Lin Ryals's Blog, page 25

Teen Tuesday: Water Seeker

Description from Goodreads: “When I was a boy, my pa dowsed to earn extra money when we had a lean year. And when he put the branch in my hands for the first time, I felt a burning inside me because I had the gift, too. Just be thankful I didn’t hand that gift down to you.” Amos figured it was probably best not to tell his father that it was too late.

What would you do if you knew you had a special gift—a sixth sense—that was passed down from one generation to the next? A gift that could help people in times of need, but one your father often saw as a trap. Would you use that gift? This is the story of Amos Kincaid, the dowser’s son. My thoughts: I liked this book. It was a coming of age story about Amos, who started in the story as a newborn and we followed his life to fatherhood. He had a rough life - those he loved experienced many hardships. My favorite character was probably Blue Owl. She was Amos's step-mother and was Native American. Amos's father was funny with his realistic, southern phrases. My least favorite character was Amos's grandpa. It brought me much joy when the crows attacked him. This was an intense book to get through. It contained humor, sorrow, and joy. I recommend this book and give it 4 stars. **** Teen Reviewer: Collin

Teen Tuesday: The Water Seeker by Kimberly Holt

Description from Goodreads: “When I was a boy, my pa dowsed to earn extra money when we had a lean year. And when he put the branch in my hands for the first time, I felt a burning inside me because I had the gift, too. Just be thankful I didn’t hand that gift down to you.”

Amos figured it was probably best not to tell his father that it was too late.

What would you do if you knew you had a special gift—a sixth sense—that was passed down from one generation to the next? A gift that could help people in times of need, but one your father often saw as a trap. Would you use that gift? 

This is the story of Amos Kincaid, the dowser’s son.

My thoughts: I liked this book. It was a coming of age story about Amos, who started in the story as a newborn and we followed his life to fatherhood. He had a rough life – those he loved experienced many hardships.

My favorite character was probably Blue Owl. She was Amos’s step-mother and was Native American. Amos’s father was funny with his realistic, southern phrases. My least favorite character was Amos’s grandpa. It brought me much joy when the crows attacked him.

This was an intense book to get through. It contained humor, sorrow, and joy. I recommend this book and give it 4 stars. ****

Teen Reviewer: Collin

First Drafts – Magic Beans or a Handful of Poop? by Michael Greco

My stories start out as ordinary beans. I like to think of them as such.

I don’t know what I have, but I’m compelled to water these beans. Shoots then grow into stems and my beanstalk matures. Sometimes the stems die; the story loses life. Then I travel along my beanstalk and find new stems to explore. Eventually leaves grow and there is a flowering, as the organism that is my story comes to life, and the characters take shape, and I can see them and hear their voices. Then they grow up and go off and do things I haven’t planned.

The nerve!

That’s how I know I’m getting somewhere.

Except it doesn’t happen like that all the time. Sometimes the beans turn out to be just crap. Duds. Nothing stems. Nothing flowers—no matter how much watering. The story must be killed with two slugs in the back of the head as you tell it to watch the rabbits.

But you won’t know this until you complete the first draft.

“Saul Bellow said, “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.”

Maybe for him. Not for me. Sometimes you’re up at 3am simply because you drank way too much. That’s no epiphany, it’s heartburn.

But you write the crap down, anyway, and under the cold light of the next day, you sigh, and then tell it to look at the rabbits.

***

I don’t do outlines anymore. I’ve found that adhering to any kind of superimposed structure closes more doors than it opens. Structure is something discovered; it reveals itself gradually. I also try to develop good rhythm in my sentences, as well as cadence and tone. You have to write it over and then again, until the sentence is attuned to the inner ear.

If I think I’ve got something special, I revise. Then I revise more. Then I revise even more. In my experience, the story always gets tighter. It always gets better.

My professor at UC Irvine once told me that, in order for someone to be considered knowledgeable about any given subject, they need to have read at least fifteen books on that subject. He actually gave a number: fifteen.

I like it. I have been revising fifteen times, in his honor. In order to feign knowledge on a subject, I aim to read at lest fifteen different sources on it. That’s what it takes—fifteen. Because he said so.

If someone tells me they’ve finished their novel, I want to ask “How many drafts?” If you haven’t rewritten the story at least half of my accustomed FIFTEEN, then, sorry, you’re stuck with unripe beans.

As a draft develops, I steer clear of predictability. My stories have frayed edges. It’s like a tale you tell in the kitchen, one with slipups and repetition. It’s genuine. A story should feel like an off-the-cuff conversation with loved ones. Endings can be ambiguous, sometimes unsatisfying. Just like real life. Just like people. There is no black and white. We are both good and bad.

My stories also explore the existential continuum, from the bleak to the divine, from the darkness to the light. We hate and we kill. But even in the most dreadful circumstances, we also manage to hope and to love.

Theme-wise, I like to play with the idea of control—who has it, or who is losing it. Identity plays a large part in my stories; knowing who we are and what we can do weave through my writing like fine fabric: “Who am I, really?” “Why am I here?”

I often don’t know what my theme is until after several drafts of the story. Then it emerges as if stepping out from its hiding place in the woods, and I think, “Oh, I’ve indeed written about that!”

I like to write horror, but I’m not a horror writer. Steven King said, “The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn’t real. I know that, and I also know that if I’m careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle.”

I am fascinated by this kind of inner beast that resides within so many of my favorite writers. Whatever resides within me is nothing more than a surly Chihuahua.

Comic fantasy is more my game, and if I’ve watered my beans in the right way, then maybe I’m able to spark some kind of emotional connection with readers.

Way to go, you gorgeously crazed beanstalk!

About Michael Greco: California Ex-pat Michael Greco has lived in Asia for over 25 years, and his stories are dappled with the character and spirit of Asian communities. He teaches writing in university and has jotted extensively about the joy and frustration of the creative process. He has written for the Asahi Shinbun newspaper in Tokyo, and received his master’s degree in theoretical linguistics, in Los Angeles. He is a regular contributor to The Japan Times and online journal The Font. Michael lives in Kyoto, Japan, with his wife, daughter, and a honey-sweet cat named Howard. He uses Japan as a springboard for his frequent forays to other regions of the world, often with his 10-year-old as a travel companion.

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First Drafts - Magic Beans or a Handful of Poop? by Michael Greco

My stories start out as ordinary beans. I like to think of them as such. I don’t know what I have, but I’m compelled to water these beans. Shoots then grow into stems and my beanstalk matures. Sometimes the stems die; the story loses life. Then I travel along my beanstalk and find new stems to explore. Eventually leaves grow and there is a flowering, as the organism that is my story comes to life, and the characters take shape, and I can see them and hear their voices. Then they grow up and go off and do things I haven’t planned. The nerve! That’s how I know I’m getting somewhere. Except it doesn’t happen like that all the time. Sometimes the beans turn out to be just crap. Duds. Nothing stems. Nothing flowers—no matter how much watering. The story must be killed with two slugs in the back of the head as you tell it to watch the rabbits. But you won't know this until you complete the first draft. "Saul Bellow said, “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write." Maybe for him. Not for me. Sometimes you’re up at 3am simply because you drank way too much. That’s no epiphany, it’s heartburn. But you write the crap down, anyway, and under the cold light of the next day, you sigh, and then tell it to look at the rabbits. *** I don’t do outlines anymore. I’ve found that adhering to any kind of superimposed structure closes more doors than it opens. Structure is something discovered; it reveals itself gradually. I also try to develop good rhythm in my sentences, as well as cadence and tone. You have to write it over and then again, until the sentence is attuned to the inner ear. If I think I’ve got something special, I revise. Then I revise more. Then I revise even more. In my experience, the story always gets tighter. It always gets better. My professor at UC Irvine once told me that, in order for someone to be considered knowledgeable about any given subject, they need to have read at least fifteen books on that subject. He actually gave a number: fifteen. I like it. I have been revising fifteen times, in his honor. In order to feign knowledge on a subject, I aim to read at lest fifteen different sources on it. That’s what it takes—fifteen. Because he said so. If someone tells me they've finished their novel, I want to ask "How many drafts?" If you haven't rewritten the story at least half of my accustomed FIFTEEN, then, sorry, you're stuck with unripe beans. As a draft develops, I steer clear of predictability. My stories have frayed edges. It’s like a tale you tell in the kitchen, one with slipups and repetition. It’s genuine. A story should feel like an off-the-cuff conversation with loved ones. Endings can be ambiguous, sometimes unsatisfying. Just like real life. Just like people. There is no black and white. We are both good and bad. My stories also explore the existential continuum, from the bleak to the divine, from the darkness to the light. We hate and we kill. But even in the most dreadful circumstances, we also manage to hope and to love. Theme-wise, I like to play with the idea of control—who has it, or who is losing it. Identity plays a large part in my stories; knowing who we are and what we can do weave through my writing like fine fabric: “Who am I, really?” “Why am I here?” I often don't know what my theme is until after several drafts of the story. Then it emerges as if stepping out from its hiding place in the woods, and I think, "Oh, I've indeed written about that!" I like to write horror, but I’m not a horror writer. Steven King said, “The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn’t real. I know that, and I also know that if I’m careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle.” I am fascinated by this kind of inner beast that resides within so many of my favorite writers. Whatever resides within me is nothing more than a surly Chihuahua. Comic fantasy is more my game, and if I’ve watered my beans in the right way, then maybe I’m able to spark some kind of emotional connection with readers. Way to go, you gorgeously crazed beanstalk! About Michael Greco: California Ex-pat Michael Greco has lived in Asia for over 25 years, and his stories are dappled with the character and spirit of Asian communities. He teaches writing in university and has jotted extensively about the joy and frustration of the creative process. He has written for the Asahi Shinbun newspaper in Tokyo, and received his master’s degree in theoretical linguistics, in Los Angeles. He is a regular contributor to The Japan Times and online journal The Font. Michael lives in Kyoto, Japan, with his wife, daughter, and a honey-sweet cat named Howard. He uses Japan as a springboard for his frequent forays to other regions of the world, often with his 10-year-old as a travel companion. Connect through Social Media!!
Goodreads Website Twitter Facebook Amazon

Book Review: The Many Adventures of Peter and Fi

Genre: Fantasy

Published: Dec 14, 2018
Format reviewed: Audio Book

Synopsis (Goodreads): Follow Peter and Fi as they work together, each searching for something uniquely special to them through the four kingdoms of their known world. It’s a tale of fantastical beasts, peculiar characters, remarkable settings, and a unique brand of biochemistry-based magic. A story that focuses on meaningful character interactions, delicate world building, and intense action battles.

She emerged within a dark sea of green, shielding her eyes against the crescent moon’s pale blaze. The twinkling stars hummed softly, discordant against the chattering birds below. The lush leaves rippled in the breeze, tempting Fi to dip her toes in for a swim. The wind blew at her back and she turned east to face it. The fresh air carried the salty spray of the Shimmering Sea. Although she could not see it, she knew it was right there. Her ears caught the distant waves crashing against the shore. One last step. She thought.

Plot (4 Stars): This is such a fun fantasy story! It was very original, which was pretty exciting. I loved the way the mages got their power. The Hollow Wind went through them and gifted them with a power. The main character, Peter, is a Bubble Mage. Yes, you read that right. A bubble mage. He has the magic of bubbles. When I first heard that, I had to pause it and ask the family if I understood. I did. He has the magic of bubbles. It turned out to be a pretty handy gift to have.

There were times when I got a little lost in what was happening. I was always able to catch up again after a bit.

Characters (5 Stars): The characters were all great. They were well developed and beautifully written. They all had great back stories and wonderfully developed personalities. I hated the people I was supposed to hate and loved the people I was supposed to love.

Writing (4 Stars): The author did a wonderful job creating the world. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is that, again, I would get lost. Perhaps it was clearer in the written book, but in the audio book there would be flashbacks and it took a while to figure that out. Or, things were just happening and I was in the car like, “Anyone know what’s going on?” We were all confused at the same spots, so I know it wasn’t just me.

Mom’s Note: Since I was reviewing the audio book, my family listened to it in the car on an eighteen hour car ride to visit family. I let the cover deceive me into thinking this was safe for children. After the second F-bomb I decided it probably wasn’t. However, my children are 11 and 13, so they were fine. There were some cringe worthy scenes, not from being written poorly just, “ew! Gross!” However, it was still well written. I just wanted to make sure this was clear in case any moms are considering it for their children.
Overall: This was a really fun read that my entire family enjoyed. I would recommend it to others with a warning there there are some disturbing scenes and some bad language that may not be appropriate for small ears. I give it FOUR STARS!! ****

If you’re interested in purchasing this book, check it out at Amazon here.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Many Adventures of Peter and Fi

Genre: Fantasy Published: Dec 14, 2018
Format reviewed: Audio Book Synopsis (Goodreads): Follow Peter and Fi as they work together, each searching for something uniquely special to them through the four kingdoms of their known world. It’s a tale of fantastical beasts, peculiar characters, remarkable settings, and a unique brand of biochemistry-based magic. A story that focuses on meaningful character interactions, delicate world building, and intense action battles. She emerged within a dark sea of green, shielding her eyes against the crescent moon’s pale blaze. The twinkling stars hummed softly, discordant against the chattering birds below. The lush leaves rippled in the breeze, tempting Fi to dip her toes in for a swim. The wind blew at her back and she turned east to face it. The fresh air carried the salty spray of the Shimmering Sea. Although she could not see it, she knew it was right there. Her ears caught the distant waves crashing against the shore. One last step. She thought. Plot (4 Stars): This is such a fun fantasy story! It was very original, which was pretty exciting. I loved the way the mages got their power. The Hollow Wind went through them and gifted them with a power. The main character, Peter, is a Bubble Mage. Yes, you read that right. A bubble mage. He has the magic of bubbles. When I first heard that, I had to pause it and ask the family if I understood. I did. He has the magic of bubbles. It turned out to be a pretty handy gift to have. There were times when I got a little lost in what was happening. I was always able to catch up again after a bit. Characters (5 Stars): The characters were all great. They were well developed and beautifully written. They all had great back stories and wonderfully developed personalities. I hated the people I was supposed to hate and loved the people I was supposed to love. Writing (4 Stars): The author did a wonderful job creating the world. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is that, again, I would get lost. Perhaps it was clearer in the written book, but in the audio book there would be flashbacks and it took a while to figure that out. Or, things were just happening and I was in the car like, "Anyone know what's going on?" We were all confused at the same spots, so I know it wasn't just me. Mom's Note: Since I was reviewing the audio book, my family listened to it in the car on an eighteen hour car ride to visit family. I let the cover deceive me into thinking this was safe for children. After the second F-bomb I decided it probably wasn't. However, my children are 11 and 13, so they were fine. There were some cringe worthy scenes, not from being written poorly just, "ew! Gross!" However, it was still well written. I just wanted to make sure this was clear in case any moms are considering it for their children.
Overall: This was a really fun read that my entire family enjoyed. I would recommend it to others with a warning there there are some disturbing scenes and some bad language that may not be appropriate for small ears. I give it FOUR STARS!! **** If you're interested in purchasing this book, check it out at Amazon here. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Second Star

Genre: YA Fantasy Publishing Date: Mar 5, 2019 Format Reviewed: ebook Synopsis (Goodreads): Wendy Darling worked her entire life to rise through the ranks of the prestigious Londonierre Brigade. Now as a Captain, she has everything she’s always wanted, including a ship and crew of her own. But when the Brigade receives a strange transmission from the legendary James Hooke, lost a hundred years earlier in uncharted space and presumed dead, Wendy is willing to risk it all to rescue her hero. She races to the planet known only as Neverland; her mission to find the long-lost crew and bring them home. But there is more to Neverland than meets the eye, and more to Hooke than what was written in history books. When Wendy crash lands on the ominous planet, she quickly discovers Neverland’s dark secret; a malevolent being known as The Shadow that’s looking for a host body to escape its eternal prison. To fulfill her mission, Wendy must decide whether to trust the dashing Hooke or the mysterious Fleet mechanic who goes by the name of Pan--and she has to decide quickly... Before the darkness consumes them all. Plot (4 Stars): I love fairy tale retellings and this one was definitely not a disappointment. It reminded me a bit of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer in the way that it combines a fairy tale with science fiction. I loved it. I loved the story. It was just so fun to read. Unfortunately, there were a few irritating things about it that seemed very unrealistic. Wendy Darling becomes the captain of a ship while she's an older teen. She had only been to the Academy and never served on a ship as far as the readers know. Also, her entire crew (there are only 6 of them) are made up of more teens. They are the rescue mission for Hooke and his crew. Characters (3 Stars): The main characters were great, for the most part. I really enjoyed them. I think Johns and Michaels were my favorite. I think Boyce should have been in it more because of the tension and emotions going on in him. I also think we needed more on the Lost Boys. There was so little about them that I couldn't even keep straight of who was who except for Tootles. Also, the love interest thing was a bit annoying. I mean, yeah, they think the other one is hot and it's repeated A LOT in the book so the reader definitely knows. Poor Wendy blushes, well, I don't know how many times. Many, many times though - pretty much any time the poor girl sees Peter. Writing (4 Stars): The writing is good. I can tell the author is good. However, there were a lot of errors. Small words are often left out and more so toward the end of the book. Besides that, the writing was great. Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars! ***- If you'd like to purchase this book, check it out on Amazon. Teacher by day, award-winning author by night, J.M. Sullivan is a fairy tale fanatic who loves taking classic stories and turning them on their head. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. To learn more about Sullivan, check out her website HERE. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Spotlight: Days of Miracle and Wonder

Published: Feb 13, 2019

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat; the human drama of competition. It’s these glorious ups and the torturous downs that are the fundamental allure of sport. The wonderful uncertainty is what keeps us excited and eagerly anticipating the next game. It can play out in different ways but nothing captures our imagination more than a contest which suddenly comes alive after the result appeared to be a foregone conclusion.

Days of Miracle and Wonder presents the unique stories behind 25 of the most incredible sporting victories. There are players and teams reaching the brink of success before spectacularly imploding into an unimaginable defeat. On the other hand, there are inspirational accounts of players and teams rising from the canvas and fighting their way back to a glorious win. These displays of human frailties, willpower, skill and courage capture everything we love about sport.

At its best, sport requires athletes to give more than they thought they could – physically, mentally and emotionally. Whether it’s the anguish of a choke or the brilliance of a comeback, at the final whistle there can be only one winner. Names etched onto cups and trophies record these results, but sporting chapters are not written on the bare facts of score lines. The glory of sport is in the contest itself and through the pages of this book you’ll see it can be a wild ride!

To purchase the book on Amazon, click HERE.

Author: I’m originally from New Zealand and now live in Brisbane Australia. My passions in life are travel, outdoor adventure and sport.

I’ve explored over 50 countries across 5 continents of the world, which inspired me to create a website and write two travel books. Travel Unravelled is a guide book for anyone wanting to travel the world on a budget and Around the World in 80 Tales is a collection of my experiences doing exactly that.

More recently, I have begun a series of sporting books. Days of Miracle and Wonder tells the unique stories behind 25 of the most incredible sporting victories. There will be more sports books with amazing true stories coming soon! To learn more, check out his website here

Book Spotlight: Days of Miracle and Wonder

Published: Feb 13, 2019 The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat; the human drama of competition. It's these glorious ups and the torturous downs that are the fundamental allure of sport. The wonderful uncertainty is what keeps us excited and eagerly anticipating the next game. It can play out in different ways but nothing captures our imagination more than a contest which suddenly comes alive after the result appeared to be a foregone conclusion. Days of Miracle and Wonder presents the unique stories behind 25 of the most incredible sporting victories. There are players and teams reaching the brink of success before spectacularly imploding into an unimaginable defeat. On the other hand, there are inspirational accounts of players and teams rising from the canvas and fighting their way back to a glorious win. These displays of human frailties, willpower, skill and courage capture everything we love about sport. At its best, sport requires athletes to give more than they thought they could - physically, mentally and emotionally. Whether it's the anguish of a choke or the brilliance of a comeback, at the final whistle there can be only one winner. Names etched onto cups and trophies record these results, but sporting chapters are not written on the bare facts of score lines. The glory of sport is in the contest itself and through the pages of this book you'll see it can be a wild ride! To purchase the book on Amazon, click HERE. Author: I'm originally from New Zealand and now live in Brisbane Australia. My passions in life are travel, outdoor adventure and sport. I've explored over 50 countries across 5 continents of the world, which inspired me to create a website and write two travel books. Travel Unravelled is a guide book for anyone wanting to travel the world on a budget and Around the World in 80 Tales is a collection of my experiences doing exactly that. More recently, I have begun a series of sporting books. Days of Miracle and Wonder tells the unique stories behind 25 of the most incredible sporting victories. There will be more sports books with amazing true stories coming soon! To learn more, check out his website here.

Book Review: Strays

Genre: YA Paranormal

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Werewolves are struggling to survive. Jaze and those who remain of his pack build an Academy to protect the children who endured the genocide. Alex and Cassie arrive as orphans after losing everyone they love. The twins find themselves in a new world where they have to survive the politics and dangers of being a werewolf in a world that wants them destroyed.
But outside forces have found them. Can Alex protect his sister and survive the attacks of a man who wants them dead and will stop at nothing to see it happen?

Plot (5 stars): This was such a fun story. A lot of it was cliche, but there was enough originality to it that I really enjoyed it. I mean, a school for the paranormal – it’s done all over the book world. Of course, this doesn’t mean I love it any less. I even wrote a book with this same idea in it. It’s a werewolf school though. Yeah! I think it reminded me more of the school from X-Men though. The humans know werewolves exist and they tried to live together in peace, but something scared the humans so the humans went for what they normally go for – genocide. Many families were torn apart and children left without parents. Those children needed to go somewhere and this secret school for Werewolf children was born. The reader follows Alex, who is in his 6th year at the school, as he tries to break all the borders. Amidst all this, someone keeps trying to kill Cassie and Alex and they don’t care who else they hurt to get to them. By the end of the book, the reader still doesn’t know why. I’m assuming we find out in the second book, which is why this isn’t a 4. Hopefully I’m right.

Characters (4 stars): I loved all the characters. You had your funny ones like Pip and Amos. Your intimidating ones like Vance and Boris. Your dreamy ones like Jericho and Jaze. But then you had Cassie. Cassie is Alex’s twin sister so she’s one of the main characters. She’s a fourteen year old girl who cries about everything and is portrayed in a way that kept making me imagine her as a seven year old girl. I kept hoping she’d leap up and attack someone and be strong, but she didn’t! At all! Ever in this book. Maybe she does better in the next book. Alex coddles her, so I can see why she is that way, but it made me crazy. For that reason, and only that reason, I’m giving this category 4 stars.

Writing (4 stars): The author can write. This is a self-published book and there were quite a few writing errors scattered throughout the book. It’s hard to get them all when self publishing, especially if you can’t afford a professional editor, but I really wish this one had less. It wasn’t so much that it was too distracting though. The story kept moving and I was able to figure out everything. The author is a great writer though. I could see everything clearly in my head and loved it.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. I’m debating buying the second one, but I have so many to review that I’m hesitant.