Fiona Ingram's Blog, page 20

Historical Romance vs. Historical Fiction: What’s the Difference? by Audry Fryer

It’s often difficult to tell whether a book falls under the label of historical romance or historical fiction. The two genres share so many similarities! Both historical romance and historical fiction occur in the past, generally more than fifty years ago. Both types of books emphasize historical accuracy. And both include love affairs or have characters longing for love. With all this gray area, it’s no wonder why it’s so confusing to figure out which is which. I encountered this same confusion when it was time to publish my book, Until Next Sunday . It needed the correct label to reach its best audience. Until Next Sunday seemed like a historical romance because of its emphasis on love letters and lovers facing separation. But it lacked the lusty vibe typical of romance books. And it was based on real-life people. So was it historical fiction?

3 Differences Between Historical Romance and Historical Fiction

If you want to differentiate historical romance books from historical fiction novels, look at the amount of details in the historical setting, the characters’ arc in the plot, and the ending. These distinctions can be subtle, but they’re substantial. After studying both genres and receiving professional advice, Until Next Sundayconfidently can be called a historical romance. Although the book shares some elements of historical fiction, it checks the box of all three requirements for historical romance.

Setting

Although both types of historically based novels require researching the historical setting, the amount and emphasis on historical events, people, and past cultures is more intense in historical fiction than historical romance. Historical romance relies less on researching a multitude of historical details. The historical setting provides the background to the love story. While the reader enjoys the characters interacting in that time period, the story isn’t based on the timeline of that particular moment in history. By contrast, historical fiction immerses itself in the particular time period it encompasses. The author conducts intense research to be as accurate as possible and offers a rich historical perspective. Historical fiction books have lengthy scenes dedicated to describing a certain moment in history.

Characters and Plot

Both genres have their fair share of love affairs, sex, and scandal. It can be tricky to draw the line between what qualifies as a romance. The distinction exists in how the plot impacts the characters. A historical romance novel focuses on a plot that revolves around the progression and obstacles of the romance. The love affair involves the main characters rather than supporting roles. These characters pursue their desires and love interests within the historical setting. A historical fiction novel centers its plot on how history impacts the character’s life. The story follows historical events and situations rather than the outcome of a romance.

The Ending

If you’re still confused, there’s one sure way to determine whether you’re in possession of a historical romance or a historical fiction book. Look at how the book ends. Historical romance typically ends with a happily ever after and often in a marriage. Rarely is the reader left wondering how the love affair turns out. Readers expect that the romance will reach a satisfying, conclusive result. Historical fiction books can have a variety of endings regarding a love affair within the story. The climax in historical fiction typically occurs at the conclusion of the historical event or at the end of a character’s life.

Final Thoughts on Historical Romance vs. Historical Fiction

There you have it! Now you can determine whether the book you’re reading falls into the category of historical romance or historical fiction. To recap, look at the focus of the story. If a romance or love story dominates the plot, consumes most of the character’s actions and thoughts, and ends with a marriage or happily ever after, then you’re reading a historical romance. On the other hand, your book may be filled with lovelorn characters, sex, and scandal. But if it’s heavy on the historical details and its plot follows a historical event or the life of a historical figure, you’re reading historical fiction.

About the Author: Audry Fryer is an author and professional freelance writer from Pennsylvania. Formerly a teacher, Audry wrote her first novel while her toddler son and twin babies napped. As her children have grown into teenagers, she has expanded her writing career. Audry lives with her family and two pugs in a quiet corner of Southeastern PA. To learn more about Audry, please visit her website at www.audryfryer.com.

TV Series review: Harry Wild

Harry Wild is a cosy murder mystery series, filmed in Ireland, with Jane Seymour heading up the cast. Retired literature professor Harriet ‘Harry’ Wild is having a hard time adjusting to retirement and basically doing nothing. She is mugged one day, and her wallet is stolen, but, ever feisty, she tracks down and surprisingly befriends her young mugger, Fergus, played by the charming Rohan Need. One thing leads to another in the world of murder, mystery, and mayhem, and Harry picks up on a clue in her police detective son Charlie’s current case. Her resourceful new friend and Harry embark on solving the murder, which they do, and this opens the way for more cases, to the horror of her son and daughter-in-law and the delight of her granddaughter.

I am not a big fan of Jane Seymour despite her stellar career possibly because I never watched Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman and only ever saw her in Austenland as Mrs Wattlesbrooke. As Harry, Seymour comes across as quite brittle and cynical, and surprisingly awkward, which could be the fault of the script. It tries too hard to shock with a hip granny persona and there’s some sexing up of the character which is unnecessary and doesn’t work. Despite the lead being wobbly, sidekick Fergus is just delightful and has a modern teen approach to life, is very brave and would never abandon Harry in a tight situation, and is devoted to his adorable little sister Liberty, aka Stinker, who steals any scene in which she appears. Harry’s son Charlie is played by the handsome Kevin J. Ryan with exactly the right touch of exasperation one feels when a parent who should know better behaves badly. But he always comes through for his mum, which makes him very endearing.

The series is new and it’s clear there are some teething problems in transitions and staging, but only if you look for them. Social issues are touched on but there’s no wokery and shoving it down your throat. Harry aside (for now), the rest of the cast is perfect for each role. I will give Seymour the benefit of the doubt and say that with the next season, I think any rough edges will be smoothed over. It’s not a new idea having a senior female detective (look at Miss Marple for one), and at 71 Seymour is still very lovely. She is also not afraid to adopt a frumpy persona when undercover or in disguise, which happens quite often. I enjoyed the first season and will definitely watch the next one, now that Harry and Fergus have opened their Detective Agency and are taking on clients, need I say to the horror of her son and daughter-in-law and the delight of her granddaughter…

 

Book Spotlight: Mendel by Damone Bester

Imagine the mid 1980’s, last day of school, summer break. A teen rushes to meet his mother, who is being released from the hospital after cancer surgery. When the teen arrives, he finds out his mother is dead, but his ex-gangbanging dad, who has been in jail the last seven years, is at the hospital ready to take the teen home. Mendel, is a coming-of-age story about a senior at Chicago's legendary Mendel High who must learn how to forgive as he navigates life without his mother. Things come to a head when the teen accidentally finds his mom’s diary. In the journal, he discovers his mother’s dreams of becoming a collegiate track star were derailed due to getting pregnant with him. To honor his mother, he joins Mendel’s track team and excels, but before he can cash in on any scholarship offers, his father’s thuggish past catches up with them when a gun toting nemesis comes seeking revenge. The teen must decide between saving his own life or sacrificing it all to save his estranged father.

 

About the Author: Damone Bester was born and raised on Chicago’s Southside to blue-collar parents who were married 49 years, and one older brother, whose backyard scuffles taught Damone one lesson: “Never quit.” He wasn’t just a student at Mendel; he lived and breathed “Blue Smoke,” the mantra of his track team brethren. A brief conversation with another Mendel alum stoked the fire to pen his first novel about the school he so loved.Damone is an author, poet, aspiring screenwriter, and voice-over artist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Illinois State University and has spent most of his profession in the Social Services sector. He currently lives in the Twin Cities area and enjoys fishing, bowling, basketball (watching, not playing), bean bags, and bragging about his nephew and nieces.

You can visit his website at www.DamoneBester.com or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

 

Book Spotlight: Riftsiders by Paul A. DeStefano

Enrique Marin wants a quiet life after the death of his wife. Just one problem stands in the way--he's possessed by the misanthropic English demon, Tzazin. A violent night under demonic influence accidentally leads Enrique to love, and it's anything but quiet. Shy, autistic yoga instructor Elle thought allowing herself to be possessed by the very-not-shy sex demon Key would help her find love. She finds Enrique, but she didn't count on coping with the anti-demon bigotry of society. Fate--and AA meetings for the possessed--brings them together, but hostile forces, demonic and human, fight to keep them apart. It might cost them everything to keep their love alive.

 

About the Author 

Paul A. DeStefano and his wife live on Long Island, NY, with a strange menagerie that includes a dog, a few cats, sugar gliders, a bearded dragon, and several grown children that have not left. After graduating from Hofstra University with a split degree in English and Acting, he worked in the board gaming and role-playing industry for decades, including officially licensed projects for Star Trek and Lord of the Rings. He did not win the Origins Award for Best Miniatures Rules in 2004 and has forgotten that bitter defeat. When not playing and working on games, he is sometimes found touring internationally, giving lectures on world-building and character design.

Being a professional full-time blacksmith for several years made him realize how much less painful it was to go back to writing. He’s been lucky enough to hold the Top Humor Writer badge at Medium multiple times and has had his work narrated by James Cosmo (Lord Mormont from Game of Thrones) on multi million-dollar Kickstarter projects. It is also worth noting that having never taken any bassoon lessons, he still cannot play one.

His latest book is the urban fantasy/paranormal romance novel, RIFTSIDERS: UNLAWFUL POSSESSION.

 

Why I’m a Pantser by author Randy C. Dockens

 

Authors, I think, come in three main flavors: plotters, pantsers, and those in the middle. Let’s discuss these briefly and I’ll tell you why I’m a pantser.

I must admit, I really admire plotters. They seem to have their act together. Everything down to the smallest detail is plotted out in advance before they even put pen to paper. The way a character looks, acts, and develops is planned—including their background, pet peeves, and character arcs. Every plot and subplot are diagrammed to show how all is intertwined. It seems the only thing lacking is the need to develop dialogue to tie all these pieces together. I know there is really more to it than that, but it does seem to be somewhat like following a formula. While this is extremely valuable, one does need to be cautious to be sure the plotting does not turn into a procrastination strategy rather than a writing strategy. One can feel good about themselves because they are “planning,” but this is deceptive. If you never get to the writing phase, then you are just procrastinating and not planning.

This hit home even further for me when I met Amy Deardon at a writer’s conference one year. She explained that she found all books and movies follow a certain story arc formula. In her presentation, she gave several examples. I was both floored and impressed at the same time. She even wrote a book about her findings: The Story Template. I, of course, bought the book. This was going to be my lifesaver. Yet, while totally intriguing, I found it very tedious to follow to the degree she outlined. I know this was likely a lifesaver for many, yet it was not for me. Now, the premise behind the information was indeed useful, but, for me, the detailed process became too laborious and tedious to follow.

Being a pantser is not without plotting all together. I think knowing the overarching ideas that Amy writes about is helpful in developing an overarching plan for a story. For me, it is much more fun to just start writing and then see where the story goes. This immerses me in the story as I begin to write from within the story rather than writing above the story. I place myself in the character’s shoes at that point in time and see how I would act or respond and then let the story develop organically in both content and flow. This allows me to let the story morph as new ideas come to me. I feel I can change direction on the fly better than when I had plotted a scene. These new ideas threw off my downstream planning, causing me to constantly keep changing my plan and the direction it was to head. So, eventually, I gave up on the detailed plotting and accepted the fact I was a pantser.

There are those who are in the middle of these two techniques. To be honest, I think most are in this third category to at least some extent. I once read that J. K. Rowling defined her style of writing to be somewhat between being a plotter and a pantser. When I read that, I became more comfortable with my style as I felt I was in good company. This becomes a broad category because some plot more than others and some write by the seat of their pants more than they plot. Yet, some degree of plotting is needed because I think an author must at least know where they are starting and how they plan to end. Otherwise, one’s story turns into a saga rather than a novel.

So, as you can see, there is no right or wrong methodology for being an author. One should do what works best for them. After all, it is about one being able to stimulate their creative ideas and engage their readers in a story. If both creativity and engagement are achieved, then I think one can say they have been successful. Embrace your style and let it guide you into fabulous stories that are riveting and engaging for your readers. I wish everyone a happy writing experience – no matter your style.

About the Author

Dr. Randy C. Dockens has a fascination with science and with the Bible, holds Ph.D. degrees in both areas, and is a man not only of faith and science, but also of creativity. He believes that faith and science go hand in hand without being enemies. He has written several books that span dystopia, end-time prophecy, science fiction, and uniquely told Bible stories. His books, while fun to read, are futuristic, filled with science to give them an authentic feel, have a science fiction slant, and allow one to learn some aspect of Biblical truth one may not have thought about before. This is all done in a fast-paced action format that is both entertaining and provides a fun read to his readers. Randy’s latest books are in the Christian science fiction series, ERABON PROPHECY TRILOGY .

TV Series review: Dalgleish

Dalgleish. Just the name sums up our titular hero, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Dalgleish. He is also a published poet and recently lost his family, giving him empathy and insight into the human condition, especially that of suffering and despair. The six-part (with hopefully more to come) series is based on three Adam Dalgleish novels by the acclaimed crime writer PD James. This series covers Shroud for a Nightingale, The Black Tower, and A Taste for Death.  I won’t say any more about the novels because I don’t want to spoil it for readers new to PD James, plus established fans are no doubt very familiar with the novels.

Bertie Carvel is an actor I have never seen before, and I am surprised! He has a slew of acting credits to his name and makes me want to find other productions he has featured in. He is Dalgleish, as David Suchet is Hercule Poirot. Tall, handsome, erudite, courteous (as opposed to merely charming), and elegant, Carvel epitomises Dalgleish. His complete polar opposite is DS Charles Masterson, played by Jeremy Irvine. This character is everything a woman is NOT looking for in a man. He is suave in a cheap cologne way, treats women like second class citizens, and generally is not very likeable. He opens his mouth to change feet. Viewers will hope he falls into a deep hole and is never rescued. However, his fatal flaws make Dalgleish’s virtues shine ever brighter. Supporting cast performers are excellent with some familiar faces.

The cinematography, sets, costumes, and everything that goes into a period piece are excellent. The mid-1970s is perfectly captured, down to the ‘look’ of the era, with that slightly grainy, washed-out colour palette. Hard to explain, but once you watch, you’ll see. Since the stories start in the 70s, snowflakes beware: this is when social issues/social justice/women’s rights/attitudes to women were not what they are now. If this kind of thing offends you, don’t bother watching. For viewers who accept that history is what it is, you’ll enjoy the whole package – plot, acting, performance, photography, and settings.

I am familiar with the Dalglish novels, and, to my great relief, the script writers cut out much of the meanderings and unnecessary distractions of the novels. I find that PD James erred on the side of over-loquaciousness in many of the later novels with deep and thoughtful digressions into the mind set of characters that did not really fit into the murder mystery genre. That’s just my opinion. Many readers may feel otherwise. However, as a viewing package, Dalgleish the series is just superb! Don’t miss it.

 

Book Spotlight: Cyber Fighter by William Joseph Hill

William Joseph Hill’s book CYBER FIGHTER, with its big screen adaptation underway, is a sci-fi/martial arts/action-adventure story that will engage readers in this action-packed “page turner.”

Said the author Mr. Hill, “I’m hoping that my CYBER FIGHTER readers have fun with the story and have a few good laughs, along with being thrilled by the action sequences I have in the story. I’d also like them to think about the scientific possibilities that the story explores. As we spend more and more of our lives online, the idea that you could learn skills via Virtual Reality is becoming less science fiction and closer to actuality.”

Cyber Fighter is the story of a clumsy temp Brian Baldwin who takes a job at defense contractor Kirkman Enterprises, where he volunteers to test their latest software program on himself by getting black belt fighting skills downloaded directly to his brain via a Virtual Reality immersive experience, turning him into a human weapon. When Brian discovers that the eccentric main programmer Humbert Cloogey has sold him off to the Army for induction, he makes his escape, assisted by his only ally Dr. Kate Rand, a neuroscientist who works for the company, but who has some secrets herself.

Simultaneously as Brian is undergoing the experiment, a Triad crime boss and part-time cloning engineer Lau Xiaoming, operating out of North Korea, hacks into the US server hosting the software, planting a Trojan program into Brian’s brain that holds the secret to “Project Starfish”, his plan for world domination. Brian finds himself pursued by not only the U.S. Army, and FBI, but also by Xiaoming and his minions, all looking to grab him for their own exploits.

The core of my story is Brian’s journey, going from a middle-aged man who gave up on his dreams, to suddenly finding himself empowered with skills he never thought he’d ever achieve. Almost overnight he acquires a superhero status. But he discovers that he apparently hasn’t achieved any more control over his life than before. In fact, his life seems pretty much out of control now.  

Plans for a CYBER FIGHTERfeature length movie from William Hill lie ahead. He said, “I am also developing CYBER FIGHTERinto a feature film. Part of that process includes doing a short film version for a proof-of-concept for my vision of the full feature. I am hoping to produce and shoot the short film this summer and have it go to festivals. I also did a comic book adaptation of that short film version that is also for sale on Amazon. Learn more at this link: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZL6X6W6

About the Author: When interviewed, the author tells us his life story: “I’ve actually been writing since elementary school.  I always liked writing my own science-fiction stories, though my early work was derivative of TV shows I loved like SPACE: 1999 and the 1970s version of Buck Rogers.  When my family moved to Hawaii (my Dad was a Captain in the U.S. Navy), I started making my own movies first with a Super-8 camera and then our family’s VHS camcorder.  In high school I wrote, directed, and starred in my very first feature Law of the Ninja, with my siblings as co-stars and the neighborhood kids as background actors.

When I came to Hollywood, I not only continued with my acting career, but also used my writing skills to pen some screenplays, a few of which I was hired to write from an indie producer. CYBER FIGHTER was originally intended as a vehicle for my acting career, but gradually developed into a bigger story which my debut novel tells.  It is my very first book that I’ve ever published.

My wife Pamela and I started our own production company Four Scorpio Productions, and we have our own YouTube channel where we began making short films and then developed our own web series sitcom That Darn Girlfriend which is in its third season. It’s a quirky fun parody of classic 1960s/1970s sitcoms, done in that style as well. We’ve built an audience of over 3,500 subscribers. I also share my filmmaking/VFX knowledge with a tutorial series that I produce and host on the channel as well:  https://williamjosephhill.com/ and http://fourscorpio.com/ and  https://www.youtube.com/fourscorpio.

 

Writing About the Past by Linda Stewart Henley

Merriam-Websters Dictionary defines history as “a chronological record of significant events.” This definition might also describe the story in a work of fiction. However, writers use the device of storyto convey the past in numerous ways, each of which produces a different reaction on the part of the reader. I’d like to demonstrate use of the same information in three different manifestations: pure history, historical fiction, and nostalgia.

There’s a scene in my contemporary fiction novel Waterbury Winter where the protagonist Barnaby Brown visits a Rhode Island beach. If I had written a history book about the setting, I might have simply stated known facts such as: Roger Williams settled Rhode Island at the top of Narragansett Bay in 1636. Historical facts, though often colored by writers’ interpretations, are usually simply stated, cut and dried, and devoid of emotion.

In historical fiction, writers use facts as the framework of a story and fill in details from their imagination. There are many ways to do this, depending on the author’s point of view or literary style. If I were writing this scene in a historical fiction novel, I might describe it this way: Barnaby Brown gazed across the waves lapping at the edge of Narragansett Bay. His thoughts returned to the guide book he’d been reading. It was possible that Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, had stood in this very spot admiring the very same view of the bay.

Another writer of historical fiction might choose to provide more information and use a more intriguing approach:  As he leaned into the wind at the edge of Narragansett Bay with waves lapping at his feet, Barnaby Brown gently unfolded the crinkled letter. His ancestor Roger Williams had written it in August 1636 to describe his relief at standing ashore in this bay, where his ship had recently landed following weeks at sea on the dangerous voyage from his native land.

Of course, we have no idea if Roger Williams observed the water from that spot or if he wrote a letter, but he might have, and the passage includes an element of mystery: exactly what is Barnaby’s connection to Roger Williams? How did he acquire the letter? Who was the intended recipient? What difficulties did the writer experience during the sea voyage, and what prompted it? And so on. The writer has set the scene, and can use fictional details to develop the story and pique the reader’s curiosity.

Merriam-Websters defines nostalgia as “pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again.” In Waterbury Winter, Barnaby recalls past experiences on a Rhode Island beach: “And those summer afternoons . . . how he misses those times sitting with friends at the water’s edge, watching sanderlings chase, then withdraw with the tide, and the warm nights sipping Margaritas on the shore.”

Nostalgia takes history up a notch by adding a dollop of emotion and evocative images. No work of fiction would succeed if it contained an over-abundance of historical facts, which by definition are telling, not showing, and an excess of nostalgia might be equally unappealing. In fiction, a balance of historical facts, sometimes presented as backstory, skillfully woven into the fabric of the novel works well to bring history alive, and perhaps especially so when combined with a few threads of nostalgia.

 Find out more about Waterbury Winter by visiting GoodReads or the author’s website. You can also purchase it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org.

Linda Stewart Henley is the author of Estelle: A Novel. Among other honors, it won Silver in the Independent Publisher Book Awards for Historical Fiction and was a finalist for The Eric Hoffer Book Awards as well as for the 2021 Nancy Pearl Award. She lives in Anacortes, Washington, with her husband. Waterbury Winter is her second novel.

 

Book Spotlight: Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley

 

Barnaby Brown has had enough of freezing winters, insurmountable debt, a dead-end job, and his solitary life as a young widower with no one but his beloved parrot Popsicle. He yearns to move to California and reawaken his long-lost early life as an artist. But new troubles come in threes. His ancient car crashes into a snowbank. Popsicle escapes through a window carelessly left open.

A New York gallery owner offers to represent Barnaby’s paintings—but is he on the up-and-up? All of it serves to shock Barnaby into confronting how low he has sunk, and he vows—again and again—to change. He has a few obstacles, starting with his heavy drinking and long-term neglect of his ancestral home. As he takes steps toward a better life, he re-discovers the value of old friendships and latent talents seen in new light, and finds the courage to consider a second chance at love. Rejoining the mainstream of life presents several startling mysteries he must unravel, with a few mortifying but enlightening stumbles.

A heart-warming novel about ordinary people reclaiming their dormant potential, Waterbury Winter celebrates the restorative value of art and the joy to be found in keeping promises.

 Find out more about Waterbury Winter by visiting GoodReads or the author’s website.You can also purchase it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org.

 Praise for Waterbury Winter

 “A reflective, witty, and fun story that elegantly crosses genres and addresses intriguing themes.”—Kirkus Reviews

"... a page-turner. I found I could not put it down until I had reached the end. It makes you think about how you are handling your life and if you are stagnating because you are too afraid to take a chance. I enjoyed reading this book from the first page to the last and found the ending the best, due to the fact that I had started rooting early for the main characters."

—Readers Favorite, 5 stars

 “A tour de force reminiscent of A Man Called Ove. Barnaby Brown’s interactions and experiences unfold in such a way as to endear him to the reader. He’s not perfect, but his imperfections are what reveal his gentle and generous spirit, and we root for him at every upturn and downturn. Waterbury Winter is a memorable masterpiece.”

—Saralyn Richard, award-winning author of the Detective Parrott mystery series and A Murder of Principal

 “Linda Henley manages to combine drama, romance, humor, and even an art theft mystery in the highly entertaining Waterbury Winter. The novel introduces us to Barnaby Brown, an artist who is so down on his luck there’s no farther to slide. Through fast-paced writing and a series of remarkable plot twists, Henley constantly surprises the reader as Barnaby (accompanied by his faithful parrot, Popsicle) stumbles mightily in his efforts to redeem himself and become the man he wants to be. A many-layered novel, Waterbury Winter is, above all, a moving tribute to the healing power of art.”

—Laurel Davis Huber, award-winning author of The Velveteen Daughter

 “…a heart-warming story of loss and love, challenge and resistance, and the power of creative expression. Henley’s masterful descriptions of character and place make these pages the perfect spot to hang out. Readers will make themselves at home, cheer for the protagonist, Barnaby, and be totally charmed by his opinionated parrot, Popsicle.”

—Romalyn Tilghman, award-winning author of To the Stars Through Difficulties

About the Author

Linda Stewart Henley is the author of Estelle: A Novel. Among other honors, it won Silver in the Independent Publisher Book Awards for Historical Fiction and was a finalist for The Eric Hoffer Book Awards as well as for the 2021 Nancy Pearl Award. She lives in Anacortes, Washington, with her husband. Waterbury Winter is her second novel.

Review: Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales Books 1-3 by Cheryl Carpinello

Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales Books 1-3 encourage early readers with fun stories incorporating difference aspects of nature. Book 1, Wild Creatures In My Neighborhood and What if I Went to the Circus, explores the wildlife around neighborhoods and introduces decision-making. Book 2, Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback, explores a common, but not so common insect, and lets readers see that being stubborn isn’t always good. Book 3, Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale, introduces readers to an extended metaphor and lets them decide if the fish story is real. All the books have bright, simple images to catch and keep the attention of a young reader. Where relevant, some stories have activities to help youngsters remember what they have read about or learned, or else to draw various concepts they have discovered. Parents and educators will welcome the variety of stories and the possibilities of discussions with the young audience about social issues, concepts, and choices. Very highly recommended.

Grandma’s Tales, Book 1: Wild Creatures in my Neighborhood and What If I Went to the Circus? starts off with the young boy discovering signs of wildlife in the garden – a raccoon, a rabbit, a prairie dog, a bear and more. His mom explains to him how these wild animals have appeared in the neighborhood even though they live in a city. Every time he guesses what the animal is from its tracks or the sounds it makes, his mom corrects him. Bright images show the reader what the boy thinks the creature is…and then we see what it really is! The young boy and young readers will learn that wild creatures are everywhere. In What if I Went to the Circus?, young Jackson mulls over the animals he could bring home from the circus to play with him. Sadly, they are all too big and Jackson enumerates the bad things that could happen… so not a good idea. The images of the animals are cleverly interspersed with the text so the young reader can sound out the name of the animal and what might happen to the various objects in Jackson’s home.

Grandma’s Tales, Book 2: Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback starts with an introduction to nature’s most melodious singer and musician, the garden cricket! The delightful images are interspersed with facts about crickets that adults will enjoy learning as well. Young readers also have some interactive activities to help them remember what they have learned about crickets. The author gives readers the not so good facts about crickets (which Mom will find useful), so they are best left in the garden to make music. The second story introduces youngsters to a stubborn little humpback whale called Nemo. Nemo thinks he knows it all and he is stubborn in his ways. Alas, that kind of attitude does not bode well for Nemo as he finds out, to his fright. A salutary lesson is learned! Young readers are encouraged to draw various scenes they read about in this story.

Grandpa’s Tales, Book 3: Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale starts off with fun and action, brightly coloured images of a boy and a girl playing… interspersed with (Shock! Horror!) a sign warning young readers of danger lurking! What can it be? The action continues with a delicious mouth-watering picnic, then time for a frolic in the pool… but the danger signs loom ever closer… And with nightfall and time for a game of hide and seek, we discover that there are Vampires in the Backyard! Bloodsuckers too! Who or what exactly are these vampires? You will have to read the book to find out! Young readers will be flipping the pages to get to the ghastly truth about the vampires. You have been warned. Next comes A Fish Tale as George makes his way to the pond with everything he needs to catch the biggest fish he can find. It’s an adventure and it’s a perfect day for fishing… but is it?

About the Author

Cheryl Carpinello taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. Her success with readers aged 8-16 led her to reach out to the youngest of readers and those readers just starting out. Revising stories she had written for her own children, she created Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales for ages 4-7.  Her four grandchildren's conversations created the stories in Book 3 of this series. Visit her on  Twitter  and  Facebook .