"Resist" Cover Reveal

 My dear, dear friends I'm sooo excited to be participating in Emily Ann Putzke's grand cover reveal for her upcoming release Resist! I've been eagerly tuning in to her blog and reading about her progress on this story ever since I found her blog. And from the snippets she has shared I'm convinced it is going to be a good one.

 But, without further ado, the cover!

Synopsis:

Munich, Germany 1942—Hans Scholl never intended to get his younger sister involved in an underground resistance. When Sophie Scholl finds out, she insists on joining Hans and his close friends in writing and distributing anti-Nazi leaflets entitled, The White Rose. The young university students call out to the German people, begging them to not allow their consciences to become dormant, but to resist their tyrannical leader and corrupt government. Hans knows the consequences for their actions—execution for committing high treason—but firm in his convictions, he’s prepared to lose his life for a righteous cause. Based on a true story, Hans, Sophie and all the members of The White Rose resistance group will forever inspire and challenge us to do what is right in the midst of overwhelming evil.

Available in paperback and ebook on February 22nd, 2016

Pre-order the ebook on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

About The Author:

Emily Ann Putzke is a young novelist, historical reenactor, and history lover. You can learn more about Emily and her books at www.authoremilyannputzke.com and www.facebook.com/authoremilyannputzke

 Go add the book to your Goodreads shelves! Mark your calendars for February 22nd, 2016! And don't forget to spread the word!

Black Friday Christian Authors Book Sale!

 Allow me to interrupt your Black Friday shopping for a moment to tell you about the Indie Christian Books Black Friday sale that is going on from November 27th (today!) through November 30th. Over sixty books are on sale! There are free shipping deals on some, $0.99 eBooks, and even freebies for those who have already spent all of their money on Christmas gifts.  I've even spotted a number of my favorite indie Christian author's books and novellas on sale: including Suzannah Rowntree, Emily Ann Putzke, and J. Grace Pennington.

 Sifting through so many books too overwhelming? The creative team at Indie Christian Books has put together a quiz designed to generate a customized book list to help narrow it down for you. You can find the Book Finder here.

A note on the Ebooks Only page. All books are listed as “Sold Out.” This only refers to paperback copies of these titles. Please click onto the product pages to find descriptions and links to discounted or free ebooks.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Leah E. Good for her work organizing this sale, Gloria Repp for completing the time consuming job of uploading book info to the sale website, and Hannah Mills for her fantastic design work on the website graphics. Hannah can be contacted at hmills(at)omorecollege(dot)edu for more information about her design services.

Presenting Visuals: The Pinterest Storyboard Party

 After far too long of an absence from the blogosphere, I'm making a return today to participate in Elisabeth Grace Foley's blog party link-up The Pinterest Storyboard Party. This lovely party is designed for writers to be able to share their Pinterest storyboards for finished works, works-in-progress, and works still being mulled over in the backs of their brains.

Follow Hanne-col's board Lee. on Pinterest.

 First, I would like to share the board I created for my big project of last year and the first half of this year: The Letters of Lee Ames. My second completed novel, this story is near and dear to my heart. Not to mention, a thousand times better than my first completed novel. Someday in the near future, I need to set about the mountainous task of editing and rewriting.

 Follow Hanne-col's board My WWI Novel on Pinterest.

 The Point of No Return is my WWI suspense/thriller that might be better off if I stopped worrying so much about the suspense/thriller tone and just wrote it as straight historical fiction. *clears throat* Yes. I believe I'm overthinking this one far too much.

Follow Hanne-col's board great depression novel ideas on Pinterest.

 Summer in Great Depression era Texas is the setting for Finding Home. This board is quite probably my largest storyboard and I have a very definite ideas of how this one needs to come together, though its plot has a somewhat vague middle that needs sorting.

Follow Hanne-col's board The Gunfighter - a short story on Pinterest.

 The Gunfighter is a western short story bridging almost into novella length that I finished last month. I'm currently editing it as a side project. This story has become rather near and dear to my heart, especially the characters. Truthfully though, all my characters from all my stories are dear to my heart.

 A bonus feature in this event is to share a few Pinterest storyboards that you like from other authors. One of my personal favorites is Elisabeth Grace Foley's Lost Lake House, while Emily Ann Putzke's Twenty-Eight Days has me excited for that story, and I mustn't forget to mention Joy's A Love That Never Fails board and her Twelfth Caller Home board, which has just recently become a favorite. I could mention numerous others but I have to rein in at some point, so I had better stop before I really get started.

 So, what are some of your favorite Pinterest storyboards? And do visit Elisabeth Grace Foley's post and join in the writerly fun!

Book Review: Implant

Amazon

"Welcome to the world of a universal cure.

"Gordon Harding didn’t ask for the life he has. He didn’t ask to be orphaned. He didn’t ask to go through life with cancer. And he certainly didn’t ask to be pulled into a future world without warning–a world where every human being is controlled by means of a medical implant.

"And when he learns that he’s the only one who can destroy the base of operations, he’s faced with an impossibly painful choice: either hide and let the world decay under this mysterious futuristic force, or rescue humanity from oppression, knowing that there’s someone out there who is willing to use any means necessary to stop him." - Synopsis from Goodreads

 One look at my bookshelf and you’ll quickly realize that dystopia and science fiction really isn’t my thing. Honestly, I hadn’t read anything from either genre until this month when I read Implant by J. Grace Pennington.

 Implant first came across my radar when I saw a tweet about it on Twitter. I’d previously heard great things about her science fiction trilogy, and the synopsis for this upcoming release sounded intriguing. My interest heightened during the release week party and I mentally jotted it down as something I wanted to try out at some point. When, at the end of September, Miss Pennington sent out a request for volunteer reviewers, I jumped at the opportunity.

 And I am glad I did. Implant wastes little time in throwing Gordon Harding, a newly diagnosed leukemia patient, into a future society he quickly learns he helped bring about. The writing is vivid and doesn’t sugar coat the terrible things Gordon witnesses, while at the same time not focusing on the graphic details of wounds or deaths.

 The characters are gripping. Doc in particular is a fascinating character to watch unfold on the page as you read. His brusque manner and chain smoking habits first strike you negatively, but you quickly learn there’s so much more to him beyond his outward appearance. His friendship of sorts with the rebel leader Neil Crater was one of my favorite aspects of the story. It’s a complicated relationship, but at the same time they work extraordinarily well together.

 The story’s lessons on the high cost of fighting for freedom, how the easy way isn’t always the right way, and how our actions and choices vitally impact those around us are timeless. A number of the themes explored in Implant are very timely for our culture and important for people to be aware of, especially with the speed technology is growing.

 I would definitely recommend Implant to readers of dystopia and science fiction, and to people who have even a passing interest in the genre or the themes the novel explores. While dystopia and science fiction still isn’t my thing, I will definitely be checking out Miss Pennington’s other works and future releases.

 I received a free digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Behind the Scenes Writing Tag

 Here we are with yet another tag. Goodness, there are quite a number of them circulating lately, aren't there? This one, however, gives you a behind the scenes peek into how I go about my writing process. I was tagged by the marvelous Annie of Curious Wren. And if you haven't heard me say it before, go thee hence and check out her blog and Twitter.

Now, to divulge my writerly secrets.

Is there a certain snack you like to eat while writing? Chocolate, anyone? *waves a bag of chocolate chips*

When do you normally write? Night, afternoon, or morning? I write whenever I can: morning, afternoon, and night. It really depends on when I actually have inspiration flowing through my veins and when I actually have enough time to focus down and write something good. I really do need to work on having a set aside time for writing, though. Having just started a new job and with the ever increasing busyness of life, I think it might help.

Where do you write? Due to some wrist problems that I really do not want to develop any further, I try to do my writing either at my desk or the kitchen table. I have been known to rebel from this strategy and write while lying on my stomach on the floor or my bed.

How often do you write a new novel? Yes, pour salt into my wounds! What do I care?! *recovers her composure* It is with much sadness that I admit to only having finished two novels during my entire 10+ years of writing. I finished a rather shabby western novel/novella during NaNoWriMo in 2010. That was my first fully completed work. I was so proud of it. *deep sigh* Sadly, it isn't as good as I used to think. Though, I still love the characters and general plot. Someday, I'm going revamp it and rewrite it. My second completed novel was finished this April. *happy sigh* I'm still rather pleased with it. It's actual novel length and, even though I know there are a number of things that need polishing and fixing up, I'm mostly pleased with it. I'm currently between novels. My plans for my WWI novel aren't mapping out how I want them to and I'm considering setting that aside for the time being. I'm drifting.... What was the actual question again? Oh, right. Well, since enforcing self control in this area last year, I try to wait to start my next novel until I've finished the one I'm working on. So, roughly about one novel a year would be my estimate, as long as I don't start wandering from project to project.

Do you listen to music while you write? I'm a pendulum when it comes to this subject. Some days, I can't listen to anything while I write. And then others, I have to be listening to something. It can be lyrical or instrumental, but it has to be something. I can remember one night, during Camp NaNoWriMo this April, where I only listened to "The Causeway" and "Natasha" from Henry Jackman's score from Captain America: The Winter Soldier on repeat. Thank you, Spotify.

What do you write on? Laptop or paper? My laptop. I started my writing career out on a really ancient PC and when that died, I transferred everything to the family laptop. My parents bought me my own laptop when I was about eleven so I could do school and my writing on there. I am on my third laptop since that day and I still do the bulk of my writing on it. I can write on paper. I just don't like having to type it up when I need to add it to what I have written on the computer, and then having to write out what I've written on my computer so I can continue it on paper. And my wrist isn't too fond of it either. But, I have great respect and admiration for people who write their entire manuscripts by hand. Three cheers for longhand writers! *passes out free chocolate*

Is there a special ritual you have before or after you write? *Olaf face* Nope!

What do you do to get into the mood to write? Well, considering I'm rarely in the mood not to write, I suppose a nice five minutes gazing at the Pinterest board for my story usually gets me inspired. "Wait, has it already been forty minutes? But... but I just logged in...."

What is always near the place you write? Food. Water. Paper and pens, in case I need to free write a character's backstory or something. Sweaters. *whispers* My phone.

Do you have a reward system for your word count? As of right now, no. Is it a good idea? Yes. Will I implement such a system? I should... BUT I LOVE MY CHOCOLATE!

Is there anything about your writing process that others might not know about? I'm a turtle writer. Who, tragically, rarely writes 1,000 words a day. *goes off and cries in a corner* This is why NaNoWriMo is good for me. I get motivated and determined to reach my daily word count so I keep going until all hours to get it done. Plus, I now have the added knowledge of having reached my goal word count for NaNo twice. "Way to add more pressure on yourself, girl."

 And now I shall go about tagging people. *happy smile*

I tag: Elisabeth Grace Foley @ The Second Sentence || Emily Ann Putzke @ Taking Dictation || Mara Jane Adams @ Storywind Bridge || Suzannah Rowntree @ Vintage Novels

 Oh, and even if I didn't tag you but you feel inclined to do the tag, do so by all means. :)

The Questions:

– Is there a certain snack you like to eat while writing?

– When do you normally write? Night, afternoon, or morning?

– Where do you write?

– How often do you write a new novel?

– Do you listen to music while you write?

– What do you write on? Laptop or paper?

– Is there a special ritual you have before or after you write?

– What do you do to get into the mood to write?

– What is always near the place you write?

– Do you have a reward system for your word count?

– Is there anything about your writing process that others might not know about?

So, what does your writing process involve? Are there any fellow turtle writers out there? Also, anyone participating in NaNoWriMo next month?

The 7/7/7 Challenge

images via Pinterest, collage put together by me

  So, way back in August Emily Ann Putzke of Taking Dictation tagged me for the 7/7/7 challenge and then in mid September Annie of Curious Wren tagged me for it as well. My original plan was to wait until I could do it for The Point of No Return (my WWI novel), but, because I've encountered some hiccups with that WIP, I'm just going to go ahead and do it for my western short story The Gunfighter.

  Briefly, the 7/7/7 challenge works like this: I go to the seventh page of my manuscript, count down seven lines, and then share the next seven below that here with you guys. Oh, and I'm also supposed to tag seven people. Fun, right?

The seven lines:

   I could feel the disapproving eyes of Mrs. Reilly on me even as my fingers curled around the handle. I ran a finger along the glistening barrel. I’d never held a gun like this before. Only on the rarest of occasions would Uncle Jem let me carry his rifle for him and then it wasn’t even loaded.

      “Don’t touch the trigger,” Holt warned.

   I shook my head. “No, sir, Mr. Trevor.”

      “How’d you find out my name?”

___

  I'm not entirely certain who to tag since most of the people I follow have already done the tag, so I have a different idea. Instead of choosing seven people, I tag all of you— the people who read this corner of the blogosphere and follow me by email, Google Friend Connect, or plain old fashioned bookmark. If you are a writer, you're tagged. Just make sure you leave a comment with the link to your post in the comment section on this post so I can go read your seven lines and check out your blog. Sound good? Excellent. I can't wait to read your seven lines!

The End of Summer

photograph by me

 The leaves are tinged crimson and gold. The evenings are becoming crisp and autumnal. Everywhere the wind is whispering of apple cider, scarves, cinnamon & nutmeg, and football. This is the first week of autumn. I’m a bit reluctant to say goodbye to summer. But, hey— God created four seasons for a reason and Vivaldi didn’t do so shabby as a result.

 Before I admit how many books I managed to read this summer, I’d like to quickly explain why I fell off the face of blogosphere last week. Last Monday (the 14th) after I finished working, I came down with a bug and spent the next couple days in unpleasant misery until I settled into a cold. I still have the cold but I am definitely much more clear in my thoughts.

 Now, my fellow bibliophiles, to business.

 I started out my summer of with a list of thirty-one books/series I wanted to read. Needless to say, I didn’t stick to that list. One look at my Goodreads shelves would prove that. I ended up reading twenty-five books. Roughly, about eleven of them were actually on my list when I put it together in May.

 Instead of listing off the titles of all the books I read, I would like to focus in and mention several of the ones that really jumped out at me.

 Pied Piper by Nevil Shute. I love this book. Dearly. The characters, the setting, and the story are incredible. I wrote a review here.

 Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. Oh, Dickens how I love you! I snagged an audiobook of this off Audible for my free trial and it was a masterpiece. Narrated by David Timson, this story came alive and I quickly found myself deeply invested in the characters and the story. It was a fantastic reminder as to why I love Dickens so much and I highly recommend it. By the way, his commentary on London society is brilliant.

 Cards On the Table by Agatha Christie. My favorite Hercule Poirot mystery to date, this one is very much worth reading. I would elaborate more but I'm afraid of giving out spoilers. I should hate to spoil it for you.

 The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff. I read this in August during a read along with Annie Hawthorne of Curious Wren. An excellent piece of historical fiction, Sutcliff's rich writing and historical detail in this is matchless. Britain during the Roman Empire truly comes alive under her pen.

 The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse. I set forth on a great hunt to find a copy of this book after Annie lauded its praises on Goodreads. It was hilarious, my dear fellow bibliophiles. Never has a cow creamer had so many intrigues and attempted robberies surrounding it.

 The Prince of Fishes by Suzannah Rowntree. I had the grand opportunity of reading this and writing a review of it for its release. People, buy it. It is gold. You can read my review here.

 Some Christmas Camouflage by Elisabeth Grace Foley. I picked up this gem while on a Kindle book shopping spree. It was utterly delightful and even topped O.Henry's famous Gift of the Magi in my personal rankings. And it's only 99 cents! You should definitely pick up a copy of this to read during the Christmas season.

What were your favorite reads of the summer?

Fred Astaire and Writers

via Pinterest

   Have you ever seen one of Fred Astaire’s films? The excellence he achieved with his dancing is unparalleled. I doubt you will ever find anyone willing to disagree with the point that he was, and still is, the best dancer that ever set foot in Hollywood. Gene Kelly can’t hold a candle to him— sorry, American In Paris and Singing In the Rain.

   Fred Astaire is known for his drive for a flawless performance. If he made a mistake, he would start over from the beginning. If one detail was wrong, he’d redo the entire dance. Maybe this was carrying perfectionism a little too far, but the result of that perfectionism we see in his films is marvelous to watch. No one can dance like Fred Astaire because he took the time to go back and correct his mistakes, rehearse the number repeatedly, and well, let’s face it, he had the talent. But here’s the thing about talent: you have to hone it, train it, and practice like mad to turn it into a skill and something beautiful. And that’s what Fred Astaire did.

   As writers we all strive to improve our writing. We read the great classics of literature, the ones that have stood the test of time, and we write. Writing is different than dance, true— writers create art with words, while dancers use their bodies. But some of the principles are the same. Dancers train and rehearse. Writers write multiple drafts, edit, and polish them until they are satisfied with the results. This writing process basically equates to the dancer’s training and rehearsals. We both keep at it until we’ve perfected our art to the high level we want it to be.

   So, what can Fred Astaire teach us left-footed writers? Don’t give up and keep writing until you get it write. Pun intended.

Curious Wren Blog Party Tag

 My Twitter writing friend Annie Hawthorne set up shop in the blogosphere the other week. Curious Wren, her blog, promises to be filled with reading and writing chats of epic proportions and I heartily recommend that you hop over there and get acquainted. She gave away stuff- sorry, this didn't go up soon enough to advertise the giveaway- and has created this wonderful book-themed blog tag.

1. What was the last book you read, and would you recommend it? The last book I finished was It Took a War by Emily Ann Putzke— a Civil War story of growing up and family relationships. I would heartily recommend it to people of all ages. It's a good one.

2. Describe the perfect reading spot. Well... it all depends on the weather and amount of insects infesting my backyard. When it's warm out, there is nothing quite like sprawling out on a quilt in the backyard and burying yourself in a good book. But if insect and weather forbids, I will read pretty much anywhere inside the house— at my desk, on the floor, on the sofa, on my bed, on my parent's bed, or sitting on the kitchen counter.

3. Favorite book beverage? Tea? Coffee? Hot chocolate? Tears of your readers? Again, it really depends on the weather. I have been known to drink all of those while reading and writing. Well, except for that last one. ;)

4. Share favorite quotes from four books.
   "Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing." - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

   "They were right upon him, a thunder of hooves that seemed to fill the universe; black manes streaming against the sky; the team that he had called his brothers, only two days ago. He hurled his shield clanging among them, and side-stepped, looking up into the grey face of Cradoc, the charioteer. For one splinter of a time their eyes met in something that was almost a salute, a parting salute between two who might have been friends; then Marcus leapt in under the spearman's descending thrust, upward and sideways across the chariot bow." - The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

   "He floated out, and I leaped three feet. A dashed difficult thing to do, when you're sitting in an armchair, but I managed it.
   "'Jeeves!' I yelled.
   "But he had gone, leaving not a wrack behind." - The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse

   "We make art because we like art. We're drawn to certain kinds of work because we're inspired by people doing that work. All fiction, in fact, is fan fiction." - Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

5. What is your most loved fantasy read? Dystopia? Contemporary? Sci-fi? Classic? My favorite fantasy would definitely have to be The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. I love that book. Dystopia? I don't think I've ever read anything that classifies in that genre. There are a few I am considering trying at some point, though. Contemporary? Excuse me, while I wrack my brain for a moment. Ummm... I don't think I have a favorite contemporary novel. I have only read a few and those didn't strike me well enough to become a favorite. Better read up on that genre too. Sic-fi? *raises hand* Does Freddy and the Flying Saucer Plans by Walter R. Brooks count? That is one of my favorites from the whole Freddy the Pig series. Classic? Dear me. There are too many to count. I recently finished Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens and that made my favorites list, so I'd like to mention it. I also have great affection for Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

6. List three authors you’ve collected the most books from. First, without a shadow of doubt, is Agatha Christie. I have three volumes of five-in-one editions, a slew of old paperback editions, and a mix of reprints. Second, is Brock and Bodie Thoene. I own their WWII series and I'm missing only one book from their Zion Chronicles series. Third, would probably have to be Marguerite Henry.

7. What are your thoughts on magic in literature? I am still sorting my thoughts out on this. I was fine with the way C.S. Lewis handled magic in his Chronicles of Narnia. He was very definite about good and evil, and I like those lines to be very clear. Tolkien handled it pretty well, too. Overall, though, I don't run into magic a lot in literature because I mainly read historical fiction.

8. What types of book covers capture your imagination most strongly? Feel free to include images. Oh, I do love a good book cover! Anyone else go to Barnes & Noble to gape at the beautiful covers of the new releases? Or spend hours drooling on Goodreads? Well, I firmly believe a good cover is essential to any book's success. Let's face it, if you like the cover there is a higher chance you're going to pick it up and read the back cover blurb. I have enjoyed some of the newer covers I've spotted over the last year. There has been a trend towards minimalistic covers and I've loved a number of those. But, I'm usually pretty varied. I just cannot stand most book covers from the 1970s/80s/90s. Sorry. Just, no. Here are a few covers that have captured my attention. (Quick disclaimer: I haven't read two of these books and, therefore, can't say whether I would recommend or endorse them. If I've read it, I'll post the link to my review or Goodreads rating below.)

pictures via Goodreads

My review of The Prince of Fishes

My rating of The 39 Steps

9. Mention the first book character that comes to mind. Elaborate on this. Richard Hannay. I think this is heavily influenced by the fact that I just posted the cover of The 39 Steps above and my mother just finished reading the book. Anyhow, he was a good chap in that book and I am on the hunt for the second book in John Buchan's Richard Hannay Series.

10. Do you lend out your books? Or is that the equivalent to giving away your babies? I have only lent out a book to someone outside of my family once. Let's just say I anxiously awaited its safe return. Generally, I don't go around letting people borrow my books. Well, to be honest, I've only been asked if someone could borrow a book once. I prefer not to.

Neighbors | They Have A Story Link-Up

   Today I'm here to share my contribution to Emily Ann Putzke's monthly historical fiction link-up They Have A Story. It doesn't quite have an ending yet (I haven't fully decided how to end it) but here it is.

___

via Pinterest

Neighbors

   Henrik’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t how he’d planned things. It wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this.
     “Line them up!” His commanding officer barked out orders even as he climbed out of the wreckage that had been his newly issued Kübelwagen. His eyes bulged out. The fields flanking the frozen dirt road could have caught fire from the fury in them.
   Henrik kept his rifle trained on the four men, while Gerhardt prodded them into a line on the road with the barrel of his.
   Blue coat, black coat, grey wool suit, and dark thin plaid overcoat. Had his father sewn them? He had the black one. Henrik could remember his father, grey haired bending over the sewing machine in his tailor shop while he kept the seams tight and sturdy. His customers would always get their money’s worth. That had been in 1937. Before the war.
   The first truck in the caravan screeched to a stop next to the four prisoners and the driver leaned out his window. He spit at the nearest man and swore at them all. “Stupid Dutch!” He screamed. “You deserve to die!”
   Soldiers spilled out of the back of the transport and scrambled to drag those who hadn’t survived the land mines out of the wreckage- at least, what was left.
   Col. Schmidt strode down the road and glared at the captives. “Do you know the punishment for this?” He flailed his arm towards the wreckage. “Eh? Do you know what happens to men like you?” His voice dropped, making the word “you” hardly above a whisper.
   The black coat’s face drooped down, his double chin resting on the knotted scarf around his neck. Henrik stared at him. Hugo de Vries, the middle aged farmer with the booming voice and a reputation for fighting as long as the canals that divided Amsterdam, wouldn’t even raise his eyes to look at the German commander about to pass sentence on him or the truck driver cursing him and his countryman. It didn’t feel real.
   The young man in the grey suit to Hugo’s right wasn’t much better.
   Of the four only the two on the ends of the line looked straight back at the Germans who had captured them. Henrik recognized them both. Herr Vogel the schoolmaster in blue and Isaak Dekker the Jewish bookseller who had married Henrik’s cousin in plaid. The yellow star of David was missing from Isaak’s coat. It probably had never been sewn on. Margret would have thrown it back in the official’s face before she ever put it on her husband’s clothes.
     “Do you know what you’ve done?” Col. Schmidt started screaming again. He strode up and down the line glaring at them. He stopped in front of Herr Vogel. “What do think you’re fighting for?” His bristling face was barely five inches from the schoolmaster’s own.
   Herr Vogel never flinched. “For Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina and the freedom of Holland.”
   He hadn’t finished as the handle of Col. Schmidt’s Luger pistol slammed against his face with a crack. Herr Vogel’s jaw tightened but his gaze did not waver, even as blood started to spill out of the gash on his face and stream down his neck, staining his coat collar.
   Col. Schmidt returned the Luger to its sheath and turned to the other three. Hugo’s gaze darted back to the ground but Isaak’s grew more intense.
   Henrik’s stomach twisted again. Look down you fool! Even that silent piece of advice would be useless. The punishment for members of the resistance was death. And ten fold if you had killed a prime specimen of the Aryan army in the process.
   Col. Schmidt sauntered in front of Isaak, a slanted, sickening grin breaking across his face. “And you? Do you fight for your dethroned Queen?”
   Isaak didn’t reply at once. He stood there, eyeing Col. Schmidt carefully. “I am fighting for the freedom and survival of my people, Herr Colonel.”
   Col. Schmidt’s smile thinned. “Survival? You are citizens of the Third Reich. You should be helping your countrymen survive by working to build arms and planes. You should be out on the work farms.” He folded his leather gloved hands together. “Jansen. Kaufmann. March these men back to head quarters and lock them up. I want to interrogate them.” He side-glanced at Isaak and Herr Vogel as he turned and started to order his men about cleaning up the road.

___

We're Marching On

via Pinterest

 Updates are becoming much too far apart I'm afraid. Life has been busy per usual and my writing has been mainly confined to prep work for my next big project.

 Since late June, I have been slowly but surely working on developing characters/outlining for my new work in progress The Point of No Return. Roughly, the story is about an English suicide mission behind German lines during the First World War. I am feeling pretty good about this project so far. I made a breakthrough with the villain's motivations the other night and have most of the essentials down for the majority of the other characters. I just need to flesh out the backgrounds and personalities of some more minor characters before I get to writing the actual story.

 I'm also scouting around for books on or set during WWI to read while I write. That way I can be working on research and gathering inspiration simultaneously. I just started reading Spies of the First World War: Under Cover For King and Kaiser by James Morton. It is still too early to tell how I'm going to like the book as a whole, but so far so good.

 Later this week, I will be sharing my contribution to Emily Ann Putzke's new writing link-up They Have A Story. Keep an eye out for that!

So, what have all you wonderful people been up to? Do you have any WWI books to recommend? Have any wondrous new writing projects presented themselves to you? Or are you getting back to school?

Book Review: The Prince of Fishes

Available on Amazon

 "In Constantinople, the Queen of Cities, poverty-stricken Michael the Fisherman and his wife Eudokia dream of a better life for their family. When Michael catches a fish that is able to grant wishes, he and Eudokia finally get their chance to taste the wealth and power of their wildest dreams. But will their ambition destroy the city and cost them everything they hold dear?

 An epic clockpunk retelling of the Grimms' fairytale The Fisherman and His Wife, set against the theological turmoil and imperial grandeur of 700s Byzantium. Novella, approximately 33,000 words."

 Going into The Prince of Fishes I was unsure what to expect and completely unfamiliar with the fairytale it was retelling. By the time I finished reading I was eager to look up the original fairytale, learn more about Byzantium and the rich history mentioned in the story, and to get ahold of everything else that Suzannah Rowntree has written and published. It has been a while since a story has enthralled and gripped me, transporting me into its world so completely, like The Prince of Fishes.

 It was fascinating to read about Michael the fisherman and the consequences of his decisions. His imaginary conversations with people, especially his wife, were humorous to read. I also tend to have imaginary conversations with other people and I related to that aspect of his characterization. It was painful to watch his actions as the story progressed, but that is actually a good thing. You know he is making bad decisions but you keep hanging onto the hope that he will realize his mistakes and repent.

 Miss Rowntree knows her craft and this knowledge shines effortlessly in her writing. The story moves smoothly, her characters are vivid and real, and the story's theme is relentless but unobtrusive. Each is the piece of a magnificent whole. I have already bought her other fairytale retelling The Rakshasa's Bride and look forward to reading it in the near future. I highly recommend The Prince of Fishes to readers of all ages. It is a story that has made me excited for the future of Christian fiction.

 I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Film Review: Rio Grande (1950)

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 Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) is stationed on the Texas frontier, trying to defend the territory against marauding Apaches. His job is difficult not only because his regiment is undermanned, but because the Apaches ride across the border into Mexico where Yorke and his troops cannot follow them. Further developments arrive when, after flunking West Point, Yorke's son (Claude Jarman Jr.) comes to the fort as one of the new recruits and Yorke's estranged wife (Maureen O'Hara) comes to try to take their son back east.

 Directed by John Ford and filled with a classic cast, Rio Grande (1950) latched itself onto my list of favorite western films even before I finished watching it for the first time. Something about it felt so very real. From the beginning of the film when Lt. Col. Yorke and his troops return to the fort tired, dusty, and wounded from their patrol to when the new recruits are being broken into western troopers. As the Sons of Pioneers lead the troops in song while on patrol or while resting around the campfire, and even to the daring rescue towards the end of the film. Everything feels natural and genuine.

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 As I mentioned, this film has a stellar cast who all not only turn in great performances individually but work well with each other. John Waynes gives, in my personal opinion, one of his best performances. (As a quick rabbit trail, my opinion of John Wayne as an actor sways with each movie I see of his. With some I feel like he's just acting the John Wayne persona in each film and then, with others, I am sitting going "Wow! You really could act!" It really depends on the movie.) Anyhow, his portrayal of Lt. Col. Yorke is splendid as a man who is trying to do the best job he can in a difficult situation.

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 Maureen O'Hara turns in another good performance per usual as Mrs. Yorke and Victor McLaglen will bring a smile to your face in the role of Sgt. Maj. Quincannon as he tries to whip the newest recruits into shape. The actors who really grabbed my attention in this movie, however, were Claude Jarman Jr., Harry Carey Jr., and Ben Johnson. That trio really stands out as the newest batch of troopers, with Jarman Jr. playing Yorke's son. Not to mention, Carey Jr.'s character has some great lines. Or maybe it's just the way he delivers them.

 Anyway, this is currently my favorite western and I have my doubts as to if it will ever be replaced. The studio executives of Republic Pictures, who would only let John Ford make The Quiet Man (1952) if he made a western with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara first, have my undying gratitude.

 The Legends of Western Cinema Blog Week is currently going on! Visit Emma at A Lantern In Her Hand and Olivia at Meanwhile, In Rivendell to find out more about the event and read their posts.

Roy Rogers: My Introduction to The Western Film

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 The Legends of Western Cinema Blog Week starts today! Visit Emma at A Lantern In Her Hand and Olivia at Meanwhile, In Rivendell to find out more about the event and read their posts.

 I saw my first Roy Rogers movie a little over ten years ago. We were driving home from a long family trip and still had a long way to go. My parents bought three DVDs at a store we stopped off at. The first had episodes from The Rifleman, while the second had two Roy Rogers movies (Young Bill Hickok and My Pal Trigger) and third had four episodes of The Roy Rogers Show. Those two DVDs were my introduction to the western genre outside of The Rifleman, Little House on the Prairie, and the Disney Davy Crockett films with Fess Parker. My siblings and I fell in love with Roy Rogers's movies and spent the next several years tracking down every Roy Rogers VHS we could get our hands on at our local book sale. We ended up securing a collection of most of Roy Roger's movies over time and, with online streaming, I have seen a total of 75 of the 105 films on Roy Roger's Wikipedia filmography.

 Roy Rogers was my introduction to the Western film and recently I've been having fun re-watching some of my old favorites, including a few in their uncut theatrical prints instead of the cut television prints. They may be B-Westerns with predictable plots and villains but I still love them dearly. Here are three of my too many to mention favorites.

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Roll On Texas Moon (1946)
 Trouble brews between a community of cattle ranchers and sheep ranchers when a sheep rancher is murdered and found on the property of cattleman Gabby Whittaker (George "Gabby" Hayes). Although Gabby is cleared of murder charges, the tension between the two factions increases. Afraid of a range war breaking out, Roy Rogers is sent to try to find the problem behind the growing troubles and eventually finds an ally in the niece (Dale Evans) of the murdered man, who also wants to stop a range war from erupting. The saga of Gabby and lamb that won't stop following him, much to his consternation, adds a great comedic side plot. | The film is currently available to watch on YouTube here.

Man From Cheyenne (1942)
 Rustlers are plaguing a community of ranches raising cattle for the government and every detective sent has been unsuccessful in tracking the thieves. During a meeting to find a new angle to resolve the problem, however, Roy Rogers stumbles into the picture. The government agent asks Roy, a former member of the community, to return and try his hand at finding the criminals, figuring it would be easier for him instead of a stranger to hunt them out. A good supporting cast of the Sons of the Pioneers, George “Gabby” Hayes, Gale Storm, Sally Paine (always a fun addition to a Roy Rogers movie) and a pair of fairly more complex villains make this one you shouldn’t miss. | Currently available on YouTube here.

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Bells of San Angelo (1947)
 Smugglers are bringing silver illegally into the United States from Mexico and Roy Rogers has been sent to find them and put a stop to it. A man with information is shot before he can speak to Roy and framed by his murderers as a thief when they plant silver on his body. To top off Roy’s troubles, popular Western mystery writer Lee Madison (Dale Evans) comes to town and an Englishman in search of a man called George Wallingford Lancaster arrives, much to the consternation of the sheriff (Andy Devine). | Currently available on YouTube here.

Have you ever seen any of Roy Rogers's films or episodes from his television show? What are some of your favorites?

Wodehousian Medicine (aka The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award)

A few weeks back Emily Ann Putzke of Taking Dictation tagged me with The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. It has taken me far too long to put this together but here it is.

1. Post a paragraph or a stanza of your latest writing project. (I guess that wasn't really a question ... will you please post a paragraph or stanza?) My newest writing project is currently in the outlining stage of things and so I don't really have a nice juicy paragraph for you. I'll give you one from Lee Ames instead.
 Colin snatched a croissant off the a la carte tier of serving plates. “I am not scheduled to fly until tomorrow night. So, I thought I would hop on the train and spend today and tomorrow morning with my favorite people. Ropery Street is as dull as tombs when you are alone. There is no one to hear me play Minnie the Moocher.” He winked at Gilbert who giggled.


2. Do you prefer writing with pens or pencils? Probably pens, although I do like to pull out my mechanical pencils every now and again.

3. What is one blog/blogger that inspires you to write? Please share why and provide a link! I am going to have to go with Elisabeth Grace Foley of The Second Sentence. I have been following The Second Sentence since its first day and her previous blog before that. It is because of her I discovered some of my favorite movies and books. By the way, she writes wonderful books herself. You should go check them out. I wrote a review for one of them here.

4. Are you scared of spiders or do you think they are fun pets? I do not like spiders. The tiny ones don't scare me too much, but make them big and hairy... *shudders*

5. Would you prefer to own a dog or a cat better (if any)? A dog. Cats and I don't get along very well. Okay, okay, I'm terrified of them. I am definitely more of a dog person.

6. Do you know any languages besides English and are there any other languages you would like to learn? No, I don't. I took Latin during high school but I am not proficient in it enough to say I "know" Latin. I would like to learn French and German, though.

7. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Introvert. I like being by myself, but when I need to be refueled I go hunt out people.

8. What’s your favorite part about today so far? Seeing the beautiful French scenery while watching the Tour de France and finishing The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse. If you need cheering or are ill and need a good read you should definitely pick it up. Nothing like a good dose of Wodehousian medicine to put a smile on your face.

9. What's one place and time in history that you'd love to travel back to? New York City in the 1950s. I would go see Judy Holliday in Bells Are Ringing on Broadway.

10. Which do you like better: Tea, Coffee, or Hot Chocolate? Of all the horrible questions to ask! How will I decide? I like tea, but I also really like my coffee with chocolate almond milk and there is nothing quite like a cup of hot chocolate during the cold days of winter. I'll choose coffee because that is what I have been drinking the most of lately.

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I know I have been very absent this month but I hope to remedy that next week during the Legends of Western Cinema Blog Week hosted by Emma of A Lantern in Her Hand and Olivia of Meanwhile, In Rivendell. Be warned, I have a feeling my western loving heart is going to show itself in unrestrained ways.

The Mid-June Report

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 Life has been extremely busy of late. A friend's wedding, siblings' sports games, and work has been keeping me busy these past couple days, leaving me with very little energy and time for blogging. However, I am determined not to slack off if I can help it. So here's a small glimpse of what I've been up to in the world of literature, writing, music, and film.

Reading

 The last book I finished was Cards On the Table by Agatha Christie. It was brilliant and probably my favorite Hercule Poirot mystery of the ones I have read. Currently, I am in the midst of London Afresh by E.V. Lucas and The Fisherman's Lady by George MacDonald. London Afresh I picked up at a book sale last year and apparently it is a rarity. I had to add it into the Goodreads database so I could shelve it!

Writing

 I began the process of reading through and marking the obvious mistakes in my recently finished first draft of The Letters of Lee Ames this past weekend. My sister is going through it with me. It is her first time reading past the first chapter, making it amusing when I notice a plot/character name discrepancy and start scribbling a note on the side of the paper to change it. I am also printing the manuscript in portions as needed. I think our printer might die if I printed all 311 pages in one go.

Listening

Brother - NEEDTOBREATHE

The Book Thief Soundtrack composed by John Williams

The Dancing In Gold album by The Von Trapps

Back Beat Boogie by Harry James and his orchestra is still a favorite too.

I have been falling in love with a couple pieces from The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns as well.
The score and vintage songs from The Help soundtrack.
I have eclectic tastes to say the least.

Watching

 Most recently, I watched By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953) starring Doris Day. It was the sequel to another Doris Day musical, On Moonlight Bay (1951). On Moonlight Bay is definitely my favorite of the two and it's a delight to watch Mary Wickes as the family's maid/cook. Did I mention that it takes place during the First World War?

What have you all been up to? Have you read any good books, discovered a new favorite song, or seen any good films lately?

Book Review: "Pied Piper"

 I stumbled upon Pied Piper while going through a list of Nevil Shute’s works. The synopsis of the book piqued my interest and I almost bought it soon after while making an Amazon purchase (I opted out to buy Steal Like An Artist instead). Several weeks back, I received Pied Piper as a birthday gift from my parents and started reading it a few days later.

 In the most simple of terms, I loved it. The idea of an old man trying to return to England as the Nazis invade France and taking refugee children with him appeals to my imagination and Nevil Shute did not disappointment. Pied Piper was everything I wanted it to be and then some.

 As with the majority of my favorite books it was the characters that captured my heart most. John Sidney Howard might be an unlikely hero at the ripe old age of seventy but he is a compelling one. Feeling useless in England during the stalemate of the winter of 1939, he journeys to Southeast France in the spring of 1940 determined to fish and enjoy himself, unaware of the Nazi invasion of France about overtake him. When his perilous position finally does rouse him into returning to England, he is entrusted to take two English children to their aunt in England as well. Their journey is difficult from the outset but Mr. Howard is completely unprepared for just how arduous and difficult it becomes. As they straggle towards the coast, he finds himself taking more children under his wing even though he hardly knows what he will do with them.

 Fans of historical fiction and WWII history buffs will find Pied Piper a treat, though be on the look out for occasional smatterings of language throughout. The bulk of foul language comes from the mouths of two RAF men Howard and the children travel with briefly.

The Summer of Reading

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 Last week I realized to my horror that I hadn't put together my summer reading list yet. So, I promptly went to work compiling such a list. By the time I finished thirty-five individual titles looked back at me. I have since narrowed it down a bit to only thirty-one and decided to share the list with you all.

Fiction:

The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim

Plenilune by Jennifer Freitag

The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington

Sundown Slim by Henry Herbert Knibbs

Pied Piper by Nevil Shute (I actually finished this one a few days ago and plan on writing a review of it at some point in time. In short, I loved it.)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard

Stella Dallas by Olive Higgins Prouty

N or M by Agatha Christie

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

The Garden Party and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield

A Fair Barbarian by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmund Rostand

The Zion Chronicles Series by Bodie Thoene

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock

Non-Fiction:

Reckless Abandon by David Sitton

The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson

London Afresh by E.V. Lucas

Spies of the First World War by James Morton

Norman Rockwell: My Adventures as an Illustrator by Norman Rockwell

Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss

Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung

Mission at Nuremberg by Tim Townsend

Land of the Burnt Thigh by Edith Eudora Kohl

Rereads:

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Random Harvest by James Hilton

 It is an ambitious list for someone who only managed twenty-five books last summer, and I probably will switch out quite of few of them for others as the summer goes by, but I will be quite happy and contented if I can top last summer's book count by even a little bit.

What are you reading/planning on reading this summer?