Review of Beyond Death

Beyond Death

Written by Deb McEwan

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Many people believe in the hereafter where you have angles and spirits in limbo, waiting for directions to their final resting place. Ms. McEwan has written a family orientated story around that theme, which has a number of plots.

Three people die. One is malcontent (Ken); another makes a mistake in judgment (Ron); and a young women dies on the night of her engagement (Claire.) However, Claire was not supposed to die. She did because of Ron’s selfishness.

The crux of the story-line is that they are in a place waiting for a decision to where they will rest in peace. In their waiting, they are allowed to visit family, friends, and enemies on earth to sort things out.

Those are the subplots that are sometimes romantic, funny, weird, and helpful to the people they left behind to go to a place BEYOND DEATH.  The spirits interface with the living will please the reader to the END.

Ms. Deb McEwan has written an enjoyable read that is slow at times but does keep you reading on. It gently brings you into a happy place. It’s a good read.

Purchase at amazon $.99: http://amzn.to/WYsc9k

Review of The Trees Have Hearts

The Trees Have Hearts

Written by Mrs. D

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

The wind blows through the trees and the sound is music to a young girl who had moved into a new home with her mother.  She has a language bearer with the community, but not with nature.

Her imagination brings her close to nature – the three trees in the garden yard of the house she lives in. An endearing relationship amongst them is enjoyed and the little girl is helped through her daily troubles by the comfort of the trees. She over comes her fears with their help.

Mrs. D. has produced a fine children’s book to be read to your young ones. She, as I do, recommends that you read to your children on a daily basis. I believe readers are leader, because they know different ways to complete an endeavor.

This is not a complicated read, but should be read to a child up to the age of seven or let them read it at that age. It is quit mystical in nature and has some life lessons in it that we all could learn.

 Purchase at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jWko2p

Review of Time to Let Go

Time to Let Go

Written by Christopher Fischer

Reviewed by Roy Murry, author


The way we think and function on a daily basis is who we are. When those abilities decline, changes in our character lead to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. This alteration will affect the dynamics of the environment that is lived in.

Mr. Fischer’s ‘Time to Let Go’ deals with that dynamic within a small family where the husband becomes the primary care giver of a once caring and giving wife Biddy, who has the disease and is declining into her own shell. Walter, Biddy’s husband knows what is best for her.

This is where the ‘What’s best for Biddy?’ comes into play. Their daughter visits because she has a major problem that she feels guilty about - an event at work that could change her life. Conflicts arise over what is best for Biddy.

Walter has his solution and is living it. Hanna and her brother Henrik have each theirs which includes putting Biddy in a home. Only Biddy is left out of the decision making. Each has their merits, but Walter wants Biddy at home in her/his routine. His way trumps all others because it’s his wife for better or worst.

This story goes into the debt of the disease. It’s what one family went through to find the right decision for the better health of the family, which is the health of their loved one Biddy who has her ups and downs. Based on a real family the story, it is written as character driven fiction.

Christopher Fischer wrench gripping story will keep your attention. You’ll be wondering, ‘What would I do in that situation?’ I pray that you’ll never have to be in Walter’s shoes.  

Purchase at http://amzn.to/1mZIFim

Review Good Sister, Bad sister

Good Sister, Bad Sister

the first book of

The Heart of the Staff

By

Carol Marrs Phipps and Tom Phipps

This delightful tale of yore, if there ever was a place, is presented in a colorful setting. Relatives, families, siblings, and royalty are the same throughout history, even if some of them are wizards, witches, dragons, or birds, as it is in this novel.

In the Phipps’ fictitious land, there is a clear cut divide between good and evil. One sister is the child any mother or father would love, where the other sister is the one you would like to take out in the woods a hit with the strap. But this is not what you do with a witch that can travel at will through thin air.

The story is about disagreements going back before time began. This family dynamic pits brother against brother, daughter against mother, and sister against sister. The way they resolve their differences make this a fun read.

Now, who do you know can turn his brother into a dragon because he has been a bad boy? Or, when was the last time you heard a sister be jailed in her own kingdom by using wards, whatever they are.

The language HITS on a new but easy to follow vocabulary that won’t hinder your train of thought. You’ll have a few chuckles out of hearing a crow’s wife talk to him about his business and how he’ll get the next meal.

This first book in a series was well thought out and I recommend it to the fun loving reader. I enjoyed it much.

Purchase at http://amzn.to/1lq2m2j Free on Kindle for a short period of time.  

       

Life is a Circus Run by a Platypus

Review of
Life is a Circus Run by a Platypus

Written by Allison Hawn

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Ms. Hawn’s Circus is a collection of well put together short acts formed during her interesting life. I believe that she has learnt her life lessons, according to her summaries at the end of each episode after the curtain comes down.

Those lessons learnt came after trials and errors young adults go through growing up. Her writing brings out the funny side and or positive side of the situations she muddles through.

The situations she devils in are enjoyable to read and seemed to be geared to lessons for the young, but do have some universal axioms en-grained. Using comic references to popular and not so popular characters and events, she gets her points across colorfully, bringing the reader to a pause where they will contemplate what just transpired.

Funny most of the time, but sad in some instances, Allison tells it like it is in her writing. She doesn’t hold back any punches. She gives her interpretation of what transpired in her life.

This is not a book to read at one session, but a collection to be read one story at a time. The reader can go back many times for a laugh.

I have ear marked a few for reread, a laugh, and reference in my story telling.

Review of HOPE

HOPE

Written by Robert K. Swisher Jr.

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry.

Becoming 66 years old the other day, I started reading HOPE. It reached me on many levels. The story had me in laughter, tears, and at many times in thought.

There is a universal fiber that runs through us humans, Christians call him God, which leads us to belief which in turns leads to hope – my take.

Mr. Swisher’s novella HOPE’s characters are aging towards the end of life in a home. Only one, who has not reached this elderly age, has hope and believes he can fly. Will his belief turn into hope for the others?

‘What if we can believe – fly, have hope?’ is gently interwoven into this story. Little by little the residences move from doubt to ‘What if’ to belief. All, but one character, in their own way become convinced and begin to hope, leading to revelations and an escape from their mundane lives.

This is a novella that will lead you to think about your own mortality. Hopefully it will get you thinking about how we treat our elderly humans.

Mr. Swisher’s writing is mature as is his character and story development. The story has no unused words always getting to the point.

Purchase on amazon:  http://amzn.to/1h2Og5M

Interview: http://bit.ly/1f4AWTi

Interview with Robert K. Swisher, Jr.

Interview with Robert K. Swisher, Jr.,

Author of HOPE

Interviewed by Author Roy

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I'll dwell on the writing side of my life.  I have 14 traditionally published novels and I have indeed 6.  Several of my novels were optioned but did not go through. I have been listed in Who's Who in the West (How I have no idea) Young Contemporary Authors (The young bit is long gone) and was made a male honoree member of American Pen Women (They call us Penguins). I also taught a class called THE REALITIES OF WRITING.  My books range from historical fiction, young adult, humor, literary, mystery, to somewhere out in right field and off center.

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

I wrote it in 5th grade. It was about a kid skipping school and going fishing.  I wrote it in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon by a pond.

Were you inspired by someone or something?

There was never anything else I wanted to be but a writer. Common sense has never been one of my strong points.

What do you like about writing a story?

Truthfully the process drives me nuts anguish, turmoil, can I finish it like it the best when I am done and start worrying if I will ever have another idea.

Can you tell us about your book?

HOPE is the latest. It is the story about a group of residents in an old folks home, who feeling abandoned by society and little more than prisoners, form an action group and with the help of a simple person learn how to fly.  I started the book in 2004 while I was working in a rest home and finished it in 2013.  It is not long, 44,000 words, but dear to me.

What genre best fits the book?

How about literary fantasy - although there is a theft - so - literary fantasy mystery with a cast of fantastic characters that cannot be held back by anything.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

HOW BRIDGE MCCOY LEARNED HOW TO SAY I LOVE YOU is off to another editor - story of a man that when he tries to tell the lady he loves that he loves her he starts choking (set in an art town in New Mexico) it is one of my right field books. Also doing the last read through on A CIRCLE AROUND FOREVER - modern fantasy exploring the question - what if Adam and Eve have been reincarnated many times (not religious though) both of these books are right at 145,000 words...and...Half way through a book titled VENT - like it says, a weird guy that goes around venting on topics (some pertinent and some weird) it is a reader participation book.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Learn how to enjoy sardines, hot-dogs, and Ramon Noodles - if it was easy everyone would want to be a writer AND...DON'T LET NEGATIVE REVIEWS GET YOU DOWN.

Where can people read your work?

My earlier books - 8 still in print are on all the sites as trade and e book. My indie books are on kindle e books. I went with KDP only for many reasons (Too many to list here) Here is a link to my author page which will get you to all of my books - also some good reviews and things that make writers swell up like bullfrogs:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robert-K-Swisher-Jr/296768763702474?ref=hl