MONUMENT ROAD

This is a work of fiction set in a real place, which means the author has allowed the maps to be wrong on occasion, the characters were granted permission to turn up where they never did in life, and a girl in 1989 may read a poem from the 13th century no matter when it was translated, screams the disclaimer to songwriter, playwright, blogger, essayist, journalist and now author Charlie Quimby’s debut novel Monument Road. It is a hilarious start to a novel that is anything but that.

Charlie Quimby is a natural and masterful storyteller which comes through in his debut novel, which is a gem of a beauty. It makes reading a pure pleasure as the reader is transported to the world of Leonard Self unwinding his ranch for his tryst with destiny - to take the ashes of his wife, Inetta, up Artists Point and scatter them to the wind. It was a year and a day ago that his wife died of cancer. Before her death she made him promise what he’s planning to do today. And he has made up his mind to take his promise a step further – to throw himself off with her ashes. And that day is today!

Since the day of Inetta’s cremation, Leonard has been making arrangements for this day. He was withdrawn, reclusive, and secluded which was a far cry from the time he was with his beloved wife. Along their life’s journey, they had touched many lives, notable among them being Inetta’s brother Elliot and a young alcoholic called Vaughn with lofty dreams, compelling Leonard to think aloud: "If you did your best and persevered, good things might happen, but goals were better left to kids playing games, where the baskets were nailed down and the posts were buried. In real life, things moved on you."

Think of yourself as Leonard trying to explain why he’s giving away his dog, you would fumble too. And Inetta’s friend becomes suspicious. Though he has withdrawn into a shell of his own, they deeply cared for him. And think of Leonard snaking down Colorado National Monument, with the ashes of his wife in a ceramic container next to him. And the thoughts going through his mind!

Written in simple but beautiful prose which amplifies the mood of the story, Monument Road with its memorable and unforgettable cast of characters, rich landscape and sweeping storyline delivers a powerful tale that will leave readers clamoring for more. It is a must-read for everyone. If you are planning on reading just one book this month, this should be it.

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Format: Paperback

Pages: 365

Publisher: Torrey House Press

List Price: $16.95

Release Date: November 12, 2013

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1937226255

ISBN-13: 978-1937226251

CHARLIE QUIMBY is the author of Monument Road, a debut novel published 12 November 2013 from Torrey House Press and is at work on a quasi-sequel. He's a fourth-generation Coloradan who spent most of his career in Minnesota after studying at Carleton College. Following an early stint as a bookseller and historical playwright, he wrote for the Minneapolis Star, Honeywell and then his own company, where he was an award-winning writer, annual report creative and marketing strategist.

He is a co-author of Planning to Stay, a guide for how to assess your community and take control of its development. Since 2004, he's blogged about culture and politics at Across the Great Divide and splits time between his two home states, where he writes fiction and volunteers with the homeless. He can also be found online on Facebook and on Twitter @CharlieQuimby. In the real world he is likely to be near his wife, his computer or his bicycle.

MAKING FRIENDS AMONG THE TALIBAN

On August 8, 2010, my blog post was headlined “Missionaries killed for preaching Christianity.” It was a shocking event which made headlines worldwide - http://bit.ly/Vo9TWx

Ten members of a medical team, including six Americans, were shot and killed by the Islamic terrorists as they were returning from providing eye treatment and other health care in remote villages of northern Afghanistan. The team also consisted of one German, one Briton and two Afghans. They were a part of the team that made a two-week trip to Nuristan province. They drove to the province, left their vehicles and hiked for hours over mountainous terrain to reach the Parun valley in the province's northwest. They had decided to travel through Badakhshan province to return to the capital because they thought that would be the safest route.

Two years down the line, Jonathan P. Larson pays a glowing tribute to his childhood friend and one member of that fateful team, Dan Terry, in Making Friends Among the Taliban: A Peacemaker’s Journey in Afghanistan, published by Herald Press.

Though a small book of just 130 pages, it is a compelling read as the author’s intimate knowledge of the region comes to the fore. Raised in northern India, Dan Terry, like the author, was a man who was familiar with the Hindukush mountain range between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He had seen the Soviet invasion, the Talibanization of Afghanistan, and the eventual invasion by the NATO forces, a period that span over four decades.

Through interviews and eye witness accounts, Larson retraces Terry’s footsteps in the rugged highlands of Afghanistan “making friends” and working overtime to build a more peaceable country. He faced famine, poverty, prison, and rifle muzzles as also kings, the Red Army, warlords, the Taliban, and the American-led coalition forces. In the midst of the raging conflict and strife, Dan, as a peacemaker, forged improbable friendships and inspired small Afghan communities to find a better way of life.

Making Friends Among the Taliban is a powerful tribute to a man whose unquenchable thirst for peace couldn’t be decimated at the point of a gun. Dan Terry’s life offers a model for authentic living wherever we are!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Though born in Minnesota, Jonathan Larson's early home was the Brahmaputra River Valley of northeast India, amid the rice fields, bamboo groves and tea gardens where Burma, Tibet and India meet. The oldest of eight children, he studied at Woodstock School in the Himalayan foothills where he was classmate and trekking partner of Daniel Terry.

Having completed studies in history at the University of Minnesota in 1970, he and his childhood sweetheart, Mary Kay Burkhalter, volunteered to teach school in the Congo, where two daughters were born and where they first encountered Africa's beauty, burdens, and promise.

Following graduate studies, in 1981, the family returned to Africa under the auspices of the Mennonites to Botswana, on the doorstep of apartheid South Africa and on the eve of what became the harrowing AIDS pandemic. Known for his grasp of Tswana language and lore, he served as a leadership trainer in African communities and churches. A third daughter was born to them in those years.

Since 1994 Jonathan has been based in Atlanta as he writes, mentors, and travels to visit conferences, campuses, and churches as storyteller and world citizen. Visit Larson's website

MORNING'S PROMISE

Sylvia Stewart, missionary and author of Kondi's Quest has this to say about Morning's Promise: Poetic Moments in His Presence, "It's a book one doesn't want to rush through; the kind one will dip into daily, take along on a journey and recommend to friends. Morning's Promise is a book to cherish."

Morning's Promise: Poetic Moments in His Presence by Jennifer Anne F. Messing is a collection of heart-stirring poems combined with poignant inspirational quotes and Scripture verses. These faith-filled poems and passages offer uplifting and encouraging insight on many topics such as: loving God, worshiping and serving Him, His care and provision, contentment, forgiveness, prayer and God's calling.

Says Pamala J. Vincent, author and columnist, "Morning's Promise reads like a blessing. Jennifer Anne's poetry stirs and comforts the soul as every line puts into words what our hearts cannot utter. Each prose embraces the depths and pauses that encourage us to celebrate walking with Christ. Her book is good company. Her poetry leads us to a place of quiet confidence in Him."

Jennifer has a gift for words, letting it flow into our hearts with her truly inspiring and original poems which formed the core of the book. Open the pages of the book anywhere you want, you'll find yourself softly whispering the words written therein. You may be a son or a daughter, a mother or a father, rich or poor, happy or depressed, there is something for everyone, and for all occasions.

The book has truly lived up to its name. Browsing through the book, one could savor moments of quiet reflection and hear God's sweet whisper of love through its pages. And the book has reminded afresh that each morning holds the promise of new beginnings for a child of God.

                    Lord, grant me Your strength
                      To accomplish my tasks today.
                        Lord, please grant me faith
                          To believe You'' show the way.
                            Lord, please grant me courage
                              To face my trials, pass any test.
                                Lord, grant me Your wisdom
                                  To know Your highest and Your best.
                                    ~ Jennifer Anne F. Messing


Paperback: 182 pages
Publication date: November 1, 2012
Publisher: Ellechor Publishing House
ISBN-10: 1937844837
ISBN-13: 978-1937844837
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
Price: $14.99

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About the Author: Jennifer Anne F. Messing is an author and poet, columnist, speaker, and past president of the Oregon Christian Writers. She has 180+ poems, articles, and movie reviews published in 60 different magazines and book compilations, including Bible Advocate, Evangel, LIVE, The Proverbs 31 Woman, The Christian Journal, Christian Fiction Online, and Nudges from God. Born in Manila, Philippines, to parents active in international business, she spent many of her childhood years in the Philippines and also in Chicago, Illinois. Jennifer Anne graduated with honors from Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville, Georgia, with a bachelor's degree in Christian Education. She also has a diploma in Freelance Journalism and Short Story Writing from International Correspondence Schools.

Jennifer Anne currently lives in Oregon, and has been married to the love of her life, Michael Messing, for 22 years. They are the parents of two young adult daughters and a school-aged son. When not writing Jennifer Anne enjoys reading, watching classic movies, cooking, home decorating, scrap booking, going on picnics, biking, and aerobics.

A MATTER OF TIME

Love is timeless, time is heartless, and fate is unmerciful, so begins A Matter of Time, which is an emotionally charged voyage into the value of friendship, the power of love, the impact of evil, and the vagaries of fate. Inspired by the Titanic, the book which comes out in the centennial year of the Titanic tragedy is a timely and refreshing read.

A Matter of Time tells the story of James Collins, a student Santa Clara University, who has developed a strange disease that transported him back in time to the days leading to the Titanic disaster. During daytime he is sensitive to light, wears dark clothes, a large hat and sunglasses to protect himself. He tells his story to his roommate and an English professor. While they both found it difficult to believe, they supported him and assisted James in his attempt to change the course of history.

For those who have been fascinated by the Titanic story, this is a must read. The plot revolves round “the world’s greatest evil,” and the world’s greatest ship, Titanic.

Jamie in 1986 who, through a series of dreams, discovers that he is somehow connected to Titanic’s sinking, despite his having not been alive at the time. A mysterious cell appears in his blood, a cell that, in his case, originated aboard Titanic. His roommate Dan, Dan’s sister Maggie, and Jamie’s friend Kevin attempt to help him, but they cannot understand what is happening. Jamie finally announces that the only way he can save himself from the deadly effects of that “cell” is to circumvent time and board Titanic before she sinks in 1912.

While everyone thinks he’s delusional, including his writing professor and his parents, Jamie sets out to solve the mystery and save his life. Dan, for whom Jamie has become a good friend, agrees to accompany him on as much of the journey as possible. He knows that if Jamie can somehow “jump” time and board the ship, he would not be able to follow. Their adventures together and Jamie’s ultimate destiny make up the bulk of the story.

Will Jamie be able to save himself from the clutch of the mysterious disease? Will he be able to save the fate of the ship and its passengers?

A Matter of Time has high drama, lots of romance, unrequited love, lasting friendships…and much more! A story which is stranger than fiction!

Paperback, 326 pages
Publication Date: February 29th 2012

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 143278711X 

ISBN13: 9781432787110

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About the Author: Michael Bowler grew up in San Rafael, California and attended Santa Clara University. Titanic and her tragic fate have fascinated him for as long as he can remember and he has a vast collection of artwork, memorabilia and virtually every book ever written about the disaster. He majored in English and Theatre in college and got a master’s in film production. He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several films, most notably “Fatal Images,” “Dead Girls,” “Hell Spa” (later re-edited and titled “Club Dead”), “Things” and “Things II.” He has been teaching high school in Hawthorne, California for over twenty years. He’s written a number of unproduced screenplays and his first novel, “A Boy and His Dragon” was published in 2011.

ANESSIA'S QUEST

Anessia’s Quest is a book difficult to explain, but one that will make you cry and laugh, sad and happy, shaken but not shattered at the same time.

Karen Slimick Arnpriester, a graphic artist, wife and mother can now rightfully call herself “an author” with the publication of her debut novel which follows the life of a young girl from the pit of abandonment, abuse and physical assault to a glorious life of love, truth, compassion and joy.

Anessia’s Quest is the story Champagne Marie Crenshaw (Pagne), whose mother thought it would be funny to name her baby girl Champagne, after her favorite beverage. And so begins her journey into a world of dysfunction, disregard and disappointment. Pagne believes she is all alone, unwanted and discarded, but soon realizes that she is not alone, that she is protected and guided by her guardian angel.

Pagne’s journey along the road of life is full of twists and turns. Her difficult childhood inspired many, her random acts of kindness prevented the madness of murder and suicide. Anessia’s Quest shows that little gestures, sharing beliefs, forgiveness, moments of grace, and love for others can ripple into massive waves of joy, hope, love and salvation.

I have learned one great lesson from this book. As we go through the journey of life there are certain events and situations which we do not understand while in the midst of it. But once that phase is completed, we can look back, enjoy and savor those moments gone by, and understand them as we ought to.

Hopeful...that is what this book is. Anessia’s Quest is for anyone who's facing challenges in life. Karen brings out every emotion and shows how we can overcome those obstacles life throws in our path. The author is a natural story-teller, who pulls from her own life and experiences to give a warmth and realistic shine to her book. She shares her deep faith in God through this book. Definitely a great read and a great book!

Paperback: 302 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN-10: 1456504363

ISBN-13: 978-1456504366

Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 0.6 x 0.1 inches

Price: $11.58 (paper) $6.99 (kindle)

About the author: Karen Slimick Arnpriester is a creative, passionate and adventuresome woman. She raised her two children, adores her seven grandchildren and is now a foster mom of two young ladies. She has been a self-taught graphic designer for twenty five years and started her own business twenty years ago. Her faith in God is strong and she believes that we are Christ’s hands, feet, arms and wallet. This translates into her involvement in youth ministries, local women’s shelter, street ministry, the elderly, as well as many other outreaches over the years. Her home has been available to single moms and their children, allowing them to get a fresh start.

Anessia's Quest is her first novel. The desire to write began two years ago as a hobby. She had an idea for a beginning and the end. The rest of the story flowed and took Karen on a journey. She cried and laughed as she followed the twists and turns of the characters. Once friends read the book, she was strongly encouraged to share her story with others.

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WHERE WERE YOU ON 9/11?

“Where were you on 9/11?,” asked Ashes Ashes: The Twins Fall Down which hit the market mid-June 2012.

But who would care to remember?

Or is it? Who can forget where they were when the most audacious terrorist attack in all history brought the Twin Towers crashing down?

That question has become part of the fabric of American lives and most probably that of peace-loving people across the globe. On that bright, sunny day, none of us had any idea what was in store and how it would change our lives. Yet in more than one way it has forever changed the way we view and define freedom and terrorism.

I was intrigued by the title and much to my delight found the book to be so refreshingly different from the many others that I have read about 9/11. In a way this being her debut book, the author, Pauline L. Hawkins, offers new ideas and her own personal and informational perspectives. Culling information from different sources, the book is also a look at the traumatic and frenzied experiences of many people following the events of 9/11.

Author Pauline, who lived in Texas at the time of the attacks, shares her experience of 9/11, and its repercussions for her family, her job, and how she viewed the world. Pauline’s story of coping with the news, reframing how she thought about America and the world, and making a conscious decision to become better-informed will resonate with anyone who lived through 9/11.

The author admitted that she “was living in my own little world prior to 9/11” and was not even aware of a man who went by the name “Osama bin Laden”. After 9/11 unfolded in its ugliest form she started researching about him and included a chapter in the book titled, “Who is this Osama bin Laden?’ Another interesting chapter is entitled, “What is this thing called The USA Patriot Act?”

In addition to her personal testimony, Pauline provides a thought-provoking reflections on the contributions of everyday heroes. You’ll come away from this book both enlightened and comforted by Pauline’s honesty and common sense, as well as her heartfelt appreciation of those who laid down their lives, and those who continue to work toward healing and rebuilding.

She concluded,

Let us not forget:

-343 firefighters and paramedics killed

-23 NYPD officers killed

-37 Port Authority police officers killed

-1402 who died in Tower One

-614 who died in Tower Two

-658 who died at Cantor Fitzgerald

-1717 families who received no remains

-1609 who lost a spouse or partner in the attacks

-3051 children who lost a parent

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face; 

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, 

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

A wonderfully written book by a debutant, I personally feel that any socially conscious family shouldn’t be without this book.

BOOK DETAILS:

Paperback: 124 pages

Publisher: Anole Publishing

Publication Date: June 14, 2012

Price: $14.95(paper) & $8.99(kindle)

ISBN: 978-0578105307

Product Dimensions: 9 x 6

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pauline L. Hawkins was born in Munson Army Hospital at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on Easter Sunday. As her mother says, Pauline chose to enter the world in the middle of a tornado, and she has been going strong ever since. Pauline and her two adult sons currently reside in Texas, where she has been in the health insurance industry for almost thirty years, working her way up from the mailroom to corporate management and claims payment. In 2002, Pauline received her Instructional Design certification, which allows her to create instructor-led and learner-paced training curricula, along with computer-based learning activities and website creation. She has enjoyed the opportunity to exercise her creativity. Pauline has enjoyed writing since she was in high school, and has decided to start sharing her stories. This is her debut book.

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FIVE MILES SOUTH OF PECULIAR

With about 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, you can only expect the best from best-selling author Angela Hunt. And her latest offering, “Five Miles South of Peculiar” published by Howard Books is a poignant yet joyful novel of a Southern family finding its way home.

The book revolves around the Caldwells, who lived in an estate named The Sycamores, which is located five miles south of a small town peculiarly named Peculiar. The book follows the footsteps of the three Caldwell sisters who embarked on a voyage of discovery and the back cover of the book says, “If these three sisters don’t change direction, they’ll end up where they’re going.”

Meet the three sisters: Darlene Caldwell – who spent a lifetime tending the estate, The Sycamores, which is her kingdom and where she reigns as the one and only queen.  Carlene Caldwell – a veteran of the Broadway stage whose career is cut short by an unsuccessful throat surgery. She returns home to Sycamores, her childhood home. And the youngest of the Caldwell sisters, Magnolia – better known as Nolie -  who spent here entire life inside the estate caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she has created.

Three sisters, three different lives, three different dreams together in one estate! And each with big secrets!

Can these sisters discover who they are meant to be when life takes an unforeseen detour? In a season of destiny, three unique women reunite and take unexpected journeys of the heart.

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 384

Price: $14.99

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: 2012

Dimensions: 8.44 X 5.50 (inches)

ISBN: 1439182043

ISBN-13: 9781439182048


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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Glass Road Public Relations for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”