#BookReview - Galahad's Fool

Galahad's Fool

By: Conrad Bishop & Elizabeth Fuller
Publisher: WoodWorkers Press
Publication Date: June 2018
ISBN: 978-0-9997287-0-3
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: June 2018

In Northern California, a place that offers the colorful growth of flowers, a stage blossoms as well. Or, at least, it did. Here is a place built by a husband and wife team that allows others to enjoy the world of imagination. The male part of this duo, a puppeteer and writer by the name of Albert Fisher, is dealing with pain and loneliness. His wife, Lainie, was lost to him, passing away in the early morning hours while in a coma. Albert is currently working on putting together a new play and attempting to mold the puppets that will be the stars of the show; although one is giving him a great many problems. He heads down to the local coffee shop where he 'people watches,' and he continues to write about one person who was a hero to a great many. A hero who appeared on paper doing incredible things, which calls for a true hero’s soul to “show” through the eyes of this puppet.

Sir Galahad is that character and, a bit like the beloved “Monty Python,” Albert’s attempting to write a humorous tale in regards to Galahad and his new quest. As much as Albert utilizes this new show that he’s putting together as a form of healing – now that the anniversary of the death of his wife is almost upon him – Albert also uses this play and this character as something to throw himself into…something that allows him to almost “be” the aging Galahad in this tale.

Sir Galahad, to Albert, has given up the days of horsing around and is now settled, married, growing older, and living in a ranch-style castle with his beautiful wife. Albert “lives” through Galahad, giving the hero who was one who never lost faith, a look at real life and the traumas that can come from it. What he doesn’t know right off the bat is that Sir Galahad, in return, will be the path that brings the spark of belief back to a man who has been hurt by life, itself.

Readers take quite a trek with Albert and Galahad, learning about Albert’s “Lost Boy” moments and his days while growing up in Iowa. They will see Albert wrestle with his feelings, try to regain the imagination and need for both his life and the play, while Galahad forms an army and a Fool switches places with a woman in order to help form a kinship between the characters. You also meet a costumer by the name of Jeanette that adds yet another layer to Albert.

The writers of this tale, a husband and wife duo, offer scenes of perfection when it comes to backstage life, making the scents and sounds of the playhouse world jump off the pages. Not to mention, the nuggets of wonder provided by characters when asking questions such as whether or not people have to be fools in order to believe in the magic of faith. Galahad wore armor and Albert wears irony, which is certainly a form of armor many of us clothe ourselves in. And watching Albert relieve himself of burdens and learn how to bring back the soul in both a puppet’s eyes as well as his own can and will take your breath away.

Quill Says: There is emotion in this book that is done so well, there’s no doubt you will read it again and again.

For more information on Galahad's Fool, please visit the website www.DamnedFool.com.

#BookReview - The Summer Sail

The Summer Sail

By: Wendy Francis
Publisher: Touchstone
Publication Date: May 2018
ISBN: 978-1501188916
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rearick
Review Date: June 2018

Every year three college roommates, living completely different lives, get together for a vacation, to remember the good times and make new memories. Abby, the housewife, married to a professor named Sam, spends her time raising their twin boys Chris and Ryan. Lee is a preschool teacher and single mother to college student Lacey. Caroline, the extravagant one, living in New York with her boyfriend Javier, works for a magazine. This year their vacation will be a little bit different. Abby and Sam have invited everyone on an all-expenses paid cruise to Bermuda to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. Everyone is excited and is ready for the cruise. Although the main reason is for Abby and Sam's anniversary, each family has their own hopes for the vacation.

Caroline is heading on this vacation hoping that her boyfriend Javier will propose. Caroline and Javier have been dating for three years. Although she isn't sure whether she wants children or not, she knows that she wants to take this next step with him. She doesn't want anything extravagant, just something small and simple, but she does want something that will bind them together forever. Before the cruise she left subtle hints and she has left little hints on the cruise as well. Although she hasn't told Javier about it, she does plan on giving him an ultimatum, either he proposes or they move on. As the cruise continues, and still no proposal, Caroline's concern continues to grow about where her relationship will go from here.

Lee is hoping that the cruise will help get her daughter back. Being a single mother to Lacey, they have always been close. When Lacey went off to college, so far away from home, they began to grow apart. It has gotten to the point where Lee feels like she doesn't even know her daughter at all. When Lacey comes home for the summer and they are both surprised with the cruise, Lee thinks it will be the perfect trip for them to reconnect. Lacey, excited to get away, has a huge secret that she must share. Although she is nervous about talking to Lee, since it could change their lives forever, she has to come clean to her mother.

For Sam and Abby, the whole reason for this cruise is to bring together their friends and family and have a vow renewal for their twentieth wedding anniversary. With their sixteen-year-old twins Chris and Ryan off enjoying the activities on the cruise, Sam and Abby are enjoying their time lounging by the pool and spending time with their friends. Although everyone thinks that they are here for a vow renewal, Sam and Abby also have news of their own that they have to share with everyone. Not wanting to spoil the renewal, they decided to tell everyone after the renewal. Since the vow renewal isn't until the middle of the week, Abby has to try to act normal, so no one catches on.

As the vow renewal gets closer, no one has shared their secrets. With three families and three completely different secrets, each affecting the others, they must come clean since it will change their lives.

The Summer Sail was the perfect summer read. It was very detailed so it made me feel like I was on the cruise as well. It was like a true family book where I could relate to each person and the secret they kept. The reader will start out knowing Caroline's secret of wanting a proposal, but it leads you on because you're constantly wondering how she will break this ultimatum to Javier. With Lacey, you learn her secret later, but knowing what her mother went through, you again are led on with wondering if it is true or not and how will she break this to Lee. Finally, with Abby's secret, the book leads you on with multiple ideas of what her secret is but ties it all in at the end.  It was a great book that anyone can relate to.

Quill says: If you're looking for a great summer read, this book is for you.

#BookReview - The Griffin's Feather

The Griffin's Feather (Dragon Rider #2)

By: Cornelia Funke
Illustrated By: Cornelia Funke
Publisher: Chicken House
Publication Date: July 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-21553-3
Reviewed By: Kristi Eldridge
Review Date: June 1, 2018

In Cornelia Funke's first book in "The Dragon Rider" series, she introduced the beautiful silver dragon Firedrake. This fascinating dragon goes on a quest to find a safe home for the herd of dragons he has lived with, as humans were infringing on their home. Accompanying him on his journey was a brownie named Sorrel, a unique furry cat-like creature, and a human boy named Ben who becomes Firedrake’s dragon rider. Together they find the mythical place called The Rim of Heaven, a place thought to not exist. However, through their unrelenting friendship they find The Rim of Heaven, which will become the home for the dragons. They also manage to defeat the dragons' mortal enemy, a fierce golden dragon named Nettelbrand.

Now, Firedrake and Ben are faced with another challenge, to help save the lives of Pegasus foals, the last ones known to be on this Earth. However, Pegasus' eggs are extremely delicate and these young foals had unfortunately lost their mother. It was her care that would help the eggs to grow, but now without her Ben and Firedrake have to find another way to help these foals. A family called the Greenblooms, who had helped them search for and find The Rim of Heaven, come to their aid once again to find a solution.

After all of their research they find only one remedy, to use the golden feather of a griffin, as these feathers have the unique ability to make the Pegasus eggs grow, and in turn save the lives of the foals. Unfortunately, griffins are really not at all friendly animals, and they have a particular hatred for Pegasus in particular. They fancy themselves as the ultimate master's of the sky, so they do not take kindly to any other winged creature flying in what they deem as their territory. Of course, this presents another obstacle as Firedrake is a winged creature as well, so the griffins may have double the reason not to help them. No matter what, however, Firedrake and the others must try, or risk losing the species of Pegasus forever.

This story has so many wonderful characters that are perfect for a pre-teen book. From the mighty dragon, to a mouse that pilots her own plane, this book is filled with characters that fill the imagination. I loved being surprised in every chapter as Ben and Firedrake would meet someone new and author Cornelia Funke would then expertly weave a unique background for each of them, creating a fantastic series.

Quill says: A fantastic read and I can't wait for the next installment.

#AuthorInterview with Reilly DeVie for Author Daniela Bronzy

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Amy Lignor is talking with Reilly DeVie, representing author Daniela Bronzy, author of Roots, Rumors & Wrath.

FQ: Mr. DeVie, can you speak to readers about how and when you met Daniela Bronzy and what your first impressions were of this obviously creative individual?

DeVIE: The story of meeting Ms. Bronzy or ‘Dee,’ is one of my favorites to tell. At the tail of the 90’s there was really only one art store in Boise. I was hanging flyers advertising the start of my furniture and metal business while she was picking up supplies before returning home to her residence two hours north of Boise. She happened to be accompanied by a priest that I had known and we began talking. This would all come out later on in the story of her life, but she had rethought the idea of the novel by including imagined products integral into the manuscript and then physically producing those products to be available to readers. I am guessing at this time she had already written her first novel, roots, rumors & wrath and she was looking for someone capable of realizing her ideas. She ended up asking me if I could figure out how to make an Ida-Hoe, which was a garden hoe in the shape of our state of Idaho.

I didn’t know what to think about her when we first met. Later in my mind she would became a grandmotherly figure and memories of her have become intermixed with my real grandmother, even in appearance.

FQ: When did you receive Ms. Bronzy’s work, and what made you take on the task of getting her words out to the public?

DeVIE: Our story takes a turn in March of 2017 when I received a box from a lawyer’s office in McCall, Idaho. When I talk about Dee and this story of our relationship, it almost seems implausible. Our relationship was mostly through phone calls and an occasional visit to her home. I would not say we were close, but that it is my opinion. In her mind perhaps we were closer than I realized. Why else would she send me the box?. I did not know she was a writer. I just knew she had a vivid imagination. We never spoke about her writing. The box from the lawyers held several unpublished manuscripts and a half dozen illustrated children’s books in various levels of completion. I still do not know why she sent them to me. Together we had made prototypes of several of her ideas and we had several fun conversations both in person and over the phone, but I didn’t think we were that particularly close. But you just never know what kind of influence you have on someone’s life when you take the time to get to know someone. I just wish I would have spent more time with her. There are several unanswered questions.

I have spent the last year getting the first novel of hers ready for publication. There is a lot to putting a book together, but the experience has been both cathartic and incredibly satisfying. I am working on her second novel now which will be released in October and the first of her children’s book should be out for Christmas. The coolest thing is people are reading her words that no one knew even existed and really enjoying them. I just wish she could have been at her book launch. We donated the funds generated that night to a local charity, The Learning Lab, and sold out of books. I think she would have really loved that.

FQ: Can you tell us a little about your own creative talents? It is said that you are an artist, a welder, and actually created something for Ms. Bronzy?

DeVIE: I don’t know about talent, but I enjoy being creative. I think the secret to Dee and I’s success together is that while they were most certainly her ideas, she gave me creative license in making them. It was a nice partnership. Before I ever knew she was writing, we made several of her products come to life. A few were introduced in the first novel, and there are many to come in the proceeding releases as well. Because of her, I have had a chance to hone my welding and wood working skills as well as step out of my box and enter the world of technology. Bringing her worlds that she created to life and hearing how people have enjoyed reading them has been especially great. To better get her name out there, I have been attending book clubs that have read her first book roots, rumors & wrath and being part of the discussion. I take with me book themed snacks and drinks and several of her products and spend the evening discussing Dee’s ideas. It is a thrill. And I have learned a lot about the book from these discussions.

FQ: Tell us a bit about the next book by Ms. Bronzy that you are looking at publishing? What the plot/characters are all about?

DeVIE: Dee left notes behind. Not written to me, but I think to herself. She saw the writing process as a potential business. A means of making money. She had researched the most popular genres of novels and she found thrillers and continuing character development throughout multiple novels as the key to creating followers and financial success. All of her novels exchange characters but are ‘stand alone’ books as well and can be enjoyed without reading the preceding releases, but in reading the others, you delve deeper into the characters. The next novel, signs, sushi & psyche continues to follow several of the characters as well as introducing a few new faces. It is several years later and world is following the launching of a land train capable of incredible speeds. We follow the characters lives as they are brought on board and are challenged with solving several mysteries at once which in Dee’s style somehow brings them all together at the end tying together all the loose ends. There is a bank robbery, drug dealers, plagues; characters deal with dementia, fist fights, parenting, bad decisions, and love. There are political and social commentaries that challenge our ideals and there are new ideas that have you visiting her website (www.danielabronzy.com) to see if the ideas really exist.

FQ: It was stated on the back of the book in the bio that Ms. Bronzy also penned children’s books. Can you tell us about those projects and whether or not you will be looking to publish them as well?

DeVIE: So besides writing novels, Ms. Bronzy illustrated and wrote several children’s books. They are each in different stages of completion. Some were simply sketched out, others were colored and ready to be scanned and formatted. I have decided to release them over the course of several years. For one, it gives me the chance to get them ready for publication while still continuing to pursue other projects. And second, I want her name to become known and slowly releasing her works over the course of time, building her reputation and brand recognition, will keep her in the zeitgeist and hopefully expand her readership.

FQ: Are you, yourself, interested in becoming a writer after all the work you have done in the industry bringing these books to fruition?

DeVIE: Having an idea is the easy part. Putting the idea on paper and building characters and formulating a plot and executing a climax is beyond me. My job is to help Dee realize her dreams of getting her books in front of people. While perhaps we all have the desire to write a book, I do not possess that ability. I think just brining Dee’s work to life will take me the better part of a decade to accomplish. And taking it slow has made it possible for me to really enjoy the whole process. No extreme time pressures. Of course if a big name publisher came to me with an offer of purchasing the rights to her remaining works, I would consider it, but it would be tough decision. The whole goal is to get her books in front of people and a big publisher would most definitely broaden her readership.

FQ: Do you feel, personally, that any of the characters in this book were based on real people that affected Ms. Bronzy’s life? If so, who would that be?

DeVIE: The question of who her characters are based on is one that comes up at every book club. The priest I am fairly certain is the same priest I knew. The hardware store I think is based on the store that first sold the Ida-Hoe and still does. The rest, if only we knew. I hope as readership grows, people will come forward with stories and theories of just who these characters might be. They may be no one and just products of her imagination.

FQ: If Ms. Bronzy were still with us, what do you think she would say about this book and your incredible passion as a friend to see it through to the end?

DeVIE: If Dee was able to hear what people thought of her book, if she was able to see her book on shelves, well I know I am thrilled, so I think she would feel the same. My only hesitation to guess is perhaps she didn’t want to know and this is why she sent me the box after she was gone. The subjective world of art or anything creative and our social media’s current love of cruelness, perhaps she didn’t want to endure criticism. I know that a dozen kind remarks or reviews are often erased with one negative. Perhaps she was happy with just the process itself. The cathartic release of creativeness?

FQ: Is there one thing you would like all readers to know and remember about Ms. Bronzy?

DeVIE: If Daniela Bronzy is remembered for anything, it will be her written words, her products, her ideas, her social commentaries. The story of Daniela Bronzy will continue because of our relationship. Her story will continue to grow long after her obituary was published, and I am glad that I can help that happen.

#BookReview - Roots, Rumors & Wrath

Roots, Rumors & Wrath

By: Daniela Bronzy
Publisher: Daniela Bronzy
Publication Date: February 2018
ISBN: 978-0-999275023
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: May 28, 2018

We begin in 39 A.D., in a cell made of stone. A body awakens and emerges from this horrible chamber to find one named Sagan – a man who addresses the wounded person as “friend and teacher” before offering a robe to cover themselves with and a body for the prisoner to lean on while journeying down the road. This intriguing beginning comes from the Halabi Family Journal…and leads readers into a tale that will make them feel every human emotion by the time it’s complete.

Haway (pronounced Howie by her peers) Halabi is in America. We greet this person as the “star” of the story, so to speak, as she boards the number 1 bus into downtown Boise, Idaho. When Haway was orphaned, she became a Syrian refugee and began living with her Uncle Dahan in small-town America. She is currently a college co-ed, and shows a bit of resentment and sometimes anger at the people around her.

One day, she comes home to find that her uncle, her last known living relative, has suffered an unexpected and far-too-early death. Now, a journey begins that is beyond confusing for Haway. You see, her family has a secret from long ago that no one can know; a secret that she alone possesses that causes others to pursue her as if she were a criminal. These people who wish to uncover her secret force Haway to go on a personal pilgrimage.

Readers walk beside Haway during her struggles and basically play a part in her own self-discovery, watching her alter her ideas and beliefs as she meets and greets a variety of characters who touch her heart in some ways, and alter her perceptions of life in other ways. Breaking the information up into sections, from Haway’s experiences to excerpts from the Halabi Family Journal to Dahan’s experiences and more, everyone from Navy translators to officers of the law to people in the religious community appear. There are so many people, places and events, in fact, that the reader views a true tapestry of life.

It is a shame that the author of this book has passed on; it would be interesting to learn what aspects of her own life are embedded in these scenes. From action to drama to a bit of comedy at times, some will find themselves caring for Haway and her need to protect her family secret. Others will find her difficult to warm up to because of her initial comments in regards to life in America and the “lazy” people who dwell here. She has a very hard exterior which makes for a very complex story. In other words, if you’re looking for a quick “summer” read, this is not the one to choose.

Quill Says: Prepare for a character who, whether you end up liking her or understanding her attitudes and struggle, will stay in your mind long after the book has come to a close.

For further information on Roots, Rumors & Wrath, please visit the author's website at: www.danielabronzy.com

#BookReview - Best Beach Ever

Best Beach Ever: Ten Beach Road Series

By: Wendy Wax
Publisher:  Berkley New York
Publication Date:  May 2018
ISBN: 978-0-399-58441-1
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: May 28, 2018

Wendy Wax checks in with the ladies of Ten Beach Road in her latest novel: Best Beach Ever.

Maddie, Nikki, Avery, Kyra, and Bitsy are still licking their wounds and trying to recover from the aftermath of the implosion of their renovation-turned-reality-TV show Do Over. To compound the disaster of the show, the ladies are forced to move into the cottages at the Sunshine Hotel after Kyra’s plunder of leveraging Bella Flora.

Maddie has done her job. Her children are grown. Her ex is back on his feet and she can honestly admit she doesn’t loathe him anymore. Sparks have grown into a decent and long-burning fire between her and revived Rock Star Will Hightower. Yep, she has the world on her platter and can’t figure out why she’s so apprehensive to dive into the deep end and savor every moment.

Nikki finally said yes (even if the babies came first) and FBI hotty Joe is more than her dream come true. Granted, she had no idea becoming a mother would be such a monumental task. Take that role and multiply it by two bundles of joy and the recipe is one for overwhelm overload most days. Once again, Joe to the rescue. With the reality of him having to travel more, he decides it’s time Nikki accepts some helping hands. Nikki has other designs on just how much help she will accept from the new nanny and it isn’t necessary to bother Joe with all the details of her decisions on this front.

Avery and Chase are on again. This is to say, at least all cylinders are firing in the bedroom. It was a tough call for Avery to make after virtually being kicked out of Chase’s life thanks to the shenanigans of his son. No matter, the sex was great, and it wasn’t like she was ever going to marry him, but did Chase feel the same way?

Having nearly lost Bella Flora, Kyra had no choice but to rent her beloved property to the mysterious (and obviously wealthy) tenant. Besides, she and Dustin would soon be on set near Disney World which meant she wouldn’t have to face the errors of her ways living in the same town as the stranger who occupied Bella Flora. She hated the idea of exposing four-year-old Dustin to the uncertain and harsh elements of Hollywood glam. She didn’t have much of a choice. How is it that every time Baby Daddy (and hunky movie star) Daniel Deranian beckoned, Kyra forgot how to say the word ‘no.’

…and last, but certainly not least, is Bitsy. The former Palm Beach maven was more of a seashell washed up on a deserted seashore to all those former ‘Worth Avenue Friends’ of hers. It’s been nearly a year since Bertie absconded to parts unknown with his eye-candy pole dancer and every penny of Bitsy’s wealth. It was high time Bitsy pick herself up out of her pity party for one and get some good old-fashioned justice. She may rise to the occasion but will have to be careful what she wishes for. Sometimes justice comes with a higher price tag.

Wendy Wax has delivered a fantastic continuation of the ongoing saga of the women of Ten Beach Road. Having read a few of the books in this series, it’s a fact that Ms. Wax has done this series justice once again. The divine characters she’s developed in Maddie, Avery, Kyra, Nikki and Bitsy are superb and she has maintained their unique and diverse personas. Ms. Wax is the master mixer of blending two parts big happy family with (sometimes) one-part dysfunction and the outcome is a masterpiece of exceptionally unique and strong women. She has built a solid foundation with her ‘beach’ family and setting and with each tower she adds to this magnificent collection of beach castle novels, she manages over the top enjoyment and anticipation for the next from her audience. I was already a fan and simply ask: may I have another, please? Well done Wendy Wax!

Quill says: Best Beach Ever arrives just in time for kick off to summer. This is a must have for your summer beach reads this year.

#AuthortInterview with Kathleen Kaska @KKaskaAuthor

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Anita Lock is talking with Kathleen Kaska, author of Run Dog Run.

FQ: At what age would you say you caught the writing bug?

KASKA: I didn’t start writing seriously until my forties. I also taught middle-school science and once I got the hang of teaching and had more time on my hands, I started writing.

FQ: What inspired you to shift from your degree in physical anthropology to writing mysteries?

KASKA: Physical anthropology and writing mysteries goes hand-in-hand. My degree allowed me to study animal behavior (grin). Also, I used to be a member of Wildlife Rescue, Inc. when I lived in Austin, Texas. I rehabbed and raised orphaned wildlife with the goal to release them back into the wild if possible. It was a very rewarding experience.

FQ: Who are your favorite authors and what about them do you find inspiring?

KASKA: I love authors who devote a lot of time to developing their characters. I have a variety of favorite authors from Arthur Conan Doyle to Agatha Christie, from Raymond Chandler to Rex Stout, from Elizabeth Peters to Ann Perry. They all write series, giving their readers a chance to get to know their characters.

FQ: After producing a flurry of historic mysteries (Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series), what inspired you to shift over to writing a mystery centered on animal abuse and of particular dog racing since, according to your website, you are a bird watcher?

KASKA: I still write my Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series. These are lighthearted and humorous and set in the 1950s, my favorite decade. Writing zany characters and humor is a nice balance to writing traditional mysteries.

But Run Dog Run, was actually the very first mystery I wrote. I finished the first draft fifteen years ago. It came close to being published several times, but no cigar. I finally put it on the back burner and let it simmer for a few years. The manuscript has been revised and updated so many times I almost had the thing memorized. Two years ago, I updated it again(technology changes faster than automobile designs) and submitted it to Black Opal Books. They sent me a contract, and there you have it. The story takes place in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin. If you’ve never been there, you should treat yourself to a trip in the springtime when I wildflowers are in bloom.I also wanted to write a mystery series with a social cause and animal rights was top on my list. I chose to write about the world of greyhound racing after I discovered the appalling conditions that occur behind the scenes. I want people to be aware of the issues involved and to consider adopting one of these beautiful dogs.

Yes, I’m a bird watcher! When I’m not writing, you can find me outside with binoculars glued to my face. Bird watching led to writing the biography, The Man Who Saved the Whooping Crane: The Robert Porter Allen Story. Another passion; another social cause.

FQ: In the shaping of your protagonist, Kate Caraway, did you incorporate features and situations inspired from your own experiences, or is she merely a figment of your creative imagination?

KASKA: Kate is very much like me. Besides our passion for animal causes, we are both runners, severely acrophobic, which comes to play in the second book, and we both deal with the guilt factor having been raised Catholic, although we can joke about it. Kate, however, is braver than I am. Kate’s husband, Jack, is a retired major-league baseball player who played for the Chicago Cubs. My husband and I are big baseball fans. Making Jack a catcher allows me to write a little about baseball.

FQ: You mention Sherlock Holmes in passing in Run Dog Run. One of your non-fiction reads is Sherlock Holmes Triviography and Quiz Book. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s series obviously means a lot to you, and your present mystery reflects Doyle’s red-herring and twisted format. When did you first get interested in the iconic series, and what about Doyle’s writing style influenced you the most in the creation of your fictional works?

KASKA: I first started reading Sherlock Holmes when I was in college. Conan Doyle was a master at character descriptions, which always pull me into a story. A few years ago, I formed a Sherlock Holmes society, which is a scion of the Baker Street Irregulars. The name of the society is The Dogs in the Nighttime, a reference to the Holmes story, “Silver Blaze.” We meet once a month and discuss anything Sherlock. Holmes is also mentioned in my Sydney Lockhart book, Murder at the Driskill, when twelve-year-old drama queen, Lydia, dresses up like Holmes and becomes a self-appointed assistant to aid Sydney in solving a murder.

FQ: Kate Caraway presents a strong feminine character. What inspired you to create this type of character?

KASKA: I love strong female characters, whether fictional or real. I’m inspired by Karen Blixon, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Michelle Obama, to name a few.

FQ: Strong feminine characters are not a usual occurrence, unfortunately, in fictional literature. Which authors have inspired you to go against those norms in the creation of Run Dog Run and your other works of fiction?

KASKA: Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors. My character Sydney Lockhart is often compared to Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. Both are gutsy, sassy, and too smart for their own good. Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell is another character I adore. She’s smart, stubborn, and married to Sherlock Holmes. What’s not to admire? And then there’s Amelia Peabody, developed by Elizabeth Peters. Amelia speaks her mind, has her own agenda, and never tires of adventure.

FQ: Run Dog Run being the first in your new animal-rights mystery series, can you give an inkling as to what is in store for future sequels?

KASKA: The next Kate Caraway mystery, A Two Horse Town, will be out toward the end of 2018. This book deals with the plight of wild horses in Montana. Book number three, Eagle Crossingis about a woman who owns an animal rehab facility on Lopez Island in Washington much to the annoyance for her neighbors. That book is finished and in queue.

FQ: According to your book, “A percentage of the proceeds from this book’s sale will be donated to The Greyhound Project, Inc.” Would you tell us a little about this organization and do you see this as a new trend you will include in your future sequels?

KASKA: The Greyhound Project, Inc. is a greyhound rescue and adoption organization. Their mission is to promote welfare for greyhounds and to find racers good homes after they retire. Yes, I’ll donate a portion of my proceeds to whatever cause I write about. My royalties from The Man Who Saved the Whooping Craneare donated to Operation Migration, an organization that developed the Eastern Migratory flock of whoopers in order to help increase the population.