Sara B. Gauldin's Blog, page 4

My Review of Darkness and Light by Mary Patterson Thornburg

 

Darkness and light is a compelling short story that gives the reader a glimpse of a foreign and perhaps alternate world.�� The main character is escaping from some form of imprisonment and it becomes clear very quickly that his life depends on his ability to free himself no matter the cost!

This intense short story is clearly a forerunner for a larger plot that unfolds in further additions to the series.�� I look forward to reading more!

Spring – a Poem by Sara B. Gauldin

 

Spring

Tender shoots form

in soil that is still

half frozen, but the

warm spring sunshine

beacons through the air

that is still crisp

from winters freeze.

The tendrils reach

upwards to a refreshing

spring time breeze,

causing them to

vaguely wave to birds

on their north bound

journey. Their innocent

thoughts are directed only

towards the solar God

they worship, there is no

way they could foresee

the visit of the moon

who watches the

toxic frost fall.

My review of Breakout: The Roswell Legacy by Gary Close

As the title suggests, Breakout: The Roswell Legacy examines government secrets and the lengths that they are willing to go to protect them!�� The book carefully weaves layers of characters and very distinct motivations to tell a story of secrets that few will ever see in their entirety.

Some secrets are meant to be kept, but some will not be contained.�� The concept of secret government agencies and agendas that affect us all on a global scale has drawn the attention of millions over the years.�� This book will not leave them disappointed!�� It becomes clear very early in the book that there are next level secrets and operation happening among us as we live in a comfortable state of naivety.�� Close does an excellent job of interspersing real and contemporaneity security leaks that give his hypothetical conspiracies an added layer authenticity and intrigue.

I found that I was drawn deeper and deeper into a world of secrets and coverups that are both plausible and otherworldly.�� I highly recommend this well sculpted book to anyone who is interested in the top secret operations going around just under the surface of our society, or to anyone who loves an action packed, in your face plot!

Mystery Mayhem: Make readers crave more

��Every story is a mystery in its own right. If there is no mystery, readers won’t invest the time. They want answers.

Will the girl fall for the right guy? Will the alien kill the human? Will the idiot teenager work through her pubescent angst? Will the protagonist find the murderer before she herself is killed?

I just released��Robbed of Soul, an adult mystery that combines a modern-day murder with the 150-year-old legend of Montezuma���s treasure in Utah. While this is the fifth novel I���ve published, before writing it I boned up on some elements of writing an effective mystery. Here are six of my favorite:

 

Point #1: A mystery is really a collection of smaller mysteries with one ���biggie��� that carries through the entire book. For example, there may be a murder investigation going on, but don���t forget about the unsigned note, the threatening phone call, an unidentified skeleton, a missing person, etc.

 

Point #2: Once you know your plot, make a list of clues you can use in your story.��And don���t forget the one ���crucial clue��� carefully hidden so readers will remember it only when the reveal is finally given.

 

Point #3: You have to have ��red herrings���bits of information designed to mislead readers. If you don���t, your reader may figure out the mystery mid book. The is the kiss of death to any novel.

 

Point #4: Motive, motive, motive. For��Robbed of Soul, I interviewed a veteran police investigator. He said in real life there are only a ��handful of reason people commit crime (besides mental illness). These are:��revenge, jealousy, self-protection, personal gain, and love (or hate).

 

Point #5: Have the ���right��� number of suspects. Some say no more than six or seven serious suspects. Any more than that and you lose your reader.

 

Point #6: Unlike an ���action��� story, mysteries must contain promises to reveal more information. These ���promises��� are what make your reader turn the page. Not the car chase or the fist fight. Don���t forget that once you make a promise of information, you must deliver or incur the wrath of your reader and collect bad reviews.

 

Do you like books?��Do you like Zions National Park?��Join the ROBBED OF SOUL book launch giveaway and you may win 3 nights in a��vacation townhome��in Kanab, Utah.

(Thirty minutes from Zions.) A $450 value! (Or a $100 Amazon gift card if��preferred.)

 

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Rescued but psychologically damaged from a failed mission, ex-CIA officer Maria Branson takes the job of police chief in the quiet town of Kanab, Utah. Rest and relaxation are the doctor���s orders. She gets neither. Instead, a missing mayor, the spirit of a dead Aztec warrior, and the over-confident-yet-attractive head of Search and Rescue await her in a town whose past has almost as many secrets as her own. As Maria investigates a modern-day murder, she disturbs a world of ancient legends and deadly curses. Yet most lethal of all is Maria���s fear someone will discover just how empty her soul really is.

 

Available at�� Amazon ,�� Smashwords , and�� Google Play .

My review of The Circle of Law by Lia London

As I read The Circle of Law, I was intrigued by the world building that was essential to the story.�� The plot revolves around a dystopian world that is plagued by droughts and unearthly monsters.�� These hardships are the result of a world that has lost faith in an elite race of nine leaders who each “govern” natural elements that are essential to life.������ The story opens with a pair of young sisters who are mourning the death of both of their parents because of the endless drought.�� They are not accepted in their community, so they seek the help of a fellow outsider to help bury their parents.�� This simple journey opens the door to self discovery and realizations that will forever change the course of their lives and the world around them.

As I read I laughed, I cried and I fell in love with the unique cast of characters!�� I can’t wait to read more!

Sharing the Love in February- The Corporeal Pull Series is on Sale for .99!

***On Sale***

February 1st through 7th

Alive: The Corporeal Pull is marked down to .99!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GZSH0WW

Enter the dimension of the Tweens, a realm between Heaven and Earth. Here souls are prepared by guiding spirits to encounter the challenges of the mortal world. Terra has existed here as a guide for mortal bound souls for centuries. She has been frozen in her purpose and her habits for her entire existence. But when Terra meets Liam her telescopic view of love, human nature and the mortal world is irrevocably altered. She must send him to his mortal life to face unspeakable suffering and loss. Terra must act to save Liam if there is any hope for him to avoid being sacrificed to slow the spread of an unseen evil that is contaminating Earth.

This epic tale of good versus evil examines the age-old question of ���why me��� that all earth-bound travelers must ask. Alive: The Corporeal Pull is a story of love that transcends both time and the mortal plane. This action-packed love adventure will invite you in and leave you breathless

Please Feel Free to Share!

***On Sale***

February 1st through 7th

Aware: The Corporeal Pull is marked down to .99!

Aware: The Corporeal Pull

Rediscovering the Value of Free Speech

Like countless other Americans, I have studied United States history. I thought I understood the implications of founding a nation based on personal freedom and liberty. Obviously the people who chose to travel to this country to embrace their individual rights to worship, speak, demonstrate, assemble and participate in the electoral process found those rights valuable enough to leave their homes, to speak out against their home country, in some case even participate in wars. These rights came into question during various points in history.

Who really is covered by these freedoms and how far do they extend? One by one groups who were not initially included: minorities, women, immigrants and many others stepped forward and worked to make real changes in the inclusion in the basic human rights recorded simply and fully in our nation���s constitution.

 

My generation, the 30 something���s were subjected to the same academic courses as previous generations. And some of us really internalized the changes that once had to happen to allow the lifestyle they enjoyed. However, knowing the history did nothing for our appreciation of what the guarantee of these rights actually implied.

Until now. Until those rights are threatened. Until suddenly the recipients of the privileges of democracy are forced to take a close look at what those rights we take for granted actually cost.

 

A few months ago, our nation was rocked by racial turmoil. The issue of racism tied to police brutality is real. Of course not every Caucasian is racist and not every police officer is corrupt. Not every African American fits to profile imposed on them. We are a nation and world of diverse individuals. There are exceptions to the positives. The exceptions make everyone look bad. So protests began: protests against discrimination and violence, protests against vilifying police, and protests, which were peaceful and meaningful that never made headlines because of riots that made our country appear course and uncivilized. The riots that took our right to assemble and our right to protest and made into a criminal action exacted against communities that were in need of reform rather than demolition.

 

Credit Ruters

Credit NBC

Last month, the motion picture industry planned to release a movie depicting the assignation of a foreign leader. I have not watched the movie. I have no real desire to. Someone in the motion picture industry read a script with this plot at some point. This person or committee made a decision to approve the manuscript for movie production. They felt that the message was worth syndication. The movie was produced because the writers and producers and actors have the right to do so in our nation. Despite this right, we exist in a global society. The foreign leader depicted did not approve of his portrayal. I���m sure none of us would be fond of a theatric demonstration of our demise. In his nation, his citizens would not have the right to tarnish his public image. And he sought a way to stop the movie from being released. Our nation faced the threat of war and domestic terrorism in order to stop the movie���s release. Our nation was faced by a situation where rights it gave were the cause of threats from a foreign nation. We as a country were faced with a decision: how far we were willing to defend those rights in order to preserve our relationship and good standing with the other county. Our nation chose to support the movie���s release despite the threats.

��

Credit Slashgear

A few weeks ago French cartoonists who chose to belittle a religious affiliation for entertainment purposes were slaughtered in their place of business by terrorists who were offended by their portrayal. They were legally allowed to publish their opinions, yet they made themselves a target of an extremist group. The local authority would have protected their right to work and publish their cartons, but they were unlawfully silenced by murder and assault.

��

I feel these situations personally. As an author, I depend on freedom of speech and freedom of expression to do my work. I know that legally the constitution will support my right to publish my ideas. Even so, I must face a truth that previous generations were very aware of: we are free to speak, but we are accountable for our words. Whatever thoughts and ideas I chose to release into the universe hold consequences. They are personal ones, not legal ones, but they are still real and in the global scheme of things, they are pivotal.

Don’t miss Sara B. Gauldin’s amazing books! Click��HERE!

Our Fascination with Drama: A Human take on the Plot Arc in Books

I recently found myself in a position that happens to almost everyone (unless you are an extreme hermit or live on a desert island); I had an argument. The conflict was work related and not Earth shattering or life altering. Without disclosing personal or professional details I will say that the entire experience was a perfect plot arc. First came the introduction of established characters (me and my coworkers), establishment of motives for all involved (student achievement, professional growth, team work, defending the underdog from the perceived threat, defending effectiveness etc.). The whole situation was a recipe for conflict. Enter part two, the understated “middle” of the story line. This part is the meat in the sandwich of any traditional plot. The ground work was laid, now watch the sparks fly. It would have been an epic scene to write, read, or view performed.

 

It was drama in pure unadulterated form. And it was awful. Completely and utterly gut wrenchingly awful.

 

Let me skip ahead to the last part of the scene. The argument ends and nobody goes home thinking what an awesome dramatic moment that was. Nobody feels they have witnesses something they wanted to see. Nobody gets an Oscar or emerges victorious. All parties retreat, cool off and dread the next day; perhaps none more that our principal who has been given the peripheral roll of referee.

 

This brings me to my next point; drama. Love it, hate it, it is a part of the human existence. Personally I claim that I am not a fan. I even have banned its practice in my classroom and home. Yet it still exists. It creeps in along the edges of daily life like a stealthy warrior, ready to cause havoc on its unsuspecting host.

But it is realistic for me or anyone else to say that they hate drama? Do we really? Put the same argument on any sitcom and it would make for character deepening and intriguing viewing. Read any good story line and you will find at least on major “problem” that seeks to foil the characters. And we read in awe. We watch incessantly.

Could it be that we don’t hate the drama as much as we feel helpless to resolve it. Life seldom grants us a tidy conclusion to our real world struggles. Life is more of a saga of various challenges that assail us all daily. (I shudder as I recall my recent drama).

Perhaps watching fictitious drama unfold in the pages of our favorite book is reassuring to us all. We want to know that we are not alone or unique in our challenges. We want to know that there are bigger concerns that make ours seem small. (After all, Voldemort is not trying to kill me and I do not have to participate in the Hunger Games!) We want to see the neat conclusion at the end. We want all that angst that kept us turning the pages resolved so we can have a glimmer of hope that just maybe our troubles can be resolved in a neat package with the stroke of a pen or the right words.

So I will continue to write my drama’s in books. I can dream up a million ways to solve them on paper.

As for my real life dramatic interlude, it ended quietly and humbly for all parties involved, as it should have. It would have made for better reading if we had be swept away by a tornado or kidnapped by terrorists or any number of intriguing outcomes, but I will keep those dramas on the page and stay thankful that for this time I was able to find a resolution to my real life plot.

Don’t miss Sara B. Gauldin’s amazing books! Click HERE!

Enjoy this preview from the highly anticipated new novel, Aware by Sara B. Gauldin!

Enjoy this preview from the highly anticipated new novel, Aware by Sara B. Gauldin!

Witnessing the destruction of his brother was a surreal experience. The Hidden One could not be sure that the female entity had not seen him. How could he return to the Master, his father with this news? Spiritual entities could not be destroyed. He and his brother were the most powerful warriors among the Scourge. His father exceeded even them. But none of them could destroy an entity. The memory of the strange battle did not clarify how the impossible had somehow happened. The event was burned into his memory.

The blond entity confronted the Brazen One with no hint of fear. As she clung to him with unmatched resolve The Hidden One had watched in silence. The fight between the corporeal entities and the Scourge was intense. They each wanted to keep control over the same human bodies.

“Seth, get off of him!” A teenager with dark hair shouted as he rushed into the fight. He had no regard for his own safety as he tackled Seth. The smaller child scrambled away from the scuffle.

“Liam, No!” the blond gasped as she grappled with the Brazen One.

The escaped boy ran towards the door. The older woman was standing guard. She grasped him by his hair as he tried to push past her. He pulled away. They needed this child’s body. No member of the family was to be left intact.

“He is getting away!” The woman screeched.

“Go after him!” bellowed the man. “We won’t be able to add any more children from the state if he escapes and alerts anybody. He’s a liability until we can get that little moral streak removed and replaced with something more suitable for us.” The Scourge already took all but the two children. This simple task suddenly was changed completely.

“The door?” shrieked the woman.

“Just go! If the others want in, they’ll come in. No door will keep them away.”

From the shadows Hidden had watched the blond girl tangle with his brother. She ripped away The Brazen One’s energy to manifest, and then propelled him to the ceiling with velocity that would have killed a living creature. He writhed against her invisible hold as she followed him to his perch. She should have been no match for him. She struggled against him uselessly as the mortals battled below them. The Silent One stood by in the shadows of obscurity. He never came to his brother’s aid because he had been so confident that his brother could take care of this one small female entity that dared to resist. She already was separated from her mortal body. She should have been vulnerable, yet she fought on. The Brazen One pinned her to the ceiling with force that should have mutilated her form. She ripped more of Brazen’s energy to manifest away with little effort. A gurgling gasping sound came from his brother as he struggled against the girl. Hidden did not step forward. What good would it do to put himself in the path of danger?

Brazen battled back; he permeated the woman with his evil. The Hidden One fought back laughter. He would enjoy witnessing this warrior’s conversion to the Scourge. No entity could be immune.

“Ahhh, what are you?” screamed the blond girl. She attempted to pull away from Brazen, but something changed during the exchange; now the two seemed to be bound to one another. Brazen did not resist, he began to shake, cackle with amusement.

As the two struggled, Hidden noticed that the girl weakened. Her resistance to Brazen’s attack faded. He was certain that he would witness her defeat within moments. Suddenly, a white glow emanated from her. There was an unfamiliar whirring sound that gained intensity with each passing moment. Brightness closed around Brazen as he struggled to distance himself from the woman. His form began to flex and change as though he was being wrung out. Brazen gave a shrieking cry as his form was mangled into an unrecognizable shape by the flow of white light that continued to increase in intensity. The woman held tight to her attacker as Brazen’s scream faded to a final gasp. And then the moment came that changed everything; with a shockwave that reverberated through the entire house, his brother suddenly ceased to exist.

Somehow, this slight woman with wispy blond hair had found a way to do what no other could; she destroyed an entity completely. How could it even be possible?

The Hidden One replayed the memory, hoping for some sign he was mistaken. Each recollection only cemented the truth. The Brazen One’s confidence was foolish. Now, his reign of terror was over. The moments after the destruction were less clear.

As Hidden tried to understand the events that he had witnessed, a small commotion reclaimed his attention. The garrison of Scourge entities was leaving, fleeing in the wake of the white light that had receded taking The Brazen one with it.

The Hidden One decided that he would make his escape. He would take a mortal body for himself. A young teenager had joined the fight between the humans. He was the one the blond warrior had called Liam. As Hidden watched, Liam was determined to restrain another boy. His distraction made him vulnerable to unseen attacks. The Hidden One made his decision. He would take the boy’s body for himself. That would serve as punishment for the strange woman’s annihilation of his only brother. He would take what she seemed to value. He would make her suffer. He knew not to expose himself to the woman’s attack. Brazen was foolish in that way. Hidden attempted to use his gift of stealth to position himself perfectly. He would take the child and disappear before she could realize what was happening. His progress towards the boy was slow and tedious. The battle for the use of the human family’s bodies created the perfect distraction. As he maneuvered among the shadows, another entity turned his attention on the boy he had chosen for himself. The Hidden One found himself conflicted. Interfering with the giant Scourge entity’s intention to take the body would be an easy task. Corporeal entities were no match for him. However, doing so would mean exposing himself. That would put him on a collision course with the strange entity who had decimated his twin. The giant made short work of the vulnerable teen. The owner of the mortal body was left crumpled on the floor in a matter of moments. A disembodied woman rushed towards him as he watched his body walk away without him.

After Brazen was gone the female descended from her perch. Her sapphire blue eyes glistened as she subdued each remaining Scourge with efficiency. As she surveyed the scene of destruction, her eyes stopped on the young man whose body had been stolen moments earlier.

“Oh Liam, I’m so sorry,” she said as she rushed to his side. As she approached him, she reached towards him. Her hands were scorched and blackened.

“Terra? You’re here! Carol, Terra wasn’t destroyed! We thought the thing had ended you when the blast went through the room.” The young man embraced her protectively.

“No, I’m here. Look at you, though. We have to find a way to fix this; you can’t stay here in this form.” The blond girl, who Hidden now knew was called Terra rushed forward and rested her head against Liam’s chest.

Hidden used this touching moment to remove himself from danger. He would have to warn his father of this new threat to his plan.

Just in time for the Holidays! Read Goth Town!

Goth Town by Jesse Christiansen celebrates the spirit and light of the holiday season in an imposing and action packed new book! This is a powerful tale of dystopian collapse and the modern influence of technology replacing the emotional wholeness of the depth of human emotion. The characters are poignant and endearing. The symbolism is intense and artfully displayed with well-formed prose. This is a modern telling of the positive spirit of humanity being magnified to its purest form through the celebration of the holidays!