Doug Dillon's Blog, page 168
December 23, 2012
Layers Upon Layers: Young Adult, Paranormal and Historical
The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I
A review by Dixie from California
“Sliding Beneath The Surface,” refers to a concept that there are many Worlds within worlds, in layers, as Shrek says, “Like an onion.” This book centers on two teenagers and their adult mentor with unique abilities to split themselves and experience more than one layer at a time. There is a real, historical battle that they are connecting to, which is less well known, but similar to the battle of the Little Bighorn, and you can check the facts and find pictures if the Dec. 28, 1835 battle of Major Dade in Florida interests you. Doug Dillon did his research on that event very well.
“There are several different elements combined uniquely in this book that make it a blend of genres. It is Historical-fiction, spiritual, paranormal, Young-adult with a touch of magic and time travel. It is fun and well written and easy to get sucked into. It reminds me a bit of the mentor/youth relationships in “Free Willie” or “The Karate Kid.” It has the spiritual touch of “The Shack,” or “Orange Petals in a Storm.” There are characters you will come to care about and a sense of humor and playfulness and morality woven through the book.
“Would I recommend this book to you? Yes, if you have an open mind and don’t mind getting a bit off the standard genre paths…a book I very much enjoyed and might just read again someday.”
Click here to see Dixie’s full review on Amazon.
December 21, 2012
“A Paranormal book For All.” YA & Adults
The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I
A review placed on Goodreads by
Monica
“I liked Jeff Golden as a main character, but I especially liked Carla Rodriguez. She’s…spunky. Yeah, I think that’s the word for it :) Anyways, Dillon wove together a mix of adventure and mystery to create Jeff’s story. I mostly recommend this book to middle grade/younger teens and anyone who likes paranormal stories.”
To see Monica’s full review on Goodreads, click here.
December 20, 2012
A Message from a Paranormal Realm, Part 7
In our paranormal nonfiction book, An Explosion of Being, my wife Barbara and I decided to include a chapter channeled directly from another realm of reality. The title of that chapter was, “To the Reader from a Source with No Name”. Actually, we did have a name of sorts. We simply called it The Source.
The idea was to give readers a more personalized, direct link in the unknown. Now, after many years, I am extending that connection to readers of my blog in series of 11 bite-sized portions. Your inclusion into our private network of communications is offered openly, with hopes that you might feel just a touch of your own infinite connections.
If you would like to find the other 10 postings in this series, just look for them in the blog category titled, Paranormal Communications.
“You, as readers, are enjoyable to the authors not only for your participation in reading and purchasing this book, but also through the teachings that are becoming a part of your lives. They have actual interest for each of you who obtains any absolute messages through this material. You will learn to decipher, which may help you most quickly, and they will, in turn, give to your needs.
“Your abilities to further develop your creative awareness are lingering on the sidelines of a theater. They’re always in touch with you through your finer particulars of memory, but may only be released when your current needs are evaluated. Being kind to yourself will help the release of these abilities, as through the finer moments of your lives, you will seek a higher development period. These abilities, then, will be released for you.
“Calmness of thought will help to provide the adequate base for your desires to become outstanding; therefore, your threshold of hope is taken to a higher point of reality. Your peak of existence shall be admired through your soul’s wisdom to appreciate life. This path that was chosen by your inner needs of sanctification will once again be released. Your development here has been astonishing.
“If you could possibly view the complexities that are involved, your memory stimuli would be confounded. The spiritual objectives are much like the physical ones; only you are responsible for their completion. Your dullness of interpretation comes from a lack of wisdom within your present being to decipher these partitions of realities.
“Before your present life, you were seen to be a myriad of images beyond a total evaluative soul process. The complete withdrawal from this structure became necessary for your physical life to begin. You, however, do have the ability to partake of a searching process that will probe into the reasons for being. This perhaps will help you to relax further within yourself. As you have found many avenues of light, you will show that light toward purposeful memories, shedding it on all possibilities of growth. As your development then increases during this period, you will need much less than you have before, in your material senses.
“The employment of wealth does not necessarily defeat your avenues of self-discovery. However, should your goals not be enhanced through actual introspection you may fail your own self-image at times. Become a minute particle of life within a million structures of other lives. Only then, will you see a full pattern of development your period of contentment was over when your birth took place. Your lives were changed abruptly as each one’s decisive abilities were once again put to the test as a sheer form of this placement, your soul’s advantages then became many.
“While adjusting to this life, you were each given special instructions through your own beings in order to relate totally to your earthly existence. As your soul then became enchanted with another one of its spectrums, your will became stronger.
“To manipulate another with the knowledge of this soul process may not be a fruitful gesture on your part. The many aspects stemming from your relationships with others, however, naturally will help all who are involved, thus recreating a necessary grouping within the soul structures. Your families are nearer to life than death now, as you see them to be. However, their subscription to life must end temporarily as will yours, in time. Should you breathe heavily from this statement, do not show apprehension. Your dreams will be flourishing on each realm here, as within your present lifestyle.”
To find our book online, just click on the title, An Explosion of Being: An American Family’s Journey into the Psychic.
December 19, 2012
“Paranormal and Historical for Young Adults.”
The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I
A review placed on Goodreads and Amazon by
Lori from Illinois
“I really liked this book!! Read it in two sittings….only because I had to get the laundry done. Lol. Can’t wait for the second book.”
To see this review on Amazon.com, click here.
December 17, 2012
Book Promotion Prizes: Beautiful Chinese Art
For Sliding Beneath the Surface
The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I
Young Adult, Paranormal and Historical
What’s Going on Here?
Very simple. I’m giving away two, handcrafted Chinese puzzle balls in a contest. One is valued at $60 and the value of the other is $160. The second ball is double the size of the first one. Each has a teak stand and has its own wooden Chinese box for safe keeping. These exquisite oriental art pieces are up for grabs to readers who will purchase my book and publish their review on Amazon.com. Or the winners can select an Amazon Gift Card of equal value.
Why Chinese puzzle balls?Ah, that’s because the puzzle ball is the forefront object on my book cover. In the book, and throughout The St. Augustine Trilogy, it serves as a symbolic reference to the paranormal world and the very nature of reality. “Worlds-within-worlds.”
What are puzzle balls?
Sometimes called mystery balls, they are handcrafted objects often made of wood, jade, mammoth ivory or Mandarin Ivory. Mandarin ivory is a blend of natural materials and is the material used for the balls in my contest.
An ancient art form, these objects have intricate carvings on the outside and multiple, moveable layers on the inside—balls within balls. Those inner shells usually number between 2 and 18 but can go as high as 42. As with the ones available in my contest, the outside carving often consists of intertwined, painted dragons.
About the ContestWant to know more. Go to our Official Fan Page and check out the contest detail in the Events section.
Want to Know More About Puzzle Balls?
Check out this article
Want to View a Puzzle Ball From All Sides?
Take a look at this video.
Want to see a Puzzle Ball Being Made?
Blog Tour: The St. Augustine Trilogy, Book I
Young adult, paranormal and historical
Wow! My friend and assistant, Julia Hendrix, has set me up with a fantastic blog tour for early 2013.
Check out the 15 scheduled tour stops below and visit the wonderful bloggers she has lined up.
At each blog location, Julia and the blog host will be giving away a copy of my book and all kinds of author swag. There will also be an opportunity for some people along the way to win a copy of my nonfiction book titled, An Explosion of Being: An American Family’s Journey into the Psychic.
Visit Julia at our official St. Augustine Trilogy Facebook fan page
and you’ll also see two very special events involving some gorgeous prizes. If you have any questions, contact Julia at dougdillonassistant@gmail.com.
Schedule of Tour Stops
1. January 8th ,Tuesday, Christina Irelan Intoxicated by Books
2. January 9th, Wednesday, Jennifer Martinez Books, Brownies & Barkers
3. January 10t, Thursday, Alice Friday Best Books
4. January 11th, Friday, Jean Vallesteros Jean BookNerd
5. January 12th, Saturday, Samantha Atkin Passionate About Books
6. January 13th, Sunday, My Home Away From Home (MHAFH)
7. January 14th, Monday, Cynthia Shepp Cynthia Shepp
8. January 15th, Tuesday, Airicka Phoenix Airicka Phoenix
9. January 16th, Wednesday, Jennifer Moody Addicted 2 Book Reviews
10. January 17th, Thursday, Samantha Truesdale Mom of 2 Book Reviews
11. January 18th, Friday, Cassie Chavez Sassie Cassie’s Reviews
12. January 19th, Saturday, Bella Colella Paranormal-bookclub
13. January 20th, Sunday, Jaime Cross Kainas
14. January 21st, Monday, Stephen Ormsby Ideas Captured
15. January 22nd, Tuesday, Heather Almendarez Readers After Dark
“Great Read!” Young Adult, Paranormal and Historical
The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I
A review by Stina from California
“This book was told in the perspective of a fifteen-year-old boy named Jeff. I’m not a fan of the male perspective, yet this novel changed my mind. I was intrigued from the first couple chapters when the introduced Carla’s neighbor Lobo. I loved that it had a paranormal theme in it. The only thing it was lacking more of, was romance. The characters mushed together well, the action was on point. And I never could have guess what was going to happen in the end. Which now a days, it’s hard to find anything with a surprising ending, that only deserved the high star rating.
“Not my usual read, but none the less it was a delightful read. The author did a wonderful job at tell Jeff’s story. I will be looking forward to reading more for this author. This is a younger teen novel, and I recommend this to anyone who loves a good paranormal read.”
Click here to see Stina’s complete review on Amazon.
Different Paranormal Read But in a Good Way
The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I
Young adult, paranormal and historical
A review placed on Goodreads and Amazon by Carrie from Arizona
“Loved this book!! Loved the history, the characters, all of it. Took me no time at all to quickly become engrossed I the world the author created!”
“If you want a paranormal book that is strictly unique then this is the book for you!”
“I thought I wouldn’t enjoy this being told from a teenage boy point of view but, I was pleasantly surprised.”
“BRAVO.”
Click here to see Carrie’s full review on Amazon.
December 16, 2012
“Young Adult, Paranormal and Historical.”
The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I
A review placed on Goodreads by
Jeanine from California
“Fascinating paranormal YA book although it certainly appeals to adults too.”
To see this review on Goodreads, click here.
December 15, 2012
The Sanibel Island Detective
The Sanibel Sunset Detective: A Mystery
A Review
Author, Ron Base, a Canadian journalist and movie critic
Number of pages: 237
Publisher: West End Books
On very rare occasions, a book strikes me not only for its literary value but also for how it connects with me personally. This is one of those books.
While vacationing recently on Florida’s Sanibel Island, I ran into Ron Base, the author. He was signing books outside of the restaurant where my wife and I had just finished breakfast. After having an enjoyable conversation with Ron, I bought one of his books, the first in his series of three about newbie detective Tree Callister.
The idea of reading a mystery using Sanibel, one of my favorite places of all time, as it’s geographic location, appealed to me greatly. I intended on reading it when I got home to Orlando but I made the mistake of peeking at a few pages when I returned to the motel—a mistake because I found it difficult to put the thing down. I finished it before leaving the island. Yes, it’s that good.
Base is an excellent and experienced writer who pulls you into this story right from the start and doesn’t let you go until the last page. The main character, Tree Callister, an aging Sanibel resident, is like no detective you’ve ever read about before. He’s new to the game of being an investigator for hire and he stumbles his way through danger until he learns what he must know just to survive.
This novel has something for every age group and has multicultural threads that very effectively broaden the plot’s appeal. Base spreads murder and mayhem across Sanibel like wildfire while making excellent use of island locations. Knowing that beautiful island as I do, this geographic sampling lends a wonderful sense of authenticity. If by some chance you have ever been to Sanibel and return after reading this book, you will never view the place quite the same again.
So far, Mr. Base has two other novels in this series, The Sanibel Sunset Detective Returns and Another Sanibel Sunset Detective. No doubt those books are as good or even better than the first.
Bravo, Ron Base, for a fun and captivating read.
Click here if you would like to learn more about the author and his work.
