Heidi Angell's Blog, page 5

Meet the Author with Kelly Charron

Hello Lovelies, I am pleased to introduce you to Kelly Charron, the author of YA and adult horror, psychological thrillers and urban fantasy novels. All with gritty, murderous inclinations and some moderate amounts of humor. She spends far too much time consuming true crime television (and chocolate) while trying to decide if yes, it was the husband, with the wrench, in the library. Kelly has a degree in English Literature as well as a Social Work degree. She has worked as a hairstylist, youth outreach worker and education assistant. She lives with her husband and cat, Moo Moo, in Vancouver, British Columbia.Thanks so much for joining us on An Angell's Life of Bookish Goodness, Kelly. Thanks so much for having me. Let's jump right in. On a cold day: coffee, tea, cocoa or something a bit stronger, and why?Oh tough one since I drink coffee, tea and cocoa, but I’d have to go with coffee with sugar and cream or better yet a flat white from Starbucks with some chocolate sprinkles on top. If I’m at home and I’m in need of an extra kick I may add a little Bailey’s in the coffee. I love the taste of coffee and always drink it when I’m writing, brainstorming and plotting so I definitely associate writing with the taste and smell, which I think helps me dive into the work faster. In the evenings, I’ve been known to have some white wine on hand.I love Starbucks! My guilty pleasure is a hot mochaccino without cream. What is the current book you are promoting?I’m currently promoting the second book in myPretty Wicked Series, WICKED FALLOUT. It is a psychological thriller that follows the main character, a twenty-seven-year-old woman named Ryann Wilkanson, who is in a maximum-security prison for claiming multiple victims when she was just fifteen years old in her attempt to become a serial killer. Wicked Fallout puts you in Ryann’s head once again but also features the point of view of a forensic psychiatrist named Dr. Nancy Clafin, who is given the arduous task of assessing Ryann when new evidence comes to light that may allow Ryann a commuted sentence. Wow. What a story concept. Who is your favorite character in your book and why?Ryann because she is so fun to write but also to read. When I reread some of her scenes I chuckle at how positively snarky and evil she is. I love villains, so writing a whole book from the villain’s point of view was extremely satisfying. Ryann is a fresh voice with a compelling and unique perspective on life, people and the world. We know why heroes do many of the things they do, what is lesser known is the complex motivations behind a villain. I was interested in exploring the psychology, motivation, and emotion (or lack thereof) of a psychopath/sociopath in a way that we often don’t get in storytelling. If we get inside the villain’s head, it is often short lived or superficial, so I wanted to develop a villainous character where the reader could be fully immersed inside their psyche for a whole new experience. She also employs quite a bit of snarkiness, sarcasm and wit, which allows for a rather dark character to also have lighter moments.I like that you aren't taking the approach of some of the more recent Disney adaptations where they try to make the villain NOT a villain. Who is your favorite fictional character and why?Tough one. Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayal only) is a favorite because he is so charming and charismatic. We loathe him but are fascinated with him and are compelled to see what he does next. On the side of hero, I’d have to say I love Neville Longbottom because who doesn’t love a sweet underdog. He starts out fearful, clumsy and overwhelmed and ends the series saving the day! He’s the one in the crowd to stand up to Voldemort in the end—his tenacity, courage and strength are so admirable. He’d go to the ends of the earth for what is right. I also love everything Alice in Wonderland, especially the Mad Hatter.I love Neville too. The unlikely heroes are always the best. Where do you come up with your stories?Inspiration for my stories often comes from television and movies. I’m a very visual person and seeing the way a story unfolds onscreen (the lighting, sounds, setting, angles, framing etc…) creates a mood which often draws me so completely in that I want to create a similar feeling in a story. I love being scared and watching thrillers and horror, so I naturally want to evoke that same sense of fear and dread with words. I also often watch true crime television and documentaries which always get me analyzing and breaking apart the various aspects of cases. Why a particular victim was chosen? How the killer started down that road—what was childhood like/what are their defining characteristics and personality traits/who were they pretending to be versus who they really were? Even to dissecting why a detective chose that line of work. I’m always studying why people do the things they do and I find it especially compelling if they do something quite differently than the rest of society would expect or relate to, so I take those initial seeds and play with it, often with a lot of “what if” questions and scenarios, and come up with plot ideas.So cool. Well, thanks for coming out and sharing yourself with us. I am definitely looking forward to Pretty Wicked. Looks like an awesome read! Do you want to learn more about Kelly Charron and her series? Connect with her:Website: kellycharron.com Twitter: @KellymcharronFacebook: Kelly Charron AuthorGoodreads: Kelly CharronUntil next time, Keep Reading!

Poetry Corner- Help

I see you in the darknessI feel your painThe red tears of angerfrustration, lonelinessemptiness engulfs you. I reach to youoffering solacelonging for youto take melet me heal your painabsorb each dropof ugliness in youTil you're left pure, angelic, clean and holy. And I becomethe monster.

Book Review- Into the Shadows by Marie Jones

Genre: Romantic SuspenseSynopsis: Awarded FIVE STAR BADGE from 'READERS FAVOURITE' and SHORTLISTED for UK NOVEL WRITING COMPETITION 2017Lily Crossways lives a controlled life, ensuring she never experiences hurt or disappointment. Until, that is, she returns home from a short holiday in Dingle, where she discovers an eerie image of a desperate woman on one of her photographs. Yet how can this be, when Lily was alone that day on the beach? The woman seems to be calling to her, if only Lily can find and rescue her. Lily returns to Dingle and her search leads her to cafe owner David Carson, this missing woman's brother, and the man who will turn Lily's life upside down in every way possible. Lily must now convince him to trust in her, taking bold steps to prove herself to him, and together track down his sister before it's too late. But nothing can prepare Lily for the secrets she uncovers about herself, her own family and how all their lives are intertwined from a distant childhood visit.* Number 1, Amazon Kindle/Literary, April 2016My Take: After reading this, I'm not sure how I felt about it. There was a lot more drama than thriller, and more romance than I am usually a fan of, though that was kind of my favorite part. I loved the glimpse into Ireland and it put me in the mood for another Irish adventure. But there were so many things that I didn't like.  The biggest struggle I had was the editing. All of the dialogue is done with single quotes, instead of the double I am used to, which left the author with no choice in how to demonstrate ones thoughts to oneself except to say "she thought to herself." But it was consistent, so I can't really say that it was wrong, just very distracting. And then there was the adaptation to English and Irish accents and spellings, which was kind of fun as she didn't do it too heavily, but still had me double reading things at times. There were several consistency errors, like at one point the main character took off her coat and set it on a chair, then a page later took it off again.  Most of those probably should make me rate it far lower. Then there were aspects of the story that I didn't care for. I'm not sure if it's a cultural thing, but from the back I was sure that the sister was dead, and her ghost was showing up in the photo. But that never crossed their minds. I really couldn't stand David. I mean, I get that he was in a very emotional state over everything going on, but how she could fall for him instead of the friendly light-hearted and always kind bartender was kind of beyond me. It had this Twilight feel that I am just so over. The myriad twists and turns felt very contrived, but I suppose one could say that it comes down to whether you are a person who believes in fate and meant to be's. I'm not.But there were no major plot holes, the pieces all fit together in a rather predictable puzzle, and the romance was clean with a touch of spice, so if those are your kinds of jam you will probably enjoy this book. If that sounds like your jam, then you can grab a copy on Amazon I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't read it again and I don't think I was invested enough in the characters to read the second book, if there is one. Unless it's about the bartender Greg. I would read his story. Until next time, Keep Reading!

Meet the Author with Nancy Christie

Hello Lovelies,I am so delighted to introduce you to a wonderful woman whom I have been following for quite some time. Nancy Christie is the author of Rut-Busting Book for Writers (Mill City Press), Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories (Pixel Hall Press) and The Gifts Of Change (Atria/Beyond Words). Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous print and online publications. A professional writer based in Ohio, Christie provides copywriting services to agencies, businesses and organizations nationwide through her company, Professional Writing Services.A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Florida Writers Association and Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG), Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries and schools. She is also the founder of the annual “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day.Hello, Nancy, welcome to An Angell's Life of Bookish Goodness. How are you?Wishing I had a personal assistant or publicist or, at the very least, someone to clean my house! Seriously, like most writers and authors, I am simultaneously focusing on multiple tasks: completing copywriting projects for clients, working on my upcoming “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day event and promoting my newest book—the latter involving events in both Ohio and Florida!I totally understand wanting a Personal Assistant. You are definitely very busy! What is the current book you are promoting?That would be Rut-Busting Book for Writers—my newest baby! Rut-Busting Book for Writers, offers strategies to get you unstuck, along with inspiring words and proactive suggestions from other writers who have “been there and done that” and are now willing to share their knowledge and experience. By following the tips in this book, you’ll spend less time trapped in your particular writing rut and more time following your creative passion!I remember when you asked me for permission to use a quote from our interview a few years ago to go in the book. What inspired this book?The book is an outgrowth of my popular “Rut-Busting” Workshop for Writers that I’ve been offering for several years. Every time I presented it, attendees asked if there was a book that went with it. So this past April, after I finished the edits to one of my novels and my second short story collection, I set myself a goal to have the manuscript drafted and ready to send to my editor, Ann Henry, by June 1st. I was a little behind schedule but I got it to her, made the recommended changes, then turned it over to Mill City Press for production.What is your next project?I actually have two in mind. The first involves my second short story collection, Peripheral Visions and Other Stories. I have plans to bring it out next year—either traditionally published or with Mill City—and I’m very excited about it!The other is my novel-in-progress, Reinventing Rita. One of the publishers I had submitted it to wants to see if after I complete some revisions, so with the help of Dawn Reno Langley, I’m going to make some major improvements that I hope will pass  muster!If you could never write again, what would you do?I’ve no idea. Being a writer is so much a part of me—it is me—that I can’t envision a life where I am not writing. I started writing in second grade and have pretty much kept at it. And those times in my life when, for one reason or another, I wasn’t writing or couldn’t write, were dark days indeed. I like doing other things, but there is nothing that is as necessary for me as writing. And for An Angell's Life peeps, order the paperback or digital version of RUT-BUSTING BOOK FOR WRITERS through theMy Book Orders webpage and use the code RBBW02 for a 15% discount off the price!Thank you for joining us, Nancy, and congrats on the new book. I can't wait to read it. Want to learn more about Nancy? Visit her website at www.nancychristie.comFind her on Social MediaAmazon Author pageFacebook PageLinkedIn:Twitter: @NChristie_OHGoodreads:And to learn more about her Short Fiction Celebration Day Here.Until next time, Keep Reading!

Book Review- Francesco Augustine Bernadone A Brief History of Our Tomorrows by Stan Faryna

Genre: LitRPG Sci-fiSynopsis: #GameLit #LitRPG #Science FictionCan you imagine the future? How about the second half of the 2020s? Maybe what you imagine is not how Stan Faryna sees it. The Dollar and Euro have collapsed. The price of one avocado is like what you pay now to go to the movies. Hundreds of millions of gamers hustle in an epic online game competing against artificial intelligence and each other for prizes worth big money. Most of those gamers will be lucky enough to pay for their daily ration of beans and rice. Entrepreneurial players will pay their rent.Can Francesco find windfall in a dark, dystopian and post-apocalyptic virtual reality game? Zombies, guns, machetes and permadeath in a game might seem inconsequential to us, but the cost of failure will destroy him. Left untreated, his much beloved wife will succumb to cancer.There is more than a fast and exciting story going on here. Faryna nails three birds with one stone. His long-reflected insights will help some of us to live, love and grow with courage.Beyond the realism of this tragic, near future world stage for Francesco's story, Faryna offers sharp insights into the human condition, the power of love, and hope. He does so with a nuanced irony and sensitivity that feels too true to ignore - if also difficult to accept. The author asks us to come to a higher place of self-understanding and action, but he does not throw down a gauntlet of big words and intimidating intellectual challenges.###Recommended reading for trips to the beach or park, coffee shop stalking, lunch hours, lazy afternoons, white nights, and public transit such as planes, trains, buses and ferry. It also makes an excellent gift for those who do those things.This story may be most appreciated by those who enjoy works by the following authors: Ernest Cline, John Wesley Rawles, Paulo Coehlo, Gabriel García Márquez, Frank Herbert, Le Guin, P.K. Dick, Derek Prince, G.K. Chesterton, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Gabriel Honoré Marcel, Robert Hugh Benson, Kierkegaard, Steinbeck, Solovyov, Zora Neale Hurston, Dostoyevsky, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Dante, Aquinas, Augustine, and Homer.My Take: So this is only my second foray into LitRPG as a reading adventure. And it was definitely different from Conquest. However, there were quite a few similar themes that I think might change the view a lot of non-gamers might have of gamers. Both of these stories have a lot of similar themes. The duality of good and evil in everyday people, the power of love, and the concept of how some people may get lost in video games while others find a higher power. This definitely had a much heavier focus on the RPG game aspect than Conquest, but I like how the author clarifies terms the first time (Like RPG stands for Role Playing Game, MMorpg is multimedia online role playing game. I have heard these terms for years, living in a house of three gamers, but I never really knew what they stood for. He also defines non-game terms to like EMP. I never realized that stood for European Military Protectorate. Lol. So it was a very educational experience, neatly woven into the story so as not to feel too educational. I love Francesco, and his love for his wife. The depths he goes to to save her, and the willingness to risk everything, quite literally, to get her the treatment she needs, is such a beautiful representation of what love is all about. The author does a great job developing a believable game world based around a lot of the things that are popular in games now, and extrapolating some interesting advertising trends to a realistic expectation for near-future. I am not a gamer, but I have sat in on enough of my husband's DayZ games to get a good chuckle over Carl and the FOH group that is run by John Dionysis. It reminded me of a group in DayZ run by The Real Morgan Freeman. They are a group of really great players who tend to punish bad players, and reward and help good players. I could totally picture them as part of this interaction. This is a short prequel-type story that is clearly driving to a much bigger story and I can't wait to read it! If you want to give this little story a try, you can get it on Amazon for 99 cents for e-book or $5 for paperback. Well with the read!Until next time, Keep reading!

Meet the Author with Angela Hausman

Hello Lovelies,I am excited to introduce you to an awesome lady and her super series! The Buried Ladies series is the first fiction written by Angela Hausman since creating a highly acclaimed (by fellow 6th graders, teachers, and family) science fiction series as a teen.Dr. Angela Hausman was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and later received undergraduate and MBA degrees from the University of Pittsburgh before completing a Marketing PhD at the University of South Florida. Over her career, she lived in many places and met diverse people, which she filed away to create her plots and characters.Angela currently lives in Washington, DC, where she works as a marketing consultant and teaches marketing at George Washington and University of Maryland. She writes in her home office, where various dogs and cats block her in until she's finished the day's writing quota. Let's get to know her a bit better. Hello, Angela! Welcome to An Angell's Life of Bookish Goodness. Who is your favorite character in the Buried Ladies Series and why? I really like Sarah, the CIA agent in my book. Maybe she’s a little like me – or who I wish I were. She’s smart and she’s willing to kick ass and take names. She doesn’t care about the rules if they keep her from getting her job done. I love writing strong female characters because women need more female characters to look up to.Love it! Strong females are a weakness of mine. Can't wait to read Buried Ladies series! If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast?I’d cast someone like Chris Pratt or ChanningTatum as Jacob because they’re hot and I’d get to work closely with them. All things being equal, I prefer to surround myself with hot men. For Sarah, I’d want someone like Rooney Mara from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo because she knows how to kick butt.Ah, I love Rooney Mara! Dessert: cake or pie and why?  Actually, I like them both – anything sweet for that matter. When I’m writing, I like to have little things I can pop in my mouth. It seems to stimulate my mind. My favorite is M&Ms, but I’d weight 500 lbs if I did that every day. So, I settle for nuts (especially cashews), popcorn, and pretzels. Sometimes, carrot sticks. When I’m really stuck, I’ll sit there and nibble until something comes to me.Where do you come up with your stories? My storied come to me, I don’t come up with them in the classical sense. I sit at my laptop and review the last bit I wrote and wait for the next bit. Characters start talking in my head and I write down what they say. When I’m cleaning or walking, whole scenes come to me and I struggle to remember them until I can write them down (I’m not good at carrying a notebook or something with me). Usually before I finish one book, I realize there are too many plot lines and save the rest for the next book.Ha, ha, I do the same. I carry the notebooks, but I'm always losing them, or (like happened to me yesterday) I will realize I have extra notebooks with me, lol. What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer? Be humble. Never argue with criticism. Feedback is incredibly important as a writer. If you have folks who are willing to read and give feedback, you’re incredibly lucky. You won’t agree with everything folks say, but be open to looking at your work objectively, through their eyes and see if you can make it better.Great advice. Thanks so much for joining us, Angela! Are you loving this strong woman and her strong character as much as I am? Learn more from Angela's WebsiteUntil next time, Keep Reading!

Poetry Corner- Somewhere

Somewhere, so far awayThere is a place whereThe two of us may love;But not here, not now. Not here in this place full of hate. In this wold full of lustful desiresFull of sin, impurity, evil, contempt,Abuse, adultery, sexual pleasures. Not now in this timeOf lies, of spite, of mockeryTo those things cherished. Somewhere there is a placeWhere we can love withoutConcern of age, race, creed, color.Where we don't have to worry about what others think. Where popularity, money, and suchWon't stand in our way. Where we're allowed to be who we are,See who we areFeel who we are,And nothing will matter but us. Somewhere there is a place. But it isn't here, it isn't now. 

Thrilling Thursday Character Spotlight: A Vintage Camera

Hello Lovelies, I have an exciting character spotlight for you, courtesy of horror author Stephanie Ayers, as part of the tour for her new dark stories collection, The 13: Tales of Illusory, just in time for Halloween. Without further ado, let's get to it!Character: A vintage cameraTale: No ReturnsBackground: Possession, once lived with an Indian shaman.Best Trait: looks good in whiteSpecial Talent: Capturing soulsDo you have any regrets?Just one. I wish I’d changed my film before I took those last 30 souls. It’s awfully crowded in there.What is your worst fear?As long as I have film, I’m indestructible. To take my film means death--to me and to the souls I possess.What do you enjoy most about what you do?My favorite thing ever is when the soul I collect is a creative one. I can exist on several planes at oncewhen an artist or writer takes that final, fatal step.What is your least favorite thing about what you do?I really, really hate it when they resist. I mean, don’t get me wrong- there’s nothing as exciting as claiming a soul not ready to let go, but when they are really stubborn? You aren’t going to win, you know? Just let go already.You travel a lot. Is there one place you call home or one certain hot spot you like to linger in?I’m a camera. I practically live in that box. I’d like to be worn around a neck again, displayed with pride. Find someplace quiet. These souls, they never stop screaming.Would ever consider a career change?What would I do? Collect dust on a shelf?Oops, there’s my ride. Could you do me a favor? Could you scratch my back?No, harder. You really gotta get in there.Snap. Scream. Snicker.They fall for it every time.Love what you saw here? This is just 1 of 13 awesome tales in the compilation. Want to learn more? Be sure tojoin the tour and all the fun stops along the way.  Until next time, Keep Reading!

Book Review- The West Woods by Suzy Vadori

Genre: Urban FantasySynopsis: The West WoodsCourtney Wallis wants nothing more than to escape St. Augustus boarding school. After uncovering a well-kept secret about the school’s founder, Isaac Young, Courtney turns to the school’s magic to convince her dad to let her leave. Things take a turn when she meets Cole, who lives in the nearby town of Evergreen. He gives her hope that things might not be so bad. However, the school's fountain has other ideas, and binds Courtney to her ambition, no matter the cost.As Courtney struggles to keep the magic from taking over, she and her friends get drawn into the mystery woven into the school’s fabric. Everything seems to lead back to the forbidden West Woods. Together, she and her friends seek out the spirits of the past to ask for help, and find themselves in much deeper than they’d bargained for. If they succeed, Courtney could be free of the magic. If they fail, she may never be the same.My Take: This was an interesting and entertaining story about Courtney, a sophomore who wants nothing more than to attend the local high school and run on the track team, but who's senator father wants her to attend his Alma Mater, a boarding school where there is no track team and her best substitute is swim team. When she begs him not to make her, he tells her that there is something magical he wants her to find out about the school, in particular the West Woods that surround the school. She never knew he meant literally. But as Courtney digs into the mystery her father has set her on and discovers a magic wishing well, she finds herself trapped in a genie-type wishes don't always turn out the way you hope scenario. I had a hard time connecting to Courtney, even before her wish took over her and changed her personality, she was kind of the type of girl I don't really like. And all the running! It's kind of a key piece to the story. I would much rather swim than run, lol. But it is a well-told story that touches on a lot of issues relevant to most teenagers such as how far you're willing to go for what you want, how priorities can shift and change, how to deal with difficult people. There are some good nuggets of wisdom buried in this entertaining story. I was surprised when I got to the end and found out that this is actually the second book in this series. I liked it enough to add The Fountain to my TBR, though I suspect this is one of those books that my boys will enjoy more than I did. I imagine you'll see their review for it soon enough. If you enjoy mystery books like Nancy Drew and Babysitter's club, combined with magical elements like The Magic Treehouse of Fablehaven, then grab The West Woods today. Until next time, Keep Reading! 

An Author's Adventure: Visiting Poland and Germany to Retrace Henry’s story

    Hello Lovelies, Remember when Katrina Shawver came by for an interviewand told us about her historical nonfiction book, Henry, coming soon? Well, I am so intrigued! I asked her to do a guest post to tell us a bit about the research she's been doing. And she brought me far more awesome (as in amazing, not as in cool) research than I expected. I am so excited to share it with you today. It is a haunting look into our past, one that some people like to pretend didn't happen. But it did, and here's what she learned.             In October 2013, I combined a research trip and vacation to visit Poland and Weimar, Germany. In order to finish my debut book Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America, I needed to retrace the steps of Henry Zguda, my main character, and see for myself what he had described so well. We spent a week in historic Kraków (pronounced KRAK-uff,) four days in Warsaw, and then three days in Germany.            I found Poland to be a prosperous and beautiful country. Polish currency is zlotys rather thanEuro. Consequently, Poland was far less expensive to visit than Germany. All tour guides speak both English and Polish fluently, must pass a rigorous test, and are licensed by the government, so they are incredibly knowledgeable. For many reasons, Kraków is a major, worldwide tourist attraction. During World War II, the invading Germans admired the city so much, they claimed it as their capital. Governor Hans Frank took up residence in the famous Wawel Castle, while the best of Polish art and cultural symbols were shipped back to Berlin (think of the movie Monuments Men.) Few people went unscathed during the war, but unlike Warsaw, that was eighty-five percent destroyed, they never bombed their capital of Kraków. Thus, the city remains one of the few cities in Europe whose buildings still date back to the 1300s, including the gorgeous St. Mary’s Church that anchors the main square. Nearby the Wieliczka Salt Mine contains huge underground rooms painstakingly and intricately carved by salt miners dating back to the 1700s. It is must-see destination in Poland.            Visitors flock to the city for another key reason: Auschwitz is a one-hour drive away.The German concentration camp remains one of the largest of all the thousands of concentration camps and is a UNESCO world heritage site. In 2015, more than 1.72 million people visited Auschwitz, guided by educators in almost twenty languages. As the best-known concentration camp, and largest German death camp, it has become hugely symbolic of the entire Holocaust. When I visited Auschwitz, there was little that shocked me. Unlike most visitors, I had pored through photos and texts for years, and I came with stories from a survivor. My mission was to see with my own eyes what I’d heard of, grasp a sense of space and distance, and verify facts. At the end of the cold, dark, day, my husband and I stood with our private tour guide as the only people at the entrance to hell, known as Birkenau. What I hadn’t expected was the ghosts of nearly a million murdered souls who called to me “Do not forget us.”   After a short, train ride northeast of Kraków we arrived in the capital city of Warsaw. When we stepped out of the train station two sights immediately greeted us – one a symbol of Russian communism, and another of modern capitalism. The Palace of Culture and Science, constructed in 1955 of cement and square lines, was a ‘gift’ from Russia, meant to appease the Polish population. It is still the tallest building in Poland, and one of the tallest in Europe. Around the corner, stood the biggest McDonald’s I have ever been to. The two-story, glass-walled structure held a huge crowd as my husband and I maneuvered into line. Here the food was listed in Polish, but who can’t order a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and fries in any language?            After a few days, we flew to Berlin and found the train station where we would take a train south to Weimar. I could not resist the smell of good German pastry as we passed a bakery in the three-story mall-with-a-train-station-attached. We visited Weimar for one reason: it’s home to Buchenwald concentration camp, where Henry spent nearly two years. The next day, we toured the camp in a cold rain, and later visited the archives. My thoughts and impressions of two concentration camps would fill a chapter, however what struck me most was how much smaller, unknown, and hidden the Buchenwald is, hidden in the middle of a thick, lush forest. It represents a different kind of evil than Auschwitz. No spoilers – you will have to read my book.            Of the two countries, Poland was my favorite. Throughout our time there, the history geek in me kept making mental and written notes so I could incorporate the sights, sounds, and reality of these places into my story. The tourist in me still has a long list of other Polish cities to visit: Gdansk, Wroclaw, Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, and more. I now know why anyone with a Polish heritage will always be Pole at heart, regardless of where they live.All Photos courtesy of Katrina Shawver. Enjoy some additional images from her trip:Katrina Shawver holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona in English/Political Science and has excelled at the School of Trial and Error. In addition to variety of previous careers as a journalist, software support, the paralegal profession, tax preparation, and answering phones for a forensic psychiatrist, she has presented at the community college level on Poland Under Hitler and Stalin. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and still wishes sweet potato fries counted as a vegetable. Her debut novel, Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America is available for pre-order and releases November 1st  Learn more at katrinashawver.comUntil Next Time, Keep Reading!