Pick of the Literate

Solomon Vs. Lord by Paul Levine Win An eBook

2012-05-29T22:16:00.001-04:00

Win a copy of this delightful book.

See the author interview.

Nothing to buy, no commitment, just a free eBook.

Winner announced here on 6/6/12

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This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Rogue Crusader by John R. Monteith

2012-05-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

I’m beginning to wonder if the Navy is offering creative writing to it’s officers. I seem to have run across some excellent sea stories recently.

This book reads fine as a stand alone but seems to be the third book in a continuing series. Jake Slade, an ex-U.S. naval officer with a storied past is thrust into a situation of apocalyptic potential engendered by Islamic extremists.

Monteith puts together a likeable cast of characters with some game changing personal issues. Those issues impact behavior but are not related to the events occurring in this particular book. I would have preferred a little more back story but, again, the book stands alone quite well.

There is plenty of action and hard to starboard or hard to port type twists. (salty dog talk is not my forte) The book presents a believable scenario as far as terroristic motivation and technique, I can’t say how believable the submarine situations were but they were certainly innovative.

This was an exciting book and I recommend it.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> John R. Monteith </a>

Web Site: http://www.subthriller.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

INTERVIEW WITH PAUL LEVINE, AUTHOR OF “SOLOMON VS. LORD”

2012-05-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

(We recently talked to Paul Levine, author of the “Solomon vs. Lord” legal thrillers. The books were nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber awards, and have just been released as Kindle Exclusives).

Q “Solomon vs. Lord” opens with the lyrics from an old Frank Sinatra song called “But I Loved You.” That’s a little odd for a legal thriller, isn’t it?

A: Would you like me to sing a verse?

Q: Only if you must.

A: “Opposites attract, the wise men claim,

Still I wish that we had been a little more the same,

It might have been a shorter war.”

Q: So, is it a thriller with humor or a mystery with romance?

A. A legal thriller with humor. A dramedy.

Q: If you had to compare the story to earlier works...?

A: Shakespeare, of course.

Q: Of course.

A. Seriously. The ‘opposites attract’ set-up goes all the way back to “The Taming of the Shrew.” Then there’s Dashiell Hammett’s “The Thin Man.” “The Bickersons” on radio. “Moonlighting” on television. Two people love-hate each other. Life sizzles when they’re together, fizzles when they’re apart.

Q: Let’s look at the book’s teaser:

“Victoria Lord follows all the rules...

Steve Solomon makes up his own...

When they defend an accused murderer, they’ll either end up in ruin, in jail, or in

bed.”

Does that leave anything out?

A: All the kinky sex.

Q: We’re not sure if you’re being serious.

A: Totally. My working title was “Fifty Shades of Plaid.”

Q: One reviewer described the book as “Carl Hiaasen meets John Grisham in the court of last retort.” Fair assessment?

A: I probably bring humor to my work because, as a trial lawyer, I saw so much nuttiness in the courtroom.

Q: In “The Deep Blue Alibi,” there’s a chapter at a Florida nudist resort. Is it fair to ask how you researched the scene?

A: Like Jackie Chan, I do my own stunts.

Q: What about the title? Are you paying homage to John D. MacDonald’s “The Deep Blue Good-Bye?”

A: “Homage?” That’s French for cheese, isn’t it?

Q: Now you’re being facetious.

A: That’s what they pay me for

Q: Let’s be serious. You’ve won the John D. MacDonald Fiction award. You’re not denying his influence on you.

A: After I moved to Florida, I read all of MacDonald’s Travis McGee books. When I wrote my first Jake Lassiter novel (“To Speak for the Dead”), one of my first fan letters was from John D. MacDonald’s son. I think JDM nailed Florida’s weirdness and corruption.

Q: Does that explain the title of your third Solomon & Lord novel, “Kill All the Lawyers?” A combination of Shakespeare and MacDonald.

A: As lawyers constantly point out, that line was spoken by a villain in “Henry VI.” The guy wanted to overthrow the government, and killing all the lawyers seemed like a good place to start.

Q: While we’re on the topic of titles–

A: Which you seem to be obsessed with.

Q: What about “Habeas Porpoise?”

A. I didn’t steal that one from Shakespeare.

Q: Or anyone else. That would seem to be original.

A: Here’s the story. When Bantam published the book, my editors rejected the title as too funny. Now, the story opens with two highly trained dolphins being kidnapped by some hapless animal rights people, so I thought “funny” was okay. But we settled on “Trial & Error” for the book. When I got the rights back for e-book publication, I restored the original name.

Q: Tell us about your background. Your education.

A: At Penn State, I majored in journalism. At the University of Miami Law School, I majored in the swimming pool.

Q: You’ve been a successful television writer. What advice would you give to people who want to break into Hollywood?

A: Marry a blood relative of Jerry Bruckheimer or J.J. Abrams.

Q: Lacking that, when aspiring authors or screenwriters sit down at the computer, what should they be writing?

A: Ransom notes, maybe? Look, it’s really hard to break into the business. Some people suggest writing a spec script. But that’s a tough route. Years ago, Elmore Leonard said, “Writing a script and sending it to Hollywood is like drawing a picture of a car and sending it to Detroit.” So I’d recommend entry level positions as assistants or script readers. In the TV business, assistants sometimes manage to sell a script to the show they’re working on.

Q: Any last words about “Solomon vs. Lord?”

A: I wasn’t kidding about the kinky sex.

More information on Paul Levine’s website: http://www.paul-levine.com

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

2012-05-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

Alex is a blind teenager whose lack of sight has made his other senses more sensitive or is it something else. A mystery with psychic overtones, this book is well suited for the young adult reader.

Alex isn’t particularly likeable. In some ways he epitomizes many of the stereotypical self-centeredness of the spoiled teen. Alex, however, is not spoiled. To the contrary, his family struggles to make ends meet and his parents don’t seem to coddle him due to his blindness.

The book is a journey of self discovery and personal growth. A lonely Alex discovers the joys and perils of friendship. I found Alex’s personality a unusual combination of naivety and cynicism.

The book sets up for an obvious sequel and takes the moral high ground in dealing with the alleged villain.

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Emlyn Chand</a>

Web Site: http://www.emlynchand.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

SOLOMON VS. LORD SERIES NOW ON Kindle

2012-05-17T22:28:00.001-04:00

Paul Levine's

SOLOMON VS. LORD SERIES

Now on Kindle

Win a free eBook of Solomon vs. Lord here.

Check back soon for the GiveAway!
In creating his main characters, Levine relied on 17 years practicing law...and his three marriages. Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord are combative Florida lawyers who love/hate each other and can't agree on "good morning." But life sizzles when they're together and fizzles when they're apart. A Coral Gables blueblood, Victoria plays by the book. A Coconut Grove beach bum, Steve ignores the rules in favor of Solomon's Laws. Together, the two make a surprisingly good trial team, although there's always the chance they'll kill each other while the jury is still out.

Solomon Vs. Lord
Steve Solomon is the sharpest lawyer ever to barely graduate from Key West School of Law. Victoria Lord is fresh from Yale, toiling for an ambitious D.A. and soon to be married. And Katrina Barksdale is a sexy former figure skater charged with killing her incredibly wealthy, incredibly kinky husband. With all three tangled in the steamiest trial of the century, the case is sure to make sparks fly, headlines scream—and opposites attract. Read More

Deep Blue Alibi
They are Florida's most mismatched legal duo,one a glamorous Miami blue blood, the other a Coconut Grove beach bum. And when they get together, you can throw every law right out the window. Read More

Kill All The Lawyers
Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord. They're the legal world's oddest couple—a shorts-and-sandals beach bum and a Coral Gables blue blood. Maybe the only thing keeping them from killing each other is that they're on the same side. Read More

Habeas Porpoise
HABEAS PORPOISE opens when Steve is awakened in the middle of the night with a panicked phone call from his 12 year-old nephew, Bobby. Before he can even realize it is not dream, Steve is on a high-speed chase against animal liberation fanatics who have kidnapped two dolphins from the local water park... Read More

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Winner of Seal Team Six Outcasts GiveAway

2012-05-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

One hard copy of this HOT new book goes to:

Kara of Indiana

Thank you for participating, come back to my blogs often, there is almost always a GiveAway going on one of them.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Look Again from Lisa Scottoline; A Guest Review

2012-05-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Note! This review may contain spoilers, I did not read the book so I don't know how much if anything is revealed. Just a caution, btw I liked the review.

Before Look Again, Lisa Scottoline seemed to specialize in legal thrillers with strong, smart female protagonists with attitude and troubles to spare, usually of the murder-mystery variety. There’s nothing wrong with that formula, and Scottoline is very successful in crafting engaging plot arcs and characters readers will care about — many of her thrillers are New York Times bestsellers.

But with Look Again Scottoline seems to be headed in a new direction, one that, while keeping the well-paced suspense of her earlier novels, introduces new provocative issues akin to authors like Jodi Picoult, which heightens the drama and raises the stakes for the characters.

Ellen Gleeson, Look Again’s journalist cum suburban mother, is leading a successful, if not stressful, life with her adopted son, Will — until she gets a “Have You Seen This Child?” flyer in the mail, with a picture that looks uncannily like Will. At first she disregards the similarity — after all, the adoption process was completely lawful — the her investigative spirit get the better of her and she begins to dig into what turns out to be a heart-wrenching and nerve-bending narrative that forces her to ask an impossible question as a mother: “If Will isn’t rightfully my son, should I give him up?”

On her quest for the truth, Ellen begins to uncover details about Will’s background and discovers that only three weeks after the adoption proceedings were completed, the attorney who guided her through the adoption process committed suicide. More questions arise, and with them new dangers, and Ellen realizes that she — and her son — are in life-threatening danger.

The plot of Look Again is well-wrought, and it was certainly a page-turner of the highest order. My only complaint was that many of the characters, while expertly rendered, were unlikeable and amoral at best, including the protagonist. Still, it was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an emotionally charged thriller.

About the Author:
This guest contribution was submitted by Samantha Gray, who specializes in writing about online bachelor degree. Questions and comments can be sent to: samanthagray024@gmail.com.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Seal Team Six Outcasts GiveAway May 6-May13th.

2012-05-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Seal Team Six Outcasts GiveAway May 6-May13th.

One Hard Copy

Winner to be announced on May 14^th.

This timely book is by New York Times bestselling authors Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin

About the book:

They are the Outcasts. Because people don’t want to know what they do.

In the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, the President wants to finish the job once and for all and orders the assassinations of the seven men vying for bin Laden’s place. The president doesn’t want any of them left to dominate . . . and that means he has only one choice. But doing what’s needed without political repercussions will take a small team flying under the radar. A team capable of finessing the U.N.’s distinctions on national sovereignty and acts of war. A team like the Outcasts.

Alex Brandenburg: SEAL Chief Petty Officer and Outcasts Team Leader. Disobeyed direct orders by refusing to let a deadly terrorist live to kill another day. Francisco “Pancho” Rodriguez and John Landry: SEAL Petty Officers First Class. Took the pursuit of justice into their own hands with explosive results. Catherine “Cat” Fares:. Navy Petty Officer. Holds an unbeatable record for pissing off the top brass with her strongly stated opinions on the combat readiness of women.

The team’s mission: Take out the seven terror merchants vying to take Bin Laden’s place. The team’s status: Expendable.

As the Outcasts track down first one target, then another, and are hot on the tail of the third, they start to realize that they are closing in on a larger plot at hand and will have to do what SEALs do best to ensure the security of the United States: Break the rules, and get the job done.

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This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

An Interview with Margaret McLean, Author of Under Oath, The Riveting Legal Drama

2012-05-02T07:00:00.000-04:00


Margaret McLean

An Interview with Margaret McLean, Author of Under Oath, The Riveting Legal Drama

Thank you Ms. McLean for agreeing to be interviewed. I greatly enjoyed Under Fire, your previous book which I reviewed on this blog. In a world often grossly overpopulated with legal dramas, real and fictional, your books glow with an understated intensity. Your characters are memorable and your plots intriguing. I guess now that I have established or ruined my credibility by admitting I am a fan, I guess I will get to the questions.

Q&A

1.) Why did you write this book? What initiated this particular burst of creativity?

A: Charlestown is a working class Irish neighborhood of Boston, which is only one square mile, but it had the highest unsolved murder rate in the country for decades. I lived there and would say hello to a man everyday on my way home from work. I’d see him sitting on his stoop, smoking. One day, I didn’t see him anymore. He was murdered and his murder still remains unsolved. I witnessed the frustration of the homicide detectives as they dealt with this pervasive code of silence: don’t see anything, don’t hear anything, and never talk to cops. I became consumed with this street code of justice and why it permeated Charlestown. The Mothers against Murder group and their determination to end the code of silence also deeply influence my writing.

2.) Does your story line develop organically or is it a gestalt before you begin?

A: I start with an idea for a trial, which has a structure from the opening statements to the verdict. I weave the story around the trial. I also create a general outline with character biographies. As the novel progresses, I use a chapter by chapter working outline.

3.) What is the most difficult part about writing a book?

A: When I’m working on the first draft of a novel, I have to force myself to stop procrastinating and forge ahead. It’s so easy to focus on anything but writing, especially when I’m busy marketing and promoting the latest novel. It helps to jot down ideas and sketch the next scene on a legal pad, and then type that into the manuscript. At the end of a writing day, I stop mid-sentence for it’s easier to pick up where I left off the next morning.

4.) Do you have a favorite character in the book and if so why?

A: My favorite character is the protagonist, Annie Fitzgerald. She is the prosecutor in charge of the unsolved murder cases; thus, it is incumbent upon her to break the age-old code of silence in Charlestown. At age eleven, Annie witnessed a tragic event in her family’s bookstore in Charlestown involving her father and the code of silence, which forced the family to close the store and move out. Years later, Annie comes back to Boston with a personal vendetta to change Charlestown and extinguish the code of silence. As the trial unfolds against crime boss, Billy Malone, Annie becomes consumed with convicting him, exploits her prosecutorial power, and a lead witness ends up dead.   Annie has to acknowledge her mistake and forge ahead in this impossible case for the government.

5.) What do you like the most about writing?

A: I like creating complex characters who must overcome challenges and make changes in their lives. I’ve also co-written a play, Under Oath, which features Annie Fitzgerald and Buddy Clancy. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing these characters come to life on the stage. The play is currently in development with the Actors Studio in New York City.

6.) Where do your new story ideas come from?

A: My stories evolve from a combination of real, controversial legal cases and/or trials. Characters and dialogue come from my experience trying hundreds of cases as an Assistant District Attorney in a high-crime area. Lately, ideas are born from interviews and forensic research for my radio show It’s A Crime out in LA.

7.) What advice has helped the most in your writing?

A: The best advice I’ve received is to spend less time on the first draft. The process is similar to creating a multi-tiered wedding cake: mix the ingredients, get it baked, and then spend more time on the frosting and decorative details. It’s important to keep writing everyday with the goal of producing that first manuscript. The storyline and characters are honed in subsequent drafts.

8.) Do you have something new in the works?

A: I’m working on the first draft of Under Treason, another legal thriller starring defense attorney Sarah Lynch (the protagonist from Under Fire) and her crafty uncle, Buddy Clancy. A CIA agent stands trial for treason and crimes committed in violation of the Espionage Act in federal court.

9.) Who is your favorite author and why?

A: Harper Lee is my favorite author. She inspired me with To Kill A Mockingbird. I loved how she incorporated such rich themes and characters into a courtroom drama.

10.) What advice would you give for the want to be writer?

A: Participate weekly in an experienced writer’s group and join organizations such as Mystery Writers of America. It’s so important to have a support group. Writing a novel can be lonely and daunting. I’d also suggest attending writers conferences for they are a great venue to hone writing skills and to meet other authors, agents, and editors.

Thank you for answering my questions and I know I look forward to your next book.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Targets of Opportunity by Jordon Sandor Paperback

2012-04-30T20:50:00.000-04:00

The Simon & Schuster Press Release announcing the release of the paperback version of Jordon Sandor's Targets of Opportunity mentions my review. Check out my review and then check out this excellent thriller.

“Sandor is a character molded in the likes of CIA agent Jason Bourne.” —The Greenwich Post

“Sandor is a worthy James Bond clone.” —Pick of the Literate blogspot

“Jeffrey Stephens is right up there with Tom Clancy and Jordan Sandor may well rank as the next Jack Ryan.” —Cheryl’s Book Nook blogspot

For readers who are seeking a book that will deliver the thrill of a James Bond movie, the suspense of a Jack Ryan scene, and the action of a Jason Bourne flick, look no more—Jeffrey Stephens’s Jordan Sandor returns in TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY (Pocket Star Books; April 24, 2012; $7.99) to satiate readers’ appetites! Book reviewers have embraced Jordan Sandor and compared him to all three top action heroes. Compelling readers further stand the authors whom Jeffrey Stephens has been compared to: Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, and Tom Clancy.

You also might be interested to know:

Upcoming Jordan Sandor books:

Targets of Deception, Jordan Sandor #1, Paperback, September 2012

Targets of Revenge, Jordan Sandor #3, Original Hardcover, February 2013

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Under Oath by Margaret McLean

2012-04-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Another superb courtroom drama with volatile emotional context from Margaret McLean.

Annie Fitzgerald is prosecuting a despicable criminal figure in Boston’s infamous Charlestown section. She has a personal ax to grind and is obsessed with getting a conviction. She is assisted by homicide detective Callahan who is grinding his own ax. Together they share the obsessed cause of convicting Billy Malone.

Buddy Clancy would top the list of interesting people anyone has encountered. He and his golden retriever, Rehnquist, both sport bow ties and both have a sweet tooth. Buddy was more likeable in McClean’s previous book, Under Fire. Buddy seems more contentious. His folksy style fades against the counterpoint of the killer he is defending. Buddy seems to undergo a crisis of conscience with his defense of what may be a multiple murder suspect.

The plot is complicated and believable. There are a wealth of seedy characters that provide grit and grime to the story line. Sadly the story has a ring of truth which probably is the reason it is so captivating. Charlestown exhibits many of the characteristics of small towns and insular communities. Ms. McLean did an exceptional job in painting the atmosphere of this type of neighborhood.

The murdered artist Trevor Shea tells his own poignant story through out the book. The thread of his work is what ties this book so very neatly tight.

This was a very good book and an outstanding courtroom drama.

I highly recommend it.

Body of work of <a type="amzn" > Margaret McLean </a>

Web Site: http://www.margaretmclean.com/

The One You Love by Paul Pilkington

2012-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Sibling interaction with murder as a result provides the impetus for this mystery.

This can probably be classified as a psychological thriller. It was well laid out but seemed to plod along. There wasn’t anything that grabbed my attention and forced me to continue to read.

The characters were well described but somewhat clueless and occasionally confusing. The plot was well done and if action is not an imperative for your reading pleasure this story may fit the bill.

Body of work of Body of work of Paul Pilkington

Web Site: http://www.paulpilkington.com/
I read this on my Droid-X.

The Department of Magic by Rod Kierkegaard Jr.

2012-04-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

This book appears to be a satire on government. The Department of Magic responsibility is to protect “America” the goddess from any harm.

The premise of the book was very attractive. It prefaced each chapter with satirical definitions that were often quite funny. I found the main protagonists hapless and clueless which most likely was intentional.

There was plenty of action and gore. I just couldn’t get into the story. I didn’t find it captivating. I suspect it will find a fervent audience such as Adam’s Hitch Hiker which I also couldn’t get into.

Body of work of Body of work of <a type="amzn" > Rod Kierkegaard Jr. </a>

Web Site: http://rodkierkegaard.blogspot.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Free eBook Redemption Day by Steve O'Brien

2012-04-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Steve O’Brien’s author of Redemption Day is offering the Kindle version FREE on Amazon from April 15^th – 19^th . It would be great if you could help spread the word. Check out my review.

Here is a little write up from Steve about April 19 and its significance in Redemption Day.

April 19 has become a date marking horrific violence in this country's history.

The date is not well known like September 11 or December 7, the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Unlike dates that commemorate great military victories or the end of World Wars, April 19 is about a different kind of violence.

Violence between citizens of this nation and the government itself.

Like most traditions it began as a coincidence, but later transitioned into a date of significance for members of sovereign citizen groups like the Posse Comitatus.

It began in 1985. Jim Ellison was the leader of a sovereign group called CSA (The Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord. On April 19, 1985, three hundred federal officers surrounded his compound in northern Arkansas. Ellison surrendered and was later convicted of conspiracy and weapons charges. Aside from traditional firearms, the federal officers rounded up hand grenades, plastic explosives, blasting caps, land mines and even a US Army anti-tank rocket. One of Ellison’s men, Richard Wayne Snell was charged with murder and his execution took place ten years later as fate would have it, on April 19.

April 19, 1993 the FBI stormed the Branch Davidian complex outside Waco Texas, killing seventy six members, including seventeen children. David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidian group was sought for illegal weapons charges, something sovereign groups adamantly believed was not a crime, but a right. This came on the heels of the Ruby Ridge shootings which had enraged members like Tim McVeigh. Terry Nichols and McVeigh saw Waco as yet another illegal intrusion by a corrupt government.

Following Waco, April 19 became a date of significance for sovereign groups. They would use the date as a symbol and cause to retaliate against the government.

On April 19, 1994 militia leader Linda Thompson issued a call for sovereign citizen groups to assemble in Washington DC, armed and in uniform. The purpose of the assembly was the forced repeal of the Brady Bill and the arrest of Congressmen and Senators for treason. She identified herself as the acting adjutant general of the Unorganized Militia of the United States. Although later rescinded, her call to arms became known as the Thompson Ultimatum.

At nine pm April 19, 1995, CSA member, Richard Wayne Snell, was put to death by lethal injection in Arkansas. Twelve hours earlier, Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols had ignited a truck bomb outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City killing 168 people.

For McVeigh and Nichols the date was not a coincidence.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

From The Ashes by Jeremy Burns

2012-04-14T16:19:00.000-04:00

An action thriller with historic inferences might best describe this captivating book. Two Indiana Jones type brothers face a government cover-up and a generations old secret in this first of (I suspect.) the Jonathan Rickner thrillers.

Mr. Burns does a nice job on the back story. He fills in blanks and fleshes out both the characters and the story. There is plenty of material alluded to that may provide the seeds for forthcoming books. I liked the characterizations and the action. The loyalty of Jonathan and Mara to a memory was touching. The tenacity to which they ascribed their quest was laudable.

This story has a little something for everyone. Treachery, government conspiracies, Nazi politics and pre-cold war machinations all combine in a very good book.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Jeremy Burns </a>

Web Site: http://www.authorjeremyburns.com/

Latest Review of My Book:Short or Tall Doesn't Matter At All

2012-04-13T10:10:00.001-04:00

5.0 out of 5 stars A Story To Be Shared, April 12, 2012

Whit Gentry (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Short or Tall Doesn't Matter At All: Dealing with bullying in school. (Paperback)

Mr. Bentrim has hit another home run. I have shared all of his stories with my grandchildren and this will be no exception. He has continued his style of introducing a topic and writing a story which applies to many. A reader of Mr. Bentrim's stories should never read in mono because his stories are always in stereo.

Just look at this story: a message for the parents, a message for concerned friends (neighbors), a message for classmates, a message for the bully, and a message for the bullied. It would be interesting to give this story to a bully and see what the reaction would be. The thing that impressed me the most with his story is the fact the bully and the bullied resolved the issue. It doesn't get any better than this.

In the real world, it would be nice if we could see well enough to help orchestrate endings like this. Maybe this story will help US see better!!!

Thanks Mr. Bill----Keep it up

Whit Gentry

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner

2012-04-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is another legal novel that will probably make ethical lawyers cringe. (Note I am refraining from any of the cheap shot jokes here.)

Alex Miller has pulled the all nighters studying to be a lawyer, the incessant hours to become a partner and now as a partner the world is his oyster or is it?

This a not a thriller, it is more of a character study. If you enjoy legal novels, I suspect you will find this very satisfying. If you are an adrenalin junky, I suspect the lack of action will mean this book is not your cuppa.

Alex Miller’s life is put on trial in this book. The decisions he makes, the people around him, the impact others have on his life all contribute to the persona that defines Alex Miller, attorney, son, husband and father.

There is a hint that overly ambitious goal setting may contribute to an unsatisfying life.

I recommend it.

Body of work of <a type="amzn" > Adam Mitzner </a>

Web Site: http://www.adammitzner.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

An Interview With Karen Spears Zacharias author of A Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder

2012-04-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

Q&A with Karen Spears Zacharias author of

A Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder

Question: How did you meet Sarah Brill Sheehan?

Karen: As a young teenager Sarah Brill was assigned to an in-school detention class that I was supervising. Sarah possessed the jaw-dropping beauty of Halle Berry, and the reckless nature of Casey Anthony. She embodied a certain dangerous vulnerability that I recognized, so I reached out to her in a mentoring way that teachers often do.

Question: How was it Sarah came to live with your family?

Karen: At age 19, Sarah got pregnant. She asked my husband and me to adopt that child. For a variety of reasons we didn’t, but after Sarah gave birth she came to live with us. We considered Sarah our “adopted daughter.”

Question: So Karly wasn’t her first child?

Karen: No. She adopted her first daughter out to someone I introduced to her. Karly was the daughter she had with David Sheehan. A native of Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland. David met Sarah in Corvallis, Oregon, home to Oregon State University. David was an engineer in town for training at Hewlitt-Packard’s Corvallis campus, when the two met. They married in a Reno rush, lived in Ireland for a short time, and eventually settled in Corvallis, where Karly was born in January 2002.

Question: What happened to Karly?

Karen: She was murdered on June 3, 2005.

Question: This book is true crime memoir. Can you discuss what that means?

Karen: I worked the cop beat as a reporter in Oregon, so I knew all too well the inherent dangers of writing true crime. Fortunately, I had the benefit of being a known commodity in my community. Our local police trusted me to get it right. I didn’t have that advantage with A Silence of Mockingbirds. Although I am an OSU alum, I knew no one in law-enforcement in Oregon’s Benton-County when I began my research. It took me years to gain the trust of some of the law enforcement and attorneys on this case.

I suppose it was natural for me to approach this story as a crime reporter – it’s what I knew. I had years of experience in courtrooms and courthouses. I spent three years writing and rewriting A Silence of Mockingbirds as straight true crime. When I sent the manuscript to my agent, she read it and then called me early the next day. Alanna told me that while she thought I had written a very compelling true crime story, there was a problem with the manuscript. “What interests me in this story is your relationship with this family and you’ve told us very little about that,” Alanna said. “You need to rewrite it as memoir.”

For six weeks, the then 435-page manuscript set on my desk staring at me like a flame-eyed demon. I had no idea, none at all, how I would deconstruct this book and start again, but I was determined to do so. Then one day I came across some of the letters I had written to Inmate Shawn Field, the man convicted of killing Karly Sheehan. It was one of those Ah-ha moments that Oprah speaks about so frequently. My Ah-ha moment came when I realized those letters were the opening for the true crime memoir, and I began to write. A year later, I had an entirely new manuscript.

Question: How does true crime differ from memoir?

Karen: Having authored three memoirs now, it’s not the differences between true crime and memoir I notice, but rather the many ways in which they are similar.

It does seem that the most compelling true crime stories are those in which the writer finds themselves entangled in personal narrative. That has certainly been the case for the beloved crime writer Ann Rule whose long-career started with her relationship with serial-killer Ted Bundy.

I met and interviewed Ann during my reporting years. She had suggested at the time that I turn my eye toward writing true crime. When I told her about Karly’s death, Ann said, “This is your Ted Bundy story.” I’m humbled and overwhelmed that Ann Rule has given such a resounding endorsement to this work, calling it “a must read”.

In my opinion, the pitfall for any memoirist is the temptation to cling to one’s own mythology. Unfortunately, some memoirists write as if they are elementary school boys trying to out-wee each other. Such writing isn’t about honesty as much as it is about trying to crank up the shock value. But when the writing is about the discovery of truth, it matters not whether one is writing true crime or memoir or fiction.

Question: Does the book contain specific recommendations for individuals and society in preventing child abuse?

Karen: Yes. The book is being released in April to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention month. I have partnered with national advocacy groups such as Childhelp (Childhelp.org), Child Abuse Intervention Centers, the National Children’s Alliance (NationalChildrensAlliance.org) and Fathers and Families (FathersandFamilies.org) to help raise awareness about our nation’s child abuse epidemic.

A Silence of Mockingbirds provides practical insights into the subtle, and sometimes glaringly obvious things we overlook, the multitudes of ways in which abuse insinuates itself into our neighborhoods, and our communities, and our families. Everyone in Karly Sheehan’s life was college-educated. Many of them were trained professionals who were supposed to be able to identify and prevent child abuse. Yet, Karly’s abuse had been ongoing for months prior to her death. These people should have known better. Why didn’t they?

Question: Will you write another true crime?

Karen: I write real stories about real people and about things that really matter. I try to use my voice as a writer to speak for those whose voices have been marginalized and/or muted. So while I don’t think of myself as a true crime writer, dead people often play heavily into my work, so I suppose it’s entirely possible.

Remember April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

A Silence of Mockingbirds by Karen Spears Zacharias

2012-04-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Frankly it is horrific to think we need a month to suggest the obvious, that children are to be cherished and protected. I am reading A Silence of Mockingbirds by Karen Spears Zacharias. It details the abuse and murder of a three year old girl named Karly.

This is not an easy book to read due to the subject matter. My family suggested that I should not read it due to my propensity for emoting. I was a teacher and a guidance counselor and dealt with real life situations that were dismaying but none as horrifying as this true story.

I caution you that to read the book will give you pause and perhaps motivate you to being proactive if you see signs or symptoms of abuse. Keep in mind that abuse may be emotional as well as physical and it is not limited to just children.

This book is an important read, not an easy read, but an important one.

The best seller of my own books is Mommy’s Black Eye, which is a picture book on domestic violence. I am dismayed that it sells so well and hopeful that it may help someone. In this I share the impetus of Ms. Zacharias that we all need to be sensitive to what goes on around us.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

2012-03-29T13:49:00.005-04:00

Short or Tall Doesn't Matter at All by William G. Bentrim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are many kids out there who dread going to school due to bullying. Bullying is not always a pummeling of a child, it is often verbal which may result in longer term damage than a physical beating. Elisabeth is based on a real live, young lady who expressed to me her frustration with her peers and their preoccupation with her stature. In so many aspects this child is superior. She is loving, friendly, beautiful, bright and immensely sociable. For her self image to be negatively impacted by her stature is thoroughly dismaying.

I wrote this story for her and both she and her Mom told me that it made her feel better about herself. That feedback encouraged me to publish this story in an effort to help other kids feel better about themselves.

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This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

2012-03-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

Thirteen are needed to maintain power and control. Izzy will get her thirteen whatever the consequences. This is a novel in the tradition of Thomas Tryon or V.C. Andrews.

Women are often scary with out including witchcraft. Hmm, perhaps scary isn’t the right word. If women fought the wars there would be one and done. No holds barred when someone threatens a mother’s child. This book is about controlling women or the women who control.

Chick might be someone you know. Audra is trying to protect her daughter Paula who ends up trying to protect Rowan, her daughter. Where her daughter came from provides some of the tension of the book. If you enjoy intricate plots with deep characterizations you will enjoy this book.

There are no bubbling cauldrons or flying brooms. It is a character study with in depth looks at people’s motivations.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Body of work of Susie Moloney

Web Site: http://www.susiemoloney.com/

Cold Glory by B. Kent Anderson

2012-03-25T11:30:00.000-04:00

This book is a historical conspiracy complete with a sedentary history professor, a gun toting, piano playing researcher and a well done depiction of severe autism.

I didn't read this in one sitting, mainly because I started it too late in the evening. If you enjoy conspiracy, action and some extreme politics this may be a book for you. B. Kent Anderson has written another series of stories under the pseudonym David Kent, the Department Thirty series. I look forward to checking them out as well. I would like to see more of Meg Tolman and Nick Journey, take note Mr. Anderson.

I was particularly taken with Nick Journey’s devotion to his autistic son, Andrew. The author did an excellent job portraying a depth of emotion and consideration for the difficulties facing the parent of a severely autistic child.

The conspiracy was well plotted and the historic context was very interesting, especially for someone who taught American History decades ago. The minutia of history is often what makes it most interesting.

I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend.

Body of work of Body of work of B. Kent Anderson

Web Site: http://bkentanderson.com/books/cold-glory/

Wicked Good Stepmother by William G. Bentrim

2012-03-22T19:42:00.001-04:00

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Redemption Day by Steve O’Brien

2012-03-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

This book focuses on the Posse Comitatus’s actions to precipitate a government crisis. It is an action thriller that has some horrific overtones.

The sad thing about this book is that harsh economic times can drive normally law abiding citizens to behavior as exhibited in the book. Nick James is a believable analyst who is drawn into criminal events he is ill prepared to face. I enjoyed the way Nick stepped up and found his moment.

The behavior of the villains is too likely plausible based on the poor economy. Scapegoats are popular whenever large numbers of people find things contrary to their expectations. Even the current political campaigns are a good example of how people are more than happy to ascribe to fringe behavior when they are desperate.

This book had a frightening plausibility.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Body of work of Steve O’Brien

Web Site: none found

The Trouble With Max by Lisa A. Maddock

2012-03-17T07:00:00.004-04:00

Teddy and Pip are back. Teddy and Pip are guinea pigs who talk. Max is a college student who agrees to house sit Teddy and Pip and the tale is how they make him miserable.

I remember liking Teddy and Pip in Lisa’s earlier stories. Maybe it was my mood but I didn’t find them likeable this time. My sentiments were with Max who as far as Teddy and Pip were concerned was the villain of the story.

Teddy and Pip illustrate how verbal infants might behave. Their totally self centered behavior was annoying. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t funny. There were episodes of the Stooges I found annoying but they were always funny.

The guinea pigs’ antics were secondary to a very nice coming of age story for Max. The little “dudes” helped Max to find himself and meet his goals.

I enjoyed the book and sadly I have known people as demanding as Teddy and Pip. At least they have the excuse that they are guinea pigs.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Lisa A. Maddock</a>

Web site: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=115906

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Latest Review of My Book:Short or Tall Doesn't Matter At All

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A Silence of Mockingbirds by Karen Spears Zacharias

The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

Cold Glory by B. Kent Anderson

Wicked Good Stepmother by William G. Bentrim

Redemption Day by Steve O’Brien

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