David M. Brown's Blog, page 99
July 9, 2012
Book Excerpt: Brownie Fix – Ellen Cardona
I’m very pleased to welcome Ellen Cardona to the blog today, as part of her tour with CLP Blog Tours. I have reviewed Brownie Fix and Ellen has also been kind enough to share a guest post.
Excerpt: Brownie FixChapter One: Ritual Interrupted“Oh, my God,” Persey said with a sparkle in her brilliant eyes and flip of her auburn hair, a spicy blend of chili powder and milk chocolate. “Brownie mix tastes like the food of the gods.”
The rich and moist taste of chocolate is what attracted Persey to the art of making brownies, and the sweet flavor that entered her mouth when she sucked down the raw mix was enough to satisfy her cravings.
The conditions were indeed perfect for the beloved ritual of brownie making. Her trip to the local grocery store for the nectar was justified since she was nine months pregnant, and the chocolate called to her.
Her husband, Hayden, had left for work, and she had the house to herself with no housekeeper in sight. Plus, it was fall, her favorite season of the year, and the beautiful morning called for the ritual of brownies.
“Do you hope people won’t judge you?” the voices in Persey’s head taunted in unison. “Do you really think you’re perfect?”
Ignoring them, she pulled her steel blue Jaguar into the closest parking space at the grocery store and slammed the door. Clackity-clack went the sound of her stiletto boots hitting the pavement, and she set out on her mission: the ritual would be satisfied. She adjusted the strap of her favorite Louis Vuitton purse on her shoulder, and she was ready.
Walking into the store, she passed a tan, Nordic hunk with fresh fruit and protein bars in his little basket. He took an admiring look at Persey’s big belly protruding through a stylish, loose-fitting, tiger-print blouse.
“You’re fat,” the voices in her head sang.
About Brownie Fix (2011) [image error] Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression.Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it’s little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity.
Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.
Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreadsAbout Ellen Cardona
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Ellen Cardona wrote Brownie Fix to help deal with the postpartum depression she experienced after one of her pregnancies. Through her writing, she found that postpartum depression was real but conquerable, especially when one has the help of some dark chocolate and even darker humor. When Ellen is not writing, she teaches literature to college freshmen and attempts to help them understand the writing process, though they think she’s crazy because of her love for literature and writing.
Ellen graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a PhD in Humanities with a specialization in Literature. Even though she has published several academic works on Ezra Pound, she could not ignore her true passion as a fiction writer. Ellen lives in Richardson, Texas and continues to learn daily from her husband and two children. In good times and bad, she still enjoys her brownies.
Book Excerpt: Brownie Fix – Ellen Cardona | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Book Review: Brownie Fix – Ellen Cardona
Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it’s little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity.
Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.
Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreadsReview: Brownie Fix
Persey is a woman who seems to have it all but life takes a terrible turn when she loses her first child to a tragic miscarriage. Many months later, she is blessed with a healthy baby boy but a combination of grief and postnatal depression make it impossible for her to cope. Instead, she turns to things that she must know cannot help her long term but which are doubtless momentarily satisfying: brownies and self-harming. Unfortunately, when the brownies lead to her putting on weight and the guilt about her self-harming accumulates, her situation only worsens. As her family struggle to know how to cope and provide comfort, Persey has two choices: let grief and pain overwhelm her or begin the immense fight to get her life back.
Reading Brownie Fix was an unusual experience of pleasure and pain. The book is remarkably well written. Funny, tragic and poignant, this story portrays so much anguish and suffering in such a brutal way – and yet every word, every letter, rings with truth. Persey’s story is presented without judgements or moralising but simply with the clearly underscored message: how can you possibly understand that much pain until you have felt it.
Ellen Cardona’s tale of Persey’s travel through a personal hell to get to the other side is a remarkably accomplished book. If you have had any experience of depression, you will doubtless find this difficult to read and yet, at the same time, revel in the fact that someone has captured those darkest thoughts and dared to present them in a way that defies condemnation. This is a book that has been written with heart and soul and should be read with both to fully appreciate it.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Book Review: Brownie Fix – Ellen Cardona | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Photo a Day July – Day Nine: Big #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity to take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Nine: BigBig. As in the big caffeine injection I got this afternoon. As in the big satisfaction of a yummy latte. As in the big raindrops hitting my cup on the walk home! Indeed, the great British downpour continues with absolutely abysmal weather. But at least the coffee was good…
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Photo a Day July – Day Nine: Big #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 8, 2012
Book Review and Excerpt: Tangled Ties to a Manatee – Kalen Cap
[image error]A pregnant manatee is rare at any zoo, and a first for the Grove City Zoo in Ohio. Ankh is a delight to zoo patrons, a concern to its staff, and the unintentional victim of two con men. She has no idea how many human relationships, problems, and dreams tangle around her.
Jerry is a young developmentally disabled man who happily follows Ankh’s pregnancy on the zoo’s webcam. He has a shy crush on Janelle, a pretty college student who volunteers for his group home’s outings to the zoo.
Jerry’s Aunt Vera also loves nature and runs an environmental retreat center. But all is not well, with Vera or the center. The center needs money and is under investigation as a cult.
Amid their college studies, Janelle and her friend Cecily try to help. Instead, Janelle re-awakens an old obsession in Vera when an innocent tarot reading hints at how the center might be saved.
Two bumbling con men are attempting to sabotage the region’s electrical grid as part of a lucrative scheme. But Jerry accidentally gets in their way and becomes their captive.
When the con men surprisingly succeed in bringing the grid down, it spells danger for Ankh, her unborn pup, and the many people tied to them both. With investigations of their own, Cecily and Janelle try to untangle it all to find Jerry, save a manatee’s life, and rescue Vera from herself.
Tangled Ties to a Manatee is a humorous crime thriller with environmental themes that is revealed through multiple points of view. The novel emphasizes college-aged characters, though not all, such as the developmentally disabled ones, are in college.
Amazon USAmazon UKB&NGoodreadsReview: Tangled Ties to a Manatee
I do like books with curious titles and this debut offering from Kalen Cap is no exception. This comedy thriller is built around the manatee of the title that has the luxury of being safely in a tank while outside the rest of the world is very complex indeed. Not that the manatee has an easy time either!
Tangled Ties to a Manatee follows the viewpoints of several characters that are linked to Ankh, a pregnant manatee that is kept at the Grove City Zoo under careful observation. Staff that deal with closely with Ankh and those that are friends, family and associates all feature in this intricate novel. Leeanne is the lead veterinarian for Ankh while her ex-husband Steven is a lecturer at the local college. Some of Steven’s students, such as Cecily (who has a crush on him), and Janelle come into the story. A coffee shop is also key to the narrative with the young but slow Jerry playing a pivotal role as do his aunts Clara and Vera, the latter who runs the Environmental Retreat Centre (ERC). The ERC is under investigation by two women – Elise and Sharon. Elise is undercover as a member of staff in the ERC while Sharon works at the coffee shop. Add to this two men – Stan and Craig – who plan to blackout the area and you have a very busy plot to keep up with.
Due to the wide range of characters Tangled Ties to a Manatee jumps around a lot and you’ll have to get used to many characters. Vera that runs the ERC is the aunt of Jerry who cleans at the coffee shop and has a crush on one of the students Janelle. Other staff at the ERC include Emmett who is something of a ladies’ man and has been sleeping with colleague Helen but now Elise, who is using him as part of her investigation. At the coffee shop Sharon is proving popular in her new role and is liked by both Jerry and Mitch, who is the brother of Steven. With me so far? It may seem daunting initially but you soon get used to the characters. Steven’s students become integral to the story. Cecily is an older student who has a crush on her teacher and doesn’t feel she fits in with the others. Janelle invites Vera to a tarot reading and when going through the cards leaves Vera intrigued about who will take over the ERC after her, especially when mentioning it is someone that knows no pain.
While all is not what it seems at ERC and the company is being investigated, there are Stan and Craig who are up to their own little scheme. Planning to cause a blackout their plans are thrown into turmoil when they are spotted by Jerry who they quickly take hostage. Friends and family become frantic in searching for Jerry, while Stan and Craig try to complete their plan, and the manatee Ankh continues with her long pregnancy. There are also some relationships to resolve here. Cecily has a crush on Steven but she is also fond of a student, Gavin. Steven still longs for ex-wife Leeanne but perhaps a new romance awaits him when he draws the attention of undercover investigator Sharon. Add Emmett to the equation with his relationships with Helen and Elise and things are all set to turn pretty nasty.
Tangled Ties to a Manatee jumps around a lot and sometimes it not always easy to keep track of all the characters. I felt by the end that I knew most of them well but not all as well as I would have liked. The plot is intriguing throughout with Stan and Craig’s blackout scheme not to mention the investigation of the ERC where not all the staff are as innocent as they initially seem. The story rounds off nicely with an epilogue that gives us a summary of each of the main characters in the aftermath of this strange cauldron of deceit and intrigue.
Tangled Ties to a Manatee is a light-hearted thriller with a large cast of characters and some interesting plot threads for the reader to unravel. Although not all of the characters felt as fleshed out as they could have been this complex narrative was handled very well and is certainly worth a look. I’m not telling you how the manatee gets on though. You’ll have to read and find out for yourself.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy from Goddess Fish in exchange for a fair and honest review)
ExcerptStan
“What we gonna do with him?” Craig asked.
Stan held the door open, motioning for Craig to carry their intruder inside. I’m glad we’re at this site.
Another retired hub station was a few miles away. That station’s maintenance was scheduled for Monday and Thursday, and Stan originally planned to use that location. But, with the forecasted weather, the current station, with its maintenance on Wednesday and Friday, was proving the better choice. Particularly now, since it had a second building where they could stow their intruder. The retired grid hub station was used for remote relayed processing, so there wouldn’t likely be any surprise visits by the electric company before Wednesday. Stan figured they’d be long gone by then.
Craig took the load inside and turned back to Stan.
“We’ll put him in the basement,” Stan said.
“There’s a basement?”
“No, I’m going to dig one while you hold him. Of course, there’s a basement.” Stan flipped the light switch and led the way down the steps inside. The basement had a storage area and what had been a break room, complete with a cot, and adjoining bathroom. Craig followed him into the break room, and Stan motioned to the cot. Craig let the guy fall there with a thump.
“Easy! Let’s get the sack off him,” Stan said. The two men pulled the burlap off their surprise guest. They both leaned over, peering at him.
“I know him,“ Craig said.
“You think you know everybody.”
“No, really. Can’t remember where I saw him, though.”
Stan handed his partner a couple lengths of cord. Craig set the intruder upright and proceeded to bind his hands and feet.
About Kalen Cap[image error]Kalen Cap is a writer living in Columbus, Ohio. Active in a variety of causes, particularly with regard to the environment, he often brings such concerns into his fiction writing.
Tangled Ties to a Manatee is his debut novel.
He has had poetry published and several plays, both one act and full-length, produced locally. Two short stories have been published as well. “Feral” is a short story published in Off the Rocks, v. 14, ed Allison Fradkin, NewTown Writers Chicago, 2010, pp. 119-126. “Transforming Oracle” is a self-published short story available at Smashwords.
Website Twitter Facebook Google+
Kalen will award a $25 Green Gift Card to one randomly drawn commenter so don’t forget to follow the rest of Kalen’s Tangled Ties to a Manatee tour!
Book Review and Excerpt: Tangled Ties to a Manatee – Kalen Cap | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Photo a Day July – Day Eight: Lunch #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity to take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Eight: LunchI knew we were having a large tea so lunch today was simply melon – a lovely summer lunch! Of course, this light and healthy summer lunch was completely offset by an unhealthy takeaway and a bottle of beer later on. Well… you can’t have it all, right?
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Photo a Day July – Day Eight: Lunch #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 7, 2012
Photo a Day July – Day Seven: Garden #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Seven: Garden
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Feeling a little better today so I have picked up the Photo a Day challenge (but thank you to Mr B for stepping in). We don’t have a garden. But we do have a window box. Hands up if you thought this was a life size shrub? Oh, you weren’t fooled? Never mind – I must try harder!
Photo a Day July – Day Seven: Garden #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Book Review: Crime Fiction for Beginners – Gervase Shorter
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The murder investigation Detective Inspector Harriet Ware is heading takes her into an unsuspected world where publishers wearily fend off a spate of unwanted manuscripts. Her suspects include would-be authors who live as much in the plots they are weaving as in the mundane world they actually inhabit. ‘Crime Fiction for Beginners’ is five novels in one with an unexpected twist at the end.
GoodreadsAmazon USAmazon UKReview: Crime Fiction for Beginners
Don’t be fooled by that title. This isn’t a step by step guide on how to write crime fiction but a murder mystery. Shorter’s novel offers one murder case that is a little complex and the detectives investigating the crime are certainly not short of suspects.
The premise to the novel is the murder of Laurence Barlow, the owner of a publishing house, who has been found dead in an alley. Detectives Harriet Ware and James Rose are on the case but there is a problem. Laurence Barlow was not a popular man, with his wife less than distraught by his death while two of Barlow’s colleagues despised him and a former secretary filed a sexual harassment case against him. The list of suspects extends further with the knowledge that Laurence Barlow left many aspiring authors devastating by cruelly rejecting their manuscripts and some turned nasty and threatening in response.
The novel opens with Barlow’s body being identified by his colleague Frank Slater. Slowly a picture of Barlow begins to build. Inheriting the publishing firm through marriage to his wife Violet, Barlow is depicted as somewhat ferocious in his business dealings, gathering enemies and finding few friends along the way. He’s also something of a womaniser and secretaries at the publishing house have to be on their guard around him. Harriet finds that many suspects would have had motives for killing Barlow but how will she narrow down the list and find the culprit?
The investigation is interposed with accounts of a handful of writers, offering insight into their daily lives, the books they’re working on and extracts from their novels. One is writing a sci-fi piece while another is working on a novel Jane Austen would have been proud of. The writers hear of Barlow’s death and we begin to wonder if any of them know who is responsible or whether they were involved themselves. With the many perspectives being thrown at the reader early on it’s easy to lose track initially but you soon get used to it. The question is will the killer be brought to justice for the murder of Laurence Barlow?
I thought Crime Fiction for Beginners was an effective thriller and the murder mystery was always compelling throughout. As interesting as the extracts from the aspiring authors were I felt they broke the narrative’s flow a little and could have been condensed somewhat. There is also something of a twist at the end of the novel which some readers will see coming but others will be pleasantly surprised I feel.
Crime Fiction for Beginners is a decent murder mystery with the two detectives having a difficult time unravelling the case such is the unpopularity of Laurence Barlow. Less of the extracts from authors would have interrupted the narrative flow less but that aside this is certainly worth considering if you enjoy crime fiction.
Verdict: 3/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Book Review: Crime Fiction for Beginners – Gervase Shorter | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 6, 2012
Photo a Day July – Day Six: Chair (by Mr B) #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Six: Chair (by Mr B)Donna continues to be felled by illness (poor Mrs B) but today’s picture was an easy one for me to step in one as one of my favourite possessions is a chair I inherited from my grandfather. As with every image taken in our house, a cat is never far from sight! Once again, I say ‘Get well soon, Mrs B!’
Add your ‘Photo a Day July 2012′ links!Photo a Day July – Day Six: Chair (by Mr B) #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 5, 2012
Photo a Day July – Day Five: On the Floor (by Mr B) #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Five: On the Floor (by Mr B)
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Donna has struggled to fight against being poorly this week and she finally succumbed and spent the day in bed. I am gobsmacked (and worried) but pleased that she took a time out today as my beloved definitely needs it. Don’t worry – as dutiful husband I am waiting on her hand and foot and attending to her every need. Today, that included procuring an ‘On the Floor’ snap (as she refused to take one of the bedroom carpet from her sick bed vantage point – okay, point taken Mrs B!). So I braved the British summer and snapped this by the canal. Get well soon Mrs B!
Photo a Day July – Day Five: On the Floor (by Mr B) #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 4, 2012
Photo a Day July – Day Four: Fun – 4th July cheers #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Four: Fun – 4th July cheersAlthough we are British, we have many American Twitter and Facebook friends across the pond so Mr B and I chose to charge our glasses to you today. Which was… fun!
Add your ‘Photo a Day July 2012′ links!Photo a Day July – Day Four: Fun – 4th July cheers #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
