#Bookreview of A Tail Tale

By: Christine Kessides

Illustrated by: Sarah Gledhill

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: January 7, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891324152

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: December 30, 2024

Wally is a new kid at his school and all he wants to do is fit in, but no one seems to want to be his friend in A Tail Tale by Christine Kessides. The other kids don’t offer to play with him in the schoolyard or even sit with him on the bus. As he gets off the bus, he decides to sit by the large tree in front of his house. He decided if those kids weren’t going to be nice to him, then he really didn’t want to be like them. He wanted to be different.

It seemed as soon as he said those words out loud, the craziest thing happened. Out of nowhere, appeared someone dressed in a funny hat and coat with bits of fur and feathers all over him. The man introduces himself to Wally as the Tailor, and explains that he makes tails for all different animals. Since Wally explained he wants to be different, the Tailor feels giving him a tail will do the trick. But while they’re talking, Snake appears and tells Wally that he should reconsider having a tail because when the Tailor gave him a tail, he turned into a snake. Now no one associates with Snake and Wally will continue not having friends. Does Wally take the advice from Snake? Does Wally make friends with Snake? Does he start making friends at school?

This was a very endearing story because readers will empathize with poor Wally because he was new in school and no one wanted to be his friend. Instead of getting to know him, they were rude to him. This story teaches children two lessons. The first is that when you see a new person in school, or joining a club or sport you play, introduce yourself to the new person. Help them feel accepted and part of something together as a group. Second, when someone is mean to you, take that energy and project kindness back to them. Don’t let their negativity tarnish your feelings. By being kind to someone who is being unkind to you, this may very well change that person’s attitude for the better.

The illustrations done by Sarah Gledhill were adorable in revealing Wally’s story. They fit perfectly in telling the author’s story in picture format. Plus, the creativity she entwined in each illustration, which was found on every page throughout this children’s book, was just magical, while she also provided a few humorous things readers will enjoy laughing out loud about when they find them scattered throughout the pages.

Interestingly enough, Kessides first imagined this story when she was a student, but never considered writing and publishing it until years later when her first grandson was born. If you enjoyed this story, rest assured there is a sequel forthcoming.

Quill says: A Tail Tale by Christine Kessides will have its young readers learning a few lessons on how to be a proper friend to new people they meet. It’s an adorably clever story that will have you smiling as you turn the pages. It comes highly recommended!

For more information about A Tail Tale, please visit the author’s website at: christinekessidesauthor.com.

 #Bookreview of The Success Guidebook: How to Visualize, Actualize and Amplify You

By: Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Publisher: HCI/Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: April 23, 2024

ISBN: 978-0757324802

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: December 28, 2024

The motivational, award-winning book The Success Guidebook: How to Visualize, Actualize, and Amplify You by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino offers advice on how to envision and achieve success in both your personal and professional life.

Elizabeth spent years studying the essential elements of success and how they manifest in various people. She, however, found the conventional metrics for success irrational and unreachable. She aims to present success in this book in a fresh, genuine way as a multifaceted phenomenon that is closely related to several factors that, when obeyed, consistently result in enduring and life-changing impacts.

Elizabeth was from an affluent family, but an unforeseen event caused them to lose everything, including the home she had lived in since second grade and other properties on Minnesota's Lake Vermillion. Following this sudden shift, she developed a fresh viewpoint and redefined success, not in terms of wealth or notoriety, but rather as implied by the famous statement made by the late, great UCLA basketball coach John Wooden: "I knew what success was not. I didn’t see recommendations, promotions, points, scores, trophies, medals, and money as accurate measurements. Such items may result in status, but status isn’t necessarily success.” He went on to say, “Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of being.”

Drawing from her experience as a master coach and the creator of The Best Ever You Network, Elizabeth provides 10 tried and true strategies for taking creative action to help the reader envision, achieve, and magnify success and excellence. She breaks out her deep realization into three sections: Imagining your success, Actualizing it, and Amplifying it. She further deconstructs it into smaller subjects, which include Believe and Focus, Ask and Network, Sustain, and Adjust among others. These well-explained issues are both educational and intriguing, drawing heavily on her own and others' experiences in what she refers to as "Stories from the Heart." These featured stories show individuals who have persevered in the face of adversity and managed to create a life that inspires others.

The Success Guidebook: How to Visualize, Actualize, and Amplify You promises to assist you in letting go of the need to prove yourself to others or disprove their beliefs. Furthermore, it guarantees permanent understanding and alignment with your true self. You are prompted to take action by this fantastic tool, which also informs you that you are already very successful. Significantly, it deviates from the conventional definition of success, which the author has discovered overrides a great deal of our personal lives.

Quill says: In her exquisite work, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino offers a groundbreaking discovery that ensures lasting life happiness and fulfillment. Her skill as a writer and desire to convey simply understood information to her audience is reflected in her word choice and timely topics. She stands out as a mentor and potential multi-award winner whose work will change your mindset.

For more information on The Success Guidebook: How to Visualize, Actualize, and Amplify You, please visit the author’s website at: www.besteveryou.com/successguidebook/

 #Bookreview of Hang Fire

By: Anthony Mora

Publisher: The Royal Penny Press

Publication Date: January 15, 2025

ISBN: 978-0-9912370-3-6

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: December 28, 2024

Unfolding at the heart of Hollywood, Hang Fire is a satirical comedy portraying the desperate dreams and crazy aspirations of a motley group of characters pulled straight from the back alleys of the industry. We have our protagonist Jerry, who is a delusional wannabe producer-director; then there is Jerry’s psychotherapist, Kimberley, who is a thirty-seven year old blond woman harboring a secret desire to make her name on the big screens; there is also Amber, a young up and coming actress who still feels threatened by other potential actresses and driven by her insecurities, takes drastic measures to secure a role that will guarantee her some commercial success. Another significant character includes Stangerson, a famous but sleazy film director whose power seems to be on a steady decline as he often resorts to sexploitation to churn out movies that he believes will become the next blockbuster hits.

On the sidelines, we have Lannier, embodying the role of an overlooked PR agent who keeps adding fuel to the fire by circulating various rumors about the celebrities, while trying to manipulate them into striking a business deal with her. And lastly, there is James, forming the nucleus of the story, Jerry’s long time best friend who is drastically different from him. Jaded by all the pointless drinks and meetings at lavish hotels, people’s constant disrespect towards him and their total lack of interest in his book, James finds himself increasingly disillusioned and frustrated by the political strife and cut-throat competitions within the inner circles of the film industry. The moment he decides to pull out from that circle of power-hungry people, who were clearly more curious about Kimberley than about making a film based on his novel, they sniff out a potential chance of riding James’ imminent fame and plunge to fight each other tooth and nail for any scraps of his attention, symbolizing the present sorry state of the once glorified American dream that was Hollywood.

However, the idea that Hollywood would appreciate indie films or art house movies seems to be slightly misplaced as it generally represents mainstream movies which are indeed box-office hits but not necessarily critically acclaimed or independent productions, the latter being usually small scale and having a different target audience than that of a typical Hollywood film. So criticizing it for not appreciating art for art’s sake or putting commercial success as its higher priority might not hold as much of a strong influence over readers as it was expected to because it has always been that way. The fact that Jerry refers to a film called Exposée multiple times as some kind of benchmark for himself shows that despite following the formulaic eye-candy and steamy scenes rule, his benchmark film hadn’t gained much publicity either, proving how there is no set rule for success in the film industry.

However, some of the details definitely help us gain a new unflattering insight of the industry from another perspective. Like riding a taxi through the back alleys of a cosmopolitan city, the book manages to capture the dirt and grime of this dreamscape like a dash of cold water on our faces to break us out of our reveries. It encourages us to scrutinize the illusion created by Hollywood and its paraphernalia, allowing us to step out of our bubble, even if momentarily.

Although the story feels a bit repetitive in the first half of the book, as Jerry keeps rambling on about his delusions trying to manipulate both his friend and therapist to act in the manner he wishes them to, the narrative picks up its pace in the second half, with tensions escalating and unexpected conflicts brewing. It was particularly interesting to note how Amber longed to be among other ordinary people, to walk incognito in the streets with them and remain unidentified. It touches a chord somewhere deep, showing us a side of her that is quite surprisingly humane and vulnerable, despite her outer-worldly glamour and her frequent engagements with bitter politics in the industry.

Quill says: Hang Fire is not an occasional read for the hopeless romantic, but if you’re into dark comedy, betrayals, deceptions and stories about the nitty gritty details of human failings, this one is for you!

For more information about Hang Fire, please visit the author’s website at: anthonymorawriter.com.

 #AuthorInterview with Michael Okon

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Ephantus Muriuki is talking with Michael Okon, author of Dragged Down Deep.

FQ: Congratulations on this novel. What got you started writing a novel in this genre?

OKON: I was on a creature feature binge one weekend, Universal Monsters in particular, and I said to myself, "how in this crypto-creature-living-world, has no one ever written a techno thriller set in the Hamptons with the creature from the Hamptons lagoon as the primary antagonist.” I grabbed my laptop and started beating out the story as the credits started rolling to the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

FQ: You write so well in the action thriller genre. Is there another genre you would like to venture into in the future? 

OKON: My wife, my mom, my brother and my kids continue to tell me, do what you know best. Until I can write sweeping civil war romances, I’m going to stick with the action thriller monster genres for the foreseeable future. Plus, it brings out my inner 80s child, which has been incredibly therapeutic to me.

FQ: Your main character is a cryptozoologist. Do you have an interest in cryptozoology as a field of science in real life?

OKON: Yes. 100%. Bigfoot, Nessie, and the moth man are all real. Erm, real in my head at least. I’m fascinated with the myths and creatures of all folklore. I conquered werewolves, vampires and zombies in Monsterland. Cryptozoology was the next logical step with Dragged Down Deep. Cryptozoology felt more real to me.

FQ: What was the most fun scene to write in Dragged Down Deep? 

OKON: That’s like choosing a child, but if I had to choose it would be the opening Thunderbird scene. It felt like I could create my own Indiana Jones in a cryptozoology universe. It was titillating to write.

FQ: The epic scene in the book culminates in a conclusion that involves Logan and the mysterious Mermaid. Did you write this particular part in one sitting or several sittings?

OKON: My process has always been to write the screenplay first…just in case Hollywood calls (which they kinda already have, and I’m just waiting for the follow up) but I digress. Once the screenplay is complete, it gives me a roadmap to flesh out the chapters and characters. That last scene between Logan and the creature was done in one night. I honestly didn’t sleep because my mind was so excited (and exhausted) from playing out the dance between the two. It was a movie scene in my head that I put down on Final Draft, then turned it into a longer movie scene in the novel. Loved writing it.

FQ: The storyline in this novel would do well as a blockbuster movie. Is transforming this novel into a film something you would consider in the future? 

OKON: That means the world to me. Seriously. That is my ultimate goal – to have my works on the big screen. I’m very visual so writing comes from watching hundreds, thousands of movies over my lifetime. Again, every story I’ve ever written starts as a screenplay. Screenplays are 100 pages. The lines are short and punchy. It’s a roadmap to a much larger story. I’m already working on another screenplay and novel with a studio. Fingers and toes crossed. Dragged Down Deep would absolutely be next.

FQ: Logan Osborne is a character that evolved as the book progressed and readers will, like me, root for him every step of the way. How about writing a sequel about him? 

OKON: Already in the works. Logan’s story is far from over. I’m currently doing a lot of research on Chupacabras and Chile. A South American adventure is in the works.

FQ: It was evident to me that potential readers who come across this work will find themselves waiting for your next port of call. Do you have something in the offing for us?

OKON: I have ten beat sheets for ten screenplays with ten novels behind them. I’m never going to stop writing. There will be many more stories to tell, especially in the Dragged Down Deep universe.

FQ: What is the most challenging thing about writing a novel in this genre?

OKON: Honestly, nothing. When you write what you love and understand, it comes quite naturally. If I had to choose one thing, it’s not making the novel too long. I don’t like fluff and drawn-out stories. I like movies, but in a novel format. Beginning, middle, end. Clear visuals. Clear motives. A great protagonist. An amazing antagonist. And a hero’s journey where everything that can go wrong will.

FQ: As I conclude, I would like to ask what takeaway you would like your readers to carry on as they invest their time in reading Dragged Down Deep?

OKON: Is what we are being told by our government, by our society, by social media, by the masses, the truth about what our reality really is? Dragged Down Deep answers that question.

 #Bookreview of Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World

By: Barbara Hall

Publication Date: November 24, 2024

ISBN: 979-8301058011

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: December 18, 2024

"Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the foundation of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.” This quote by J.K. Rowling sums up Barbara Hall's quietly powerful sparkling book, Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World.

Do you like your morning or evening tea? Ever wondered how the world transitioned from carrying bulky metal coins to paper money? Or the role that ancient Chinese inventors played in science and technology? How about the person behind the invention of the compass, which made it easy for explorers and sailors alike to travel and navigate the waters with ease? This incredible book answers these and many other questions as it takes young readers on an exciting and illuminative journey back into history to seek out Chinese inventions that still impact our world today.

Here, curious minds will have a fun time making all types of discoveries centered on Chinese civilization that dates back to two thousand years ago. An example is the invention of the umbrella, which the Chinese made from bamboo and oiled paper to keep dry in the rain. Readers will also discover that they also made contributions to space travel, inventing the rocket a thousand years ago, powered by gunpowder to launch astronauts into the sky. In yet another, the author explores the long line of creativity in meteorology, with the invention of a seismograph, a device used to detect earthquakes by Zhang Heng, a Chinese scientist.

Barbara Hall understands the power of vibrant and colorful illustrations and their aesthetic role in conveying the message in the book and employs this deftly. Also, these illustrations provide contextual clues that accentuate the stories within the pages. The brevity of the stories and the accessible language used are artistic elements that the intended audience will instantly respond to, and which will encourage their appreciation for the Asian culture and the contributors of this region in making transformative inventions. Further, kids will learn the importance of hard work and resilience, as well as boost their creative spirit.

The author's background as a teacher, librarian, and content creator presents the perfect backdrop for this richly detailed gem. Her signature medley of eloquent writing and graceful prose is perhaps the book's main strength, elevating it above books of its genre. The brief but impactful introduction of the book is largely composed of rhetorical questions, which are sure to grab the attention of both attentive and disinterested kids to the pages that follow.

Quill says: A fun and educational read, Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World by Barbara Hall is an intriguing text that deserves a special place on the book shelves of early readers. It can also serve as an intermediate class reader in a history lesson.

For more information on Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World, please visit the author's website at: www.barbarahall.ca

 #Bookreview of Dragged Down Deep

By: Michael Okon

Publisher: Chelshire

Publication Date: December 5, 2024

ISBN: 978-1-950080-14-4

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: December 18, 2024

In prolific author Michael Okon's sweeping novel, Dragged Down Deep, a middle-aged scientist determined to appease his late father's death finds himself plunged into a well-planned and dangerous conspiracy involving the hidden existence of a mythical creature.

Logan Osborne, a cryptozoologist, had missed the good old days as a child before his mother had left. His father, an ichthyologist, later receded into a shell, being labeled a weirdo by the local community due to his obsession with proving the existence of a mythical creature, drawing further away from traditional subjects. Now an adult, Logan painfully recalls the death of his father following a tragic attack on one of his nightly excursions with him to find the mermaid of Minetuck. This incident would remain etched in his mind twenty years later and was the source of his unending nightmares as well.

Surviving a near-death experience in his expedition on an Arizona mountain to prove the existence of the Thunderbird, a legendary bird whose known information was scanty, he embarks on a new mission to validate his father's research of a mysterious creature based on true findings together with his faculty colleague Elliot Sheppard and friend Penny Swanson. They find themselves plunged into a long-minded and precarious road marked by well-covered secrets, mysterious disappearances, a corrupt police system, and unexplained hostility from the locals. Aimee, Logan's former flame, re-emerges with her secrets that go back to his past.

Once in a while, you stumble upon a book so good that it is well worth your reading time. This tale delivers more than it promises in its synopsis, taking you deep into a beautifully-realized setting packed with action, supernatural elements, and mystery. Okon melds complex yet relatable characters demonstrating his tenacity in handling complex themes that are relevant today. The book starts on a trifecta, with a high-voltage scene wrapped with insight and verve, with Logan high up on an Arizona mountain with a local guide, in a once-in-a-lifetime quest, hoping the result would legitimize cryptids. The potent storyline adds new characters effortlessly, offering ample backstories that make readers feel at ease with them.

Quill says: Dragged Down Deep by Michael Okon is one of those books that do not disappoint. It will appeal to readers who enjoy an exhilarating odyssey full of adventure and action. Every scene leaps out of the pages with ease demonstrating the proficiency of Okon's artistic pen.

For more information on Dragged Down Deep, please visit the author's website at: michaelokon.com.

 #Bookreview of Our Mother Can Turn into a Dragon and Speak in Tongues

By: Theodore Jerome Cohen and Pamela Geiger

Publisher: Wood Bridge, a Division of TJC Press

Publication Date: November 11, 2024

ISBN: 979-8345674826

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: December 17, 2024

In Our Mother Can Turn into a Dragon And Speak in Tongues by Theodore Jerome Cohen and Pamela Geiger, we are introduced to a family of two younger children, Mary Beth and Ryan, and their parents, Lisa and Robert. Since their mom grew up in New York City and their dad on a farm in the Midwest, they compromised to settle their family on a small farm west of New York City. This would allow their family the peace and beauty of living out of the congested city, but be close enough to the city for all their conveniences. Mom worked for a big book company as a book editor from her home office set up in the farmhouse loft, while dad commuted daily into the city for his office job. All seemed perfect for all of them. Or so they thought.

No matter how hard Dad would try to keep his wife happy, he found himself in plenty of hot water all the time. Since he had to do a daily commute into New York City, he never had the time to do the chores like mowing the lawn. This would make Mom mad and she would turn into a dragon and begin speaking in tongues all the time. So Dad decided to buy two goats to solve the long grass problem. It sounded like a great plan, but it turned into another huge disaster for Dad when Mom would hear one of the goats stomping his feet on the roof above Mom’s home office. Or when she found the other goat standing on top of her new car eating her radio antenna. So mom the dragon made another appearance to poor old Dad. Did the family ever find a happy medium to solving their problems without getting Dad into trouble and Mom not having to turn into a dragon all the time?

This reviewer found this children’s story hilariously fun to read and honestly couldn’t wait to see what poor Dad was going to do wrong next. Then when Mom turned into a dragon and started speaking in tongues toward Dad, the laughs just kept coming. It was refreshing to see the family dynamic expressed in this children’s story and to have the story told through Mary Beth and Ryan’s eyes was just the icing on the cake.

The illustrations that were provided on every other page were also refreshing to see because they weren’t the customary hand drawn or computer illustrated pictures you usually see in children’s books. Instead, they were stock photos chosen, which perfectly fit telling the story from Mary Beth and Ryan’s point of view. This reviewer especially enjoyed the goat pictures put in the story because it made the goats’ antics even more hilarious by seeing a visual of the chaos they were causing the family.

Quill says: If you are looking for a fun and hilarious book to share with your children, Our Mother Can Turn into a Dragon And Speak in Tongues by Theodore Jerome Cohen and Pamela Geiger is one you must consider. It has a fun storyline, great characters (the goats included) and is packed with plenty of laughs to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

For more information about Our Mother Can Turn into a Dragon And Speak in Tongues, please visit the author’s website at: theodore-cohen-novels.com.