Sara B. Gauldin's Blog, page 14

Two Rivers: The Great Peacemaker Series Book 2 by Zoe Saadia

I was genuinely impressed by the clever interspersing of historical knowledge and research and a riveting plot that contained all the elements that I enjoy in a novel; action, drama, interpersonal layers and or course a hint of romance. The main character, Two Rivers leads a life of reflection as he questions the warlike practices of his tribe’s culture. He sees the logic of pursuing and maintaining a peaceful partnership with neighboring clans. A lasting peace would allow for a greater focus on the home life and providing for the tribes that are dwindling in numbers and strength due to starvation and battle. He becomes paired with an unlikely ally, a teenager who was recently adopted from an opposing tribe. This young man is having more trouble being accepted by Two River’s tribe than he himself is. A rivalry leaves the boy with little options for a workable resolution that will allow him any quality of life within the tribe. Two Rivers suggests an extreme solution that sets a series of events into motion that cannot be undone. Ultimately, the partnership between the two men allows both to come closer to understanding and pursuing the separate prophesies that each was issued in unrelated lives in completely different tribes. I am ready to delve into the sequel!

My Review of Gray Justice by Alan McDermott

This novel captures a trend in society that bothers many; the self-perpetuating nature in a justice system that fails to deter the common criminal in an effective or useful manner. The story unfolds as Tom Gray, a military veteran and proprietor of a security industry, loses his daughter to an act of criminal indifference. His wife takes her own life as a result of losing their daughter. The pain of the loss is compounded by the realization that the man responsible for the loss of his entire family is a repeat offender who receives one more slap on the wrist for the damage he causes rather than a meaningful consequence. Gray sets out to strong-arm the government through its citizens to re-evaluate the useless penal system that is allowing criminals to make their misdeeds a lifestyle rather than a passing mistake. The plot is quickly layered with a dearth of factors that keep the reader engaged and invested in the mission of this very relatable character. This book leaves you taking serious consideration about the cyclic nature of the culture of crime!

Related articles

Gray Justice by Alan McDermott

This novel captures a trend in society that bothers many; the self-perpetuating nature in a justice system that fails to deter the common criminal in an effective or useful manner. The story unfolds as Tom Gray, a military veteran and proprietor of a security industry, loses his daughter to an act of criminal indifference. His wife takes her own life as a result of losing their daughter. The pain of the loss is compounded by the realization that the man responsible for the loss of his entire family is a repeat offender who receives one more slap on the wrist for the damage he causes rather than a meaningful consequence. Gray sets out to strong-arm the government through its citizens to re-evaluate the useless penal system that is allowing criminals to make their misdeeds a lifestyle rather than a passing mistake. The plot is quickly layered with a dearth of factors that keep the reader engaged and invested in the mission of this very relatable character. This book leaves you taking serious consideration about the cyclic nature of the culture of crime!

A Vested Interest by John and Shelia Chapman

This story begins with an immediate hook that leaves you fully immersed in the plot. As the story builds, an intricate web of story elements is revealed. There is action abound, artistically interspersed with complicated relationships, echoes form the past, glimpses into the future and most notably secrets! There is an intriguing overlay of technology that gives the story an element of believability. The romantic element that evolved into a full-scale love triangle served as a nice backdrop to the ever building twists and turns to the plot! This book was an enjoyable read that held my focus!

My review of Shimmer in the Dark: Rouge Genesis by Ceri London

As with any review I refuse to give spoilers. This book is a science fiction thriller. The descriptions and imagery were intense. This book makes you feel completely involved in the action and there is plenty of action right from the beginning. I imagine that if it was shown as a 3D movie the movie goers would require seat belts to stay put during the more intense moments! Well Done!

My review of In Hell by L. Marshall James

Despite the title, this book is not paranormal in the least. The plot centers around a male protagonist who is forced to live out his childhood fantasy as a zombie slayer as a pandemic causes global illness and insanity. The read is intense and the plot is riddled with action, angst, regret with an undertone that questions the moral compass of what is truly good an appropriate when faced with impossible times. The book is a frank look at the aspects of humanity that we as a society skirt around, packaged in such a way that the reader is compelled to relate to the protagonist. I would recommend this book without hesitation.

My review of Lust, Money & Murder Book 1 by Mike Wells

Mike Wells has managed to pack a story line that is rich with layers of character motivation and a hint of conspiracy into this powerful series starter! The storyline captures the imagination and leaves you ready to follow the characters forward into the series. Wells guides his readers through the early life and motives of his main character and ties it up the plot neatly in a satisfying conclusion. I can’t wait to read more of this series.

My review of Pelican Bay by Jesse Giles Christiansen

This book is a sure bet for a good read. The first few chapters had me hooked and I read the entire book with no lulls in entertainment value. The characters are multidimensional and believable. The author has an excellent vocabulary and has no qualms about putting it to use to give the entire story line a rich and detailed presentation that makes the plot come alive. There is something in this book for everybody; coming of age, historical references, nautical knowledge, romance, action, tragedy, mystery and even a bit of mythology and the paranormal. All of these elements are blended together so that they create a complementary tapestry that I couldn’t put down. I can’t wait for the movie – it certainly deserves to be made into one!

Entering the Non-Fiction Genre

Recently, I made a tough decision to expand on my current writing forte and add an element of nonfiction to my writing repertoire. Initially, I had never intended to dabble with this brand of writing, but I have found that there are a few select areas outside of writing that I have a substantial amount of background information in. The primary focus of this introductory nonfiction piece is to answer a question that I am asked very frequently as a mother of three and an elementary school teacher; “How can I teach my child to read?”

The truth is, there are clear and approachable steps that when repeated and used correctly are extremely effective in instilling literacy in even the wiggliest young child. At the same time, the question is not one I can answer within a few sentences, or a brief conversation. Teaching a child to read is an involved process that had many components that must be woven together before the tapestry of the effort can be revealed to be useful and effective.

The most challenging aspect of this genre is compiling and promoting access to the resources and methodology that I discuss in my manuscript. My goal is to provide free or inexpensive sources of materials that parents or educators can use with little or no preparation to provide extremely effective individualized instruction. Anybody in the education system realizes that the access to teaching resources in more valuable than all the curriculum planning in the world. After all, knowing what to teach is useless if you have nothing to teach it with.

As I have crafted my new project, I have uncovered a few truths to the nonfiction world.

-Nonfiction material has to be substantiated. I am qualified to write about the acquisition of literacy because I have a degree, a teacher’s license and eight school years worth of students with documented and marked improvements in reading. Writing about an area in which I have personal expertise gives me credibility. If I were to attempt a full report on the inner workings of the internal-combustion engine, I would be producing a work of research and would be unable to add my own insights from individual experience.

-Nonfiction materials must still maintain the craft of readability and word usage that is essential in all writing. In other words, the obligation to produce the same quality word usage is not diminished by the transition to a more technical genre.

-Writing nonfiction does not preclude me from continuing to produce works of fiction. In fact, my new novel, The Corporeal Pull is coming along quite well!

-Instructional nonfiction does not work well with the same formatting settings as fiction. Word has had to undergo a facelift in terms of setting up the styles that will eventually be the glue that keeps my published work form turning into a digital word scrap pile. When factual information is delivered the data needs to be broken down into digestible chunks rather than extended chapters.

As I have delved into my little project, I have felt a sense of accomplishment at the prospect of helping parents contribute to their children’s literacy. I personally have facilitated the advancement of literacy in the lives of more than 200 students. As an author, I have to admit that teaching others to read is helping to propagate my own craft, but it is also an accomplishment to be proud of!

 

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New Trends on Promoting Literacy in the Classroom (rasmussen.edu)
Are You As Smart As a First-Grader? (dianeravitch.net)
Engaging in Genre Study with Dr. Fountas at Lesley University (educacaobilingue.com)
Examples of Literary Nonfiction (english.answers.com)
Creative Nonfiction Examples for Starters (english.answers.com)

The Author/Introvert as a Public Figure

Blending in is an art form all to itself. Some of us do it so naturally that it makes a huge impact on our lives and who we are as individuals. To me, standing out sometimes seems like a punishment rather than an award. Even as a teenager it was better to be “the girl who writes poetry” quietly. Now I find myself awash in a sea of self-promotion. I have no qualms with submitting my writing for the world to see, but making myself into an author “brand” seems overwhelming at best. For many authors which are also among the quiet and circumspect souls of the world, this process of self-promotion as a public figure is intimidating and less than appealing.

For me, learning the business element of marketing is both intimidating and appealing at the same time. The opportunity to delve into a new process, to become adept at something new draws me. In fact, this element is more attractive than any solitary act of self-promotion. Conversely, the idea of subjecting myself to public scrutiny before the eyes of anyone who stumbles upon my blog, my twitter feed, or even (hopefully) my books makes me want to pretend I’m an ostrich and bury my head in the sand.

I recently came across a new author, who had claimed the label John Doe. I felt a sinking feeling as I recalled that I too had craved the chances to hold on to my “secret identity.” I created a pen name when I began my writing career. I had a romanticized image that I could be a teacher/wife/mom publicly, and enjoy a lucrative writing career in private. I was sadly mistaken. As it turns out, readers want to know who wrote the book they read. If they enjoyed the book, they may be more likely to read others from the same author. If they hated the book (an ugly possibility) they know who to avoid in the future. In today’s swarm of self-publication this element is taken a step further. Author’s relationships and support of one another in the course of this common journey is what allows new authors to learn the business, and existing ones to maintain their validity. In many ways, the authors guild is like several thousand recovering addicts, they need support to make their habit productive rather than a destructive determent from participating in the real world (because it is much nicer to imagine your own). Needless to say, the pen name never made it to publication. I know of a few others who make pen names work for them, but I had to let mine go.

So here I am, a victim of public specter. I am standing on my stump and calling out to the world, here I am, see no secrets here. I am a real person, who responds and interacts and is an active part of the community, and oh by the way, I have a real book and one on the way, and I would love for you to read them. I’m forcing myself to be exposed. Now the tricky part is, after a life time of blending into the background, I now must learn to make myself heard. I have to exude confidence, not only in my writing, but in myself as an author. I am no longer a part of the private sector, I have endeavored to take on the role of public figure, and I must comport myself in that manner if I expect to gain the support of the public. This is true for all authors who seek to become successful (at least success that is not post humus).