Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 99

A review of Mary and the Marauding Indians by Mary Carpenter

Book Name            :       Mary and the Marauding Indians: A    Mail Order Bride Novel  Author                     :       Mary Criswell-Carpenter        Genre                      :       Historical FictionNumber of Pages    :       65Publishing Date     :       6thOctober 2015Binding                   :       Kindle EditionASIN                       :       B0169YFZS2
Rating : 3.5



Blurb Mail Order Bride Wanted: 49 year old retiring soldier desires young bride who wants children. Must be very neat and cook a good roast beef and apple pie. Slovenly women need not apply. 

Lt. Col. William Lewis has been in the army since he was 15 and entered West Point. Army life is all he's ever known, but a wife is what he wants now. He thinks what would suit him best would be a young wife so he can start a family quickly. 

Mary Thompson has cared for children all of her life, as she is the fourth daughter of ten, growing up in rural Arkansas. She loves children, cooking and sewing. Her three older sisters were mail order brides and she thinks it's her time now. William and Mary agree to marry and raise a family, but Lt. Col. Lewis has one more mission to complete. 

The Northern Cheyenne have left Ft. Reno in Indian Territory and fled to Kansas to return to their homelands. They don't like the limitations of reservation life and are longing for Montana. The Cheyenne, led by Little Wolf and Dull Knife, sneak out of the reservation and cross over into Kansas. When the Army hears of the escape, they send Lt. Col. Lewis in pursuit. 

Mary arrives in Dodge City while Colonel Lewis is on patrol. She refuses to accept that his life may be in danger. Then the unthinkable happens and Mary is alone. Whatever will she do now?
Plot The novella is a historical romance in the background of the battle between the Cheyenne Indians and the Army. Mary Thompson reaches Dodge city with dreams of getting married to Lt. Col. Lewis. On reaching Dodge City, she realizes that the life in Dodge City would not be what she had expected since the news she heard was the demise of Col. Lewis. The story proceed with Mary’s struggle to cope up with the unfortunate turns in her life. Will she remain the unwed widow of Col. Lewis? Will she go out in pursuit of new life? What happens to the Cheyenne Indians?
Main Characters Mary Thompson: The protagonist; A 21 years old girl who decided to become the mail order bride of a 49 years old Army manBill Lewis: 49 year old soldier living in Dodge City. Chief Little Wolf,Chief Dull Knife, Chief Wild Hog, Chief Standing Bear and Chief Calf Skin Shirt.: Cheyenne Indians fighting for the rights of their fellowsAmanda and Caroline: Two of Mary’s sisters. Charles and David     : Husbands of Amanda and Caroline respectivelySam and Robert        : Mary’s suitors

Highlights "I'm concerned you will be a young widow with children to support on your own.”
She had been planning to marry Bill sight unseen! Who was she to criticize Robert's whirlwind of romantic intentions?
Being an ardent lover of historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The book begins with a detailed note of the battle between the Cheyenne Indians(American Indians) and the army. The exploitations of the tribal is not an isolated incident. It had been a grave issue for centuries, irrespective of the demographics. Authoress portrays the picture of the lives of the Cheyenne Indians in reservations and circumstances that led to their escape and finally the battle. The fighting spirit of Mary is inspirational. The life of Mary is explained in a slow pace, like several historical fiction books. The book had the qualities to become a classic. The writing style and mode of depiction is similar to a couple of classic books. The idea of Mail order bride is new to me. It is informative to know that there was a historical version of the modern internet weddings.
Drawbacks The book started as a story of the Indians till Mary reaches Dodge City. Later on, apart from one or two dialogues and a scene there is no account of the battle. A detailed account would have done justice to the title. Mary’s romantic relations could have been elaborated. As with Col. Lewis, it is understandable that Mary and Lewis barely knew each other, but later when Mary decides to move on, a detailed account of the same would have been interesting to read. The trip to Independence, Kansas ought to be more expansive since it is a major twist in Mary’s life. One Liner A novella with a potential of being a classic with a little rework.
Avail the book from Amazon

About the Author

Mary Criswell-Carpenter writes Christian Historical Fiction in her Mail Order Bride Series, non-fiction ebooks, and historical fiction that is not romance. She has 6 books on the drawing board right now.

Mary is a voracious reader of all genres except explicit horror, and loves sunshine, God, chihuahuas, to write, to read, and quilt. She is married, has two chihuahuas, and three children, Trey, Melanie, and Steven, grown and scattered throughout the United States. She has 12 grandchildren.

She is a graduate of both Ottawa University and Saint Paul School of Theology and served as a United Methodist Pastor in the Little Rock Annual Conference and the Kansas East Annual Conference. She now resides in Mississippi in a small country town near the Tennessee River.

Reviewed for the author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A review of Lust4life: UPS and downs by J.B.NANDALAL

Book Name             :       Lust4Life-Ups and Downs       Author                     :       J.B.NandlalPublisher                 :       Cyberwit.netGenre                      :       Non-fictionNumber of Pages    :       98Publishing Date     :       2013Binding                   :       PaperbackISBN                       :       9788192818702
Rating : 3.5



Blurb
What people really need and demand from life is not Wealth, Comfort and Fame but JOY, a state of mind of happiness which comes from waves of ups and downs, the challenges with sense of achievement. There has to be purpose of life, hope brings optimism. It makes the mind positive, a distressed mind causes misery and unhappiness, the cause is multiple, unrealistic desires which cause worry and distress. Fewer desires means less distress.

Highlights Laugh and the world laughs with you; Weep and you weep alone Who doesn’t like their grandparents? The book reminded me of my late grandfather. Had he lived a little longer, he would have told me the same things author said in the book. Through years of experience and knowledge. The book covered practically every aspect of life a person will go through. The book is an account of what life is all about. About success, failure, challenges, achievement, emotions, etiquette, health, memory, money, worship, meditation etc. To save the best for the last, author has given a short note on his autobiography


Drawbacks Author tried to incorporate a lot of things in a single book, that none of the topics are explained in details. The book could have been concentrated on any single topic or divided into two or three volumes.


One Liner

A grandfather’s advice for the new generation.

Avail the book from CYBERWIT.NET  & Amazon

About the Author



Mr. J.B.Nandlal, a senior citizen  based in Mumbai  had graduated in hotel management in India and further in U.K. During his active working life, he held senior management positions in hospitality industry for more than three decades, subsequently he operated as hospitality management consultant for two decades , coordinating projects for  hotels , airline on board services, food & beverage chains  etc. in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and other places. He commenced his career with Indian Airlines in 1958 at Kolkatta & Delhi and having reached the position of regional manager for on board services, he had the opportunity to extensive travel in India & abroad, and subsequently as General Manager of Ambassador Skychef and Air India's Chefair, Mumbai-Delhi, had a chance to associate wit many International reputed airlines, providing them services of  global standards.Not being able to catch up with advancing age and to maintain creativity  and some purpose to live the journey of life, started writing non- fiction books with a subjective title, having experienced real life situations and interacting with people of varied regions and nationalities.





Reviewed for the publisher
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The childhood writer grew to a perfect author- A review of One Last Wish by Nicole Belanger

Book Name             :         One Last Wish      Author                     :         Nicole Belanger   Publisher                 :         Wavecloud CorporationNumber of Pages    :         236Publishing Date     :         October 5,2015Binding                   :         PaperbackISBN                       :        
Rating : 4.0
13: 9781622173181

Blurb Time is never on our side. It’s always selfishly working against us. When Sarah went missing, time slipped by with the blink of an eye, and the faster it passed, the faster I lost hope. Hope that she’d still be alive. Hope that she would come home safely. And it wasn’t until Officer Reed Parker knocked on my door that I thought it was finally over. But it’ll never be over. They found her body. She’s dead. But who took her? Who killed her? Was it the same set of eyes that stalked me in the night, lurking behind corners, between cars, and waiting? For what? To take me, next? When the people I love most start slipping away from me, fingers start pointing in different directions and I wonder who I can truly trust. That’s the thing about time, it’s infinite, but eventually you run out of it.  Plot One last wish is the story of Brooke Ryder. Her life topple over when her little daughter Sarah goes missing. She, along with her grandmother, holds on to the hope of finding Sarah safe and sound, till officer Reed Parker comes to inform her Sarah is no more. The next moment she finds herself as one of the suspects, in the name of procedure. She tries to find solace in the drinks she gets from the bar. Even the grieving session with her grandmother could not help her. At the verge of losing herself, she meets Sean Crawford, who holds her hand and helps her swim away from the sinking ship. Sarah’s father Mike (Michael Gerard) returns to Brooke’s life after Sarah’s demise. But Brooke is not ready to accept someone who deserted her when he knew that she was pregnant. Brooke is happy with Sean, but for the feeling that someone is stalking her. Brooke, along with Sean, decides to find the culprit.Nevertheless, happiness is never permanent in Brooke’s life. First, she lost her mother when she was a sixteen. Then she lost her boyfriend when she was eighteen. Then she lost her daughter when she was twenty-five. Brooke is not ready to face another disaster in her life but she never knew that the tornadoes in her life had just begun. The rest is reserved for the book. Characters Brooke Ryder: The protagonist. Twenty-five year old girl who lives with her grandmother and daughter.Sean Crawford: A bartender who walks into Brooke’s life when her hopes started fading.Michael Herard: Brooke’s ex-boyfriend who left her when she got pregnant with his child.Reed Parker: The police officer investigating Sarah’s murder.Nana: Brooke’s grandmotherSarah: Brooke’s daughter who is present all over the story even if she is not there.
                             Highlights
“Everyone makes mistakes,” she says, “but we have to learn from them. We have to find the hidden message we’ve been given from it. Sometimes we find that message; other times we don’t.”
The authoress has done justice to the characters. The plot is a close-knit one without any lose ends. The pain Brooke felt on losing her daughter is portrayed with utmost conviction. The relations of Brooke with Nana, Sean, Mike and Reed have been portrayed in a crisp and sharp manner. Authoress has tried to maintain the mystery element and succeeded in the same. The language and literary style is simple but professional. Brooke as a mother, granddaughter, and lover is perfectly portrayed. Authoress take us smoothly to a ride through Brooke’s life and forces us to keep reading. Unlike most of the indie author books, this book had practically no grammar mistakes or typos, which impressed me the most.



Sometimes, when a killer goes free, they hang around the grave of the person they killed.

Drawbacks At some points, the relation between Sean and Brooke seem to be dragged too much at the wrong timing. After reading one fourth of the story, I could guess the mystery but that might be because I have been reading a lot of thrillers lately. The grieving sessions seem to be misplaced. It could have been avoided or elaborated a little more.

One Liner
An emotional and romantic thriller
Avail the book from AMAZON

About the Author


Nicole has been writing since she was six-years old. When she was thirteen, she began writing her first book, Lost Voice, which she finished at fifteen. Shortly before her high school graduation, Nicole published her first book at the age of seventeen. She began working in the medical field when she was eighteen as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She’s also an avid photographer, featuring one of her photographs on the cover of Lost Voice. Since then, Nicole has published two additional books, Shadows (2014) and One Last Wish (2015).






Reviewed for the author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

An Anthology of short stories Translated from Odiya- A Review

Book Name             :       Kanhu & Other Stories        Author                     :       Saroj Mishra(Translator)   Publisher                 :       Platinum PressGenre                      :       Fiction(Anthology)Number of Pages    :       109Publishing Date     :        2015Binding                   :       PaperbackISBN                       :       9789383562800
Rating : 4.5



Blurb Original authors are all well-known writers, some of them winners of the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi awards and others honored with several state-level awards. The stories in this anthology reflect the rich and divergent cultural heritage of Odisha and the current thinking in Odiya society varying from focus on the plight of the underprivileged to the struggles of different sections of society in dealing with moral dilemmas. The stories have been selected carefully to promote the Odiya language, with its colorful idiom, the heritage, and the social ambience of Odisha, to a wider audience so that the readers can learn about its rich literature and the glorious history of Odisha.



Plots

Kanhu & other stories is an anthology of 10 stories written by Award winning authors. The book is translated from Odiya by Saroj Mishra. The review of the ten stories follows     1.     Kanhu- by Gaura Hari Das
Kanhu is the story of a sixteen year old boy who was assigned the job of supervising a house construction. He considers the home as his own and loves each brick used to build it. Encouraged by his master, he plays the role of a manager. After the construction, he goes back to his native place to bring his mother to the new house but what awaits him is an unexpected fate.The story travels through the intricacies of Kanhu’s love, loyalty, dreams and passion. He is the representative of those innocent youth who toils to serve their masters to get nothing but negligence in return.
     2.     Mystery of the Closed iron chest.- by Sahadev Sahoo
This is a story about old Sudarshan and his mysterious iron chest. Tagged as a miser, Sudarshan himself is a mystery to his family. The mystery of the chest unveils after his demise. The story is about Sudarshan’s lonely life and how he found solace from his forlornness. Author tells us not to judgemental about anyone, through this story.
     3.     Last Opportunity- by Bipin Bihari Mishra
The book is a story of encounter between Amareesh- a police officer and an old man, at the venue of the famous chariot festival. The old man came to festival to meet his wife after five years. The old man lives with his elder son and his wife with his younger son. The story reminds us that one day; we will also shed the grandeur and security of youth. The old man is the embodiment of a mass of overlooked people in their old age.
     4.     Inauguration of Electric Crematorium- by Paresh Kumar Patnaik
This is a story of travail Municial Executive Office Alek and his Assistant Guru in obtaining a dead body for the inauguration of the Electric Crematorium. An interesting satirical drama portrays the futility of human lives. The conditions cited by the minister regarding dead body and the dead body with the goggles tickles the funny bones as well as pulls the pain string. The story is a comedy ride as well as a tragic reality show.
     5.     The Wound- by Ramachandra Behera
Wound is the story of Jagu, his wife Hema and the children whom they adopted. Well, not legally but they live in Jagu’s house and he looks after them like his own kids. Jagu life takes a U-Turn when two journalists-Tushar and Prakash- visit him and report his life. The story unveils the persona of hypocrisy; how people try to take advantage Jagu’s benevolence for their benefit.
     6.     Mission Heart- by Saroj Mishra
This is the story of Prakash Nanda, an unemployed person, who was dragged into the Marital and extra marital intricacies, by the inescapable and alluring job offer. He is assigned a job by Sanjukta Dash to entice a girl named Swathy, who was in an alleged relation with her husband. As th story proceeds, Prakash becomes an inevitable part of the lives of Sanjukta,Prasant Kumar Dash and Swathy. The story portrays the fragility of relations in modern times.
     7.     Gagan Majhi and his kin- by Bibhuti Patnaik
     The story is about the battle of dalit anit-displacement against a mega steel plant. Majhi was silenced by a few conspirators but they fail to lead a peaceful life. Author wails for the empowerment of the exploited.     8.     Drowning- but Shyama Prasad Chouwdhary.
Drowning is a psychological thriller? That is how I would interpret it. The confusing and illusive journey of the protagonist through the death of Ipsita and Ramesh.
     9.     Travel and Shoes- by Sri Prasad Mohanty.
The story is a lighthearted tale depicting a conversation inside Pondicherry- Bhubaneshwar Superfast, between the travel mates.
     10.   Goal Keeper- by Barendra Krishna Dhal
This is the story of Janmejoy, who is a government employ trying to meet the ends. He is also a football player who is loyal to his club. P.K.Chowdhary, the owner of their rival club approaches him with an exciting offer in return of match fixing. On one hand sister’s wedding and shortage of money. One the other hand, Self-respect, and professional ethics. Which one does he chooses is interesting to read? The author reinforces the importance of upholding our values.
Highlights
It will take me more than one post to explain the highlights of the book. Each story has a strong plot and fantastic character craft. The stories are the mirrors to the present scenario in the society. From bribery to dowry, conspiracy to jealousy, self-respect to honesty: Authors depicted how the present society exists. The cultural heritage and living standards of the society I mirrored well. The book teaches us the meaning of the proverb ‘Experience is the best teacher’, since the authors have proved what experience really means. “What if the corpse does not meet the critetia laid down by the minister?”INAUGRATION OF ELECRIC CREMATORIM
 BY PARESH KUMAR PATNAIK




Saroj Mishra has shown justice to the stories and he succeeded in portraying the essence of Odiya society.
“The work is over, they are not needed anymore”KANHU BY GOURA HARIDAS


                                                                                              The book is a part of the Platinum Classics collection. I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate Leadstartcorp in their sincere effort to bring other language books into English so that readers get to know the real meaning of cultural heritage. “You have upheld your pride and morality instead of your desperate need for money”GOALKEEPER BY BARENDRA KRISHNA DHAL





Drawbacks There were a few typos. The number of typos is negligible but since the stories are all perfect, the typos stood out like a sore thumb.


One Liner An anthology of stories with the fragrance of Odisha Soil
Avail the book from AMAZON , other online websites & Leadstart





Reviewed for the publisher (Platinum Press)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

For the Mobile Home Investors- A Review of Real Estate Investing Sucks by Rachel Hernandez

Book Name          :  Real Estate Investing Sucks: How to Deal with Change and Find Success as a Real Estate Investor 

Author                  : Rachel Hernandez     
Publisher               :  Bitter Melon Publishing LLC  
Number of Pages  :  63 Pages
Publishing Date     : June 22, 2015
ASIN                     : B0109660PI  



Rating : 3.75


Blurb Want to Run a Successful Real Estate Investing Business?

Are you trying to build and sustain a long-term real estate investing business? Do you want to spend more time with your family and less time in a job?

The key to being a successful real estate investor is not only to make money when the market is high or low, but also learn how to create a sustainable real estate investing business for the long term.

With over a decade of experience in real estate investing, Rachel Hernandez, also known as Mobile Home Gurl, has learned what it takes to run a successful real estate investing business for the long term. Looking back, every time there has been an obstacle in the way, the one consistent theme where she has learned and has been challenged the most has been change.

By being able to adapt and learn from the changes that happen, Rachel has been able to overcome the obstacles she has faced in all facets of her real estate investing business. In this book, she will teach you what she has learned so you too can overcome these changes and run a successful real estate investing business for the long term.

Inside you'll learn how to handle the types of changes in your real estate investing business including;
Market Changes
Management Changes
Personnel Changes
Marketing Method Changes
Funding Changes
Partnership Changes
Personal Situation Changes Also, you will discover the one wild card that can boost your success if you seize the opportunity:

Luck and the Part It Plays

Plus, 

You'll get information to additional resources that will help you on your real estate investing journey.

Would you like to know more?

Read the book today and start getting results! 
Highlights Real Estate Sucks is a non-fiction book. Rachel is a successful mobile home investor who paved her way through the tides. Doing business in real estate is never easy. We will have to face several hassles. Things are never the same. Members of my team change or funding run out or partnership with another investor no longer works And last but not least, personal situation changes. The list goes on and on. Rachel explains how she managed to sway with the tide and even against the tide in such situations. The book is divided into nine chapter, a bonus chapter, and a conclusion. The chapters are all systematically arranged with each chapter addressing each issue. End of each chapter, she cites the lesson she learned while coping up with the issues. The book is a crisp and clear, quintessential real estate book which will help the beginners and the strugglers equally. While explaining the risks involved each alternatives she adopted, she clearly mentioned which one is for beginners and which one for the experienced ones. In short the book addresses every issue a real estate investor faces, while in mobile home investing business. If you are planning to try your luck in the same, this book will definitely be an asset. Rachel has also given a reference to her blog Adventures in Mobile homes where in she shared her stories and experiences of investing in mobile homes.
Drawbacks The introduction was more like a chapter outline. This could have avoided since a chapter index was already included before. Introduction could have made a little bit crisper. The part where she explains about issues in partnership, equal emphasis could have been given to successful partnerships. Otherwise, new comers would be weary of trusting others. In real estate business partnership is a risk but if we get the right person, we can make more than what we make alone. This part could have been explained. The book is mainly about mobile home investing business. Hence the title could have been related to Mobile Home Investing , instead of Real Estate Sucks because the word real estate brings different pictures in the minds of different people.
One Liner This is the best and the first book a person should grab if he/she is planning to be a mobile home investor
Avail the book from AMAZON.IN & AMAZON.COM About the Author
With over a decade of real estate investing experience, Rachel Hernandez spent several years as a landlord before taking the leap to specializing in mobile home investing. Rachel is the creator of Adventures in Mobile Homes (www.adventuresinmobilehomes.com), a blog dedicated to sharing her stories and adventures investing in mobile homes. Rachel Hernandez has one investing strategy: K.I.S.--Keep It Simple.





Reviewed for the author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Review of Agogos by Bharat Menon

Book Name          :  AGOGOS            

Author                  :    BHARAT MENON   

Publisher               :  CYBERWIT.NET     

Publishing Date     :  2013

Binding                  : PAPER BACK

ISBN                     :  9788182534421


Rating : 3.5


Blurb  Agogos follows the story of Carl, a man who is similar to many of 
the modern men of this century. Through him, the reader is able to 
see how a simple man is forced to question beyond right vs wrong,
 faith vs freedom, security vs adventure. The reader is made to 
follow an unstructured structured story through Carl s stream of 
consciousness. The booked is marred in depth of many a quaint 
optimism.
Highlights Agogo is an unconventional story of Carl, whose mind travels through several realms of craziness. The book is a novella divided into 10 chapters.The main character are Carl, M, old man, and a frog. Carl is accused of committing a crime, which M did. Who is M? That’s a suspense. Every chapter is structured in a unique manner with a prose in the beginning and poetry in between. Author explains the psychological and philosophical journey of Carl. The book cover is designed by author himself. He did the art work in the 8th chapter as well, which came out in sync with the story. The book is a sincere effort to introduce a new form you literature to the readers. Drawbacks Author tried really hard to bring out a philosophical journey but at certain areas, he failed to portray the same convincingly. There were a few grammatical errors.

One Liner For those who like to read something different from the usual literary propaganda, this is a good choice.
Avail the book from CYBERWIT.NET & AMAZON

About the Author
Bharat Menon was born in the small coastal town of Kozhikode (Calicut) in Kerala. He completed his Bachelor's degree from Loyola College, Chennai in 2010. He currently works as a Financial Analyst in a Wall Street firm. The cover painting titled 'Peering through a Window' as well as the illustrations inside on Chapter 8 are done by the author himself. The title of the book, AGŌGOS is from a Greek word. Etymologically it means 'leading to'. The paintings and title are reflections of the author's various Lucid Dreams.



Reviewed for the author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Augustine Sam, author of Conspiracy explains how he pulled off his career by writing in English from Italy

Author InterviewDusshehra has made this resumption quite an auspicious one for me as I can restart with the author of one of the best books I’ve reviewed recently. Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Augustine Sam, author of The Conspiracy of Silence
v Hi  Augustine, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Augustine:      Thanks for having me. It’s quite an honor to be given an opportunity to talk about my work. v Tell us a little about yourself and your background?Augustine:      I am an Italian citizen of African descent. I’m a journalist by profession, a bilingual poet, and a novelist. I was formerly Special Desk editor at This Day newspapers, an African daily first published with the Financial Times of London, I later became correspondent for central Europe. I’ve been involved with the art of storytelling in one form or another ever since I was a kid. While still in school I wrote plays for radio; I also scripted and voiced a satirical radio program called "City Caravan" that was quite successful for a few years.      v So, what else have you written? Augustine:      Well, apart from the radio plays, I’ve written short stories for magazines. And I’ve published poems in two international anthologies: The Sounds of Silence & Measures of the Heart . My contest entry in the North America Open Poetry Contest, Anguish & Passion , was adjudged winner of the Editors’ Choice Awards sponsored by the National Library of Poetry, USA. I am also the author of Take Back the Memory , a contemporary women’s fiction, which was awarded a 5-star medal by Readers’ Favorite. My second book, Flashes of Emotion , a collection of poems, was the 2015 International Book Award finalist. The Conspiracy of Silence is my latest work.         v Where can we buy or see them?Augustine:      I have a blog - http://augustinesam.blogspot.com- where I post stuff about my writings, poetry, articles, and wisecracks. My books are available in all major online bookstores like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. For The Conspiracy of Silence, the following link is global - http://bookShow.me/B015YF1T9Q. It works equally in the U.S., U.K., India, Canada and so on. Same goes for Take Back the Memory on this link: http://bookShow.me/B00OCBWC8Gand http://bookShow.me/B00TLS3OHS for the poetry collection, Flashes of Emotion. The books may also be purchased directly from the CreateSpace store here: https://goo.gl/iFlV1O. Readers who also enjoy visuals may visit my YouTube channel - https://goo.gl/JOHcJL- for movie book trailers of my novels. Interestingly, excerpts of The Conspiracy of Silence can be read on my website (see link below) or on Bublish.com where readers have a rare chance of taking in the "story behind the story" on my current book buble at this link:  https://www.bublish.com/bubble/stream....      
v Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?Augustine:      In The Conspiracy of Silence, the main character is Rita Spencer, a young defense attorney who shied away from the spotlight until her boyfriend’s indictment for murder threw her into the very limelight she dreaded. By an uncanny twist of fate, she stumbled on an important piece of evidence that turned out to be a game changer. Spurred by the information in her possession and the riveting legal tricks she had learnt from her boss and mentor, she embraced the challenge with determination. Despite personal issues with her boyfriend, a Hollywood megastar (who clearly lived in a glass house and should never throw stones), she went to great lengths to outwit diabolical forces in order to save him from the murder rap. Now, what makes her special is not just her feminine grace but her courage as well and the mesmerizing way she transformed herself from an underdog into a player with an ace, as was evident in the epic courtroom showdown. v What are you working on at the moment?Augustine:      I’m currently working on the first part of a suspense trilogy that I’ve been developing for some time now. It’s a Literary piece that runs like a fast-paced thriller, imbued with all the elements of mystery. But I’m afraid I can’t give out the details yet, I hope you understand.          v What genre are your books?Augustine:      Well, The Conspiracy of Silence is a thriller, a genre I really feel at home with, though my debut novel, Take Back the Memory, is a contemporary women’s fiction because of the nature, and particularly, the evolution of the story. Of course, it has elements of suspense and romance in it. But I’m also a poet, so that puts me squarely in three genres.           v What draws you to this genre?         Augustine:      I love poetry because it helps bring out thoughts and expressions in ways that other genres suffer a limitation. And I’ll say what draws me to the thriller genre is its rousing and fast-paced nature that kind of helps the author simulate the reader’s moods by providing that sudden rush of excitement, and exhilaration that eventually drive the narrative. By its nature, the genre spawns surprise and a high level of anticipation as well as an ultra-heightened expectation. I think that though we read thrillers sometimes to 'escape' and/or to be entertained, we also read them to be informed because thrillers, in manifold ways, give us valuable insights into many of life’s realities.             v Which writer inspired you to this genre?Augustine:      In poetry, I have always been inspired by the writings of Oscar Wilde but no particular writer inspired me to the thriller genre though I used to be fascinated with the crime novels of James Hadley Chase and the thrillers of Frederick Forsyth and Robert Ludlum.             v Do you expect The Conspiracy of Silence to be made into a movie?Augustine:      I’d really love that. But at the moment I don’t have the right contacts to enable me achieve that.           v Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character?Augustine:      I would cast Jennifer Lawrence or Jessica Alba as Rita Spencer and Blair Underwood as Benjamin Carlton, Vera Farmiga as Susan Whitaker, Bruce Willis as Governor Whitaker and Danny Trejo as Manuel Ernesto Rodriguez. (Yeah, dream on...haha)
  v Did you feel that the disguise of Susan Whitaker could have been more convincing? I mean does eye and hair color necessarily disguise someone? Please correct me if I went wrong somewhere.
Augustine:      Of course, eye and hair color alone can’t be an effective disguise strategy especially for someone under public scrutiny. The character of Susan Whitaker did not rely on eye and hair color to disguise herself. As a public figure who sometimes needed to go somewhere incognito, she used unconventional dress codes to disguise herself but that had nothing to do with her transformation from one personality into another. Of course readers of the book would note that in her revealing encounter with Carlton in Chapter 17, she revealed that she’d had several plastic surgeries that had helped in her various transformations from Lindsay Miller, first into Sally Gordon and then into Susanna Hernandez, a fashion model, and finally into Susan Whitaker. But Carlton remembered Lindsay Miller as having green eyes, which he thought should have remained the same in spite of the plastic surgeries. That’s when Susan told him about the contact lens and the bleached hair. So, you see, those were not the main elements of her disguise; she altered her physical appearance with every new personality she transformed herself into. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding about the character’s evolution and habit.      Oh, so I missed out the plastic surgery part somehow. I apologize. v Moving on, How much research do you do?Augustine:      A lot. I am, first and foremost, an investigative journalist, so research is the bedrock of my work and that applies to all my other my creative endeavors as well.    v Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors.Augustine:      Yes I read practically everything I can lay my hands on, both fiction and non-fiction. My favorite authors are Oscar Wilde, Nathaniel Hawthorne (author of The Scarlet letter), Umberto Eco (author of The Name of the Rose), Arundhati Roy (author of The god of small Things), and Frank McCourt (author of Angela's Ashes).    Good to hear that you liked Arundhathi Roy because she is an Indian, moreover a Keralite, which I myself am.v  For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?Augustine:      I don’t have a preference per se. I read books in any form that’s available.    v What book/s are you reading at present?Augustine:      I have just taken a break from re-reading some of my favorite classics, like Edgar Allan Poe’s works, so as to concentrate on my writing. I usually read less when I am working on a new novel.    v Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?Augustine:      I do as much proofreading as I can but like every decent author, I always have a professional editor work on it before considering it done.    v Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit?Augustine:      Yes, I do that but not only with a finished work. Sometimes I "walk away" from a chapter for a while so that when I come back to it, I can view it with "a reader’s eye" and possibly spot any structural weakness. I prefer to do my own critique/editing before submitting the work to a professional editor.    v Would you or do you use a PR agency?Augustine:      I do not use one at the moment but I might consider it in due course.    v What’s your view on social media for marketing?Augustine:      I do not really know how effective social media is for marketing but in terms of creating visibility, it helps a lot.    v Which social network worked best for you?Augustine:      That, I am unable to determine at the moment, I suppose because I haven’t yet succeeded to generate the right kind of buzz.    v Did you do a press release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it work?Augustine:      I announced the release of the book in advance to many people by mail, did a cover reveal on social media, as well as a virtual book tour when it was released. I believe it generated a buzz, now I’ll wait and see if it’ll generate sales too.    v Did you get interviewed by local press/radio for your book launch?Augustine:      No, unfortunately, I didn’t do interviews on the local press/radio. I have the singular disadvantage of living in Italy and writing in English, so that penalizes me locally.    v How can readers discover more about you and your work?Website:                         http://goo.gl/A5jRnj
Blog:                              http://goo.gl/VIRVmM
Facebook:                      http://goo.gl/W7W1Ta         
Twitter:                          http://goo.gl/Yzan2G
Google +:                       http://goo.gl/yruj3DGoodreads:                    http://goo.gl/NjAxV9
AuthorsDen:                  http://goo.gl/nfBJKX
Amazon Author Page:   http://goo.gl/osU1VZ 

Book Links:   ( Amazon global links:    The Conspiracy of Silence - http://bookShow.me/B015YF1T9Q     Take Back the Memory      - http://bookShow.me/B00OCBWC8G     Flashes of Emotion          - http://bookShow.me/B00TLS3OHS   )    Barnes & Noble:           http://goo.gl/N6WXJ4
    Smashwords:                https://goo.gl/vqiBn4
v Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.Augustine:      Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity.    Other Books by the Author:




Recipient - Readers’ Favorite 5-star seal                             

                                                                              
  2015 International Book Award Finalist

Anything for the rulers of my heart

Being a mother is the most beautiful feeling in the life of a woman. Cliché, isn’t it?Yes, this is a cliché, which no mothers would be tired of saying. The soft touch of those tiny fingers, the smooth abut of the lips, the enticing feel of the eyes… The first time the nurse brought my daughter for breastfeeding, colostrum hadn’t started coming. So she took her away. But my puny little child held the IV wire as if saying that I don’t want to leave my mother. My eyes welled. I swore that I would do anything humanly possible to give her the best of everything. From the best hospital to the best school, from the best dress to the best toys. The first feel I had when she refused to leave me minutes after her birth, never left me. I did whatever possible to give her the best. After two years, I had my son. I treated him the same way as I treated my daughter. If she is my princess, he is my prince. The rulers of my heart. But after a month, my poor little thing started reacting to the foreign matters mingling with his body. Dry skin, rashes, redness, pain. I could not see his agony but I was not able to decipher the real reason behind the allergy, nor did the doctors find out. Then I decided to cast out all the foreigners from his body. I gave the best to him but I decided to give the bestest. I did umpteen things to bring his skin back to the normal baby soft velvet one. The top five, I share with you now.    1.       Dress.I changed his clothes. I threw the old clothes but did not give it to charity since I did not want any child to be victimized. I gave him purest cotton dresses from reliable firms. Trust me local weavers are far better than the international brands when it comes to the little ones.    2.       Bath Time.I threw the soap and body wash. The well-known brand, which I used, was not trustworthy, it seemed. Hence, I made green gram powder at home and bathed his in it. The purity of homemade body wash worked well. It made his body extremely soft and smooth. I applied good quality Olive oil before bathing his for retaining moisture. I applied coconut water to avoid prickly heat from attacking him.   3.       Body LotionPost bathing I applied the best quality body lotion all over his body. Through experience, what I learned was that baby powder is not so good for kids. Hence, I continued using body lotion thrice a day   4.       Baby Bed and play gymBeing a baby, he spent more time in bed and his play gyms till he started walking. Hence, I made sure he had the best of them. I changed the bed and play gym every three months so that no dust or other impurities lingered on.   5.       Diaper

After following the aforesaid methods like a religion, dryness in his skin vanished magically. But, his rashes failed to leave his body, especially genitals. I was perturbed to see my little one’s pain. Diaper rash creams became his daily routine. Later realization embraced my dumb brain that the diaper would be the culprit. I discarded the diaper and started using cloth. I waited for the rashes to vanish since I was so confident about the natural home remedy.
Nevertheless, the cloth diaper did not work. After each micturition, the cloth got wet and disturbed his sleep and finally he became a sleepless baby, which in turn became a nightmare for me. Then I noticed that I missed out one important fact. I had been using the diaper provided by the hospital and did not bother to change the brand.
Then I changed his diaper to PAMPERS PREMIUM CARE PANTS. Its soft inner lining pampered his skin with as much love as possible. It absorbed moisture completely and always kept his skin dry and pure. It kept him dry; working for as long as twelve hours.
Can you believe this? Yes, they claim only 10 hour’s dryness but pampers keep them dry for as long as 12 hours. The belt of the pants were so soft and stretchable that it left no marks on his body. Since it is diaper pants, it was so easy to make him wear. Diaper draping became hassle free. Pampers pampered him as perfectly as his own mother. 




AND WETNESS INDICATOR. 

Do you think it’s a Sci-fi?? No its stark reality. Pampers does have a wetness indicator.








Do you think I am the only mother with such an experience? NO!! Just watch this





Now what more should I say? This is the best; no bestest. “Pampers brings you the softest ever Pampers Premium Care Pants. Its cotton-like softness is #SoftestForBabySkin and allows it to breathe, thus keeping baby’s skin soft and healthy, and your baby happy. ”

Diagnosis on Cosmic Blues: A Genesis by Cosmos III

Book Name         : Cosmic Blue: A Genesis                        
Author                 : Cosmos III
Publisher             : Cyberwit.net
ISBN                   : 978-81-8253-236-6
Number of Pages : 78
Binding                : Paperback
Pub Date              : 2012

Rating : 5.0





COSMIC BLUES: A GENESIS
   1.      Global BluesThe poem might come under the classification of a didactic poetry and eclogue. Poet expresses his exasperation caused by the deteriorating health of human race due to their unhealthy lifestyles.    2.      PojoThis is an elegy. Author laments the death of Pojo, who was presumably murdered. The pain and anger is well conveyed. It is constructed in four foul lined stanzas and a three lined envoy   3.      Pony Time:A metaphysical poem as the title suggests. Poet illustrated his stand on the Lakota preservation metaphorically  4.      Naked neutralityIs it an aubade? It can be or cannot be. I explains dusk and dawn beautifully. The simile between dusk and ebony sheet, moon and atlas globe etc are incomparably brilliant.    5.      A cool ManifestoThe poet explains what his poetry is all about. For the sake of classification, it could be placed under Ars Poetica but it is not a typical Ars poetica.  6.      International MadnessIt’s an eclogue which strongly laments terrorism.  7.      Wallowa Valley BluesThe poet who has solid stand on every issues, took up the Wallowa valley issue in this poem. Chief Joseph Elder (Tuekakas) led of the Wal-lam-wat-kain (Wallowa) band of Nez Perce, a Native American tribe indigenous to the Wallowa Valley in northeastern Oregon, in the interiorPacific Northwest region of the United States. The poem is about his incessant effort to preserve Wallowa valley. The poem explains the non-treaty and treaty bands of Nez Perce  8.      Year of the BoneThe issues of poverty has never been depicted more effectively and metaphorically. Pain of poverty depicted beautifully!!  9.      Ella, A haunted mother in the house of darknessThe poem is out the pain of  Ella O'Neill . Divided into Telesis and Genesis,the poem describes the pain of Ella when she lost her son, and her morphine addiction post partum in the Telesis and its natural counterpart in Genesis.  10.  A Protégé of Copernicus in Naples.A depiction of how the intellect of Copernicus and Galileo were crushed under the prejudiced. Another fine poem with similes, is also divided into Genesis and Telesis. Surprisingly poet showed a new interest in sonnets and rhymes.  11.  A Cosmic SunFor the ease of reviewing, poet himself has explained his poem in the title- An astronomical, spatial and multidimensional portrait of Chinese revolutionary, first president and founding father of the Republic of China– Sun Yat-Sen. Every line starts with the letter S. Can this be called Anaphora? Well, frankly I don’t know.   12.  The Scarlet Silencers in Canyon De ChellyThis is a prose poetry, which explains the atrocities of the Canyon De Chelly combat.  13.  Cosmic Metamorphosis: A Twentieth Century GalileoThis is a sonnet with ‘abab’ rhyming pattern in each stanza. The poem wails the rejection faced by Immanuel Velikovsky and proclaims that he is the twentieth century Galileo.  14.  El Greco’s Midnight from an East Mediterranean IslandAuthor dedicates this sonnet to Domenico Thetocopuli, the painter, sculptor and architect of Spanish Renaissance.  15.  Spinoza’s Cinema From Spanish Jewish OpusAnother dedication to Baruch/ Benedict Spinoza. This poem is a free verse.  16.  The Dread: A Thermo Electric Duet.Another free verse dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe  17.  The Quintessential Quaker in Cromwell’s Palace.The poem explains how George Fox, with his writings and words, influenced Oliver Cromwell  18.  Free Speech in Hyde ParkAuthor’s admirations towards great writers, thinkers, artists take another turn in this poem where he explains how George Bernard Shaw encapsulated people with his electric words  19.  The SeaThe poet depicts sea as a sultry, seductive woman who entices the men if treated well and destroys everything if wronged.  20.  Shooting the pill on Westmoreland’s Dustbowl court: The Sycamore ExtensionAnother shape poem with embellishment of metaphors  21.  A summer Observatory.The poet is a nature lover. He describes the clouds, sky and the surroundings of a summer day with so much passion. A picnic under the summer sky makes the reader want to go for one.  22.  Eden’s Tomb: The Lords of Asphalt VS The Serf ChildrenA poem for the games? Only he could do it because he is as unpredictable.  23.  A Promethium comet in an age of reformation.Martin Luther’s reformation theory is compared to a Promethium comet. A fiery symbolism with stupendous verses.  24.  An azygous shepherd in the day of the daily wolf.A account of adventurous religious like of John bunyan.  25.  Virginia, A premature epithalamium in a Fordham cottage: A super dream from the last capitol of confederacy.If I say more about this poem, it would be a spoiler. The title says it all. Well, I would say just this: It is about Virginia Clemm Poe, wife of Edgar Allen Poe. Another Telesis and genesis dichotomy.  26.  The altruistic academician in critia’s palace in the ante-bellum and post Peloponnesian war.Another dedication. This time to Socrates. The highlight is the Genesis where in Athenia and Athen’s story is depicted.  27.  The Reunion of five abominable beings.This is a short story. The craziest story I have ever read. Why? Because the climax is the icing on the cake. My hands itches to type the climax but I will leave it for the readers.  28.  A Prairie Beast: A collision of Dual worlds.Another short story; or a mini story??
This is all about the 26 poems and 2 short stories of Cosmic Blues: A Genesis. I must say that I had to do some research in order to review the book since most of the poems were dedications to great philosophers , writers, activists, some of whom, were new to me; TO BE Frank. This was such a learning experience. A very unconventional poetry collection, which did not concur much with the usual meters, rhymes, and figures of speech. Wherever he applied the meter, he nailed it. A Zenith of metaphor, Culmination of beauty, Pinnacle of poetic justice. I read each poem more than three times because each time a new meaning dawned before me. I was reluctant in posting a review because I was wondering if a new meaning would pop out. All poems are equally good but my favorite ones arev  Ella, A haunted mother in the house of darknessv  Year of the Bonev  The Reunion of five abominable beings.This is the first time a book gets a five star from me.  I had buried the poet in me long back but this book is incessantly nagging me to pursue it. Such a compelling and beautiful book. I had to change my general layout of reviews since I could not find any negatives.Thank you cyberwit.net for this beautiful book.


  Avail the book from cyberwit.net & Amazon

About the Author Cosmos III's Poetry has been published in Piedmont Literary Review, Poetry Express Club Quarterly Poetry Contest Leaflet, Negative Capability, International Poetry Review, Pegasus : Special Prize Poems Issues, The Independent Review, Ariel V, Thematic Poetry Quarterly, Poetry South, Orphic Lute, Passages VII-VIII, Word and Image: The Illustrated Journal, Shakespeare Inc. Quarterly, Shooting Star Review, Dawn Magazine, Quartz Hill Journal of Theology, The Fractal: Journal of Science Fiction & Fantasy, The Paradoxist Movement, Dream International Quarterly : Dreams and Fantasy, Ellipsis, Quaker Life : A Ministry of Friends United Meeting, Eotu, Black Buzzard Review, Onionhead Literary Review, Seedcloud, Earthwise Poetry Calendar, Prophetic Voices: An International Literary Journal, Felicity, The Journal of the National Society of Minority Writers and Artists (NSMWA), San Fernando Poetry Journal, Raven's Tale : Tales of Horror, Fantasy & Suspense, Puerto Del Sol, Transformation Times, Penumbra : 1995 Poetry And Haiku From The Tallahassee Writers' Association Annual Competition, the Fringe : The Literary Journal of The Alameda Writers Group and The Serpent's Tail: A Seasonal Journal.    His poetry has also been published in The Blacklist : Final Issue, New Millennium, Beatnik Soup: An Art & Literary Zine For A New Generation, The Silver, The Rat Race Record, Opossum Holler Tarot, Antiskios, Discombobulation, Aileron: A Literary Journal of Poems And Prose For The Erudite, Alternative Realities, Ophelia's Web, Shockbox : the Literary / Art Magazine With Teeth, READ ME, Seamonkeys From Guatemala, Wit's End, A New World Rising, Antigone, And I Crawled : Pourous Outpourings, Chaos Into Power, Live and Let Live, Aspects Metazine, People's Culture, Black and Red : Newsletter of the Anarchist Caucaus, the Fire Fly : a tiny glow in a forest of darkness, Wind Chill Factor : A Free Form Journal, Free Lunch : A Poetry Journal, The Freedom Socialist : Voice of Revolutionary Feminism, Struggle : A Magazine of Proletarian Revolutionary Literature, Bayou La Rose Resistance to the Columbus Quincentennial Issue, Subconscious Soup : The Magazine of Free Thought and the Counter Culture, Industrial Worker : The Voice of Revolutionary Unionism, Anarchy : A Journal of Desire Armed and The Village Idiot.His poetry has been further published in Native American Indian Community, The Suquamish News: Suquamish Tribe, The Eagle, Honor Digest, Acorns From The Royal Oak, Back To The Blanket : A Basically Cherokee Native American Journal, Azure Plume, The Spike : The Original Newsletter on Native East Coast Events, Kheppera, Psychic's Path, Spirit Walker Newsletter, Pan-American Indian News, The Wvnamco Journal, Being, Dream Network Journal : Cross Cultural Perspectives on Dream & Myth, Talking Stick : Adirondack Bioregional Journal, Native American Voice Newsletter, Robert "Great Warrior" Newsletter, Shenandoah Newsletter, United Lumbee Nation Times, Medicine Ways (Métis Medicine Circle), On Indian Land : Support For Native Sovereignty, Akwekon Literary Journal, Amerrikua : Land of The Four Winds : A Cultural Review, Talking Raven : A Journal of Imaginative Trouble, SAIL (Studies in American Indian Literatures), Notes from Taychopera : The Wiccan / Pagan Press Alliance, The Ghost Jacket Commentaries and Spirit of Crazy Horse.His poetry has been internationally published in Yakima Nation Review (Yakima Nation), Arrows To Freedom Newsletter : Drumheller Native Brotherhood of Indian and Métis (Canada), Kola (Canada), DENAR (Belgium), Vision Seeker & Sharer (United Kingdom), Rashi (New Zealand), New Breed Journal (Canada), No Sanctuary : Resistance Zine From Europe (Switzerland) Armchair (United Kingdom), En Plein (Switzerland), Sivullinen (Finland), Paris / Atlantic : International Magazine of Creative Work (France), Poetry Kanto (Japan), Chang Jiang Literature & Art (People's Republic of China) and Zuo Jia (People's Republic of China).His poetry has been variously published in the anthologies American Poetry Annual, The National Poetry Anthology, Many Voices / Many Lands, On The Threshold of A Dream, Poetic Voices of America, Through A Poet's Eye, American Poetry Anthology, World of Verse, Voice of The Poet, A Time To Be Free, Footprints On Our Hearts, Rainbows & Roses, Hands of Time, Stormy Weather and Voices On The Wind. Some of his poems have been on display in the offices of peace, ecological - environmental and Indigenous Nations Organizations and Causes and in progressive, radical and revolutionary bookstores.He has been among the winners in the Irene Leache Memorial Short Story Contest (Norfolk State College division), Poetry Express Club Quarterly Poetry Contest, Piedmont Literary Society Contests, Poet's Study Club International Contest (Terre Haute, Indiana), All Nations Poetry Contests, The Writer's Exchange Poetry Contest, Quill Poetry Competition, Poetry Forum Newsletter Contest, Kentucky State Poetry Society Contests, Salute to the Arts Poetry Contests (Triton College's International Poetry Contest), New York City Poetry Forum Contests, the Poetry Arts Project Contest, Big Easy Sonnet Award Contest, Oklahoma Branch of the National League of American Pen Women's Literary Contest, Penumbra Poetry Contest and Poetry Society of Virginia Contest.His short fiction has been published in Piedmont Literary Review, The Independent Review, The Journal of The National Society of Minority Writers and Artists (NSMWA), Red Clay, Subconscious Soup : The Magazine of Free Thought and the Counter Culture and Akwesasne Notes : A Journal for Native and Natural Peoples.He is currently working on Cosmic Portraits From the "Last Capitol Of The Confederacy" - a first book of poetry; Ghost Shirt Thing : An Avant - Grade, Impressionistic and Revolutionary Wild West Novel - a first novel; The Prairie Beast and 3 Tales - a first collection of short fiction; Saint Joan of Arc, The Mysterious Phenomena and New Mathematical Revelations and Prophecies : A Special Cosmic Tribute - a first nonfiction manuscript ; and The Lakota Satayallah In The "Last Capitol Of The Wild West" - a one - act drama.He graduated with a diploma in Printing from Danville Community College (DCC) and later returned to major in Liberal Arts and then transferred to Norfolk State College (NSC) where he graduated cum laude (honors) with a B.A. degree in Sociology and an Associate degree in Education. He studied further at Averett College, Old Dominion University and the University of Virginia.He has been variously employed as an offset printing pressman, a mobile homes construction laborer, CETA school teacher, substitute teacher, short-order cook, printing bindery technician, a residential child-care teacher, dishwasher, and laborer. Cosmos III was born in Danville, Virginia and currently resides in Camp Springs, Maryland (USA). This is Cosmos III’s first book.





Reviewed for the author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

REVIEW OF 'THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE' BY AUGUTINE SAM

THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCEAuthor:  Augustine Sam

Kindle Edition, 299 pagesPublished September 30th 2015 by AuthorSuite Books

BLURB
The conscience of a town steeped in sexism, vanity and 
hypocrisy is pricked by the brutal murder of a mysterious 
woman in a park in Los Angeles. But the shock is 
transformed into a steamy, seductive scandal when the 
body turns out to be that of Susan Whitaker, the 
flamboyant wife of the governor of California. 

Soon, a dazzlingly intricate shuffle of volatile links leads 
the police to the delicate theory of secret lover/blackmailer, and to the indictment of 
Benjamin Carlton, Hollywood’s most influential black celebrity.

Then curious things begin to happen when Carlton’s ambitious girlfriend, Rita Spencer 
suddenly unearths the shocking secret that Susan Whitaker did not, in fact, exist. She little 
realizes however that her discovery of this colossal fraud is a mere curtain raiser to a 
chilling world of ugly skeletons dating back to the assassination of a U.S. senator in a 
Washington hotel sauna, skeletons connected to riveting sex scandals in high places, 
skeletons the FBI and political kingmakers will kill for… 
THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE


REVIEW
The Conspiracy of Silence is an engaging and exciting cliffhanger. With swiveling twists in every alternate chapters, the book make the readers engage the tip of the seats in excitement and anxiety . 
The character of Rita Spencer is crafted with astute perfection. A woman with high self respect, smartness, brilliance, style, compassion, impetuous and sincerity;  she grabs the spotlight from numerous characters hovering around the story-line.
Another well crafted character is that of Susan Whitaker whose presence is felt all over the story without being there.
Rita's boyfriend Carlton is framed of the murder but was he completely innocent? Well that has to be seen!! His character is portrayed as the Superstar but his inability to save his own neck makes him more of a sissy who hid behind Rita for proving his innocence. At several points, we forgets him completely. 
The Characters of Leeland, Bruce, Tacy, Theo, Rodriguez, Talbot, Grove, Flick, Grill, Hepburn etc are created with the perfection of a sculptor. The author has done maximum justice in creating his characters. Glennon Park, where Susan was murdered, was also present all over the story giving the feel of a character.
The plot is really interesting. It keeps the reader engaged and the author has succeeded in inducing the curiosity in the reader. It's indeed a page turner.Another important quality of the book is the language. Every line exudes perfect language,grammar and vocabulary. The cover page is also perfect and gels with the scenario.

Only negative depictions is that of a disguise by just using a contact lens and hair color. In this era where practically everyone uses contact lenses and hair colors, is it possible to impersonate with them?? Well, I will leave it to the readers. The love between Rita and Carlton failed to create sparks except for the fact that Rita selflessly embraced danger to help him.
All in all The Conspiracy of Silence is a perfect thriller which maintains suspense till the end and the icing on the cake would be the revelation of The Shadow of death.AND YES, IT HAS A MOVIE MATERIAL TOO
Rating : 4.0
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Rating : 4.0

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About the Author
A bilingual journalist and an award-winning poet, Augustine Sam is a member of the U.K. Chartered Institute of Journalists. His poems have been published in two international anthologies: The Sounds of Silence & Measures of the Heart, one of which was adjudged winner of the Editors' Choice Award in the North America Open Poetry contest, USA.

His complete collection of poems, "Flashes of Emotion", was the 2015 International Book Award Finalist.
                                                 Reviewed for the author

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.