THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion
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BOOKS AND WRITINGS BY MEMBERS
"I hope you'll change your mind, Mr. Matthews. One way or another, we always get what we want."Silent Waltz
https://tinyurl.com/y8ew84vm
Blake's rule has always been to do what's right, not what's easy. So when he's asked to escort a woman and her children out of town to evade a lynch mob, he doesn't question if she's guilty of the crime of which she's accused. His duty is to protect her, not judge her.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Five star review for Stone Ponies!"...Each chapter has another twist and turn which makes it very hard to put down, a story I highly recommend."
https://tinyurl.com/y7k53ev3
"Great characters, great story line...I loved this one!"Tears at Sunrise on sale for 99 cents!
https://tinyurl.com/yd34qf7v
"Great characters, great story line...I loved this one!"Tears at Sunrise on sale for 99 cents!
https://tinyurl.com/yd34qf7v
"...Each chapter has another twist and turn...a story I highly recommend."Stone Ponies
https://tinyurl.com/y7k53ev3
"...kept me guessing throughout...another amazing read."Pieces of January
https://tinyurl.com/yd5pn6pm
"...well written and pleasing to read, this book will not disappoint."Silent Waltz
https://tinyurl.com/y8ew84vm
WHITE DEATH, 4th Detective Al Warner novel, goes on a Kindle Countdown, starting 8/28, @ $0.99 the first day, then + $1.00 each of the next 2 days.Detective Al Warner is back at work, recovered from his deadly final encounter that ended the hunt for The Prom Dress Killer.
The accidental drowning of five factory workers, the Cuban & South American drug cartels rushing toward a turf war, and an exploding rash of deadly ODs from fentanyl-laced heroin—White Death—fill his plate. Soon everything erupts into a series of stunning revelations and deadly confrontations, with Warner once again thrust into mortal danger. Fans of Alex Cross & Gabriel Alon will love Al Warner http://amazon.com/dp/B07DGVDW6S Kindle Unlimited users are free
George A Bernstein
Blake’s rule has always been to do what’s right…not what’s easy.Range detective Sam Blake is after cattle rustlers—but when a beautiful woman is accused of murdering her employer, he has to step in and see justice done.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
*New Release*
Her life of thievery. Her silence and sanity. And the famed domain of her ancestors—which may now be in crucial need of her.
Eubeltic Descent
$0.99 for a limited time, or read it free with Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GRLY9BT
My story, "Results of an Eldritch Composition" is in the anthology Hell's Bells: Wicked Tunes, Mad Musicians and Cursed Instruments by April Grey. This book may be found at https://www.amazon.com/Hells-Bells-Wi... Once you get this book, you may not get its sounds out of your head.
The Gold of Mansa Musa: Romantic Thriller in present day Egypt on an epic scale! Part 2 of Christian trilogy: Seeds From Heaven . 99 Cents September 13-20.#Genre/ #Romantic #Thriller # Egypt #saleprice #Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SUOZ22
Prefer to start a series at the beginning?Sticks Hetrick makes his debut when an elderly widow makes a shocking discovery on her front porch. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
I'm paying homage to my hometown in a guest blog with 50 Authors From 50 States. Have a look: https://annettesnyder.blogspot.com/
Rick wrote: "As this Group continues to grow- we are over the 1400 member mark- ranked 26 out of 25,086 Groups- many of our members who are writers have books coming out- I have created this thread for those me...""A tribute to the triumphant human spirit" —Jewish Book Council." http://tiny.cc/icpjdy."
“Gut Wrenching and Heart Rending.Weinblatt’s characters and characterizations compel the reader to read on. At the end of the read one feels both hope and admiration for the human spirit.” Holocaust Center of Toledo
“And I Cried…This book brings the Holocaust to life and evokes emotions not found in many history books. Weaving together a story of love, passion, horror, and history, Weinblatt left nothing out.” Sylvania Historical Society
“A tender, coming of age tale.This book shows the critical roles that love, determination, and steadfast belief play toward battling one’s demons both physically and mentally. Jacob’s Courage is ultimately a tribute to the triumphant human spirit.” Jewish Book World
“Jacob’s Courage follows the young couple from the forced ghettos to the concentration camps and beyond, with several harrowing twists and turns that allow Weinblatt to illustrate the myriad tragedies Holocaust victims faced.” Toledo Free Press
“The reader sees events through the eyes of archetypal participants… a doctor forced to experiment on his own, a Sonderkommando and a hero.” The Association of Jewish Libraries
“The author maintains a driving, relentless pace. Jacob and his beloved Rachael try to escape the madness of Nazi Germany while maintaining their humanity; in the end, the visionary protagonist comes to echo his Biblical counterpart who fled danger in his own country and saw a life-changing vision in his dreams.” The University of Toledo Alumni Magazine
“You see hear and smell… Hitler’s Third Reich.” Author Ron Braithwaite
“Jacob’s Courage reminded me of one of the greatest books of the 20th Century, Viktor Frankl’s, Man’s Search for Meaning. Weinblatt has painted a picture with words of the horrors of the holocaust. Jacob’s Courage is a personal, real life example of holding on to something greater than one’s self. The love that grows between Jacob and Rachael sustains them through the horrors of life in a Nazi death camp. We all could learn a lesson from these two teenagers, coming of age and faced with the greatest existential threat to life.” Author Frank Fiore
“Not since Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place have the horrors of the holocaust been brought to life in such vivid detail. Weinblatt does a masterful job of touching your emotions throughout the book by placing you inside the lives of Jacob and Rachel. I recommend you pick up a copy of this book and a box of tissues. Get ready for a good cry and a heart warming ending as Jacob and Rachel find the courage to live.” Author Rick Rodgers
“This is an amazing book… one of the best reads that I’ve had in a long while and I literally could not put it down.” Jodi Shepard.
“Charles Weinblatt’s masterpiece is a gripping story… as well as a literary triumph.” Marvin May.
“One of the best books ever written about the Holocaust. I’ve read hundreds of books on the subject as both my parents were survivors. However, this one touched my heart in a special way.” – Toby Faywlowicz Schafer
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, Buy.com, iTunes, Smashwords, Texas Tech University Press.
In ONE BAD THING, one man's strong belief in justice weakens him dangerously, until he makes a terrible mistake: One Bad Thing
If you want to read an epic fantasy journey with a black teen as the hero in a world of dragons, "A Dream of Light" is now available in both print and ebook format.Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HWWH824
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1726190625
Too busy to read a book? Why not pick up a couple short stories, mysteries featuring characters from the Sticks Hetrick series. Get acquainted with them for less than the price of a cup of coffee. https://www.untreedreads.com/store/in...
Read this Time Traveling book of Short Stories in three different ways: Chapters at random for an exciting adventure, chapters in order for the History of Humanity, or chapters in reverse order for how the History came about; All reviews are 5 star, ebook, too...https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Elastic-...
Another reader with good things to say about The Bartered Body. Have you read it yet? https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
Like westerns? My short story A Man Willing to Kill is now up at https://www.ropeandwire.com/western-s...
I'm proud to announce that the Library of Virginia has acquired my novel, Tears at Sunrise, for its fiction collection.Now available on Kindle for 99 cents.
https://tinyurl.com/yd34qf7v
"...Each chapter has another twist and turn which makes it very hard to put down..."Stone Ponies
Now just 99 cents!
https://tinyurl.com/y7k53ev3
Hear The Whistle Blowing is in the top 100 in Amazon's best seller rank for the railroad category. If you're a train or history buff, here's a book for you. https://www.amazon.com/Hear-Whistle-B...
Sit back, get comfortable, and enjoy a wickedly hilarious retelling of fairy tale classics. The stories will make you laugh, and if you have been reading my blog, "Jokes Matter," you will know how important laughter is! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GZVHQDC
"...kept me guessing throughout...another amazing read."Pieces of January
https://tinyurl.com/yd5pn6pm
"...Each chapter has has another twist and turnwhich makes it very hard to put down..."
Just 99 cents on Kindle!
Stone Ponies
https://tinyurl.com/y7k53ev3
"Great characters, great storyline...I loved this one!"99 cents on Kindle!
Tears at Sunrise
https://tinyurl.com/yd34qf7v
'I hope you'll change your mind, Mr. Matthews. One way or another we always get what we want.'https://tinyurl.com/y8ew84vm
Looking for a holiday gift for that railroad buff on your list, or yourself? Hear The Whistle Blowing: Railroading in the (Pennsylvania) Coal Region is available in print and electronic formats. Lots of photos. Have a look: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
The current issue of Mystery Readers Journal focuses on the theme Mystery in Asia. I have an essay on my time in South Korea, which has me rubbing shoulders with such luminaries as John Burnett, Colin Cotterell, Tim Hallinan and others. Lots of good stuff for mystery lovers. https://mysteryreaders.org/journal-in...
My story, "Down and Out Underneath R'lyeh", is in the anthology Hell's Heart: 15 Twisted Tales of Love Run Amok by April Grey. It can be found at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07... Give the gift that says you care or give it to that special someone whom you would like to know how you feel.
The MirrorThis short story is about A man who struggles in life because he is successful. An odd thing to fight with, you might think initially? Struggle over success? But when he looks in the mirror, he sees a failure. He had the world at his fingertips: Financially successful, a boyfriend that adores him, but despite all the good— all he saw was bad. As the short story progresses you will see he develops bad habits as he reaches fame with his writing career. He becomes a recluse and loses all hope for a normal life. Everything continues to spiral downhill as he deals with drug addiction. The funny thing about a mirror is it shows the exact reflection of an individual. Oddly enough, the mind has ways of distorting the image into something it is not. This is a very dark twisted book but I guarantee you will love it. It is a creative nonfiction and a thriller!
THE MIRROR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KB47LQ9 (ON AMAZON FREE 5 DAYS MONDAY-FRIDAY)
I'm happy to report my new short story, "Amazing Grace," will appear in Piker Press on December 17th. You can find it at www.pikerpress.com.For more information about my work please visit https://www.amazon.com/author/ronaldp....
If there is anyone who would like to host a month or more of the monthly writing contests in 2019 at Writers 750 here at Goodreads, please post your interest to this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... You don't necessarily have to be a writer to do this. If there is a theme and story prompts that you'd like people to use (keep it PG13) to write flash fiction stories, please claim your month to host. You can also message me here at Goodreads. Thank you!
"...Well written and pleasing to read, this book will not disappoint."Silent Waltz
https://tinyurl.com/y8ew84vm
"...kept me guessing throughout...another amazing read."Pieces of January
https://tinyurl.com/yd5pn6pm
Hello fellow writers and readers! I'm looking for people who would be interested in receiving Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of my two (soon to be three) novels. They are a hard science fiction series set in the not-too-distant future that involves conspiracy, intrigue, detective story, colonization and terraforming.They are published by Castrum Press and have been described as:
"Compelling read in an immersive world!"- Rami Ungar
".. an exciting tale in this story. It was a very enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to seeing more.." - JJ Clayborn
"A Phenomenal debut author."- Amazon Reader
“..contemplative science fiction story that fans of The Expanse will really enjoy!” -Amazon Reader
“..one of the best science fiction novels I've read in some time.”-Amazon Reader
You'd get free electronic copies of each, and all that is asked in return is that you give an honest review on GR and Amazon. Here are the links to the first two books if anyone's interested in learning more:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/191...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/191...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Get in the holiday mood with my short story Trees and Memories. A young boy and memories jump-start an old man's interest in life. Free with Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Looking for after-holiday bargains? How about two short stories for a buck? https://www.untreedreads.com/store/in...
Amazing GraceIt's the smallest Christmas turkey I've ever seen, like something out of a Dickens novel, except I think that was actually a goose. I don't mind, but I feel bad for my family, especially my dad. It's been a rough year for all of us.
By the way, I'm Grace Woodson, reading nerd, writer of poetry and speculative short fiction, and valedictorian of my high school class. My dad is Charles Woodson...no, not the Charles Woodson who won the Heisman trophy and went on to a career in the NFL. My father is an accountant, or rather he was an accountant for the local office of a major national accounting firm. He lost his job through no real fault of his own, but let me back up....
The car accident happened the first week in January. Dad took the day off to drive me back to college. I've always loved school and I was looking forward to the new semester. We talked about my classes and the future. I was set on majoring in English, but Dad was pushing me to consider Communications. I think he wanted to see me on the evening news, whereas I was focused on pursuing a career in publishing. That all changed for both of us when some testosterone-fueled kid tried to take a thirty five mile per hour curve at sixty. He failed.
The impact sent us flying across the road into a tree. My father emerged from the hospital three weeks later in a wheel chair. I barely recognized him – his loud smile, big voice, irreverent sense of humor, gone. The new Charles Woodson was small and fearful. And ashamed. I think he knew something inside him was broken and his days of being able to provide for his family were numbered.
When he returned to work things were different. Anxiety, depression, loss of concentration...the psychiatrist diagnosed PTSD and wrote a prescription that he said would help. It didn't. Dad's work product declined. Things got worse. He was passed over for promotion and denied his annual raise. I was actually relieved when he came home one afternoon and told my mother he had decided to resign rather than wait to be fired.
My mother hit the roof. I love her dearly, but Nancy Woodson is way too interested in appearances and keeping up with the Jones's. She works as a sales associate at a high end women's' fashion boutique. I'm sure she would be appalled if her friends knew she earned nine dollars per hour plus a small sales commission. She and my father both knew that her twenty two thousand dollars a year would just about cover food and utilities, with nothing left over for the mortgage, taxes, health insurance, car insurance, gasoline, repairs, clothes, visits to the doctor or dentist, and a thousand other things.
I should mention that my younger brother Ned has remained unfazed by the events of the past year. He's fourteen years old, going on ten. Typical teenage boy – a selfish, self-absorbed smart ass. Unless the subject is girls, video games, or food, he's not interested.
So, here we are. The presents, such as they were, have been opened. No big ticket items this year. Ned can't stop complaining about the socks, gloves, and new pants he received. All he wanted was another stupid electronic game with zombies or warriors. He either didn't notice or didn't care that Mom and Dad didn't exchange gifts this year.
Hang on, Dad's getting ready to carve the turkey. I've got a bad feeling things are about to get worse.
“For God's sake, Charles, you're shaking like a leaf. Go take a pill before you cut off a finger. I'll carve.”
I watch Dad hand the knife to my mother and walk down the hall to the bathroom. I'm worried about him. Last week he drew funds out of his retirement account to purchase a six hundred thousand dollar life insurance policy with my mom as beneficiary. I know he's thinking about suicide. If he can't look after his family in life he'll do it in death.
Christmas dinner was consumed in silence, save for the unnaturally loud sound of chewing and swallowing coming from my brother.
“We have pie for dessert,” my mother said. She went into the kitchen and returned a moment later with a pecan pie.
Ned's jaw dropped at the sight.
“I hate pecan pie. We always have pumpkin. What's going on, Mom?”
“It's Grace's favorite, and I like it, too.”
My brother threw a look my way. I said nothing. I've found it easier to remain disengaged when it comes to Ned. In any event, my voice at the table has been silent for some time.
“That's perfect, Mom. You think Spacey Gracie cares what kind of pie we have? Really?”
I watched my mother go still. She stared at Ned for a moment before picking up the pie and returning to the kitchen. A moment later we heard the garbage disposal consume our dessert.
“There you go, Ned. Problem solved. Merry Christmas.”
My brother went from shocked to sullen in the blink of an eye.
“I'm going over to Adam's house. I'm sure he got some good stuff for Christmas.”
We watched him stalk out of the room and slam the front door behind him.
Mom looked over at my dad.
“It's time for you to step up, Charles. This isn't working. Have you even looked at the numbers?”
I saw something flash in my Dad's eyes.
Good.
“Do you think I'm stupid, Nancy? I'm a CPA. Of course I've looked at the numbers.”
My mother is hot-tempered, but I could see her struggling to remain calm.
“Well, Charles, from where I sit it looks like we'll lose the house by this spring, summer at the latest. We've missed two mortgage payments, and there's no way I can make the next one. I used the money from my parents for gifts and this miserable Christmas dinner. And all because you decided to retire twenty years early.”
My father said nothing, waiting for my mother to stop talking to him like he was a moron or a four year old.
“I'm forty five years old, Charles. For God's sake, what are we going to do? Aren't you scared? I am. At this rate next Christmas we'll be living at Motel 6 or under a bridge and eating spam sandwiches.”
Dad said nothing. My mother drew a shaky breath and softened her tone.
“You're a smart, educated man, Charles. We've always supported each other, and I'm trying my best to understand what you're going through, I really am. But it's been nearly a year. Do you want next year to be even worse for our family than this one, because that's the way it's shaping up.”
My mother paused. My father said nothing.
“I'm just asking you to dip your toe back in the water. Tax season is coming up. You could hang out your accounting shingle and prepare tax returns for a few months. Or you could work for one of the tax preparation services. They'd jump at the chance to hire someone with your credentials.”
Silence.
“Think about it, Charles. I'm not going through another year like this one. If you're not willing to help this family, I'll have to cut you loose. We're drowning, and my income doesn't go far. I might be able to stay afloat with one less mouth to feed.”
My father remained silent. I watched my mother fight back tears as she left the room.
I sat quietly, waiting for my dad to do something...anything. After a moment he raised his eyes and looked my way.
“Gracie.”
I said nothing. As I said earlier, I have no voice. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I died in that car wreck last January, so I can no longer speak. It's not so bad. I don't feel dead; I feel alive, but not in the same way. Maybe I'm a ghost, except I don't rattle chains or disappear through walls. I think about a place and then I'm just there. I've been thinking about my family, especially my dad, since the accident, so of course I'm here at home.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm an angel. If so, I'm not very good at it. Like now, I can hear my father running numbers in his head. He's thinking about suicide again. The mortgage balance is ninety seven thousand dollars. If my mom collects on the life insurance policy she can pay off the house and have just over five hundred thousand dollars left. That's not a lot nowadays, but it should be enough to keep her reasonably comfortable if she continues to work and is sensible about her spending and withdrawals.
“Gracie.”
I know he can't see me. Maybe he can feel that I'm here. We've always been close.
I'm fine, Dad. This place isn't so bad. Life is a journey, right? Well, now I've got a new life and a new journey. The accident wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could do about it, but there's something you can do now. Don't throw everything away. You and Mom have worked hard to build a life together, and now she's scared of the future. It's time for you to go back to work and back to life. Can you hear me, Dad?
He's staring straight at me. Something in his eyes, his expression. I watch as he opens his mouth.
“Gracie?”
I've been traveling this new road for nearly a year and it's been pretty uneventful. No gods, demons, or angels, at least not the kind with wings. Doesn't mean they aren't out there. I've been on this path for less than a year. Maybe I haven't reached that part of my journey yet. Anyway, I haven't acquired any real magical powers, but I've heard that some of my fellow travelers can do things with light. Maybe they're angels, although I'm more inclined to believe they're just the cool kids from high school.
Dad is still looking my way, waiting. Something with light. I've never been one of the cool kids, and I doubt I'm an angel, but I have to try if I want my family to survive. The Christmas candles are on the table. Mom didn't bother to light them this year.
I stare at the candles and focus my thoughts. Nothing. I feel stupid.
Concentrate!
I close my eyes and slow my breathing. That's right, I can breathe in my new world. I relax my mind and let go. I feel joy, warmth. I'm crying. I open my eyes. The candles are burning.
My dad is smiling for the first time since the accident. His face is alive with fire and anger and love and tears.
“Gracie.”
Merry Christmas, Dad. I love you.
# # #
https://www.amazon.com/author/ronaldp...
Crime and western writer Wayne D. Dundee gives Blake's Rule five stars. Blake’s Rule https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
The Bartered Body has been nominated for the 2019 Readers Choice Awards contest by TCK Publishing. I'd appreciate your votes. Go here, navigate to the mystery category and click on the cover: https://www.tckpublishing.com/2019-re...
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THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
Books mentioned in this topic
Bumblebee Books: Halloween Issue (other topics)Stone Ponies (other topics)
Flight of the Spark (other topics)
Penelope's Purple-Perfect Plan (other topics)
The Bowman Legacy: Not For Sale (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Evelyn Puerto (other topics)Ronald Paxton (other topics)
F. Haywood Glenn (other topics)
Lee Brickley (other topics)
Michelle Auerbach (other topics)
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https://tinyurl.com/yd5pn6pm
Pieces of January