"Everlasting Gold", Mattie May Book Debut!

Dear reader,

I have another exciting book release to rave about!

Mattie May, of *The Blossoming Writer*, will be publishing her debut novel, a historical fiction by the name of Everlasting Gold, this spring!
Here is the blurb for it:

"With America on the brink of Civil War, the successful Dr. Billy Taylor is sent by the infamous Knights of Golden Circle to find the stolen gold of the robber Rattlesnake Dick.
When he needs to get to California without suspicion, he uses his estranged brother Philip's family.
Little does he know how his heart will be caught by his young niece Angie. 
When everything comes undone, will there be forgiveness?
Will Angie still love her uncle after what he has done to her and her family?"


I have had the pleasure of reading the occasional snippet from this story, and if those are anything to go by, it'll be worth the read. 

Please help spread the word of this upcoming release, and show some support to a indie writer by buying her book when it releases later this spring. 

Mattie May is a Christian teen writer. As soon as she could read a desire to write her own stories was kindled. She was always taught the importance of history and soon her love of writing and history were combined into historical fiction.
She lives in central California with her family, two german shepherds and too many cats. 

You can follow her on Facebook, @Mattie.May.Author, or on her blog The Blossoming Writer



Be sure you stop by her blog or Facebook for more information, as well as offer her a encouraging word. Publishing a book is no small thing, you know. 


When her book is released, I have every intention of buying, reading, and reviewing it, so stick around!


   ~Edna Pellen

P.S. I again will remind you that I am still writing posts and being productive towards this blog in the awkward season of only being able to post occasionally, so please bear with me as I figure this out.

R.M. Archer's Blog Tour! Story Review ~ Escape Room

Greeting once again, dear readers!


Happy first day of February! To start off the month, I give you...

 My Escape Room story review!

Let the strenuous act of restraining myself from spoiling the story commence.


I loved this story, much like I said in my *Silence story review*, this has a very quick fish hook beginning. In the graphic above you see the beginning paragraphs of Escape Room, which give just the briefest of looks into the story.
That first paragraph drops you in the story, the second causes curiosity, and the third (which is not in the graphic) keeps you there.

And then it just keeps going, and going, and going, and then- what's this?? It's... it's over??? Already???

I would greatly appreciate a sequel, if you can't tell.


Here's a brief run down...

The Characters:

They are smart. They are really smart. They get stuff done, and move quickly. Which, though it may be a common trait for short stories in general, is so refreshing in comparison to stories where characters mosey along and bicker and add to their pile of problems.
These characters have their priorities straight.
And, each one has something unique to them, that sets them apart, which isn't something I'd usually expect from a short story, but really added to this one.

The Plot:

If you can't tell, it's about a boy trapped in a room that he has to escape.

But wait- there's more! Which I won't tell you because I don't want to spoil it!

So, you best just go read it for yourself (it's worth it, and I mean come on, it'll take you maybe a half hour to read, or a hour at most if you're a very slow reader).


Do I like it more then Silence? That is a tough question.
There were several elements in Silence that I simply adored, and because I know pre-orders aren't arriving yet, I know you haven't read it yet, and I know I still can't spoil it.
So I can't tell you about all of those elements.
But I'll brush over it.

Silence had very powerful moments in it. It was a roller coaster of doubts and excitement.
Escape Room didn't have those same powerful moments, but it did have more character interaction and was faster paced.
So, I like them both for very different reasons.


To quote myself in my previous review, the door of potential is wide open with this story and I would love to see it continue on.
Go buy the collection, read Silence and Escape Room (and the others, of course), then come back and tell me what you thought about them, and if you have a favorite out of the collection (also, tell R.M. Archer on her blog!).


Maybe, on the anniversary of the release of this story collection, I'll come back and give a completely spoil-filled review, that way I can explain more and show specifically what I did and didn't like.
But I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

Find "Escape Room", "Carnival of Hearts", "Silence", and "Caithan" here: **Link**

Follow the blog tour here: **Link**

To learn more about her and her stories, as well as get wonderful writing advice, find and follow Ms. Archer herself here: **Link**



So, now that that's all done, I can disappear again, this time for a complete decade!
I'll try to post more here and there then I have of late. I've fallen into a creative rut, and am still limited in my posting abilities.
I also need to figure out what's up with the email notifications, as the words are too lightly colored to be seen.
Lots of construction and confusion.

Until we meet again, 

                           
                                               ~ Edna 


               

R.M. Archer's Blog Tour! Story Review ~ Silence

Hello there,


Today's the day! I get to share my review of  R.M. Archer's "Silence", one of the four stories from her new Short Story Collection Vol. 1, 2nd Edition.

As I said in my previous post, Archer is holding a blog tour to help promote it, and I have the pleasure of reviewing two of the stories. Today's is "Silence", the second story review will be on February 1st.

Now, on to the actual review.



It took me a while to find out where to begin with this review, because there is so much I want to say, without spoiling it. But, as it is a short story, that's rather difficult as I've not had much practice.
So bear with me and my vague descriptions.
If you're a writer, or even just a dedicated reader, you've probably heard a lot about the fish-hook beginnings, where the author starts you off with something so good you get hooked and keep reading.

"Silence" is a great example of that. And, because of it's length and pace, it succeeded in keeping my interest all the way through (which, I admit, isn't the easiest thing to do).

In so many ways, this story wasn't what I was expecting, but in all of those ways, it was even better. R.M. Archer has the "author" mind, through and through.
And by that, I mean that she not only understands the mastery of words, but the mindset of readers as well.
This story offers much in the areas of her general writing career, and leaves the door of potential wide open. I would absolutely love to see more of this story and its characters one day.



While lovers of intense description and rabbit trail-esque plot lines may not enjoy short stories in general, because of the different scale it offers compared to a novel's, I highly recommend they give this one a shot. I did, and I'm glad.
There seems like there is so much more to this then meets the eye, like my eyes were just seeing the surface words of the story and a vast sea was hidden beneath them.
But even that surface was good itself.


In short, "Silence" was a great story, one that I do recommend, and will be reading again soon. 
Please, go and pre-order this volume! Show some support to a young author.


Find "Silence", "Carnival of Hearts", "Escape Room", and "Caithan" here: **Link**

Follow the blog tour here: **Link**

To learn more about her and her stories, as well as get wonderful writing advice, find and follow Ms. Archer herself here: **Link**


Make sure you go read the two author interviews done for this tour (you'll find the links on the blog tour post I linked to), they're wonderful!


Come back February 1st for a review of "Escape Room"!



Yours,


                             ~ Edna Pellen