus and a campervan. You can find out more at www.IAmMargaret.com.

CYNTHIA T. TONEY writes for preteens and teens because she wants them to know how wonderful, powerful, and valuable God made them. Her novels employ hope and humor to address some of the serious issues young people encounter.

Cynthia is the author of the Bird Face contemporary series, including 8 Notes to a Nobody, 10 Steps to Girlfriend Status, 6 Dates to Disaster, and soon, 3 Things to Forget. A coming-of-age historical, The Other Side of Freedom, is set in a 1920s farming community. Her novels have appeared on numerous Catholic bloggers’ Top 5, 10, or 20 book lists and favorites lists. They have also been featured in Catholic Teacher magazine.

She is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild and whichever author association or writing guild is available in the state in which she might currently reside, which so far has stretched across the southern U.S. to Texas.  She has a passion for rescuing dogs from animal shelters and lives with her husband and several canines. She loves hearing from readers, who can connect with her through her website, www.CynthiaTToney.com.

THERESA LINDEN is the author of the Chasing Liberty dystopian trilogy and the West Brothers series, including Catholic Press Association award-winners Roland West, Loner and Battle for His Soul. She resides in Ohio with her husband and their three teen sons. A Secular Franciscan and a member of the Catholic Writers Guild, her faith inspires the belief that there is no greater adventure than the realities we can’t see, the spiritual side of life. She hopes that her stories will spark her readers’ imaginations and awaken them to the power of faith and grace. Learn more about her and find her social media links at www.TheresaLinden.com.

SUSAN PEEK is the author of the young adult series, God’s Forgotten Friends: Lives of Little-known Saints. All of her novels received the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval and are used in Catholic schools across the English-speaking world. The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland was voted one of the Top 10 Best Catholic Books of 2017 and Crusader King was listed with The 50 Best Catholic Homeschooling Books of 2013. Although Susan’s first love is writing for teens, she’s also authored several children’s books.

Susan is a Third Order Franciscan and mother of eleven children, including two in the Religious life and a son in the U.S. Air Force. She lives in Kansas, where she usually has her nose in a book, finding obscure saints to write about.

You can visit her at www.SusanPeekAuthor.com.

T. M. GAOUETTE is the author of the Faith & Kung Fuseries for young adults, as well as The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch. A member of the Catholic Writers Guild, her novels Freeing Tanner Roseand Saving Faith have received the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval. (Others are in the process). Born in Africa, raised in London, England, Gaouette now lives on a small farm in New England with her husband where she home-schools her four children and raises goats.

A former contributor on Project Inspired, she now writes fiction for teens and young adults. Her desire is to instill the love of God into the hearts of her readers. You can find out more at www.TMGaouette.com.

CAROLYN ASTFALK writes from The Sweetest Place on Earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and four children. In addition to her contemporary Catholic romances (sometimes referred to as Theology of the Body fiction), including the young adult coming-of-age story Rightfully Ours, she writes for CatholicMom.com and Today’s Catholic Teacher. When she’s not washing dishes, doing laundry, or reading, you can find her blogging about books, family life, and faith at www.CarolynAstfalk.com.

LESLEA WAHL lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and children. The furry, four-legged members of her family often make cameo appearances in her novels. Leslea’s writing career began when she was searching for faith-inspired books for her own children and the idea for her first novel popped into her head. That divine inspiration has led to a successful writing ministry that she hopes encourages teens to grow in their faith through fun adventures. For more information about her faith-filled young adult mysteries, visit www.LesleaWahl.com.

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Find all of these authors and others at: CatholicTeenBooks.com.

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An Open Book

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Welcome to the July 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

I hope the (supposedly) more relaxed pace of summer and some vacation roadtrips have given you some extra time for reading. Here’s what we’ve been reading and listening to so far this summer.

[image error]On the return trip from our recent beach vacation, we listened to some of American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America by Linda S. Godfrey. My husband has always had an interest in the odd and spooky side of Americana, and this is right up his alley. The stories include bits of folklore, history, anthropology, and eyewitness accounts. I had no idea there were so many crypto-zoological birdlike creatures beyond Mothman.  

[image error]My husband, a frequent purveyor of the book rack in the back of church, picked up Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. It’s subtitled The Love She Most Deserves, The Respect He Desperately Needs. Based on the fact this Thomas Nelson Publishers book have almost 3,000 reviews, I’m guessing it’s pretty popular. He’s only at the beginning of the book, but my husband said the author’s characterization of the differing needs of spouses rings true in our relationship.

[image error]While on vacation, I thoroughly enjoyed More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer as I sat poolside with one eye trained on my kids. Karen Witemeyer’s books are consistent in their light humor, faith, and sweet romance. Set in late 19th century Texas, this story of an ostracized young woman with one brown eye and one blue eye and a gambler bent on revenge includes an innocent romance, a makeshift family of orphans, a touch of jeopardy, and themes of forgiveness.

[image error]Catholic Teen Books (of which I am a member author), is releasing a seven-story anthology, Secrets: Visible & Invisible, on July 4, the feast of Blessed Pierre Giorgio Frassati, patron saint of youth. It includes short stories by seven different authors, all related to the theme secrets. Some stories are related to the author’s full-length novel, others are not, but each story stands alone. They vary in genre from dystopian to contemporary to historical and include adventure, mystery, and romance. It makes great summer reading and is a perfect introduction to what Catholic Teens Books authors have to offer.

[image error]My oldest son began reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Not to be confused with the horrible romance book Twilight. (His words, not mine. The kid hasn’t even read Twilight.) While the early pages were heavy on description, he’s now enjoying this classic horror novel. (Another classic that I have yet to read.)

[image error]While on vacation, we visited a local used book seller. He was able to pick up an inexpensive copy of Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad. He’s read some of The Secret Sharer in one of his freshman classes, and I recommended Heart of Darkness, which was one of my favorite high school reading assignments. I hope he enjoys the dark journey up the Congo River as much as I did.

[image error]My daughters had the world’s best bus driver last school year, truly. She loaned my 4th grader her Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery to read this summer – the entire series! I’d previously listened to an audio drama adaption of the book with the kids, but my girl is just love, love, loving the book. Her enthusiasm makes me wish I had been introduced to the classic story as a young girl.

[image error]I enjoy coming across picture books with originality, and Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier is original. My soon-to-be 1st grader picked this one up at the library. It’s essentially a series of successively smaller colored pages, each introducing another book. The little kids seem to enjoy opening the little “books” and the repetitive nature of the experience.

[image error]Our trip to the fishing pier on vacation involved a stop at the gift shop, where the little kids chose picture books from a wide selection by Suzanne Tate. My son walked away with Great Sharky Shark and my daughter with Speedy Ghost Crab. I have to admire an author who tapped into the local tourist market with a series of 30+ simple picture books that tell simple stories about coastal animals and their habitats. The kids enjoyed looking at them and reading them during our long ride home.

[image error]My youngest son will begin kindergarten in the fall, and he was encouraged to read many predictable, rhyming books this summer.  We picked up When Cows Come Home by David L. Harrison. I am partial to rhyming books, and we all enjoyed this fun story of what the normally stoic cows are up to when the farmer isn’t looking.

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Seven Quick Takes

 

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North Myrtle Beach Vacation Edition
–1–

It’s not the destination; it’s the journey. That’s what they say when they want you to focus on the beauty in front of you, not what’s ahead of you. Our journey started at midnight, after no sleep. I haven’t pulled an all-nighter since I was an elementary school-aged kid at a slumber party ordering prank call pizzas for cute boys. But, with a few little cat naps, I managed. Dawn came somewhere in southern Virginia while my family slept. There were no accidents, no moving violations, and only one vomiting incident, so I consider it a great success.[image error]

 –2–

The more you know. I left the South and the shore with two public service announcements to share.

#1: Maybe sunscreen does expire. At least that’s our preliminary observation after the six of us, coated in sunscreen, returned from the beach with our exposed skin a bright red hue.

#2: Cigarette smoking is still a thing, and it’s still bad for you. We were deep in tobacco country, but we felt like we’d time-traveled to the 1970s. I haven’t seen so many smokers since, well, the 1970s. My kids, who are growing up in a nearly smoke-free environment, crinkled their noses as we inhaled secondhand smoke at the pool and on the beach. I thought maybe it was a fluke, but based on the number of anti-smoking ads we saw on local TV, it was not.

–3–

We will not all agree on our idea of what constitutes vacation relaxation. And that’s … okay. We had a beach comber, pool lovers, people who preferred sleeping in, and early risers. Some content to chill in the motel room. One insistent that such chill is *not* vacation-worthy. Everyone has to give a little. And it’s okay. (I may keep repeating that until everyone here absorbs the message.)[image error]

–4–

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a hotel room with cable TV must broadcast Spongebob Squarepants 24/7. More Spongebob was consumed in one week than in the past year. For variety, we mixed it up with some Peppa Pig, which despite its simple (super simple) animation is surprisingly entertaining for the whole family. And when the youngest kids finally slept, a little Food Network rounded out the selections.

–5–

Dog-slow WiFi is equal parts frustrating and liberating. I’d already planned on minimizing my electronic tether to the world, but the truth is that ignoring all incoming messages for an entire week makes for misery on re-entry. With enough pre-scheduling and only a minimal perusal of messages and notifications, I felt less bound to devices, aided by WiFi that c-r-a-w-l-e-d. If the wait outweighed the urgency, I set the phone aside. And it was good.[image error]

–6–

The memories were worth it. Logic says we should not have taken this vacation. We still had a balance of Catholic school tuition that we knew we’d be unable to pay until the end of June. We’d just learned we needed electrical work amounting to $900 and a new boiler/furnace estimate at about $10,000. I can barely keep up with daily life, let alone do the work necessary to anticipate eight days away from home. Only one person in our household of six previously had enough clothes to even get through a week away from the washer/dryer. The timing wasn’t the best. We’d inadvertently backed the vacation up to the end of our son’s week at Scout leadership camp. In short, we had a lot of sound reasons not to take a week-long vacation. Again. But we did. For the first time in a few years, a least. Now, I’m not advocating a devil-may-care attitude that will drive you into debt. We had made a down payment on our inexpensive motel room and set aside money from our income tax return for the balance. Money that on paper would be better spent elsewhere. But I do not regret a dime of it. Our children are growing fast, and it’s not long until life takes them in other directions, away from our little family. It’s worth a little financial risk to give them memories of pre-dawn walks on the beach with Daddy, a mini golf hole inside a pirate ship, parasailing over the Atlantic Ocean, and sitting in the surf with a plastic shovel.[image error]

–7–

Re-entry into normal life is always overwhelming. The day after we returned, I did eight loads of laundry in our large-capacity washer and dryer. And that didn’t get it all done. I sifted through more than 500 email messages. I scavenged meals from ingredients found in the back of the freezer or stored in the basement. Verdict: Still worth it.

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For more Quick Takes, visit This Ain’t the Lyceum.

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Interview with YA Fantasy Author Katy Huth Jones

What appeals to you about the fantasy genre, particularly as a facet (an under-represented facet) of Christian fiction?

What appeals to me about the fantasy genre, and Christian fantasy in particular (both to read and to write) is the way spiritual truths can be woven into a story with fantastical and/or supernatural elements in a way that often has a greater impact than reading a contemporary or straight historical story. As Aslan the lion, the Christ figure in the Chronicles of Narnia tells Lucy at the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, “This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” Even though there is no Christ figure in my Mercy series, sacrificial love is a huge theme.

The Mercy series appears to have all of the necessary elements that make readers fall in love with a fantasy tale: an honorable hero, danger, love, and fearsome enemies. How would you summarize the series?

[image error]The initial idea for He Who Finds Mercy came from my frustration with “strong” fantasy heroines who were totally unrealistic and poor role models for teens. I wanted to create a brave young woman who did not have to resort to violence. I did not expect the story to grow to epic proportions, but it spans fifteen years of Mercy the Healer’s life, from age 14 to 29. Through wars, betrayals, and great personal loss, Mercy and her loved ones grow in their faith in the Most High God. Though based on twelfth century British Isles, the world grew organically from the situation, and there are dragons of all sizes, castles, knights, and a gifted royal family. The first book, Mercy’s Prince, can stand alone; the first three can be read as a trilogy; and the last two can be read without reading the first three, since they take place eleven years after book three.

My son and I both loved your novel about St. Wenceslaus, Treachery and Truth: A Story of Sinner, Servants, and Saints. How did you decide upon the point of view from which it is written?

[image error]I originally thought I’d make the story from Wenceslaus’ point of view, but he is such a hero to me that I realized it would be more effective to dramatize his life through the eyes of a character who also saw him as a hero, the servant Poidevin. I fictionalized Poidevin’s conversion from paganism to Christ as a demonstration of Wenceslaus’ godly influence upon the Czech people during his short reign. My first version of the story began when Poidevin was eight, but Pauline Books & Media asked if I could age the character so they could market it as a teen book. I told them the oldest I felt I could make him was twelve, since Wenceslaus is fourteen at the beginning of the story, and I definitely didn’t want Poidevin to be older than his master.

You were able to visit Prague, where the Statue of St. Wenceslaus is. What did that visit mean to you, having delved into the saint’s life and Bohemian history?

It was a dream come true to finally visit Prague in 2016. In my search for St. Wenceslaus, I found MUCH more than just the famous statue in Wenceslaus Square. Because most of Prague survived the bombing of World War II, there were so many OLD places, even dating back to the tenth century, when Wenceslaus lived. I walked where he walked, saw things he would have seen. There were statues of him everywhere I looked, but the most moving sights were at Prague Castle. His chain mail and helmet were on display in the museum. And the Wenceslaus Chapel inside the St. Vitus Cathedral was even more beautiful in person than in photos. He is entombed there, in the same location where he was originally buried in the first St. Vitus Church he had built during his lifetime. We are going back in October to revisit my favorite places and see other places we missed on the first trip.

Why write for teens and young adults rather than adults?

Even though I will turn sixty next month, I still feel like a seventeen-year-old on the inside. I remember how it felt to be that age so clearly. I also taught middle school and high school age band students for over twenty years, and they always stimulated my imagination. My husband says he’s glad I’ve remained child-like and innocent. Sometimes it’s a handicap being so naïve as an adult, but it does make it easy to be a fun grandma![image error]

What project are you working on now?

I’ve started a new fantasy series of five books entitled Mercy’s Children (one book for each of her children—the first is Dolan’s Bride). I wasn’t planning to write more in Mercy’s world; I was actually trying to finish a clean contemporary romance about two band directors I started over ten years ago, but those characters weren’t “talking” to me. In one night, the storylines for the five books popped into my head and I decided not to fight it. To be honest, I was reluctant to leave the land of Levathia, and now I don’t have to!

[image error]Katy Huth Jones grew up in a family where creative juices overflowed and made puddles to splash in. In addition to writing Christian fantasy, historical fiction, and poetry, Katy plays multiple musical instruments and loves sewing and photography. She and her husband live in Fort Worth, Texas. Their two sons, whom she homeschooled, have flown the nest and live creative lives of their own. Best of all, three precious children now call her Grandma.

Blog:  http://katyhuthjones.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KatyHuthJones

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KatyHuthJones

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