#BookReview of Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson

Magi Apprentice

By: Dan E. Hendrickson

Publication Date: September 2023

ISBN: 979-8-9854425-5-7

Reviewed by: Katie Specht

Review Date: August 28, 2023

From seasoned author Dan E. Hendrickson comes his eighth novel and his first based on Christianity, entitled Magi Apprentice. This book is the story of Rassan, a Parthian calvary cadet who is tasked with protecting the sacred star charts, delivering them to Babylon, and deciphering what they mean in relation to the birth of Jesus Christ.

The story begins in 7 B.C. as Rassan finds a destroyed caravan and a dying Magi. Before the Magi dies, an angel appears to him and instructs him to entrust Rassan with the sacred star charts that have been passed down from the first Magi Grandmaster Belshazzar. Rassan is commanded to protect these star charts at all costs and deliver them to Babylon to give to the new headmaster of the astronomical sect of the Magi.

Rassan then begins his apprenticeship under Headmaster Daraya-Vous as they work together to learn the significance of the series of astronomical configurations that occurred between 3 and 2 B.C. As Rassan is apprenticing under Headmaster Daraya-Vous, he begins taking an interest in Varaz, a priestess he meets in the market where she falsely presents herself as a merchant’s assistant. Rassan finds all his conversations with her incredibly stimulating, and he has to ask himself why he is so motivated to see and talk to her every day. The obvious answer comes to him almost immediately: that he is ready to take Varaz as his wife and needs to go about doing so the proper way. After speaking with General Bozan, his cousin and the temporary head of his family, General Bozan’s wife, and Headmaster Daraya-Vous about his wishes to seek a betrothal with Varaz, General Bozan agrees to draft a letter to Prince Phraates V detailing the situation and then to inquire with Varaz’s family regarding the conditions of the betrothal. However, the situation becomes complicated when Rassan learns that Varaz has not yet left the Temple and is still a priestess, which means that she cannot be married. After this deception by Varaz, Rassan has some big decisions to make regarding his studies and the woman he loves.

One of the highlights of the story is following along as Rassan prepares for a historical debate to clarify the true meaning of the zodiac and the divine message it conveys. Rassan will be presenting an argument that he learned from studying the sacred star charts passed down from the first Magi Grandmaster Belshazzar regarding the coming of the champion and savior, who will come to save the world. After Rassan’s presentation, it is clear that he has won over the judges and the majority of the audience members to his way of thinking. What follows is an epic pilgrimage to witness what is perhaps the greatest event in all of history.

Hendrickson’s story of the Magi finding Jesus in Bethlehem after his birth is historical fiction writing at its best. Hendrickson includes real-life historical figures, such as Prince Phraates V and Herod the Great while also creating believable characters to add to the story, such as Rassan and Varaz. He then interweaves an intricate, detailed narrative that seamlessly integrates his cast of characters while also keeping true to historical facts. History buffs, especially those with an interest in Christianity, will greatly appreciate Magi Apprentice.

It was also interesting that, as a reader who knew how this story would end, I still found myself anxiously awaiting the conclusion. The way Hendrickson brings it to a close brought chills down my spine as I read Rassan’s words when asked how he was feeling when the quest was about to be completed. The author did a superb job of painting a vivid picture for the reader during this epic, monumental conclusion.

Quill says: With Magi Apprentice, Hendrickson has written a historical fiction account of how the Magi found Jesus in Bethlehem that simply cannot be matched. This story has everything a reader could want in historical fiction: facts, historical figures, romance, and relatable characters, all culminating in an epic conclusion.

For more information on Magi Apprentice, please visit the author's website at: www.danehendrickson.com

#BookReview of My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book

My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book

By: Sherrill S. Cannon
Illustrated by: Kalpart
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Publication Date: February 9, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-68235-812-2
Reviewed by: Kathy Stickles
Review Date: September 11, 2023

My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book is a wonderful story that I really wish had been around when my children were little because they both would have adored it. Now, if I ever get any grandchildren, this story will be at the top of my list when they are ready for it.

My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book begins as a simple story about a child in art class who is told to take the fingerpaints and make something using their imagination. After applying some paint to the paper, class ends and this budding artist has to pack up the unfinished painting and head home. Unfortunately, along the way, the wind picks up and steals the project from our artist and they can only stand there and watch as the painting blows away, never to be finished or even seen again, or so they think.

The painting actually ends up blowing straight into an art dealer’s building and onto a stack of projects that is being put together for a show. The artist never notices, and the painting is actually put into the show and wins a first-place ribbon. The child might never have known any of this had it not been for a trip to the mall with mom, where they see it hanging on the wall, now in a pretty frame. But what will happen when this young artist points out what happened?

My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book is simply a lot of fun. The story is written in rhyme and it is very well done and flows along perfectly. There is so much about the book that I really loved but, at the top of my list, is the fact that the reader never knows throughout the story whether the budding child artist is a boy or a girl. That is left to your own imagination and I think that is an excellent way of writing it as the book will now be a perfect match for any child regardless of gender. The child will be able to put themselves in the place of the child in the book and imagine it is a story about them.

This story also teaches a valuable lesson about having to learn that not everyone in the world is honest or can understand what is in front of them. For the young artist in the story, it is a difficult lesson to learn as they see this group of adults saying all these incredible things about a painting that they do not even understand, while ignoring the poor child in front of them who wants them to know the painting is not by some famous artist but by a child in a school art class who just wanted to have fun. Not being able to accept that, they put the child down and call them a liar instead, just so they will not be wrong. While very unfair, it is also, unfortunately, how the world works at times.

Finally, I must commend the group that did the illustrations for the book. The pictures are excellent and so full of fun and life that they really bring the whole story together. The addition of coloring pages so that a child can make the story their own is absolutely perfect. My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book is a great and entertaining story for any child, and I would highly recommend it to parents and to schools to be included on the bookshelf. You, and especially your children, will not be disappointed in any way.

Quill says: My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book is a fabulous story for any child and has the added bonus of being a coloring book as well. Not only can a child enjoy the story, but they can create their own “masterpiece” to have forever. A perfect combination!

For more information on My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book, please visit the author's website at: sherrillscannon.wordpress.com/

#BookReview of The Strongest Heart (The Clan Donald Saga, Book 3) by Regan Walker

The Strongest Heart (The Clan Donald Saga, Book 3)

By: Regan Walker

Publisher: Regan Walker Publishing

Publication Date: September 26, 2023

ASIN: ‎B0CGP2T4BM

Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott

Review Date: September 7, 2023

Award-winning author Regan Walker concentrates on the historical period and personal plights and triumphs of Donald of Islay, ruler of the Hebrides kingdom of old Scotland, called upon by his sense of duty and his own strong will to wage war in order to keep his territory safe and sacred in her most recent book, The Strongest Heart (The Clan Donald Saga, Book 3).

In the 14th century, Donald’s realm is under threat, indeed, incursion, by the Stewart clan who see an opportunity to expand their authority in Scotland. He takes responsibility to defend his clan and its holdings as a God-given imperative. He is nominated and then designated as chief by the island region’s lords and priests in the opening segment of this lively volume. Donald, though recognizing his own youth and inexperience, has some weighty distinctions to his credit, including a lengthy period of study at Oxford University in England, and a distinguished heritage. He understands or quickly learns the obligations of his new office, marrying the lovely Mariota in an arrangement that had been planned by his father but yet required contact and closeness. There many poignant, pertinent touches – Mariota’s wedding ring was fashioned in Iona, famed for its metalwork, and the couple receives and together read aloud a single Canterbury Tale. Their courtship and closeness offer a view of Donald as a charming, caring romancer and Mariota as a perspicacious partner, who must face the fact that her spouse is destined to lead his clan in one of the bloodiest battles in recorded history. It would be named, in fact, Bludie Harlaw. Much drama focuses on intimations concerning, and preparations for, this terrorizing encounter. At Harlaw, Donald’s warriors and Donald himself will raise bows and swords against the marauders led by Alexander, Earl of Mar, as he seeks to lay claim to Donald’s island domain and in so doing, assume the throne of all Scotland.

Walker is an acclaimed author who has chosen to concentrate her talents on her personal heritage as a member of Clan Donald. This segment, deftly arranged and credibly told, shows Donald as a man who respected his fellow clanspeople, both male and female, and who revered God as the hidden source behind all great deeds. Walker gives Mariota and other women a vital role in the lives of their fighting men and has created dialogue that seems suited to the times, both appropriately formal and humanly humorous. Her works have garnered recognition and well-deserved awards. A former lawyer, Walker is comfortable with intrigue and the many levels of interference, from statesmanship to scurrilous conniving, that may play a role in national conflict, as demonstrated in this work.

Quill says: Walker’s educated view of the heroic Donald and his place in Scottish history in her new book, The Strongest Heart, is an achievement both as history and as a thrilling tale well told, with a vivid cinematic aura that will attract readership across a wide spectrum.

For more information on The Strongest Heart (The Clan Donald Saga, Book 3), please visit the author's website at:https://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/

#BookReview of Mr. Flip Flap's Flip Flop Frenzy by Shani T. Night

Mr. Flip Flap's Flip Flop Frenzy

By: Shani T. Night

Publisher: Infinite Generations Publishing

Publication Date: September 29, 2023

ISBN: 978-1953364432

Reviewed by: Holly Connors

Review Date: September 9, 2023

What is better than a carefree day on the beach with a bunch of friends? In Shani T. Night’s newest book, Mr. Flip Flap’s Flip Flop Frenzy, young readers will discover the fun that awaits them with a little surf, sun, and lots of sand.

On the first page of the story, we meet the personable Mr. Flip Flap. He’s a very, very happy man, with a huge smile and feet that just want to dance. He has flip flops (of course!) and the perfect outfit for spending time under the sun, enjoying some waves, and the beautiful beckoning ocean behind him. We learn that:

Once upon a sunny day, in a land so bright,

Lived Mr. Flip Flap, a whimsical sight.

In his flip-flops, he’d flap and dance,

Creating a summer-filled, joyous trance.

The beach is bright and inviting and it isn’t long before Mr. Flip Flap is joined by a group of happy children. His enthusiasm is contagious and soon all the children are dancing along with him, feeling the “magical energy” that fills the air. The children continue to dance, as the atmosphere of summer takes over.

Mr. Flip Flap dances, his gusto growing with each tapping step. The children dance and play, and soon they join hands and start a parade.

They frolic and play, feeling carefree and light,

Immersed in the magic of a summer day’s delight.

Mr. Flip Flap’s Flip Flop Frenzy is a simple book, perfect for the youngest readers. The story, told in rhyme, flows nicely and delivers exactly what the author intended – a reminder to enjoy life, enjoy summer, enjoy being with your best friends, and best of all, enjoy being outside. Adorned with great illustrations of smiling children, along with a flip-flop wearing Mr. Flip Flap, the story oozes happy times. If you’re looking for a light-hearted book that will remind children to slow down and enjoy nature and friendship, grab a copy of this book. After reading Mr. Flip Flap's Flip Flop Frenzy, I suspect you’ll be grabbing your own flip-flops and heading to the beach.

Quill says: Mr. Flip Flap’s Flip Flop Frenzy encourages children to leave the stresses of daily life behind and re-discover the joys of playing on the beach with friends and family. The perfect summer read, as well as a great book to read any time of the year to bring readers back to summer fun.

For more information on Mr. Flip Flap's Flip Flop Frenzy, please visit the author's website at: https://www.shanitnight.com/flipflopfrenzy

#AuthorInterview with Rick Felty, author of Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Katie Specht is talking with Rick Felty, author of Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code.

FQ: This is your fifth book based on Tabitha Fink the cat. How do you create the adventure Tabitha Fink will experience for each individual story? Where do the ideas come from? Does the real Tabitha inspire you?

FELTY: I often start by thinking about the motif of the story. Is Tabitha a space traveler or a pirate this time? Once I decide that direction, it becomes the framework of the book; so I think a lot about that. Those decisions are based on what I think kids might enjoy and what visuals I can imagine. There are many places where my TV experience flows into book creation, and this area is one of them. So what does it look like? Then I think about messages that would be good to impart. What kind of life lessons would be good to put out into the world and to demonstrate for kids. It’s all brainstorming really and I’m thinking about it all the time. I have learned how to take advantage of my own creative process which relies a lot on thinking a bit and then letting it come to me.

FQ: As a cat lover myself, it warms my heart to read about the real Tabitha Fink, though she has one eye, living out her best life. Can you explain a bit about how she became part of your life?

FELTY: We had recently lost a cat and weren’t really looking for another one just yet. Then one day my wife ran into a friend who was looking to place a special cat in a foster home. She said it would just be a short time to help them out and let me know that the cat only had one eye. I said yes no problem, and of course once we got her home, we became attached and that was that.

FQ: This particular story, Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code, has an important message for kids about friendship and kindness. Do all your Tabitha Fink books teach the readers valuable lessons, and if so, how do you determine what the moral of each book will be?

FELTY: Sometimes I have started with a planned message. Other times, I start developing a general scene-setting plot and see what message is brought out through the story. I’ve learned through other creative writing that it is possible and often best to let the story tell you what it wants to be. In this case I planned to have a bad guy who gets helped by Tabitha in some way, but the specific story, characters and message evolved as I wrote.

FQ: Your bio states that you have had a very rewarding career in the TV production industry, and you are also a photographer, musician, and private pilot. With all these impressive trades in your life, what led you to begin authoring children’s books?

FELTY: When we adopted our young son, we did what most parents do and began reading to him. A lot! Many of the books were great, with wonderful design and storytelling. However, when you start to go through a lot of books, you realize that many are not as good. We had always thought that Tabitha Fink would be a great kid’s book character and so it seemed like a good time to for me to try making my own. The first book in the series is very simple, for younger kids, and was a basic story about Tabitha being different and accepting herself for who she is. When it came time to think about doing more books, I decided that the only way to expand the series was to give her adventures and have fun playing with the storytelling.

FQ: Can you share a bit about the artist behind the adorable illustrations of your Tabitha Fink books?

Author Rick Felty

FELTY: When I began working on the first book, I did some first sketches and then looked around for an illustrator who would match the sense I had for Tabitha. Since there was a real cat, the goal was to make a cartoon version of her with an animated personality and of course clearly show that she only had one eye. The illustrator I found is great! He does the drawings on a project basis, working from the requirements I have for each scene. He is located on the other side of the world, so we work back and forth on the internet, exchanging ideas and drawings. He gives me the drawing as a file that I can pull apart and I actually do all of the final layout of every page myself. So it is a real collaboration and it’s always fun when we can jump back into a new book.

FQ: It’s been a few years since your last book. Was it hard to bring Tabitha back to life? Was there anything that was different for you during the writing process for this story as compared to your earlier Tabitha Fink books? 

FELTY: Yes, it was hard to get back into the rhythm of the creative process. I had several story ideas that just didn’t flow and so I stopped those and switched gears. I did that several times which slowed the process. I think I will return to those stories soon to see if I can find out what they want to be. I would say that otherwise, once the story was flowing, the process itself was the same as it had been for the first four.

FQ: What led you to decide to write the Tabitha Fink stories in rhyme? It’s definitely a talent, and a lot of authors try it, but many times lines are a bit forced. That’s not the case with your books. Was there ever a time when you hesitated to write these books in rhyme? Or does it come naturally?

FELTY: It does come naturally. I love music and lyrics and I think that’s a part of my gift with these books. Writing in rhyme makes the creative process really interesting because in addition to telling a story, you have to work the words so they don’t feel forced. As I go along, I read the book aloud to hear the rhythm and sometimes I go back into a stanza to change things to make it work. It also provides a structure for me, which is a nice framework to drop the story into rather than just staring at a blank page.

FQ: How did the real Tabitha Fink the cat get her name?

FELTY: Total credit to my stepson. That first day after we got her home, kind of out of the blue he said, “she’s Tabitha Fink!” It was one of those moments that just made sense somehow and we loved it. From that moment on she was Tabitha Fink.

FQ: Your Tabitha Fink series is now comprised of five books. As an author, would you consider your goals being met for this particular series, or do you foresee more that you can do with Tabitha Fink? Would you consider starting a new series?

FELTY: That’s a question I hadn’t really considered. I do plan to make more Tabitha Fink books since there are almost an unlimited number of topics and motifs still left to explore. Plus, the books are fun to make and it’s exciting to see the series grow. But that said, I might now give some thought to trying other creative avenues at the same time. We’ll see!

FQ: A portion of the proceeds from this book are being donated to Young Storytellers. Would you tell our readers a bit about this organization?

FELTY: Young Storytellers is designed to encourage kids to tell their own stories and gain an awareness of their own power through that process. With in-school programs, they seek to empower young people - and the communities they come from - to know that they can use their ideas, experiences, and voices to impact the world. Their work is primarily focused in public schools and neighborhoods that aren’t historically served by programs like this.

#BookReview of Tabith Fink and the Cowboy Code by Rick Felty

Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code

By: Rick Felty

Publisher: Dreamschooner Press

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-984052738

Reviewed by: Katie Specht

Review Date: August 2, 2023

From author Rick Felty comes the fifth adventure of Tabitha Fink, this time set in the wild west, entitled Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code. Tabitha Fink is the sheriff of her beloved western town, and it is up to her to protect it from an unpleasant stranger who shows up one day.

In Tabitha Fink’s latest escapade, we follow her through her town, as she introduces her townsfolk and the respective jobs they perform. Life in town is peaceful until one day a scary-looking man and his tired horse walk down the main street. Tabitha Fink offers to help him, but the scary-looking man declines her help and discloses to her that his name is Ornery the Outlaw because he has no friends. Through the course of the story, Tabitha Fink, along with her friends in town, shower Ornery the Outlaw and his horse with kindness and, in turn, they experience what it’s like to have true friends. Tabitha Fink and her friends even help Ornery the Outlaw to reconcile with his old friend Rusty.

Felty’s latest Tabitha Fink adventure is another fun-filled journey that young readers are sure to love. The illustrations are adorable, and the fact that there is a real Tabitha Fink that you can read about on Felty’s website just adds to the excitement. Kids are sure to appreciate being able to see a picture of the real cat Tabitha Fink.

With such a short, simple story, it isn't easy to impart life lessons, but Felty has a true talent as he is able to teach kids valuable lessons about kindness, forgiveness, and how to be a good friend. Sometimes, even the simplest gesture can make a world of difference to a person who feels like he doesn’t have any true friends. In a world where kindness is quickly fading and being replaced by narcissistic tendencies, this is one of the most significant morals we can impart to our youth today. Felty does a superb job of explaining this in the most simplistic way, so even the youngest of readers will be able to understand this philosophy and put it into practice with their friends and playmates.

Quill says: Rick Felty has achieved another winner with Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code. Young fans of Tabitha Fink will be thrilled to embark on yet another adventure with her and her friends, while learning about the values of kindness and forgiveness.

For more information on Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code, please visit the author’s website at: https://www.tabithafink.com/

#Bookreview of Assassis Are Us by Kimberly Van Sickle

Assassins Are Us

By: Kimberly Van Sickle

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: September 12, 2023

ISBN: 978-1639889105

Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford

Review Date: September 3, 2023

Assassins Are Us, Kimberly Van Sickle’s debut novel, is a yummy blend of humor, sarcasm, whimsy, and a dash of romance that will keep her audience entertained from beginning to end.

Hedy Hinterschott may only be seventeen years old, but she’s on her way to becoming quite an accomplished assassin. She and her twin brother Gerhardt (Gary) are being groomed to be the next generation of assassins to execute the ‘family business.’ Hedy is secure with the love of her family, yet there’s an intuitive sense she often has when she puts too much thought into the notion that she doesn’t quite fit in with them. She and Gary are typical siblings who get along as much as they annoy each other to no end. Given their line of business, both Hedy and Gary learned at a very young age that what happens in the Hinterschott family stays in the Hinterschott family. Both children were committed to following this rule and were (somewhat) accommodating.

Hedy had a natural ability when it came to giving a tail the slip as much as she was deeply knowledgeable of her training. Gary, on the other hand, took a bit more handling and repetition before he caught on, if ever. Hedy’s personality was razor sharp and she took her assassin training quite seriously. Gary, on the other hand, often struggled and even their parents were concerned with the hopes of their son ever becoming a fraction of the sleuth they were confident their daughter was becoming. She even overheard them discussing their concerns about Gary one evening: "...We can’t delay much longer. Hedy was hitting her marks at eight years and consistently at that...he’s already behind the learning curve in so many areas..." (pg. 76) The Hinterschott’s were always ready for the next assignment and on constant high alert. However, one day in Honors World History class, Hedy was about to compromise the family rule of never sharing too much information. She was distracted by a cute boy and the next time she was at the library, she ran into that cute boy, Dave Corso. This was the first time her judgment was clouded: are family secrets really the number one priority? Maybe crushing on Dave Corso was more of a priority at the moment...

Kimberly Van Sickle has written a great plot-twister and infused entertaining exchanges and scenes throughout this read. The teenage dialogue is spot-on and believable as much as the plot is sound; yet not predictable. She’s taken an historical figure (Hitler) and spun a tale around his legacy that presents some interesting factoids to consider. Her fluid prose is effortless from chapter to chapter and the continuous dark humor (laced with sarcasm) she assigns to character Hedy is great when she sets up a scene where Hedy attempts to explain the origins of the swastika: "...the whole class stares at me as if I was about to reveal a Taliban vest beneath my clothes, so I go to the board to demonstrate..." (pg. 6). Even though this is a work of fiction, Ms. Van Sickle manages to weave nuggets of historical fact into the storyline, and this is another example of her gift when it comes to intentional writing. Fun read Ms. Van Sickle! I look forward to your next book.

Quill says: Assassins Are Us has great plot twists as much as humorous moments.

For more information on Assassins Are Us, please visit the author's website at: https://kimberlyvansicklewrites.com/