Meet Author Alison McBain and learn about her award-winning book The New Empire in her new author biography page at Feathered Quill.
https://featheredquill.com/author-bios-alison-mcbain/
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Meet Author Alison McBain
Meet Author Alison McBain and learn about her award-winning book The New Empire in her new author biography page at Feathered Quill.
https://featheredquill.com/author-bios-alison-mcbain/
#BookReview of Midgard by Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Midgard
By: Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Publisher: New Degree Press
Publication Date: August 30, 2022
ISBN: 979-8-88504-560-5
Review Date: February 20, 2023
Midgard is a science fiction thriller that is set on Earth in the middle of the 22nd century and it is an excellent story. It combines all of the best things about a book - excellent writing, a plausible, albeit very frightening, plotline, and characters that are just normal people trying to make the best of a dreadful situation.
In Midgard, Jeanne Hull Godfroy presents her readers with an Earth that has crossed the line in terms of its inhabitants completely destroying it. In this story the Earth is now hot, totally dry, and basically a place that is uninhabitable. Nothing can be grown anymore and all food is processed. There is no longer any beauty to the land, no flowers or trees. This story is a possible glimpse into what our world could become.
Enter the Human Resiliency Program which is a large group of government-sponsored programs that are making an effort to save as much life as it possibly can until the planet is able to recover and move forward. While it sounds like a great solution, the program does have its drawbacks. For example, the projects are only able to save a small group of people out of the population as a whole and, because of that, the struggle to get into and stay in these programs is a huge one.
The main character of the story, Sam Richmond, is one who has survived and is lucky enough to become a part of one of these programs. Sam is a strong young man who really believes in the program and his part in it. Once he is chosen to be a part of the program though, many of his grand ideas vanish as he faces many challenges. Sam finds out that some of the people who were close to him have started to disappear, his new home is attacked, and he uncovers clues that show him a huge plan being undertaken by others which will destroy almost all of the remaining life on Earth. As Sam struggles to make sense of all of this, will he be able to find the people he loves and, more importantly, will he be able to figure out how to save all of life on Earth?
Jeanne Hull Godfroy’s writing is really superb throughout this story. Midgard has an exciting plot that is easy to read and understand and the story really allows the reader’s imagination to soar as they see the world as it could be in the future. In addition, the character development in this story is truly fabulous. For one thing, there is so much cross-over in the different relationships that is so well-written that everything about it just flows perfectly and allows for the reader to care about each one. In addition, the characters all have their own flaws. No one is perfect in this story and there are no heroes - every character is doing the best they can to survive in this horrible world.
The book ends with many questions but the author takes care of that for us by simply putting “End of Book 1” as her final statement. After wondering how she could possibly tie it all together at the very end, this statement actually made me very happy. Thank goodness there will be more adventure ahead for Sam and all his friends. I cannot wait to see what happens next and I am sure you will feel the same way.
Quill says: One of the best things about any book is when you can actually believe that the plot is something that can, and quite possibly will, happen in the future. Midgard is a book that completely gives the reader this one thing. Although it is a terrifying thought, this could well be the future of our world.
For more information on Midgard, please visit the author's website at: https://www.be-stirred.com/
#BookReview of The Flower-Infused Cocktail: Flowers, with a Twist by Alyson Brown
The Flower-Infused Cocktail: Flowers, with a Twist
By: Alyson Brown
Publisher: Globe Pequot
Publication Date: February 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1493073146
Review Date: February 20, 2023
Alyson Brown educates her audience that flowers are far more useful than something pretty to admire and certainly a must ingredient for the quintessential cocktail as she marries the concept with refreshing new takes on beverage mixology in her gorgeously illustrated delivery of The Flower-Infused Cocktail.
Before diving into the art of concocting the penultimate cocktail, Ms. Brown sets the stage with great information such as: Building Your Bar, Glassware (complemented with illustrations and explanations on why this glass for this cocktail), Home Bar Tools, and Edible Flower Awareness. It’s important to note on the last introductory page (Edible Flower Awareness), Brown categorically breaks down how to source edible flowers, grow your own, how to forage, pick and store and the most important factor: safety. This book is a mixologist’s dream come true and the format and layout are well-thought-out. The flow and cadence is quite refreshing in that it is not a pontification of disclaimers. Rather it is logical and rife with sensical words of caution to her audience to do their research before one plucks the lovely pansy from the garden and plops it into the latest concoction of delicious creativity.
Once beyond the informative guidelines, Ms. Brown starts with her first chapter that is devoted to Base Spirit Infusions. "...Infusing base spirits can add unique flavors to your cocktails and is quite simple to do..." Who would have thought an artichoke could be front and center in an alcoholic beverage? Welcome to ‘Late-Night Carousel.’ Brown encourages her reader to think beyond the ‘go-to’ stuffed artichoke recipe and concentrate on the elements of the actual fruit (yes, the artichoke technically is a fruit) once it awakens your tastebuds: "...Have you ever noticed after taking a bite of an artichoke, everything you taste after becomes slightly sweeter? That’s because artichokes contain a natural acid that stimulates your sweet-perceiving taste buds..." Throughout this first chapter, Ms. Brown titles these fantastic concoctions with equally whimsical names such as ‘Scarlett Begonias’ (inspired by the Grateful Dead Song Scarlet Begonias). Ms. Brown continues to break the book down into sections; devoting each new section with taste themes: ‘Bitters and Tinctures, ‘Salt & Sugar,’ ‘Cordials, Liqueurs, Shrubs, & Syrups,’ to name a few; noting that "...For the recipes in this book, a cordial will always contain fruit and will not contain alcohol, a liqueur will have an addition of alcohol, and a syrup will be simply a sugar/water preparation. A shrub is something altogether different and will always contain vinegar!"
It's difficult to sum up the brilliance and beauty delivered in this ‘must have’ read in one’s home or commercial bar setting. Ms. Brown has taken the art of making memorable cocktails to an epic level and complemented the information with exceptional illustrations that are vibrant and alluring. It is clear she spent an admirable amount of time laying out the content as it is akin to reading a memorable novel in that steps are placed logically one in front of the other and throughout, this author shows versus tells. The Flower-Infused Cocktail is tailored to encourage the novice to give home bartending with a flair a ‘go’ as much as it is a resource to have on hand for that bartender who is on a journey to make a name and mark for him/herself as much as the bar where he/she is tending. Well done Ms. Brown. I do believe you have found your calling in ‘how to’ write and deliver an incredibly informative and beautifully illustrated ‘manual’! Cheers!
Quill says: Whether you’re out and about for a night on the town or entertaining guests at home, make sure your bartender knows how to make a ‘Bramble On’!
#BookReview of On the Outside Chance (The Peter Mason Chronicles)
On the Outside Chance (The Peter Mason Chronicles)
By: Michael J. Mason
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Publication Date: September 16, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-62253-769-3
Review Date: February 17, 2023
From debut author Michael J. Mason comes the first memoir in the trilogy of his life entitled On the Outside Chance. Mason’s poignant memoir chronicles his early life as he struggles growing up with cerebral palsy. This debilitating condition leads him to be tortured and ridiculed at school on a daily basis, and his parents, though well-meaning, are ill-equipped to raise a child with a disability, leaving Michael to largely take care of himself.
After an accident at birth leaves Peter (the name Michael uses for himself in this book) disabled, simple everyday tasks such as walking require intense concentration and effort. At age 13, Peter depends on his mother and father physically for more than the average boy his age. His father needs to help him with his tie for his school uniform each day, and Peter always feels guilty that he cannot help his mother when she brings in groceries, because he is physically unable to carry the heavy bags when he is loaded down with his school bookbag. His mother tries her best to be there for him, not only for physical tasks, but also with kind words and warm hugs, but she does not fully grasp the severity of Peter’s limitations. Peter’s father, however, is of the mindset that there is nothing wrong with Peter, that he should just “buck up” and he’ll be able to do anything that other teenagers can do.
Peter’s daily school life is nothing short of agonizing. It begins with him struggling to climb up the stairs to the bus as the bus driver shouts at him to “Step it up!” Once aboard, Peter always tries to find a seat as quickly as possible to avoid ridicule, but more often than not, the name-calling ensues before that happens. A crowd of boys from the back of the bus fling names such as “Spaz” and “Spazo” at Peter as he finds his seat. As usual, no one, not even the bus driver, comes to his aid. Once the bus arrives at school, Peter knows enough to wait until the other students have emptied the bus until he gathers his items and shuffles down the steps and into the school. The agony continues with his classes as he often requires special accommodations for certain subjects, such as writing and Algebra. Peter does his best to speak with his teachers at the beginning of each semester to arrange these accommodations, but sometimes the teachers are unwilling and view it as an inconvenience to them. The school administrators have a similar attitude as Peter’s parents about his disability. Though they mean well, they, too, are ill-equipped to educate a child with a disability and it glaringly shows as Peter progresses through school.
Peter’s mother soon begins suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, leaving Peter to depend much more on his father. As Peter approaches his high school graduation, he begins pondering his future and where he will attend college. He has many discussions with his father, who, to his surprise, agrees to help him. They even go visit a few colleges together. Throughout Peter’s high school career, he also begins undergoing psychotherapy with a psychologist, who he later credits with helping him work through many existential crises. With her help, Peter begins to feel as though there is hope for his future and looks forward to what may come of him as a post-graduate.
A very interesting concept about this book is how the author chose to name the main character “Peter” rather than “Michael,” which is the author’s real name. The author explains that he chose to do this because he viewed Peter as the boy he once was, full of self-doubt, self-contempt, and feelings of inferiority. The author even goes so far as to say that Peter “died” at one point and Michael took over. I assume that will be a story for a future book, and I look forward to reading it.
This book was touching on so many levels. Reading what this young boy suffered through daily broke my heart as I read, and I remember waiting and hoping that his life would improve. It was also very sad to learn what circumstances were like for anyone with a disability back in the 1960s when the author grew up. There simply did not exist programs to help these people, and it is extremely unfortunate. It may not have been a conscious lack of effort, but the fact is that they were failed by the system, and there is simply no excuse for that. However, rather than leave you sad, On the Outside Chance will inspire readers because it really is a story about the human spirit, and a true testament to one boy's extraordinary level of resiliency.
Quill says: On the Outside Chance is the inspirational story of one boy’s struggle growing up with cerebral palsy, and the devastating emotional toll it took on him. With the help of some special mentors in his life, he attains hope and no longer allows himself to be defined by his disability.
For more information on On the Outside Chance (The Peter Mason Chronicles), please visit the publisher's website at: https://evolvedpub.com/books/on-the-outside-chance/
Friday, February 17, 2023
They're In The Mail!
They're in the mail! Calling all winners and finalists in the Feathered Quill Book Awards! Award certificates and award seals are going out today and tomorrow. Watch your mailboxes next week (or the week after, depending on how quickly the USPS gets them delivered) for your package. Canadian and overseas winners - please allow an extra week or so.
Congratulations
to all our winners!
#BookReview of A Dream of Shadows (The Shadow Bidder Series, Book One)
A Dream of Shadows (The Shadow Bidder Series, Book One)
By: Peter Eliott
Published by: Further Press, LLC
Publication Date: November 1, 2022
ISBN: 979-8-9867065-0-4
Reviewed by: Kathy Stickles
Review Date: February 15, 2023
In A Dream of Shadows, book one of The Shadow Bidder Series, author Peter Eliott has written one of the most exciting and intense books that the fantasy genre has ever seen, and it is only the first book in the series. It is amazing that this adventure is pulled together in only 400 pages and it covers just a two-day period. Can you just imagine what happens on day 3?
On page one we are introduced to the protagonist of the story, Vazeer the Lash. This is a man who has lived his life thus far as a smuggler in a horrific, crime-filled city called Hell’s Labyrinth. His life is one filled with danger and the feeling of never knowing what will happen next that could bring his downfall or even his death. It is also a life that he desperately wants to shed as it is one that goes against everything this refined, sophisticated man believes in. In A Dream of Shadows, Vazeer is finally given his opportunity to do one last job and retire to enjoy the best he can find in this dreadful place.
Vazeer becomes one of a group of skilled Shadow Bidders whose job it is to rid the city of The Raving Blade, one of Hell’s Labyrinth’s most famous and terrifying holders of power. He and this group are given 48 hours to end this life. In turn, they believe, this death will lead them all to lives of peace and hope, things that they can only dream of but never seriously expected to gain. In addition to Vazeer, this group of assassins includes an ex-pirate with a skill for weapons and Nascinthé, a beautiful actress in a world where she does not belong, to name just a couple.
What follows is a riveting tale full of action, secrets, violence, and even a little romance. The difference between good and evil has never been more exciting than it is in this story. The action is never lacking from beginning to end and the plot twists come out of nowhere so fast that you cannot put the book down. It is so hard for an author to be able to keep such action going through every single page but Peter Eliott does just that and he does it perfectly. This book is so well-written that you cannot help but become completely involved and feel that you are no longer just reading words on a page but are there, in this city, a part of this plot. The reader can see and feel every moment. The amazingly vivid descriptions of the characters, the locations, and the background literally make this story come alive.
Another incredible highlight to the reading is that the author is able to bring a dark humor into this terrifying world through the actions and dialogue of the characters even during moments of intense action and fear and that is a true gift. There is so much more going on in the minds of each of these characters as they try to complete their mission and it is brought to the forefront through the excellent writing.
A Dream of Shadows is a page-turning work of art that should not be missed by anyone. The best part of this book is the fact that we know going into it that this is not the end. The worst part is the fact that we now have to wait for the second in the series to see what happens with these incredible characters.
Quill says: The journey that this author has taken into fantasy in a post-apocalyptic world is simply incredible. A novel like this is the best kind… it is fabulously written, would be amazing on the big screen, and leaves the reader desperate for the next book. The perfect trio!
For more information on A Dream of Shadows (The Shadow Bidder Series, Book One), please visit the author's website at: www.petereliott.com
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