Source: Direct from Publicist

Blog Book Tour | “Fade to Black” (Book 1: The Weir Chronicles) by Sue Duff #RRSciFiMonth #IndieWriterMonth

Posted Thursday, 13 November, 2014 by jorielov , , , 2 Comments

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Fade to Black Blog Tour via JKS Communications

Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Fade to Black” virtual book tour through JKS Communications: A Literary Publicity Firm. I received a complimentary copy of the book direct from the publicist at JKS Communications, in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Blog Book Tour | “Fade to Black” (Book 1: The Weir Chronicles) by Sue Duff #RRSciFiMonth #IndieWriterMonthFade to Black
by Sue Duff
Source: Direct from Publicist

In the world of illusions there are many secrets . . .

Ian Black has more than most.

Ian Black is an illusionist with a talent for keeping secrets. College student Rayne Bevan has a gift for uncovering them. She suspects that the popular performer's skills extend beyond the stage and that he's the area’s mysterious and elusive defender of the innocent.

In her efforts to uncover the truth, Rayne is swept into the hidden world of the Weir, a magical race who struggle to prevent Earth from self-destructing. Her inquiries expose Ian to those who would kill for his connection to the planet, and as he fights to keep Rayne safe, they discover a force behind the Weir’s raging civil war—a traitor bent on launching Earth’s Armageddon.

Genres: Sci-Fantasy



Places to find the book:

Series: The Weir Chronicles, No.1


Also in this series: Intangible, Beneath Creek Waters


Published by CrossWinds Publishing

on October, 2014

Format: Paperback

Pages: 456

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

A bit of a back-story on how this novel was conceived:

Where did you come up with your ideas for Fade to Black?

I was in search of a new kind of superhero and I drew upon my love of science in a deliberate avoidance of all things alien, vampire, werewolf, or typical wizardry. From that basic premise, Ian’s character and the world of the Weir gradually took shape.

You’re a fan of both fantasy and science fiction, and your writing is a hybrid of the two genres. Can you talk a little about writing the book in such a way?

Although the basis of the story is very much Contemporary Fantasy, I pull strong SciFi elements into all the novels in the series. The basic plot centers on the fact that the Weir are dying out. In this day and age, it made sense to me that even magical beings might turn to modern science as a way to stop, or reverse, the extinction of their race. I enjoy the dichotomy that the Weir, with their care of the planet and emphasis of all things natural, debunk what they have stood for, over thousands of years, and mess with Mother Nature in an attempt to save their butts.

While Fade to Black is an entertaining read, you do have a message behind it as well for readers?

Yes, there are two things I hope people get out of reading the series. Regardless of the naysayers, believe in yourself and follow your own strengths and path in the world. Ian didn’t develop his powers as the prophecy predicted, and Rayne wasn’t the firstborn male Sar that her father desired. The fact that Ian turned to illusions in order to do what he couldn’t naturally (lack of powers in a magical world) is key to his character. Tortured for what he had no control over, he discovered and nurtured something that he could control.

Secondly, accept that science can’t explain everything and embrace the wonders and mysteries in the universe. My favorite line from the first book is: There will always be magic in the world, as long as we believe in what we don’t understand.

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About Sue Duff

Sue Duff has been writing since high school but never became serious about it until a skiing accident laid her up for an entire summer and she turned on the word processor to combat the boredom. A couple years later, her first urban fantasy novel, Fade to Black, was a finalist in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Writing Contest.

By day, she’s a dedicated speech-language therapist in an inner city school district. But her life as a writer is her true passion and the creative outlet keeps her sane. Sue is a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and The Pikes Peak Writers. Her creativity extends into her garden and the culinary arts.

Born in Chicago, she moved to Phoenix as a young child. She received her bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and her master’s from the University of Denver. She is the second oldest of six girls with an avid reader mom and her dad, the family’s single drop of testosterone in a sea of estrogen. Fate thought it hilarious to give her a son but maternal instincts swing both ways and she didn’t break the little bugger. She lives in Colorado with her miniature dachshund, Snickers, and hears from her son, Jonathan, whenever he needs something.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

My Review of Fade to Black:

At first, I must confess I was a bit confused on the dimensions of the world where Ian Black lives, as I am a bit used to world building and characters having a hearty breadth of fusion between the two; untoward not having any gaps or misgivings on where each fit into each other. For Fade to Black, the hardest part about the opening Chapters is that there is a lot of information funneling into sight but there is a bit of an absence of how each component fuses and fits individually as much as which of them key into triggers of the wider story. I felt a Glossary or an Appendix on some of the dimensional time shifting and other elements which give Ian Black and his kind their supernatural abilities would have provided a bit of a foundation.

The part that I felt compelled to read further into the text itself was how Ian Black could conjure illusions out of his training as a performer but also how he could add-in his natural gift to ‘shift’ (spelt: shyft) in/out of rooms and close spaces within where his performances took place. There is a wider story arc existing within the fringes of the background, but without a clarity of knowing ‘what Ian Black’s back-story’ is nor a full understanding of how Patrick fits into his life as his agent (supposing as his role is uncertain) or how there are twins (Mara & Tara), a teacher Milo, and this nefarious cat and mouse dance between the forces of good and evil. There are secondary characters arriving on scene whilst Ian Black is caught rescuing a woman in an alley, but it the absence of understanding who the Duach are and what motivates them against the Weir which I found most frustrating. Even the inclusionary eye of a team of ‘Watchers’ is only encouraged to be taken on sight without understanding if they work for the organisational entity behind the Weir themselves or if they are a group of intercessory workers to keep people like Ian Black safe from dangerous exits of their lives.

As we meet Ian Black, he is getting ready to create an illusionary performance for a cheering audience of supporters of magic and illusion; it is within this performance we find that Ian Black is mortal and not immortal against his tricks of action, light and illusionary art. There are a few small foreshadows about who might come forward later to play a more central role in the story, such as Rayne Bevan, but what drew me in and out of the story itself is having to wait so long to understand the world itself.

I felt as though I were reading the second book in the series rather than the first, there is such a bevy of information I felt was presumptively accepted on behalf of the reader yet I had no honest clue what half of the characters were trying to tell me. Even by page 63, I was only being given snippets of what the entire story arc could be and where the imbalance between the light and dark forces were going to bleed into the world; circumventing the role Ian Black would have as an illusionist.

Rather than giving us a grounding in science at the jump start of the novel, we are picking up small clues of what makes Ian Black uniquely different from others; we never quite see the full picture nor understand completely how his gifts are working to aide him in both his act and his acts of heroism. I wanted to fall into step with this story, and curl into a Sci-Fantasy as riveting to read and devour as the Piercing the Veil Series yet instead I found myself struggling to align in the world of the Weir Chronicles.  My first reading of this novel did not go as I had hoped, I had so many questions bobbling inside of my head as I read each new chapter that the joy I was expecting to feel as I read dissipated. I was disappointed because I simply could not continue forward – I wasn’t sure if I wanted to wait any longer to endear myself to a character who was remarkably unknown to me and whose entire life was a mysterious footnote of exclusion.

Sadly, the cover art combined with the book synopsis had such a breath of promise, I was truly saddened I could not knit inside this world. 

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

This blog tour is courtesy of JKS Communications:

Fade to Black Blog Tour via JKS Communications

See what I am hosting next by stopping by my Bookish Events page!

I created a list on Riffle to share the books that I simply could not become attached to as a reader myself, but stories which would benefit a reader to find them, and appreciate them for what each writer gave to their story. For me, the reason I included Fade to Black is because I felt immediately disconnected to the story as soon as I first opened the book itself and unlike my fellow book bloggers who waited til halfway or further into the story to understand the basic metrics of the science behind the curious plot, I am not that patient as a reader who thrives on science based stories of Sci-Fantasy. Therefore, this is now listed on my Riffle List entitled: Stories Seeking Love from Readers.

This review is being cross-promoted via:

SFN 2014 Participant badge created by Jorie in Canva#IndieWriterMonth Blog Feature of Jorie Loves A Story, badge created by Jorie in Canva

Reader Interactive Question:

What do you prefer when you read Sci-Fantasy!? Do you appreciate having a grounding of the science within the fantasy world your reading to be presented in the opening chapters to set the tone, pace, and direction of the story? Or do you prefer to remain in the dark on everything until at long last the revelation takes place further into the novel?

{SOURCES: Cover art of “Fade to Black”, author photograph, author biography, book synopsis, excerpts from the Author Q&A (via the Press Kit) and the tour badge were all provided by JKS Communications and used with permission. Blog Tour badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Badges for Sci Fi November & #IndieWriterMonth created by Jorie in Canva.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

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Posted Thursday, 13 November, 2014 by jorielov in #SciFiReadathon, Blog Tour Host, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Fantasy Fiction, Go Indie, Indie Author, JKS Communications: Literary Publicity Firm, Light vs Dark, Parapsychological Gifts, Parapsychological Suspense, RALs | Thons via Blogs, Reading Challenges, Sci-Fi November, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, Urban Life, Vulgarity in Literature

Book Review | “The Ripper’s Wife” by Brandy Purdy

Posted Friday, 31 October, 2014 by jorielov , , 0 Comments

Parajunkee DesignsThe Ripper’s Wife by Brandy Purdy

Published By:Kensington Publishing Corp. ()
Official Author Websites:  Blog | *previously this author had a website and Facebook
Available Formats: Trade Paperback, E-book

Converse on Twitter via: #TheRippersWife, #BrandyPurdy & #EmilyPurdy

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Acquired Book By: Whilst the blog tour for “The Boleyn Bride” was underway with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I was making my rounds to the different blogs who were hosting either an Author Interview or a Book Review, or a combination thereof. Although I was not personally connected to the blog tour myself, I oft-times find that the books which tour with HFVBT are ones that I am interested in and thereby my visits on their tour are a pure delight for me! As I am as bubbly on my visits as I am on my own blog as well as Twitter, I left some happy-hearted comments on behalf of this book & author. As she was a new-to-me author as at that point in time I had not heard of her works or known of her works as well as I do now. Shortly after my visits, I received a note from Ms. Purdy asking me if I would be interested in reading her novels. I previously received “The Boleyn Bride” and “The Queen’s Rivals”. Whilst I was working on my reviews for these novels, and putting together my interview with Ms. Purdy, she offered me to read her next release which was “The Ripper’s Wife”.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of “The Ripper’s Wife” direct from the author’s publicist at Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

On how I know Ms. Purdy: As I was contacted originally to read both “The Boleyn Bride” and “The Queen’s Rivals”, we came to find ourselves enjoying the conversation which flowed together rather organically out of that correspondence. I have appreciated getting to know a fellow writer, especially one who writes historical fiction as that is one branch of literature although I deeply appreciate to read, was always a bit trepiderious to pen! I give such a strong nod to the writers who write such delicious historicals, because they give us a way to drink in history in an agreeable manner! I am honoured to have been given the chance to get to know her better in the process of scheduling the reviews on my blog. She even kindly enclosed bookmarks which feature her novels, and I’ve been enjoying them as I read! Bookmarks have become one of my favourite surprises to find enclosed within a book I receive for review!

I am disclosing this, to assure you that I can formulate an honest opinion, even though I have interacted with her through the past few months by email. I treat each book as a ‘new experience’, whether I personally know the author OR whether I am reading a book by them for the first time.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

A note about why I was interested in reading “The Ripper’s Wife”:

I think most readers of historical fiction have come across the story of Jack the Ripper at one point or another, as the legend and lore behind the criminal mind who was Jack the Ripper has long since been re-imagined, re-told, and attempted to be brought to life on the printed page. My interest was sparked after having a conversation on The Word Wenches blog in 2013 about whether or not the real identity of the person behind the crimes was actually known; as the debate on the identity was still thick with various reports of the evidential truth. The topic has continued to become a lively debate, with new evidence emerging out of a shawl (I believe it was a shawl) yet I am not sure if the whole story will ever truly be put to bed so to speak. Between the numerous tests and the variables of time dissolving away testimonials evidence of who was alive at the time everything happened; it sparks a wonder inside the mind of a writer who wants to take on the lore and dig deeper into the story behind the horror of what happened.

When Ms. Purdy offered me a chance to read her next release in time for Halloween, part of me was curious on the level that so much is known yet incredibly so much is unknown at the same time. For me, I approached this novel from the stand-point of it being a historical fiction true crime novel with the realisation that parts of the story would be a bit more disturbing than my regular faire of choices, but with a unique point-of-view to drive the narrative forward. On that note, I was curious to see where Purdy would take the story from ‘the wife of Jack the Ripper’ in this variation of the story. Read More

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Posted Friday, 31 October, 2014 by jorielov in #HorrorOctober, 19th Century, Based on an Actual Event &/or Court Case, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Blog Tour Host, Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookish Discussions, Bookmark slipped inside a Review Book, Britian, Clever Turns of Phrase, Content Note, Crime Fiction, Excessive Violence in Literature, Geographically Specific, Good vs. Evil, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction, Horror, Indie Author, Jack the Ripper, Mental Health, Sociological Behavior, Sociology, the Victorian era, True Crime, Wordsmiths & Palettes of Sage, Writing Style & Voice

Blog Book Tour | “Amy’s Choice” {sequel to “Call Me Amy”} by Marcia Strykowski – a #YA sequel to a heart-warming #middlegrade novel!

Posted Tuesday, 7 October, 2014 by jorielov , , , 4 Comments

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Amy’s Choice by Marcia Strykowski
Published By: Luminis Books (@LuminisBooks) | Blog
Official Author WebsitesSite | @MarciaStry | GoodReads

Available Formats: Paperback, Hardback

Converse via: #AmysChoice, #middlegrade, & #KidLit

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Acquired Book By:

I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Amy’s Choice” virtual book tour through JKS Communications: A Literary Publicity Firm. As this was the second novel in a book series, I was able to put in a request to receive the first novel Call Me Amy of which I received a complimentary copy of direct from the publisher Luminis Books without obligation to review. I received my complimentary copy of Amy’s Choice direct from JKS Communications in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Inspired to Read:

I am always on the hunt for wicked quality Children’s Literature – stories which carve out a special niche of childhood innocence and the mirth of exploring how to find growth through life experiences. I want to find even more stories than I had as a young child myself – striving to find the writers who keep the tone of their novels radiating with light and the darkness can be erased through the resolutions at the ending of any conflict that a character needs to overcome. I like finding stories which give children a free sense about how to differentiate between right and wrong, whilst allowing them the grievance for understanding there is a measure of wisdom in living through our mistakes, our misunderstandings, and our ability to be humbled through adversity. I like stories that break down barriers and also serve to teach a lesson of stewardship and diplomacy. When I first saw this series going on tour on behalf of the publisher’s showcase, I simply knew that I wanted to take part and high shine a light on two stories that would benefit any library of a child or adult who appreciates the same types of stories I am passionately addicted to myself.

Blog Book Tour | “Amy’s Choice” {sequel to “Call Me Amy”} by Marcia Strykowski – a #YA sequel to a heart-warming #middlegrade novel!Amy's Choice
by Marcia Strykowski
Source: Direct from Publicist

Amy’s freshman year starts with a new best friend, Cat, and a newfound confidence. But she misses her crush, Craig, who has gone to live with his aunt in Boston. Craig has promised to write, and Amy checks the mail daily, but to no avail. There are new adventures, even so. Cat’s brother, Ricky, seems interested in Amy, but is she interested in him? And a new friendship with Finn, the lighthouse keeper, who Amy discovers is a talented artist, keeps Amy and Cat busy as they arrange for him to exhibit his work. But things get complicated when Craig returns from Boston and Finn is accused of arson. There are more questions than answers for Amy as life becomes as turbulent as the cold and stormy ocean of her coastal Maine town. Ideal for preteens, this novel is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Call Me Amy and touches upon issues of friendship, boyfriend troubles, and the power of believing in oneself.

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade



Places to find the book:

Also by this author: Call Me Amy

Series: Amy, No. 2


Also in this series: Call Me Amy, Invincible


Published by Luminis Books

on 3rd November, 2014

Pages: 200

Author Biography:

Marcia Strykowski

Marcia Strykowski works at a public library. Earlier, between earning her BS in Fine Arts and raising her children, she worked for seven years in textbook publishing. Marcia participates in writing groups and enjoys family, art, music, travel, and theater. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. After numerous magazine and anthology contributions, CALL ME AMY was Marcia’s first novel. It was chosen for the 2014 Bank Street College of Education’s prestigious Best Books of the Year list. AMY’S CHOICE, a sequel to CALL ME AMY, is now available. You can find out more about her and her books at marciastrykowski.com.

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Call Me Amy by Marcia Strykowski

Amy’s voice in the novel is bang-on brilliant for her age in the story, as her curiosity and inquisitiveness about her life and the world around her comes out strongly perceptive. Her heart is open to the possibilities that first impressions are not always as receptively accurate as you first think they would be as much as she cares for those who are in need. I enjoyed watching her slowly emerge out of her shell once she had a project she could focus on that was outside of her own worries and insecurities. Amy starts to see the intricate balance of life, how staying true to who you are is key, and how being open to learning from misunderstandings enriches the spirit of who you become.

– quoted from my book review of Call Me Amy

Alighting inside Amy’s life as a freshman:

By the conclusion of the first novel, we were ready to see where Amy’s life would take her next, as she had a newly acquired voice of confidence that had led her heart towards a path of community spirit and innovative restitution. I loved how at the end of Call Me Amy, she truly lived up to the title as she had a newfound bold confidence in who she was and understood better the way in which she understood life itself. In my own life, my Mum would have simply said “Amy has finally found the *big!* C!”, and therein lies the best bit of reading Call Me Amy ahead of Amy’s Choice! The very first sentence of the sequel begins with the very last expressed words of Amy allowing complete continuity between the two stories.

Seeing how her progression out of holding back from interactions with her peers due to her shyness and shedding a bit of her introverted moments of unease, Amy steps forward out of her 13th year a strong 14 year old ready to tackle high school. She learnt quite a heap from her friendship with Miss Cogshell and Craig, giving her the ability to seek out other new friends and relationships as life afforded the connections to cross her path. She maintains her kismet insight to knowing when a moment has arisen to give her an unexpected friend, as this is how she came to know Cat and Cat came to love her company.

My Review of Amy’s Choice:

I am always hopeful there will be seamless continuity between installments of series, and I was not disappointed with the beginning chapters of Amy’s Choice as I felt as though I was merely turning ‘the next page’ rather than opening a new book! This is quite the feat, as previously it is rare that a writer will pick up right where we leave off – although I did have the blessing of finding this in the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman.

I couldn’t help but shimmer a happy glow of delight seeing that Amy is now regularly volunteering at her new towne’s library! I was happily wandering my own libraries growing up that I should have thought to ask if I could volunteer – my mind was always happily wrapped up in a topic to research or a new author to discover, that I never gave any credence to the idea of being able to help others find wicked reads of their own! Unless of course, I stumbled across someone who was plumb lost in the stacks and/or I was at an Indie bookshoppe and simply supplied information as though it was commonplace and not unusual. Sometimes I think sorting out where your best to alight to give back your gifts of insight is a bit tricky, not to mention that most of the libraries I have always known were heavily regulated and had more rules to understand than a DMV driving manual!

Troll dolls with wild hair – now that brought back happy memories; even if it did take me half of forever to sort out which troll I wanted to bring home with me! The flickering visual clues to the seventies are happily still evermore present in the sequel, yet what strikes me the most about seeing them is just how much I can personally relate to knowing about! From the music to the toys to the series on television – one would have thought I was brought up a full decade before I was actually bourne by the way I can honestly attest all the familiarity of Amy’s childhood is wrapped inside my own! Lest I mention that I used to make the folded paper ‘magic solution’ boxes as easily as Amy and Cat! Except to say, they called them something a bit different in the 80s!

Lighthouses have simply captured my wonderment for absolute ages – the fact they are beacons of safety for seamen and captains notwithstanding, there is an allure of wonder attached to them for me. We have a few where I live but they are not as readily well-known as the ones sprinkled up and downeast the starboard side of Maine! From what I can gather about the lighthouses up there, you could island hop half your life and still never quite see them all in their glory. What a fantastic adventure though? To nip around, camera in hand, and a heart full of salt air and vistas that are hard to describe as they are felt in the spirit of the moment? Getting to cosy up to a lighthouse keeper inside Amy’s Choice was a treat for me! Especially considering I spent how many hours watching Pete’s Dragon as a child and young teen?

A very inspiring companion is found inside Amy’s Choice, as the title eludes to a choice Amy needs to make that may or may not be an obvious answer to the question that is eating away at her the most. Like most girls her age, she is trying to decide where she stands on the more difficult issues that start to arise when your in high school. The best part of the story is that the setting of her life is in Maine, where life ambles forward at a slower pace and allows the grace of growing through your childhood to have a rhythm of it’s own that is not always dependent on the fast pace of the outside world. In this setting, children can grow as they take on responsibilities inside their communities and needle out where their focus should be in the long term whilst appreciating the short expanse of childhood itself. What staid with me throughout the sequel is how reassuring the heart of the story is left in your mind. No matter what obstacles try to forfeit your plans or upset your course, you can find the strength to handle life as it comes along to you. There is a powerful life lesson etched in this novel and I was quite happy to see it included.

Establishing herself as a stronghold in Children’s Lit:

Not since I showcased Carol Antoinette Peacock {Red Thread Sisters}, Jackie Gamber {the Leland Dragons series}, Hannah L. Clark {Uncovering Cobbogoth}, R.J. Palacio {Wonder}, Laura Stoddard {The Dreamosphere}, Nancy Lorenz {The Strength of Ballerinas}, Mandy Madson Voisin {Star of Deliverance} and my forthcoming showcases on behalf of the published works of Laura Resau have I settled into such a heart-warming style of a writer who is contributing such a positive mirth of stories for children, young adults, and the young at heart who appreciate soaking inside stories of how we start to awaken into ourselves whilst growing up. I appreciate their styles of story-telling (as well as the writers I spotlighted on my Children’s Lit page) as they convey such a breadth of story yet tell the tales in a way that not only uplifts the reader but helps to teach through the craft of story-telling — the benefit that I believe reading provides across the spectrum of literature itself.

Strykowski has established herself as a stronghold in Children’s Lit inasmuch as the other writers have given us the chance be introduced to characters we can respond too and stories we do not want to soon forget having read. I could even imagine her stories becoming family films, as they are light-hearted yet full of the lessons all children have to learn somewhere along the corridors of their growing years. The fact these stories are set in the 1970s doesn’t diminish their impact, and in fact, I think in many ways the impact is heightened. I know she has a few stories she is currently working on completing and I cannot wait to see what is released next!

One happenstance moment of a lightbulb going off for me was realising I had forgotten the story of Andre the seal had a foothold in Maine! It was quite clever how this bit of trivia was worked into a conversation between Craig and Amy!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com
Previously I shared my thoughts on:
“Call Me Amy” – where the story begins,…

Call Me Amy by Marcia Strykowski

This blog tour stop is courtesy of:
JKS Communications: A Literary Publicity Firm

Luminis Books Blog Tour with JKS Communications

 See what I will be hosting next with:

JKS Communications Literary Publicity Firm

By visiting my Bookish Events page!
I positively *love!* comments in the threads below each of my posts, and as CommentLuv only requires Email to leave a note for me I cannot wait to see what starts to populate below! Kindly know that I appreciate each thought you want to share with me and all the posts on my blog are open to new comments & commentary! Short or long, I appreciate the time you spent to leave behind a note of your visit! Return again soon!

{SOURCES: The tour badge was provided by JKS Communications and used with permission. Book Cover Art for “Call Me Amy” & “Amy’s Choice”, Author Biography & Book Synopsis provided by the author Marcia Strykowski and used with permission. The book trailer for “Call Me Amy” had either URL share links or coding which made it possible to embed this media portal to this post, and I thank them for the opportunity to share more about this novel and the author who penned it.Blog Tour badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets are embedded due to codes provided by Twitter.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.

The ‘live reading’ tweets I shared as I read & reviewed “Amy’s Choice”:

{ favourite & Re-tweet if inspired to share }

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Posted Tuesday, 7 October, 2014 by jorielov in 20th Century, Animals in Fiction & Non-Fiction, ARC | Galley Copy, Art, Blog Tour Host, Bullies and the Bullied, Children's Literature, Clever Turns of Phrase, Coming-Of Age, Family Life, Geographically Specific, JKS Communications: Literary Publicity Firm, Local Libraries | Research Libraries, Maine, Middle Grade Novel, Nature & Wildlife, Postal Mail | Letters & Correspondence, Rescue & Adoption of Animals, School Life & Situations, Siblings, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, The Natural World, The Seventies, Walking & Hiking Trails

+Book Review+ Getting Waisted: A Survival Guide to BEING FAT in a Society that LOVES THIN by Monica Parker (a comedic memoir)

Posted Wednesday, 28 May, 2014 by jorielov , , 0 Comments

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Getting Waisted by Monica Parker

Getting Waisted by Monica Parker

Published By: HCI Books () 1, April 2014
Official Author Websites Getting Waisted Site | Main Site | Twitter
Available Formats: Trade Paper
Page Count: 288

Converse via: #GettingWaisted

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Acquired Book By: Whilst attending #LitChat (@LitChat) a literary salon on Twitter where writers and readers come together to promote a healthy exchange of dialogue pertaining to books, we part company feeling better for the meeting. Conversations surround the book each author who visits #LitChat has recently published. On this particular day, #LitChat was not quite the experience I had expected as the tides turnt against its principles. The outcome for me was to seek out a way to contact the author personally to offer my condolences and apology for what she experienced in a forum of what had been up until that moment a joy-filled experience. I also contacted her publicist who found me via Twitter. I thus contacted #LitChat and due to the response from my enquiry I felt that in time I could return but I would remain vigilant and cautious if the same circumstances were to arise again. No one has the right to supersede the joy of people who come together for a literary conversation.

Out of my correspondences with Ms.  Parker & Ms. Chan, I was offered to receive a complimentary ARC copy of “Getting Waisted” direct from Ms. Parker’s literary publicist Darlene Chan (of Darlene Chan PR) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein. I likewise opted to Interview Ms. Parker as a follow-up Guest Post Feature.

My Interest in Getting Waisted:

I was originally interested in visiting with Ms. Parker via #LitChat, because the book caught my eye and attention when I saw she was an upcoming guest author during the weekly twitterverse chat. Specifically, because I have faced my own struggles with weight gain & weight loss, like most women who enter their twenties and then thirties, our bodies change and life can become more stressful than when we were younger. I have always maintained my happy spirit and found joy in the everyday irregardless of where I was in my weight loss, as part of what helps you lose the extra bits you no longer wish to keep is to keep your attitude positive. I was endeared to listen to her talk and share her own story as I liked how she was being honest and frank about her own experiences.

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Monica ParkerAuthor Biography:

Monica Parker (Los Angeles and Toronto) is an actor, writer and producer in theater, television and film; most notably she co-wrote All Dogs Go to Heaven. She was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, until the age of 13 when she immigrated with her parents to Toronto, Canada. Monica is currently starring in her insightful and funny one-woman show, Sex, Pies & a Few White Lies, which premiered in 2010. Monica has just completed two features already under option, and has a recurring role on Syfy’s “Defiance.” Monica lives with her longtime husband and saint, Gilles.

Synopsis of the Memoir:

Monica Parker bridges the divide between serial dieter’s guide and memoir, taking readers on a hilariously funny yet bumpy ride from chubby baby to chunky adult.

In Getting Waisted, Monica begins every chapter with a diet she committed to and reveals how much weight, money, and self-esteem she lost, and then how much weight she gained when she fell off the wagon. She shares her fears and frustrations – when Mr. Right appears out of thin air, will she run back to the catalogue of Mr. Wrongs out of fear? She reveals society’s prejudices against overweight people: “No one tells a short person to get taller, or a tall person to get shorter, but fat people hear about their bodies all the time.” From living large in a sub-zero world to jumping into the dating pool without causing a tidal wave of angst, Monica learns that when you stop buying what the “diet devils” are selling and start liking yourself, life is far more rewarding. Readers will laugh and cry as Monica realizes that while she thought it was her body that was in the way, it was actually what she kept in her head that needed adjusting.

Ultimately, Getting Waisted is an inspirational look at life through society’s warped fun-house mirror perspective, but Monica’s reflections tell the real tale: everyone is always under construction and we are all flawed, chipped and dented, but that doesn’t mean we’re not interested, vital and sexy.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Parker has written a no holds barred autobiographical memoir with poignant truths at every turn of her disclosure of how from her conception and birth to the present day she has learnt that the best way to feel empowered is through self-acceptance and radiance of joy. Her life is anything but typical as her half-siblings were kept distant due to World War II, whilst her parents were at odds with each other for most of her growing years. She lived in more countries than I have travelled to thus far, and her ability to transition and adapt to each new school, living environment, and work life is a nod to her strength of character. Yet, her life had darkness shading around the fringes of joy, as she did not get a nice entrance into the dating scene as most her age had enjoyed. In fact, whilst she was sharing the pain of what she lost in that moment of domestic violence, I felt the most emotional by far of what I had read up until that point.

Parker puts her heart in the ink and breathes a lifeblood into her words. She’s a straight-forward writer who tells you how she’s lived as much as how far she’s come from what she has survived. She’s a woman who has lived a heart-centered life, always striving to seek a foundation of love, joy, and happiness which were elusive to her as a child and young adult. Food became the filler for her emotional aches and anguished heart, but it was not only serving a replacement of what was absent, but as an extension of hiding from facing hard truths which I think for anyone in her position would not have been something to face alone.

Bullied for her weight and appearance since she was in grade school, I understood how she felt on that level, as although I was bullied for other reasons, anyone who has gone through the teasing of their peers can sympathise with another who walked the same path. Bullies always think they are the smarter ones and the ones who deserve to reign superior to others simply because the people they are bullying are different. A bit more creative and the out-of-the-box thinkers who challenge the bullies to realise they do not know everything they presume. And, perhaps that is the problem. Bullies are the ones who feel inferior because they cannot accept that someone whose perception has a creative bent might understand what they cannot conceptualise. However the case may be, I personally attempt to highlight books in all walks of literature which knit together dialogue on the bullies and the bullied. To help encourage the trend to end and to let all children grow up without the heartache Parker and I knew ourselves.

As you move forward in her memoir you start to see how the butterfly emerges and takes a grace note of confidence as her wings start to catch under her and guide her forward. I enjoyed reading about her trials, her tribulations, and her muddled path towards sorting out life and how she wanted to elect to face what would come along. She takes a crisp look at everything in her past, and paints a strong visual image of a woman who was in the process of knowing who she was all along. She doesn’t apologise for her frankness (nor should she), and she has this quirky sense of humour stitched into the fabric of her memories. Her own rhythm is set to humour, and she never fails within the chapters to get you a tickling of your funny-bone whilst at the same time endearing your heartstrings. She finds a balance between what she had to overcome and what she enjoyed experiencing as she lived.

I greatly appreciated the chapters where Gilles starts to come forward, as I denoted that he was a catalyst of change for her all the way around. Gilles was able to see her in a way that others had not previously, and it was through their growing admiration and love to be with each other that warmed my heart! She was finding true happiness in such a beautiful way that it was a joy to read their journey towards their union. I especially thought it was wicked that she kept in bits and bobbles of their differences. Between her Scottish roots and his French, as there were moments of great folly to be read.

Getting Waisted is an honest memoir from a woman who is fearlessly confident and has such a warm spirit that you can read her essence straight off the page! I appreciated spending time with her, and getting to see how the avenues fused together for her to welcome in motherhood and the next chapters she would pursue. Start to finish, I would have to lament that the first half is more dramatic and the second half is where the cocoon is shed and she is free to fly. I am so very thankful to have had the honour of reading her story, because her story is everywoman’s story on the level that we each have to resolve our own body image in a way that celebrates our individual self-confidence.

A notation on why there is not a Fly in the Ointment attached here:

Being that Ms. Parker is a stand-up comic and a full-fledged comedienne, I already knew that on some level she might have a more colourful way of reflecting on certain parts of her life as much as how she elected to present the stories or antidotes of her past. Therefore, I did mark off there are instances of ‘vulgarity in literature’ inside this book, but I did not go as far to say that that would prevent me from reading her memoir, as foresaid, I understood the writer a bit before I picked up the book on the level that most comics have strong inflictions in how they communicate their humour as much as their personal stories.

Personally, this is one I have the hardest time sorting out which comic to watch as I tend to be aligned with the comics of the past (think Dean Martin’s Roasts era OR Lucille Ball) where the flavourings were clean and the language was not as strong as it was whilst I grew up in the 1980s. At least it was not a contribution to the skits, the roasts, or the set-ups in the routines. I have many fond memories of “I Love Lucy” right alongside “The Carol Burnett Show”, as Dean Martin followed suit lateron. I did want to share one of the reader’s observations of her book, as I grew up on his comedy in motion pictures being a child bourne on the cusp of one decade in exchange for another (1970s/1980s):

My dear friend Monica Parker, the hilarious humourist, Mother hen to me, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’ Hara, John Candy – all of us when we started out in Toronto, has written a book about truly finding yourself, being content with who you are and developing an enduring sense of self-esteem.

by Dan Aykroyd {quoted from the Press Kit}

I grew up knowing of Gilda Radner, but along with Mr. Aykroyd, I was always fond of Catherine O’ Hara & John Candy. I am not in the habit of publishing outside reviews and opinions when I compose my own thoughts on the books I read on Jorie Loves A Story, but in this one instance (and there could be others in the future) I felt it was kismet to discover that part of my own living past is inter-connected a bit with Ms. Parker’s. The actors and comics mentioned are not merely names on a page, but honest to goodness people I grew up watching on camera! They had the ability to make me laugh as much as they emoted out such a strong carriage of emotion to make me cry. Their depth of range never left me, and I to this day celebrate what they left behind as legacies in motion picture. I also know their work in film is only one-half of what they gave of their art, but for me, it is the portal in which I knew them.

I am going to conclude this review with a tweet that is a full summary of the heart message of Getting Waisted:

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

{SOURCES: Author photograph, Author Biography, Book Synopsis, Quote by Dan Aykroyd and Book Cover were provided by Darlene Chan PR and were used by permission. Book Review badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Post dividers & My Thoughts badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • Go Indie
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Posted Wednesday, 28 May, 2014 by jorielov in Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookish Discussions, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Diet Weight & Body Image, Diets & Dieting, Indie Author, Journal, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Vignettes of Real Life, Vulgarity in Literature, Weight Loss, Women's Health

+Blog Book Tour+ Seeing Green by Annabel Hertz Whilst engaged in the dialogue of #ThinkGreen & #EnvironmentalAdvocacy

Posted Thursday, 1 May, 2014 by jorielov , , 0 Comments

Parajunkee Designs

Seeing Green by Annabel Hertz

Seeing Green Virtual Book Tour with JKS Communications

Published By: Self-Published, 15 April, 2014
Official Author Websites: Twitter | Facebook
Available Formats: Softcover
Page Count: 223

Converse on Twitter: #AnnabelHertz

Top Green Tags: #ThinkGreen, #ecofriendly, #greenpublishing, #sustainability

As much as I loved using: #EarthDay2014 & #EarthDay !!

Will be using: #EarthDayEveryday

Others include: #environment, #GoGreen, #Upcycle, #Recycle, #GreenGrowth

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Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Seeing Green” virtual book tour through JKS Communications: A Literary Publicity Firm. I received a complimentary copy of the book direct from JKS Communications, in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comInspiring Speech on behalf of the Earth Summit of 1992:

Severn Cullis-Suzuki at Rio Summit 1992 via We Canada

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Book Synopsis:Seeing Green by Annabel Hertz

Drawing on clever social commentary and her own experience in the political realm, author Annabel Hertz will get readers “Seeing Green” in no time.

Her new book “Seeing Green” (April 15, 2014) steps into the world of cutthroat politics and environmental policy as seen through the eyes of a young multicultural woman whose personal life seems to parallel her professional life as an activist on the front-lines of Washington D.C. in the ’90s. Never afraid to articulate her personal convictions, Hertz’s modern day heroine is strong and profound, yet humorous and relatable.

Author Biography:

Annabel Hertz“Seeing Green” is Hertz’s first endeavor in historical fiction, much like the protagonist she introduces in “Seeing Green,” Hertz has delved into the world of politics with organizations involved in international relations and sustainable development. More recently, she served as a policy consultant, adjunct professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations and Global Governance Fellow at the World Economic Forum.

“Seeing Green” is Hertz’s debut novel. She holds master’s degrees from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and San Francisco State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree from the University of California where she studied politics. Hertz is currently pursuing a doctorate in international relations at American University in Washington D.C.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comMy thoughts on Environmental Concerns:

I do have a conscience heart for the environment which is why Seeing Green appeals to me! Ever since 5th grade (1989-90) as on take your parent to school day one of my classmates Dad came in to talk about environmental science, preservation, and activism! Combined with seeing Medicine Man that same year, you could say I was a natural environmental advocate! My early experience in getting into the dialogue of environmental concerns and progressive thoughts towards action, responsibility, and response has endeared me to the topic for life. It is a lot of motivation for a ten year old in other words! I have even seen my environmental heart bleed into my writing life, as most of the stories I write organically have a flowing stream of conscience interwoven into the on-going conversation on how best to conserve, preserve, reduce, recycle, and sustain our natural resources as much as the natural environment of the Earth’s ecosystem which sits quite fragile in the wake of our advances.

Previously, I hosted Sandra Leesmith (author of “Love’s Promises” which is an upcoming book review outside of her official blog tour) during a Cover Reveal post to help alert the word to readers of her next novel’s release. I appreciate taking part in these projects for authors as I am not only an advocate for certain causes but I am a true blue bookcheerleader to the level that if there is a book I feel passionately about I am quite eager to champion its cause on my blog! Ms. Leesmith returned to Jorie Loves A Story for an Author Interview which knitted together into a conjoined conversation about the environment and my own personal thoughts about green-minded publishing practices and the dedication of those in the industry who are already taking strides to green our books!

Regular readers, subscribers, and visitors of Jorie Loves A Story will start to see more blog posts dedicated to this vein of dialogue, thought, and supposition as it is a personal passion of mine as a reader, a book blogger, a patron of public libraries, and a citizen of Earth. There are already sub-focuses in place threaded into the heart of my blog (i.e. adoption stories in fiction, Children’s Literature, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Classical Literature, Inspirational Fiction Authors, etc) however this will evolve and turn into a new resource in my blog’s sidebar as I compile the links I am uncovering to help spread the word and empower readers, writers, and other enthused supporters of green-minded practices inside the publishing industry. You will also start to denote a new ‘category’ attached to my book reviews which will be “The Ecological Factor” which will give credence of recognition for books printed by green methods and/or produced with sustainability practices.

Likewise, before my blog’s official first birthday on 6th of August, 2014 I am hopeful to not only flesh out my sidebar to include more links than it already contains, but to keep them updated for bookish events stateside, throughout the Canadian Provinces, and around the world as I find the events which pique my own interest to attend if I were able to do so. I always encourage readers to contact me if they know of a link which would befit inclusion in my sidebar by either leaving me a blog comment on a post OR through using my Contact Form under “My Bookish Life“.

Jorie Loves A Story is truly a work-in-progress and as I grow in knowledge so too will my bookish blog! Always remember to scout out a sighting for “Related Articles” at the bottom of my posts as those are hand-selected by me, viewed & read prior to inclusion and are knitted to the topic or subject at hand. Each top menu of my blog has a supporting page (except for “Stories” as I swapped out “Home” for a word more relevant! although, if you hover you will find categories of ‘stories’ to click-over too!) as well as drop-down supporting categories to easily guide you on your way through my blog! Clouds for topics, subjects, genres, authors, and publishers are located in the lower portion of my sidebar for convenience.

As I expand into more topics on the environment I look forward to the ensuing conversations left in the comment threads and/or in tweets on Twitter! I am always humbled and grateful for each person who takes a moment to contact me and to extend the joy of what is being shared and discussed. My plan is also to seek out pro-positive and honest stories both in fiction and non-fiction which have an under-thread of environmental science or green-minded practices to help paint a positive light on a subject that is too oft-times controversial. Thank you for always being open to take the journey with me!

My Review of Seeing Green:

As I began the story inside Seeing Green, my mind instantly propelled me backwards into my own childhood’s eye of knowing fully the importance of Earth Summits and the ability to have world leaders openly discuss and talk about a pro-positive future for saving the environment as much as endeavouring to harness practices which will not continue to forsake natural resources. As a young girl I could see the fragility of the Earth simply by observation of the natural world outside the confines of my everyday wanderings. There are examples of the harshness humans can inflict on nature and on natural resources if you bend your eyes, heart, and mind towards viewing the natural environment through the eyes of those who inhabit the world outside our civilised cities and townes. The ecological ramifications are deeper than any of us could hope to emphatically understand yet within the hope of what we can achieve lies the greatest surge to rectify our mistakes and champion the wisdom from what we have learnt in their wake.

I should not have smirked in acknowledgement of a behest of disillusioned frustration towards America’s inability to take the bull by the horns on the global stage to initiate environmental protocols, but how could I not smirk? Herein the smirk refers to growing up in a country bent towards change but hindered by the ability to make change happen in a way that is not only feasible but truly with the best intentions backed by the knowledge of how to properly put the right changes into action. A murmuring echo of a conversation I had with a German friend of mine and myself had around the Christmastide a few years back came startling back into focus as we had a rather hearty debate by how in the infancy of my country, her country had already triumphed such remarkable strides towards true green living practices such as a non-waste ordinance in cities to recycle all glass bottles – whether in the privacy of your house or out in the errands of your life. Recycle bins are as viable and visible as rubbish bins, which I could sympathise with as that was one of my dreams for my own future whilst living with the knowledge that progress takes a slower road towards the change she felt was second nature.

I had to nod in recognition of the fact that women’s fashion designs have completely jumped the rails as far as what a true woman’s figure actually can hold within its being! At 18, I was plumb aghast, appalled, and properly gobsmacked by how fashion had altered its perception of real women and real bodies, whilst attempting to compartmentalise all of us into a cookie-cutter blueprint which does not exist in the real world. I hope all women rock the creative out-of-box mentality I have done in seeking femininity in a world bent against the true essence of the woman divine.

I loved Arcani’s Aunt Lilian’s sense of knowing how to uplift her niece’s spirits even without knowing the full details of what stressed her to the brink of needing a cup of comfort and love. The novel is writ with a no nonsense approach of being true to self-identity as much as understanding ethnicity from a new perspective of a modern woman making her way in the worlds whilst holding onto the elements of what make her whole as a Native American. Owning her heritage and marvelling at how her sister Caroline would fail a test if asked of her Hopi roots.

Arcani herself is lit afire by an intense desire to help the Earth and to pull back the excessive need of humanity’s drive towards consumption and exploitation of viable natural resources. Through her eyes we are taken back to a near-future outlook in the 1990s where hope was a thin determined line towards socioeconomic change in a lack of green-minded initiation. She sees the world as a half empty glass of exhausted lost causes through the apathy and stagnation she observes by how everyday life and the errands therein function. Her anguish over knowing her heart’s calling and the inclination of obstinate opposition deflects her rage but reaffirms her grit in rising above the stacked challenges to make a difference in a world bent against anything changing at all.

Her reconnection to her parent’s origins and the roots of her history as a Hopi were explored as she returned to where her parents had once lived. By going back to find a semblance of what once was she started to reveal bits of her authentic self and in so doing, enabled her to move forward towards a future that would be decided on her terms; not on the wanton hopes of others. She even found a soothsayer whose wisdom painted a calming balm of grandfatherly love around her shoulders which was ached for as a connection of the heart. His guidance allowed her to see what was blocked to her before their encounter: at times when a blockage of progress cannot be released due to a conflict which is not easily resolved, one must seek the middle way of eclipsing the muddlement of stasis. Life provides us with an innate ability to determine our own fate whilst giving us the opportunity to impact the lives of those we endeavour to protect by changing the way in which we live today.

 

On how far we still have yet to go:

Extending out of my second paragraph of my review of Seeing Green, I wanted to empathsis that there are communities and towneships already riding on the wave of progress towards a viable augmentation of pro-ecological and environmental change. Communities which support the locovore and slow food movements to discourage the trucking of fresh fruit and veg outside of a window of 100 miles. Communities which ignite a fever of hope by helping make recycling resources available to everyone either by curbside pick-up bins or by implementing the recycling bins at key sites in close proximity to where neighbourhoods can commute. Rainwater collection bins on the outside of homes are replacing the excessive use of water tapped from city or county water lines as residents find new ways to adapt to water shortages whilst enabling them freedom to water more often for their personal needs.

Homeless shelters and missions are implementing self-sustaining practices by growing tracts of organic and/or non-chemical crops to not only feed their own but to outsource the surplus to gain back a living wage to those in need of it most. Community co-ops for health food, local produce, and local / state made products are sprouting up to take place of national green-grocers who cannot always serve the locality sector as well or with as many benefits to local trade and commerce. Local forest and park officers are finding non-chemical ways of treating insect pests and protecting local water resources such as lake, stream, river, and estuaries from being cross-contaminated. Solar powered rubbish and recycle bins are being inserted around downtown centers of business to help encourage pedestrians to pitch wiser and with a green heart in mind.

Certain restaurants and eateries are backing away from using takeaway containers which have no recycle or reusable value to them by implementing the use of those that can be turnt back in for a second use. Electric car recharging stations are being sourced and built to give hybrid or full electric car drivers a place to ‘fill their tank’ around county or city buildings. It is easier to compost and reuse kitchen waste than it was say twenty years ago, as much as finding green friendly building supplies, personal hygiene products, house cleaning products, and every imaginable ‘product’ that a person could use in their everyday life.

There are a myriad of changes occurring right now in all our local communities both known or unknown which are creating positive strides towards a better tomorrow. All change is codependent on our own ability to implement the changes we can in our own lives which in effect inspire others to do the same. The ones that I have shared are either in place in my local community and/or are in place in communities around the nation in which I personally know of being practiced.

Yet, despite this turning tide perspective of how far we have come, there is still a heap of work left to do towards creating a greener space for all of us to thrive and build a stronger future for everyone yet bourne. We have to stay resilient and mindful of new ways in which to sustain ourselves and our local communities, not only for food but for water. We have to continue to think outside the box, and find ways to help our neighbours and those in our community who need our assistance. It came be as simple as giving a person a ride who cannot find one otherwise to taking someone to the local farmer’s market to source local produce. It is by finding ways to have local plots available for residents to keep herbs and veg for their own needs as much as finding ways to keep our footprint a bit lighter as we walk through our journey.

We have to be respectful of how far we have come but not to become stagnant and believe that is all we can achieve. It is to keep the dialogue in motion and by instilling the proper hope and belief to everyone coming up behind us that change is a living entity that resides in each of us. Each person can effectively change one singular act of environmental conservation and preservation.

And, this book blogger in particular is encouraged by seeing print books becoming greener with each year non-old growth forest paper is sourced, veg & soy inks are replacing harsher chemicals, and the bindings of books is created using materials which do not destroy more than what we can replace in a kinder more renewing way towards sustainability. Some might advocate for less print books, but for each person who reads electronically may they realise that not every reader can read on a digitalised screen and those of us who read strictly in print format are championing the printers and publishers who are leading the charge for a greener world of literature!

Fly in the Ointment:

I do believe I caught a copy-edit error on page 17, as there is mention of a 2002 model of a car when I believe we were still in the present year of 1992? Normally I shake off a copy-edit error, but in this instance it threw me for a bit of a loop except the rest of the paragraph was most decidedly not taking place in 2002!

Elsewhere I found the minor inclusions of vulgarity to be a bit tame until of course the worst word I think that is oft used too readily for my particular tastes made its first appearance on page 18. As outlined in previous ‘Fly in the Ointments’ I am not one who condones the use of vulgarity to the level of extensiveness as some novels have the tendency of doing. One exception to this preference of mine was ‘Etched On Me‘ which is in a different category altogether in of its own. I transcended the language barrier by finding myself intrigued by Arcani as a character and as a woman struggling to find her feet in environmental advocacy and activism. Her character’s spirit shines strong and is one character I found myself overlooking using words which inwardly make me cringe.

I was a bit puzzled by how a novel written about the environment did not include any disclosure or stamp of sustainable print sources for the paper or for the production of the book. In fact, I nearly felt I had received an ARC except that there isn’t a disclaimer towards this end anywhere I could find inside the book or outside of it. I claimed this as a ‘self-published’ novel due to the fact the only markings of how it exists is the copyright notice (simply a statement of year) and a brief biography of Annabel Hertz on the last page of the novel itself. It is the very first novel I have ever picked up which does not list a Library of Congress listing nor does it have anything between the cover page and the author’s biography except the text of the story itself. It is a bare bones edition which intrigued me to say the least.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Severn Cullis-Suzuki returns to Rio 20 years after stopping the world via Green Cross

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comThis book review is courtesy of:

Seeing Green Virtual Book Tour with JKS Communications

Be sure to scope out my Bookish Upcoming Events

to mark your calendars!!

Tour stops I enjoyed for  “Seeing Green”:

Click the tour badge for a full listing!

More will be added here in coming days! As this blog tour is in-progress!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Seeing Green

Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

on 15th April, 2014

Format: Paperback

Pages: 223

Reader Interactive Question: I am most curious to hear what impression of environmental advocacy and/or environmental protection you grew up with during your own generation inasmuch to see your thoughts on eco-friendly innovations in the comment threads. I welcome the conversation to take on its own thread of interest and to keep a green-minded forum of open exchange on various posts as I move forward with environmental focused book reviews and blog posts. I was a bit surprised by how much I have to share on my own behalf, but I sometimes note that there are certain books whose topic of focus re-fuel our own passions and give us a platform to express of thoughts and opinions. I’d be keen to learn which books (either fiction or non-fiction) on the topic at hand would be recommended for me to seek out to read next after my reading of “Seeing Green”!?

{SOURCES: Book cover for “Seeing Green”, author photograph of Annabel Hertz, author biography & book synopis (taken from the Press Kit) were provided by JKS Communications and used with permission. Severn Cullis-Suzuki lectures via We Canada & Green Cross had either URL share links or coding which made it possible to embed this media portal to this post, and I thank them for the opportunity to share more about this novel and the author who penned it. Blog Tour badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • Go Indie
Divider

Posted Thursday, 1 May, 2014 by jorielov in 21st Century, Blog Tour Host, Bookish Discussions, Bookish Films, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Earth Summit, Eco-Friendly, Ecology, Environmental Activism, Environmental Advocacy, Environmental Conscience, Environmental Science, Equality In Literature, Fly in the Ointment, Green Publishing, Green-Minded Publishers, Green-Minded Social Awareness, Indie Author, Interviews Related to Content of Novel, JKS Communications: Literary Publicity Firm, Judaism in Fiction, Native American Fiction, Political Narrative & Modern Topics, Preservation, Social Change, Sustainability & Ecological Preservation, Sustainability Practices inside the Publishing Industry, Upcycle & Recycle Practices, Vulgarity in Literature, Yiddish Words & Phrases