Book Review - Plots and Pans

Plots and Pans

By: Kelly Eileen Hake
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Publication Date: April 2014
ISBN: 978-1-62029-958-6
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: April 22, 2014

Kelly Eileen Hake conjures up a tasty tale of the wide open range and rustic romance in her latest novel, Plots and Pans.

Tucker Carmichael is set in his ways and determined to carry on the legacy and continued success of the Bar None Ranch. The period is the 1800’s and the setting is cattle farming at its finest on the open ranges of frontier Texas. The story opens with the passing of Bar None Ranch’s patriarch, Simon Culpepper. Once Tucker learns he is one of the heir apparents (Culpepper’s only son, Edward, the other), Tucker hunkers down and embraces his newfound responsibilities. All things considered, he’s succeeding in his new position of authority. However, the one thing Tucker wasn’t ready to accept was the return of Simon’s only daughter Jessalyn. Seven years prior to Simon’s passing, Jessalyn’s father made the difficult decision to ship her off to the finery and tutelage of proper English lady lessons. Difficult as the decision was, after his wife passed, it became clear to Simon that the rough edges and exposure to ranch life was no place to raise his daughter into becoming a proper lady. While Jessalyn may have been a lady by all definitions of the term, one thing Simon overlooked in his decision was the fact that his ‘lady’ was also a natural born cowgirl at heart.

To say the apple cart was turned on its side with the return of Jessalyn is an understatement. Not only does Jessalyn have to cope with the grief of the passing of her father, but she also needs to embrace the notion she has an aunt she never knew existed. Couple these facts with her reintroduction to the overly cantankerous Tucker Carmichael and Jessalyn has her own set of challenges ahead when it comes to re-establishing her rightful place in her Bar None Ranch home. Jessalyn has never been one to back down. Persistent to dig in for the long haul and prove to Carmichael she belongs is perhaps one of her greatest feats yet. Days before the cattle drive that will make or break the destiny of the Ranch’s future, Tucker is presented with a proposal he adamantly refuses to accept. The unfortunate reality for Tucker, however, is he isn’t the only person with the authority to accept or decline such a proposal.

Ms. Hake takes the reader back to a time long before strip malls and fast food restaurants. She patiently paints a tale with an abundance of allure and life on the open range. She secures the backdrop beautifully within the first dozen pages or so and accomplishes reader engagement in so doing. It is easy for the reader to feel as though he or she has entered a good old fashioned western with the right balance of drama, romance and the roughness and hard times long before modern medicines and comforts. She adeptly captures the essence of what it meant to face the consequences of having nothing more than gut instincts and common sense to survive. If I could make one constructive criticism, however, it would be Ms. Hake’s propensity to write too much character thought. It takes away from the flow of the story. I’m not sure if this was intentional or simply Ms. Hake’s writing style, but I found myself purposely reading over the italicized thoughts. Ms. Hake’s scenes are capable, in my opinion, of getting the intent across to the reader without adding affirmation (or clarification) with the added thoughts. They are a distraction. That said, I would read previous (and future) works by Ms. Hake. She is a strong story teller of this plot line and I would encourage her to continue to embrace the ‘Wild West’ as her inspiration. She knows how to spin a great western.

Quill says: Saddle up your pony and ride along the trail of Plots and Pans. It’s a terrific rendition of life and adventure on the wide open range.

Book Review - An Evolving Society

An Evolving Society

By: Fadi Hattendorf
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: November 2013
ISBN: 978-1492170839
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: April 21, 2014

Having children is an amazing thing and many women want to experience this with all of their heart. Unfortunately, sometimes nature does not allow this experience for some women and if their desire for a child is strong enough they will look for other means of having children. That is just what this book shows as three unconventional families find out that they have more in common than they ever thought when the past is revealed to all of them. Choices that one generation made ultimately affected the next generation in how they viewed who they were and where they came from. For some, the news that they were created from completely unknown DNA was extremely hard to take and it changed forever the way they saw their own lives and everyone else they came in contact with. It was hard to shake the fact that now every person they saw could possibly be related to them in some way and they would never know it.

For Mana, knowing that her mother decided to use a sperm donor to have a child caused her intense confusion as she felt empty, incomplete, and a little lost. Even though her mother married after giving birth to her and she had a life full of support and love, there was no shaking the thought that she might have half siblings passing her by in the street. Eventually Mana is able to put these thoughts behind her and finds love in a man named Kalak who she has two sons with. Everything is going wonderful until Kalak learns from his mother that his birth was also the result of anonymous sperm donation. Mana and Kalak’s perfect world suddenly comes crashing down as each realizes that there is a slight possibility that they could be related! Will this information tear apart what they have built even though none of it was their choice?

The direction that Fadi Hattendorf presented this book in was something I did not expect but ended up finding very interesting. Some background information was given about the parents' choices to find other reproductive options but the main focus was on how these decisions affected the lives of their children. Using this view made the writing intriguing for me and it brought up the possible negative consequences of using alternative reproductive options that I had never thought about before. I do not have children of my own so I thought that it might be difficult for me to relate to this story. However, because the perspective of the children was highlighted, I found it quite easy to relate to and enjoyed seeing these different views. Hattendorf does a great job of connecting each of the families in the story and this keeps the reader hooked waiting for the next set of clues that will reveal how each person is connected. I was pleasantly surprised to find that An Evolving Society was not all filled with facts and figures but took a closer look at the emotional reactions of every person that is affected.

Quill says: This is a uniquely written story that keeps the reader thinking all the way through to the end.

For more information on An Evoling Society, please vist the author's website at: www.fadihattendorf.com

Book Review - Nothing Like A Dame

Nothing Like A Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

By: Eddie Shapiro
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: February 2014
ISBN: 978-0199941209
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: April 19, 2014

From Carol Channing to Chita Rivera, Sutton Foster to Patti Lupone, there are so many of the “GREATS” of musical theater in this book, fantastic stars who bear their souls, that you won't want to miss a page. If you want an insider’s view of life on stage, buy this book!

Nothing Like A Dame includes interviews with 21 luminaries of Broadway, all chosen by the author who had a strict criterion he wanted to follow. “...all had to have devoted the majority of their careers to the theater: no one who started in theater but moved on ... no stars from other media who visit Broadway...” (pg. xi). The selection of stars is fantastic and as soon as I received this book, I dived right in, heading straight for number one on my personal favorite list, Angela Lansbury. Rather than write a book that reads like a biography with a few juicy quotes sprinkled in for good measure, the author chose to use a straightforward interview format. There is a brief, one-page synopsis of each star’s career prior to the interview, but then it’s “game on!” and the fun starts. The author, Eddie Shapiro, is a die-hard Broadway fan, who has seen over 1200 Broadway performances and happily admits, “I saw everything, and I loved it all. Even the stuff I hated, I loved.” (pg. xi) His passion and understanding of the theater shows in his knowledgeable, probing questions and as each interview progresses, more intimate confessions and fascinating facts are brought to the surface.

Each interview has the air of two friends sitting down on a couch for a casual chat, a moment to reflect on a career, and all the ups and downs that entails. While Shapiro undoubtedly had a series of questions he wanted to ask each artist, the talks sometimes go wonderfully off tangent, as he follows his artists’ stories to unexpected places. For example, Angela Lansbury tells us about Sweeney Todd and how Stephen Sondheim played “The Worst Pies in London” and “...I thought it was so damned funny. It just killed me ... He kept slapping the piano for the dough. He kept getting the lyrics all mixed up. I was immediately terribly interested…” (pg. 86) while Kristin Chenoweth admits how shy she is, “...shy around celebrities. When I met Madonna my manager said, “She really wants to meet you,” but I barely said a thing. I’m a weirdo.” (pg. 284) There are so many great lines in this book, that I could go on quoting them forever ... but I won't. You'll just have to read the book yourself to get lost in the lives of these amazing women.

You’ll laugh, cry and come away with a lot of respect for the hard yet incredible lives these Ladies of Broadway have lived. This book is a definite keeper and I for one, am going to put it on my special bookshelf where all my favorite books live.

Quill says: If you’re a fan of musical theater, you have got to get a copy of Nothing Like A Dame!

Book Review - Love! Laugh! Panic!

Love! Laugh! Panic! Life with my Mother

By: Rosemary Mild
Publisher: Magic Island Literary Works
Publication Date: 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9838597-7-2
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: April 16, 2014

Rosemary Mild pens a bittersweet memoir in her latest work, Love! Laugh! Panic! Life with my Mother.

The story begins in 1943. Rosemary introduces her mother, Luby (Bragernick) Pollack and shares her recollection of having to take weekly piano lessons with Miss Parchel. Her parents’ (mother’s) goal was to provide Rosemary with cultural rounding. There is a distinct tone concerning Lucy’s persona once she insisted upon something and Rosemary’s only choice was to embrace the notion. Complaints from Rosemary were not an option (even if she didn’t have the talent). Somehow, through the many choices her mother made on Rosemary’s behalf; the outcome usually had a silver lining. In the case of piano lessons, handsome Tommy Brown was the prize. Easy on the eyes, Tommy had a propensity for mischief which translated to something to look forward to for Rosemary.

As the story progresses, I couldn’t help but think the purpose of Ms. Mild penning this story was to pay homage to the intricate workings of her mother’s larger than life persona. While each chapter is devoted to the experiences Ms. Mild had growing up, there is a distinct spotlight that is constantly shone upon her mother. Early on, there is an entire chapter devoted to Luby (Bragarnick) Pollack’s education. It details the immediate launch of her journalism career shortly after her graduation from the University of Wisconsin in 1929. She lands her first job with the Boston Store in Milwaukee shortly after graduation and eludes such accomplishment was merely a door opener to a long and fruitful career as an esteemed writer.

In many respects, Ms. Mild paints a clear picture of the devotion and undying love she has (and had) for her mother, yet there is also a perception that no matter what Rosemary accomplished (at least while her mother was alive), there was an innate sense she never quite measured up to her mother's standards. This is not a pontification of malice toward her mother by any means. Rather, I interpret this story to be a cathartic account that Ms. Mild needed to set to paper.

My interpretation of Love! Laugh! Panic! Life with my Mother is that Ms. Mild embarked upon a journey to pay homage to a woman who was a tremendously important cornerstone in her life. She portrayed Luby Pollack’s strengths (sometimes overbearing), but her insistence that she was the most important teacher in Ms. Mild’s life resonated throughout. I give her great props for penning the myriad of accounts ranging from utter embarrassment to borderline rage. The overall message, however, was an account written by a daughter in memory of a mother whose life ended too soon. Luby (Bragarnick) Pollack died of stomach cancer in her early 40’s. Her legacy to her daughter was a trunk filled with memories of her larger than life existence and how integral her presence was in molding the woman Ms. Mild became. In short, the author has written a sometimes whimsical, other times eyebrow raising account of her life and what it meant to be the daughter of Luby Pollack.

Quill says: Live! Laugh! Panic! is a daughter’s heart-felt rendition of memories of the most important person in her life… her mother.

Books In For Review

Here's a quick peek at some of the books that have just come in for review.  Check them out and then stop by our site in a few weeks to read the reviews.



Sting of the Drone by Richard A. Clarke In Washington, the Kill Committee gathers in the White House's Situation Room to pick the next targets for the United States drone program. At an airbase just outside Las Vegas, a team of pilots, military personnel and intelligence officers follow through on the committee's orders, finding the men who have been deemed a threat to national security and sentenced to death. On the other side of the world, in the mountains where the drones hunt their prey, someone has decided to fight back. And not just against the unmanned planes that circle their skies, but against the Americans at home who control them.  

Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed by John F. Ross At the turn of the twentieth century two new technologies—the car and airplane—took the nation’s imagination by storm as they burst, like comets, into American life. The brave souls that leaped into these dangerous contraptions and pushed them to unexplored extremes became new American heroes: the race car driver and the flying ace. No individual did more to create and intensify these raw new roles than the tall, gangly Eddie Rickenbacker, who defied death over and over with such courage and pluck that a generation of Americans came to know his face better than the president’s. The son of poor, German-speaking Swiss immigrants in Columbus, Ohio, Rickenbacker overcame the specter of his father’s violent death, a debilitating handicap, and, later, accusations of being a German spy, to become the American military ace of aces in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient. He and his high-spirited, all-too-short-lived pilot comrades, created a new kind of aviation warfare, as they pushed their machines to the edge of destruction—and often over it—without parachutes, radios, or radar.  

'Til the Well Runs Dry: A Novel by Lauren Francis-Sharma Lauren Francis-Sharma's 'Til the Well Runs Dry opens in a seaside village in the north of Trinidad where young Marcia Garcia, a gifted and smart-mouthed 16-year-old seamstress, lives alone, raising two small boys and guarding a family secret. When she meets Farouk Karam, an ambitious young policeman (so taken with Marcia that he elicits the help of a tea-brewing obeah woman to guarantee her ardor), the risks and rewards in Marcia’s life amplify forever. On an island rich with laughter, Calypso, Carnival, cricket, beaches and salty air, sweet fruits and spicy stews, the novel follows Marcia and Farouk from their amusing and passionate courtship through personal and historical events that threaten Marcia’s secret, entangle the couple and their children in a scandal, and endanger the future for all of them.  

The Beautiful American by Jeanne Mackin As recovery from World War II begins, expat American Nora Tours travels from her home in southern France to London in search of her missing sixteen-year-old daughter. There, she unexpectedly meets up with an old acquaintance, famous model-turned-photographer Lee Miller. Neither has emerged from the war unscathed. Nora is racked with the fear that her efforts to survive under the Vichy regime may have cost her daughter’s life. Lee suffers from what she witnessed as a war correspondent photographing the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. Nora and Lee knew each other in the heady days of late 1920s Paris, when Nora was giddy with love for her childhood sweetheart, Lee became the celebrated mistress of the artist Man Ray, and Lee’s magnetic beauty drew them all into the glamorous lives of famous artists and their wealthy patrons. But Lee fails to realize that her friendship with Nora is even older, that it goes back to their days as children in Poughkeepsie, New York, when a devastating trauma marked Lee forever. Will Nora’s reunion with Lee give them a chance to forgive past betrayals…and break years of silence to forge a meaningful connection as women who have shared the best and the worst that life can offer?  

Authorpreneur in Pajamas: Building Your Author's Platform Without Leaving Your Home by Geraldine Solon This may be the best time to be an author, but with thousands of books released daily, what will make your book stand out from the rest? Whether you’re published through a traditional publishing house or are self-published, every author should market their book. Although authors need to have a strong face-to-face presence, Authorpreneur in Pajamas focuses on how authors can build their platform in their pajamas while using online tools that increase exposure and visibility. We live in a virtual world, where digital has taken over paper, where smart phones, tablets and eReaders are now necessities, and where building your author’s platform can be done with a push of a button. Authopreneur in Pajamas teaches you how to build your author’s platform without leaving your home.  

An Autobiography of Black Chicago by Dempsey Travis Few were more qualified than Dempsey Travis to write the history of African Americans in Chicago, and none would be able to do it with the same command of firsthand sources. This seminal paperback reissue of Travis's best-known work, An Autobiography of Black Chicago, depicts Chicago's African-American community through the personal experiences of Dempsey Travis, his family, and his circle. Starting with John Baptiste Point du Sable, who was the first non–Native American to settle on the mouth of the Chicago River, and ending with Travis's own successes leading the city's NAACP chapter, organizing Martin Luther King's first march in the city, and providing equal housing opportunities for black Chicagoans.

Interview with Author Cynthia Morrison

Today we're talking with Cynthia Morrison, one of the authors of Scary Story: An Anthology

FQ: First why the horror genre? What drew you to it, what keeps you coming back?

MORRISON: I was drawn to the Horror genre at an early age through Hollywood productions of Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne type stories. I love the suspense involved and the anticipation of what may be just around the corner.

FQ: Along the same lines, why short stories? People don’t appreciate just how hard it is to pull off a good short story. Do you find it more of a challenge, than say, writing a novel?

MORRISON: Not a challenge at all. I stumbled upon a call for submissions of short stories when I was searching theatre submissions. I am also an award winning Playwright. My short stories have received great interest and I do plan a novel in the future.

FQ: Before we talk about your story, would you tell our readers a little about how Scary Story: An Anthology came about? How did you get involved?

MORRISON: The publisher of Scary Story: An Anthology contacted me after she had read a work of mine on a literary website. I then submitted “Fire of Faith“ to her and the work was accepted to be part of her project.

FQ: Now on to your story, "Fire of Faith." May I first say that the story had a definite creep factor and I wanted to bat Morgan, the wife, over the head (this is a compliment to your writing!). It is truly a unique tale. Without giving too much away, where did the idea come from?

MORRISON: I hold a Baccalaureate degree in Theology. Therefore, having knowledge of the Biblical reference of the earth being destroyed by fire, I used this to create a phobia for the Doctor in my story. Also, my being a history buff I chose the Victorian era as my setting. I combined the fire phobia and the bizarre types of experiments for the possibility of human flight to escape the burning tragedy. Hence, Fire of Faith.

FQ: I found Morgan, the all-too-trusting wife, a very interesting character. As the title says, the story really depends on her faith. Faith in her new husband, faith in what he could do, that he would protect her and that she would be helping humanity. Why was she so trusting?

MORRISON: Morgan’s decision to be her husband’s “Guinea pig” was not entirely based on trust alone. She decided to hand him her trust based more on the decision of not wanting to lose her position as a Physician’s wife and all the social grandeur that is part of that status. She also considered her Family’s approval of the marriage and didn’t want to disappoint them. We must remember that Victorian era thinking for women was based on certain principles of an antiquated cultural society. At least Morgan’s “character” had thoughts along those lines. Basically, Morgan’s faith was spawned by her own fear of losing social status. Phobias are ever present within “Fire of Faith.” Phobias are found to be a strong factor within mad scientist tales as is desperation to find a means of ending the madness.

FQ: How much of Morgan’s decision was based on trust and how much was based on her belief that success meant an increase in social status and an “influx of wealth” ?

MORRISON: Answered above.

FQ: Edward, the husband and aspiring physician, was a rather selfish character, particularly since he was willing to put his wife’s life at risk for his experiment. Did you want your readers to dislike him?

MORRISON: Edward, in “his” mind, was not selfish. Edward is controlled by an over bearing phobia that stems from his childhood when he learned of the earth burning someday. I personally hold sympathy for Edward. His attempts, although deceptive through the eyes of normality, are actually driven by a psychological force that has altered his judgement. Then ultimately losing a loving wife and career due to his untreated state of mind.

FQ: You write about tendons, muscles, and use some medical jargon. Did you have to do research before coming up with Edward’s experiment?

MORRISON: Remnants of High school Biology class I suppose.

FQ: I see that you are a three-time International Jousting champion! Tell me how that has played a role in some of your writing? (I have 12 horses and would love to try jousting so I had to include this question!)

MORRISON: Twelve Horses?! Where do you find time for Interviews? So far I have only brought Jousting into a Poem and a Monologue. I have no plans on bringing it into a tale but one never knows what the future may hold.

FQ: I found your bio quite interesting, particularly since you are a woman of many varied talents. Writing, acting, film production, and composing musical scores to name a few. Wow! Do you have a favorite or do you like to jump around from one to another?

MORRISON: I simply attribute this to being an Artist. This has long been a part of my being in different areas. I am also a performance artist which involves being “the human firecracker” (igniting thousands of firecrackers upon myself while protected by leather), fire eating and knife throwing with human target.

FQ: Are you working on a new project? Another short story? Would you give our readers a sneak peek?

MORRISON: Yes. I recently finished a murder mystery! A short story based on my own experience of an attempt to wake a man who I thought was asleep on the beach but the Police announced his status differently. That was a chilling experience to say the least. Readers may stay tuned for “Lady Luck”!

To learn more about Scary Story: An Anthology please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Book Review - Ferry Tail

Ferry Tail

By: Katharine Kenah
Illustrated by: Nicole Wong
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: April 2014
ISBN: 978-1585368297
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: April 2014

Ah, the ocean breeze felt so good against the tip of Walter’s nose! The ferry boat churned through the water leaving a wake behind and a small blue flag flapped in the breeze. There was a lot of work to be done on a ferry and as soon as the cars began to board, Walter sprang into action. Those seagulls needed to be chased away and he “posed in family pictures, and kept an eye on babies.” Captain needed that newspaper and Engineer needed to know when it was time to head out. “Come here, Walter,” exclaimed Cook, “Taste this bacon for me.” Such was the life of a ferry dog. That ferry just could not manage without Walter, like ever.

Everyone needed him except for one critter ... Captain’s cat. Cupcake “wore a collar with jewels” and “slept in a fully round bed in the Captain’s cabin.” That horrid Cupcake would practically poke him in the eye when he got close. Ouch! One terrible gray day the ferry worked its way through churning waves and everyone stayed inside. There was not a lick of work for Walter to do and he felt so unwanted. Cupcake was taking over his job and got him into trouble when she rip, rip, ripped up that newspaper. “Bad dog,” shouted Captain. If no one needed him, it looked like Walter would have to leave. Perhaps the people on the island would need him, or would they?

This is a wonderfully charming story of Walter the ferry dog that children will love. Of course Walter had a lot of work to do, but once he felt no one appreciated him, it was time to leave. Children will immediately fall in love with Walter and laugh when Cupcake swats him. Everyone wants to be appreciated, including Walter, and when things are not going their way it can be discouraging. Walter feels, as they say, that the grass is greener on the other side, and leaves thinking things will be better somewhere else. The artwork is lively, whimsical, and has great kid appeal. Walter is just one of those marvelously appealing dogs everyone will fall in love with. Cupcake? Well that’s quite another story!

Quill says: Everyone will fall in love with Walter the ferry dog, except perhaps those cats out there!