Book Review: “Midnight Sun” by Jo Nesbo

8 September 2023

“How are we to start this story?”

Certainly not at the beginning since “Ulf” has just arrived, by bus, on the Finnmark peninsula in far northern Norway.

He is coming from the south…..Oslo, where he stole money from the biggest baddest drug dealer (who he was working for) in Oslo….the Fisherman.

Now Ulf is hiding from someone who always finds the people who have done him wrong, then makes an example out of them.

But for now…..Ulf is safe.

Meeting some of the Sami people of Finnmark, one of them, Mattis, suggests he can sleep in the church, which he does.

The next morning, Ulf is awakened by a 10 year old boy, Knut, who promptly tells him his mother, Lea, has to clean where he is sleeping.

Needing a place to stay, Lea tells Knut to take him to the cabin, where…..

“How does a story end?”

“Midnight Sun” is a continuation, of sort, of the previous book (“Blood on Snow”). It is a great read with lots of tension as Ulf awaits his destiny (fileted by the Fisherman?) while falling in love with two people.

Does it end happily?

To find out, you need to read the book! 🙂

Sneak Peek: Al Capone (a graphic novel) by Swann Meralli & Pierre-François Radi

Jocie McKade

7 September 2023

Al Capone by Swann Meralli & Pierre-François Radi

Based on truth, lies, myths, and rumors, this is the story of the greatest gangster of all time: Al Capone. Family man, community leader, industrious smuggler, or vicious killer? You decide.

Born into a poor Italian family in Brooklyn in 1899, little Alphonse didn’t have a lot of options, so he’d have to get creative in order to make a name for himself. A bit of cards, some enforcing, maybe a little protection are a great start. A man’s gotta provide for his family, capisce? But, when prohibition starts up in 1920, Al Capone will discover his golden ticket to untold fame and fortune.

Now, nobody’ll ever forget the name Capone.

“Many Paths: A Poet’s Journey Through Love, Death, and Wall Street” Memoir from Berkshire Global Advisors Founder, Bruce McEver

Jocie McKade

7 September 2023

Today Bruce McEver – entrepreneur, author, poet – released the audio book for Many Paths, his powerful and poignant memoir.

Many Paths tells a remarkable story of a successful life built on deeply-held values. It offers sage advice drawn from real-world triumphs despite difficulties & heartbreak; it reminds listeners that the project of life is not only self-realization, but learning to be humane in the face of tragedy. Many Paths is a proof, of sorts: kindness & dignity gifted generously & practiced often will uplift the soul & improve our communities.

It begins with the sudden loss of Bruce’s beloved wife, Georgia, on Christmas Eve, 2000. She was an opera singer who became his soulmate; an encourager who suggested that he take the leap and start his own company. He took her advice and launched Berkshire Global Advisers, a global firm celebrating its 40^th anniversary this fall. Many Paths chronicles McEver’s early life through his formative years inclusive of those dashing and exciting years while his company grew to prominence, bringing the listener into the heart of personal tragedy & bravely beyond–where do we go to find solace, what do we do to transcend being knocked down?

This is an inspiring memoir, a book to which McEver has given his heart, and applied all the wonderful craft that decades of writing poetry can bring to bear on one’s prose. It’s a book that hits all the notes, in whose pages live many kernels of truth about life & happiness, devastation & death, business & personal development, and philosophy & family. Many Paths will stick with you. It circles and gifts access to wisdom regarding the core questions of our time. The careful and conscientious among us will find this lovely narrative as enlightening as they do stirring. Narrated with gravitas, this audiobook will be a surefire favorite.

Chip Mason, Founder and former CEO of Legg Mason says “Bruce McEver’s story is proof that focus and discipline can accomplish anything. He has built a global and well-respected financial firm, become a published poet and established an unmatched legacy with his work to create better understanding among religions. His travels have taken him around the globe and back again. Yes, he has had his fair share of heartbreak and disappointment. But he has stayed the course and is finishing well. Many Paths, Bruce’s entertaining recounting of his life, is a must read for anyone who has high hopes and big dreams.”

Learn more about Bruce at: https://brucemcever.com/

Announcing the annual BOOKS LIKE US First Novel Contest from Atria Books

Jocie McKade

7 September 2023

Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is pleased to announce the launch of the third annual BOOKS LIKE US First Novel Contest. The aim of the contest is to facilitate access to the publishing process for writers from underrepresented groups, and to celebrate the diversity of readers across the United States. As the nation strives for progress, Atria Books and Simon & Schuster aim to help catalyze that change by amplifying voices that represent us, by publishing books like us,

The annual Books Like Us First Novel Contest is rotated among other Simon & Schuster’s adult imprints. Previous contests have been administered by the Gallery Books and Simon & Schuster imprints.

A two-week entry period will begin on Friday, September 29^th. At that time, writers are invited and encouraged to submit twenty-five pages of an original adult novel to https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/atria-first-novel. The publisher welcomes inclusive, entertaining, and ground-breaking reads with expert pacing, depth as well as heart, and irresistible characters who leap from the page. At the end of the submission period, the editorial, marketing, and publicity team at Atria Books, will review all submissions for originality, relevance to today’s publishing climate, and writing quality. In March 2024, the author of the selected novel will be awarded the opportunity to enter into a $50,000 book deal with Atria Books.

Full rules for the BOOKS LIKE US First Novel Contest from Atria Books can be reviewed at https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/atria-first-novel

Higher Ground and Audible Announce “Your Mama’s Kitchen”

Jocie McKade

6 September 2023

Audible and Higher Ground, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s media company, today announced Your Mama’s Kitchen: Conversations from the Heart of the Home, an Audible Original podcast hosted and executive produced by Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist Michele Norris. Each episode begins with a simple prompt: “Tell me about your mama’s kitchen.” New episodes will be released weekly; each of the episodes will be exclusively on Audible for two weeks, then available widely wherever podcasts are found. Guests include Kerry Washington, Gayle King, D-Nice, Matthew Broderick, Andy Garcia, W. Kamau Bell, Michael Pollan, José Andrés, Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach, and more.

On Your Mama’s Kitchen, Michele Norris and her guests will explore the complexities of family life and how their earliest culinary experiences helped shape their personal and professional lives. Each guest brings a recipe of a favorite dish from their youth, so listeners can taste a bit of their story. With a delicious buffet of actors, authors, chefs, musicians, and more, the rich conversations that flow from that initial, simple prompt reveal the histories, memories, and cultures that emerge from the kitchen. Your Mama’s Kitchen is a podcast about cuisine and culture, ingredients and identities, and the meals and memories that make us who we are.

“I have always wanted to do a podcast centered around the question: ‘Tell me about your mama’s kitchen,’” said Michele Norris. “That query cues up all kinds of interesting threads and because of that, this show is not just about food or standing at the stove. These conversations tap into emotion, identity, nostalgia, family dynamics and cultural tumult. The kitchen is where we have our loudest laughter and also our loudest arguments. It’s where the people we love best gather and lean on each other. It’s a space that shapes us in so many important ways and that is why that simple question — ‘Tell me about your mama’s kitchen’ — is such a delicious way to kick start a deep and revealing conversation.”

“Michele Norris brings both her sharp insight and her disarming candor to each conversation, creating an uplifting listening experience that connects us all through the universal memory of childhood kitchens,” said Rachel Ghiazza, Chief Content Officer at Audible. “Your Mama’s Kitchen is a natural follow to our first project with Higher Ground, Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, as it continues our shared goal of bringing listeners powerful and inspiring audio entertainment that elevates diverse voices and experiences. We hope Your Mama’s Kitchen will be the kind of show listeners want to recommend to the loved ones at their own kitchen table.”

“Your Mama’s Kitchen brilliantly utilizes the childhood kitchen as a window into the hearts, minds, and souls of beloved celebrities and thought leaders. As both an acclaimed journalist and seasoned podcast host, Michele understands how to genuinely connect with her fascinating guests and unearth profound insights from their culinary memories,” said Dan Fierman, Head of Audio at Higher Ground. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the incredible Audible team once again on another series that we believe will uplift, educate, and inspire.”

Episode Descriptions:

Episode 1 – August 16: Michelle Obama: On the very first episode of Your Mama’s Kitchen, we’re joined by former First Lady Michelle Obama. Mother, lawyer, and bestselling author of The Light We Carry and Becoming, Michelle talks about her beginnings growing up in a working-class family on the South Side of Chicago and the delicious red rice her mother made that reminds her of home.
Episode 2 – August 23 – Gayle King: Television titan Gayle King reflects on her and her mama’s tight-knit relationship including her upbringing in Turkey and then Maryland. Gayle famously doesn’t cook, but she shares not one… but TWO recipes with us: her mama’s traditional Mac & Cheese and her famous Thanksgiving Jell-O Dessert.
Episode 3 – August 30 – D-Nice: DJ and hip-hop legend D-Nice thinks back on his humble upbringing in the Bronx to his meteoric rise to fame with Boogie Down Productions. He opens up about how his kitchen became the birthplace of his award-winning virtual party, Club Quarantine, during the early pandemic. Michele helps him track down a cabbage recipe similar to the one his mother made for him.
Episode 4 – September 6 – Glennon Doyle & Abby Wambach: Author Glennon Doyle and retired US soccer player Abby Wambach had drastically different upbringings around the kitchen and food. They share how they’ve nonetheless found middle ground in their marriage. Abby shares her mama’s hearty Pasta for Thousands recipe, a beautiful mélange of pizza, pasta and lasagna.
Episode 5 – September 13 – José Andrés: Renowned chef, humanitarian and restauranteur José Andrés invites Michele into his Washington D.C. kitchen to cook his mother’s delicious Tomato Toast recipe. He reminisces on his picturesque childhood in the north of Spain and shares how his father’s paella taught him a valuable lesson about food and fire.

PODCAST:::Celtic Folklore meets Witchy Fantasy with Author KT Anglehart on Book Lights

Jocie McKade

6 September 2023

Celtic Folklore meets Witchy Fantasy with Author KT Anglehart on Book Lights

LISTEN HERE!

Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is an award-winning author from Montreal, with a multilingual prowess in English, French, Italian, and “Spanglish”. A dedicated academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

Inspired by the wizarding world, the land of Narnia, and parallel planes, she penned The Wise One, inviting readers to connect with nature and its ever-present magic. Her exploration of the landscapes and folklore of Ireland and Scotland greatly influenced her debut YA urban fantasy, marking the inception of The Scottish Scrolls series.

K.T. Anglehart is a passionate advocate for bunnies, thanks to her late Netherland Dwarf, Magic—the inspiration behind her imprint, The Magic Dwarf Press. When she’s not writing or diving into magical reads, she revels in hiking, antiquing, and Netflix binges alongside her high school-sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy. They currently live in Toronto with their three pets: Nessie, a mysterious rescue dog from Puerto Rico, and their whimsical bunnies, Onyx and Stirling.

You can learn more at her website: https://www.ktanglehart.com/

And for more about our host Lisa Kessler visit http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Here’s a look at K.T.’s upcoming release THE TWIN FLAME:

Mckenna O’Dwyer knows she’s impulsive. Sometimes reckless. She also knows she’s a witch and keeps reincarnating as one, for reasons only her mother, Abby, can help her fully understand.

After weeks of searching, mother and daughter finally reunite—just like Elizabeth Dunlop’s prophecy states—and Abby is keen on helping Mckenna get a firm grasp on her abilities. She teaches her the proper way to channel elemental magic…but Mckenna soon discovers there’s a shortcut, something Cillian fully supports if it means getting quicker, more powerful results.

At first, Mckenna will do anything to thwart the High Priestess once and for all, before her powers are used to wipe out billions of souls. But the white horse Eachna’s devastating vision of Mother Nature continues to haunt her. Is that the future awaiting them if the Scottish Scrolls aren’t fulfilled?

Which is the lesser evil?

Enthralling, passionate, and with twists you won’t see coming, Mckenna’s magical education begins in book II of The Scottish Scrolls.

Behind The Scenes Guiding Emily Movie From the Bestselling Book by Barbara Hinske

Jocie McKade

6 September 2023

Behind The Scenes Guiding Emily Hallmark Movie From the Bestselling Book by Barbara Hinske

Movie airing Friday, September 8.

Guide Dog Graduation

Have you ever wondered about the making of a guide dog?

From the puppy raiser family of ten who had driven all the way from Texas to California, to the mother and daughter who had surrendered their twenty-fifth puppy, the room was filled with excitement as people waited for their star student to take the stage.

I was the first to arrive and selected a seat in the back. The large room was filled with chairs arranged in a semi-circle around a podium. I wanted to observe the graduates and watch the reactions of the crowd. Attending this ceremony was part of the research for my new book, Guiding Emily.

I had been told that the afternoon would be emotional and been asked if I’d brought tissues. I smiled and said “yes”, but I didn’t think I’d need them. The puppy raiser families would be sad to say a final goodbye to the dog they had spent a year or more loving and socializing. The handlers receiving their new guides would be happy.

I wasn’t prepared to witness the bonds of human connection that had been forged or the outpouring of selflessness, generosity, and compassion that defined every interaction.

When called to the podium, one of the veteran puppy raisers told the audience that she was able to perform this life-changing service by reminding herself that she had a puppy to love and not a dog to keep. I sniffled.

Another group told us that they’d been in constant contact with the handler who would be taking their puppy and now considered him part of their large, happy family. With plans made for the guide and handler to join them for Thanksgiving, we learned that these puppy raisers had “adopted” eight other handler/guide couples.

They saw each other on a regular basis. I pulled out a tissue and dabbed at my eyes.

Next up was the fifty-something technology giant executive who said that he was looking forward to going into his office with his new guide-that she would encourage people to talk to him and help him make friends at the office.

Had I ever avoided a blind co-worker in another department because I felt awkward and didn’t know what to say?

Had I ever considered how isolated that must have made the coworker feel?

I removed my glasses and patted away tears on my cheeks.

As the ceremony continued, I stopped observing and became enveloped by the wellspring of joy and love that permeated the room.

I left with a handbag full of soggy tissues and an uplifted heart.

ACTION-PACKED SCI-FI TRILOGY CONCLUDES WITH “JOYAMA VOL 3”

Jocie McKade

5 September 2023

Illustrator and comic artist Daniel Isles completes a trilogy of fast-paced action, mystery, and excitement in Joyama Volume 3. Built on a backdrop of futuristic architecture, eclectic characters, and a high-tech, cyberpunk-style world, the conclusion to Isles’ epic will shake the city of Joyama to its core!

After the death of Silas, Arwen met with Outrider leaders and requested to go undercover. To her, this was the best way to keep her loved ones safe. In her time off the grid, Arwen uncovered the truth, leading her to track and confront Black Cotton—not only to bring a sense of peace to Joyama, but to serve up a dish of cold, hard vengeance. With Ringo and the results of his intense training at her side, the epic final showdown begins!

Meanwhile, life for the common working-class residents of Joyama continues to pass by, regardless of the violence. Within these moments we connect with people from all walks of life, seeing an intimate side of Joyama through their eyes.

“From the first panel to the last, this journey has been quite the ride,” said creator Daniel Isles. “I am truly grateful and have experienced an unmentionable amount of fulfillment in creating Joyama. I hope you enjoy the exploration as much as I have enjoyed drawing for you. Much love!”

Finish the story when Joyama Volume 3 arrives in bookstores on May 21, 2024 and in comic book shops on May 22, 2024. Pre order the graphic novel from your local comic shops and bookstores, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble today for $19.99.

Praise for Daniel Isles:

“His unique world is filled with higher-evolved animals, telekinetic androids and dodgy boost-crews armed with futuristic weapons.” —HYPEBEAST

Dark Horse Comics

Behind The Words with Author Melody Carlson

Jocie McKade

5 September 2023

Today, we will be talking with author Melody Carlson about her latest release A ROYAL CHRISTMAS. Welcome Melody! First, give us a quick look at A Royal Christmas….

Adelaide Smith, a hardworking law student, is discovered to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the dying ruler of a small European principality. Her deceased mother never spoke of her absent father, but the puzzle pieces fit. Adelaide accepts the king’s invitation to visit and travels to Montovia during the Christmas season. Immediately befriended by Anton Balazs, Adelaide is swept into an old-fashioned world filled with family mysteries, royal jealousies, and the possibility of a fairy-tale romance.

What sets this Christmas story apart from the other novels you have written?

I’ve never written a Christmas novella about royals before. I enjoyed creating a fictional kingdom and country, as well as some different circumstances from my other novellas.

When you started writing this story, did you know how it would end for Adelaide?

I actually wasn’t sure how it would end. I had the same questions as Adelaide: Which way will this go? What will be for the best—for her as well as the kingdom?

This story is set in the fictional country of Montovia. How did you come up with the setting for your novel?

I was thinking of a tiny country like Liechtenstein or Luxembourg (where I spent a little time many years ago). I wanted something independent but with German influence. And since I live in the mountains, I thought that would be fun and picturesque.

What inspired the character growth in Adelaide’s mother?

We don’t really get to know Adelaide’s mother, Susan, too well since she is deceased, but Adelaide gets to know other facets of her mother as she explores her own heritage. She learns that Susan rejected wealth and title for principles and that she returned to nursing school in order to raise her child on her own, with no help from the paternal parent, who was wealthy.

What are some of the underlying themes in A Royal Christmas?

The challenges of a single parent, loss and grief, self-reliance, loyalty, friendship, and caring about those who are less fortunate.

Your books are well-known for their romance. Can you describe the romance that takes place in A Royal Christmas?

It’s complicated because Adelaide is a “foreigner” in a kingdom that perceives her as heir to the throne. Although she’s attracted to Anton Balazs, she isn’t sure she plans to remain in Montovia. What about her law career? Anton’s very involved in Montovian government, would he give that up for her? Will true love prevail all their challenges?

What do you hope readers will gain from reading A Royal Christmas?

As always, I hope they’ll be entertained and encouraged—and transported to another place. I hope it will put them in a Christmassy frame of mind of peace on earth and goodwill toward humankind.

Is this your first novel depicting royalty?

It’s my first adult novel with that theme. I self-published a pair of YA novels years ago that will rerelease later this year with WhiteFire. Those books are about twin princesses who face some interesting challenges—but they are more fairy-talelike stories.

What are you working on next?

I just finished next year’s novel (Spring 2024) called Just for the Summer. It’s about two women who are unhappy with their hotel management careers and decide to participate in a job swap that takes them to completely different places—a boutique city hotel traded for an old-fashioned fishing lodge. Fun!

Where can readers purchase a copy of A Royal Christmas?

Hopefully at their favorite bookstore (ask for it!) or online stores like BakerPublishingGroup.com, ChristianBook.com, Barnes&Noble.com, etc.

How can readers connect with you?
I’m on Facebook, and my website is MelodyCarlson.com. Or readers can email me at MelodyCarlsonBooks@Gmail.com.

Thank you, Melody for joining us today — which is also release day! Congratulations.

Readers:::: here’s quick look at A ROYAL CHRISTMAS:

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She’s been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she’s determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She’s understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king’s invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament–and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.

Sneak Peek: HEART OF SKULLS By Ashley Earley

Jocie McKade

5 September 2023

HEART OF SKULLS By Ashley Earley

When Scott Nelson first meets Natalie, all he can think about is slitting her throat. Until he realizes they share alarmingly similar homelives. Scott is an outcast with an abusive father, while Natalie is a punk with colorful hair and dreams of being an artist to avoid ever speaking to her family again.

Believing that distance from his father’s violent tendencies will relieve Scott of his own rage, he and Natalie do the only thing they can to break free of their abusive families: run away.

As soon as they pack up Natalie’s rusty Volkswagen in the middle of the night and begin their new lives, Scott’s gruesome cravings become harder to ignore. Blending in for the sake of a future with Natalie, Scott does his best to block out the violent thoughts fighting to take hold.

But he can only contain his murderous cravings for so long. After watching a stranger overdose at a party, Scott can’t deny his urges. From that night on, Scott’s hands are caked with the blood of young girls. Young girls who resemble Natalie …

A terrifying exploration of a killer’s mindset, debut author Ashley Earley compiles some of the world’s most notorious serial killers into one antagonist in an attempt to answer the age-old question of “are killers born or made?”

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