March’s Reads

Remember writers are readers first.

Here’s what I read in March.

Robin Reardon’s, A Question of Manhood

A brilliant balancing act! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this up to read, wondering if it would feel plastic and forced like too many novels featuring gay characters; or worse, if it would stray closer to erotica. I was delighted to find Robin Reardon, a masterful storyteller who needs no stereotypes or steamy scenes to keep the reader turning pages. It beautifully recreates early 1970s America, tired of war and struggling to navigate cultural changes while exploring the timeless question of what it means to be a man, not from the perspective of a marginalized character, but rather through the eyes of a straight young man grabbling with the knowledge that his older brother is gay.

Ursula K. Le Guin’s, Steering the Craft

Having no formal training as a creative writer, I welcomed the workshop format of this book. Le Quin offers sound advice, ample examples, and easy-to-follow, opening-ended exercises for any writer wanting to grow their skills. I did a quick read from start to finish to familiarize myself with Le Quin’s vision before beginning the exercises. After reading this book, it becomes abundantly clear that she is a reader first, forever immersing herself in the beauty of words. Her conspicuous love of language certainly fuels Le Quin’s ability to craft vibrant stories, like her Earthsea Trilogy. The most important thing I learned from Steering the Craft is to take the time to read, read, read!

Brandon Sanderson’s, Edgedancer

A must-read for any fan of Sanderson’s evolving saga about Roshar, this novella bridges books two and three of the Stormlight Archive to offer a first look at what the legendary heralds have been up to since betraying their oath at the end of the last desolation. The size and scope of the Stormlight Archive serves up a dizzying array of characters and settings, and this small book gives the reader a rare chance to stick with one character from the front cover to the back. This fast-paced story of a girl trying to outwit a dangerous assassin while navigating the end of the world is rife with ludicrous hilarity, showing Sanderson at his most playful.

What have you been reading? Let me know in the comments.

February’s Reads

Writers are readers first.

Here’s what I read this past month.

Beth Revis’s, Rebel Rising.

The movie Rogue One answered many questions concerning events surrounding the theft of the Death Star plans. The film did a good job exploring the character Jan Erso, so I picked this book up with some skepticism. How much more could we learn, I wondered. Revis didn’t disappoint, offering a touching story of the internal struggle Jyn Erso endures trying to understand her father’s actions while finding solid ground to plant her feet.

Neil Gaiman’s, The Neil Gaiman Reader.

What a joy to read! This book is chock full of pieces of Gaiman’s fiction documenting his evolution as an author from his beginnings to the immense commercial success Gaiman enjoys today. Gaiman’s unique blend of horror, myth, fantasy, and folklore shines through in each story.

William Struck Jr. and E. B. White’s, The Elements of Style.

I suspect almost anyone interested in creative writing has heard of this book. One could argue things like Grammarly make this book obsolete, but I couldn’t disagree more. A short read, but it explores so much more than grammar. I certainly intend to reference it again and again.

William Maxwell’s, So Long, See You Tomorrow.

A small town in Illinois confronts the ugly reality of murder in the 1920s. Part mystery as a young boy tries to make sense of what the adults around him do and say, but equally part memoir as the narrator, now an older adult, reexamining a way of life gone forever.

What have you been reading? Let me know in the comments.

January’s Books

Writers are readers first.

Right?

Hmm, I’ve posted those words before.

So why did I read so few books this past year?

Vowing 2023 will be different; I’ve faithfully set aside time to enjoy a good book daily.

Here’s what I read this past month.

Brandon Sanderson’s second book from The Starlight Archive, Words of Radiance.

(Yes, I know the picture above has the first book instead of the second. There’s a good reason! I have hooked my mother on this series, and she’s busily working through book two as I write this.)

Sanderson served up a refreshingly unique fantasy world. The magic is delightfully complex yet reader-friendly. He deftly juggles the large cast of characters. I loved the first book in this series, and this one is even better. I found all the reveals at the end of the book immensely satisfying. As an aspiring epic fantasy author, I learned so much about writing just by reading Sanderson’s work!

Jim Shepard’s, The Book of Aron.

I devoured this book quickly! Not an easy subject to explore, the story revolves around events in Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. Shepard excels at convincing us that even in the most horrific circumstances, it is possible to find integrity, dignity, and a love for humanity.

A. M. Leibowitz’s, Lower Education.

I know this author personally!!!! She came to my wedding! The story is essentially a mystery enveloped in a gay romance. I applaud her ability to fill her novel with delicious intrigue and rich characters in the mundane world of failing school districts, state education standards, and improvement plans. Leibowitz excels at crafting believable characters struggling to navigate love with all its complexities.

Stephen King’s, On Writing.

What a delightfully entertaining, candid description of life for many professional writers! King eases the reader into a potentially dry topic with a CV pulled directly from the life experiences he feels are responsible for making him the author he is today. Chock-full of helpful advice for any new writer, King’s book offers a glimpse under the hood at an engine responsible for over 65 novels.

What have you been reading? Let me know in the comments.

Gold for Indie Authors? Book Reviews!

When I’ve connected with a new book, I almost feel obligated to share a review. I suppose it’s only natural to want to share what one is excited about. But, as a new writer (nowhere near publishing anything yet), I am also beginning to understand how much time and effort it takes to craft a quality story. Once complete, the author sends their creation out into the world, praying others will also love and cherish it as they do. One of the best things we can do for our favorite indie authors is post reviews of their books. I encourage everyone else to do the same.

Book Review: Mother Portia by Nick Pipitone

Science fiction is rife with chilling stories concerning the inevitable emergence of self-aware artificial intelligence. Usually, the reader is confronted with a doomsday scenario, portraying an outmatched humanity battling for survival against its malevolent creation. Nick Pipitone’s novella, Mother Portia, takes a refreshingly different approach to explore what might happen when a supercomputer becomes sentient.

Pipitone imagines a promising future. After decades of teetering on the brink of self-annihilation, humanity’s salvation comes from a benevolent, all-knowing, artificial super-consciousness called Portia. Incredible scientific advances made possible with the help of this AI technology have solved the most pressing problems challenging the planet in the 21st century. But, the reader quickly discovers lurking behind this utopian façade is an enduring culture war fomenting a growing level of distrust, unrest, and acts of violence.

Leave it to humanity to take a good idea and mess it up! Most people happily abdicate power, ambition, and values in a mad rush to enjoy the new freedom Portia offers. There is no need to work. Advances in healthcare have eliminated disease, old age, and even the need for sleep. Life becomes nothing more than the pursuit of pleasure for most. But, not everyone agrees Portia has changed the world for the better. As one can imagine, the rampant rise in hedonistic behavior threatens to undermine the authority of institutions espousing traditional morality and family values. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that a new, increasingly popular cult has emerged dedicated to worshipping and communing with the new god of science, Portia. The world’s traditional faiths begin reeling from a rapid, seemingly irreversible decline in membership and relevancy.

Repulsed by the deification of Portia, members of various faiths have joined together to fight this common enemy. The result is the Collective, a loose alliance committed to ridding the world of artificial intelligence at all costs. It is quickly labeled a terrorist group. Mother Portia is a thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s inclination to use religion to justify even the most heinous acts of violence.

Azibo, a devout Christian, refuses to interact with Portia, leaving him isolated, living a meager existence on the fringes of society. He finds purpose though working as an informant for the Collective. When offered an opportunity to do more for the cause, Azibo is elated and ready to sacrifice everything. But, as in real life, he finds his beliefs challenged as he encounters a broad spectrum of other members of the faithful struggling to respond and adapt to this new world. He soon discovers the notion of truth is easily contorted by those eager to remain in power.

The story’s true antagonist is humanity’s inability to purge itself of hatred and intolerance driven by contrived differences. I appreciate how the author avoids making any overt judgment about the morality of creating artificial intelligence. Mother Portia is a thought-provoking exploration of how one man’s quest to destroy a hated enemy leads him to unexpected good fortune in the arms of what he fears the most.

Follow the links to download and read: Mother Portia by Nick Pipitone

Check out more of Nick Pipitone’s writing at his website: Fiction and Ideas

Wondering How to Achieve Your Dream? Read This Book!!!

The allure of any well-written story is its ability to inspire purposeful action. The perennially draw of such books lies in their ability to weave thought-provoking plots centered around relatable characters struggling to find meaning in life. Discerning one’s calling in life is difficult work. Immersive fiction can clear away the myriad of inane distractions in modern society, allowing one to contemplate fundamental truths better. Many of us have a favorite book we return to time and time for inspiration.

Upon reading, The Lord of the Rings, I found myself immediately drawn to Tolkien’s concept of immortals donning limited, material form to enter a corrupt, broken world in hopes of bolstering the forces of good against the rising tide of evil. The clarity of purpose Tolkien’s characters possess is compelling. As crazy as it sounds, I strive even in the most mundane ways to emulate Gandalf’s example. Of course, this leads me to wonder why I tend to turn to this work of fiction for guidance others typically seek from religion or philosophy. Reading fantasy and science fiction seems to inspire and guide my attempts to find small ways of bringing good into this world.

With an insane leap of faith, I recently quit a stable, unfulfilling job to start my own creative writing business. I sought to craft meaningful stories capable of rousing others to pursue their unique dreams and explore life’s meaning. Almost a year later, I find myself often filled with doubt, guilt, and struggling to make progress. Happily, fate seems to have sent help my way in the form of a non-fiction book of all things! But, this different approach was what this self-proclaimed sci-fi and fantasy geek needed.

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to conduct an advanced reading of Dr. Amanda Crowell’s book, Great Work: Do What Matters Most Without Sacrificing Everything Else. I tend to believe things usually happen for a reason. Consequently, I wasn’t surprised to find much-needed advice in this book.

Dr. Crowell’s book validated the worthiness of my wish to do something meaningful with my life. I learned fortifying levels of happiness and health supercharges unique, innate abilities promoting ever greater productivity. Being new to self-employment means I consistently find it difficult to decide how to allocate my time and effort effectively. Dr. Crowell presented a straightforward, effective method to refine my vision and break it down into timely goals.

Reading Dr. Crowell’s work exposed the internal, unproductive mindsets I’ve unknowingly harbored. Her self-deprecating tone, amusing stories, and “I’ve been there, too!” attitude have given me the confidence to begin challenging my inner demons. My outlook is changing, adapting to a new understanding of the importance of celebrating even the smallest of victories. Now, I try to remember mistakes are simply opportunities to grow.

This uniquely transformational book is perfect for those who dream big and yearn to realize the work we were born to do.

Please visit the book’s pre-order site at Barnes and Noble and take the time to explore Dr. Crowell’s website.

I am a firm believer in supporting fellow authors! Perhaps, in this post, I can connect someone else like me to this great book while also helping Dr. Crowell reach a wider audience.

Writers Are Readers First!

Taking the Time to Applaud and Celebrate Others!

As a new writer at the beginning of this journey into the creative process, I am fascinated with the new opportunities authors have with the advent of self-publishing platforms. One of the best things we can do as a writer is read, read, read (and read even more) content from our genre.

Below is a review of a recent book I enjoyed reading on my Amazon Kindle from author Kent Wayne (AKA Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha). Check it out!

A Door Into Evermoor (The Unbound Realm Book 1) by Kent Wayne

A Book Review

Two very different, competing desires drive an avid fantasy fiction reader’s decision to delve into a new book series. On the one hand, we all long to experience again the joy felt while reading a celebrated epic fantasy classic. Yet, we also choose to explore the work of new authors because we hope to encounter something fresh, unique, and unexpected. Kent Wayne endeavors valiantly to fulfill both of these needs with his first YA fantasy novel, A Door Into Evermoor.

The story introduces Jon, a college student struggling to find his life’s purpose. A bizarre chance encounter with a marine recruiter sets the young man onto the path of “something different.” The reader follows Jon into an alternate world comfortably familiar to fantasy fiction fans. But, Kent Wayne quickly surprises us while elucidating how Evermoor has recently fallen upon ill-times. A well-meaning wizard has created a vast network of magical forces, allowing instant communication and travel. Although initially used for the well-being of all, this magical technology lends itself to misuse and the rapid rise of hatred and tyranny. Sound familiar? If you read purely for escapism, fear not! There is plenty of arcane spell casting, sword-fighting, tavern brawling, pick-pocketing, and adventuring to satisfy any RPG enthusiast. The story’s tone alternates between light-hearted goofiness with frequent comical asides and moments of philosophical musing.

How the author attempts to draw parallels with actual current events does stand out. Anyone looking to contemplate the human condition playfully should read this novel. Kent Wayne follows a rich tradition of fantasy authors who use fiction to explore and better understand the world. This nascent epic series works both as a tale rendering the events of the quest to destroy evil and as a chronicle of personal growth. The Door to Evermoor subtly gently explores an individual’s fight to forge a uniquely meaningful life. The book’s more profound message argues misfortune results when a person resigns themselves to living a life full of monotonous routines, neglecting to exercise free will.

Support independent authors!!!

Just in case you missed it here’s link to book I just reviewed: A Door Into Evermoor (The Unbound Realm Book 1)