Locksmith's War

 

Read The Blog Post Here

Locksmith's War

The Locksmith Trilogy Book Three

by Paul Briggs

 

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GENRE: YA Sci-fi (Young Adult, Science Fiction_

 

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BLURB:

 

For Lachlan Smith, learning the secret of the apocalypse was the easy part.

 

Ever since Locksmith found the portal to the future, he has been wondering who or what was responsible for the empty, uninhabited world he found.

 

Now he knows—and now he has to fight them.

 

He thought he had fifteen years in which to prevent the extinction of the human species.

 

Now, he has only hours.

 

When the portal is stolen by a cabal of dangerous fanatics, his mother and many of his friends are trapped on the other side. Now the enemy is after him, and the only way to thwart their genocidal plan is to retake the portal and hold it—at both ends.

 

With very little time left, a handful of allies who don't trust each other, almost no chance of success and the survival of humanity itself at stake… Locksmith is going to war.

 

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EXCERPT:

 

Then a shot rang out

 

Then a shot rang out. Chips of wood fell around her.

 

Crouching lower, Erin could see where the bullet had gone through the door and the opposite wall. A few seconds ago it would have done the same thing, in spite of her torso being in the way.

 

And it was too late to pretend she was already dead or wounded, so it was time to get out of the way. She fired back through the door — scary how much easier it was to do that when you couldn’t see who you were shooting at — and then ran for the hall.

 

Erin turned… and froze in place, one foot poised a few inches above the first stair. The stairs were pieces of wood, neither soundproof nor (as she’d just seen) bulletproof. The moment she set foot on them, the guys directly underneath would know exactly where to shoot, and she would have only the vaguest idea of where to shoot back. There was no way she could make it to the top of the stairs alive.

 

Oh… and Luther was going to run into the same problem coming down the stairs. Or maybe not. If the portal was indestructible, he could use it as a shield — put it facedown on the stairs and sort of surf on it. On second thought, no. If they fired through the stairs and the bullet went through the portal, it might hit Lock. Luther would have to put it on the stairs face up and stand on the edges.

 

Either way, Erin had no idea how she was supposed to explain to Luther that his survival now depended on his ability to replicate a stunt from a Lord of the Rings movie.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

In addition to writing books, Paul Briggs has worked as a newspaper editor, court reporter's assistant, and audio transcriber. In his spare time (when he has any) he sometimes performs in community theater, most recently taking on the roles of Bottom, Petruchio, Macbeth, Rosalind, and Richard III in a Shakespeare compilation. An Eastern Shore native who grew up in Chestertown, Maryland, Paul earned a BA in English from Washington College and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland – College Park.

 

He is the author of several short plays, including the award-winning The Worst Super Power Ever and The Picture of Health.  He is also writing the sequel to his 2018 science fiction novel Altered Seasons: Monsoonrise, which vividly imagines the dislocations that follow when the Arctic Sea ice finally melts and the Chesapeake Bay is drowned by the effects of climate change.

 

https://www.paulbriggs.com/thelocksmithtrilogy

 

https://www.facebook.com/paulbriggsauthor/

https://twitter.com/paulproofreader

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/655906.Paul_Briggs/blog

https://lockswriter.deviantart.com/

 

Amazon Author Page

 https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Briggs/e/B00J0GRQFM?

 

Amazon Buy Link: 

https://smile.amazon.com/Locksmiths-War-Locksmith-Trilogy-Three-ebook/dp/B09ZK98V96/ref=sr_1_1

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

 

Please use this rafflecopter code on your post:

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4331/

 

 

 

The Mermaid and the Unicorns Review

See Blog Post Here

 

The Mermaid and the Unicorns

by L.T. Getty

 

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GENRE: Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure

 

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BLURB:

 

Daphne’s a typical mermaid, and at least according to her, that’s a problem. She’s courageous and has a beautiful singing voice, but lacks the power of an elemental, the ability to command water with the sound of her voice. Jealous of her best friend, she makes a deal with a sea-witch, only to be betrayed, in place of her beautiful tail and flukes Daphne’s left beached with a pair of human legs. The spell keeping Daphne looking human will become permanent, unless Daphne can hunt down and bring the scheming Lorelei a unicorn horn before the next full moon.

 

Unable to reach her friends and family for help, Daphne doesn’t know how to walk, much less where to find a unicorn or how to catch one. Even if she’s successful, Daphne’s still not sure if she can trust Lorelei and her pint-sized kraken to keep their end of the bargain and let her return to the sea.

 

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NOTE: The book is only $0.99.

 

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EXCERPTS:

 

"You'll see lots as you travel from place to place," Daphne told the small dolphin. "Come, your mother won't forgive me if I let you roam from the pod."

 

Why hurry? Echor asked as he swam, spinning around different plants and sponges that grew along the rocks, before focusing in on a vibrant snail. It was not a very old reef, though it was well inhabited by many vividly-colored, small fish. The young dolphin seemed to take pleasure in disturbing them and watching them scurry into their small hiding crevices and among the anemones. You're so lucky that you get to stay in your town all the time. This part of the sea is so beautiful!

           

"I think it would be neat to see so much of the ocean," Daphne said, thinking of her small town of Thranda. Unlike the dolphins, who often travelled long distances in a single day, most merfolk lived in towns unless they left their communities to hunt or travel to another community. She had known members of his family since she was a little mermaid, and only got to see them a few times a year when they passed through her home to feed in a nearby bay. She heard a series of warnings behind her—the other dolphins had detected something with their echolocation. Unless it was something exceptionally large, they should have been safe within the pod, but Echor was very young. "Echor, let's return to your family." The young dolphin had wandered off while Daphne had turned her head, chasing a seal that had left her bob, trying to swim away from Echor.

           

"Echor!" Daphne called, swimming after him. She caught up to him, then looked over her shoulder as she heard a familiar sound. An orca! Daphne suppressed a shudder. It was large, but far enough away for her to find a hiding space. Still, killer whales almost always travelled in groups. The killer whale dove when he spotted her. She knew the others would want to help, but they were no match for an orca. He swam quickly towards her and Echor. Daphne knew she would be hard pressed to out-swim the large creature.

           

Hide! the orca told her.

           

Daphne then saw the immense shadow and wooden keel of a ship following the orca. The killer whale dove deep, though the water was too clear and shallow to truly hide his massive form. A harpoon followed him, missed, and was quickly pulled back to the surface by a rope. Another harpoon plunged into the water, and then another. The rough waters churned green and grey in the ship's wake, and Echor's warning chatter only told her that there was another human vessel. It came from Daphne's left, and it dragged a net behind it.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

L.T. Getty is a rural paramedic from Manitoba. She enjoys writing science fiction and fantasy and generally being creative.

 

Amazon (American)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09F2MRB9N/

Amazon (Canadian)

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09F2MRB9N/

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns

 

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60006465-the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns

 

Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns-lt-getty/1140115966

 

Author's Blog

https://ltgetty.ca/

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

L.T. Getty will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

RAFFLECOPTER:

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4307/

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MY REVIEW:

It is really two stories, Story one is the tale (tail?) of a mermaid named Daphne. There are glimpses of her life talking with dolphins or cutting hair or sneaking out after dinner to an inactive volcano. As adventurers often do, she gets into trouble and must go ashore (without a tail) to interact with humans. It has echoes of The Little Mermaid from Disney. In my experience this is a great thing. Younger readers love reading well known tropes. It is why there are so many successful series that retell the same story over and over. The first section gives a tween reader an easy entry point.

The second portion sets a quest for a unicorn horn. And, as we learn, unicorns only appear when they want to be seen. Daphne must quest to find one and then confront a wizard very bent on obtaining one himself. In the end, as Siona says, "be careful, Daphne. You are no longer as other mermaids." 

Overall, this is a good book for the tween reader. Elements of fantasy, some well-traveled roads, and some unique twists to keep it interesting. The writing style is simple and clean and accessible to most middle grade readers. I was given a copy as part of a blog tour. The review and opinions are my own.

INTERVIEW:

Today, we have an opportunity to talk to LT. Getty. LT Getty has written the book, The Mermaid and the Unicorns.

First, let me thank you for joining me. I appreciate you giving me your links and I want to share those with our readers.

YOUR INFORMATION:

Author Blog:

https://ltgetty.ca/

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479207.L_T_Getty

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/leia.getty/

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.ca/leiagetty/

 

Buy Links:

Amazon (American)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09F2MRB9N/ 

Amazon (Canadian)

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09F2MRB9N/

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns

 

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60006465-the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns

 

Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns-lt-getty/1140115966

 

 

Web site (and any other links you’d like included: Facebook, Twitter, buy pages, etc.):

Title of book we’re promoting:

 

The Mermaid and the Unicorns

That is great. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to start writing?

 

I was a creative kid from an early age and I wanted to control the way the story went. I shamelessly ripped off bits of stories I liked, but we were the Happy Meal Generation so it was normal to get a toy with the latest movie and a lot of cartoons were commercials for the toys they were selling. I was drawn towards adventure stories and tales of the unknown or exploring places very different than what I knew. I mostly wrote for myself at the beginning, because the sorts of books I enjoyed weren’t always marketed to me.

What led me to writing this particular novel was that my niece was a fledgling reader, and I wanted her to know she has the option to read whatever she wants, or write something if she chooses to, as opposed to what’s an approved market trend.

Bio (tell in first person) and answer question, “What led you to start writing?”


Select which questions below you would like to answer. It is really up to you, though I would encourage a minimum of 4-5. Feel free to do all or some.

Where do you get your inspiration, information, and ideas for books?

 

Inspiration comes from everywhere, including where you don’t expect it. When I wrote Tower of Obsidian, I was inspired by playing Shadow of the Colossus on the playstation. That novel, however, did require an absolute ton of research on Ireland and vikings, but I didn’t have to for this one, but I don’t deny I er… stole ideas from other sources.

I live in the Manitoba Praries, but I am not a Horse Girl by any stretch. I do enjoy riding when I have the opportunity, and I’ll be honest I was seriously contemplating an acreage before I bought my current house, but work keeps me busy and I knew that would be a serious commitment. I grew up with a lot of horses, magical and mundane in media, from My Little Pony to She-Ra, and I really wanted to one day tell a story about unicorns. I’ve got a few other projects on the go, but I would like to do a novel featuring a Pegasus sometime soon. I don’t know exactly if there’s a single idea that triggered the story, I think it was the idea of someone forcing a girl to hunt a unicorn, because of the lore associated that Unicorns are drawn towards maidens/innocence.

 

What are your hobbies and do they ever play into your writing?

I enjoy working out and being active. I enjoy mountain biking and kayaking (usually – haven’t been out on the water so far this year, grrrr) as well as painting and listening to documentaries. I did kendo some time ago and it helped me learn swordplay– I’d love to get back into martial arts when I have more time – but I think I’m mostly a proficient archer. I don’t practice as often as I should, but I think that’s one of the reasons that archers appear so often in my books.

 

What advice would you give someone who wants to be a writer?

Try to write a story and finish it. Send it into the wild and then write another one. Repeat. Don’t get bummed out, just do your best.

Odds are it’ll be rejected and by the time you get to the fifth project, odds are your craft will have improved and if you’re like me, you’ll want to rewrite something you did earlier because you know that the idea was good, but the skill level wasn’t there.

Odds are, you have good taste but unless you have been writing in some other capacity for some time, your skill level won’t be where you wanted it to be to tell that particular story. It’s easy to get hung up and compare yourself to everyone else, but the best way to improve that skill level is to write and edit that writing.

 

What is the best advice you have ever been given as a writer?

In grade 9, my teacher told me that I need to be able to understand my opponent in a debate, because I need to attack what they believe not what I am projecting that they believe. I love stories that feature unreliable narrators, and villains you can understand. Not sympathize with, but understand; that way their motivations are realistic. If I can understand what the person who disagree with me believes in, I can undermind their argument.

This way, I’m really able to get into a character’s head, and not just the main or viewpoint character, either.

Now, a real trick in a debate is to understand a debate and still project what your opponent wants in an unflattering light, but that’s a whole other topic.

Do you write full-time or around another job? How do you schedule your time to write?

I’m a full time paramedic. More than full time, actually. I used to just write after school, or write when I found time, but between school and work it was when I could find it. Now I usually bring a notebook with me to work, and I work when we have down time. At home, I generally make a plan and hollow out time for writing.

What does literary success look like to you?

This is probably an unpopular opinion, but basically that I created a project and didn’t compromise the integrity of the idea. For me, I wanted to write a story that I would have loved as a child. What stories did I like? Let’s ignore the Edgar Rice Burroughs and be a little more child friendly: The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (read the entire series!). The Song of the Lioness Quartette by Tamora Pierce.

Please tell us about your current release.

The Mermaid and the Unicorns is an older middle grade fantasy adventure aimed at readers around the ages of 10-12.Clearly, some younger readers would be able to read it a little earlier, it has some scary parts but I didn’t want to go very dark.

The story is about a young teenage mermaid who finds herself beached and turned human, and told that in order to go home, she needs to get a unicorn horn. Ultimately the story is about doing the right thing even if it seems that it’s not in your best interest to do so.

Can you read / provide us with a small excerpt? (Optional – under 200 words)

"What song are you going to sing?" One of the other girls working the bakery asked another once the customer's area of the bakery was clean.

"Siren's Lament," Esperanza said. "Are you competing?"

"Nope. I don't like performing. Gonna enter my gooseberry pie in the real contest. My big sister Paula is planning on playing her spoons. She's going to perform Go Ahead and Slap Him, Sally, but I think she should do Pass the Lumberjack's Hat Around. Espy, you're good at singing. Which do you think would be better?"

"Uh, neither," Esperanza said. "We're supposed to be singing beautiful tales of generations gone past, not silly songs and goofy shanties. If Paula wants to throw her chances away at winning the contest..."

Daphne hadn't thought of what song to perform, and so while doing that, she missed the other girl saying she just likes music she can dance to.

"What's Pass the Lumberjack's Hat Around?" she asked Esperanza once the other girl got called to go work the front.

"Possibly the worst song in existence," Esperanza said. "You know how sometimes songs don't make sense? At all?"

"Yeah," Daphne said. "But sometimes, people don't understand the hidden meaning..."

Esperanza arched an eyebrow, cleared her throat, then began to tap her foot before singing,

 

"Throw the mouses in the skittle

Round and Round a hey diddle-diddle!

Rubes be dark and ducks do quack,

Shall My Lady Love turn back?"

 

Daphne tried not to laugh. "You just made that up."

"It gets better," Esperanza said, still tapping.

 

"Round the goose to my captain's ball,

The goat's favourite clover is a free-for-all!

Dirty socks all about the town,

Pass the lumberjack's hat around!"

 

     Esperanza stopped tapping and made a face. "Fortunately, you need a half-gallon jug filled a third to blow, three people playing the spoons, and two violins to get an idea what it's supposed to sound like. It's also supposed to have a cowbell and a really loud drum, but most people just clang on whatever they find."

 

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am currently writing a not-quite sequel about the Puppeteers that appeared in this story. I thought it was a little scary and should be cut, but my niece loved it and now wants a duology about the story of the people who were turned into puppets. I follow mostly new characters, but Daphne, Esperanza, and Sean all make a cameo.

I have also signed a the next book in my sword and sorcery series, Rogue Healer, entitled Magus’ Gambit with Champagne Books, and we’re looking at an April release on that title.

 

Who are your favorite authors?

I think CS Lewis is brilliant – not just his fiction but his non-fiction as well. My favorite of his novels is, “Til we Have Face: A myth retold” which is a retelling of Psyche and Cupid from Psyche’s sister POV.

If you were to ask me, “What’s a good science fiction novel I may not have heard of?” I’d tell you to read “Wildseed” by Octavia E. Butler.

 

 

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

I do like to read a lot of small/indie authors, so how about I plug “Shards of Law” by LE Derekson?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59825939-shards-of-law

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Hiring a good editor. I wanted to do it earlier but I got talked out of it because people were all over the place with the cost, and to be honest I wasn’t ready until I took the plunge anyway. I found that I had a bit of a rocky road working with editors with Champagne Books, so I figured what I needed was more practice.

What is your writer’s kryptonite?

For me it was worrying if my work was good enough or if everyone would like it.

I learned that not every book is for everyone – and it’s okay if someone doesn’t like my book. It’s not okay for me to not edit and make it as good as I’d like it, but quality doesn’t indicate whether or not someone will like something. There’s brilliantly written books that aren’t for me, and I know when I’m reading the literary equivalent of junk food.

I think the problem stemmed from that I started writing at a young age and people were often very dismissive or thought that I wanted to go for something I wasn’t aiming for. It’s honestly pretty frustrating finding the right mix of supportive and constructive criticism, so it was a bit of a process for me to rebuild my confidence. The other thing I was worried about was employers being concerned I was a writer, so I had to keep my first book on the down low until I was secure in my profession. Feel free to disagree, but I have had to take education off my resume in order to get jobs I was over-qualified for in the past.

 

What part of writing and publishing was most difficult for you?

I took courses and for the most part got decent feedback, so I think learning to write well is difficult for most people. We all speak and think we are communicating clearly, but sometimes we’re kind of ignorant as to how we come across, and especially with the written word you don’t have the benefit of having a brilliant narrator emphasizing words. As said above, learning to work with an editor was also tricky because I’m almost always communicating by email, so there’s a fine line in arguing when it seems like you’re whining when you just really want to make a point.

Honestly, marketing remains one of my biggest challenges. I am a creative person and can easily think outside the box, but marketing seems like you have to be the same as everyone else and throwing out your product to an oversaturated market and most people, if they read, tend to read the same books as everyone else. I think that’s normal though: Most of us watch movies and see the blockbusters; but I’ve seen some fantastic films no one’s heard about and I wonder how and why but, I think that’s the case with almost everything.

 

Are you involved in any writer groups?

Not a group, no. I find that trying to make a novel that pleases people who don’t like your genre is counter-productive. I have a beta reader, and he and another local writer sell our books together at farmers markets and comic cons in Winnipeg.

For The Mermaid and the Unicorns I gave a rougher draft to my niece and sister and took their feedback. My aunt offered to edit it for me; for the most part her feedback was that I should change the title and make it more appealing to a male audience; I understood her feedback (this is a quest book not a princess one) but I told her I’d do that with other projects.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I try not to sweat the small stuff, so if you read any of my books and don’t like it: still feel free to leave an online review if you want to. As a general rule I do not respond in any way to reviews, unless everyone agrees about something (let’s say, Lorelei was a little too much as a villain and literally everything else was more threatening than her) then maybe on my own blog I’ll talk about my choices, but your opinion is your opinion.

One more time, where can someone go to purchase your book?
Add your links here again

 

Amazon (American)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09F2MRB9N/ 

Amazon (Canadian)

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09F2MRB9N/

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns

 

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60006465-the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns

 

Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mermaid-and-the-unicorns-lt-getty/1140115966

THANKS FOR JOINING JERRY'S CIRCUMLOCUTION

Author of Freckles: The Dark Wizard

Please hit the follow link for more Indie authors who deserve a read! 

And don't forget my shameless self promotion:

Jerry's Author Page on Amazon

Interview and Review with Craig Leener

 

BUY IT HERE

Today, we have an opportunity to talk to Craig Leener. Craig Leener has written the book, There’s No Basketball on Mars. 

 

First, let me thank you for joining me. I appreciate you giving me your links, and I want to share those with our readers.

 

There’s No Basketball on Mars

 

Website — https://craigleener.com

 

Twitter — https://twitter.com/CraigLeener

 

Amazon —https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Basketball-Mars-Craig-Leener-ebook/dp/B09XJQ4K35

 

That is great. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to start writing?

Despite being relatively earthbound most of the time, I’ve long maintained a keen interest in space travel. I’m also a big fan of basketball, having immersed myself in the game since my youth as a player, coach, referee, fan and, later in life, as a sportswriter.

 One of my mentors as a young man played for Coach K at Duke. We used to play horse all the time. he won. How are your skills?

I have a solid perimeter jumper and an above-average ability to go to my left. My free-throw percentage on my backyard home court is an implausible 87 percent — and to this day, that number remains 100-percent unverified. And what I lack in foot speed, leaping ability, and defense, I make up for in court smarts and postgame snacks.

 

I’m also a lifelong opponent of the instant replay in sports. I maintain this contrarian point of view because of the intrinsic value I place on the human element’s potential to influence the outcome of athletic competition, inadvertently or otherwise.

 BUY IT HERE

Good thing about writing is there is very little instant replay and a lot the human element as we invite folks to read our works. Tell me about yours.

There’s No Basketball on Mars is my fourth YA novel, following the publication of the Zeke Archer Basketball Trilogy.

 

Like everyone who writes, I’ve always felt that I had a book in me, and I arrived at a point in my life around five years ago where I felt it was time to make good on the threat.

 

Where do you get your inspiration, information, and ideas for books?

I get my inspiration when I visit old churches and cemeteries. That’s when storylines fall from the sky, and I’m standing there wearing a giant mental catcher’s mitt, and then I race home and sit in front of my iMac, and this thing happens where I’m serving as the typist for some higher power. I’ve written four YA novels, and it happens the same way every time.

 

Sounds like divine inspiration if I've ever heard it! What advice would you give someone who wants to be a writer?

Drop everything you’re doing and tell everyone you know that you’re writing a book. That way, you’ll have nowhere to hide. You will have to do it, or else.

 

That is true. My friends who ask me also motivate me. What is the best advice you have ever been given as a writer?

I have a journalism mentor, a former sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times. He used to tell me, “Leener, put a period on it and file it.” The message there is you can’t tinker with something forever. Eventually, you’ll need to release it to the world and move on to the next project.

 

This is too true. I have some friends who struggle with edits and edits. Putting your best work out there means also putting it out there. There is a time to let it fly into the world. As it does, we wait and see how it is received. In that light, what does literary success look like to you?

Dedicating a book to my grandson.  

 BUY IT HERE

Cool. Please tell us about your current release.

Lawrence Tuckerman, a neurodiverse 15-year-old on the spectrum, dreams of being the mathematics flight specialist on NASA’s first-ever manned mission to Mars. Lawrence’s dream comes true more quickly than he’d expected when he is suddenly and unexpectedly recruited for a top-secret mission while still in high school. And Lawrence soon discovers that mathematics isn’t the hardest part of working with a team of astronauts and mission control specialists. Can Lawrence handle the pressure and isolation without his best friend, basketball star Zeke Archer, by his side? 

Can you provide us with a small exert?

And I also navigate my way through the world by my sense of taste, especially with pepperoni pizza, but only from the best pizzeria in Los Angeles, Mike’s Pizza on Broadhurst Parkway, and only when my pizza has been cut into seven slices, instead of the customary eight.

 

Whenever there’s a rookie pizza-slicer guy hired at Mike’s, and he slices my pepperoni pizza using the conventional eight-slice pizza-slicing method, I don’t eat it.

 

Ever.

 

Once I threw a whole pepperoni pizza against our kitchen wall because it was cut into the standard eight slices instead of seven, and my dad told me if I did that again, it would be a long time before we had takeout pepperoni pizza from Mike’s.

 

So I stopped doing it.

 

When the angle of the sunlight streaming in through our kitchen window is just right, I can still see the shadowy grease stain on the wall, because Mike’s pepperoni pizza is as greasy as it is tasty.

 

And we have pepperoni pizza from Mike’s every Tuesday because it’s the only day of the week whose name is constructed using precisely seven letters.

 

That's great. What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m writing a sequel to the Mars book.

 

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

I bought a waterproof notepad kit called Aqua Notes. It comes with 40 sheets of waterproof paper, a No. 2 pencil and suction cups that attach the pad and pencil to my shower glass. Now whenever all those negative ions are flying around and I get a storyline brainstorm, I can capture it. Best eleven bucks I ever spent.

That is awesome. I looked it up - you can buy it HERE.

What is your writer’s kryptonite?

Self-doubt. It creeps in every time I speak with my developmental editor, and she tells me there’s a better way to say something, and I end up wondering whether I’m good enough to keep going.

 

 BUY IT HERE

One more time, where can someone go to purchase your book?

There’s No Basketball on Mars is available now wherever books are sold in the solar system.

Thanks!

MY REVIEW: I was given a copy for review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Math equals Truth. That's why I never lie. Ever." 

I am new to Craig Leener's fictional world but one does not need to read the first three books on Zeke to enjoy this excellent work on one of the original trilogy's minor characters. The book focuses on Sherman Tuckerman. He is autistic, likes routines, avoids loud noises or physical contact, loves the number seven (don't cut his pizza into eight slices), prefers not to talk, and goes by Lawrence. Lawrence's life is routine as he works on an old Chevy, receives notes from his college bound friend Zeke, plays chess, and responds to his dad (and others) by passing notes instead of talking. That is, until Dr. Murakami and Flint Garrison show up. They have exactly seven months to get a basketball size package rescued in order to change the medical world forever. And they need Lawrence.

The story picks up pace after he is enlisted and is a great read. It offers much of the excitement Any Weir's The Martian offers on a teen level as well as portrays well a child with autism. It reminded me as well of that old movie Space Camp where the kids get launched into space and have to figure it out sometimes in spite of the adults. And as for Lawrence, I was drawn in to love him as a central character the same way I am with Young Sheldon. Just quirky enough to be intriguing, but enough like me to be identifiable. As Stone Godfrey asks while in outer space, "What does this Zeke fella's recoiled shooting arm have to do with capturing a sample container orbiting Mars?" Only the young mind of Lawrence can tell how the same principals he used to help his friend Zeke (previous trilogy by the author) can now save their mission and perchance help advance the world of medicine forever. 

There's No Basketball on Mars is a great read offering the limelight to an autistic (albeit autistic savant).

Divine Direction

This is my stop during the bookstagram blitz for Divine Direction by Benecia Ponder. Divine Direction is a non-fiction inspirational book.

This bookstagram blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. This bookstagram blitz runs from 22 till 28 August. See the tour schedule here.

Don’t miss the tour wide giveaway! There are three prizes you can win. You can enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.

Divine Direction
By Benecia Ponder
Genre: Non-fiction Inspirational
Release Date: 28 February 2022

Blurb:
Divine Direction is a collection of stories of ordinary people who received extraordinary guidance in their lives. Whether it was a career or life change, a relationship in trouble, or a crisis, each of the authors found a way to listen to the Divine and let Him steer them in the right direction at just the right time.

The stories are often raw and vulnerable, reflections on the human experience in all of its messy yet perfectly aligned beauty.

Readers are encouraged to approach this book in whatever way feels right. The stories can be read in order and from beginning to end, or at random. Either way, take time to pause and reflect on the story and its message before moving on to the next chapter.

The authors’ journeys and revelations will help you gain insight into the messages and lessons you’ve received in your own life, providing clarity and inspiration as you endeavor to find our own divine direction!

•• Divine Direction Co-Authors ••
Ardra Caldwell • Breyuna Williams • Cheryl Graham • Cindy Beckles • Crystal Reilley • Jennine Carter • Karen Lynn Robinson • Karen Skinner • Katherine James • Kathy Haynie • Kelly McCausey • Kenya Williams • Lady Rayven Monique • Lesa Dale • Lisa Antley • Maureen Riley • Patricia Ortega • Paula Ames • Stephanie Sherwood • Sue Fattibene • Tracy Mitchell • Treyonda Towns

Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon

About the Author:
Benecia Ponder is a Story Coach and Book Publishing Mentor to Inspirational Authors—purpose driven entrepreneurs who share their God-given gifts and life experiences through powerful stories that make an impact.

Benecia's clients want to tell their story and have a real impact on the world. They want to open doors to connect with people they feel called to serve.

Since 2006, Benecia has been helping entrepreneurs and organizations clarify, hone, and share their messages to inspire change.

With more than 10 years of passionate experience helping storytellers go all the way from outlining to publication, Benecia loves to speak, teach and motivate entrepreneurs.

Want to show your people how to write, publish, and leverage a book that boosts their business with more clients, credibility, and cash flow? Benecia would love to be a part of that.


"I believe we all have a message...a beautiful, transformational message that has the power to create a positive impact in the lives of others.”
-Benecia Ponder

Author links:
- Website
- Instagram
- LinkedIn

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the bookstagram blitz for Divine Direction. This giveaway is open international. Here are the prizes you can win:
- A paperback copy of The Overnight Success Journal by Benecia Ponder
- A paperback copy of Detox Your Soul by Benecia Ponder
- A free book strategy call with Benecia Ponder

You can enter the giveaway here.

Or use the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

MY REVIEW:

The stories are brief and remind me a lot of the devotional material my home church used to have in the lobby. Short inspirational moments from other's lives. Within them you can find connections to your own. Whether it is a child whose parents struggle with substance abuse, a lady seeking to live her faith through a divorce, a businesswoman just starting out, or discovering your talents through the DISC personality indicator at a church meeting these stories reflect the best of people searching for meaning and finding it within their faith community. Each chapter ends with a passage of scripture and a prayer - perhaps this is what reminded me so much of those little Upper Room devotionals. Well done.

I was given a copy as part of Lola's Blog Tours. The opinions are my own.