Award Program Gearing Up

Our award program is gearing up and will be open for nominations in July. In the meantime, we're securing our list of special awards and tweaking the categories (adding a 'debut author' category, etc.). We'd like to know what you would like to see? A new category, or ? Let us know! Here's the link to the page with further info.

http://www.featheredquill.com/awardprogram.shtml

Book Review - Aegis Rising

Aegis Rising 

By: S.S. Segran
Illustrated By: Eric Newport
Publisher: Inkmagination
Publication Date: November 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9910813-0-1
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: June 3, 2014

For five teenagers, Kody, Jag, Tegan, Mariah, and Aari, a plane ride into the forests of the Pacific Northwest sounded like a grand adventure. However, that thought is quickly dashed after their plane flies into the middle of a terrible storm and goes crashing to the ground, surrounded by fiery flames. When these five regain consciousness they find themselves in a strange community surrounded by odd but accommodating villagers. Of course their first thought is that of escape but as their caretakers and the elders of the villagers began to tell them of a prophecy they are believed to fulfill, their minds slowly begin to change about the idea of escaping. Especially after almost being devoured by ferocious wolves with their first escape attempt, the five friends decide that staying with these people would be the best choice.

Soon after deciding to stay, these five begin their training one on one with an elder assigned to each of them. Before too long specific inner powers begin to immerge from each of them and they quickly discover that they have been destined for much more than any of them ever thought possible.

A bird engulfed in flames falling from the sky was the first sign the elders of the village believed they would see when the five destined to fulfill the prophecy arrived. Soon after seeing this sign the five teenagers are brought to the village, making them the obvious answer to the upcoming prophecy. Some in the village, however, are not convinced because they believe the five in the prophecy should come from their own people rather than strangers from an outside land. However, as the elders spend more and more time with these five friends they become convinced that these teenagers are the ones they have been waiting for and come to believe that they will be strong enough to face all of the challenges ahead of them.

Up in the mountains the head of a mining expedition named Ajajdif is under strict orders to extract a special kind of ore in a matter of weeks. When the project started it was thought that this would not take more than two months but unfortunately more time is needed and Ajajdif is feeling the pressure of the approaching deadline weighing down on him. Ajajdif believed that these mountains did not have anyone living in them, but after arresting four trespassers who obviously dwelled within these mountains, his belief was quickly shattered. These were not just simple mountain dwellers either but skilled and intelligent fighters who are giving Ajajdif more problems than he wants to deal with. If need be Ajajdif will go to war with these people to keep the mining expedition on track and if these villagers continue to cause problems he knows that will be his only choice.

From the very first page this story had me transfixed and I ended up absolutely loving this book! Everything from the landscape, the characters, the plot, and the different societies was so well described and were brought together to form an epic adventure. Being able to see the perspective of many characters was also something that I truly enjoyed as I don’t think I would have been able to grasp the plot of this book without seeing it from every angle. It was agonizing knowing that a battle was coming and then having to wait for each character to come to the realization in their own time. Each part of this book had me hanging on the edge begging to know what comes next and how the five heroes would stand up to the challenges that would soon be thrown their way.

Quill says: This is an absolutely thrilling story that grips onto the reader and never lets go! 

For more information on Aegis Rising, please visit the author's website at: www.sssegran.com

Interview with Author Bethany Crandell

Today we're talking with Bethany Crandell, author of Summer on the Short Bus
 
FQ: Hearing the background stories of Cricket’s co-counselors was one of my most enjoyable parts of the book. Where did the inspiration for these characters come from?
 
CRANDELL: Fantine was actually inspired by a girl I went to high school with. She was an athletic goddess, ridiculously smart, sweet without being syrupy and oh-so pretty. To sum it up, she was a bad ass. From the moment Fantine first showed up on my computer screen, I knew she would be modeled after that girl. As for the other counselors, I didn’t really set out with a plan of how their personal stories would unfold I just wanted to make sure they had one to tell.

FQ: The real life quality of this book was something I personally loved but were you worried about offending anyone while writing this story? 
 
CRANDELL: No, not really. I knew that to convey the story I wanted to tell, I had to give my characters plenty of room to be themselves—and that meant not worrying about how they might be perceived.

FQ: How will you react if some readers respond more negatively to this book?
 
CRANDELL: It would be awesome if every person who picked up this book fell in love with it, but I’m a realist and well aware that the odds of that happening are slim to never. So, here’s my philosophy on negative feedback:

You can’t please everyone.

Cricket embodies just about every negative character trait a person can have (and most of us do), so I can see how a story told from that point of view might be off-putting to some readers. I for one would take a flawed protagonist over an angelic one any day, but that’s just how I roll. In the end, I have to trust that the right audience will appreciate the story for what it is. Beyond that, it’s out of my control.

FQ: The personalities of the campers and co-counselors were not what I expected but Rainbow the camp director seemed to fit the typical 'just wants everyone to have fun' type director. Did you intend her to be that way?
 
CRANDELL: Absolutely! If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the earth-dwelling angels who look after our special needs kids (teachers, camp directors, therapists, etc.,) it’s that they have an endless supply of enthusiasm for their jobs, the kids they work with, and more patience than a Jedi knight. Rainbow needed to be the camp cheerleader because her life is about encouraging those kids to be the best they can be.

FQ: Was your daughter one of the sole inspirations for this book or did you have experiences with special needs kids before your daughter?
 
CRANDELL: Some aspects of the book were inspired by my daughter. For example, James’ affinity to oven mitts was based on my daughter’s love of backpacks. But the real inspiration for writing a story with disabled characters had more to do my own journey getting to know my daughter, understanding her differences, and figuring out how I was going to forge into an honest relationship with her while still being true to who I was. Before my daughter, I had very little interaction with the disabled community--she’s been a huge, welcome eye-opener.

FQ: Would you say the reaction that Cricket had when first realizing this was a special needs camp is the reaction that most people would have?
 
CRANDELL: Probably not to that extent, but yes, I do believe that most people would have been surprised, and maybe even a bit nervous, to realize that they’d be working with disabled kids.

FQ: The protectiveness that Quinn showed over his brother and the other co-counselors expressed for some of the campers was such an intimate part of their characters, is that protectiveness something you have experienced as well? 
 
CRANDELL: You bet! Like any mom, I’m protective of both of my girls. But when I catch someone staring a little too long at the younger one (she has cerebral palsy), or scowling at her, the mama bear switch flips and I get a little feisty. I understand that people are curious about her--she does make some weird noises and expressions, especially when she’s excited--but there’s a line between curiosity and just being rude. The location of that line tends to shift depending on my mood. Heh.

FQ: There were many changes in Cricket’s view of the world in this story opening up so many possibilities in where her life can go, so could there possibly be a sequel to this book?
 
CRANDELL: I’ve toyed with the idea of a sequel, but it never includes a starring role from Cricket. I think embarking on a new summer adventure from one of the campers’ POVs, (or a few of them) could be a fun/interesting twist.

To learn more about Summer on the Short Bus please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Book Review - Can't Wait Willow

Can't-Wait Willow! 

By: Christy Ziglar
Illustrated by: Luanne Marten
Publisher: Ideals Children's Books
Publication Date: April 2013
ISBN: 978-0824956486
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: June 2014

Can you believe it? Today is the day “The Over-the-Top Circus” arrives in town and Willow is super-de-dooper excited. It is going to be an amazing day! Willow heads to the circus, but within a few minutes she spots the ice cream truck. Yum! An ice cream is the perfect way to start an awesome day so Willow takes out her money and buys a cone. She just can’t say no.

Willow keeps walking and soon sees her friends playing kickball. That looks like fun! Willow plays for a bit until she gets thirsty. A little more money for a glass of lemonade and then it’s back to walking to the circus.
Willow gets distracted again and again on the way to the circus until she finally arrives and after a few more distractions, she finds that she is out of money AND the show she was so excited to see has ended. What will she do?

Can’t-Wait Willow! is the sweet story of an adorable little girl who just can’t say no. She wants to try everything, but soon realizes that sometimes you need to say no to the little things so you can enjoy the more important things. There is a note at the start of the book from the author to parents that includes a link for games, apps, and parenting resources. For kids, there is a ‘star search’ within the story where a little yellow star appears repeatedly (can you find it?) and its appearance reflects the choices (good or bad) that Willow makes. A fun story, cheerful illustrations that mesh perfectly with the story, and a valuable lesson make this book a winner!

Quill says: If you want to teach your child how to make good choices, and when to say ‘no’ to things that may not be important, check out Can’t-Wait Willow! Your child will have fun AND learn a valuable lesson.

Book Review - Must-Have Marvin!

Must-Have Marvin! 

By: Christy Ziglar
Illustrated by: Luanne Marten
Publisher: Ideals Children's Books
Publication Date: March 2014
ISBN: 978-0824956578
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: June 3, 2014

Marvin was sooooo excited! He had a brand-new dinosaur t-shirt and he couldn't wait to show it to all his friends at school. Marvin was one young man who LOVED new things! Anything new was exciting and fun. He also LOVED showing his new stuff to his friends. What could be better than getting new things? Marvin was about to find out...

When Marvin arrived at school, he was surprised to see that Oscar had the exact same dinosaur shirt! To make matters worse, Oscar had the very cool glow-in-the-dark matching shoes. How awesome was that? Marvin knew instantly that he had to have the matching shoes. A little while later, Marvin sat on a bench thinking about those shoes while the other kids planted the school vegetable garden. He had no time for his friends when there were neat, new shoes to think about.

When Marvin saw somebody with a Super Galactic Robot at recess, well, you can imagine what he thought. He HAD to have one! He thought about that robot during science class, soccer practice, and he even skipped playing with his brother so he could count up his savings to see if he had enough money to buy that robot. Would Marvin ever get his robot? More importantly, would he ever realize just how much he was missing out on by obsessing on new “things”?

Must-Have Marvin is the perfect story to teach little ones the importance of friends over things. Marvin learns a very important lesson when he comes to realize just how much his fixation on getting the newest, and best, of everything impacts his friends. He also learns how much he is missing by placing material goods above his friends. The story is fun and cheerful, with a happy ending, that helps children grasp the importance of friends. The illustrations are bright and children will delight at finding, and following, a little yellow star that appears repeatedly throughout the story and perfectly reflects the decisions Marvin makes by how it looks. In addition, there is a note from the author to parents, with a link to the publisher’s website for additional resources.

Quill says: Not just a fun story, Must-Have Marvin! will teach a valuable lesson to your child about the importance of friendships over the acquisition of material objects.

Book Review - The Romonov Sisters

The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra

By: Helen Rappaport
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: June 2014
ISBN: 978-1250020208
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld

Review Date: June 5, 2014

Most people learn about the Russian Revolution of 1917 in a high school history class. They read about the Tsar, his weaknesses, his wife’s obsession with Rasputin, and how it all came crashing down when they were executed in July of 1918, along with their son and four daughters. The children, particularly the daughters, are typically treated as a footnote, meshed together as one unit, and frequently getting no more than a sentence or two in various history books. Thanks to Helen Rappaport however, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia Romanov are finally given the coverage they deserve as their lives come to life within the pages of The Romanov Sisters.

Rappaport begins her book with a look into Tsaritsa Alexandra before she became “Empress of all the Russias.” As Princess Alix of Hesse, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she led a privileged life. However, after the death of her mother, brother and little sister, young Alix retreated into the safety of family and valued it above all else. In adulthood, this desire to retreat behind closed doors with her family would come back again and again for Alix, and lead the Russian people to misjudge her and her actions.

After falling in love with, and marrying, Nicholas Romanov, Alix [now Alexandra], found herself thrown into a culture, and tradition, she didn’t understand. What she did know was family, and that is where she threw herself, heart and soul. Bearing four daughters, and then finally, to the relief of all, a son, Alexandra relished the role of mother. Her preference, however, to stay behind palace doors with her children, combined with health issues that kept her from traveling or, indeed, being seen out of the palace, led to much negative speculation on the part of the Russian people.

While The Romanov Sisters provides much information on Alexandra, Nicholas, and their son Alexey, it provides an astounding amount of detail into the personal lives of Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. Exhaustively researched, the author uses letters, diary entries, official documents, and photos, to bring these four girls to life. Rappaport tells a mesmerizing story, as she meticulous introduces the reader to these four charming girls, with their likes, dislikes, teenage crushes, schooling, volunteerism during the War, and the various activities that kept them busy. Many events/people surrounding the Tsar and his family are seen through the eyes of his four daughters. For example, Alexandra's embracing of the infamous Rasputin is carefully examined. While not wise, her devotion to this faith healer is certainly more understandable in the context of the story Rappaport tells, particularly in relation to the Tsaritsa's hemophiliac son. This is where most history books stop, but Rappaport continues and dives into how the daughters felt about their mother’s advisor, his powers, and his death, which are clearly seen through the letters they left.

While all readers will know how this tale ends before reading the first page, The Romanov Sisters is not about that fateful day at the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg. It is about the vivacious young ladies who grew up as the daughters of Tsar Nicholas. With a degree in Russian Studies, I have read a lot of books about the Romanovs and the last days of Imperial Russia. I have not, however, read a book that so grabbed me and kept me reading late into the night. Poignant, insightful, well written, The Romanov Sisters should be required reading for anybody studying the history of Russia.

Quill says: This book brings to life the Romanov sisters, and the rest of their family, like no other I’ve read. If you’re interested in Russian history, do NOT miss this book!

Books in for Review

Another very interesting batch of books have just arrived for review.  Check them out below and then stop by our site in a few weeks to read the reviews.





The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport They were the Princess Dianas of their day—perhaps the most photographed and talked about young royals of the early twentieth century. The four captivating Russian Grand Duchesses—Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Romanov—were much admired for their happy dispositions, their looks, the clothes they wore and their privileged lifestyle. Over the years, the story of the four Romanov sisters and their tragic end in a basement at Ekaterinburg in 1918 has clouded our view of them, leading to a mass of sentimental and idealized hagiography. With this treasure trove of diaries and letters from the grand duchesses to their friends and family, we learn that they were intelligent, sensitive and perceptive witnesses to the dark turmoil within their immediate family and the ominous approach of the Russian Revolution, the nightmare that would sweep their world away, and them along with it. The Romanov Sisters sets out to capture the joy as well as the insecurities and poignancy of those young lives against the backdrop of the dying days of late Imperial Russia, World War I and the Russian Revolution. Helen Rappaport aims to present a new and challenging take on the story, drawing extensively on previously unseen or unpublished letters, diaries and archival sources, as well as private collections. It is a book that will surprise people, even aficionados.  

My Gentle Barn: Creating a Sanctuary Where Animals Heal and Children Learn to Hope by Ellie Laks Founder Ellie Laks started The Gentle Barn after adopting a sick goat from a run-down petting zoo in 1999. Some two hundred animals later (including chickens, horses, pigs, cows, rabbits, emus, and more), The Gentle Barn has become an extraordinary nonprofit that brings together a volunteer staff of community members and at-risk teens to rehabilitate abandoned and/or abused animals. As Ellie teaches the volunteers to care for the animals, they learn a new language of healing that works wonders on the humans as well. My Gentle Barn weaves together the story of how the Barn came to be what it is today with Ellie's own journey. Filled with heartwarming animal stories and inspiring recoveries, My Gentle Barn is a feel-good account that will delight animal lovers and memoir readers alike.  

The God Squad: Mission Him-Possible, The Distorted Mirror by Darlene Laney Meet the God Squad, six ordinary girls; living ordinary lives until they get the call! In this anything but ordinary story you’ll meet Mia, Sadie, Jade, Angel, Chris and Eve the six girls that make up the God Squad. Ranging in age from 12 – 15 the girls attend Carver Preparatory. In this episode, the girls’ mission is to befriend a fellow student overly concerned with being accepted by the popular group and willing to do just about anything to belong but when things take an unexpected turn she finds herself in over her head and makes a frantic late night call for help. Will the God Squad get to her in time to avoid a catastrophe?

My Pack: Burney the Hollywood Puppy by Walter F. Todd A shih tzu pup makes a grisly discovery in Hollywood. Meet Burney, a shih tzu puppy who was born in Minnesota and sold to a Beverly Hills pet store. He misses his pack-mates but quickly forms a new bond with Stacey, the aspiring actor who purchases him from the pet store. With his new pack-mate, Burney experiences the joy and adventure of living in Hollywood. A loving and friendly puppy, he meets actors, policemen, robbers, and even has a part in a movie! His great joy is romping on the beach, running in big circles, and meeting other dogs and people. In the first three months of his life, Burney wards off a robber with deadly intent; is frightened by a monkey during an audition; breaks two toes when a woman with spiked heels steps on him; and is sprayed by a skunk. During a romp in Griffith Park, Burney makes a gruesome discovery and inadvertently helps the local police department solve a murder investigation, leading him to become an honorary member of the K-9 Platoon. This little pup has lived an exciting life-and it's only just begun!  

Santa Clause: The Book of Secrets by Russell Ince

Face Value: A Rachel Gold Mystery by Michael Kahn As St. Louis attorney Rachel Gold knows firsthand, the grueling hours and demands of Big Law take their toll on young lawyers. Some turn to drugs, some quit the profession, and occasionally one quits altogether. According to the medical examiner, Sari Bashir quit for good on leaving work one Thursday night. That's when she fell to her death from the eighth floor of the downtown garage adjacent to her firm where she parked her car. The police ruled her death a suicide. Stanley Plotkin, however, rules it a homicide. Stanley is a genius. He also has Asperger’s Syndrome which makes employing him tricky. So Sari’s firm employed Stanley in the mail room. Among his obsessions is the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a massive compilation that correlates hundreds of facial muscle actions with specific emotions and mental states. For someone like Stanley, who can’t read people’s emotions from their facial expressions, FACS is like a hearing aid for the hearing impaired. And his mastery of FACS is so complete he’s sure that Sari did not kill herself. Rachel had been close with Sari, who worked for her during law school. She also knows Stanley because their mothers are friends. When he calls Sari’s death murder as Rachel drives him home from Sari's memorial service, she listens. And when Sari's grieving father pleads with Rachel to review the police file on his daughter's suicide, she reluctantly, though with consummate skill and deploying unlikely colleagues, starts an investigation that will lead into the heart of a dark criminal enterprise rife with collateral damage. Like Sari...

Hell with the Lid Blow Off by Donis Casey In the summer of 1916, a big twister cuts a swath of destruction around Boynton, Oklahoma. Alafair Tucker’s family and neighbors are not spared the ruin and grief spread by the storm. But no one is going to mourn for dead Jubal Beldon, who’d made it his business to know the ugly secrets of everyone in town. It never mattered if Jubal’s insinuations were true or not since in a small town like Boynton, rumor could be as ruinous as fact. Then Mr. Lee, the undertaker, does his grim duty for the storm victims and discovers that even in death, troublemaker Jubal isn’t going to leave his neighbors in peace. Jubal was already dead when the tornado carried his body to the middle of a fallow field. Had he died in an accident or had he been murdered by someone whose secret he had threatened to expose? Dozens of people would have been happy to do the deed, some of them members of Jubal’s own family like his angry, disinherited brothers. As Sheriff Scott Tucker and his deputy Trenton Calder look into Jubal’s demise, it begins to look like the prime suspect may be someone very dear to the widow Beckie MacKenzie, the beloved music teacher and mentor of Alafair’s daughter Ruth. Ruth fears that the secrets exposed by the investigation are going to cause more damage to Beckie’s life than the tornado. Alafair, coping with injuries to her own, still has time for suspicions about how Jubal Beldon came to die. What if the truth of it hits very close to home?