Review Good Sister, Bad sister

 Good Sister, Bad Sister

The Heart of the Staff, Book 1

 Carol Marrs Phipps and Tom Phipps

 Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

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, a daughter against mother, and sister against sister. The way they resolve their differences make this 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.

Series only Paperback: https://amzn.to/35VrPjb

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 little acts formed during her exciting life. I believe that she has learned her life lessons, according to her summaries at the end of each episode after the curtain comes down.

Those experiences 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 earmarked a few for reread, a laugh, and reference in my storytelling.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2w4mwwF

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

Review of Treasure of Saint-Lazare

Review of Treasure of Saint-Lazare

By John Pearce

Reviewed by author Roy Murry

The mystery and history of World War II Paris comes alive in John Pearce’s novel when a concerned visitor from Sarasota, Florida, USA arrives with a letter from the past. This leads into a journey that unravels events which may never be resolved to a conclusion.

As in all wars, the worst comes out in combatants on all sides of the ideological conflict. Everyone is out to secure their positions in the turmoil their involved in. Mr. Pearce’s main characters were vested when they were very young.

Their heirs left them with many interwoven problems crossing borders worldwide. In this case, it’s the crimes commented during and after the war, because of the greed of their ancestors. 

Property taken from the rightful owners is normal in any war. Here is the crux of the novel Treasure of Saint-Lazare. Germans pillaged the countries they invaded for the good of The Motherland. Those crimes propelled this intriguing story that leads to murder, arsine, and personal conflicts in present time Paris, German, and USA.

Mr. Peace’s main character Eddie is presented with a letter from a long forgotten lover, which has a common unfortunate situation attached – both their fathers (Longtime friends) died recently from unusual circumstances because of their wartime involvement. From there, history is discovered leading to a conclusion that will keep the reader interested to THE END.

John Pearce is a lover of the Parisian living, style, and writing. Having been to France twice, I understand the flowery flow of his words. Other writers would be more curt in the way they presented this thriller. 

Not Mr. Pearce, he brings the French draping into play with fascinating characters. His sentences and paragraphs are colorfully written, but are sometimes longer than normally anticipated.

Reading Treasure Saint-Lazare was an entertaining journey into Paris’ past and present.     

Interview with John Pearce

Interview with John Pearce,

Author of Treasure of Saint-Lazare

Questions by Author Roy Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I'm a lover of Paris -- I call myself a Part-Time Parisian. For a while I even had a blog by that name, until I discovered I couldn't blog about Paris, write a novel about it, and do justice to both. My wife Jan and I live in Sarasota for nine or ten months of the year, with the rest of the year reserved for Paris. For my blog, I make do with http://johnpearceauthor.com/

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

Treasure of Saint-Lazare is the first work of fiction I’ve completed. Years ago I started a spy novel but had the sense to drop it before it embarrassed me. I still have the notes. But I've been a writer a very long time, in daily journalism and magazines. I was the Washington economics reporter for The Associated Press and then worked for the International Herald Tribune, covering business and finance in the German-speaking countries, when we lived in Frankfurt.

Were you inspired by someone or something?

Like most aspiring writers of my generation, I was inspired by John Le Carré. I still am, although I think he was more comfortable with cold-war stories.

What do you like about writing a story?

I like the act of creation, of making a new world that meshes smoothly with reality.

Can you tell us about your book?

Treasure of Saint-Lazare is a historical mystery whose basic question is, "What if some really bad guys were convinced you knew where a priceless work of art was hidden and would do anything to find it, including murder?" It's based on Raphael’s painting "Portrait of a Young Man," which was stolen by the Nazis in 1939 and disappeared in 1945 while it was being shipped from Poland to Munich. The book is set in Sarasota and Paris, mostly Paris, and it has a pretty strong romantic feeling. One reviewer said he'd never been to Paris until he read the book. That made my day.

What genre best fits for the book?

Treasure of Saint-Lazare has some thriller elements, although it’s really a mystery. I was pleased when it reached #25 on the Kindle historical mysteries best-seller list. It's available in Kindle, paperback and audiobook editions.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

I'm almost finished writing a sequel, whose working title is Last Stop: Paris. Editing and pre-publication marketing will take several months, but it should be out this year. My third novel, a prequel, should be out next year, because I’ll be able to work on it while other people help market the sequel. I’ll be sure to come back to you to ask for pre-publication reviews.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Write. Sit down and stay in your chair. No other advice has any value if you can't do that. Then finally, when you’re pretty sure you have done the best work you can, put it away for a month or two and work on something else. Weak spots that would be invisible in the heat of creation will jump off the page.

After you're satisfied with the editing, have it meticulously proofed by someone else. Your goal should be to have zero typos, whether you're seeking an agent or planning to publish yourself. Typos are death for a self-published book.

Where can people go to read your work?

For now, it’s on Amazon, although I will probably broaden the distribution in June. The Sarasota Public Library bought three copies, so if you live in my town you can find it there. And any bookstore can order the paperback from the Ingram catalog. The audiobook was done by ACX, an Amazon subsidiary.

Review of The Circle's End

Review of The Circle’s End

(Cowboys and Angels)

By Penny Childs

Review by Roy Murry

Unfortunately, I did not read the first books in the series Cowboys and Angels, The Circle’s End being the last book in the series. However, I can say for certain, that based on reading The Circle’s End, the characters are intriguing, complicated, and well developed.

Joined by a common cause, the main characters communicate by an unusual means that endears them to each other.  The youngest of the group holds the key to complete The Circle’s End. All comes together when that key is used.

Leading up to that event, many lose their life and livelihood because of the person behind the door the key opens. His terror reign may come to an end if the key is turned the right way.  

Ms. Childs’ crime thriller keeps you on the edge as CIA agents’ conflict with each other not knowing who the good guys in the room are. She has interwoven a seemingly plausible story with paranormal conflicts that true believers will love.

Her writing is enjoyable to the point I may go back and read the first in the series. I look forward to it.

Penny's link: https://www.facebook.com/penny.childs.writes?fref=ts

http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Childs/e/B0069A3A0C