Book Title: Journey to Brodantia

Author: Kriss Erickson

Niche: Fantasy

Price: $4

Size: 71,000 words (equivalent to 267 pages in mass market paperback form)

At the end of Brown Bird’s Luck, Deila , Jaime, and Falimar were setting out on a quest to return Falimar to his unicorn herd in Brodantia.

Now, guided by a map given Deila by her grandmother, The Dark Weaver, they are pursued by their parents who covet Falimar for the wealth they could get by selling his parts. They must overcome harpies, huge wildcats, and other obstacles to find the hidden Land Behind the Veil.

This book moves a lot better than the first (which had a charm of its own). I was plunged immediately into a world of fantasy filled with wonderful (and sometimes terrifying) mystical creatures and characters.

The trio has to overcome a number of obstacles in their quest to reach Brodantia so Falimar can be reunited with his relatives and that’s the meat of the story. Along the way, they meet opponents and surprising allies as they struggle on.

A good story that will appeal to young adults and those of us, like me, who are still a bit young at heart.

Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)

No DRM

Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state

By it now at AKW Books

Author: Kriss Erickson

Niche: Biography

Price: $8.50

Size: 83,300 words (312 pages paperback equivalent)

This is a well-written autobiography of a very intelligent girl who was physically and mentally abused by her parents from birth.

Intelligent people in these situations often create multiple personalities to cope. Unlike many multiple personality cases, folks with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) actually hold conversations between the personalities and are aware of each other. This is what happened with “Stacy”.

Erickson tells the story as a work of fiction, using the name of one of her real personalities, Stacy, for the main character.

Erickson (her married name) avoids sensationalizing the book by steering clear of detailed descriptions of rape by her father. Rather, she focuses on the effects of her environment upon Stacy and her other personalities. She takes us from just after her birth (which she actually remembers) through young adulthood.

The last chapter of the book describes in brief how she managed to get the help she needed to cure herself and to integrate her personalities into one functional individual.

If you have DID or know someone who does, this will help you to understand what DID sufferers go through. If you want to just read a well-written story of abuse and eventual victory, you’ll love this book. “Stacy” survives and wins, and there is something in that for all of us who have to slay dragons every day.

Not normally something I enjoy, I was captivated by the story and the dysfunctional characters.

Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)

No DRM

Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state

By it now at AKW Books

Book Title: Star Marine

Author: John Bowers

Niche: Science Fiction

Price: $9.50

Size: 38,000 words (143 pages paperback equivalent)

“It takes all kinds to fight a war” according to the book’s jacket. Well, the story makes good on that claim.

Bowers follows the exploits of three major players during the height of the Sirian War setting of The Fighter Queen saga:

Rico Martinez: A Star Marine, a grunt.  Almost killed in the Titan operation, he is one of six who survives, but his war has only begun

Regina Wells: The only child of Federation Senator Henry Wells, Regina promises her dad she won’t join the military.  But does anyway, as a civilian “expert” on Sirian culture. Unfortunately, her safe billet doesn’t last long.

Wade Palmer: A graduate student and a jock.  When his father is killed in battle against the Sirians, Wade joins the Space Force, but his degree in statistical analysis lands him in the Polygon planning the war instead of fighting it.

The rather large story zips by so fast, that I didn’t realize I was reading something half the size of War and Peace. It was over long before I was ready to put it down.

Bowers manages, with his usual flair, to keep all the characters straight, even in my easily confused mind. He also never lets the reader breathe long enough to become bored with a section of the book (and there are precious few “breathing” moments). His best book so far, Bowers always seems to top himself with each new book.

And yes, Onja lovers, The Fighter Queen herself does make a couple of cameo appearances in the story.

Chronologically, Star Marine falls between A Vow to Sophia and The Fighter Queen.

Get ready to face the enemy, up close and personal.

Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)

No DRM

Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state

By it now at AKW Books

Author: Kriss Erickson

Niche: Fantasy

Price: $2.50

Size: 38,000 words (143 pages paperback equivalent)

This delightful fantasy is the first in a new series called The Land Behind the Veil. It features elves, unicorns (always a favorite), evil forces, and a quest.

The book will probably appeal most to pre-high school kids (including girls since the protagonist is a 14-year-old girl) and those who are still young at heart. Since I’ve never grown up (I may grow old, but I refuse to grow up), I also enjoyed the story.

If I had to criticize anything in the book, it would be the rather slow start. The scene setting seems to be necessary, but I’m one of those who wants to get into “the good stuff” right away. However, Erickson handles even that part of the book skillfully. I could almost taste the dust of the barnyard in my mouth and smell the crops her “Da” grows.

Her characters are real and engaging. Although they speak with an almost backwoods accent, it doesn’t get in the way of the story nor is it difficult to follow. Rather, it adds to the “reality” of the yarn and draws you into Deila’s world.

The sense that this is more than just a story about a poor farm girl becomes evident early on with the mysterious death of a new foal and the strange new foal that takes its place. Lessons in life given by her grandmother, “The Dark Weaver” add to the conviction that something extraordinary is happening.

Erickson doesn’t disappoint. Soon Deila is drawn into events that are far beyond the mundane world she lives in. A great setup for the next book in the series, Brodentia, which is due out in April.

Let go of your grip on reality and enjoy this trip into a different world of fantasy and mystery.

Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)

No DRM

Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state

By it now at AKW Books

Author: Valentina Maltseva

Niche: Mystery / Spy Drama

Price: $4.50

Size: 65,000 words (250 pages paperback equivalent)

This book was a best seller in Russia and Israel under the title: KGB v smokinge (you can see why the English version has a new title). It was made into a 16-part miniseries.

Written in Russian, it’s been excellently translated into colloquial English. It reads just like it was originally written in English.

Valentina works on an artsy Newspaper in the old Soviet Union. She’s not political and is happy puttering around in the art world, writing stories and reviews.

Unfortunately for her, her boyfriend gets her involved with non other than Yuri Andropov (head of the KGB) and she finds herself shipped off to Argentina and plunged into the world of espionage.

Nothing goes as planned and the body count rises as her chances for survival plummet. Three spy agencies are after her and two of them would rather see her dead.

Valentina is no James Bond. She’s not suave or sure of herself. She’s just terrified and wants to go back to her safe life in the art world.

Like many people, I love the Bond movies.  I also read all of the Ian Fleming Bond books. This isn’t Bond by any stretch of the imagination. This is much more realistic than Fleming’s books ever were. A refreshing look into the spy world from another perspective, where spies are highly fallible and plans rarely go well.

I enjoyed every paragraph. My only complaint is that it wasn’t a longer book. However, sources tell me there may be a “part 2″. Oh goody!

So, grab your knife and gun, and sit down for a great roller-coaster ride into danger.

Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)

No DRM

Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state

By it now at AKW Books

Discussion of the energy crisis and some practical solutions.

The world is facing an energy crisis. Well, a large part of it. The causes of the crisis are part economics, part supply/demand, and part political. Many myths abound along with quite a bit of greed and chicanery.

Mr. Johnson dives into this morass with a hard-headed attitude that cuts through the “BS” and gets to the basics. In doing so, he debunks some of the myths while realizing that as long as some of the myths are adopted, for whatever reason, into public policy, any solution is going to have to work around them.

The book is basically aimed at the problems as they impact the United States, but I can see where a lot of the content would apply to a number of “developed” nations. The book covers present energy systems, proposed solutions, distribution problems, and tradeoffs. Mr. Johnson finally proposes a number of solutions that are economically and politically possible and would, he claims, make this country energy independent within 10 years.

President Obama must have read this book, because one of several solutions Johnson proposes is a nuclear option — the same thing the President is currently touting.

If you want to be current and knowledgeable about energy for homes, autos, portable toys, etc. this is a book you should have around to educate yourself and as a handy reference for later.

Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)

No DRM
Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state
By it now at AKW Books

The beginning of the Fighter Queen saga.

Oliver Lincoln III has it good. Born into a rich family (his father manufactures combat fighters), he can pretty much coast through life. In fact, the easy life has made him soft and overweight.
He leads a playboy life with friends on other worlds and enough money to visit whenever he feels like it. In fact, in the opening of the story, we see him “showing off” his marksmanship to a college friend on Sirius, a planet settled by aggressive southern rednecks from Earth who trade in slaves.
So, how was Oliver sucked into the middle of a war on another world, one he’s never previously visited and where he has no friends to bail him out?
The answers and Oliver’s struggles to stay alive, do the right thing, and get back home make an intriguing story of triumph, tragedy, and “growing up”.
This is a “page-turner” from the start. I only get about an hour to myself at night before I turn in, and I’ve “crashed” late several times because I had to read “just a little more”.
The 3rd book released in the series, it’s probably the one that should be read first.
Other books in the series: A Vow to Sophia, and The Fighter Queen. A fourth, Star Marine, is due out in mid to late March.
Rated “R” for sex, language, and violence
Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state
John Bower’s website is http://bornnovelist.wordpress.com/

Buy it now at: AKW Books

Fun EBook Tells Short, Entertaining Hollywood Stories.
“At high noon on a cold November day in 1974, sixty-seven-year-old John Wayne faced off with the staff of the Harvard Lampoon on the famous campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The students had issued their challenge by calling the beloved American icon a fraud. Wayne, who had his new movie McQ to promote, responded by saying he would be happy to show his flm in the pseudo-
intellectual swamps of Harvard Square. After the screening, without writers, the former USC footballer delivered a classic performance. When one smart young man asked where he got his phony toupee, Wayne insisted the hair was real. It wasn’t his, but it was real. The appreciative underclassmen loved him and after the Q and A session, they all sat down to dinner. Later Wayne, who was suffering greatly from both gout and the after effects of lung cancer (sadly the Duke only had fve years to live), said  that day at Harvard was the best time he ever had.”

Hollywood, CA - Just when you thought you’ve heard everything about Hollywood comes a totally
original new ebook. Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and
Legends of the Movies! by Stephen Schochet contains a timeless treasure trove of colorful vignettes
featuring an amazing all-star cast of  icons including John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney,
Jack Nicholson, Johnny Depp, Shirley Temple, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Errol Flynn and
many others both past and contemporary.

A special blend of biography, history and lore Hollywood Stories is full of humorous tales often
with unexpected endings.  What makes the ebook unique is that the reader can go to any page
and fnd a completely engaging and illuminating yarn.  Sometimes people won’t realize that they
are reading about The Three Stooges or Popeye the Sailor until they come to the end of the story.

A professional tour guide in Hollywood, Stephen Schochet has researched and told thousands of
entertaining anecdotes for over twenty years.  He is also the author and narrator of two
audiobooks Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney. Tim Sika, host of the radio show
Celluloid Dreams on KSJS in San Jose has called Stephen,” The best storyteller about Hollywood
we have ever heard.” For more information about Hollywood Stories, or to schedule an interview,
please contact Stephen Schochet at (310) 876-1400 or go to www.hollywoodstories.com

Available at: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10038

Synopsis

Synopsis
Being a witch isn’t always easy. Alicia Meldrew has managed to learn love potions with only one real mistake, and that was hardly her fault. She can whip up a mean maths retention spell, but it’s not all cake and roses. Take dating, for instance. As Alicia herself puts it, how does one even bring it up? “Hobbies? Yes, I usually practise the black arts on Mondays, Thursdays and every other weekend. You?”
Alicia is a young witch with a mission: to protect the citizens of Middlewitch, a sleepy little hamlet consisting mostly of a church, a senior citizen’s home, a pub, and two constables. You’d think such a small town wouldn’t have problems with dark forces, but you’d be wrong. With the help of her cats, Domino and Tango, the Women’s Institute, and the Vicar, Alicia faces down demons, vampires, satanists, an American…and even the City.
She finally has a boyfriend, but is she really able to learn to share her life with James? And if she can, is she strong enough to learn to get on with his mother?

Bio
Until recently Heather Parker worked for the University of Cumbria but now writes freelance. She has won prizes in several literary competitions and many of her stories and articles have been published in popular magazines including The People’s Friend, The Weekly News and The New Writer.  Her first novel has just been published by Drollerie Press and a minibook will be published shortly by Wild Child Publishing.
Other publishing credits include Space and Time, Expanded Horizons, Bards and Sages, GlassFire Magazine, Absent Willow Review, Big Pulp, Outercast, The Ranfurly Review, Woman’s Weekly, Sniplits, Abandoned Towers, Stories that Lift, Labyrinth Inhabitant Magazine, Everyday Fiction, and Bottom of the World.  Her stories also appear in the Out of Line Human Rights Anthology 2009, Little Sisters Anthology, and the Sonar 4, Hoi Polloi and Absent Willow Review annual anthologies.
To learn more about Heather and read some of her stories: http://www.heatherparker.co.uk/

It is available in the following formats: Adobe PDF, EPUB, Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket, Sony, Windows HTML Reader and shortly as an audiobook.
It is available for purchase now from Drollerie Press: http://drolleriepress.com/books/
and  at Amazon, Mobipocket, Fictionwise, and many other booksellers - including Audible within the next few weeks.