Review of Mosaic by Susan Bohnet ~ Published by Walnut Springs Press

Be sure and visit my Facebook page and enter for a chance to win a new copy of Mosaic . . . deadline is February 29th!

Mo Matheson was living with the normal struggles of a teenager: will I score a basket at the basketball tournament, does Joe really like me and do I like him? But when tragedy strikes, Mo is thrust into a reality that requires her to dig deep for strength and faith. She must fight against the need to judge and blame others, and give into the hate that seems to consume her. She must ultimately rely on her Heavenly Father to soften and heal her heart.

Bohnet allows us to see Mo’s life through Mo’s eyes – a powerful experience that will have you feel the full spectrum of emotions and, perhaps, remember your own teenage years. Bohnet also does something exceptionally well: she shows the strength of the youth of our church, championing their faith and ability to do what is right no matter how difficult. We see Mo and her friends strengthen each other and reach out to help those struggling . . . it’s inspiring and heartfelt. Mosaic is a powerful read for all ages, but our young people should have it on their nightstands—it’s that good. I loved it!

I’m so happy to have Susan visit my blog and answer a few questions.
What was your inspiration for Mosaic?
Young adult stories are something I am passionate about. There are so many great teens both in and out of the church. Occasionally they make mistakes, and it’s not because they’re rebellious. I wanted to explore how teens make purposeful choices that keep them on the right path. In the process, I feel like Mo and I have become great friends. Apparently there are others who identify with her even more strongly. I have been told, “I really like Mosaic, but they got the girl on the cover wrong. She doesn’t look like me.”

You address some serious topics in Mosaic; tell us about your decision to do this.
The teenage years are a wonderful, turbulent period of our lives in the best of circumstances. I wanted to address serious trials from the perspective of a character in her early teens. Sometimes our hardships are from factors beyond our control and sometimes they arise from our choices. There are both of these types of challenges in Mosaic.

You appear to have a busy life, what is your writing schedule like?
The first thing I do every morning is to write for at least an hour. This is a great way to start my day and reminds me who I really am. I have a day job, but that’s not who I am. I have to grocery shop and clean my bathroom but that’s not who I am. Then I sneak in as much time to write in the rest of my day as I can, some days that’s several hours and some days it’s a few minutes.

Mosaic is your second novel, what advice would you give beginning writers?
Keep writing and keep improving. Many successful authors offer writing advice. Read what they have to say and when it resonates with you, try to incorporate those techniques into your stories.

You hint that there will be more to Mo’s story, is this true? And what is your next project?
Right now there are two sequels to Mosaic. I’m working on them but they require a lot of polish before they see the light of day. My next project to be published will likely be a sequel to my urban fantasy young adult novel My Life as a Troll.

Thank you, Susan! We’ll look forward to these new projects.

If you want to read more about Susan and her writing, visit her blog susanbohnet.com. You can find Mosaic at Amazon.ca and Amazon.com as well as Deseret Book. And don’t forget to visit my Facebook page and enter a chance to win a new copy of Mosaic . . . deadline is February 29th!

Review of Robin M. King’s novels Remembrandt and Van Gogh Gone ~ Published by Walnut Springs Press

Be sure and visit my facebook page and enter for a chance to win a new copy of both books – deadline is February 29th!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to remember everything . . . every happy success and every sad disappointment? In Robin King’s young adult suspense novel, Remembrandt, Alexandra Stewart has this ability – eidetic memory – and it is both a gift and a curse as it draws the attention of a secret organization – The Company – whose headquarters is at Brown University where Alexandra attends. With an Alias/Covert Affairs-like feel, Alexandra is recruited and sent on covert ops where her innate talent for puzzle solving coupled with her gifted memory proves she’s ready for whatever The Company requires of her. But is her young heart ready for a handsome Spanish professor and a complicated handler? And will it be strong enough to accept the secrets of the past?

King couples a fast-paced adventure with moments of personal introspection that allows the reader to care for Alexandra and at the same time keep the pages turning to find out what happens next. It’s a wonderful combination and this reader is delighted to know there is another adventure waiting: Van Gogh Gone!

In Van Gogh Gone, Alexandra’s special ops become personal as she must travel to Barcelona and Paris to steal a Van Gogh painting . . . but she’s really trying to save her family and those she loves from an evil enemy of The Company. We are left wondering who’s telling the truth and who’s not. But the real question is whether Alexandra can stay true to herself, especially with matters of the heart. Fast paced and exciting, yet poignant and heartfelt, Van Gogh Gone is a perfect follow-up to Remembrandt . . . oh please let there be more!

I’m so excited to have Robin visit my blog and answer a few questions for us.


What was your inspiration for this series? It felt like an Alias meets Covert Affairs – both stories portraying strong, independent woman. I love that!

I’ve always liked spy shows, including Alias (though I didn’t see Covert Affairs until after I wrote Remembrandt). Another inspiration was a younger children series of books called the Cam Jansen mysteries by David A. Adler. The girl in the book is in grade school and has a photographic memory that she uses to solve little mysteries. I wondered what would happen if someone older (like a teenager) had an even more intense memory. I did some research and when I discovered the idea of an eidetic memory (perfect recall) I read everything I could find on it. 

Eidetic memory is an interesting “gift” to give a character. Do you have a reference point for this? I use “gift” because you so perfectly show that such ability would truly be a two-edged sword.

I like to think of it as a gift too, despite the bad memories. I always wished I had an amazing memory, but I don’t! 

Like I mentioned above, I did some research on the subject. I actually watched a documentary on a woman who had a nearly perfect memory, but because she couldn’t control when the memories would surface, she had a hard time functioning in society. Since writing Remembrandt, I discovered another show where an eidetic memory is displayed almost exactly as I imagined Alex’s would work. In the show, called Unforgettable, the main character is a police detective who uses her detailed memory to solve cases and she can basically “watch” the scene like a movie in her head. 

I’m always curious about other author’s writing habits. With five children, not to mention all your “secret” activities – undercover marathoner, photographer, singer, seamstress, baker, and household appliance repairman – when does the writing thing happen?

I think being super busy and being willing to try anything new has made me a better writer!

Every year for the last 4 years, I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo. It stands for National Novel Writing Month and takes place in November of each year. You sign up and make a goal of writing at least 50,000 words in one month. It boils down to about 1,700 words day. I love doing this because it helps me get most of my rough drafts on the page. I admit, it is super hard to get the writing in, but since I am super goal-oriented, I make the time. During that month, I write a few hours in the morning right after most of the kids leave for school, and then I’ll write whatever more I need to late at night when everyone goes to bed. I also don’t allow myself to watch TV or read books (and I love to read!) during that month. I can’t tell you how many nights I was up until midnight trying to get my words in for the day. Obviously, 50,000 words isn’t a complete novel (Remembrandt is about 65,000 words and Van Gogh Gone is 80,000), but having the bulk of a story done keeps me writing throughout the winter months.

When I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo, I generally set aside several mornings a week to write, as well as weekends and nights. When I’m pushing a deadline, I’ll go to a library or cafe and write whenever I can get away. It’s hard to do, but I love writing so much and my kids think it is sooo cool, that it makes it worth it.

 Having completed several projects, what advice would you give beginning writers?

First, I would say: finish your project! I hear so often from beginning writers that they are writing a book, but most don’t actually finish it. And by finish, I mean have a rough draft and then edit, revise, and perfect it. Even if you don’t ever want to be published, having a completed work is so rewarding. 

Second, I think everyone needs a writing group. Even if it is just 1-2 other people that read your stuff and give you feedback. It was hard at first to hear any critiques of my books, but since then I have appreciated it so much! Before my editor even sees any of my finished products, I usually have between 15-20 people read and give me feedback.

Lastly, I would suggest attending writing conferences. It’s a great place to meet fellow writers and learn the craft. Although there are some college degrees in English and Creative Writing, there aren’t any that are meant just for authors. These conferences teach the craft of writing, marketing, trends in literature, and more.   

Will we see more books in this series? And what is your next project?

Yes, there are more books in the series! I am currently working on Remembrandt #3 (as of yet, untitled). The plan is for it to be released the end of 2016. I originally planned 4-5 books in the series, but I don’t want it to end either! Once I finish the final draft of Remembrandt #3, I will for sure know exactly where Alex’s story will end on paper. 

I have also finished the first two books in a contemporary fantasy series and I am submitting to agents right now. I am super excited about this series and can’t wait to share more about it once I have representation for it. 

Thank you, Robin! This has been so interesting. If you want to find out more about Robin and her writing visit her blog www.byrobinking.com. You can find Remembrandt and Van Gogh Gone at Amazon and Deseret Book. And don’t forget to visit my facebook page for a chance to win a new copy of both books – deadline is February 29th!

Review of Melanie Mason’s novel The Ring of Remaliha ~ Published by Walnut Springs Press

Go to my Facebook page and enter to win a new copy of The Ring of Remaliha…deadline is February 6th!

When the book you’re reading begins with the heroine receiving an ancient Egyptian ring in the mail from her recently deceased boyfriend with his dying request for her to solve its mystery, you know you’re in for an on-the-edge-of-your-seat experience, and indeed it was! Melanie Mason takes us on an Indian Jones-like experience following April Tanner—an independently strong woman and famed Egyptologist—as she unravels the mystery of Remaliha’s treasure. Mason parallels the twists and turns of this treasure hunt with April’s personal inner journey of healing and finding the courage to trust again. Mason does a wonderful job of weaving Egyptian history with a fast-paced adventure—my favorite combination of learning through storytelling. Will April solve the mystery? Will she find the treasure? And at what cost? These are all questions that keep the pages turning and this reader happy. Thank you, Melanie, for a great adventure!

Author Interview:

1. What was your inspiration for The Ring of Remaliha?
When I was in middle school I had a 45-minute bus ride home from school and sometimes the younger kids would ask me to tell a story. I had a pair of those long dangly earrings that we wore back in the 80’s and I pulled one off and made up a story about my older sister April (I didn’t have an older sister named April) and her amazing discoveries with Egyptian archeology. Well, the story has come a long way since then. My earring is now a ring and much of her experiences have changed, but April has remained much the same.

2. How has your experience as a flight attendant influenced your writing? Has it taken you to Egypt?
I suspect my experience as a flight attendant has given me fodder for characters, but nothing I could really name. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to travel to Egypt. I would love to and perhaps at a future day I will be able to. I do admit that when I have the chance to look down at the earth from 30,000 feet I can imagine all sorts of things and places for my characters to experience.

3. The Ring of Remaliha was a 2015 Whitney Award Nominee—tell us more about this, and congratulations!
It is always an honor to be a Whitney Award Nominee. I am so grateful to my fans who nominated me. It is an amazing feeling to know that people enjoy my stories enough for such an award. As far as I know I haven’t become a finalist, but I hope to someday.

4. What is the easiest and hardest thing about writing for you?
It’s actually pretty easy for me to create a story. All it takes is the right prompt or environment or even dream and I surge forward with ideas, thoughts, dialogue, and places. Picturing the characters and the places they live and their experiences is fun – like a movie in my head. I just write the movie.
The hardest part is that I can never force a story. I write like I’m reading the book for the first time and sometimes I feel like the pages are blank. I want to know what will happen to my characters and though I have an idea, my inspiration comes when it comes. Another hard thing is sometimes I can’t write fast enough, nor do I have enough time to get everything out as fast as I want.

5. Any advice for up and coming writers?
Read a lot and write a lot. And don’t restrict yourself to a specific genre. I have stories all across the board from Fantasy to Romance to Dystopian to Mystery (though I don’t do horror). When you start out, just write. That’s the biggest thing we do. Get the story out, the editing will come later.

6. We look forward to your next book—can you give us any hints?
I have a few stories in the sidelines that I’m considering, a mystery and a fantasy romance, but nothing set in stone yet. I’m also working on a sequel to The Ring of Remaliha as well as one for The Line That Divides, but again I can’t force the story. When they come, they will come, but I will be sure to keep everyone posted. You can always check for updates on my website: www.melaniemasonauthor.com or my Facebook page.

Thanks, Melanie, for visiting my blog and answering these questions….we all look forward to your next adventure. And I really wish I could have ridden the school bus with you!

You can find The Ring of Remaliha at Amazon and Deseret Book. And don’t forget to visit my Facebook page and enter a chance to win a new copy – deadline is February 6th!

Review of Kristoffer Neff’s novel Home of the Brave, Author Interview and Book Giveaway!

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Go to my Facebook page and enter to win a new copy of Home of the Brave…deadline is October 6th!

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t at some time and on some level felt betrayed. And I don’t know anyone who, at some point hasn’t longed to be forgiven. In Kristoffer Neff’s new military suspense novel, Home of the Brave, he takes these two very universal conditions and allows them to play out—and what we see is a powerful show of bravery and forgiveness that will keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning.

The Sutton family is no different than the rest of us, yet when a midnight call from their son Taylor comes, pleading for help for himself and his Army Ranger Team, his brother Michael comes to the rescue—a journey that leads Michael to the violent Northern Territory of Pakistan.

Well researched, with believable characters that take you with them to the brutal confines of a military prison, the lonely office of a traitor and the kitchen table, where worried family wait and pray, Home of the Brave is a moving Prodigal Son story…and so much more. I highly recommend it; though carve out some reading time because you won’t want to put it down.

I’m delighted to have Kris featured on my site and he has agreed to answer a few questions for us.
1. What was your inspiration for Home of the Brave?
The thought came to me one afternoon while playing with my boys, who were nine and four at the time, that even though they are as different as two brothers could be I sincerely hope they would always be there for each other. That thought led to a “worse possible” scenario and from that came Michael and Taylor. I originally titled the book “The Fighting Suttons” and if you could meet my boys you would know why.
2. You obviously did a great deal of research; tell us about that…did you enjoy it?
Research for the book actually started on accident. One night I stumbled across a program listing the most dangerous roads in the world. Dir Road in Pakistan made the list. After that, I started researching that area of the world as well as the military. I enjoy learning about places so even though the research slowed the story down it was a fun adventure.
3. As a writer, what did you learn from writing Home of the Brave?
I was on a massive learning curve during Home of the Brave but what stands out as the greatest lesson is to never give up on a project. It took two years to find a publisher and even that wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for my sweet wife saying, “Let’s try one more time.”
4. For you, what is the easiest and hardest thing about writing?
For me it is easy visualizing the scene, the difficulty is putting it into words. Also, sometimes it’s hard finding the time, but when I do it is so easy to get lost in the story.
5. Are you working on another project….and can you give us a hint?
I am currently working on a YA sci-fi about a boy, who, on the second day of school encounters a stunning young woman who tells him he is an Aviator defending the galaxy against the evil Vrakolok. The story actually comes from two dreams. The first of which I had when I was twelve years old.

Thank you, Kris, for sharing this interesting ‘back story’ on Home of the Brave…and we’ll look forward to seeing some sci-fi action from you!

You can find out more about Kris and his writing on his site kneffbooks.com. You can find Home of the Brave at Amazon and deseretbook.com. And be sure to visit my Facebook page for a chance to win a new copy of Home of the Brave….deadline October 6th!

Review of Joan Soward’s novel Bridges of the Heart, Author Interview and Book Giveaway!

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Go to my Facebook page for a chance to win a new copy of Bridges of the Heart by Joan Sowards – deadline September 11th!

Anyone who has ever looked into their family history has wondered what it would be like to travel back in time and actually meet their family. Joan Soward’s novel Bridges of the Heart fulfills this fantasy for us as twenty-one-year-old Rachel is plunged into the pre-Civil War South and meets her ancestors. She takes with her a heart mourning the loss of her mother, worrying over her sister and confused about the man who wants to marry her…and returns to the present with a heart healed by the bridges of compassion and forgiveness only a family can provide.
The story carries you from page to page with believable characters such as Lucretia, Jonathan, Coker and the interesting Sheriff Gainey—who looks so much like Maxson, the present-day man Rachel loves. We are taken back in time as we feel the hardness of the wagon seat as we travel over rough ground, smell the clean air of the forest after rain fall and sleep under a handmade quilt scented of jasmine. This is a time-travel journey you won’t want to miss, so take Rachel’s hand and cross The Bridges of the Heart…it will be an adventure you won’t soon forget.

I’m delighted to have Joan featured on my blog, and she was kind enough to answer the following questions:

1. What role did your family history play in the creation of Bridges of the Heart? You mention Coker in your Acknowledgments….is he an ancestor?

Coker is my third great-grandfather. The basic facts in the story are true: that he was illegitimate, that Jonathan died before Coker’s birth, that Coker went to Alabama as a young man and was baptized in Mississippi. He then took his family to Nauvoo, arriving during the exodus. They settled in Missouri to work through the winter and earn the money to go west with the Saints, but Coker died from exposure that season. His wife and children eventually made it to Utah.

As a child, I listened in a family reunion to my genealogist aunt Lora report on her research. She said no one had cracked the mystery about Jonathan Therrell’s parents and family, and probably never would. I remember thinking to myself that I would be the one to do it. I now have spent twenty-eight years gathering Therrell information. It’s all there in “bits and pieces” as Jonathan states in the novel, and is clear as mud.

2. What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing Bridges of the Heart?

The Spirit testifies of truth even while writing fiction.

3. Having published several books, what advice would you give a first-time writer?

Never self-publish, or submit to a publisher, until you have had at least 5-6 beta readers read over your manuscript. Listen to their comments and take each seriously. If you have to defend or explain, then reconsider how you present your material.

Never publish without first having a professional edit your manuscript. A great editor is priceless in maintaining your reputation as a good author.

4. For you, what is the easiest and hardest thing about writing?

I love to write, to make up the story and do the research, etc. That’s the easy part. I’m horrible at self-promotion. I’m too timid, I guess.

5. Will Rachel go back in time again—will there be a sequel?

Maxson and Rachel will find their “combined power” without me. Sorry to say, I don’t write sequels.

6. We look forward to your next novel. What is it about?

Clairvoyance is about an ASU journalism graduate who takes an internship at a seaside village newspaper and resolves to have a no-romance summer. She is assigned three women to visit teach and gets involved in their mixed-up lives. Plus, she learns that some resolves are meant to be broken.

Thanks Joan! You’ve given us a glimpse into your interesting family history as well as some good advice….we appreciate it. Can’t wait to see Clairvoyance hit the shelves!

You can learn more about Joan and her writing by visiting her blog Joan Sowards–LDS Author.
You can purchase Bridges of the Heart, or other books by Joan, at Amazon and Deseret Book.
Remember to visit my Facebook page to enter a chance to win a new copy of Bridges of the Heart…deadline Sept.11th!

Review by Joan Sowards

My friend and author Joan Sowards has done a review of Changing Worlds. You can read her review on her blog here. She’s also doing a giveaway, so be sure and enter for the chance to win a copy of Changing Worlds! Thanks Joan!!! And be sure and check out her new book Bridges of the Heart. I’m almost done and love it and will be doing a review soon.