J.M. NORTHUP's BLOG

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

SAHARA FOLEY Reviews THE HOWLING CLIFFS

THE HOWLING CLIFFS by Mary Deal


THE FOLLOWING REVIEW WAS WRITTEN BY MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE,
SAHARA FOLEY!

I was initially drawn to this book because of Vietnam and the search for the remaining MIA American soldiers. When I was in high school, we used to wear bracelets representing the POW’s that were being held while the conflict was still ongoing. I have no idea if the person I wore on my wrist every came back. Then I met my late husband who had served three tours in Nam. He had also been a POW and was one of the lucky ones that escaped. So the concept of this story resonated with me. 

The book starts with Sara, Huxley and Esmeralda deep in the Vietnam jungle, searching for the remains of his brother and her daughter. They are with a group of other people searching for remains of their own loved ones. Mary Deal does an excellent job setting the stage and I became involved with the characters as they stumbled upon a few golden links and a barely legible, partial dog tag. Who did it belong too? 

The main story starts when Sara returns to her new home in Hawaii, and becomes involved in a cold case disappearance or murder of a girl who suffered from Down’s syndrome. And the girl that disappeared was the sister of her reclusive, psycho neighbor Maleko. As Sara searches for the truth, she is faced with death several times, as the killer tries to eliminate her. 

This story is rich with the history and layout of Hawaii and its culture. A little too much for me. The pace of the story died with too much information. But once the action started, it was so fast paced, I couldn’t keep up. And there’s plenty of action. I loved Sara and her strong-willed nature. And I adored her other neighbor, Birdie. We should all have someone like that in our lives. 

I thought the ending for the murder mystery a little confusing and anit-climatic, but that was only one ending. The real ending, that made me bawl like a baby, was the identity of the person behind the partial dog tag. Even though I guessed it, the presentation was so well-written that I had to cry for their loss and acceptance. 

If you’re intrigued with Vietnam / Hawaii and you love mysteries, drama and action, you’ll want to read this book. I give it 4 feathers.

A Message From J.M. Northup

THANK YOU FOR YOUR READERSHIP!

When I did an author takeover, one of my readers posted this for me J

I am very thankful to be able to write.
I am
honored to be able to publish my work.
I am blessed to have your readership!
♥♥♥A writer is nothing without their readers!♥♥♥
HAPPY READING!

Spotlighting Author JODI STONE

Its the Easter Bunny season,
and Kidtales is celebrating 
by sharing Easter Reads!!

Jodi Stone...Children's Book Author and Illustrator
has one of our favorites with,
An Easter Bonnett for Lily!

Easter Bunny in training, Lily, has lost her way. 
She is cute and feisty, and everyone in the town of Tulip adores her.
 While most bunnies are planning for Easter, Lily cannot see past her ears. 
On the other side of town, three little girls are preparing for the big day as well. 
One little girl in particular, Savannah, is not as excited as she usually is. 
While her sisters are painting eggs and preparing for the big egg hunt,
 Savannah is concerned that her attire is not as fancy as it should be.
 Join Lily and Savannah as they both learn that Easter is not just
 about looking perfect, but more about family and friendship. 
Travel on this journey and discover the magic.

ON SALE FOR $0.99 

Buy Today...


Kidtales recommends this read
 with a high 5 stars! 

You can connect with Jodi Stone, Author and Illustrator at the links below!


Jodi is published with Solstice Publishing,
as well as Anchor Group Publishing. 

Spotlighting Author WENDY NYSTROM

Good Morning! 
Spring has sprung, and 
we are entering summer reading soon!

Kidtales will be featuring new
SPRING HAS SPRUNG
reads each week for 
families to share! 

This week we are featuring...
Award Winning Author,
Wendy Nystrom!

Wendy's newest book, Amongst the Clouds,
 is a wonderful spring edition with a glorious
trip among a mysterious iridescent cloud,
with James and his magical Icelandic friends!

James and Syvok 4th adventure has a new mystery floating about. 
James is curious to explore the iridescent cloud.
 All the colors of a rainbow glow, surely there are adventures to sow.
 Come along and meet new friends! Dragons, cats, troll, and more,
 lots of fun is in store. Join the adventures up in the sky 
and help the wizard find her magical key
. Come and see what the iridescent cloud hides!

You can grab Amongst the Clouds on 
Amazon or Barnes and Noble today! 

Amongst the Clouds on Amazon
*On SALE FOR APRIL- $0.99*


You can learn about Wendy's other books in her series 
by following her in the linked locations below! 


Wendy is published with Anchor Group Publishing. 
You can find more from Anchor Group at:

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

SOULSEARCHING is on SALE for only 99¢!

Get Your Digital Copy Today!


***ONLY 99 CENTS***

SOUL SEARCHING is on SALE through Kindle Countdown Deals​ until April 27th!
================================
The #poetry of SOUL SEARCHING asks profound questions while exploring the human emotion of  gone wrong, struggles of today, and hopes for tomorrow. 
Included in this #novella of poetry is the short story EMERGENCE - an erotic romance with a dose of science fiction blended in: 

EMERGENCE:
Though she has never met him before, Isla knows who this strange and compelling man is. As resistance turns into submission, the origins of the human race, and Isla herself, are revealed. Drawn to the mysterious man with an undeniable magnetism, the emergence of the truth changes Isla forever. 
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HAPPY READING!

Erica Miles's re-Release of DAZZLED BY DARKNESS!

AUTHOR WIPs and NEW RELEASES


1)    Tell us about your work-in-progress, or WIP, as it’s known as in the industry or New Release…
Ø What is the story about?
·  It starts off as a love story, a fantasy in the mind of the female protagonist come true.  Her name is Sara.  She suffers from mental illness, hears voices, and one of the voices in her head comes alive for her. 
·  She’s Jewish and middle-class.  He’s a lower-class dark-complexioned Hispanic guy, an artist who’s into all kinds of experimental enterprises.  She, too, is an artist, but her tastes are more traditional. 
·  Throughout the novel, the hero periodically withdraws into his own world and fantasizes about talking to artists from the past.  He learns from them and challenges them.  He’s a fast-talking street guy.  Sara never knows anything about this.  As far as she can tell, he’s not going anywhere, but she’s attracted to him.  Their relationship has a lot of ups and downs. 
·  Don’t want a spoiler, but the artist also has another relationship.  With his best friend James.  Just suggestive, but important none-the-less. 
·  The culture clash and ego clash between the main male and female characters gradually intensifies to the point where they separate.  So it is not a conventional romance, no happy ending, but a twist ending all the same. There is a lot of humor in the scenes between the young artist and great masters.  There is also a lot of tragedy in the mixed-up romance. 
·  The reader—of whatever ethnicity--gets a chance to steal a peek at other cultures.  The book may seem quaint to younger readers who are used to a more liberal society, and not one in which interracial love was more or less forbidden and at least considered revolutionary.  A true glimpse into the Hippie culture of the ‘60s.  And a thorough tour of European art through the eyes of a Brooklyn street guy. 
·  I promise you some surprises at the end.  But it’s an exciting journey all along the way.
Ø Who is the main character?
·  Two main characters, or actually three.  A secret love triangle.
1.     Sara, the sensitive introvert who’s not very good at social relations and is thrilled to be loved and pursued by someone. 
2.     Gavilan, the male protagonist, a younger man, younger than Sara, who is interested in anything different and extraordinary, who has a great dream of becoming a great artist and standing among the ranks of the artists he talks to in his fantasies. 
3.     And finally, James, Gavilan’s best friend, and a friend to Sara, too.  A gentle man of wisdom, a lover of poetry, a compassionate listener, and unfortunately, one who dies too young.
2)    What inspired this tale?
Ø How did the story come to you?
·  As with any work of fiction, part is inspired by autobiography and part inspired by imagination, the latter all the more so, because of the fantasy element.
Ø Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?
·  Yes, I had to read a lot about the artists I described in order to develop their characters and give authentic details about their backgrounds and environments.  But I used a lot of dialogue, almost as if in a play, and supplied a lot of drama/interaction from my own imagination.
Ø If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?
·  I was pretty well-informed about art history to begin with.  I loved reading about Picasso’s different mistresses and his macho personality.  I loved the anecdote about Yvette Guilbert, a model of Toulouse Lautrec’s, and how she was a singer at the bistros, was adored by her audience.  I loved reading about what she wore—long yellow gloves, long black dress—you can see her on the art nouveau posters.  I loved descriptions of Paris in the early twentieth century.  I loved fooling around with time travel and juxtaposing Gavilan’s slang and relaxed demeanor with the formality of the artists he interviewed.
3)    Do you relate to your character?
Ø Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
·  Yes, I suffered from mental illness as a young woman and know what it’s like.  I was also in a hospital, as Sara was.  But I also identified with Gavilan, the male protagonist.  I used to be an artist myself, and enjoyed jumping into his head.
Ø What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?
·  The story started out as a memoir, but became so fictionalized and fantasized, it turned into a novel.  I believe everyone has a love story inside them, even if it’s a damaged one.  I wanted to revisit my past and redeem it and make beauty from the shards of tragedy.
4)    Is there anything you specific want readers to know about this piece of work?
·        When you look back in the long run, you can see the bigger picture.  It’s very interesting to put yourself into the head of your antagonist and feel compassion, redemption, and release. 
·        I believe in making beauty out of broken glass.  Making beauty is a labor of love.  That’s what writing’s all about.  I’d also like you to know the book is illustrated with wonderful sketches throughout, some by me, a few Photoshopped by Firefeet, but most done by my dear friend Selma Eisenstadt, who unfortunately died a couple of years ago.  At least, she lived long enough to see the initial publication.  I owe her a debt of gratitude for the beauty she contributed to the novel.  Firefeet was also a jewel with his Photoshop ingenuity.  I think the pictures really add a lot to the book and emphasize the theme of the story.
5)    When will the novel be available for purchase?
Ø Has the book already been published?
·  It has just been published on Amazon and is available for purchase now.  Please note, my pseudonym is Erica Miles, which is Millie Ehrlich backwards.

HAPPY READING!

Sunday, April 12, 2015

JUSTIFYING JACK

Book 2 in The Wounded Warriors Series Is Here!




SAVING SAM
Book One is a tale that covers the mental scars of war and how they can complicate an already difficult life or relationship.
JUSTIFYING JACK
Book Two is the story which focuses on the family and how the physical wounds inflicted on a soldier can shape one's life.
MAKING MIKE
Book Three deals more with emotions.  It is meant to show how resilient the human spirit is and that despite all things, it is possible to reclaim your life and move forward.




HAPPY READING!

Saturday, April 11, 2015

My review of SMELLY DRAGON by Scout Walker

Smelly DragonSmelly Dragon by Scout Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The art definitely made this one of my all-time favorite kids books!
This is an adorable and fun read! The story is cute and will appeal to children, teaching them a valuable lesson about cleanliness! The artwork is enchanting and will please readers of all ages! I was enthralled by the amazing art! I enjoyed the story and the author's word use, but the pictures captured me. They drew in me and I refused to go to the next page until I felt certain I had absorbed every detail. THEY ARE SO PRECIOUS! I especially loved the grandma knitting next to the mom dragon with curlers in her hair and the cute way Fizzle colored his invitations - his tongue hanging out was perfect!

View all my reviews

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

J.M. Northup's Current WIP - REVIVED (Snoqualmie Valley Sasquatch Book 1)

AUTHOR WIPs and NEW RELEASES


1)      Tell us about your work-in-progress, or WIP, as it’s known as in the industry or New Release…
My current WIP is a novel entitled, REVIVED.  It is Book 1 in my new young adult series, Snoqualmie Valley Sasquatch.
Ø  What is the story about?
The story is about two young lovers who struggle to connect.  They are trying to overcome prejudice and fear in order to bridge two worlds.
Ø  Who is the main character?
The main characters are Adam and the almost identical cousins, Jenna and Hannah.
2)      What inspired this tale?
Ø  How did the story come to you?
I wanted to write a story based on the Coastal Salish Native American Indian’s belief of Sasquatch.  More so, I wanted to write a love story that would show the difficulties of overcoming negative attitudes, but one which transcended race or culture.  I also wanted to show how knowledge can change perception.
Ø  Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?
I did have to research elements contained in the story.  I had to look at Bigfoot lore and medical data in order to make a cohesive tale.  I always like my fiction to be based in truth to anchor it.
Ø  If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?
I think the thing that surprised me most was the discovery that not all “sasquatch” creatures are truly Sasquatch or what we know as Bigfoot.  I also enjoyed the variances in what the different Native American cultures believed.
3)      Do you relate to your character?
Ø  Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
I would say there are elements of my personality in all the characters I write.  However, in this particular tale, I would say Jenna is probably the most like me personally. 
Ø  If yes, then how?
Jenna and I both tend to overlook our blessings and focus too much on her insecurities.  We often don’t realize how strong we really are, but we unconsciously find our strength and courage when we need it most.
Ø  If no, how do you differ from one another?
Hannah and I are very different from one another.  Though I admire her relaxed manner and the way she can just roll with things, I am not carefree.  I also think Hannah has a natural charisma which draws people to her that I personally lack.
Ø  Adam and I are also very different, I think.  He has integrity about him and a selflessness which I wish I had.  I aspire to be more like him and I find myself writing him so he is the ideal I wish I were.  Of course, he isn’t perfect, but it is his desire to grow beyond his flaws which make me love him all the more.  I really love his sense of responsibility and ownership.
Ø  What made you write these characters; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?
I felt it was important to write a story showing unconventional beauty.  I wanted to push my readers to love my characters no matter how they looked.  I guess this was my version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in some ways, but I think this is a more modern rendition with a unique approach to an old classic.
4)      Is there anything you specific want readers to know about this piece of work?
The hardest part for me in writing this story was deciding how to explain how Sasquatch could be “human” and yet still possess the supernatural ability of invisibility which the Coastal Salish Indians believed they had.  I really hope my readers enjoy what I came up.
5)      When will the novel be available for purchase?
I am in the final draft of the manuscript and hope to have it in post-production by the end of the month.  I am shooting for a May release, but you can expect to see it available for purchase by June, at the latest.

HAPPY READING!

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