A cute puppy named Bentley, his bestest human friend Betty, and their friend Mr. Bee set off on a wild adventure to complete a school assignment that becomes a whole lotta fun in author Miki Taylor’s new children's book, Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea.
There’s no doubt that Bentley is probably the cutest little puppy you will ever meet. Together with his “not-furry human friend” Betty and their bumble bee friend, Mr. Bee, the trio have lots of fun adventures. But today is different because Betty isn’t her usual happy, upbeat self. She seems distracted and Bentley notices the change right away. Bentley asks Bett Bett (his nickname for Betty) what’s wrong and she explains that she has a huge school project that is going to take up so much time...she simply doesn’t know what to do. Bentley reminds Bett Bett that together, the three of them can do anything. What can he and Mr. Bee do to help?
Just what does Betty have to do for her school project? “I need photos of friends smiling with glee,” she explains. Bentley gets super excited and exclaims, “Pick me, pick me! It’s easy peasy! Just pose and grin a little cheesy!”
Betty takes Bentley’s picture and then takes Mr. Bee’s picture – the two besties are happy to help. But then Betty explains that she needs more photos, lots more. Bentley thinks for a minute, and then tells the reader that, “I had a fantabulous idea.” He suggests that they take a walk around the block where they’ll find friends from their crew.
Bentley, Betty, and Mr. Bee soon come upon the local watering hole where they find Laila Ladybug sitting on a rock. Laila is talking with Coco Centipede and Betty asks if she can snap their picture. Bentley adds, “It’s easy peasy. Just pose and grin a little cheesy!” Laila and Coco agree, “As long as you keep the birds at bay, we can play with you today.”
The story continues as Betty takes picture after picture of all her friends. Will she be able to get enough photos to complete her school project?
The author of Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea, Miki Taylor, is planning a full series of books showcasing the fantastic trio of Bentley, Betty, and Mr. Bee. This first adventure takes a simple topic, a school project that seems overwhelming, and shows the reader what is possible when friends work together to help each other. Betty is overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to start on her project – who should she take pictures of? How do you ask them? How do you get them to smile? But with Bentley and Mr. Bee’s help, the stressful assignment becomes a fun day out with all the neighborhood creatures. The text is also a bit repetitive, in the best of ways, with Bentley repeating the “easy peasy” comment every time they ask someone to pose, and with the animals posing saying they’ll agree to having their picture taken as long as Betty and her friends agree to keep the predators away. The repetitive and rhyming nature of these two lines that get repeated throughout the story will soon have youngsters joining in the fun and shouting out their answers. To add another element of fun, the author has hidden an African violet and a little cardinal somewhere in the book (she explains their significance) as well as numerous predator animals within the pages of the story - can you find them all? I can't wait to meet with Bentley, Betty, and Mr. Bee in their next adventure.
Quill says: Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea is a fantabulous new book that shows children, in a brilliant way, how much you can achieve when you work together.
For more information on Bentley's Fantabulous Idea, please visit the author’s website at: https://mikitaylor.com/
Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Rebecca Jane Johnson is talking with J.R. Klein, author of All The Burning Rooftops.
FQ: It is a pleasure and honor to interview you as you are an award-winning author of ten books, and so much more. This most recent novel tells the story of Armando Ortiz and the challenges he faces to become a small business owner. Were there unique challenges you faced in writing this particular story that were different from other stories you’ve written?
KLEIN: Thank you for the kind words. I suppose the primary challenge was to make Armando’s experiences believable and accurate, given that I never worked as a laborer putting shingles on a roof in the middle of summer.
FQ: How did you do research for this book and then use that research to make the characters and plot come alive and be convincing?
KLEIN: I drew most of my research for the book from watching roofing-crews work, especially during the hottest months. I also had knowledge of how good roofing companies treated their workers and how bad ones mistreated them, as detailed in various episodes of the book.
FQ: In your view, should a writer write about what he knows or write about what he wants to learn?
KLEIN: Good question. Ultimately, some of it must come from what we know. But with regard to suspense and even horror, which I occasionally dip into in my own writing, it is safe to say that most of that comes from our imagination. So, writing fiction is pretty much an amalgam of both experience and imagination.
FQ: In his thoughts on writing, James Baldwin explained that he aimed for sentences to be ‘as clean as a bone.’ Your writing reminds me of this because your writing is so clean and clear. What are your thoughts on achieving perfection with each sentence?
Author J.R. Klein
KLEIN: I am glad to hear that because, for many years, I have strived to do it. In my early days of writing, I fell victim of the assumption that I needed to embellish my work with lots of adverbs and adjectives. I think (hope) I have now arrived at a compromise on that.
FQ: Your book helps a reader cultivate emotional intelligence regarding challenging topics such as immigration or exploitation of labor. Armando often reflects on wisdom his mother has taught him; for instance, Armando reminds his children that even working a menial job can offer lessons about life. How did you cultivate such emotional intelligence in your life to help you have sensitivity and wisdom to write a character like Armando?
KLEIN: Certainly from my parents, as was the case with Armando and his mother. When I had various jobs as a teenager, I was taught to do every task diligently no matter how menial it was.
FQ: How do you make readers care about your characters and stories? I really found myself caring deeply for Armando and his family.
KLEIN: In a story like All The Burning Rooftops, I felt that compassion needed to be front and center. Armando is a decent and kind man—not perfect but good. I wanted him to be like many fathers who want their children to have what they never had, and are determined to make the difficulties in their own lives secondary to that goal. Once I knew this would be a major theme of the book, the mood of the story fell into place.
FQ: What books make you cry? If not cry, what books make you think or feel in ways that expand your awareness or deepen your emotions?
KLEIN: A beautiful book titled Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov, a Ukrainian author. Sergeyich, the protagonist, lives in a war-torn village in which everyone has left except for him and his life-long friend, Pashka. Sergeyich makes his living raising bees, but he is forced to load his beehives into his small car and take them to another village because the land around him is so saturated with gun powder that the bee’s honey tastes like it. What a powerful book!
FQ: What is your favorite under-appreciated novel?
KLEIN: For this I am going to choose the famous French author, Patrick Modiano, the winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature. Because all of Modiano’s books were originally published in French, few people in the U.S. knew about them until recently when they were translated into English. I think I’ve read almost all of his books. They tend to be short, usually about 120-140 pages. He invariably focuses on the difficulties people have in accepting unpleasant situations from their past, and how our mind deals (or doesn’t deal) with those.
FQ: What do you hope is the most meaningful takeaway for readers of All the Burning Rooftops?
KLEIN: That even the most simple and ordinary work can be done with dignity, and that we need to have respect for people who work at those jobs. An underlying theme is that the American dream, though often fraught with challenges, can be lived by everyone.
FQ: What’s next for JR Klein? You’ve been so busy in your writing career that I imagine you’ve already started working on your next book.
KLEIN: Yes. I am about two-thirds finished with a novel, a book of contemporary literary fiction.
FQ: Thank you for your wonderful writing work and for taking time to talk to us. We look forward to your future books.
A delightful story of a dinosaur who finds the courage he didn’t know he had awaits readers of author Joshua Swank’s debut children’s book, Barry the Brave.
Barry is a bright blue brachiosaurus who loves to go on adventures every day. He’s carefree, happy, and enjoys discovering new things about the jungle where he lives. Should he go swimming in the nearby river? Climb a mountain? Or maybe dance in the rain? There are so many things to do, and the playful brachiosaurus discovers new things to do each and every time he goes out to explore.
On one lovely day, while out walking, Barry came across an amazing, absolutely gorgeous flower. It had lovely pink petals and shimmered in the sunlight. Peeking out from the crevice of a rock, the flower seemed so delicate, and Barry simply couldn’t take his eyes off of it. Of course, Barry had to smell this unique flower and a huge smile grew on his face as he took in its sweet, sweet smell.
Barry knew that this beautiful flower was special, and he quickly decided that he would do whatever it took to protect it. From what, you might ask? Well, it turns out that some of the other dinosaurs who lived in the jungle were not so captivated by the flower. When they stumbled upon the flower, they thought it’d be fun to pluck its petals. Yikes! What could Barry do?
The three naughty dinosaurs continued to harass Barry and his flower – after all, what could one dinosaur do against three ill-behaved scalawags? True, Barry was big and strong, but he was still just one dinosaur. Could he somehow muster the courage to fend off the flower-wreckers? He didn’t know if he could, but if he didn’t do something, the very special flower might be harmed. And then the bad dinosaurs plucked at the flower and a petal fell…
Debut author Joshua Swank has envisioned a new children’s series, “The Raising Barry series” that he hopes will inspire not just his son, but children from all corners of the world. Through Barry the Brachiosaurus’ adventures, readers will discover their own amazing abilities and talents, learning life lessons along the way. This first book in the series, Barry the Brave, is a very good introduction to the big, lovable dinosaur, and the jungle he lives in. Barry, when unexpectedly faced with a difficult situation, summons up all his courage and realizes that he is, in fact, a very brave dinosaur. Settle in with your child for a wonderful bedtime story and learn all about courage and bravery as you watch your child’s imagination grow. I look forward to meeting Barry on many more exciting adventures.
Quill says: Barry the Brave shows youngsters, in a gentle and encouraging way, that like Barry, they too have great courage within themselves.
For more information on Barry the Brave: A Flowerageous Journey to Courage , please visit the author's website at:Barry the Brave: A Flowerageous Journey to Courage
By: Joshua Swank
Illustrated by: Tincho Schmidt
Publisher: Raising Barry
Publication Date: September 29, 2023
ISBN: 979-8987860908
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: August 29, 2023
A delightful story of a dinosaur who finds the courage he didn’t know he had awaits readers of author Joshua Swank’s debut children’s book, Barry the Brave.
Barry is a bright blue brachiosaurus who loves to go on adventures every day. He’s carefree, happy, and enjoys discovering new things about the jungle where he lives. Should he go swimming in the nearby river? Climb a mountain? Or maybe dance in the rain? There are so many things to do, and the playful brachiosaurus discovers new things to do each and every time he goes out to explore.
On one lovely day, while out walking, Barry came across an amazing, absolutely gorgeous flower. It had lovely pink petals and shimmered in the sunlight. Peeking out from the crevice of a rock, the flower seemed so delicate, and Barry simply couldn’t take his eyes off of it. Of course, Barry had to smell this unique flower and a huge smile grew on his face as he took in its sweet, sweet smell.
Barry knew that this beautiful flower was special, and he quickly decided that he would do whatever it took to protect it. From what, you might ask? Well, it turns out that some of the other dinosaurs who lived in the jungle were not so captivated by the flower. When they stumbled upon the flower, they thought it’d be fun to pluck its petals. Yikes! What could Barry do?
The three naughty dinosaurs continued to harass Barry and his flower – after all, what could one dinosaur do against three ill-behaved scalawags? True, Barry was big and strong, but he was still just one dinosaur. Could he somehow muster the courage to fend off the flower-wreckers? He didn’t know if he could, but if he didn’t do something, the very special flower might be harmed. And then the bad dinosaurs plucked at the flower and a petal fell…
Debut author Joshua Swank has envisioned a new children’s series, “The Raising Barry series” that he hopes will inspire not just his son, but children from all corners of the world. Through Barry the Brachiosaurus’ adventures, readers will discover their own amazing abilities and talents, learning life lessons along the way. This first book in the series, Barry the Brave, is a very good introduction to the big, lovable dinosaur, and the jungle he lives in. Barry, when unexpectedly faced with a difficult situation, summons up all his courage and realizes that he is, in fact, a very brave dinosaur. Settle in with your child for a wonderful bedtime story and learn all about courage and bravery as you watch your child’s imagination grow. I look forward to meeting Barry on many more exciting adventures.
Quill says: Barry the Brave shows youngsters, in a gentle and encouraging way, that like Barry, they too have great courage within themselves.
For more information on Barry the Brave: A Flowerageous Journey to Courage , please visit the author's website at: https://www.raisingbarry.com/
Armando Ortiz is a US Citizen from Mexico who works hard nailing shingles to rooftops with an electric stapler. On top of his dangerous, excruciating daily work, he encounters abuse in the form of cans and slurs being thrown at him by angry bullies who accuse Armando of stealing jobs. At first, this all makes Armando doubt himself; fortunately, he has his wife Rosa, who immigrated from Mexico as a child with her father and her mother, who died of ovarian cancer when Rosa was only twelve. Meeting and marrying Rosa boosts Armando’s confidence. The couple builds a family and improves their circumstances. As is natural to most human beings, Armando is always striving to do good work, support his family, and preserve his dignity.
In this novel, Armando’s character and his struggles are well-drawn and clear. The novel’s perspective is humble—hardworking people determined to live with dignity. Klein’s writing is powerful, without being unnecessarily complex or inaccessible. A reader feels welcome to enjoy full sympathy for Armando, and it is easy to root for him. The troubles with immigration and workplace exploitation are handled with wisdom. When Armando’s boss treats workers unfairly, Armando remembers what his mother taught him, “when someone mistreats you, consider why” and consider if you may have done the same if you were in their place.
When Armando’s son Carlos turns fourteen years old, Armando feels ready to strike out on his own and start his own roofing company. Insurmountable challenges are faced; struggles are real. But scenes that contain descriptions of harsh work conditions and prejudiced bankers are interspersed with heartwarming family moments. Armando and his daughter, Maria, talk about her homework assignment: write an essay about Toni Morrison. Reading Morrison’s work inspires Maria’s love for reading and makes her want to work hard to achieve her own dreams of becoming a surgeon. These heartwarming moments reveal ways that emotional intelligence is needed to cope with life’s struggles. But as Armando’s mother taught him, even when work and struggles are repetitive, they are always teaching us something about life. J.R. Klein has written a story that charms with its humility while also giving a realistic view of what it is like to be a skilled worker trying to start a small business.
Quill says: All the Burning Rooftops is a necessary and accessible read that reminds us to embrace life’s complexities. This novel inspires strengthened sensibility to keep doing the challenging work of recognizing and upholding laborers’ dignity.
Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Kathy Stickles is talking with Rina Olsen, author of Third Moon Passing.
FQ: I just have to say WOW! This is an incredible debut novel, and it amazes me that you accomplished what you did at just 16 years old. Where did your interest in writing come from?
OLSEN: Ever since I was little, I was always amazed by the fact that the books I held in my hands had been created by other human beings. This was when my passion for writing was sown: I wanted to craft a world just as absorbing as the ones I was immersed in. I kept dabbling in literary arts throughout my childhood and early adolescence, but I only became serious about my dreams just before my last year of middle school. Unfinished draft after unfinished draft of various historical fiction novels went into the trash can before I finally stumbled upon an article about the 1871 American Invasion of Ganghwa-do during my freshman year of high school. Indignant that this event wasn’t included in American history curricula, I started drafting the opening chapters of what would be scrapped and rewritten to become Third Moon Passing.
My interest in writing also stemmed from my own family history. I am a zainichi Korean, or someone who was born to an ethnic Korean family residing in Japan. My great-grandparents and their children were forcefully relocated to Japan during the Japanese Occupation of Korea, so that my great-grandfather and other Korean men could compensate for the dwindling Japanese labor force as more and more Japanese men went off to fight in the Second Sino-Japanese War and, eventually, World War II. My family never returned to Korea, and Japanese language and culture effectively settled in the household throughout the generations. Even now, it’s difficult for me to connect to my heritage: I speak in Japanese to my mother and grandmother instead of Korean; I’m more familiar with Japan’s culture, cuisine, and social codes than with Korea’s; and I constantly open translation apps when confronted with Korean writing, even though I usually don’t pull out my phone at all when reading in Japanese. It’s very stifling, in a way, and the older I grow the more I feel the need to reclaim what I lost before I was even born. I discovered this overlooked event in history right at a time when I was questioning my own identity, and despite having no prior experience in writing about Korea, I decided that now was the time to do so.
FQ: I know from the note in your book that Chansol and Moonsoo are the only characters in the book that came from your own imagination. Are the backgrounds for the characters a complete invention as well, or are the legends surrounding the characters' family backgrounds based in Korean culture?
OLSEN: Yes, and no. The switch was purely from my own imagination, but during my research I came across more than one tale of a deity/creature born from a golden egg. As this appeared to be a common theme across folklore, I decided to include this. I also discovered the inclusion of an unknown woman in depictions of the yongwang when I was already deep into my second draft, and I thought it was brilliant for the narrative and would explain a lot. Other than that, everything else about Chansol and Moonsoo was original.
FQ: It is easy to see that the book is filled with a lot of factual information/history. Was it hard to do the research, or are these stories that have been passed down through your own background that made it easier to write about?
OLSEN: The research wasn’t particularly difficult due to the convenient nature of the Internet; however, any difficulty I had in gaining information was due to the number of available resources. There isn’t too much written about this historical event (at least in English), so I became heavily dependent on the handful of online articles that I could find about the American Invasion, Korean shamanism, and the Korean pantheon. Researching about the folktales came easier, though. My childhood was made up of my grandmother’s stories and illustrated collections of East Asian folktales, so it only took a closer look at those memories (and a few Google searches) for me to figure out how I was going to weave it all into the narrative.
FQ: I adore all of the characters in the book and had a really hard time choosing a favorite. Do you have a particular favorite in the story and if so, why?
OLSEN: Not particularly—they’re all unique individuals with distinct virtues and vices, and I love them all! But if I had to choose, I suppose it would be Wolhwa. She’s fearless in standing up to strict social codes, relentless in her pursuit of education, and ready to protect those she cares about whatever the cost. Despite her fiery temper and occasional hotheadedness, she’s someone that I really enjoyed spending time with, and I would love to see her in a story again.
FQ: Have you considered continuing the story of Chansol and Moonsoo and where they go from here, given what each has learned about their true background, or is this book going to be the full story?
OLSEN: Oh, definitely. While I was writing Third Moon Passing, I’d already fallen very much in love with the characters and wanted to continue their story throughout the other invasions of Joseon Korea during this time period: by the French in 1866, the Japanese in 1875, and the British in 1885. Thus, the Haedong Chronicles was born. Third Moon Passing is most certainly not the end—it’s only the beginning!
FQ: Is there anything you can share with us about plans for a new novel, whether a continuation of this one or something completely different?
OLSEN: Yes! I am currently on my way to completing Book Two of the Haedong Chronicles, The Water Stricken. It’s a prequel that revolves around the murder of a nobleman’s concubine amidst the French Invasion of Ganghwa-do in 1866. While the main characters are different this time, connected to the main characters of Third Moon Passing only by familial ties (although there are some cameo appearances...), I think the overall narrative fulfills its purpose in exploring one of the first dominos to fall in this turbulent era in Korean history.
FQ: You are a very busy teenager, given what I read in your biography. I have to ask, with all that you do, how do you balance it all - with the writing, school, and life in general?
OLSEN: I’d like to thank my mother for that — she’s the reason why I was able to develop good time management skills! Even though school has always been the priority, I managed to fill in whatever free time I had with writing. Introverted by nature, I never really looked to socialize, instead preferring to remain with my notebooks. Free periods, lunchtime, and even late at night were the times when my characters would come back to life and drag me back into Haedong Village.
I think that’s what enables me to do all that I’ve done so far: choosing priorities carefully. Sometimes it’s difficult to sacrifice writing time for schoolwork, but on the brighter side, it’s what gives me the drive to finish efficiently so that I’ll have time left over. And of course, between all the deadlines and exam dates, I find spending time with my family, as well as participating in clubs and activities with my friends, as a great way to take my mind off things—as well as find glimmers of inspiration for another fiction piece!
FQ: Tell us a bit about your own family...they must be very supportive in order for you to accomplish everything you do in your own life.
OLSEN: They certainly are! It can get kind of embarrassing, just walking around the house and seeing someone scrolling through one of my publications (again) on their phone. But I am very grateful for the support, and I couldn’t wish for a more loving, caring family that views my dreams seriously and does whatever possible to make them a reality. My father’s interest in history influenced the way I myself look at the past, and his constant encouragement for me to chase my dreams became the foundation for Scholar Ha’s insistence on allowing Wolhwa to pursue her own aspirations (though I can safely say that our relationship is much healthier than my characters’!). My relationship with my mother is the reason why I — perhaps inadvertently—tend to craft strong mother-daughter relationships between my characters. Due to my upbringing within a group family, writing nuclear families now seems a little off. This was how my grandmother became the inspiration for Wolhwa’s grandmother, with her belief in folk religion and folktales and the way she strives to impart tradition to younger generations. Third Moon Passing, as well as everything that else I have written or plan to write, just wouldn’t be possible without them.
FQ: What advice do you have for other young adults out there who would like to become published authors?
OLSEN: Don’t stop. That’s all there is to it.
I don’t remember how recently this was, but I do remember reading about a young, aspiring writer who was discouraged from following her dreams by a close family member. It was shocking, to say the least. While other aspiring writers did encourage her not to quit, this stayed with me as evidence that the literary world is often underappreciated and understated. Writing can do so much for so many people, and the fact that someone might discourage another from the activity, or even that someone might consider “quitting,” is something to be mourned. Not only this, but another thing that particularly infuriates me is the stereotypes about Gen Z and the Internet: I’ve overheard conversations between members of older generations about the “dwindling author population” and the “decline” of writing skills among Gen Z. This is clearly not the case. I’ve read so many literary magazines featuring talented young writers that I have few worries about the future of literature. It’s just a question of whether these authors choose to continue their line of work.
A lot of young writers might worry that there’s not a lot of time to pursue their literary dreams with all of the stress and work that comes with high school—and I totally get that. While I was writing Third Moon Passing, I’d sometimes end up writing only a line or two in one day because I was just so busy. But I think that as long as one doesn’t lose sight of that dream and keeps writing, even if it’s just a single sentence or phrase per day, that dream can eventually come true—no matter how long it takes. If you love something with a fierce passion, it’s more than likely that you’ll find time to do it. However short that time might be, it’ll still amount to something far greater than one might initially imagine.
So my advice is this: don’t stop, no matter what anyone says or how much time you’ve got on your hands. In the grand scheme of things, what does it even matter, anyway, as long as you’ve got a story that everyone needs to hear?
FQ: I see in your biography that you are someone who likes to read a lot as well as write. What types of books/authors are your favorite?
OLSEN: My personal hero in literature is Joyce Carol Oates—I just love her writing, her style, everything. Her short stories were what introduced me to the art of shorter fiction, and I find her longer works just as unsettling yet absorbing. When it comes to genres, my interests span across a variety of categories, but I do tend to lean towards historical or literary fiction. I love James Clavell’s Asian Saga and Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series, but I also have a soft spot for books like Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers and September. Sometimes, though, you’ll catch me reading a fantasy novel: I happen to be a huge fan of R. F. Kuang, and I completely devoured her Poppy War series.
Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Barbara Bamberger Scott is talking with Rosemary and Larry Mild, authors of On the Rails: The Adventures of Boxcar Bertie.
FQ: There were many interesting characters in On the Rails. Do either of you identify with any particular personage in your book?
LARRY: It’s not so much my identifying with a specific character as it is my identifying with places and things: the sights, smells, and sounds of my own distant past—the impetus for writing On the Rails in the first place. Of course, like all dutiful authors, we assumed the role of each character as we wrote of them.
ROSEMARY: Not really, but I do have a feel for the struggles that go with poverty. I remember my mother telling me about her childhood in Milwaukee. In third grade she had only one dress, plaid with long sleeves. Every night Grandma Elizabeth would wash and iron the white collar and cuffs so Mother would have a fresh-looking dress to wear to school.
FQ: Bertie seems to be operating intuitively based on happenings around her – is that the way this book developed?
LARRY: On the Rails was, from the get-go, designed as a character-driven book. There was no outline; just an eight-page, statement of work revealing what we wanted to accomplish. We created a strong, honest, intelligent, and quick-minded Bertie and then put her to the test against all kinds of conflict, antagonists, and worries. We watched her reactions and responses. She did not disappoint us.
FQ: Do you have a special sense of connection with the Great Depression era as depicted in Boxcar Bertie?
LARRY: Absolutely. As I approach the age of ninety-one, fortunately, a vivid memory of my youth remains with me. Having lived through much of the 1930s put me in contact with Bertie’s environment and the kind of trials and tribulations she would have experienced. One of my talents is an ability to envision, in detail, where I’m going from where I’ve been. I have trouble with names, but I can describe quite a lot from my past.
FQ: Has your own world travel and transplantation given your insight into the footloose life of your characters?
LARRY: I have sailed two major oceans and several seas—first in the U.S. Navy, and second as a civilian field engineer. I have been high-lined and helicopter-lifted at sea. Rosemary and I have traveled together to five of the seven continents. We have experienced dozens of cultures—the people, their food, laws, art, and music. Every step of the way was a new adventure. Some of the time we were together and other time we went solo. I do believe we captured the necessary insights to drive our characters across southern New England.
FQ: What sort of research did you do regarding hobo train travel? Any visits to the tracks or railway yards? Was it hard to find resources - what I’m thinking about in particular is getting first-hand accounts, even if told via books about the hobo life.
Authors Rosemary and Larry Mild
LARRY: I grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. As a youth, I remember playing in an abandoned ice house next to the railroad tracks, where I saw hoboes hopping and riding boxcars. I also remember hungry hoboes coming to our back door for a handout. Mom had a measured soft touch. Although the boxcars are taking Bertie farther and farther from her ultimate goals, she becomes strong enough to reverse her fortunes. There are many movies, books, and TV presentations whose documentaries and dramas remain impressed in my mind’s recall. Oh yes, we still had to research a bunch of things. The Internet descriptions, definitions, and maps were most helpful.
FQ: Were there things about train travel and/or hobo life that you discovered while researching that surprised you?
LARRY: We were most surprised by the brutal attitude the railway enforcement cops had toward hoboes stealing a ride on one of their boxcars. Most hoboes sought empty boxcars going their way and had little or no intent to do any damage. I doubt that the railway officials were concerned with either hobo safety or equipment damage. It makes me wonder what drove their actual concern to hire such sadistic men.
FQ: Many people today seem to romanticize hobo life, and you did a good job in your book bringing some of the darker elements of this lifestyle to the forefront. Would you share one or two things that people may not know about living the life of a hobo?
LARRY: Many people try to equate yesterday’s hoboes with the homeless of today. While many outward appearances, such as their encampments, seem similar, there are differences. The Great Depression hobo existed in an era of a devastating economy, whereas, the homeless today exist in much stronger economies. Most of the hobo population in the 1930s was willing to do any work wherever they could find it That is true of a much smaller portion of the homeless population. Most Depression hoboes eventually survived their dire situations. We can only hope today’s homeless will survive in via one solution or another. I would hope for humane, but appropriate solutions for the disadvantaged, the sick, the mentally ill, and the lazy among them.
FQ: Is there a woman in current news or someone that you know personally who personifies your central character? Someone who doesn’t let social conventions that say you can’t “do that” stop them?
LARRY: Our daughter Jackie Mild Lau fits your description. Jackie is a professional bronze sculptor in Honolulu. When COVID-19 started early in 2020, the whole world seemed to shut down. The Downtown Art Center, an important nonprofit gallery in Honolulu's historic Chinatown Arts District, had been vacant for ten years. Jackie is a born leader, and also a board member of Hawaii Craftsmen; its members worked to help refurbish the DAC space. Jackie did the inaugural installation of the first exhibition in October of 2020, as everyplace else was still shut down. Jackie told us: "What I did that was notable was to gather 31 artists willing to take a chance twice and buy in for the next two shows so that the space would not be empty for the next three months since no other shows were booked until April. That kept the space in the art public’s eyes and helped to ensure its continuity as a popular venue to show, share, and sell art when all other options were closed. It remains a people’s community space for artists and the art-loving public."
FQ: I’m truly fascinated by the co-authoring that you do. Do you have plans to continue? Another co-authoring project? Please share!
LARRY: I’m more devious than Rosemary, so I conjure up our plots, cast the skeletal characters and scenes, and write the first two drafts before turning the work over to her.
ROSEMARY: Without gushing (well, yes, I’m gushing, but it’s justified!) I must tell you that Larry’s plots are always riveting, astute, and fun to work with. When I get my hands on his characters, I give them flesh and bones and distinct personalities. Good fiction requires conflict. Our mysteries specialize in that. In addition to actual crimes, I love creating arguments (I came out of the womb arguing) and other emotional scenes to get the reader involved. I also sharpen sentences and dialogue to increase suspense. Larry used to call my streamlining “slash and burn.” In our early years together, we “negotiated” with sleeves rolled up. Mostly, now, we respect each other’s decisions.
LARRY: We’ve developed a unified writing voice that makes it difficult to discern which of us wrote any given passage in the finished book.
ROSEMARY: We used to have moments like this: ME: “I’m so proud of that paragraph where they’re fighting.” LARRY: “I wrote that.” ME: “No, I wrote it.” LARRY: The partnership starts with a solid marriage. You have to like and respect one another. We each know we each have a certain job to do and what we can do to promote a better end product. We keep working at it.
My second draft of Kent and Katcha, a novel full of espionage, spycraft, and romance, is now in Rosemary’s hands. Currently, I’m working on the second draft of The Moaning Lisa, the fourth Paco & Molly murder mystery in the traditional cozy manner.
ROSEMARY: We’re not surfers, but we’re constantly riding the waves of new ideas and fresh surprises for our readers.
Shifting moods, introspection, and emotional rendition make up Paul Buchheit's genre-arching anthology, Sonnets of Love and Joy.
Sonnets of Love and Joy is a compilation of sixty ballads, most of which appear in the crisp Shakespearean form. The poems are divided into five sections, Love of Another, Joy of Family and Friends, Joy of Nature, Joy of the Seasons, and The Joy of Children. As the subtitles suggest, the entries take special delight in these topics employing a pleasant etiquette both earthly and spiritual, along the pages. Each entry is brief with each word serving its purpose, including the titles, which are important for cognizance.
Semantic turns, alliteration, line breaks, and resonance exist delivering precise and sharp messages to readers. By employing impressive iambic pentameter, Buchheit combines excellent imagery with graceful structures and original ideas in subjects such as nature, seasons, love, family, friendship, and parenthood. The result is a package of deep, inventive, and dazzling anthologies that offers a luxurious repast for the mind, body, and soul. At turns heartwarming and vulnerable, captivating and contemplative, poems such as Child's Garden and On Greeting the Splendors of Autumn, visceral and impactful vividness inform with images such as "The musky pathway," " milky clouds and celestial pallets," and "breezes whispering."
Buchheit writes with enticing intimacy bringing into his collection the emblem of traditional lyrics that revel in intricacy and formal order. Elsewhere, some poems have up their sleeve, an elegant and adventurous feel of enjambment that moves and ends up winning the reader with their openness and emotional profoundness. In " Spring Awakening," for example, words such as, "In sudden rustlings, playful sprites convene in chatty complement to rearrange their homestead; and a prankish sparrow swoons and darts and teases; and a scheming squall, whose grudging bitter grip, in rasping tunes through weary pine, once dared to taunt and brawl," display exactly that and manages to emit a familiar linguistic rune sharing secrets only with those who read the entries closely.
The poet is such an adroit and keen observer of slight changes in seasons, people, time, and the world in general. From the abundance of human life, he uses these jewel boxes to serve their practical purpose, at times remaining mystifying yet elucidating in the manner of a true minstrel. He attempts to unite rich history and contemporary thoughts, an aspect that elevates this text and brings with it a beautiful surreality. With jaw-dropping landscapes and artistic illustrations that expand and complement each entry, their singular nature not only desires to be read outloud but also invites reflectivity and heart-searching.
Cruising through this collection is similar to a sumptuous meander through one's favorite gallery linking the distinctive and historical, turning the glass inside and outside, and showcasing Buchheit's masterstroke in his art.
Quill says: Powerful as it is impassioned and forthright, Sonnets of Love and Joy by Paul Buchheit flags off the advent of an imperative voice.
A Schizoid at Smith: How Overparenting Leads to Underachieving
By: Blair Sorrel
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: August 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-1639889273
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Review Date: August 21, 2023
Author Blair Sorrel recalls vivid life experiences redolent with discipline, contradiction, confusion and ultimately, an acceptance of herself as psychologically burdened in her debut memoir, A Schizoid at Smith: How Overparenting Leads to Underachieving.
Sorrel’s memoir opens as she sits in a university Memoir Writing class, unable to put words on paper. She was looking back at her “over-parented” childhood with a methodical, distant father and a mother who strictly stressed the perils of even the smallest infraction, using a vocabulary that no small child could likely comprehend. What Sorrel did know was that, though she looked forward to summer camp and schooling as respites of the stresses of home, she feared the social interactions that would be required. Her parents were upwardly mobile, her father a medical man who took them on the so-called White Exodus of the early 1960s, to a posh Massachusetts suburb where she began school. Despite her clear intellectual gifts, she was constantly distracted, daydreaming instead of studying. Though she gradually eked out an academic path leading to study at the eponymous university, she was rarely comfortable among fellow students or any crowd, had few friends, and found her solace mainly in the popular music of the era. Many of her memories center on the singers, the bands and the rock philosophy of her teen years. It was not until she was in her thirties that she was diagnosed with SPD – schizoid personality disorder, an affliction that may go unheeded as the symptoms, she notes, “are not deleterious enough to others to warrant immediate concern.” But the SPD carrier will suffer, as she did, from the negative dominance and lack of warmth of overly scrupulous parents, and the extreme anxiety evoked by all social interactions.
Sorrel, who has become a diligent supporter of varying community causes, describes her book’s purpose as both open and cautionary. She seems to have withheld little in her highly descriptive, deep search for the truth about herself. She is able now to piece together the aspects of her family life that contributed to her suffering and warn parents of the damage that can be caused by status seeking and over-correcting - hopes for a child’s success can be marred by the compulsion to guide the child’s every footstep. Her book poetically and emotively articulates this unique perspective through her recollections of situations greatly distressing, mildly humorous, and always human.
Quill says: Sage self-explorer Blair Sorrel offers a tale of childhood woe, youthful sensitivities, and wisdom accrued in her search for inner peace in her memoir A Schizoid at Smith. It will appeal to those who share her specific psychological challenges, and by all who seek direction amid life’s unavoidable chaos.
For more information on A Schizoid at Smith: How Overparenting Leads to Underachieving, please visit the website: https://rockingtributes.com/
Meet Author Rick Felty and learn about his Tabitha Fink children's series in his new author biography page: https://featheredquill.com/author-bios-rick-felty/
Meet Author Miki Taylor and learn about her new book, Bentley's Fantabulous Idea, in her new author bio page at: https://featheredquill.com/author-bios-miki-taylor/
Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Kathy Stickles is talking with Gary D. McGugan, author of Contention: A Novel of International Suspense and Intrigue.
FQ: First...this is the first book from this series that I have had the pleasure to read, and I have to tell you that I have just become a big fan. Where did the idea for this series come from in the first place?
McGUGAN: Thank you for your kind words about Contention. You probably detected that I thoroughly enjoyed writing this recent novel, and I’m delighted to learn you’re a new fan. I spent 40 outstanding years working at the senior levels of large, multinational corporations. In my various roles, I traveled extensively and met many interesting characters. When I retired from corporate life, I had over 10,000 names among my Contacts, and had hundreds of rich experiences learning from the interesting people I met and engaged with. And I like to tell stories! When we combine those factors with an over-active imagination, I had lots of material for these 7 novels and a few more.
FQ: Contention is a fabulous story full of really exceptional characters...do you have a favorite character in this particular book...in the series overall?
McGUGAN: Being a writer is a little like being a parent. I like all my novels and characters equally and give a lot of thought to my characters, tweaking their personalities in each story to be consistent with the new circumstances created by my different plots. And I like my characters to feel real to readers. Howard Knight, for example, may be a financial genius, but he has human failings. Suzanne Simpson is an exemplary leader and hugely successful businesswoman. She also can turn dire circumstances into extraordinary wins for her company. Fidelia Morales survived the slums of San Juan, Puerto Rico, studied law at Columbia University, and rose to become the most powerful person in a nefarious organized crime outfit. My goal is to make each of these major characters fascinate each reader – either positively or negatively.
FQ: The descriptions in the book of the different locations are really vivid, and one can feel like they are actually there as they read. Did this come from a lot of research or do you travel to them and experience things first-hand before choosing a particular place?
McGUGAN: I’m glad you enjoyed traveling with me through Contention! I not only visit the places I include in my stories, I’ve lived in some of them! During my business career, I was based in both North America and Europe, while spending extensive periods in Asia and South America. Since starting my writing career, I live away for 4-6 months each year. Rather than using hotels or resorts, I usually rent an apartment or small home where I live among the people of the place I’m visiting, make new friends, listen to stories of local interest, and explore neighborhoods many tourists never see. I wrote much of Contentionduring my three-month stay on the island of Curacao, in the Caribbean, earlier this year.
FQ: Howard Knight is a great character (definitely my favorite). Do you consider him to be the main character in the books, or do you personally view someone else as the main character?
Author Gary D. McGugan
McGUGAN: Many people like Howard Knight, and he plays an important role in most of the stories. But it depends on the novel. In Three Weeks Less a Day, John George Mortimer, the founder of Multima Corporation, was the most important character. In both The Multima Scheme and Unrelenting Peril, Howard played significant roles, but Suzanne Simpson assumed greater importance while Fidelia Morales started to play a greater role. With Pernicious Pursuit, it was all about Howard and the love of his life at that time. Then, with A Web of Deceit and A Slippery Shadow, the strong-willed women dominated both the stories and action.
FQ: Given the way Contention ended, I see another book in the future for this series. Would you give us all (especially me) a small peek into what is going to happen next?
McGUGAN: There will be further stories in the series, but not in the order you probably expect. The novel to chronologically follow Contention will likely appear in 2025. Before that, I’m planning to write a series prequel for release in late 2024. In the prequel, I plan to feature John George Mortimer in the years before he was diagnosed with male breast cancer. Howard Knight will also be in that story, and Suzanne Simpson will play a role. John George was a very popular character in my first novels, and many people expressed interest in a story about his younger years.
FQ: Contention is an excellent title for the story. Where do your titles come from, yourself or others? Does the title come first when you write, or does the book come first and then an appropriate title afterwards?
McGUGAN: The title always comes from me and usually last. Typically, my novel is written, edited, and proofread before I decide on the title. Contention fit that pattern, and I made the title decision only days before the book layout and cover design started!
FQ: Do you enjoy reading as well as writing when you have the time? What types of books/authors are on your favorites list?
McGUGAN: I love reading and enjoy all genres. John Grisham is a favorite. Wilbur Smith wrote great stories. And I enjoy Canadian writers Louise Penny and Margaret Attwood’s books. During 2023, I’ve tried to focus more time on reading books written by members of the writing community I joined in 2017. I enjoy helping some of my fellow writing community members become better known by reading, then posting brief reviews of their stories on Goodreads. As a writer, I know that every review counts, and I thank you for making the time to read and review Contention.
FQ: What does Gary McGugan enjoy doing when he is not writing...any particular hobbies?
McGUGAN: Reading takes much of my time, but I devote more time each day to exercise. I walk 1-2 hours, usually 5 days per week. Walking is my time to think, particularly when I’m working on a new book. I’ve come to realize that exercise is crucial to maintain both physical and mental fitness. It also helps me become more creative.
FQ: Are there any ideas you have at this point for future books that are not a part of this series?
McGUGAN: As I mentioned in your first question, my corporate career introduced me to thousands of people, with individual stories and unique experiences. I think I have a great reservoir of ideas for years to come. Now, I just need to find time to create some new tales of suspense and intrigue!
