#Bookreview of Olive Eye

By: Doc Richter

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: May 27, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891326477

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: April 29, 2025

Olive Eye by Doc Richter is a powerful, heart-wrenching novel that plunges the reader into a world of high-stakes espionage, unimaginable loss, and relentless vengeance. With a blend of realism, emotional depth, and razor-sharp suspense, it offers a series of startling events that feel brutally authentic and chillingly personal.

The tale revolves around Dr. Alan Glass, a weapons inspector for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who travels to the most hazardous locations on Earth to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands. From the scorching deserts of Iraq to the frozen, hostile terrain of North Korea, Alan’s work feels vividly, sometimes painfully, authentic. You can practically feel the sweat under his hazmat suit or the chill that settles into his bones after another long day on enemy turf. Richter’s writing drops you right into these brutal landscapes and doesn’t let you out.

But Olive Eye isn’t just about the politics of weapons—it’s a gut punch of a personal story. When Alan’s wife, daughter, and extended family are murdered in retaliation for his work, the book takes a devastating turn. Richter does not hold back from depicting the profound, stifling sadness that follows. Even though it hurts to read, that is what makes the narrative so powerful; the action matters because the loss feels so real.

From the start, Richter builds a slow, simmering tension with diplomatic chess games, hostile military escorts, and long, dangerous drives across unforgiving terrain. Then, when the personal tragedy strikes, it hits fast and brutally, and after that, the novel barely lets you catch your breath. Yet even in the middle of all the action, Richter knows exactly when to pull back—slipping in memories of Alan’s daughter, flashes of his old life, and glimpses of the future he’s lost—making the heartbreak even sharper and more devastating.

The supporting characters are just as sharply drawn. Élise, the enigmatic agent who draws Alan deeper into the web, is one of those characters who feels both like a real person and like a symbol of everything Alan’s lost. No one in this book feels flat or fake—not the colleagues, not the enemies. Everyone has layers, and motives that feel painfully believable.

Richter’s prose is direct and unflinching but still manages moments of beauty. He doesn’t sugarcoat violence, loss, or grief, but he also gives us quiet, tender flashes—memories of family life—that remind you exactly what’s at stake. That emotional balance is what lifts Olive Eye beyond your typical thriller and turns it into something much deeper. This isn’t an easy book to read emotionally, but it’s worth it. It dares to ask big, uncomfortable questions: what do you become when the people you love are taken from you? How do you survive in a world that’s turned against you? Richter doesn’t offer neat answers—but he tells a breathtaking story along the way.

Quill says: Olive Eye is devastating, gripping, and deeply human. It's about loss, survival, rage, and how far one man will go when he has nothing left to lose. If you love thrillers that make you feel something—where the action hits just as hard as the emotion—you’re going to remember this one long after the last page.

For more information about Olive Eye, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/olive-eye-by-doc-richter/

 #Bookreview of The Tale of the English Templar

By: Helena P. Schrader

Publisher: Cross Seas Press

Publication Date: March 31, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-9871770-8-2

Reviewed by: Rebecca Jane Johnson

Review Date: April 29, 2025

The Tale of the English Templar follows the 14th century political upheaval relating to the fall of the Knights Templar. This novel is written by the award-winning author of 26 titles, Helena P. Schrader, who happens to be a brilliant historian with a gift for depicting the poignant details that make a historical period come alive through fiction.

While en route to Cyprus, Sir Percy de Lacy stops for the night at a monastery in France. That same night, local authorities, under the orders of King Philip IV, surprise the monks in the dead of night and arrest them for no fathomable reason. Percy, though an Englishman, is taken into custody along with the monks. The police and a Dominican Commander torture the monks to force them to admit to horrible crimes and Percy faces tests of strength and faith.

Around this time, a family of French nobility gets swept up into political upheaval of the day, and Percy eventually makes the acquaintance of Felice, one daughter of this noble family who escapes an undesired arranged marriage by running to join a convent. The noble family has another daughter and two sons, all trying to navigate their place in the social order of the day while living with a tyrannical mother who reigns as a mean dowager. When Felice and Percy meet, their fates entwine in thrilling ways.

This novel contains a list of well-drawn main characters — the noble family, the Preuthunes, Percy, the Knight, Umberto, a clergyman, and the Bishop of Albi. The narrative arc meanders through complex relationships and compelling scenes. Scenes take place in beautiful French countryside, prisons, manor houses, the royal court, and the Catholic Papal realms, and tribunals highlight the struggles of the falsely accused. A group of the bold fighters make every attempt against the tyranny of King Phillip IV, while the noble families try to keep their hold on their wealth and status. The story reveals ways nobility ingratiate themselves to the king, while humble monks and rebels rise against the French monarchy. Dominican authorities show ferocious determination to learn all they can about the Templar’s stores of wealth and riches. Those leading the resistance appeal to everyone with influence that they know, but find no one willing to oppose the King for the sake of the Templars. Even though most of the peers of France acknowledged that the charges against the Templars were absurd, eventually the Templar wealth refills the royal treasury. To strategically lessen the pressure the King might otherwise have exerted on noble purses, individual noblemen make individual pleas for their own sons, brothers, and uncles but not for the Templar Order as a whole. The vivid depiction of personalities, uprisings, romances, passions, and tragedies surrounding the fall of the Knights Templar make this book a shining example of excellent historical fiction.

Quill says: The Tale of the English Templar transports readers to 14th Century France, giving readers a thrilling, relatable experience of all the internal and external conflicts that were endured by characters who fought tyranny with courage.

For more information about The Tale of the English Templar, please visit the author's website at: www.helenapschrader.net

 #AuthorInterview with James A. Wolter

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Ephantus Muriuki is talking with James A. Wolter, author of Salamander Man.

FQ: Who was Idris to you? What was it about him that stuck with you all these years?

WOLTER: The Idris of 1962 was a stranger to me. I encountered him at the Westwind Hotel in Kuala Terengganu. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he crawled across the floor because he had the most handsome face of any man I had ever seen and, while he was crawling on the floor, there was a dignified air about him. It was that, the way he carried himself with dignity, while crawling on the floor, that stuck with me.

Author James A.Wolter

FQ: Since this is a fiction based on him - a real person, how did you get to decide which parts to change and which ones to keep real?

WOLTER: All I knew of Idris in 1962 was that he was unable to find a wife because he couldn’t use his legs and that his father arranged for him to spend a night with a hostess at the Westwind Hotel as a twenty-first birthday present. That is the only aspect of the Idris of 1962 that is in Salamander Man. I imagined him being struck with polio as a child and how he responded to various situations boys encounter while growing up. While Idris in Salamander Man is a fictional character, I wanted him to have an authentic life and I wanted the reader to share in that life. In doing that, Idris of Salamander Man became a real person to me and share his story, in particular his inner thoughts and feelings, in his own words. I wrote as he spoke to me.

FQ: The emotions in Idris’s voice feel so heavy. Did writing from his perspective ever affect you emotionally?

WOLTER: Yes. While writing Salamander Man, the fictional Idris became a real person to me. I felt dejected and angry when he was rejected by other children and it was particularly painful when two boys pretended to befriend him and then betrayed him by destroying his wheelchair. I felt distressed and helpless when two headmasters refused to allow him to attend school. My heart ached along with his when he was unable to find a best friend and then again when he was unable to find someone to love who would love him in return. I was overjoyed and cheered him on during his magical night journey. Observing him visit and interact in scenes from the Malay Annals, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Iliad and Odyssey, Man of LA Mancha, Divine Comedy, Canterbury Tales, and to top it off by celebrating Bloomsday on June 16 at Davy Byrne’s Pub was an exhilarating change of pace and brought me much joy in revisiting those classics and looking at those them from a new perspective.

FQ: Your time in the Peace Corps certainly inspired this narrative, but I am curious if it also changed how you perceive individuals, their strengths as well as weaknesses in everyday life?

WOLTER: While serving in the Peace Corps was a life changing (for the better) experience for me, assessing others, their strengths and weaknesses was something I had done since childhood. I was very involved is athletics and judging physical talents and personality traits were an essential part of building a team.

Additionally, observation and making assessments based upon those observations is a skill biology students are taught. Biologists are trained to look for commonalities and exceptionalities and to determine cause and effect characteristics in individuals and communities of organisms.

One thing that surprised me about myself is that as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I thought I should like all Malaysians and tried hard to do so. But I found that there were Malaysians that I didn’t like. I also found that I didn’t like all Peace Corps Volunteers. I had to give myself permission to dislike people and I convince myself that it was okay.

I also found some Malaysians didn’t like me. I found that unsettling. I have an inner need to be liked by all people I encounter and that was heightened as a Peace Corps Volunteer because I was representing the American people. I wanted Malaysians to like Americans. I still find it hurtful when someone doesn’t like me. That’s something I’m still working on.

There was another discovery about myself that I found. While living among the Malaysian people, as a white skinned, blue-eyed-blond person, I was, for the first time in my life, a minority. Some people, Malaysians, Americans and English in Malaysia, were unable to see me as a person beyond my race. For example, one of my assignments during a school holiday was to work on a rural health project in northern Malaysia with Dr. Mahathir, a young Malay physician who would later become Malaysia’s longest serving Prime Minister. My job was to accompany him to villages with populations as small as a hundred people to irradicate hook worm by convincing the local people to install and use water-sealed latrines. Specifically, as an orang putih (white person) I was to attract local people to Dr. Mahathir’s presentation. Since rural Malays had never seen an orang putih in person before, it was thought that they would show up to see one up close. They did and gently stroked the hair on my arms saying, “Emas tuan! Boleh jual tuan! (Gold, sir! Can sell sir!)” I was being used like a side show at a carnival to attract people for the main event. I resented it but tried to make the best of it. That’s another story described in grittier detail in Finding Miss Fong.

FQ: There’s so much love in this book. Did you set that theme up from the start, or did the main character actually experience it in real life?

WOLTER: Regrettably, I didn’t get to know the Idris of 1962 so I don’t know how his life turned out. But I’ve thought of him frequently and I’ve spent my entire professional life working with and on behalf of students who do not conveniently fit societal expectations. My job, in part, was to convince my students and others that my students, like other students, had unique abilities and special needs except a little more so in some respects. And that’s what made them so fascinating.

I had a yearning to tell Idris’s story for decades but didn’t know how to go about it. I thought it was important for Idris to have a full authentic life and experience a full range of emotions. I also thought it was important for him to tell his story. I wanted the reader to see the world through Idris’s eyes and experience what he experienced. I didn’t consciously set out to make Salamander Man into a love theme novel but Idris’s search for meaning directed me in that direction.

As far as my intention for readers, I desire the reader to see that Idris, other than not being able to walk, is like the rest of us. He is seeking acceptance and most of all love. In Salamander Man, Idris is a loving person who finds love all its forms and ultimately finds romantic love. In finding romantic love as a sensitive inexperienced man, I wanted his first romantic love experience with Maimum to be heartfelt and filled with gentle, quiet, tenderness rather than a hurried purely physical event of groping, grabbing, and groaning culminating in an exchange of body fluids. I wanted Idris to find eternal love with a soulmate; almost as much as he did himself.

FQ: When you revisit the incident where Idris was sent away from school by the headmaster, what comes to your mind about this? Why do you think Idris' parents did not consider other schools?

WOLTER: It enraged me when Idris was denied school admission. Children with disabilities have been part of my entire adult life. During most school holidays as a Peace Corps teacher, my future wife and I worked with orphaned girls residing at Saint Nicholas’ Home for the Blind in Penang and upon returning to the United States, I became a special education teacher. Except for a very few humanistic schools like New Trier High School (the school I taught at), the history of public schools abounds with incidents of children, who were view as ‘different and disgusting’, being denied access to the educational and social opportunity provided by schools prior to the passage of PL 94-142 in 1975.

There are two reasons Idris’s parents did not find an alternative school for him when he was denied admission to the public school. First, Kuala Terengganu in the 1940’s and 50’s was a very small village and there were no other schools. Second, in Malaysia education was considered a privilege reserved for only the most able. Many students, who did not measure up academically, were denied schooling beyond sixth grade.

FQ: Do you think Idris would be okay with his story being told this way? What do you hope people walk away feeling or thinking after reading it?

WOLTER: I often think of the Idris of 1962. Is he still alive? Was his night at the Westwind as loving as Idris’s in Salamander Man? I hope so. I also hope he would approve of Idris in Salamander Man. I tried to give Idris the dignity he deserves without making him into a sympathetic character or a character that comes by supernatural abilities with no effort. That is, I tried to refrain from the cliche that somehow supernatural abilities are automatically bestowed upon a person with a disability to offset their disability.

While I didn’t have the opportunity to know the Idris of 1962 personally, I know from listening to the girls my wife and I worked with during school holidays and from my New Trier students that they would not want to be viewed as sympathetic figures. They wanted to be treated and valued with dignity.

I desire the readers of Salamander Man to view Idris as an authentic person and experience the world as he does and feel what he feels. Most of all I want the reader to see the dignity in Idris and to find the dignity in others whom they might not have noticed prior to reading Salamander Man.

Salamander Man has a mature ending that some readers may find sad initially but I hope they stay with it and find solace in Idris’s portrayal of what he’s been searching for; eternal unconditional shared love.

FQ: What did the experience of writing Salamander Man teach you as an individual?

WOLTER: Life is a quest for each of us regardless of our circumstance. Each of us experience our share of difficulty. A difficulty need not be a tragedy. Each of us has vulnerabilities. There is no shame in being vulnerable.

Each of us desires and needs acceptance, understanding, and love. Love comes in many forms and can be found in the unlikeliest places. Each of us is loved if only we recognize it and accept it and each of us can give love to a person in need of love. Life is all the better when giving love and being loved in return.

Finally, being loved and loving in return is beyond my ability to adequately put into words but it was worth the effort to try.

FQ: Lastly—if you could sit down with young Idris today, what’s one thing you’d really want to tell him?

WOLTER: Idris encounters numerous contemptible people in Salamander Man but his life is also enriched by interesting sage-like mentors. I don’t know what more I could offer him other than to say, “Idris, I treasured getting to know you. You enriched my life. God created you and loves you unconditionally.”

 #AuthorInterview with Ryan McDermott

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Ephantus Muriuki is talking with Ryan McDermott, author of Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet.

FQ: Hi, Mr. McDermott. Congratulations on your new book. Your story feels incredibly personal. What motivated you to share it publicly?

MCDERMOTT: I was motivated to share my story by a deep desire to help others who might be struggling silently. We often hear statistics about trauma, suicide, and the emotional toll of war—but behind every number is a life, a family, and a story that deserves to be heard. I wanted to offer mine, not as a solution, but as an invitation: to seek help, to start a conversation, to know you’re not alone. If this book encourages even one person to reach out for counseling, or prompts someone to check in on a friend who’s hurting, then it’s done more than I ever hoped for.

Author Ryan McDermott

FQ: What does the title "Downriver" signify to you, and what inspired it?

MCDERMOTT: “Downriver” signifies the journey I saw unfolding ahead of me at one of the lowest points in my life—a moment of estrangement, disconnection, and deep personal reckoning. When I wrote the poem that gave the book its title, I was sleeping on an air mattress in a room I rented from two strangers, separated from my family and unsure of who I was becoming. The river, for me, became a symbol of that long path toward reclaiming identity and wholeness.

It wasn’t just about moving forward—it required looking back. Understanding how unresolved trauma shaped my choices, how pain rippled into relationships, and how healing had to begin within. A few rivers appear throughout the book—the Hudson by West Point, the Potomac in Washington DC, and the Tigris in Iraq. Each carried its own memory. Rivers inspire me because they’re constant, even as they’re always changing. They shape the land quietly, powerfully—much like the forces that shape a life.

FQ: I did notice how much you love interacting with nature. How did it facilitate your path of self-discovery and recovery?

MCDERMOTT: Nature has always helped me reconnect with a sense of perspective. When you’re surrounded by towering trees, shifting clouds in the skies, or the quiet rhythm of a river, it’s hard not to feel both humbled and grounded. The changing seasons—leaves turning, trees falling, new growth emerging—remind me that nothing stays stuck forever. Everything moves in cycles: decay, renewal, healing.

But beyond symbolism, nature offers stillness. It doesn’t ask anything of you. There’s no judgment, no noise—just space to breathe, reflect, and feel present in the moment. In my own journey, being outdoors gave me that pause I needed to begin seeing things more clearly. And the beauty of it is that it’s free. We all have access to that kind of quiet, even if it’s just sitting under a tree or walking by water.

FQ: Which scene or chapter was the most difficult for you to write, and how did you get beyond that challenge?

MCDERMOTT: The chapter “Foreclosing of a Dream” was by far the most difficult to write. It brought me back to one of the most painful and formative moments of my life—the loss of our home and the emotional collapse of my family. Writing it meant sitting with deep personal grief, but also facing the guilt and regret I carried for not being able to do more for my mother during her moment of personal crisis.

It took years to find the right words—not just because the emotions were raw, but because I wanted to tell the truth with compassion and humility. I had to reckon with my own shortcomings, to see the full picture of what she was enduring. In a way, I couldn’t finish that chapter until I had lived the ones that followed—until I sought reconciliation, came to understand more of her pain, and found space to forgive and to heal. Writing it became part of that process.

FQ: What did poetry enable you to say that prose didn't, and vice versa?

MCDERMOTT: Poetry allowed me to express what I was feeling in the moment—raw, unfiltered, and immediate. It gave shape to emotions that couldn’t be fully articulated through narrative. The rhythm, the cadence, even the silence between lines—they all carry weight. Many of the poems in Downriver were born out of lived experience, written in the thick of it, not after. When I look back at what I wrote in my twenties, I see my younger self reflected honestly—sometimes more honestly than memory allows.

Prose, on the other hand, gave me the structure to step back and make sense of it all. It allowed me to connect the dots, to draw meaning from chaos, and to contextualize the emotion that poetry captured. Where poetry distills the moment, prose builds the world around it. Together, they offered me a way to tell the whole story—both how it felt and how it unfolded.

FQ: Do you have any supporting mentors in your writing path that you would want to recognize?

MCDERMOTT: Yes, I was fortunate to have several mentors who supported my writing journey, many of whom I acknowledge in the book’s Acknowledgment section. Among them, my professors at Darden were particularly influential—especially James Clawson. In a leadership course, Dr. Clawson assigned a reflective writing exercise that unexpectedly reignited my creative voice. He emphasized that self-knowledge is foundational to authentic leadership, and that insight became a gateway for me to begin writing more honestly about my own experiences.

At the time, my manuscript was little more than a raw, unstructured outpouring of emotion—but he read it with care, related to it through his own life story, and encouraged me to keep going. That early encouragement helped me believe the story was worth telling—even before it had fully taken shape.

FQ: Has the process of writing the memoir affected you in any way, and if so, how?

MCDERMOTT: The process of writing this memoir shaped me more than I ever expected. Over the years, it became a way to confront emotions I hadn’t fully understood, to see myself with more honesty—and, at times, more compassion. But I also learned that writing isn’t something you can rush, especially when the subject matter is this personal. I often had to step away to let the story breathe and to gain the perspective I needed to return with clarity.

One of the biggest lessons I took from the process is that life rarely offers perfect closure. There are no clean endings or neat resolutions. What we get instead is a winding, unpredictable journey—and writing helped me see that the key isn’t control, but perspective. That’s what allows us to make peace with the past and move forward with intention.

FQ: Finally, what do you want your followers to take away from your experiences, particularly those who may be experiencing traumatic pain?

MCDERMOTT: I know each reader will bring their own story to this book, and my hope is that they find something in these pages that speaks to their own experience—whether it’s a moment of recognition, a spark of insight, or simply the sense that they’re not alone. For those carrying traumatic pain, I hope Downriver offers a sense of possibility—that pain doesn’t have to define you, but can be a starting point for growth. If there’s one message I’d leave with them, it’s this: your resilience is real, and it can be a foundation for deeper self-knowledge, for healing, and even for hope. Sometimes the hardest chapters in life reveal strength we didn’t know we had.

For more information about Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet, please visit the website: https://downrivermemoir.com

 #Bookreview of Salamander Man

By: James A. Wolter

Publication Date: April 15, 2025

ISBN: 979-8315603702

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: April 24, 2025

Salamander Man by James A. Wolter is an emotionally charged coming-of-age tale about a boy whose social inclusion, acceptance, confidence, and self-worth are jeopardized by a sickness that leaves him unable to use his legs.

Mohamed Idris bin Mohamed Ibrahim was born strong and healthy until the age of four, when he contracted polio, which he dubs the "evil eye." At this point, his legs became "useless twisted stumps," which earned him the scorn of his peers and the nickname "Salamander Man." He would further develop a biting obsession with finding ways to outdo other boys to "feel like a king" time and again. None, however, could be sustained. At the age of six, his desire to attend Tengku Bariah Primary School was quashed by a headmaster who warned his father that the school was not for "his kind." This not only gravely crushed his spirits, but also drove the sharp-edged blade of rejection further into his flesh.

Idris switched to homeschooling, where his mother taught him to read. In just two years, he was able to read and comprehend books that would have taken other children six years. His uncle Rashid, moved by the headmaster's brutality, vowed to bring school to him. Other individuals also came forward to help him study, including Mr. Chadwick of the Continental Bank, who offered to let him use the bank's conference room for his studies, and Father Chao, a Catholic father who would teach him Chinese. An unexpected decision, however, threatened to jeopardize his happiness shortly after a new manager took over the bank. Fortunately for Idris, Chadwick had come up with a strategy that would significantly lessen the blow.

Wolter expertly captures the misery of a disabled youngster, his identity and emotional challenges, and his seemingly never-ending quest for acceptance and affection in this meticulously crafted tale. He skillfully demonstrates the individual's genius potential in a world that repeatedly falls short of his expectations. The boy's tale is emotionally charged and profoundly shows his fleeting optimism and his continual descent into a familiar abyss, where he feels deeply alienated. As shown in subsequent chapters, the themes progressively transition to those of development, mentorship and independence with the advent of a "companion" amidst a toxic neighborhood. In addition to emphasizing the power of optimism, the narrative skillfully explores the inner strength required to achieve the aforementioned feats.

Despite gloomy incidents, including a tragic event that impacts the protagonist's personal life, Wolter has managed to incorporate historical and cultural details that deflect the novel from its intense emotional weight. He does not sugarcoat the realities of handicap and societal stigma. He has also remarkably incorporated literary and theological references from the Christian and Islamic faiths, giving the protagonist's inner life and world more depth.

Quill says: Wolter's Salamander Man is filled with metaphor and symbolism, and his narration beautifully creates an immersive atmosphere. Although the narrative has a realistic core, it regularly wanders into the surreal, with dream sequences enhancing it. Without a doubt, this book contains valuable lessons that anybody who appreciates real stories with deep emotional and philosophical relevance should read, regardless of their religious beliefs. The featured journey is subtly memorable and ought to be gradually studied, savored, and shared.

 #Bookreview of Zero Knowledge

By: Arnaud Pascolo

Publisher: Warrington Publishing

Publication Date: May 6, 2025

ISBN: 978-1944972615

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: April 22, 2025

Arnaud Pascolo's pulse-pounding thriller Zero Knowledge follows two individuals brought together by similar glim situations. We get to see their behavior and development, as well as closely analyze their motivations, as they look for comfort in the most unexpected places as shocking information following a terrible recent occurrence comes to light.

A growing dark cloud of despair hangs over Duan and Mina's bedroom, after a biopsy indicated the latter had terminal blood cancer. While Duan is overcome with grief and concern about life without her, Mina surprisingly manages to stay calm and enthusiastic. She begins walking a lot which she views as "walking the cancer out of her body," following their joint decision for her to quit her job. But the pain becomes unbearable, and she ends up making a startling choice that makes Duan shudder.

We then meet Luc, Mina's friend and cryptocurrency entrepreneur, who gets a mysterious Bitcoin transfer and an invitation to a meeting at a Swiss hotel from someone who seems to be a significant player in the Bitcoin space a few weeks later. The meeting, however, ends tragically with Luc dead and his host nowhere to be found. As the inquiry progresses, it becomes clear that Luc was not just under the radar of the authorities for being complicit in deep illicit operations of his firm; his wife, Gail, had severally accused him of domestic abuse.

The author deftly introduces a new character--a blood-thirsty hacker who embodies everything from resentment to danger. His involvement completely alters the story’s course, as suggestions of a personal vendetta abound. While Gail is comforted by her husband's death, more detailed and intricate information about his connection to the hacker and the revelation of a sizable fortune that Luc had hidden away becomes crucial information that might alter Gail's perception of Luc.

In the next chapters, these examples swiftly give way to more heart-stopping details that elicit utterly surprising responses. In addition to a profound emotional weight and a sense of sorrow that grows with each new page, the plot becomes incredibly intricate, with themes of loss, love, betrayal, and retribution carefully woven throughout. Deeply rooted in reality, the word-building of this narrative skillfully conveys the excitement of anonymity. Its capacity to defy genre boundaries is evident as it reads as literary fiction at first, then as a cyber thriller, and lastly as a revenge story.

Pascolo has shown impressive control of the pacing and tone. Even while revealing very intimate scenes, his writing remains poetic. His character development is his strongest suit. He portrays the protagonist as self-reflective, imperfect, and incredibly real, with a past that reflects the central ideas of the book. Readers will love how he captures the emotional stakes of digital finance. They will also enjoy his book's slow-burning style and reworking of popular thriller elements.

Quill says: Zero Knowledge, which is emotionally stirring and slow-burning, exposes the consequences of greed and unspoken truths. It stands out in its respective genre thanks to its character-driven mystery and psychological drama. For those who enjoy a gripping thriller with technological details and cryptocurrency themes, it is well worth reading.

For more information about Zero Knowledge, please visit the author's website at: https://arnaudpascolo.com/

 #Bookreview of Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet

By: Ryan McDermott

Publisher: Koehler Books

Publication Date: May 20, 2025

ISBN: 979-8888247082

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: April 21, 2025

In Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet, Ryan McDermott recounts his life and quest for purpose and an elusive feeling of belonging prior to, during, and following war. It also depicts his aching need for love, a family, and redemption from his traumatic background.

Following a teacher-recommended IQ test, Ryan was deemed intelligent and placed in the gifted program at a young age. He was raised by a single mother who did her best to compensate for the absence of his biological father, which left a gap in his life that he would struggle with for years. In his junior year, he acquired a strong desire to enroll in the US Military Academy. He went on to receive a nomination to train as a cadet at West Point, which he considered as a much-needed diversion from his past. It also provided a quiet setting for him to examine his identity, spirituality, and aspirations of the love he desired, as well as to make sense of the internal and external struggles he was going through.

The difficulties he faced on his way to become an officer would put his willpower to the test and profoundly alter his character. He completed the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course before returning to the regular Army, where he was assigned to head a platoon. During this time, he fell in love, prompting a fast proposal in the hopes that the love would provide stability and fill the gaps left by the past.

Later events depict him serving in Iraq, where he experienced severe despair due to separation from his family. His nights were plagued by nightmares in the most terrible way possible as the volatility of the war increased. His motivation nevertheless remained heavily centered on serving diligently and safely bringing his soldiers home. He had no idea, however, how hard this would be, how complex it would be to return to civilian life, or how his choices in the future would fundamentally change his understanding of the American dream.

This tale emerges as more than a single man's ordeal; rather, it is a truthful ode to the tenacity and will of troops as well as the unspoken consequences of war. It depicts the author's entanglement in its jaws, the trauma's progression into a cycle, and the impact this had on him. The narrative skillfully demonstrates how he viewed the military as a means of achieving his goal of becoming successful, how the occupation affected his fragility, and how, as a mama's boy, it impacted his masculinity. It is noteworthy for its deep themes of pain relief by engaging in worthy exercises which not only helped him survive but also shaped a completely new him.

The metaphor "Downriver" has been used consistently in this narrative to convey a profound meaning to everyday life. It emphasizes a critical principle that is sure to assist any reader caught up in dismal circumstances. It also serves as a mirror through which one may look at their own challenges in a new light, with searing honesty through which the seemingly impossible will become possible.

Quill says: What sets Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet apart is McDermott's use of poetry and creative writing as a fantastic healing tool. He has made remarkable use of the art to accurately but simply convey his poignant experiences, both by himself and with other soldiers who share his bravery. He has also expertly presented his experiences in an eloquent and reflective manner, using analogies to enhance them all while demonstrating his ingenuity. This is not a book to pass up; rather, it is a tool for re-channeling one's pain and grief for a greater benefit.

For more information about Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet, please visit the author's website at: downrivermemoir.com

 #Bookreview of Austin Blues

By: Gary A. Keith

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: May 20, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-89132-636-1

Reviewed by: Tripti Kandari

Review Date: April 21, 2025

Gary A. Keith paints Austin Blues on the canvas of Texas culture, spicy courtroom drama, and nasty political corruption, with tints of blues, soulful music, and gritty heroes.

Sandy Eden is a PTSD-affected Vietnam vet and hot-headed lawyer, anchored only by his loyal friends and the comfort of blues music. Sandy’s life takes a sharp turn when Dean Keaton, an accountant from the Texas Comptroller’s Office, approaches him as a whistleblower, exposing fraud committed by Texas Comptroller Louis James. Everyone knows that going up against James and his powerful allies is political suicide, but Sandy’s decision to enter this battle sets the stage for intrigue and danger in Austin Blues— a game entangled with media leaks, legal risks, and public exposure.

As the story deepens, the canvas darkens. For Sandy, it becomes a descent into a corrupt system filled with ghost employees, fake contracts, and budget scams. But the war outside isn't his only fight, he must also navigate the chaos within: the demons of PTSD and his volatile anger, all while handling intense courtroom drama, relentless media scrutiny, and political schemes that even threaten his family.

Told in a raw and gritty style with non-linear storytelling, the narrative is driven by a backdrop of blues music, irony, and satire. The unfiltered tone gives the text an authentic local flavor, while flashbacks shed light on Sandy’s present dilemmas. The motif of blues music doesn’t just set the scene, it mirrors the emotional states of the characters.

The theme of trauma and redemption leaves a lasting mark. Sandy's life is still trapped in the bloody jungles of the Vietnam War, haunted by PTSD, risky addictions, and deep-seated anger—but it is his fight for justice that becomes his path to healing. Sandy’s redemption comes through his journey of self-forgiveness and the search for purpose. He finds direction in his pain by fighting for justice on behalf of people like Keaton. The story emphasizes that trauma may shape a person, but it doesn’t define him. Redemption, it reminds us, isn’t about being perfect but about accepting one’s brokenness and having the courage to fight through it.

Quill says: Austin Blues by Gary A. Keith is a raw, legal thriller blending the corrupt political system of 2000s Texas with the soulful depth of blues music and the resilience of flawed but passionate heroes.

For more information about Austin Blues, please visit the publisher’s website at: atmospherepress.com/books/austin-blues-by-gary-a-keith

 #Bookreview of Freedom Pancakes for Ukraine

By: Dr. Janice Cohn

Illustrated by: Yana Holubiatnikova

Publisher: Le Chambon Press

Publication Date: October 31, 2024

ISBN: 979-8989163588

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: April 17, 2025

Freedom Pancakes for Ukraine, authored by Dr. Janice Cohn and drawn by Yana Holubiatnikova, is a moving and deeply informative children's book that highlights how young people can make a significant impact in the lives of those facing injustice and hardships in the society and beyond. It narrates the story of a little boy fleeing his war-torn nation and an American girl who is ready to lend a hand as news of the conflict in Ukraine floods her mind.

With tears in his eyes, Artem embraces his father, who has volunteered to stay in Ukraine and protect the country from its invaders. Leaving everything familiar behind, he and his mother board a train to the Polish town of Przemysl, eager to see what the new nation holds. The sight of so many dejected women and children running from their homes on the train is unlike anything he has seen before. However, despite the new nation's promises of peace and security, memories of home and his father, as well as uncertainty about his and his mother's future, persist.

The story's second part centers on Hannah, an inquisitive little girl living in America. She worries a great deal about whether there is enough food for the kids in war-torn Ukraine. A conversation with her mother about it motivates her to make a daring step. She chooses to support World Central Kitchen by baking deruny, a Ukrainian delicacy that she dubs "freedom pancakes." Surprisingly, the decision yields far more than she hoped for, and she is able to take an action that allows her to perform at a level above her age while also impacting in her a revolutionary insight.

The terrible reality of war is abundantly evident in this story. The terror, bewilderment, and longing that accompany it have been deeply depicted through the eyes of the young characters. The reader can readily sense the seriousness of the situation with the boy, as well as the feelings of loneliness and alienation. His strength and drive to maintain optimism are evident despite his seeming helplessness. Cohn has also done a fantastic job with the little girl in emphasizing the value of compassion and kindness in everyday life, as well as the power these two values can wield.

The book is replete with themes of support, hope, and resilience. They are effectively written to leave the reader with worthwhile lessons and a lasting impression. With a clear call to action for children and young people to step up and contribute in meaningful ways, the book has been presented in a kind and emotionally stirring manner. It features colorful and breathtaking graphics created by an illustrator who was stationed in the most unexpected setting. She has skillfully water-colored them in vivid hues inspired by the Ukrainian flag.

Quill says: This is the ideal children's book if you are searching for one that is packed with meaningful concepts that will motivate your child to be helpful, resilient, kind, compassionate and loving. Notably, it effectively talks to both youngsters and adults which means that its lessons are ageless. The author has taken considerable effort to ensure that even readers as young as seven years old would not find the book's main theme—the effects of war—to be too overpowering.

For more information about Freedom Pancakes for Ukraine, please visit the author’s website at: www.freedompancakesforukraine.com.

 #Bookreview of Silken Dragons: Book Three of the Seafourthe Saga

By: Daniel McKenzie

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: June 10, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891326538

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: April 15, 2025

If you’re the kind of reader who loves a good sea-faring adventure packed with emotion, grit, and surprises, Silken Dragons: Book Three of the Seafourthe Saga by Daniel McKenzie should be on your list. This book doesn't waste any time diving straight into deep waters—both literally and thematically. It has everything from pirates and politics to love, loss, and a fierce drive for justice. McKenzie doesn’t just tell a story; he builds a world full of people you can feel—flawed, loyal, vengeful, romantic, and brave in the most human ways.

The story opens with the crew of The Vengeance, captained by Lucien—aka “the Wolf”—rescuing Azumah, an African warrior who’s barely alive after escaping from slavers. From that moment, things take off. Azumah’s tragic past becomes the heartbeat of a mission that pulls this crew across oceans and into the thick of political unrest, pirate alliances, and ancient cities. We’re talking everything from jungle raids in Africa to shady dealings in the Philippines, royal encounters in China, and even a spiritual trek through the Himalayas. Along the way, there are alliances with Wokou pirates, tense standoffs with colonizers, and quiet, tender moments with the women aboard the ship—especially Lucien’s love, Lady Seafourthe. What could easily have been a predictable action story instead becomes something much deeper—part revenge tale, part spiritual journey, part historical epic account.

The book moves at its own pace, which might throw off readers used to breakneck plots. But if you settle into it, you’ll notice how much intention there is behind every pause, every conversation, every step across the deck. Thoughtful and rich, McKenzie's writing has a poetic cadence with some chapters feeling like they’re lifted straight out of a classic stage play. Its dialogue is full of weight and personality. The structure doesn’t always follow a straight line, which actually works in the book’s favor—it mirrors the way a real-life voyage might unfold: unpredictable, chaotic, and reflective.

What really sticks, though, is the book’s heart. McKenzie doesn’t shy away from the harsh truths of history—slavery, colonialism, and greed. He does a remarkable job of balancing that weight with powerful characters who refuse to be crushed by them. His mastery in exposing Azumah's arc is noteworthy. His pain is real, and his growth feels earned. Lucien, too, isn’t your average hero. He’s strategic, a bit haunted, but driven by a kind of moral compass that’s messy but strong. And then there’s the romance—subtle, believable, and woven in without taking over. It’s that balance of sword and soul that makes Silken Dragons feel so rich.

Quill says: Silken Dragons: Book Three of the Seafourthe Saga by Daniel McKenzie isn’t a book for someone looking for a fast, easy read. It asks for your time—and your attention—but pays it back in full. If you’re into deeply drawn characters, poetic prose, and stories that aren’t afraid to wrestle with big ideas while still delivering adventure, this one’s worth the ride. It’s for readers who like their fiction with meaning behind the musket fire. McKenzie has built a world that feels lived-in and loved. By the final page, you might find yourself wishing there was just one more chapter.

For more information about Silken Dragons: Book Three of the Seafourthe Saga, please visit the publisher’s website at: atmospherepress.com/books/silken-dragons-book-three-of-the-seafourthe-saga-by-daniel-mckenzie

 #Bookreview of A Bollywood Romance

By: Anu Koduri

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: May 13, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-891325-51-7

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: April 14, 2025

A Bollywood Romance by Anu Koduri is a captivating story about a young Indian girl named Paru and the various challenges she faces in her life after getting married.

Growing up in a well-reputed Brahmin family, she has led a relatively happy and sheltered life, enjoying the festival of Diwali and secretly admiring her handsome classmate Harsha, just like any other young girls her age. But everything changes when her two elder brothers choose to have unconventional marriages, defying traditional customs and practices, thus bringing shame to their family. As a result, members of the Brahmin community threaten to throw them out. The burden of salvaging her family from further harm to their reputation and regaining respect within their community, thus falls on Paru.

Soon enough, Paru is pushed into an arranged marriage with Samar, a medical professional who worked in the U.S. Although her mother tries to raise questions about the match, pointing out the financial situation of Samar’s family, Paru’s father and brother decide to overlook it. They believe as an educated man who works abroad, Samar would definitely make a good husband. Heartbroken after realizing Harsha was not in a position to marry her and finding her prospective husband agreeable, Paru reluctantly gives in to her fate and accepts the proposal, much to her family’s relief. As an aspiring medical professional herself, she decides to follow her mother’s advice and make the most of her opportunity to move abroad and pursue her academic interests. But during the wedding ceremony, one of the family members of the bride groom starts creating a scene by asking for more dowry. This was only the tip of the iceberg.

What follows is a psychological tussle between the two families with Paru caught in the crossfires. Later on, when she finally reunites with her husband in the U.S., she realizes things were going to be a lot different from what she had expected. Despite Paru’s continuous efforts to please Samar and mold herself into a person that he could be proud of, it becomes increasingly difficult to understand his volatile temper. She struggles to find an answer to her problems, conflicted between her patriarchal upbringing and her personal wish to be treated with some basic respect. Subjected to Samar’s constant verbal abuse at home, Paru finds comfort in pouring her soul into her work. When her agony threatens to engulf her, she draws strength from the memory of her mother as an educated woman and a successful lawyer. Above all, this is a story of love, friendship and the indefatigable nature of women.

Throughout the narrative, we come across several female characters who provide unwavering support to one another. Their candid conversations and shared sympathy makes the novel even more interesting. With Paru as the central character, the author encourages us to place ourselves in her shoes and accompany her on this journey of self-discovery. The depiction of her internal monologues and her desire to keep the marriage working for her children, even though it was clearly falling apart, is very realistic. It is often quite difficult for people to leave their abusive partners after living together for years. We can’t help but mentally cheer for Paru to break free from all the social conventions that are restricting her. There is no doubt that this story would deeply resonate with many readers as it deals with issues that unfortunately still persist in our society, irrespective of our class, race or nationality.

Quill says: A Bollywood Romance is a tender, nuanced love story about a woman who overcomes her conventional mindset, chases her dreams, attains professional success and finds true love by embracing her own identity with zest.

For more information about A Bollywood Romance, please visit the publisher’s website at: atmospherepress.com/books/a-bollywood-romance-by-anu-koduri.

 #Bookreview of The Gourmet Club

By: Michael Kahn

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: April 22, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-89132-608-8

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: April 11, 2025

The Gourmet Club by Michael Kahn is a masterfully written, emotionally charged story about second chances that follows the relationships, choices, career advancement, and personal lives of four attorneys and their spouses over a quarter of a century.

The story revolves around four young lawyers from the class of 1981—Gabe Pollack, Susan Baker, Norman Greenberg, and Eric Cameron—who are new associates at the "hot" law Chicago firm, Abbott & Windsor. The firm has a reputation for only accepting the best students from the most prestigious legal schools. The four are striving to surpass their family's accomplishments. Eric's great-grandfather established Vermont's oldest legal firm, and his uncle practices law in Rutland; Norman's family is in the plumbing business; and Susan's father, along with her three brothers, uncles, and cousins, all work as coal miners.

As they meet in the main conference room for the New Associate Orientation, they become close and immediately adopt the moniker Gourmet Club. They are all eager to earn the tremendous distinction and honor of becoming Abbott & Windsor partners at the end of their eighth year with the firm. Potluck dinners become a regular event, and hosting them by each of their families serves as the foundation for strengthening their friendship.

The pages that follow document a series of events that occur throughout their lives and careers. These include Norman's difficulty gaining clients in his third year while the other three careers are developing quickly, Susan's decision to leave her job amidst marital issues with her husband who claims her pregnancy is not his due to a prior vasectomy, Cameron's wife's pregnancy health issue for which there is no known cure, and Gabe who is struggling in finding motivation in his career.

The story's title and premise are remarkably based on a real-life incident when the author, three other first-year associates, and their wives planned a potluck supper that became a tradition in the years that followed. In addition to taking a prudent approach to long-term goals that are encapsulated and compressed across a number of years in the most concise manner feasible, it celebrates tenacity, bravery, and diligence. Its well-developed and rapidly evolving characters have been carefully chosen to show not only their brains and brilliance but also their struggles in the highly sought-after "big leagues."

Kahn has expertly crafted a tapestry in which a seemingly insignificant occurrence transforms into a lifeline. It creates a sacred tradition that acts as a calming influence among the chaos of life and the law. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that as professions flourish and fall and relationships blossom and fade, the table remains a silent character and witness to it all. In keeping with his amazing trailblazers, Kahn's most recent work is a moving portrayal of enduring friendships and the essential bonds that may keep one from plunging into the darkest abyss.

Quill says: Michael Kahn's The Gourmet Club is a touching, clear, and immensely relevant narrative with technical features that successfully enhance the flavor without making the reader uncomfortable or bored. Notably, it could stimulate the creation of new recipes and a revitalized yearning for new, enduring connections. It is a lovely work that is emotional, hilarious, and thoroughly engaging, and it will be most appealing to anybody who has ever found family in friends.

For more information about The Gourmet Club, please visit the publisher’s website at: atmospherepress.com/books/the-gourmet-club-by-michael-a-kahn.

 #AuthorInterview with Brandon Moore

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diana Coyle is talking with Brandon Moore, author of Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control.

FQ: One of the first things I do when I read a book by an author I’m unfamiliar with is read the author’s bio to get to know them better. Would you please tell us a few things about yourself so that new readers, like myself, can learn about you?

MOORE: Hello, my name is Brandon Moore, I am a retired Army Veteran from Wilson NC. I currently reside in Fayetteville, NC with my wife and two kids. Reading and writing have always been a hobby of mine. My love for storytelling, thanks to the military, my uncles, stepdad (RIP) and my Great Uncle Isaac (RIP), has given me the extra push to become an author. Teaching my kids lessons about life inspired me to write Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control. I hope it inspires a generation of kids to become accountable for their actions and learn to control their emotions.

FQ: Can you please tell our readers a brief synopsis of your book, Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control, and what specifically makes your book unique?

MOORE: Sure! Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control is a fun and engaging children's book that follows Bridget, a young girl who learns a valuable lesson about how to manage her emotions and actions in a stressful situation. As she navigates the situation, she discovers how self-control can help her make a better decision, change the outcome of the situation, and achieve her goal. The book is designed to teach kids the importance of patience, thoughtfulness, and mindfulness in a way that is accessible and entertaining.

FQ: I loved how well-written Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control was and how you decided to use the storyline to teach children about using self-control. What made you choose self-control as the central theme of this story?

MOORE: In 2021, my daughter was about to start Pre-K. During that time, I thought about some of the challenges she might face going to school during COVID. I created the character Bridget Kimble and thought about some lessons I would like my kids to learn. I thought of many titles and one really resonated with me, Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control. I wrote the story and initially worked with my brother to develop the character Bridget. In 2024, I found an amazing illustrator who took the initial drawings of Bridget and made her into the character you see on the cover of the book. His vision took my words from black and white into color and the rest is history.

FQ: When can your anxious readers expect your next book to be available and can you give us a quick synopsis of it? 

MOORE: I'm so excited that readers are eager for the next book! This most definitely tells me that I am going in the right direction. At this moment I do not have a timeline for the next book,  but what I can tell you is I am considering writing a spin off using one of the characters from Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control. Specifically Ryan Studdabaker, so continue to follow me for more updates.

FQ: Where did you look upon for inspiration for writing this book? 

MOORE: Great question and the answer is simple, from within. Everyone has a story inside lying in waiting to be evoked. Once the writer decides what genre the body of work falls in, you just start.

It's the why factor. My why, for wanting to write a book for my kids was all the inspiration I needed. Besides, I think that it's pretty cool to be able to provide my kids and the world, using my imagination and observation, a character and an actionable step to help manage one's impulses and emotions. It is a crucial skill for kids, so I wanted to find a way to make this lesson fun and relatable.

FQ: What made you want to be a published author?

MOORE: Becoming a published author has always been something I've dreamed of, but it wasn't until 2021 that I realized that it was something I really wanted to do. Now yes, it took me 3 years to publish my first book, but because I actually went through with it. I do not feel bad about the wait, everything happens exactly the way it is supposed to. I am a firm believer of that. Also leaving something behind that my kids can always remember and be proud of is important to me.

FQ: Please tell us what is your writing routine like?

MOORE: My writing routine has definitely evolved over time, but I’ve found a rhythm that works well for me. I like to keep things flexible, but there are a few key elements that help me stay focused and productive.

First, I usually set aside specific time blocks during the day to write. For me, mornings tend to be the most productive, so I try to get up early before the day gets busy. I’ll spend the first 30 minutes just brainstorming or reviewing what I’ve written so far. This is usually the time when I make sure I’m aligned with the message and theme of the book.

Once I’ve done a quick check-in, I dive into the writing. I typically aim for a set word count, but I don’t stress if I don’t hit it every single day. The most important thing for me is consistency, so even if I can only write for 30 minutes, I try to do something every day.

I also make sure to take breaks. Writing for long stretches without stepping away can lead to burnout or frustration, so I’ll take breaks to recharge—whether it’s a walk, reading, or even just grabbing a cup of coffee. The key is to not pressure myself into long hours of non-stop writing. Creativity flows better when there’s room to breathe.

Additionally, I like to review and revise as I go. I’m not one to write everything out and then come back to edit later. Instead, I prefer to tweak sections as I progress, which keeps me feeling engaged with the material and ensures the writing stays fresh and cohesive.

Overall, it’s about creating a routine that works with my natural energy levels and finding ways to stay connected to the story. Some days are more productive than others, and that’s okay—I’ve learned that writing is a journey, and it’s okay to pace myself as long as I keep moving forward.

FQ: To wrap up our interview, is there anything you would like to add to tell our readers? 

MOORE: Thank you so much for this opportunity to share a bit about Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control and my journey as an author. To all the readers, I want to say that writing this book has been a labor of love, and my hope is that it provides both children and adults with valuable tools to foster personal growth and emotional intelligence.

For the parents and educators out there, I believe that teaching self-control is something we can all benefit from, and I hope the story of Bridget can spark meaningful conversations with kids about how they can manage their emotions and choices. The book isn't just about learning self-control -- it's about understanding that it's okay to make mistakes, as long as we take the time to reflect and improve.

And to everyone who has supported me along the way, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Writing is a journey, and I'm grateful to have the chance to share it with you. I'm excited for the future and the opportunity to continue creating stories that help young readers navigate the world with more confidence and kindness.

Stay tuned for more books, and keep nurturing that sense of curiosity and growth in the little ones in your life!

 #Bookreview of Hunting the Red Fox

By: W. Kenneth Tyler, Jr.

Publisher: The Peppertree Press

Publication Date: February 11, 2025

ISBN: 978-1965950050

Reviewed by: Douglas C. MacLeod, Jr.

Review Date: April 10, 2025

W. Kenneth Tyler’s debut novel Hunting the Red Fox primarily consists of what has been called by some as “a tale as old as time” from the standpoint of a shady, dying, professional spinner of yarns and competitive golfer, Perry Barnes, and his hapless pseudo-biographer, Roger Mace. The aforementioned tale is Perry’s last jewel heist, which was the stealing of the close-to-two-hundred carat Mecklenburg Diamond, back in 1957. Reminiscent of a 1940s film noir, where much of the narrative is told in flashback and Perry has the cadence of an old-timey ne’er-do-well from prior decades, the author produces a story that has a great deal of potential and appeal.

Hunting the Red Fox begins with an ever-so-familiar voice-over from Roger, who makes it known to his readers he was “about to embark on a book project, in which I was going to attempt to document interesting stories from ordinary people who have done fascinating-even extraordinary things” (2). While sitting down for lunch at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia, by happenstance, like with some Alfred Hitchcock suspense-thrillers (for example, Strangers on a Train), Roger overhears a group of older gentlemen having a spirited conversation at an adjacent table. It is this chance meeting that leads the rather benign and skittish Roger on a figurative walk down memory lane with Perry, who learns to trust Roger with his deepest, darkest secret soon after a round of golf.

Perry’s narrative starts like most, from the beginning, with readers learning that Perry was born in Blackwater, Georgia in May of 1924 to working class but poor parents just trying to survive in a rural, peach-farming town prior to and during the Depression. Perry’s father, Harry, died violently when Perry was quite young, so Perry had to fend for himself, even though he was raised by his French grandmother, who survived multiple skirmishes and, ultimately, World War I. To get by, Perry would steal fruit and bread, which then “escalated into bigger and better things, still nominal in value” (29), which then led to jewels from a local jewelry store owner, which led to him getting caught and sentenced to “a stint in the Specially Trained Operations (STO) unit of the Army of the United States…for as long as the army deems necessary” (37). Much of the second part of Tyler’s novel is about Perry’s time in the Army, when he went through basic training, met an interesting cast of characters while in his troop, killed some enemy soldiers, and met Winston Churchill.

The rest of Hunting the Red Fox chronicles Perry as a courageous soldier while also becoming a professional golfer, who, much to Roger’s chagrin, happened to play in the Durham Open in 1945, whilst in the throes of war. After World War II, Perry toured around the world, found God after some self-assessment, had passionate long-lasting love affairs and eventually met his significant other, met stars like Elvis Presley, Jackie Gleason, and Dean Martin, became known as “The Red Fox,” and developed into an effective working entertainer and thief who heisted the Mecklenburg Diamond from a known gangster for the sake of love. By the time readers get to final scenes of Tyler’s novel, they recognize that the Mecklenburg Diamond is the MacGuffin, the object of desire that is not as significant as the romantic story surrounding the heist.

Quill says: Tyler’s debut novel Hunting the Red Fox has potential as a noir thriller, complete with a wide variety of intriguing characters, humor and romance.

 #Bookreview of Compost Happens: Growing a Flourishing Life After Childhood Abuse

By: Diana Morgan Dean

Publisher: Windsor River Press

Publication Date: April 8, 2025

ISBN: 979-8991324106

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: April 2, 2025

When thirteen-year-old Diana loses her mother in a car accident that was caused by her father’s road rage, she must now step in and be a mother figure to her four younger siblings in Compost Happens: Growing a Flourishing Life After Childhood Abuse by Diana Morgan Dean.

As if stepping into a mothering role wasn’t enough for Diana to endure, her father also mentally, emotionally and sexually abused her, even when her mother was alive. Soon after her mom died, her father began bringing home numerous women, a few being way too young for him to even have relations with, but that didn’t stop him from engaging in this destructive behavior. Eventually, he brought home an older woman named Ingrid. She was so hostile that she convinced him to give his kids away to people that were willing to take them.

Many years and plenty of emotional heartache later, all of the siblings were living in different places and separated from each other. It became so intolerable that they even stopped associating with their own siblings. Diana’s emotional wounds tainted every aspect of her life. She lacked self-respect and deemed herself not worthy of anything. Due to the years of torment, she entered into one failed relationship after another. The wounds she carried decades later took plenty of therapy and soul searching for her to finally accept who she was and try to find some happiness in her life. Was she ever able to find happiness and peace within herself? Did she ever confront her father over all those years of abuse?

This story will break readers’ hearts as they read about the years of torture Diana and her siblings endured. As if it wasn’t hard enough trying to adjust to their mother being taken from them while they were all young children, now add to it all the years of physical, mental and sexual abuse, and you have the perfect combination of these children growing up in an unhealthy environment. Readers will sympathize with Diana and her siblings as they all endure emotional and physical trauma at the hands of their father. Not to mention, when he brought a new female home, that person thought it was fine to abuse the children as well. All this abuse culminated into emotional problems for each one of them.

As Diana was growing up and jumping from one relationship into another, readers can’t help but feel intense empathy for her. The constant search for someone to nurture her because of the lack of nurturing she was exposed to growing up led to a few marriages failing throughout her adult years. Each marriage seemed the perfect fit at the time, but would quickly fall apart because she lacked a blueprint for nurture that was needed in order to have a healthy relationship. These failed marriages only added to the already broken past she had experienced throughout her life. Readers will hope that by the end of her story, Diana will find the peace she has been looking for throughout the years, so she can begin her journey towards healing and healthy interpersonal relationships.

Quill says: If you are looking for an inspiring story with plenty of emotions mixed within the pages, then look no further. In Compost Happens: Growing a Flourishing Life After Childhood Abuse by Diana Morgan Dean, you’ll find yourself crying, laughing and praying that Diana will finally find peace within her own heart to move on with her life.

For more information about Compost Happens: Growing a Flourishing Life After Childhood Abuse, please visit the author’s website at: dianamorgandean.com.

 #Bookreview of The Mouse Who Couldn't Eat Cheese

By: M.B. Mooney

Illustrated by: Ekaterina Mironova

Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing

Publication Date: June 24, 2025

ISBN: 978-0881440669

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: April 1, 2025

Alex the Owl loves playing and making new friends. So, when she sees a new mouse family move into the forest, she can’t wait to introduce herself in The Mouse Who Couldn’t Eat Cheese by M.B. Mooney.

She takes some cheese with her as a gift and heads over to meet the girl mouse, Maya. When she arrives, she offers Maya her gift, but is surprised when Maya doesn’t immediately eat it since, she assumes, that all mice love cheese. Alex asks if Maya would like to spend some time together and Maya agrees. They have lots of fun together that day. They even decide to meet again tomorrow for another playdate.

The next day, Alex is waiting for Maya at the designated cottonwood tree in the forest, but Maya doesn’t show up. Alex waits and waits, but Maya still doesn’t show up. So, Alex goes to Maya’s house to see what happened. Alex learns that Maya isn’t well and she can’t come out to play. Alex asks if Maya would like to make a new playdate for the next day. Again, they make plans, but Maya is so sick, she has to go to the doctor. Alex is upset to hear this and confused as to why Maya keeps breaking playdates with her. Then, Alex finds out that Maya suffers from Crohn’s disease. Once Alex finds out what that means, how does she react to Maya’s news? What does this mean for their new-found friendship?

This is a wonderful story allowing children to learn what Crohn’s disease is and teaching them to be compassionate to someone suffering from this serious stomach disease. Mr. Mooney shares in detail why Maya couldn’t keep her playdates and why she didn’t eat the cheese that Alex gifted her when they first met. Knowledge is power for anyone reading this, but it truly helps children understand, at an early age, that this disease is serious and can affect others close to them. The key is teaching the children that they should display empathy toward the person experiencing this illness, while also showing how the power of friendship can mean so much to a person who is chronically ill such as Maya. The author even included a page at the end of the book dedicated to explaining what Crohn’s disease is and offering resources that can help a child deal with this disease.

The illustrations provided by Ekaterina Mironova were charming to look at and can be found on every page of this informative children’s book. They were vibrantly colored and engaging to the reader’s eye. Each illustration was the perfect complement to the written story. Ms. Mironova is a painter, illustrator, and an AI-artist.

M.B. Mooney is an award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction books. He dedicated this story to Alex Davidson, a young woman who passed away from Crohn’s disease. Her mom, Lori, and a friend contributed in developing this story to raise awareness and support for kids with this disease.

Quill says: The Mouse Who Couldn’t Eat Cheese by M.B. Mooney will not only entertain readers of all ages, but also educate them about what Crohn’s disease is and how you can support someone who suffers from this disease.