[NOTE:–I tried to post the following review to Amazon and it was rejected. I’m not entirely sure why, but I suspect the first paragraph was verboten, which figures, right? I edited it down significantly and they posted it, but here are my original comments.]
This story stands out as a chilling cautionary tale. While it’s set in 2034, don’t think it’s not already happening. Our reverence for life is seriously compromised as demonstrated by the ongoing abortion issue. At what point does human life begin? Conception? Or with that first breath at birth? What about those laws that have legitimized infanticide? Promote euthanasia? Where is society headed? We are being dehumanized, starting with the most vulnerable members.
It’s difficult to write a review of this story without spoilers. If you’re really paying attention through the first few chapters, it’s possible to figure out what’s going on as people disappear. The story slowly and methodically reveals the horrific truth through the viewpoints of the three main characters.
The premise reminds me of medical thrillers I read years ago by Robin Cook. Suspense author Mary Higgins Clark was another one who worked with such themes. This book lacked that kind of nail-biting suspense. It was written in a very journalistic style that failed to render emotional reactions in the reader. At least that was the case for me. I could tell where it was going, especially after the blatant revelation provided by the android, Daisy, in the middle of the story. If you haven’t figured it out by then, there it is.
This thought-provoking book deserves a lot of attention for its potential to wake people up, if nothing else. Being directed at Christians is somewhat ironic since they aren’t the ones who need to be jolted awake to the evils in the world around them. It would definitely be in the “medical thriller” category if the emotional impact and suspense were ramped up a bit.
Actually, if written to its full emotional potential, this book would be in the horror genre. Since this is the author’s debut novel, I assume she has not yet acquired the writing skills to render an emotional reaction in her readers. (This is normal except for incredibly gifted writers. I didn’t figure it out until around the time I was writing my 6th novel.) This is not a criticism since in this case, it’s a good thing. As it’s written, more people will choose to read it and make it through the book. Rest assured that it does have what can be considered a happy ending, plus incentive to read the sequel.
For what it’s worth, if a book makes me cry and laugh, I’m more impressed. There are a lot of good premises and stories out there that fall short on their emotional impact, which is the element that tends to hook readers and convince me the author knows how to write.
On the editorial side, I think the scriptural quotes were a bit overdone. Not that I don’t agree with them and I understand the underlying Christian message. However, I don’t think their inclusion will convert anyone to Christianity, while conversely, such excessive use could feel “preachy” and be a turnoff for the very people who need to read it. The fellow Christians I’ve been around usually don’t quote the book, chapter and verse, just the content.
The book is beautifully formatted and the cover is great. The editing is well-done regarding misspellings, grammar, typos, etc. Only one thing jumped out that her editor missed: Near the bottom of page 249 of the paperback it says, “There’s no way I’m not going to let that happen.”
Huh?
The way I read it, the double negative conflicted with the statement’s intent. There were a few other things but I may be the only person in a thousand who would notice, so I won’t even mention them all, but if I’d been a beta reader I definitely would have. I guess the biggest one I wondered about as a science fiction author is that I suspect by the year 2034 we won’t be using much paper, but who knows?
I gave this book 4-stars. For a debut novel, she did a pretty good job. It’s worth a read for its very important message of where we might be heading. Heaven help us if it turns out to be prophetic.
As an only child, books were important. Fortunately, my mother read to me as a young child such that I could read by the time I went to school. I was reading chapter books by 3rd grade, maybe sooner. My early favorites were animal stories by authors like Paul Gallico, who wrote “The Abandoned,” my favorite book for many years, perhaps for all time. Robert Lawson, author of “The Tough Winter” was another favorite.
I remember going to the Peekskill New York Public Library in my home town and coming home with a huge stack of books, especially in the summer.
While still in elementary school I discovered Nancy Drew Mysteries. I would save my allowance to buy the latest release and had them all, which were usually read more than once. As a teen my favorite was “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. I remember reading on a city bus and coming to a part that made me laugh out loud, earning odd looks from my fellow passengers.
As a working adult, I had to give up certain authors because they kept me up all night: Michael Crichton, Tom Clancy, John Grisham, to name a few.
Home at Last!
Somewhere along the line I discovered science fiction. The classics by Jules Verne such as “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine” were my first discovery, followed by Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein, the latter my all-time favorite, especially “The Door Into Summer” and “A Stranger in a Strange Land,” where the word “grok” originated, for those of you who didn’t know.
I scratched out my first science fiction story in 6th grade on yellow lined paper about the planet our teacher hailed from. Not much of a plot, but my classmates found it entertaining. Not surprisingly, an avid reader like myself aspired to be an author when I grew up, more specifically a science fiction author.
One thing that always frustrated me was that science fiction books had very little actual science in them, probably why I favored Heinlein, who was an aeronautical engineer whose fiction started the “hard science fiction” sub-genre.
As a perfectionist, I wanted to learn more about science so that when I wrote my stories they would contain the scientific explanations I craved as a youth. Thus, at 35 I returned to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from Utah State University, followed by a 21 year career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
We’re told to “Write what you know,” right?
If you’re a fan of “The Big Bang Theory” that might look familiar. 😉
My first science fiction novel, “The Capture of Phaethon,” about an asteroid collision with Earth was written while I was in college. It won me a scholarship as well as First Place Honor in a state competition. Maybe someday I’ll get it published. For now, the manuscript is in a box in the basement. Writing Phaethon was when I discovered the mysterious serendipity associated with creating fiction.
That’s all it is, right? Fiction? Something made up in your head?
My fictitious asteroid was named Phaethon, after the son of Apollo who crashed his father’s chariot into the Sun. Imagine my shock when doing research in the USU library’s NASA section that I found an asteroid by that name had recently been discovered! OMG! Later I discovered its usefulness in astrology, where it often indicates a “crash and burn” situation, figuratively or literally.
Heaven on Earth
The first time I set foot inside a library it felt like I was in Heaven. How it feels within the walls of a building lined with thousands upon thousands of books is as unique as it is indescribable. Every cell senses the knowledge and secrets that await, stirring my soul.
That could be why I often spend as much time researching a book as I do writing it, sometimes more. As much as I love my Kindle, for research it has to be a print book. I dog-ear pages, highlight, and leave sticky-notes galore. When I encounter a used book like that, it tells me someone was really into its content, which is what any author hopes for.
When I wrote the Star Trails Tetralogy I incorporated science and technology problems into the plot. These were books I wanted to read as a youth but couldn’t find. I even created a Compendium with additional information for readers, teachers, and home-schoolers.
Star Trails books were popular in a charter school in Utah among young nerds like I was. I had the privilege of talking to those students a few years ago, which was so much fun. I know of at least one middle school science teacher in Florida who has my books in her classroom for extra credit reading.
My favorite review for these books is the one where my writing was compared to Robert A. Heinlein. Imagine that! I have no idea how many children may have been inspired by them, but it’s good to know of at least a few.
Shifting Genres
“The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon” saga started as a cozy mystery, but my propensity for research quickly led to a far deeper and darker story. My characters got out of hand, as usual, and suddenly I had a main character who was Cheyenne, a culture about which I knew nothing. My encounters with Native Americans was limited, and primarily with the Navajo. Research and serendipity delivered coauthor, Pete Risingsun, who kept the cultural elements on target, to say nothing of the story itself and additional research we did together.
The Reader’s Favorite review for the second book, “Return to Dead Horse Canyon: Grandfather Spirits” noted, to our delight, that “The depth of ethnology packed into both novels is meticulously researched and beautifully detailed. Fox and Risingsun are a dream team with this saga.”
Serendipity was alive and well writing that saga, especially how beautifully ancient ceremonies dove-tailed with the plot as if I’d known about them all along.
What will be lost?
Besides a book’s creative or intellectual content, to me it’s a physical thing. I love how they feel and smell, whether it’s fresh ink newly off the press or a musty antique over a hundred years old. Ebooks just didn’t feel that satisfying. I was grateful when self-publishing a paperback was an option, making it possible to hold my first print book, “Beyond the Hidden Sky,” in my hands and flip through the pages.
However, to me, a real book is a cloth-bound hardback with a dust jacket.
And this past June that dream was finally realized when all three books of the “Dead Horse Canyon” saga were released as hardbacks, laminated covers on Amazon, and real books with a cloth cover and dust jacket available through Ingram which can be found on Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million (BAM), and numerous other booksellers’ websites.
Everything is being digitized, which is convenient, but I shudder to think that my generation of Baby Boomers may be the last to embrace physical, print books. The expense and storage involved versus the option of digitizing everything leaves no other choice.
Given that, how many will grow up without the joy of holding a brand new release from their favorite author in their hands, much less an autographed copy? Or never know the awe and expectation amid the imposed silence found within a massive library? While the words may be the same, there’s an essence found only from a tome in tangible form. When they’re my age will they miss their first smart phone the way I treasure the memory of those beloved books?
Or maybe that’s just me, an admitted bibliophile, who loves the print medium as much for its physical presence as what lies within. Digital formats that could disappear with a power surge or a few key strokes just aren’t the same. (Probably a thought my children will express loudly when I die and they have to deal with my many bookshelves full, only one of which you see at the top of the page.)
And how much easier might it be to pull the plug on books with content found offensive or declared “wrong” by someone in authority? Where would we be as a civilization without old tablets, scrolls, and other records?
To a bonafide bibliophile like myself digitizing books reeks of sacrilege. If you agree, be sure to buy a physical book once in awhile. Preferably a new one, so the author sees even a few dollars of benefit from it.
Epilogue
When I saw “The Abandoned” and “The Tough Winter“ were still available on Amazon I
literally cried. The book cover for “The Tough Winter” looks exactly like the book I had as a child. I ordered “The Abandoned,” planning to read it again, then leave it as my favorite book from my childhood to whomever wants such an anachronism when I die.
This trip down memory lane led me to discover my reading list for the remainder of this year. Revisiting those favorites from the perspective of a septuagenarian should be interesting.
What books did you love from the time you could read? What made them special? Would you like to hold them again as you would hug a dear friend you hadn’t seen for years?
And that, no doubt, is why I simply had to order a physical copy of “The Abandoned.”
It arrived a few days later and I cried again, as well as numerous places throughout this sweet story. I wasn’t sure why it hit me so hard until a few days later, as I nursed my way through the worst “Book Hangover” I’d ever had.
Then I stumbled upon a statement on the back cover that I could have written myself: “When I was 9 years old I plucked The Abandoned from my school library’s dusty shelves and fell in love with literature. The adventures that unfolded, reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows and Peter Pan, captured me so thoroughly I knew writing was part of my destiny.” — Naomi Serviss, Newsday
That was it!
This was no ordinary book! It was the very one that made me decide to be a writer! I’d never quite thought of it as my “destiny,” yet it hit me like never before. I don’t know who or what I’d be without those books I’ve had a hand in bringing into the world.
Have they affected any readers out there like The Abandoned did me? I’ll probably never know. But for whatever reason, I suspect I was supposed to put them out there.
Are you a writer? When did you realize it was your calling? Or was it just something that came along at some point in your life when you had something to say? Fiction or nonfiction? Leave your answer in the comments below.
Stop for a moment and make a list of your daily annoyances. Now give them some thought. Can you talk yourself out of being bothered by them? Is there something you can do to eliminate them? Or are they just a part of life you have to live with?
Since merging households with my youngest daughter, her husband, and their three teens I’ve had a lot of adjustments to make after living on my own for twenty years. Like sharing a bathroom with two teenage girls. Opening a cabinet for a glass or a drawer for a fork or spoon to find them all missing since the kids are allowed to eat in their rooms.
Being a cat person more than a dog fan, their three big dogs (a Doberman, a husky, and a 50+ pound “puppy” that’s a mastiff-pittbull cross) were probably at the top of the list. Especially their propensity to get into the kitchen trash can and scatter garbage all over, taking their best finds into the living room to enjoy on the couch. 🤦♀️😖
If you’re not familiar with what Occam’s razor is, here’s what googling it says:
Occam’s Razor is a problem-solving principle that suggests, when presented with competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. It essentially favors simpler explanations over more complex ones, when both explain the same phenomenon equally well. The principle is often summarized as “the simplest solution is usually the best”.
“Here’s a more detailed explanation:
“Parsimony: Occam’s Razor is also known as the “law of parsimony“. Parsimony, in this context, means being economical or frugal with assumptions.”
Dealing with my various frustrations was generally pretty simple, once I sat down and did some basic problem solving. The bathroom issue “is what it is” and can’t be changed. Solution: Get over it.
The glass and silverware situation won’t go away until the kids move out, which will be awhile. The solution: Keep what I need in my room.
The dogs getting in the trash issue went on for a long time. Our usual solution was to place an empty cardboard box on top between the lid and overhang of the kitchen island. The problem with that was that often the box was not in place, plus one of the dogs (the husky) learned to push it aside.
The situation was actually solved by my daughter, who works in a hardware store. For pocket change, she brought home a metal hook and eye and installed it on the trash can.
Problem solved.
So what’s my point?
There is plenty to get spun up about these days. The world is pretty crazy, and as an astrologer, I can see what’s going on out there in the cosmos and that it’s not going to change any time soon. In other words, much of what may get you spun up is entirely out of your control.
How much of what’s going on out there really affects your daily life? Does it really matter?
Even if it does, there isn’t much you can do about it.
Thus, it’s a good idea to take care of those things that you can.
For example, if your daily commute is a nightmare, try listening to music your love, your favorite podcasts, or something else you enjoy to upgrade the value of time spent in a situation you can’t control.
Decide what matters and what doesn’t. Take control of what you can. This crazy planet isn’t going to get better anytime soon.
Review of The Pact (Katz’s Cat Twinkle Texas Cozy Mystery Series, Book 4)
by Dawn Greenfield Ireland
If you’re looking for a book to chill out with when everything else about this insane planet is just too much, I highly recommend this latest book in the Katz’s Cat Twinkle Texas Cozy Mystery Series. It doesn’t take long to get hooked on these charming characters and feel as if you live in the little town of Twinkle.
Actually, I live outside a town that’s even smaller than Twinkle, one that is so small that it doesn’t even have a traffic light, so I can relate to this small fictitious setting away from everything other than the full range of human behavior. As a pet lover, of course I enjoy the animals and their special talents, which include not only intelligence, but the ability to communicate using technology.
The series is now on book 4 where the folks in Twinkle, Texas are at it again. I love how the author has developed this setting with its own common expressions, such as referring to the grocery store as “the foo” since the sign is broken, and various other touches that make it seem real and that you’re a part of it. In this episode, Mrs. Potts’ boarding house burns down! Thus, Jimmy, Brian, Mrs. Potts, and of course, Maddie and Guppy, move in with Betty in the mansion. Of necessity, the folks who know about the animals’ special talents expands, especially as various threats manifest.
There are a few pretty serious parts as well as plenty of good information about having a plan to secure your property in case of a catastrophe. Other useful information includes the steps in building a house from the ground up and a few other things to think about, such as how much stuff you own and what a chore it would be to replace it.
There were plenty of scenes where I laughed out loud, some of the characters’ names alone worth a good chuckle. Turns out Guppy is showing some psychic abilities, which are likely to be developed further in future escapades. As with most series, it’s advisable to start with the first book since characters and situations from previous stories tend to show up. It’s easy to feel as if you’re a resident of this tiny Texas town as the host of characters come to life and interact, leaving you wondering what will happen next and longing for the next book in the series!
You can pick up a copy on Amazon here and read more about the author on a previous blog here.
While this book works as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the award-winning first book, “The Last Dog,” to gain the full context of this wonderful story. It’s a lot more meaningful when you understand what the characters have been through as well as the details related to its 2087 setting. You can find my review of “The Last Dog” here. Consider that was written in 2018 and how much has transpired since.
Texmexzona is a geographical area that comprises, as the name implies, Texas, Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona. This is supposedly a “no man’s land” as far as what’s left of the U.S. is concerned, but in reality where people fled from the compromised United States since it was taken over by the World Guild.
Sound eerily familiar?
There are so many elements of this story that parallel what the U.S. is experiencing today it’s actually kind of creepy. There’s a strong prophetic ring of possibility to it, though the story’s focus in on the characters, which include numerous humans as well as their “dog children.” Due to the fact that fertility has been seriously compromised, families cherish their pets at the same level as if they were biological children.
The plot is further enhanced by the fact that the main character, Bill Maxwell, invented “the dot” that gives animals the cognizance of humans as well as the ability to speak. In addition, there are robotic dogs with similar intelligence traits as well as enhanced abilities bordering on superpowers.
However, the Dot, originally for people to manage their finances and keep track of things like medical records, has been hijacked by the government that uses it in nefarious ways. In other words, privacy, freedom of speech, and thought are gone and enforced by the Tranquility Force.
Hmmmm. Where have we heard that before?
Anyway, if you’re an animal lover, especially a dog person, you’ll love the dogs, who are fully integrated into the story with a multitude of diverse personalities.
This book is the perfect sequel to an amazing story that began in the first book. It answers various questions left unanswered and brings “the rest of the story” forward to a satisfying conclusion.
Dawn Greenfield Ireland is a gifted storyteller with an incredible imagination that she shares with her readers through strong writing skills. You truly feel as if you know the characters and miss them when you finish the story. Highly recommended along with her other books/series. You can find more about her and her multitude of books on her website. If you’re a writer looking for services like editing or formatting, she does that, too.
You can pick up a copy of Texmexzona on Amazon here.
Dawn Greenfield Ireland takes the term “prolific writer” to an entirely new level. No matter what genre you prefer, it’s highly likely she has it in her massive literary portfolio!
Most of what I’ve been reading the past few years has been research material. Sadly, I can’t remember the last time I read a novel. (I suppose I could look at my archives on this site to refresh my memory LOL)
However, I needed some light reading so decided to give some of Dawn’s work a try. I just finished reading her Katz Cozy Mystery Series. It was perfect! Suspenseful enough to keep me engaged, but not so much so that it messed with my blood pressure.
Her fictitious town, Twinkle, Texas, is loaded with great characters and clever mysteries. Each book keeps you guessing until the very end, plus the ongoing story with her basic characters pulls you in as well. Pretty soon you feel as if you live there yourself. Having finished the series in a few days, now I miss the characters and look forward to when she gets the next book out. As you can guess from the covers, the cat and parrot are regulars involved in each mystery in a unique and charming way.
If you like science fiction/fantasy, you’ll love her Thol series. Suitable for young adults, but complex and imaginative enough for adults. Again, clever plots, great imagery, world building, and a fascinating variety of alien creatures. The previous link takes you to a review I did of the first book a few years ago.
If your preference is steamy romance, then her “Bonded” series is for you. Shapeshifters populate this stories with numerous sexy plot twists and clever situations. Nail-biting suspense and hot characters.
I loved her book, “The Last Dog,”and just ordered the sequel, “Texmexzona.” Apocalyptic science fiction at its best. So much of what it portrays is coming at us today, making much of it prophetic, which is kind of scary! If you love pets, suspense, and sci-fi, this one’s for you! Again the link takes you to my review posted previously. Here’s an affiliate link to Texmexzona on Amazon.
She’s written numerous award winning screenplays, some of which are available in book form as well as some instructional books and an online class for dealing with the frustrating quirks of Microsoft Word. She has a “Puppy Baby Book” and another fun series, The Alcott Family Mysteries.
She also has an entire line of notebooks and journals on a variety of subjects. Her imagination and creativity is off the charts and sure to please. Check out her website at https://www.degreenfield.com/ to see all of her work with full descriptions and sign up for her newsletter for updates and new releases. All her books are available on Amazon.
This week I was excited to find out that “The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon: Cheyenne Spirits” is a finalist in another award contest!
So why is that a problem?
I’m running out of space on the cover to add another badge! Then I have to upload new covers to the many places where the book is sold.
I know, “Boo hoo.”
Like I said, a good problem to have.
Getting a little crowded there….
You can read the excerpt I submitted for the contest here. Feel free to leave a comment!
And I have more good news! I’m on the home stretch editing the sequel, “Return to Dead Horse Canyon: Grandfather Spirits.” If you’d like a sneak peak at that, you can find one on the series website here.
I ran into a major problem that required a lot of rewriting when a friend pointed out that one of my major plot elements was not only inaccurate but not feasible, at least in the known universe. It was a lot of work to fix but I learned an important lesson: No matter how much research you do, the are often elusive details that you’ll miss that will bite you if someone knowledgeable in that discipline reads it, at which time your credibility implodes.
I have always been quite critical of movies that are scientifically incorrect, but now I get it. I LIKED my old, implausible plot and how its many tentacles wove through the story. A few readers would have had some rolling on the floor (yes, it was that bad), but it hurt to trash it. Which made me understand why movie producers may let those inaccuracies pass, even though anyone who knows better will forever remember the movie for being woefully inaccurate versus it’s story or entertainment value. (For me, one of those movies is “Armageddon.” If you’re interested, you can read my opinion here.)
I suppose you’re wondering what that goof was. Sorry, it’s too embarrassing. I take pride in the accuracy of my stories and I’ll be forever grateful to the person who gave me the information I needed to recognize it had to go.
And the good news is that the rewrite is actually a lot more suspenseful as well as credible! Stay tuned for a release date.
Government corruption ignites a 19th century Cheyenne curse….
In 1879 a drunken hoard of silver miners raided a Cheyenne village while the tribe’s warriors hunted buffalo. A small band of young braves, not yet old enough to join the hunt, escaped and rode for help. Their efforts failed when they were discovered by the raiders, who ran them over a cliff along with all the tribe’s horses that had been left behind.
When the warriors returned and found the devastation, the tribe’s medicine man, Black Cloud, placed a curse on the site.
A century and a half later, a scandalous Top Secret project is under construction in the same Colorado wilderness. Bryan Reynolds discovers that its roots lie in the same greed, corruption, and exploitation of the Earth that precipitated the curse. But before he can expose what he’s found, he’s killed in a suspicious accident that his wife, Sara, miraculously survives. Her memory of where they were or what they’d discovered, however, is gone.
Neither Sara nor Bryan’s life-long Cheyenne friend, Charlie Littlewolf, will rest until they find out what Bryan discovered that resulted in his death.
Charlie is acutely aware that the only way to solve the mystery is through connecting with the grandfather spirits. To do so he must return to his roots and the teachings of his medicine man grandfather, Eaglefeathers. His journey back to the Cheyenne way includes ancient rituals and ceremonies that guide him and Sara to the answers they seek.
As a descendant of Black Cloud, his destiny is deeply embedded in the fulfillment of the original curse, which was triggered by the scandalous government project Bryan discovered and his subsequent death. Charlie’s quest has only just begun.
It took me far longer to write this story than I ever imagined. Believe it or not, my original intent was to write a cozy mystery which I planned to finish in a few weeks. Once I got into it, however, and started doing some research (my fatal flaw as a write), it morphed into a not-so-cozy murder mystery with a sharp conspiratorial edge. It took nearly two years from when it was conceived to releasing volume 1 of a trilogy.
Part of the delay was when I decided I needed a Native American to give my work a sanity check. I didn’t want it to be inaccurate or offensive. I did a lot of research, but recognized that is often insufficient. Through a rather serendipitous chain of events I found Pete Risingsun, a Cheyenne who lives on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana. It didn’t take long for Pete to connect with the story to such a degree that he became the story’s coauthor. The Cheyenne portions of this story are accurate. You can read Pete’s biography as well as mine on the book’s website here.
A government conspiracy lies at the core, though this first volume concentrates on Sara and Charlie discovering what Bryan knew that got him killed. It’s character driven like my other novels with them riding a freight train of research that captured me in their iron grip. Every time I turned around I discovered something else that fit the story and situation too closely to ignore.
Modern man’s colonialism coupled with a blatant disregard for the environment conflicts with Native American philosophies of animism and the necessity to honor the Earth. These ideologies have clashed for centuries. Informed individuals already know about the downside of fracking. Past pollution caused by 19th century mining and the EPA Superfunds charged with cleaning them up, however, are not as well-known. Put them together and there’s a subplot just waiting to hatch.
Various paranormal and supernatural elements including detailed descriptions of Cheyenne rituals and ceremonies are included. You’ll learn about the sacred red pipe, ceremonial fasting, and the sweat lodge. The Cheyenne’s name for the Great Spirit is Maheo, who is referred to throughout. There are numerous other-worldly situations included. While the story is fictitious, these depictions are authentic.
Modern technology plays a significant role in juxtaposition to traditional Native American elements. Astronomy and the ancient art and science of western astrology play roles as well in helping Sara and Charlie find the answers they need.
These complexities are what expanded this story into a trilogy. Charlie’s journey back to his roots and the consequences Sara pays for fulfilling Bryan’s dying request play out in the next two volumes. They are already drafted and awaiting collaboration with Pete and then the usual rounds of editing. Native American history is touched upon, but will be covered in greater detail in subsequent volumes.
I hope you’ll join me in this incredible journey and enjoy it as much as I have putting it together with the assistance of my awesome coauthor.
Pick up an electronic copy on Amazon or Google Play until July 31, 2020 for only 99c!
More vendors are on the way. The print version will be out in about a month. COVID19 has slowed down the conventional indie publishing process to glacial speed, but it is on the way.
Check out the series website for more information about the sequels and an excerpt from this one.
This great story is now available as an audiobook!
Or Read for FREE! (Details below)
About the Story:
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?
What is the Collar for, and What is a Cavvarach?
The story is set in a world very much like our own, with just a few major differences. One is that slavery is legal there. Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Any slave attempting to escape faces the dilemma of how and where to illegally get their collar removed (a crime punishable by enslavement for the remover).
Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil. It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with “have a rack”), an unsharpened weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge. Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades. You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.
More About the Story
Set in a world alarmingly like our own, The Collar and the Cavvarach is the story of fourteen-year-old Bensin, a slave, whose status is made obvious to everyone by the steel collar locked around his neck. A martial artist who competes to win money for his owner, Bensin fights in tournaments with a cavvarach. But his greatest battle is the struggle to protect his little sister from the horrors of legalized slavery in a world where slaves have few rights. Desperate to keep her safe, Bensin struggles to find a means – legal or otherwise – to arrange for her freedom.
(For a fun introduction to the story’s setting and its culture, including an explanation of how cavvara shil works, click here.)
Sound Like a Book you Might Enjoy?
Click the play button below to listen to the first 15 minutes of the story as narrated by Joseph Baltz.
First of all, I know that I’ve been absent from my reviewing duties for a while now. That’s because I’ve been up to my eyeballs writing a story that began as a cozy mystery that expanded into a thousand-page conspiracy thriller which has required an astounding amount of research. I truly hope to get at least the first book out in a few months. I expect it will be worth the wait. Recently I took a trip, however, which gave me time to read on the plane and this was the story I selected. It definitely made the miles fly by at a rapid pace.
The title alone constitutes a spoiler though this cautionary tale definitely drives the message home. Set in South Carolina in the 1970s, this gripping story captures the dark side of the south in the post 60s Civil Rights era. This culture was entirely off the radar of those who lived in other parts of the country and deserves to be read for its education value alone.
I have to smile at the main character’s name, Mason, a Californian who definitely has some interesting revelations and adventures upon venturing below the Mason-Dixon line. A young man in his late 20s who has recently lost his job and been divorced by his wife accepts employment at a company in South Carolina that manufacturers machines used in the printing industry. From reviewing ECRs (engineering change requests) to interactions between employees with a variety of educational and cultural backgrounds, the author did a great job capturing the work climate of such a facility which included plenty of gossip and the inevitable backbiting. It was easy to visualize the environment and feel as if you, too, were an employee observing the drama and goings-on.
Mason is immediately attracted to a flirtatious woman named Jill. Despite warnings that her abusive husband is the Grand Knight of the local KKK, he pursues a relationship with her. As expected, he is attacked and harassed in a vicious manner, any relief from law enforcement nonexistent since they are also members of the Klan. His obsession with her is not to be doused, however, and ultimately becomes coupled with compassion and the desire to help her escape her abusive marriage.
Further description will definitely tread upon spoiler territory, though I’m sure just about anyone can figure out that this is probably not going to end well. Actually, the ending does carry a few major surprises, though the author did a good job of alluding to them. This suspense-laden story is not only a warning not to allow your libido to lure you into dangerous situations, but also provides a glimpse into what it was like in the Deep South a half-century ago. While some of it has improved, it’s still a place immersed in echoes of a culture that few outsiders understand.
Scott Skipper is one of my favorite authors, particularly his Alien Affairs series. Being much darker, this novel lacks the dry humor found there, but his skilled writing style and attention to detail make it an outstanding read.
As mentioned earlier, I read this story while on an airplane. As I was about to get into my car in the remote long-term parking lot I heard a shot. Duly sensitized by the action in the book, I ducked, wondering what was going on and whether I was in mortal danger. Then it dawned on me that it was New Year’s Eve and all I’d heard was a firecracker. Nonetheless, it illustrated the author’s skill in pulling me into the story. Don’t miss it.
You can pick up your copy on Amazon here. You can learn more about Scott Skipper and his other stories through his social media links below.
Annie Douglass Lima considers herself fortunate to have traveled in twenty different countries and lived in four of them. A fifth-grade teacher in her “other” life, she loves reading to her students and sparking their imaginations. Her books include 
Marcha's Two-Cents Worth 