#Bookreview of The Little Fox Who Reached the Stars

By: Peaches Murphy

Publisher: Masked Bandit Press

Publication Date: April 11, 2023

ISBN: 978-1739628727

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: May 18, 2026

The Little Fox Who Reached the Stars by Peaches Murphy is a heartwarming story about a curious young fox named Dreamer who longs to touch the stars.

As he treks alongside his family up the icy trails in the mountains, Dreamer wonders about the mysteries of nature. He asks his sister all kinds of questions that seem to puzzle him, while admiring her ability to magically transform into anything she wants, for example a reindeer. She teaches him how to transform, but he is far from being able to successfully retain his new form. As he focuses on his newly acquired skill, they get separated from the rest of the group. His sister runs to join the others, but the poor little fox is unable to keep up.

Lost alone in the vast, snowy wilderness, he suddenly hears the loud roar of a polar bear nearby. Although Dreamer is scared at first, soon they start talking and become friends. Along the way, the polar bear, named Lollie, gently encourages Dreamer to chase his dreams, reassuring him that often they come true in unexpected ways. The story unfolds with a quiet sense of wonder that feels both magical and comforting. Much like classic bedtime tales that blend adventure with self-discovery, the narrative invites children into a dreamy Arctic landscape filled with moonlight, snow, and shimmering stars.

The author creates an atmosphere that is gentle rather than frightening, even during moments when Dreamer feels lost or uncertain. What stands out most is the book’s celebration of curiosity and belief in oneself. Dreamer’s repeated attempts to transform into different creatures and objects reflect the way children experiment, flounder, learn from their mistakes, and slowly gain confidence in their own abilities. The magical phrase “Steen-key-poopinky” adds humor and playfulness to the narrative, making the story especially engaging for children who delight in silly and funny expressions. At the same time, the story quietly reinforces the idea that mistakes are a part of growth.

The beautiful illustrations and soft color palette contribute greatly to the reading experience. The snowy landscapes, the bushy fox tail, the sparkling reflections of the stars in the water together create a calming visual rhythm that mirrors the emotional tone of the story. Dreamer’s genuine reactions and innocent wonder make him instantly lovable, allowing readers to empathize with his hopes and fears throughout the journey.

Through this story, the author encourages young readers to remain hopeful, embrace imagination, and trust that their dreams matter, even if they seem impossible at first. The friendship between Dreamer and Lollie also highlights kindness, reassurance, and the importance of emotional support in times of struggle. In a world where children often feel pressured to perform well and achieve quickly, the story acts as a gentle reminder that helps us appreciate the magical power of simple wonder, patience, and perseverance.

Quill says: The Little Fox Who Reached the Stars is a sweet, inspiring tale about imagination, courage, and the joy of believing that even the most distant dreams may one day be well within our reach.

For more information about The Little Fox Who Reached the Stars, please visit the author's website at: peachesmurphy.com/

 #Authorinterview with Anthony DeSantis

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Lily Andrews is talking with Anthony DeSantis, author of The Stowaway in First Class.

FQ: Your father seemed to be living a good life way before he said "yes" to a stranger offering a dangerous, illegal trip to America. What do you think overrode his usual caution that night?

DESANTIS: Although he had many negative thoughts and serious misgivings about what he was about to do, he could not verify or prove any of them. All he was sure of was that this stranger knew all about his cousin Frank back in America and the thought of Frank about to lose a year’s salary if he refused to go was more than Guy could bear. They had written to each other several times previously about finding Guy a way to come to America. What really bothered him was why he had not heard about this from his cousin and why he had to leave so suddenly, without time to see his parents in Italy or his friends in Paris, especially Marie. When the stranger gave him the ultimatum, to either “come with me tonight or your cousin loses everything,” Guy’s love and loyalty to his cousin won the confusing battle in his head.

FQ: The anchor chain scene is one of the most suspenseful moments in the book. Since your father couldn't swim and the climb was nearly fifty feet, how much of that terror came from his actual words?

DESANTIS: The description of that scene was taken directly from the transcript of the video tape I had made of him telling me the whole story in 1984. On the video, you can hear the terror in his voice as he described what he was feeling. Especially on the way down the anchor chain, as he was having to look down at the chain and the water, his actual words are in the book: “He knew that if he fell, he would be like a stone and would go right to the bottom.”

FQ: Ernesto had already been caught twice trying to stow away to America. What do you think gave him the courage to try a third time?

DESANTIS: He was determined to make it to America and join his brother in Detroit. He did not know how or when that was going to happen, but he never gave up on the idea, When he saw the opportunity Guy was being offered, and someone was actually going to help them along the way, he quickly decided to give it another try. He would not have done it again on his own.

FQ: When your father realized he was set up and Frank wasn't coming to meet him at the dock, you describe a moment where all his hope collapsed. Was there a specific gesture from him that helped you capture that feeling of being completely alone in a strange country?

DESANTIS: When Guy was left with the mobsters after getting off the boat, he asked the question “Where’s my cousin?” At that point, he was sternly rebuked in Italian, “Stop talking! You have no idea what kind of bad trouble you are in! You had better keep your mouth shut!”

It was at this moment that he realized it had all been a fraud and his emotions showed the level of fear that he was experiencing. As he shared that event with me, I could see the terror in his face and hear the fright in his voice.

FQ: Marie waited for years to learn that your father had written to her all along. When he finally discovered that her family had hidden his letters, how did he respond?

DESANTIS: Marie waited 36 years to learn the truth, that her parents and sister had hidden the letters from her all those years. As my father now heard the story 57 years later, he was shocked and saddened by the deviousness of her family. However, when he finally realized why she never responded to his letters, the truth actually lifted his spirits in a strange way. He was actually relieved to know Marie’s silence was not born of anger but simply ignorance. She just did not know he had tried repeatedly to write to her.

FQ: You recorded your father telling this story on video in 1984, but you didn't write the book until decades later. What finally pushed you to bring it to the page?

DESANTIS: Like many of us with good intentions, life just got in the way. I had two successful careers, a family, and a busy life. I just never made the time. Not until I experienced the medical incident that almost ended my life, did I realize the story of my father’s incredible journey would have ended as well. It was during my recovery from this traumatic episode in my life that the story was finally set on paper. It took almost 40 years from the time I recorded him telling the story to the time I finally began writing it.

FQ: You mentioned a medical incident that almost cost you your life. Can you share what happened and how that may have motivated you to start writing this book?

DESANTIS: Sure, I would be happy to explain what happened. On February 28, 2022, I was flying my single-engine Cirrus SR-22 on a solo flight practicing for a trip to the Florida Keys with my wife Judy. I had been flying for 53 years as a military pilot, commercial pilot, and general aviation pilot. I had earned the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA. I was in good health and in great shape. Retired life was good. The next day, during a simple surgical procedure, I almost died from an ischemic stroke. After a month-long recovery in ICU and a rehab center, I was sent home to try to regain some semblance of my former life. As I pondered why my life had been spared, I realized that my purpose was now to finally write my father’s story.

FQ: Now that your father's story is finally out, are there other family stories that you feel compelled to tell?

DESANTIS: I have many stories I can tell, but for the last six months I have been collaborating with an award-winning screenwriter/director who has offered to adapt the book into a full-length motion picture. I am excited about getting my father’s story onto the big screen and it leaves little time for me to concentrate on anything else!

FQ: If your father could say one thing to everyone who reads this book, what do you think that would be?

DESANTIS: America is one of the few places on earth where a man can start with nothing and change his family’s legacy forever. It is worth every bit of the risk, hard work, and persistence.

FQ: What's the one thing you hope readers take away from his journey?

DESANTIS: Immigration today is a controversial topic, affecting our nation’s culture and causing great political divide. It is also an extremely complicated subject that has evolved greatly over the past one hundred years since my father’s journey. The one thing I would want readers to take away is this:

In spite of the sometimes-intense national debate over immigration, America is still a land of opportunity for those who come here seeking a better life, are willing to work hard, refrain from criminal activity, and who are willing to assimilate into our nation’s culture.

Where else could a poor immigrant unknowingly caught up in an illicit scheme enter the country illegally, eventually become a productive U.S. citizen, and in only one generation, change his family’s future legacy and enable his son to receive a full scholarship to a prestigious military academy in his newly adopted country?

This book about my father’s journey is a love letter to the American Dream.

#Authorinterview with Al Dawson

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diane Lunsford is talking with Al Dawson, author of Borderlines.

Author Al Dawson

FQ: I immediately recognized your name when asked to review Borderlines. Your previous novel, Priest, was such a captivating read, and I recalled how easy it was to connect with that storyline. Such was the case with Borderlines. I’m intrigued by the subject matter you choose for each of your novels. The topics are very relevant in today’s climate. Was there something specific that inspired you to choose drug cartels as your topic for Borderlines?

DAWSON: Thank you, Diane. I appreciate the insightful understanding that comes through in your reviews of the two novels. By way of responding to your question, recent history is a favorite setting for my three novels (yes, three, including my first, Searching for Noriko). I like selecting a period in time that is familiar to most, but not too distant in time to feel remote. It gives the imagination room to roam, asking the “what ifs” while creating a fictitious story within the discipline of a known reality. I hope that makes sense to you. Regarding Borderlines, I was first drawn to the idea of a story that explores how our current corrosive political climate influences the decisions of people who are facing life and death choices. The drug cartels and a crusading prosecutor seemed like a good vehicle for doing that. And being from the Southwest, you might say it came naturally.

FQ: In line with my previous question, given you are a retired lawyer living in your golden years in Palm Beach Gardens Florida, what type of law did you practice?

DAWSON: I was a regulatory lawyer, representing primarily insurance clients before regulatory agencies and lobbying on their behalf. Not too sexy, but it paid the bills.

FQ: What made you leave the beauty and majesty of the southwest and settle in south Florida?

DAWSON: That is a question I’m sure my departed mother and father pondered but never really asked me. They knew I needed to stretch and explore beyond what the New Mexico of the late 1960s offered. After a career that was spent mostly in the Northeast, where I met and married Jane, we decided to follow the path of several retired working associates and ended up in South Florida. However, I do miss the arid open spaces and mountains I grew up with.

FQ: I’m curious if character Jace Kelly was fashioned after a real person. If so, can you elaborate?

DAWSON: I’ll let you in on a little secret. My first novel, Searching for Noriko, was a much longer manuscript before an editor suggested strongly that it should lose about 30,000 words. I did the required surgery, and in the course of it I lost an entire subplot, including a character who I resurrected in Borderlines as Jace Kelly. Never let a good character go to waste! As for any resemblance to a real person, not really. He is a composite of the conflicted good guy I imagined.

FQ: I was especially drawn to ‘Epic’s’ character. He is an Apache tracker and lives off the grid. I enjoyed how you developed his richness and again must ask if there is someone from your travels who inspired you to apply such vivid reality to his character.

DAWSON: Very good, Diane. Epictetus Ryan is also a favorite invention with more than just a nod to reality. As a young boy in Tularosa, New Mexico, I was familiar with the Apaches of the nearby Mescalero Reservation, home of Geronimo’s tribe. There was another person, Thomas Fortune Ryan II, a successful businessman who settled in Three Rivers. My father knew Tom Ryan. Epic is an imaginary character, descendant of Ryan, embodying the best qualities of an Apache warrior with a stoic education. He does not represent any particular person I have known.

FQ: Without going down a political rabbit hole, do you suppose there will ever be a time in our lifetime when we will see a wholesome approach toward serving ‘We the People’ (versus perpetual personal gains for power through greed)? I personally believe we live in the greatest nation in the world and am offended when I hear the disparaging remark aimed at our current leader given the tremendous and positive grounds he has achieved. What is your view on this?

DAWSON: Rabbit hole, indeed. It is a shame that our political discourse has reached such an abysmal level. And particularly now, when our forces in the Middle East are fighting to eradicate a terroristic state that represents an existential threat to world peace, one might reasonably expect that the country would be united as one in supporting the president and our military. I can’t recall a time in our history when the other party was rooting for the enemy just so that the president doesn’t chalk up a win. Even Vietnam and the Civil War never saw anything like this. There’s a point, I believe, that incitement to violence against the chief executive, whether by individuals or political parties, is actionable as treasonous and seditious, and punishable accordingly. Recall Franklin’s answer to the question of what sort of government the United states would be. “A republic,” he said. “If you can keep it.” Wise man. He foresaw too well how the mob mentality could destroy the very foundations of the republic. Let us hope that Lincoln’s “better angels” come to the fore, producing honorable statesmen whose principal desire is only the success of the American experiment in representative government before it is too late and we descend into a socialist hell.

FQ: I worked in a legal capacity for many years before becoming a full-time writer in my retirement. I have always had a passion for writing fiction. When did you realize your solid connection with your pen and how do you continue to nurture inspiration?

DAWSON: Inspiration is everywhere. Whether it is a loose strand from a previous story that begs to be elaborated, or something pricks your conscience or your mind, a theme that won’t let you sleep unless you do something about it.

Again, perhaps I can confide. I began trying my hand at storytelling while I was in the seminary. The Catcher in the Rye was just the sort of rebellious, coming of age theme that really had an effect on me. I began writing short story stuff that I thought sounded like Salinger. Somehow it attracted the attention of the faculty, and probably hastened my unceremonious dismissal.

It wasn’t until much later (55 years?) that I challenged myself to write a novel. Thus was born Searching for Noriko, a WW II romantic thriller. That’s when I actually discovered I could write.

FQ: In line with my previous question, what is your process? Do you develop an outline first? Or do you just let the pen start flowing and see where it leads you?

DAWSON: I’m not disciplined enough to start with an outline. Besides, I want to be surprised. I try to create characters who will drive the story. For at least 2/3 of the book, I honestly don’t know how it will all end up. I just put characters in situations and let them decide what to do next. Maybe it’s what I would do, but not always.

FQ: I don’t necessarily experience ‘writer’s block’ but can tell when I am forcing my pen. My remedy is to walk away and let my thoughts percolate for a while before I return to writing. What is your remedy to overcome a stall in your writing?

DAWSON: My problem isn’t so much writer’s block as writer’s laziness. If I had a deadline and writing was how I supported myself, perhaps I would be more dedicated and work more quickly. When I need to overcome a lapse in my storytelling, a break helps. Sometimes it is as simple as a thorny plot problem whose solution comes to me when I’m in that dreamy half-awake state before dawn.

FQ: It has been a great pleasure to read your latest title, and I want to thank you for your time today. Given the great storyline and larger than life characters in Borderlines, I can only assume you are working on your next project. If so, are you able to share a bit? If not, when?

DAWSON: Thank you for your time as well. No project is in the offing just now. Jane tells me she’s tired of being an author’s widow. True, writing takes a great deal of time, both in the research and composing. I think I owe her a good break. But if something comes along and causes the proverbial itch that needs a scratch, one never knows….

 #Bookreview of The Stowaway in First Class

By: Anthony DeSantis

Publisher: Flagship Press

Publication Date: March 12, 2025

ISBN: 979-8991511001

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: April 29, 2026

The Stowaway in First Class by Anthony DeSantis, a true story that captures real timelines and a sequence of events spanning a hundred years, presents a heartfelt account of the author's father, Guy, an Italian emigrant who arrived in America with nothing and managed to create a wonderful life for himself and his family. The story is DeSantis' carefully documented tribute, written as both a dedication and a source of encouragement to immigrants, their children and grandchildren.

In the first chapter, DeSantis and his father are on a plane heading to Paris to meet Marie, a woman Guy left without notice 57 years earlier. Luckily, the two had exchanged letters detailing this long-awaited reunion. As we soak in the warmth of this rare moment, DeSantis takes us back in time to when Guy made a decision that changed his life forever.

A stranger who claimed to know one of his cousins in America, Frank DeSantis, approached Guy, claiming that Frank wanted him to travel to the USA as soon as possible, in fact, that very night. Although Guy didn't have a passport or visa, the stranger revealed that arrangements had already been put in place for him to travel as a stowaway. Guy would, however, wrestle with the fear of revealing this to his friends, since traveling as a stowaway was illegal. But most painfully, the urgency of the journey meant he would not manage to find his girlfriend Marie in time to say goodbye. She would wake up the next morning to an absence she couldn't explain, and a silence that would last for decades. It was only when Guy was miles away from home that he realized that the greatest danger was not his friends discovering the truth, but the men waiting for him on the other side.

As he tells the story, Anthony DeSantis allows the reader to delve into restrictive immigration laws of the 1920s, and to see the dark underbelly of the "streets paved with gold" myth. He writes Guy so beautifully, and through him, offers the reader critical lessons on endurance, especially those who may be fighting systems that seem designed to exploit them. He allows Marie, a woman who embodies the theme of loss and the cost of suspended love, to give the story an emotional pull, as well as a reminder that immigrants' stories are also about those who are left behind, waiting in silence.

Quill says: Some of the aspects that make The Stowaway in First Class win big among its peers in the genre include: being straightforward, simple, and involving the author as an active participant. You see him everywhere, feel his gratitude to his father, and realize he is not a historical figure, but a son reminding you to look back at the sacrifices that made your own life possible. The book is relatively short, but it leaves an echo that lasts for generations.

For more information about The Stowaway in First Class, please visit the author's website at: anthonydesantis.com

 #Bookreview of Borderlines

By: Al Dawson

Publisher: Luna Del Lobo Books

Publication Date: January 16, 2026

ISBN: 978-1963749625

Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford

Review Date: April 27, 2026

Al Dawson keeps his foot on the pedal and banks a terrific series of twists and turns in his latest novel, Borderlines.

U.S. Attorney Jace Kelly has a fierce conviction when it comes to taking down the bad guys. He takes the sanctity of his New Mexican roots personally and will do whatever is necessary to rid his Land of Enchantment from the evil throes of drugs. The story opens with a risky drug bust, and the bonus was the capture of Rafael “El Arcangel” Aguilar, the nefarious son of imperial drug lord, Pepe “El Mono” Aguilar. What Kelly didn’t plan for was El Mono’s retaliation when he kidnaps his sister and teenage daughter. Time is of the essence, and Kelly has limited options. Either he releases Rafael to save his family, or he thumbs his nose at the cartel, at the same time risking the lives of his loved ones.

Due to politics playing against Kelly in the background, he realizes he will have to orchestrate his rescue mission under the radar. He reaches into his past and reconnects with an off-the-grid Apache tracker, former Air Force pilot with a less than pristine history, and a trustworthy CIA analyst. Once the team is in place, the rescue mission is at go time. They will immerse themselves in the belly of the beast in cartel territory with little more than a healthy cache of fire power and faith to come out alive.

I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Mr. Dawson’s previous novel, Priest, a while back. It was a phenomenal dive into the depths of the religious world and the complexities of less than holy activities in that arena. Mr. Dawson doesn’t disappoint in Borderlines. He hits his stride immediately as he anchors a solid voice throughout the thrill and excitement of a good guys versus bad guys battle against the formidable war on drugs. I applaud him for his subtle nuances toward the egregious corruption that is borderline pandemic throughout our nation’s political arena and how it affects this topic. However, just like the age-old battle of ‘good versus evil,’ Mr. Dawson manages to paint the victories of good prevailing beautifully. His character development is relatable and the dialogue is believable. It was an honor to read another engaging storyline by a writer who clearly knows how to write! Bravo, Mr. Dawson. I look forward to your next adventure.

Quill says: Borderlines is a fast-paced thriller that will keep its audience on the edge of their seats as they cheer on victory for the good guys.

For more information about Borderlines, please visit the author's website at: lunadellobo.com/

 #Bookreview of T.V. Holiday's Vendetta: Legend of The Iron Warrior, Vol. 3

By: T.V. Holiday

Publication Date: May 13, 2026

ISBN: 979-8992729467

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: April 22, 2026

T.V. Holiday’s Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3 pulls readers into a tense and emotional world where faith, identity, and spiritual warfare collide. At the heart of the story is Travis. He is an ordinary man chosen to carry the mantle of the Iron Warrior, God’s last defense against the growing darkness represented by Luc. But this is not a straightforward tale of good versus evil. After his fall in the Seventh City, Travis is no longer the unshakable symbol he once was. After he overcomes the darkness inside him, his mission becomes something far more personal and uncertain. Peace feels out of reach, chaos surrounds him, and the purpose he once held onto so firmly begins to slip under the weight of everything he carries.

Much of the tension comes from Candace Loveless, a determined and deeply layered antagonist. Once saved by the Iron Warrior, she has transformed into his fiercest enemy. Her obsession drives the story forward in unsettling ways. Her plan to expose Travis is both calculated and brutal. She targets people connected to him, manipulating them on live television to force his hand. He must either reveal his true self or watch innocent lives be lost. What makes Candace especially compelling is that she is not just a villain; the hints of pain and history behind her actions give her depth. Her clash with Travis brings out powerful themes of guilt, responsibility, and the high cost of destiny, making their conflict feel as emotional as it is dangerous.

The novel digs into big questions about faith, sacrifice, and truth. Travis’s journey shows that being chosen does not come with certainty or protection. It comes with doubt, suffering, and constant testing. The Iron Warrior is both a symbol of divine power and a reminder of the burden that comes with it. Holiday also raises thought-provoking questions about honesty and belief. Can people really handle the truth about their heroes, and what happens when that truth is finally revealed?

Holiday’s writing is clear and focused, matching the story's serious tone. The pacing keeps things moving, especially as Candace’s public attacks escalate and Travis races against time to stop her. A nice touch is the illustration at the start of each chapter. It adds to the mood and gives readers a moment to pause before diving back in. The emotional weight and strong themes keep the story engaging from start to finish.

Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3 is a bold and thoughtful continuation of the series. With its mix of inner struggle, moral complexity, and high-stakes conflict, this is a compelling read for anyone drawn to stories where the biggest battles are not just fought in the world, but within the soul.

Quill says: Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3 offers a gripping look at faith under pressure, showing that the hardest fight is not between heaven and hell, but within the heart of the man standing between them.

For more information about Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3, please visit the author's Goodreads page at: goodreads.com/author/show/49471464.T_V_Holiday/

 #Bookreview of Jungle Kali

By: Amie White

Illustrated by: Olena Oprich

Publisher: Noctilune Publishing Ltd

Publication Date: March 31, 2026

ISBN: 978-1068220029

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: April 21, 2026

Jungle Kali by Amie White is a story about a curious leopard cub who ventures into the unknown world for the first time after being separated from her mother in the wild jungle of Africa.

Anxious to reunite with her mother, Kali wanders about in search of clues to her mother’s whereabouts. Along the way, she meets and befriends many other animals, from the hissing snake to the hooting chimpanzees, to the lazy hippos, and the giant elephants. Reminiscent of the children’s classic The Lion King’s opening scene, where little Simba chases after a butterfly and gets lost momentarily, this story introduces young readers to the brimming wildlife in an endearing manner.

Jungle Kali is beautifully illustrated, featuring animals with big expressive eyes suggesting innocence and wonder, almost reflecting that of a child’s. The gentle earthy hues make it a simultaneously reassuring and secure experience for the children, despite the potential danger of being alone and unprotected in a jungle. We are encouraged to sympathize with Kali while the author maintains an overall peaceful ambiance that prevents us from feeling threatened or scared. This is a wonderful way of letting kids know the importance of staying close to their parents or guardians in public areas, giving a slight educational aspect to the tale.

What is even more interesting is how the author tucks in little details about specific animals native to Africa, like the oily fur of okapi that helps them stay dry or the unique stripes on a bongo that help them camouflage themselves in the forest. Such additional bits of information go a long way in enriching children’s understanding of tropical rainforests in the sub-continent. Readers, especially kids, are most likely to retain knowledge that is presented in an entertaining way rather than that found in a simple lesson inside a textbook. Perhaps, this is what sets the book apart as a children’s story.

By deferring the initial objective of the main character’s journey to learn how to swim, the story embodies the moral value of patience and trust in the process. Everything has its own time and pace; it cannot be forced. The story ends on a positive note, with hope, as Momma reassures Kali that she will learn to swim and roar eventually: “In time, you will, Kali. In time, you will.”

Quill says: Jungle Kali is a fascinating children’s story about discoveries of the unknown and coming to terms with the realization that good things are worth waiting for.