Heather Heffner's Blog, page 6

The Staff of Aaron is Finished!

Woohoo! The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is complete!

...except for revisions and editing...





Excited to share this next monster installment in the Afterlife Chronicles coming January 2021!

Wishing everyone to continue to stay safe during COVID-19. If you've ever wanted to write a book, now is the time to do so.

June 2020 Book Review: Into the Magic Shop

Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the HeartBy James R. Doty~Book Review~THIS IS A BOOK IMPORTANT for this time. For times when you’re hurting. For times when you’re scared. For every time. I think a lot now about the people we are when we pick up certain books. I began reading this book when my family member fighting colon cancer recommended it. Said family member devours books as if they’re candy, and so by now, I’ve heard of so many incredible novels that I’ve lost hope of ever catching up.This time when he made a recommendation to me, I heard him. I wanted this connection between us. I opened the book. The opening chapter I read aloud to my husband. A neurosurgeon is faced with the delicate operation of removing a tumor from the brain of a four year old. The operating room is brought to life with the sounds, the crunches. They should teach us the sounds a head makes as it’s opening up, Doty tells us, and it’s gruesomely fascinating.My husband winced after every other sentence and commented this seems extremely graphic.My response was now that’s great writing.I’ve always wondered about people who enter careers of the highest stress level. Pilots. Police Officers. Astronauts. Doctors. They’re decision makers. Lives depend on decisions they need to make in a split moment. Doty dives into this form of hypervigilance and the road he took to achieve such focus: which begins with a summer spent in a strip mall magic shop. It begins with his anger, his frustration at an inability to control the chain of events swallowing his family. It begins with his trust in a stranger named Ruth.From their relationship, Doty learns the deepest magic: how to control what controls us in our everyday lives—the brain. It’s an earnestly compelling account of Doty’s life—how he balanced a dysfunctional family life and jobs with school, fighting for the chance to go to medical school, succeeding beyond his wildest dreams, and losing it all—only to discover that his real dream he had yet to achieve.It’s a message on kindness. On patience. On what brings meaning to life.It’s about the beautiful relationship between the brain and the heart, interwoven in the language of neuroscience.If you’ve ever wondered what goes through the mind of a surgeon, then this book is a riveting place to start. It is an argument for compassion and empathy, a message that can never be shared enough. Recommended for fans of: Dalai Lama, Michelle Obama, Oprah, medical memoir

March 2020 Book Review: The Ship of the Dead

THE SHIP OF THE DEAD
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #3
By Rick Riordan
~Book Review~

Warning! Spoilers!

MY MOTHER introduced me to Norse mythology early through opera. It was an uphill battle for her to find someone willing to go to an opera in our family, as our first question was inevitability, “How long is it?” I was intrigued by the drama and memorable arias of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” and so she lured me to the boss level: Richard Wagner's “The Ring Cycle.” She knew that I was a fan of The Lord of Rings, and so it proved an easy sell to young me, since anything involving devious deities and magic rings held my interest.

Norse tales didn’t entrance younger me quite as much as Greek, Maya, Navajo, and Egyptian mythos, and the 17 hour total of Wagner’s Ring Cycle broke me—that’s not counting trying to escape from the parking garage. Through the years, I’ve circled back to it, wanting to fall in love with the Nine Worlds, ice giants, and the doomsday serpent Jörmungandr. It might have taken Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston to play Thor and Loki in the Marvel interpretation, but now I am here for it. It has been a delight uncovering layer after layer of legend wreathed with tragedy, betrayal, and hubris. Maybe I’m ready to give “The Ring Cycle” another shot.

Most recently, I finished Rick Riordan’s Gods of Asgard trilogy, and it’s a comedic treat. I really loved Magnus, but Alex Fierro is one of the most memorable characters I’ve encountered in quite some time. This series is probably my favorite since the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I actually feel like the second installment The Hammer of Thor was the strongest in terms of instilling the tension and threat of Loki, who is set on starting Ragnarök, the great battle to end life as we know it, but The Ship of the Dead proved a satisfying finale while leaving the door open just a little for when we might see our heroes again.

Magnus is the son of Frey, God of Summer, and that has been an enjoyable path to focus on a hero who isn’t the best fighter and is more the healing-regeneration type. He has two fabulous friends to help on the battlefront: the shapeshifting half-siblings Alex and Samirah “Sam” al-Abbas, children of Loki. Rounding out their crew are the lovable dwarf Blitzen and my personal favorite, the elf Hearthstone.

The book may have been stronger if it kept focused on the core group. We also do have Thomas Jefferson Jr. and Mallory Keen who join them on a nautical journey to stop Loki from launching the doomsday Ship of the Dead (created out of fingernails, there’s an image for ya). As much as I enjoyed hearing about their backstories, and Mallory’s emotional response when confronted with her Norse parent was particularly well done, it did inflate the book and was a bit lost under everything else that was happening: wolf fights, tangles with underseas giants, Hearthstone facing his father, and a plethora of other quests. Add on top of that new Norse characters and deities making an appearance, and it was difficult to keep track of everyone. Loki’s menace felt a bit deflated with everything else going on, as by the time the heroes face the famous trickster again, I felt a bit out of breath—these kids got fortitude!

However, I loved that “flyting” was the key to Loki’s downfall. Early on, Magnus trains with demigod celebs Percy Jackson and Annabelle Chase with the blade, but he’s not the best. Flyting stayed consistent with Magnus’s character and let the rest of his crew showcase their strengths.

The relationships were rock solid. Sam and Amir stay true to each other and are utterly adorable. I like that Amir is the normal guy but supports Sam how he can. I liked Sam’s arch of balancing her dual heritage as she navigates incorporating practices of her Islamic faith like Ramadan with a Valkyrie save-the-world quest. I’ve always loved Magnus and Alex. They are utterly fascinated with each other, and little by little, they push and pull on one another, and ultimately can’t think of anyone else they’d rather be with. Magnus comes to know when Alex, who is genderfluid, is identifying as a boy or a girl, and Alex comes to trust Magnus after a hard and difficult life. Their interactions were the most captivating.

As such, Ship of the Dead is written in Riordan’s signature style of irreverent, edge-of-your seat, nonstop action mission after mission—perhaps too many—but the emotional depth was there in the finale. I’m excited for what Rick will do next.


Recommended for fans of: J.K. Rowling, Christopher Paolini, Roshani Chokshi

Cover Reveal: The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II)

Happy 2020! 

I'm pleased to say The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is halfway complete. Cover reveal and description below! 



Ishmael Abajian was never supposed to be in Hell. He nearly escaped, too, before being betrayed by just about everyone. Now Heaven is noticing. The Doom Bell foretelling the coming of the Apocalypse tolls. And Lucifer Morningstar, more dangerous than ever with the cynical Riley Cyprus by his side, plots to steal the Unholy Artifacts of his fellow Fallen and declare rulership over Hell.
However, dreams begin to turn in the minds of demons drawn to the ways of Ishmael. Dreams of what could be, even in a place dark and despairing. Xercist’s tempter studies lead him to make an unexpected connection on Earth. Soldier Kantazsia’s convictions are tested upon encountering an angel claiming to be Ishmael’s guardian. And Ishmael must choose whether to pick up his staff once more.
He didn’t ask to be here. He didn’t want to be a savior.
Now that he is, he must decide once and for all what it means.
Excerpts coming soon!
Afterlife Chronicles: Book 1: The Tribe of IshmaelBook 2: The Staff of Aaron

End of Year Sales!

~Happy Holidays~
The holidays are here and Christmas madness is in full swing with shopping bags to fill, presents to wrap, parties to attend, and too much food to eat! Don't forget to relax this holiday season with a good book :) 
Enjoy Special Holiday Prices on the Changeling Sisters Series and Afterlife Chronicles by checking out the following sites below:
Year of the Rat (Changeling Sisters IV): visit Amazon.com 12/24 - 1/31 for a discount 
Changeling Sisters Series (Books I - III) and The Tribe of Ishmael (Afterlife Chronicles I): visit Smashwords.com 12/25 - 1/1 for special prices 
~Merry Christmas 2019!~ 

Sea Stack Playground: Cannon Beach, Oregon

IT WAS ONE WEEK FROM LABOR DAYand I sat at the computer, frantically scrolling through hotel vacancies to play a last minute getaway. We had only one criteria: go to the ocean. Sitting on the sand, exploring driftwood beaches, and listening to the surf roll in and out at night is our kind of thing. It’s self-centering. It’s freeing. Dismal rain or breaking sun transforms the color of the sea and is endlessly fascinating to watch. I’ve walked from one end of the beach to the other, passing families, happy dogs, seagulls, and washed up sea creatures on my way. I’ve become ensnared by the small things like glimmering polished stones that light up in the water or daring myself to touch a slimy ring of kelp.


After scrolling through “No Vacancies Available” on every Washington coastal town site, I had an epiphany that the Oregon beaches were also the same distance away. One of my favorite beaches as child was Cannon Beach. I am drawn to sea stacks and climbing every one that looks like I won’t slip to my death on, and Cannon Beach is a treasure trove of these. Particularly notable is Haystack Rock, which although you can’t climb, is full of nesting seabirds (including puffins in late spring/early summer) and has wonderful tidepools to explore. As divine luck would have it, there were two hotel rooms left in the neighboring town of Seaside—one was a good rate, but looked like you were rolling the dice if the roof would collapse on you at night—and the other was at Gilbert Inn , built in 1885 with an outdoor firepit, a free breakfast that included omelets and waffles, and it was less than 5 minutes from Seaside beach.Well, the choice had already been made for me. I splurged (my penance for planning a Labor Day trip so late) and that Saturday, we jetted down south to Seaside.Seaside was mobbed. Gilbert Inn luckily has free parking, because cars and bikes were stashed anywhere with pavement. Our receptionist was lovely; she was knowledgeable about the history of the hotel and its founder, who had dedicated the Seaside beachfront to the public for generations to enjoy. She also recommended the cheapest place to score ice cream—inside the local mall at Seaside Candyman. Our room was everything you could want with antique furnished charm plus a bathtub and creaky floors that in any other hotel would be annoying, but here only served to enliven the atmosphere. There was an old piano and wonderful little patio, too, where we enjoyed breakfast outside. The food and coffee was fantastic. The garden side firepit, too, was where we cozied up when the night brought the inevitable rain. Great place for couples—the Inn can also can hook it up with bikes to explore the beachside path.The mall is right next door, as is the main walk, where you can find any sort of indoor arcade adventure or bumper cars. The beach itself was sprawling, windy, and crowded with families and volleyball games. A seaside aquarium has seals flopping about as the main exhibit, and kids were getting a kick out of feeding them (adults were, too).The most memorable place we ate at in Seaside was Sam’s Seaside Café because that Dungeness Crab Melt special was killer. Simple: English muffin with succulent crab meat and dripping in cheese. I had a clam chowder bread bowl which was nice, but let me tell you, my husband ended up sharing that Melt with me. Very fresh seafood, and the place is open late.


Cannon Beach is only fifteen minutes away. We parked at Tolovana Beach State Recreation State and hiked up the beach to the iconic Haystack Rock. There were droves of people from everywhere, admiring the seabirds and exploring the tidepools. I was pleased to find starfish had made a slight recovery, as a wasting disease had been hurting their numbers in the Pacific Northwest. Some beaches I’ve traveled to which used to be full of them now only have anemones, mussels, and limpets holding on. So it was a relief to find purple and orange starfish peeking out from the sand and rocks.





We also visited Ecola State Park which has phenomenal views of the sweeping bay studded with sea stacks, and further out, Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. There are little hiking trails everywhere in the woods. Unfortunately, here is where it didn’t pay to visit during Labor Day. On the twisting road up to Ecola, we hit a large back up of cars and spent an hour waiting to get to an overlook. To actually get down to the beach required another wait, so at that point, we called it quits and decided to try our luck at Hug Point down at the southern end of Cannon Beach. We did spot an elk on the way out.




Hug Point was the best decision we made. Small parking lot, so it limited the number of people, and it was an absolute beach playground for children, dogs, and adults alike. There were miles upon miles of sand to run on, and what really made it fun was the tide had just receded enough to allow access to untold stretches of beach. There were plenty of sea stacks for climbing, a waterfall, and sea caves to explore. Plus, the sun was out. We actually had to park in a pull out a little bit earlier than the turn off for the parking lot, but it was worth the hike. Highly recommended!





We also stopped by Cannon Beach History Museum in town to see the “original” cannon the beach was named after. It’s a free museum that takes donations and has interesting stories, including details on the high number of shipwrecks that have happened over the centuries. All in all, a shorter adventure, but sometimes you’ve got to make the time for exploring whenever you can, because you never know what is waiting for you around the next corner.This trip I’ll always remember as the last happy moment of summer. Fall has brought a late stage colon cancer diagnosis of an immediate family member which has turned all of our lives upside down. It has been emotional. It has been humbling. We’ve gone from believing there was no history of colon cancer in the family to learning that it actually did exist in a second cousin. I’ve taken heart from the small things: well-differentiated cells in the biopsy, the cancer not spreading to his lungs, and an amazing surgeon and staff who performed a late night emergency surgery to remove the tumor. We feel so thankful that our family member not only survived but was able to return home, as opposed to going to a skilled nursing home. I have seen the most eerie, miraculous timing happen—a while ago, an aunt and myself just happened to plan our vacations for the very week the diagnosis occurred, so we were fully available to jump in and help. When the first round of a 48-hour chemotherapy treatment finished, it was suddenly discovered that due to new lab results, an emergency surgery had to happen to remove the tumor blockage now. This got more of the tumor out in a shorter period of time than the chemo ever would have. It also meant he got in a first treatment round just in time, since recovering from surgery takes weeks.When my family member walked back in the door of his home, he went straight to his favorite chair and gazed outside, peace finally falling over his face for the first time after four long, hard weeks of fighting. Now it is a different fight in front of us for his future. We’ve truly appreciated all of those who have supported him. Colon cancer, as I’ve learned, is unfortunately very common but also very curable when caught early during a colonoscopy at the polyp stage. As such, I do want to share this story as I would encourage everyone to speak with each other about any history of cancer in the family and to get a colonoscopy done—as pleasant as it is. This family member had never had a colonoscopy due to belief that there were no risk factors, and his doctor had agreed with him. Unfortunately though, other alternative tests that are less invasive like stool tests can’t substitute in place of the doctors actually being able to see inside your digestive tract to catch the polyps early and remove them before they become cancerous. Speak to your doctor about the frequency of colonoscopies for you and make all the changes you can today to protect your health. For us, we are looking back on our adventures, celebrating the good memories, and being thankful to God for every single day. Running around on Cannon Beach as a kid and climbing the rocky sea stacks was one of my favorite recollections as a family. It will be a marathon ahead but this has taught me to never hold back: tell those you love how much they mean to you now and always.



Disclaimer: The above story is depicted as fiction and not fact.  

The Tribe of Ishmael Available on Major eBook Retailers!

Hi Everyone,

The Tribe of Ishmael eBook can now be found on the following sites:

Smashwords.comBarnes and NobleApple iBooksKoboAmazonAnd more!

Visit here to get started: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/950049

Happy Summer Reading! 

The Tribe of Ishmael coming to Major E-book Retailers August 2019!

Wishing everyone a happy 4th of July holiday weekend! As an announcement, look for The Tribe of Ishmael to be released on major e-book retailers August 2019. Enjoy the summer!

Year of the Dragon (Changeling Sisters III) released on all Major eBook Retailers!

Year of the Dragon (Changeling Sisters III) released on major eBook Retailers!

Barnes and NobleSmashwordsApple KoboAmazonScribd And more!Hoping everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. 

Coming 2020...

Unclaimed soul Ishmael Abajian escaped from the demon train, but not from Hell.Now Heaven is noticing.Angels hate it when you break the rules.Looks like the Apocalypse may be starting early.
Coming 2020:THE STAFF OF AARONAfterlife Chronicles #2
Cover Reveal and Excerpts to come! Follow here: https://heatherheffner.blogspot.com/