Uncaged Book Reviews

ISSUE 66 | July/August 2022

n o te fr o m t h e e d it o r

J

uly/August 2022 We have finally arrived at summer, and it’s been very welcome here in Wisconsin. It’s been a very trying and busy time in the past month. My mom has a cancerous tumor on her nose, called basal cell carcinoma. Because of her age, radiation treatments were our best bet. But these are daily treatments, so my time has been mostly spent taking her to appointments and doing the rest of the caregiver chores for the family. It’s now slowly coming down to the end of the treatments, so my time constraints will ease up and my mother is doing well. For right now, the Raven Awards are postponed. I’ll keep you informed of any information in the future.

contents FEATUREauthors 14

Nancy Thorne

24

Dan McDowell

62

Rose Wulf

80

Janis Daly

104

David Schein

118

Julie Gianelloni Connor

young adult fiction

thriller

paranormal romance

Uncaged will return with reviews in the next issue, but still enjoy reviews from Fang-Freakin-Tastic and Amy’s Bookshelf.

We will be continuing with the “Buy 2, Get 1” promotion we’ve been running, with some changes for 2022. The promotion will only be for Full Page Ads, so if you buy 2, you will get one free. No other advertising will be eligible. With the issues selling out advertising more frequently, this gives more opportunities for all in advertising in the magazine. It really does help from a marketing standpoint, to have an advertisment run three months in a row - to repeat in the readers mind. You don’t just see a commercial on TV one time and remember it, right? So we will continue to try and provide the best bang for your buck and get the most eyes we can on your work.

If you’d like to be a Feature Author, you can also fill out a form on the Reviews/Feature Info Page to request a Feature in 2021. Put in your top 3 choices and this is normally first come/first serve, but I do move around months to keep a good selection of genres in each issue. Soon I will also put up forms for Catch Up Features - these are for past feature authors that have a new book releasing, and we can do a shorter feature, and also a Short Story Submission form. Any author submitting an approved short story receives a full page ad in the same issue. The new form for Short Story Submissions has been added, and a Catch Up form will come next.

Enjoy the July/August 2022 issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Stay safe and healthy.

X cyrene 4| uncagedbooks.com

women’s historical fiction

non-fiction political humor

travel memoir

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 authors and their pets Feature Authors introduce you to 74 Uncaged’s their devoted writing buddies, and the devotion goes both ways.

fangfreakintastic 128

Elizabeth Dearl horror shorts

EXTRAfeatures 34

Peeling Layers of Me poetry

Kiki Leigh

40

The Life Series poetry

Robin Hosking

70

Oblivious Minds poetry

Aden Quick

90

The Dead and the Bizarre thriller

David A. Landry

112

Kidnapped in Jerusalem

SHOWcase 20 32 46 58 76 86 94 100 116 124

Don R. Vining Roshan Raj Rajamanickam Janet G. Sims John T. Winthrop Dr. Rachel Feinberg Miryam Holm Hjemas John M. Brewer H. Doyle Smith Elizabeth Hepburn Conner M.S. Basmeer

psychological fiction

Beatrice Cayzer

GUESTcolumns Everyone is a Horror Fan 54 Meg Hafdahl

4 Note from the Editor 7 Contributors|Partnerships Uncaged Reviews 146 FangFreakinTastic Reviews 150 Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

Uncaged on Instagram

98

Pushing Past Writer’s Block Jennifer Lieberman

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

5

Contributors | Partnerships

Follow Uncaged on Facebook

Paranormal lover’s rejoice. Uncaged review contributors.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

7

upcomingconventions Uncaged will watch for any cancelations or modifications for the 2022 season. Please watch their websites for information as the dates get closer.

Book Bonanza July 8–9, 2022; Grapevine, TX https://bookbonanzaevent.com/

Literary Love Savannah July 20–24, 2022; Savannah, GA https://www.facebook.com/literarylovesavannah/

Apollycon July 28–31, 2​ 022; Washington, D.C. https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/apollycon/

Orlando Reads Books August 25–27, 2022; Orlando, FL https://orlandoreadsbooks.com/

Sexy and Sassy Signing: Sinful Fairy Tales July 28–31, 2022; Norfolk, VA

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sass20-sinful-fairy-tales-weekendaffair-tickets-67925736707

8| uncagedbooks.com |

Romance GenreCon 2022 August 4-6, 2022;Kansas City, MO https://www.mymcpl.org/events/featured/romancegenrecon

To unravel their true fates, Rorik and Ragna must trust in the power of the wolf.

feature authors

Nancy Thorne

young adult | thriller

Dan McDowell

14 | UncagedBooks.com

Nancy

N

THORNE

ancy Thorne is an award-winning author inspired by the romance and courage of youth. Her most recent novel The Somewhere I See You Again was released June 2021 and is currently a finalist for the Dante Rossetti Award for Young Adult Fiction. Her short stories have appeared in The First Line Literary Journal, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Blake-Jones Revies, Two Sisters Publishing, The South Shore Review, and others.

Uncaged welcomes Nancy Thorne Welcome to Uncaged! I’ve read and reviewed your book (and loved it), The Somewhere I See You Again, can you tell readers more about the book?

Thank you so much for the compliment! I felt as though each page was stamped with my heart and soul when I wrote it.

The Somewhere I See You Again is set in 1971. It’s based on my experiences in high school when my best friend and I hitchhiked cross-country over two summers. The counterculture was at its height at the time, and we joined many other young people who hit the road to promote peace … and protest the ongoing Vietnam War. In The Somewhere I See You Again, Hannah’s poor family lives on the wrong side of town where her family struggles to survive. Her mother has leukemia and can no longer sew garments for others to make ends meet. Her father works as a gardener for wealthy families who live in the community of Burgess on the other side of a park that separates the poor from the rich like a barricade. Hannah decides that she must do

something to save her family from financial ruin. Including blackmail. Even if the target is the well-off former boyfriend of her goody-goody best friend, Stacy.

Except, he just moved to the West Coast, and now it’s up to Hannah to convince Stacy to hitchhike with her across the country to confront him.

Stacy has her own set of problems. It’s only been a year since her father’s death, but her mother has decided to marry a creep for the financial security he brings (he can’t keep his hands from accidently touching Stacy, unbeknownst to her mother).

The Somewhere I See You Again is an adventure filled with unique characters the girls meet on their journey, along with twists and turns, far too many to mention here, as you know.

What are you working on now that you can tell us about?

I’ve just finished writing a book titled Creature Boy and the Last Sideshow. It tells the story of a disabled teen, Davy, who in 1965 is given up by his Issue 66 | June/July 2022 | 15

| FEATURE AUTHOR | mother and taken to live with a family of sideshow performers who raise him as their own. But when child protection authorities discover that Davy was never legally adopted, they take him from his loving home and force him into a tough and secluded school for boys where he’s bullied. When he learns he will soon be forced to have surgery to make him appear normal, he plans his escape, taking with him his shy and orphaned roommate. It takes all his acrobatic skills as Creature Boy to survive the forest at night.

What is the most difficult scene for you to write?

What is the easiest?

16 | UncagedBooks.com

When I wrote The Somewhere I See You Again the most difficult scene was the bear attack. I wanted to write the mannerisms of the bear as accurately as possible. Subsequently, I spent a lot of time on research regarding grizzlies.

The easiest scene was when Hannah first stepped into the mansion in Burgess, her dream house. I easily pictured the grand entrance, winding staircase and ultramodern kitchen — all the things Hannah wished for her parents.

In my first book Victorian Town my favorite scene comes at the end when the main character narrates from the graveyard and struggles to make sense of things

| NANCY THORNE |

when not everything makes sense.

lives of the people they love.

Do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

This is an interesting question because I tend to favor each of my characters as they grow and develop their unique personalities. At some point during the writing my characters seem to come alive. Nurturing a character to me means letting their personalities thrive and not fight against how they change during the course of a story. The main reason I never totally plot out a storyline is because I’ve learned that characters can surprise me by taking the story in a different direction. I can’t say I have a favorite character although of course I relate to and empathize with some more than others.

In Victorian Town, my first novel, it was difficult to write about the main character when she had to decide what century she would live in permanently. Until then she’d been able to time hop. But by the end of the story, she has a family and best friend in the 21st century and a family and best friend in 1876, and it all comes down to the most important decision of her life – one that will alter the lives of everyone she loves.

How do you come up with the title of your books?

Normally a title comes to mind when I first begin to write a story or a novel. A literary agent I had the chance to speak with when I was writing Victorian Town told me that the title was too short. But to me it fit the story perfectly. Victorian Town is the name of a tourist attraction where the main character gets sucked back in time to 1876. Eventually she discovers she’s actually back in time and no longer in the tourist attraction. Then she discovers that she can time travel to solve a murder mystery in 1876 using modern sleuthing skills.

The title for The Somewhere I See You Again came to me simply. The focus of the story centers around the “somewhere” the characters are at any given moment, whether due to the war, or the rules of government, or because they’re attempting to improve their lives or the

When we first moved into our house, I’d spent much of my life thinking that I was meant to be a writer.

In grade school a teacher discouraged me from what she felt was a crazy notion. Back then, girls were expected to go into nursing or teaching.

The spare room in our house (where I’m typing this) was already wallpapered when we moved in. The pattern? Rows upon rows of books on shelves. It’s as if the universe was telling me to “Get in here and start doing what you were supposed to!” It’s been my writing room for the nine years I’ve been a fulltime author.

Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages?

Hmm, good question. I’d have to say that the plot normally comes first and then the characters. The year the story takes place, and the setting, are usually at the forefront of my mind when I begin.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I love to go on road trips. Getting away is instantly relaxing. At home, I walk the dogs along with my husband (we have a labrador and a corgi). I used to bake to relax but ended up eating far too many treats and had to curb that method of relaxation or my clothes wouldn’t fit for long.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

It would definitely be summer. I’m not a fan of winter although I enjoy cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. I love to swim and would stick with warm weather if I had to choose a particular season.

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

17

| FEATURE AUTHOR | Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

I’m always reading something. I read most nights before I go to sleep. My bedside table has a stack of books on it waiting for me to crack open. I read approximately one book every two weeks. I’m reading the classic novel Look Homeward Angel right now.

I prefer physical books, even the smell of them. I know there are others out there who love the scent of books. I have friends who listen to audiobooks and read eBooks, but I still prefer a physical book.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I would like to say to fans that I love hearing from them. Feedback is such an incredible motivation for writers who spend so much time alone pursuing their passion. It’s like, “Hey, I’m thrilled that you enjoyed my book! And I hope it stirred you emotionally. That was my goal.”

Stay Connected nancythorne.com The Somewhere I See You Again book recently won First Place in the Chanticleer’s 2021 International Book Award for Young Adult Fiction 18 | UncagedBooks.com

Enjoy an excerpt from The Somewhere I See You Again The Somewhere I See You Again Nancy Thorne Young Adult Fiction Hannah will resort to anything to save her mother’s life. Including blackmail. Even if the target is the former boyfriend of her goodygoody best friend, Stacy.

Except, he just moved to the West Coast, and now it’s up to Hannah to convince Stacy to hitchhike with her cross-country to confront him.

It’s 1971. Change is happening. And Hannah’s understanding of the world is about to be tested by those she encounters along the way, including a gorgeous draft dodger.

Someone is about to face a deathly experience. But it’s not Hannah’s mother.

Excerpt Expensive jeans and the newest styles of desert boots and sneakers shuffle in front of us. My eyes follow denim up to a zipper then to a pocket stuffed with a hand. A blue T-shirt with a Rolling Stones logo covers what appears to be a flabby abdomen. I gaze up at a face that distorts from my angle. The guy peers down. He’s not attractive, but not ugly either.

“You have the coolest hair,” he says to Stacy.

I’ve never considered Stacy’s hair cool to be honest.

Guess I’m just used to it. But looking at it now I can

| NANCY THORNE | see what he means. Far past her shoulders, it’s parted in the middle and each side gleams copper in the setting sun.

Stacy leans back and lifts her chin. “Um thanks. We live on the other side of the park.”

“You two from Slum Hill?” the short guy blurts.

“It’s Sloan Hill, “ I snarl.

He lets out a laugh. “Yeah, real near.”

He points to my dream house, and the robin’s egg blue convertible parked in the carport.

DON’T MISS THIS TITLE:

“Don’t mind him, he’s a dickhead,” says a scrawny guy, swiping at a thick head of hair too big for his body.

“You know someone around here?” the not attractive but not ugly asks.

“Nope.” I wonder the same about him. But he gazes at Stacy like he wants her to answer. Like I’m invisible.

“Your school the one being torn down?” he tries again.

Stacy does a hair flip. “Yep. We’ll be going to Carver this year.”

“Oh yeah? That’s our school.”

“What’s is like?” Stacy asks in her polite, doltish way.

“Are the teachers strict?”

“Depends on who you get. Some are cool. Some are assholes. It’s sure gonna be crowded this year.”

The group continues down the road in their boy-pack parade.

Except for him.

“I could grab the keys and give you a ride home if you want.” He brushes aside straight bangs. “It’s a long walk to Slum−I mean, Sloan Hill.”

“You live near here?” I ask.

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

19

Showcase

D

Don R.vining

on R. Vining has been an entrepreneur for over 45 years, a business owner for over 40 years, a pastor and a father for over 30 years, a husband for over 40 years, and now an author. He is the founding pastor of Intensive Care Ministries in Summerfield, Florida. A pastor and former youth minister, he has seen this concept of Christianity radically change lives, his own included. He and his family make their home in Belleview, Florida.

His Pain My Gain Don R. Vining Inspiration

Christ bled 7 times from His agonized prayer in Gethsemane to before His death in Golgotha. He deposited a trail of blood, redeeming man and covering the total plan of salvation in His blood. In Pastor Don R. Vining’s His Pain, My Gain, readers will witness and realize that with each distinct time He bled, He confronted and conquered every trial, situation and circumstance that people have faced or will ever face in their lives.

Given that Christ died for mankind 2 millennia ago, many don’t really think much about all that Christ suffered on man’s behalf. Many will avoid dwelling on the reality of Christ’s suffering, until the Easter season rolls around. People tend to skim over the facts of Calvary and move right on to His glorious resurrection. Though Easter is Christ’s absolute triumph over death, His suffering also has much to teach everyone. It provides the doorway to a deeper level and power in everyone’s spiritual journey.

In this book, the author shifts the readers’ focus from the mere facts of Christ’s suffering to the significance of His suffering. By gaining a true understanding of what His suffering meant, man can move into a deeper fellowship with Him. For those who are longing for a deeper walk with Christ, a better understanding

20 | UncagedBooks.com

of how His suffering 2,000 years ago can meet the needs today, then His Pain, My Gain can help.

For book order/s, you may reach Don at drvining@aol. com

= Book Excerpt = (Page 29) When we look at the reality of Christ’s suffering, most of us shut off mentally, because we’ve heard it so many times before. We think, okay, Christ was nailed to the cross, He bled, they placed Him in a tomb, and He rose on the third day-that’s it. But the real issue is that Christ bled seven different times, not only on His way to the cross, but at and on the cross. Have you ever gone through a problem and wondered, “Has God dealt with this before?” I submit to you that the Lord has dealt with and conquered every¬ thing that has and ever will touch your life.

The blood of Jesus is the primary theme that the Holy Spirit has for the church today. All power which flows to mankind with redeeming grace and glory flows because of the blood of Jesus. No confusion about the Savior’s person or His work can abide in an atmo¬sphere where the blood and the cross are taught in the light of God’s Word (Biblical Illustrator).

His Pain, My Gain: Transforming Power of the Blood

by Pastor Don R. Vining had been exhibited in 2022 London Book Fair on Apr 05, 2022 - Apr 07, 2022

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

21

SneakPeek

Joyce Mclean

Kenneth McKenzie Diary

Joyce McLean Historical Non-fiction After farming in Ontario, Canada, for over 20 years, Kenneth McKenzie, an immigrant from Inverness-shire, Scotland, travelled from Guelph, Ontario to Burnside, west of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, several times from 1867 to 1870, establishing one of the first farms in the area. This journal, Kenneth McKenzie Diary: 1869-1870, by his great-great granddaughter Joyce McLean, covers four of these trips, via the United States, and the work that went into establishing a home and farm at Burnside. This was at a crossroads in history with first a provisional government lead

by Louis Riel, and then the establishment of the Manitoba Government in 1870.

This book is available online and can be purchased at online bookstores: www.writersrepublic.com, www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com What’s the hardest thing about being an author?

The transcription of my great-great grandfather’s journal was not an easy task. It was written in pencil, sometimes faded, and with a style of writing of yesteryear, particularly capital letters, that was difficult to decipher. Moreover, the vocabulary, place names and people’s names of that era were not always familiar or easy to comprehend.

22 | UncagedBooks.com

What is the best thing about being an author?

It is gratifying to bring material to readers that they would not otherwise have encountered.

What book changed your life?

I have been an avid reader all my life, but no particular book comes to mind.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was motivated to record my great-great grandfather’s journal so that all family members could appreciate his contribution to history, and to preserve the details of that time in history for histo-ry buffs.

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

This is a day-to-day account by my ancestor of his travelling to and establishing a farm in West-ern Canada and his daily experiences in the 1870s.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally?

Some writers will have a natural flow to their writing, which will require only minor changes and editing; others will spend considerable time recrafting their initial draft and perfecting their work.

What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book?

I hope that readers will have an appreciation not only of the hardships of travel and life at that time in history, but also an admiration for the self-sufficiency of individuals of that era.

What books are currently in your to be read pile?

Tell the Bees that I am Gone – Diana Gabaldon State of Terror – Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny The Madness of Crowds – Louise Penny Peril – Bob Woodward & Robert Costa Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I hope that this book will inspire readers to learn more about the historical events mentioned in The Diary.

24 | UncagedBooks.com

Dan

D

Mcdowell

an McDowell is a husband and father by day and an author by night. The end result, chilling stories with gritty, real people facing unmistakable obstacles. With inspiration emerging from the best and worst of Dan’s nightmares, memories, and hyperactive imagination, he weaves tales of bizarre and intriguing proportions into a new stratosphere of descriptive writing that remains both distinct and thought provoking. He and his family reside in the San Antonio, TX, area.

Uncaged welcomes Dan McDowell

hair metal?

Welcome to Uncaged! Pool Man, the latest book in the A Nightmare in Riverton series will release in July. Can you tell readers more about the book and this series?

What is the most difficult scene for you to write?

What is the easiest?

It’s in a timeline (1991) concurrent with the book Oak Hollow and nine years after the events of Level Zero.

We see cameo appearances by the Oak Hollow Hotel and some repeat characters, but it is intended to be a stand-alone story in the same universe. High level summary, a one-armed pool man at the hotel loses his job when a dead body is found. All hope isn’t lost, though. Close friends and happenstance connections lead him to a bizarre game show and ultimately into a new job as high school janitor. Trouble is, the body count keeps going up, and he’s always the common denominator. The humor in Level Zero and Oak Hollow was there but perhaps more subtle, Pool Man’s is just blatant. It should appeal to those that enjoy dark humor and horror comedy. It still has those dramatic moments that hit you in the feels, but at the same time gives you moments to laugh. The book’s eccentric characters, situations, and scenarios will keep you guessing, page to page. Did I mention the protagonist has a knack for

The challenging scenes for me are often where feelings and emotions hit closer to home. You have trouble not writing an exaggerated version of your best or worst self or someone you know sometimes and then wondering when another gets a hold of it if they attribute it to reality or with another person.

But that’s fiction. Sometimes, it’s pure malarky, other times, it’s closer to the vest. Easier scenes for me are scenarios where the fantasy in a story runs from reality and allows the mind to escape for a bit.

Do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?

In this book, John Fatts, he’s the annoying uncle or boss we’ve all had, and in the case of this story, he is the protagonist’s supervisor. He’s the “Michael Scott” sort of character that tricks his way into a job but has an endearing quality to him, so despite all Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

25

| FEATURE AUTHOR | of his shortcomings, your curious his motivations.

I also find his anecdotal and prescriptive truths humorous. There’s a loyalty there despite the idiosyncrasies.

Dan at the Texas Frightmare Wee replica of the Texas Chainsaw Ma Wagon.

How do you come up with the title to your books?

Simple is more memorable… and it fits better on a book cover. My wife is a graphic artist and the cover designer for my Nightmare in Riverton novels. When we designed the cover for Level Zero, the clean look to it received a lot of good feedback and we wanted to keep a certain uniformity to the series and its covers. So, in the spirit of Pool Man’s predecessors, we’ve been limiting the book titles to two-word entries so they align well side-by-side.

It might sound superficial, but covers sell books, and word of mouth is also critical, so if you have a twelve- word book title and an indie author on a budget, it probably isn’t going to stick or come up at the watercooler. I feel like Stephen King and Dean Koontz must follow a similar rule as a good number of their books are in the one-and two-word title camp.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I am a Christian, and I like horror. People often associate the two as contrasting with one another, but some of the greatest horrors are in a spiritual dimension, are they not? I would rather be hopeful, cling to joys, and have purpose in this life and beyond. In the words of Billy Joel Armstrong, “I got no motivation,” otherwise.

Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages?

I think the characters come first. Then, it’s an exploration in character study and the incidents and events that happen around them. Everything else gets a lot more interesting that way.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

26 | UncagedBooks.com

Did you know you can eat a chicken fried steak or have some chili with some “old peppercorns” at the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house? Fantastic food at the Grand Central Café in Kingsland, Texas, an hour west of Austin.

ekend, van featured behind, a assacre (1974), a 1972 Ford Club

| DAN MCDOWELL | Quality time with my wife and children, traveling, and watching movies.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

Fall. I get tired of the heat quickly. We don’t get much of one here in South Texas. It’s either too hot or too cold. Idealistically, I’d enjoy more of one. Or to be located somewhere where the leaves change colors at the same time the temperature starts to get enjoyable (Late October/November time frame).

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

Dan made friends with Grandpa in the attic of the Grand Central Café while he waited on a table during his December 2021 visit.

Depends on the book. I own a Kindle, and read it semi-regularly, but there is something special about a physical copy that typically keeps me reading longer. My rule for audiobooks is typically limited to non-fiction titles but occasionally will splurge on a fictional work. Currently reading: Breakfast of Champions (Vonnegut), Sharp Objects (Flynn), and The Husband (Koontz).

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

Dream big, do good, and love well. Thanks for letting me distract you for a few hours and for trying an indie author for a spin.

Stay Connected

danmcdowell.org

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

27

| FEATURE AUTHOR |

Enjoy an excerpt from Pool Man Pool Man Dan McDowell Thriller Releases July 21

for cash.

In 1991, a mysterious death at The Oak Hollow Hotel disrupts the predictable life of longtime amputee and “Pool Man,” Greg Preakle, leaving him jobless and desperate

Resorting to participate on a bizarre, high risk game show to make ends meet, Greg struggles until a new job and obnoxious boss catapult a once mundane life into a bloody mess, unlocking new meaning to past tragedy and bad habits he wants nothing to do with. With intensity rising, curiosity leads him places he should never go.

Will he crack under the pressure?

Excerpt I pull my Ranger pickup into the Cove Ridge Trailer Park. There’s no masking the exploits here. Whether it’s shrieking, moaning, killing, singing, or screaming, we’ve got it all.

Beat-up cars going in and out, equipped with their latest fix. Kids on bicycles, inches away from being mowed down by the same vehicles.

Infidelities conveniently accomplished in a waterbed on the same singlewide floor plan two lots over, either direction. Pot-bellied men carrying glass bottles in paper sacks at dusk.

I’m not complaining, merely observing. To ask for anything more would take a move across 28 | UncagedBooks.com

town and double the salary. I’ve gotten used to this with time, but if I ever find my way out of here, I won’t hesitate. Trailer after trailer, side by side, packed tightly on lots so close I can stick my hand out the window, nudge the house next to me, and hope to God I don’t knock it from its crumbling cinder blocks.

Arriving home, I turn the engine off. The narrow drive-through lane has enough room for a single car and nothing more. I keep lot one-forty-three relatively tidy for a bachelor, but I can’t say the same for my neighbors. Joan on one-forty-two is a forty-something chain-smoking cat lover with an affinity for cheesy snacks from mail-order catalogs. She’s low maintenance, unmarried, and okay with that. Why she keeps rollers in her hair all day long, I’m unclear, but somehow it matches well with her bathrobe stained in cat piss.

Who am I to judge? I’m single, forty-something, and okay with it, too. I’ve never hated the idea of companionship. It’s just never been a thing for me. Times change, though. And, with that in mind, I guess I just have to ride the wave. Dave on one-forty-four is an entry-level taxidermist with more dead animals mounted to his walls than he knows what to do with and a beer drinking habit that leaves his six-by-six garden more full of crushed cans, beer branded collages, and bottle clinking windchimes than should be legal this side of the Mississippi.

As for the taxidermy, we’re not just talking about a couple of deer, racoons, or field mice. The guy does possums, dogs, and cats, too. Some commissioned pieces having been from the likes of Joan but remain unaccepted and unpaid. They just aren’t that great.

Don’t get me started. People do weird things to get by when they’re in a pinch. Dave’s been pinching it a while.

I grab a stubby Flitz beer from the fridge, plop down in my recliner, and turn on the TV. I’ve grown accustomed to the occasional roach that runs down my east wall, but I don’t care anymore. They never loiter, and it’s rare I’m fast enough before it slips out of sight

| DAN MCDOWELL | somewhere behind the wood paneling and the outer wall. There is one tonight, but I’m not getting up again.

Tonight’s feature, a seedy game show called Twisted Hacks on Channel 33. Most of the time, I change the station, but after seeing a dead man in the pool this morning, I’m a little jaded, maybe even numb, making trash TV a welcome distraction. The show’s distasteful, but I can’t help but watch. It’s locally produced, and there’s just something about the host’s pompous, devil may care attitude. Nearly every element of the unlikable guy is a faux exaggeration, and I’m sure the actor playing the character is bound to be tired of the ugly blonde wig and sunglasses by the end of each episode.

DON’T MISS THESE TITLES:

As for the setup on the program, it’s a simple two-camera game show with a lot of whimsical music, bright pastels, and spinning floors with three contestants rushing to answer a list of macabre questions, a timer counting them down to an unfortunate fate. There’s anonymity to the program, though. Each player wears a different colored motorcycle helmet with the visor down, and they’re only called by their first name. At the episode’s conclusion, scores are tallied, and each contestant receives their “Final Verdict” after a trip to the “Wheel of Doomsday”.

Castle Productions, the studio responsible for Twisted Hacks, is known around town as the alternative to homelessness. It’s something the producers regularly flaunt as if they’re doing something meaningful to pour into the lesser people of the community. Maybe they are. As for their other programs, there’s only two, a slasher of the week show called Freaky Fred, and a situational sketch comedy called Squirrels Chasing Rabbits. Even Dave has resorted to going on Twisted Hacks when he’s fallen on hard times. What he blew the money on, I couldn’t really say. Garbage in, garbage out.

As for me, I’m an ordinary guy with better things to do than sulk and feel sorry for myself. To do otherwise is unhealthy. I drift away for the night in my living room recliner. My bedroom’s only a place for momentary escape, never extended sleep.

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

29

authorjayciemandrell.com

Showcase

Roshan Raj rajamanickam Roshan Raj Rajamanickam is someone who has looked at their demons in the eye and struggled for a long time to fight them. He got thrown on another journey, one where he had to fight to make something meaningful around it. He is a recent college graduate who works in biological research, loves to cook, and writes poetry in his free time.

roshanrajrajamanickam.com Fire and Ice

Roshan Raj Rajamanickam Poetry For all those who have loved, lost, and loved again, these poetic expressions in heartrending verses are a beautiful fusion of all the emotions and thoughts experienced throughout their journey of loving and losing. Poet-author Roshan Raj Rajamanickam shares this tale of love, loss and hope, in his new book Fire and Ice: A Story Wrapped in Time, where he breaks down the emotions of the human mind, as they intensely capture the heart and leave it hostage. This is the story of someone who gave it his all, to find that things don’t always work out due to multiple reasons.

A tale of heartache, sorrow, loss, hope, and new beginnings, this book aims to give hope to people who are at a loss for words and are grieving, both a version of themselves and something that brought fulfillment to their lives. This is a story of new beginnings, finding the courage to lose oneself to find one’s self, and the process of 32 | UncagedBooks.com

rebuilding a stronger foundation within himself or herself. This book looks to bring out the depths of human emotions, bared raw, for the reader to experience and feel the plight of heartbreak, the struggle to move on, and the path to finding one’s true self.

The Break She tore me up like a wrapper for a present But little did she know how much she would resent Her choices that day severed an attachment How much longer must my heart go on To find its resting place and move on The journey never ends I know An ending, a beginning all in one show The Chase Late nights turned to mornings And coffees filled with smiles and laughter Hands intertwined we played in the sand Flying high I didn’t want to land I felt like I was on the clouds running

Joy and hope from my lungs was I humming The moonlight stroked my gentle ego Highlighting the things I’d have to forego To be replaced by two eyes shimmering in the sunlight With a beautiful person in my spotlight The Light The aches in me I cannot define A broken body in which my soul resides As the guilt and anger take the helm Like a fire burning the oil, a sense of overwhelm I must go on, as I’m slow to boil As the embers erupted the lightning in my heart I know what must be done to play my part I caught myself sleepwalking through time By memories that haunted this mind of mine I gave you my heart out on loan, But now, I am claiming it back, and making it my own Two sides of the same coin I thought But like Oil and water, their desires always fought Oh for what I do not know For the pain, suffering, regret, and burdens started to grow The world had shown me its cruel face once more I decided that I had to let the tears flow For feeling the emotion transcends you from feeling low And helps find the hope for a better tomorrow AUTHOR INTERVIEW What’s the hardest thing about being an author?

Finding the passion and courage to be the voice of your own story. It is definitely scary to showcase a more personal side of you to the world. Keeping up with your expectations from a project.

resonates with your creation. It is to touch someone’s life for the better and introduce them to your own world that lives in your imagination.

What inspired you to write this book?

My personal struggle and a way to portray an art. I have always admired poetry and wanted to emulate poets before me.

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

Words that are relatable and speak to the heart. A tale that many people can find solace in and resonate with.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally?

A little bit of both. The words flow naturally at times and sometimes I need to force myself to write something. It definitely takes work to create something.

What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book?

Life is a challenge of obstacles, with the power to succeed that lies within you. Find that power and you will become unstoppable in your endeavors.

What books are currently in your to be read pile?

The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Hope you like my book! I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

What is the best thing about being an author?

The satisfaction and feeling you get when someone Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

33

3-Page Special Promo

Kiki LEIGH

K

iki Leigh is thirty-five-year-old woman who has suffered with mental health issues for as long as she can remember. Every time she is crippled with anxiety, depression, and other misfortunes, she gets up, dusts herself off, and keeps keeping on. She has to. She can only help herself through the tough times and tribulations. It’s not easy, but nothing in life is. What doesn’t kill her makes her stronger! She does her best, and that’s all anyone can do!

Peeling Layers of Me Kiki Leigh Poetry Full of emotions and thoughts, her poetry is a reflection of her mind, heart and soul.

She brings readers into her fold, giving them a warm embrace through her poetic expressions.

Peelings Layers of Me is the second addition to her first book, Dandelions Are Me. This poem collection touches on mental health especially on her personal feelings and life experiences. It explores growth and self-reflection. Honestly, it captures feelings, emotions, heartfelt renditions that many can resonate with. Her poems are pure, raw, and heartfelt.

She hopes that through her poems, she can reach as many people as possible with her authenticity. She wants to let others know that they are not alone in what they are thinking and feeling.

Whatever sentiments they have and are experiencing, they should acknowledge that these are real and they have to go through them.

34 | UncagedBooks.com

Book Excerpts Pages 21, 37 and 38 Anxiety Comes and goes in waves feels like sometimes, it can last for days I feel that’s all there’s a rock pressing on my chest so heavy I can’t even take a proper breath.

Th e feeling of guilt as if I’ve done something horrible in fact I’ve done nothing at all.

I feel claustrophobic and like I’m suff ocating It’s so debilitating especially when I get it for no reason.

It’s like my subconscious is fi ghting my current reality.

I think to myself, Oh I hope this feeling goes away Even though sometimes it doesn’t last that long it feels like it’s an eternity.

I know others that suff er from this and it’s not just me heart racing, sweaty palms, red faces, racing thoughts don’t forget that huge rock it’s even hard to talk and verbalize how I feel, it’s unreal that’s the best I can do to describe how I feel when I go through these bouts of anxiety it’s scary when you go to fl ight or fi ght when you wake up in the middle of the night Sometimes, I can talk myself out of it sometimes I can’t it’s a horrible beast, is a tough one to beat.

Don’t Hate Don’t judge, don’t hate, don’t degrade.

Just because you don’t know doesn’t give you the right to the disrespect you show towards the world you can’t comprehend, can’t understand; doesn’t mean you go to put your input in your opinion to world you haven’t lived in.

Until the day comes you walk in my shoes, you’ve done all that I’ve done— until you’ve done the things I do and all that I’ve done, then and only then you can become someone that gives your opinion.

Because then youll have lived in and walked in my shoes, you’re guaranteed the same outlook, guaranteed your input would change— you would understand, you would comprehend, you’ll have a whole different perspective, and then you can appreciate where I’m coming from.

So don’t judge, don’t hate, don’t degrade, and don’t discriminate.

Just show love and support and care especially when you’re unaware of what people are going through.

Because who knows what he would say or do if it ever happened to you.

Stop the Stigma I used to be ashamed to say I had depression, bipolar anxiety, and borderline personality disorder and addiction issues.

It’s something I want to hide.

Now that I’m older and wiser, I realize why be ashamed of the sickness you can’t control?

Would you be ashamed if you got a brain injury from a fall? not at all saying is the same but certainly involve situation there’s no one to blame.

So there should be no shame.

But unfortunately, there’s still a stigma attached to mental health even though so many suffer from different aspects and

variations; the amount they do is actually breathtaking.

Whether it’s depression, anxiety, anorexia, bulimia, bipolar, schizophrenia, or mania— they are afraid to admit it or talk about it.

And that, my friend, is what’s keeping the stigma alive.

Most feel it’s a failure, so they want to hide.

Myself, I wear it like a badge of honor and with pride.

But I’m doing well and alive to tell the tale and, hopefully, help others in the process as well.

As you can tell, I’m passionate about this topic because it will forever be around to the end of time.

Th e stigma—we need to stop it, so let’s talk about it!

Author Interview What’s the hardest thing about being an author?

The hardest thing about being an author it’s being so raw authentic and truthful putting everything out there being so vulnerable to the world to see. Hoping there’s no judgement and there’s lessons to be learned. Also trying to articulate your thoughts from mind to paper and get getting the proper message across to your readers…

What is the best thing about being an author?

The best thing about being an author is knowing that it’s your experiences with world and sentiments that I could make someone else’s life more purposeful and understanding and making it clear knowing they are not alone. Talking about this openly inspires people to be more open. Which in the long run will hopefully stop the stigma or being more awareness

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

35

What inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me to write this book because I’ve struggled with mental health and addic-tion for as long as I can remember and I want the world to know that it’s not our faults it’s like any other injury or disease we can’t control it but we can do our best to manage it but I really want to stop the stigma of mental health because it’s nothing anybody should be ashamed of if anything it’s something to talk about and wear like a badge because if you can endure all this mental pain and come out on top that’s when you know that you’re not just a survivor your warrior.

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

My style of work is pure raw authentic truthful and humbling.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally?

I have been writing for a very long time since I was little but I feel like it came naturally to me I don’t feel like it’s something I have to practice but I do feel like I get better the more I write.

What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book?

The take-home lesson is you’re not alone keep fighting the big fight never give up there’s help out there in better times Lie ahead.

What books are currently in your to be read pile?

What’s in my book collection is currently a lot of self-help books and motivational books. Always striving to be my best self.

36 | UncagedBooks.com

Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Just because you have a mental illness doesn’t mean you can’t do things that people can do without a mental health it may be harder and it’s more of a struggle but in the end it’s more rewarding and more worth it because you do have this barrier in the way but that’s just what makes everybody stronger and that’s what made me want to prevail in my life knowing that despite my diagnosis I can be anything I want to be.

3-Page Special Promo

R

Robinhosking

obin Hosking is a Spiritually Intuitive Canadian born poet who is bringing forth a collection of interesting life-changing poems. The Life Series is her 4th book. She has also written three other award-winning poetry books: Seeing Life Poems of Empowerment and Self-Confidence, Living Life Poems and Reflections, and Loving Life Poems of Inspiration and Enlightenment.

robinhosking.com

The Life Series Robin Hosking Poetry In The Life Series, poet Robin Hosking reminds everyone that life is a fantastic gift that they are to share, learn, teach, and give, not just for themselves but to others as well. Life is precious and should never be squandered no matter how hard it gets at times; it is something to be cherished. That is why everyone needs to share, learn, teach, and give what they can when they can. No matter what happens to them in life, it happens for a reason; they can either wallow in self-pity or use those situations as teaching and learning lessons.

Life Begins You started out a little seed, and then you grew and 40 | UncagedBooks.com

grew so big That is when you knew it was time to leave and see the other side of the world you knew You traveled down a long, narrow tube. You wondered how long it would last because it hurt being in the tube.

Then you were out A light shone so brightly you could not see. There were strangers touching you. Then one with no mouth whacked you on the bum You started to yell and said, “What the hell this is no fun! I want to go back to the place I was safe!” As that thought crossed your mind, you were given to someone who seemed very kind As you lay within her arms, you realized she was your mother You thought to yourself, “it might not be so bad after all” Peace Is God’s Love Did God intend his world to be like this?

It is an important issue to be settled Why did we let it slip past our eyes for so long?

He gave his life as ransom, we can give our time to cure Grand blessings are very near…

We all have knowledge that is greatly needed, we can be the cure for our world’s pain Let us solve our difficulties with our love

He gave his life as ransom; we can give our time to cure Grand blessings are very near…

If we want them True Strength Strength is something you can not measure It is beyond physical It is beyond pleasure It lives deep inside your heart It makes you impregnable and immovable against anything wrong or corruptible The ones that have it are really great Strength is power and power is strength You live it and breathe it True strength comes from deep within true strength is innate, and you know it Loving Life Robin Hosking Poetry From poet-author Robin Hosking comes a heartfelt anthology of poems of inspiration and enlightenment in “Loving Life”. Through these verses, she reminds readers that everyone is born to love. People are never without love as love is a part of each one. She believes that if people love, they live; if people stop loving or turn away from the love offered to them, they die. Through the light of love, everyone will realize that love is something they don’t choose, because it’s already a part of them. Even when all they seem to see is doom and gloom, there love is.

A Plea From A Prince I felt your pain, I’ve felt your tears I heard your cries, I held you close, I stood by your side. I whispered to you, all will be well, I am here with you now. So, hold your head high, wipe your tears and continue on once more. You stood tall, sighed took a deep breath. Then you sniffled, wiped your tears, held your head high and confidently started walking on your way, with a smile on your face and a twinkle in your eyes. I stood there quietly watching with a tear in my eye and a smile on my face, for although you could not see me you heard my plea for you grace Loved You welcomed me into this world, you held me in your arms and promised to love me always We welcomed each other into our lives, we held hands and made a vow of everlasting love I was there to welcome him into this world, I touched his hand and promised to always show him love.

I was there when you left this world, I held your hand of unconditional love as you said goodbye You were there to greet me as I returned home, you welcomed me with your lovely smile and open loving arms, to receive me and guide me once again to our loving Heavenly Home.

What I Will Miss To see your face, our walks down to the lake just to complain Your laugh, your smile, and our little game Your sweet way of calling me auntie Our dancing, and your style Never having to say goodbye Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

41

I know you loved me, but I think I loved you more than you knew Living Life Robin Hosking Poetry Poet-author Robin Hosking is back with her second book of poems on Living Life. She expresses thoughts of love to inspire others, which is her poetry’s mission. As she embarked on the journey of this book, she was able to recall and ponder important life lessons from her mother, that have stayed with her throughout her life. Everyone’s purpose is to strive to be like the Living God, the Great Spirit, or their Higher Power. Everyone’s mission is to love. Everyone’s job is to forgive. It’s because of our choices that we are in the state that we are in.

Earth’s Blood Running water fast and slow Running water hot and cold Circulating all over the globe Lakes and streams rivers and oceans They can be raging and calm well powerful and strong It is also soothing and refreshing to everyone and everything it touches Water is more than what it appears Water is earth’s blood through it we are tied to the earth We are connected to her in a very deep powerful way We are the earth’s blood siblings as the water is the earth’s blood Her water is like our blood to us 42 | UncagedBooks.com

it is life-giving and makes us strong It is life and connects us all.

Sun Power Earth in peril-no one having a clue Living life as if everything is alright There is something that will cause damage and loss nobody wants to pay the cost I am the sun controlling earth with my magnetic pull Causing it to shift its orbit, pulling it closer and closer to me Heating its hot magma deep within as I heat the outside I will reach super nova The earth will eventually implode then explode It has been written so it shall be done The purification of this world has begun.

Misunderstood Bandit Wearing a mask, stalking the scene walking alone stealing what I need Others run when they see me, but I am more afraid of them than they are of me I walk in the shadows, hiding behind trees waiting for the darkness to bring me security My life is not easy, with nowhere to run Taking care of my little ones, knowing one time I might not return Full of dread I am scared out of my head Why do others treat me so?

I am really friendly and very curious you know Oh, who am I kidding, what is the sense, that is what humans do: Not trust So as the raccoon, I will take their lead, keep on fearing for my safety.

Seeing Life Robin Hosking Poetry Poet-author Robin Hosking invites you to see life through her poems of empowerment and self-confidence. Find the motivation you seek, in your journey through life, with these powerful verses.

These poems were originally created for comfort, inspiration, and empowering others in times of need.

By sharing them with friends, she discovered that these poems represent everyday life for all types of individuals. She’s ecstatic that people find comfort and pleasure in her poems. Often times, while she was sleeping, a thought or idea would express itself to her. Unable to ignore thoughts and feelings, she would take pen to paper.

A Country Shaken Who could do such a cowardly act?

To take those planes and crash them like that Who could not have a care for life?

Who would want to pay that ultimate price?

Heavenly Father knows who and he will deal with them justly too Keep the faith, help the weak, pray for the dead, and please forgive Yes, our country was shaken, now we’re awake, so let’s call on our greatest weapon (Heavenly Father) and not lose faith

the world IF JESUS CHRIST Could give his life to save our souls, the least we could do is forgive the sins of those we know I LOVE YOU this is true, not just for the holiday, but for the whole year through How Do I Tell You I Love You? How do I tell you I love you?

By always saying how kind you are—how thoughtful, how sharing, how trusting and caring. By saying you’re my life, my light, my world By saying how much I need you or by telling you I love you How do I show I love you?

By wanting to kiss you, hold you, and love you By being there when you want me to, by trying to please you and give you the world. By trying not to blame you or make you insecure How do you accept that I love you?

By closing your eyes and feeling deep inside of you the warmth, the joy, and the happiness of us I don’t want to abuse you I don’t want to use you I don’t what to confuse you I don’t what to refuse you I don’t want to lose you I do want to comfort you I do want to help you I do want to enlighten you I do want to love you I do want to keep you You’re all that I need in the four corners of the world, and I don’t need a damn thing more

Christmas Christmas is a day of joy and happiness, a time when everybody should forgive and forget It’s a time for peace, joy, and happiness throughout

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

43

Showcase

J

Janet G.sims

anet G. Sims of Eaton, Ohio, has published two children’s books, Cristy and Her Amazing Friends and Mark’s Big Surprise. She also wrote the romantic suspense novel The Man in the Dark Suit. She is a retired nurse.

Lacy Rose Gardenia Gets Her Bloom Janet G. Sims Romance

True Love Unexpectedly Crashing Down on Her Author weaves a silly romance novel on the highs and lows of true love.

From author Janet G. Sims comes a romantic love story with some highs and lows, and shows that people can find true love even when they aren’t looking for it. It’s a silly romance that makes readers laugh and show them that true love is out there, even when it comes crashing on impact.

Recent college graduate Lacy is running late for work because she forgot to set her her alarm. Then, the neighbor’s cat has climbed beneath the hood of her car since she forgot to put her car in the garage, 46 | UncagedBooks.com

and so the cat had to be removed. So she had to take the freeway to make up time. Finally, moving forward after getting stuck in a large traffic jam, Lacy was forced to slam on her brakes to miss hitting a puppy on the road, which caused the driver of the car behind her to run into the back of her car. And that’s when and how she met Jay. While exchanging information with him, the puppy climbs into her car and hides in the floor. When she finally arrives at her building, the man who rear-ended her bumps into her trying to get through the door to go to his office.

From that day on, her life began to change, as well as all her lifetime plans she has made for herself and Spence, her boyfriend since kindergarten. Lacy finds herself in some sticky situations and is faced with heart-wrenching decisions that have to be made. Which guy will she choose? Readers are about to find out as they follow a young woman at her first job and the choices she’s forced to make in this romantic tale of young love.

This book is available online and can be purchased at online bookstores.

Lacy Rose Gardenia Gets Her Bloom

by Janet G. Sims had been exhibited in 2022 London Book Fair

Issue 66 | June/July 2022 |

47

Everyone is a Horror Fan (They Just Don’t Know it Yet) Guest column by Meg Hafdahl

GUEST COLUMN Everyone is a Horror Fan (They Just Don’t Know it Yet)

by Meg Hafdahl

It became increasingly clear in my girlhood that not everyone shared my penchant for the dark and spooky. I watched slashers like Friday the 13th with wide eyes, rented any VHS with Vincent Price in it, and studied facts about serial killers.

“Why is your daughter so preoccupied with death?”

A coworker asked my father in the early ‘90’s. My parents had thrown a Halloween party for grownups and kids; Monster Mash on repeat. They had dressed as greasers from the‘50’s. I had dressed as a zombified business woman, complete with spiderweb adorned briefcase and business cards for every house I’d trick-or-treat at. I was about nine-years-old and desperately wanted to be Lydia Deetz. Or a zombie. Or Lizzie Borden. Or really anyone more menacing than the shortest girl in my fourth grade class.

My dad didn’t have an answer for his coworker then, but often thinks about it and laughs.

Now that I’m a published horror author.

I came to the genre of horror naturally. My parents are both fans. My dad has a love for sci-fi horror, as he grew up in the ‘50s when movies and books were about creatures formed by radiation poisoning.

My mom is a horror fan, too.

She just doesn’t know it.

In quite a few interviews I’ve been asked when my love of horror began. Often, people want to under54 | UncagedBooks.com

stand how I (a privileged white woman with a big smile) would be drawn to such terrifying fodder. There must be some trauma, some inciting incident, some moment of fascination that has held me captive in such a genre. But, here’s the truth; we all love horror.

Just to varying degrees.

Yup, even you.

My first exposure to horror was through the shows my mom watched as I played on the carpet in front of our giant, tube TV; Murder, She Wrote and Matlock. I became fascinated with the act of murder. It thrilled me to think of its rebellion, its potency.

Mom likes to watch all the true crime shows, too. She taught me who Ed Gein was, Bundy, Dahmer.

And yet, if you called her up right now and asked her, “do you like horror?” I promise you she’d say, “nope.

That’s my daughter’s thing. And her dad.”

But she’s the one who watched a movie about Lizzie Borden with ten-year-old me, even helped me be her for Halloween; bloody cardboard axe and all. A talented artist, Mom drew me a poster of Lydia and Beetlejuice, and on my sixteenth birthday got me a bloody Fargo snow globe, in honor of one of our favorite movies.

Horror, just that simple word, two syllables, makes people tense.

It means Jason Voorhees and his cleaver, chopping through sexedup teens. It means a quivering mass of alien goo in The Blob, hungry for flesh.

Here’s the thing, though, horror is SO much more than that. It is a feeling of unease, a collection of goosebumps on the back of your neck. It is the argument

next door that you strain to listen to. It is the estate sale in a musty living room where you wonder where the person might’ve died. And how?

To this day my mom sticks to her true crime while my dad prefers his fictional, slobbering creatures in the shadows.

Have you ever read a news article you already knew, just by the headline, would unnerve you? Have you ever stopped and laughed at a strange sound in the darkened woods? Have you ever watched a true crime documentary, or appreciated the tension of a masterful Hitchcock scene?

“Can’t handle all that real murder,” he says. “Serial killers and all that stuff she watches. Too scary for me.”

Because, guess what, Cary Grant hanging from the precipice of Mount Rushmore in North by Northwest is just as horrific as Norman Bates chewing his sandwich with innocent eyes in Psycho.

So many people have come by my books at a convention, interviewed me, spoken to me at a party, who’ve told me they don’t like horror. Can’t stand it! Gives me nightmares! I don’t like to feel scared!

ence in your home.

And, yeah, they probably don’t like slashers. They don’t want to watch the gore of Freddy Krueger’s clawed gloves raking through skin. And that’s fair. Gore and monsters aren’t for everyone. But horror is a polite poisoning in an Agatha Christie novel, too. It is that eerie thrill passing by a cemetery, reading an article about a freak accident and discussing it with your friend, or maybe feeling an inexplicable pres-

It’s a hero fighting their own demons. Maybe a few fictional ones, too, and coming out stronger on the other side.

And who doesn’t like that?

Horror is more than just a small slice of fantastical pie.

It’s a genre of invention, a heaping a la mode piece of humor and romance and fear and deep, resonant emotion.

Issue 65 | May/June 2022 |

55

©Copyright 2022 Meg Hafdahl for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com Published with Permission

Horror and suspense author Meg Hafdahl is the creator of numerous stories and books.

Her fiction has appeared in anthologies such as Eve’s Requiem: Tales of Women, Mystery and Horror and Eclectically Criminal.

Her work has been produced for audio by The Wicked Library and The Lift, and she is the author of two popular short story collections including Twisted Reveries: Thirteen Tales of the Macabre. Meg is also the author of the two novels; Daughters of Darkness and Her Dark Inheritance called “an intricate tale of betrayal, murder, and small town intrigue” by Horror Addicts and “every bit as page turning as any King novel” by RW Magazine. Meg, also the co-host of the podcast Horror Rewind and co-author of The Science of Monsters, The Science of Women in Horror, The Science of Stephen King and upcoming The Science of Serial Killers, lives in the snowy bluffs of Minnesota.

DON’T MISS THESE TITLES:

56 | UncagedBooks.com

Meg Hafdahl

Showcase

John T. winthrop A

uthor John T. Winthrop studied x-ray holography and optical self-imaging at the University of Michigan, earning his doctorate in physics there in 1966. A Fellow of the Optical Society of America, he devoted his professional life to the design of varifocal lenses and holds many patents in the field of ophthalmic design. The Principle of True Representation documents his independent research into foundational matters.

The Principle of True Representation: Mind, Matter and Geometry in a SelfConsistent Universe begins by noting that in a world consisting of matter alone, there can be no laws of nature, for such laws, while real enough, are not made of matter.

Dr. Winthrop then shows that the law-like behavior of the world derives from a metaphysical principle: the unification of appearance and reality. This is the Principle of True Representation, at once leading to a master equation, a Law of Laws, encompassing enhanced versions of all known single-particle laws as well as new laws never seen before.

MEDIA RELEASE Detailed observations of the physical world show that it behaves in a regular, law-like manner. The question is: where do the laws come from? The answer is not entirely obvious, for while the world itself is made of matter, the laws governing its behavior are not.

Plausibly enough, philosophical realism assumes the existence of a mind-independent external world. Our 58 | UncagedBooks.com

scientific observations can then be considered representations of the facts of that world. The Principle of True Representation: Mind, Matter and Geometry in a SelfConsistent Universe proposes an algebraic unification of those external facts and their empirically-derived representations. One is immediately led to a comprehensive Law of Laws, a formal criterion of truth explaining the law-like behavior of the physical world.

With the Law of Laws a number of formerly intractable problems in foundational physics suddenly become open to resolution. These include the nature of dark matter, the accelerating expansion of the universe, quantum non-locality, mind-brain interaction and free will. Moreover, the formalism exposes not a few errors in contemporary physical thought and science of mind.

The Principle of True Representation

by John T. Winthrop had been exhibited in

2022 American Library Association Annual Conference Washington D.C. June 2022

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

59

feature authors

paranormal | historical fiction

Rose Wulf

Janis Daly

62 | UncagedBooks.com

Rose

R

WULF

ose Wulf is a three-time Reader’s Choice Award-winning author of paranormal and fantasy romance. She is also a self-professed multi-genre fangirl. Protective, occasionally barbaric heroes and spitfire heroines are her favorites, both as an author and as a fan. Rose has been writing for as long as she can remember and will have been published for a decade in August!

Over that time, Rose has accumulated more than twenty titles currently available for readers to choose from.

Her Elemental series is completed, and both her Night Shadows and Dark Light series are ongoing and nearing completion. In addition to those, Rose has several individual titles of varying themes and lengths for readers’ enjoyment.

Behind the scenes Rose is a quiet personality. She was born and raised in Northern California and continues to live there with her German Shepherd and her mom.

Welcome to Rose Wulf Welcome to Uncaged! Your sixth book in the Night Shadows Series, released in May, Staked in Desire.

Can you tell readers about this book and the series?

Staked in Desire takes place immediately on the heels of the events in the fifth book, but any readers who haven’t read that story will have the necessary details woven in for them along the way to keep them from getting lost.

In this story, Kendall, the human surrogate daughter of vampire royalty leaves her comfy home to join the hunt for a dangerous fugitive vampire that’s threatening their way of life. She insistently tags along with Adrian, the Slayer already unwittingly dragged into the mess, and they have to work together to survive everything that happens next. They’re a rather unlikely pair, which is what makes them so engaging.

The Night Shadows series itself is about a world where vampires, werewolves, witches, and humans called Slayers all coexist among largely unsuspecting humans. As the books continue more and more about the established secret communities of this world are revealed, with a definite vampire focus.

I’m planning on one more book still to come before the series will be complete!

What is the most difficult scene for you to write?

What is the easiest?

While sometimes it depends on the book, I would say overall I struggle the most with getting the ending right. I can often sense about when the story is ready to close, but that sense and actually figuring out the wording of the scene are commonly not the same thing! I probably re-write my endings more than any other scene.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

63

| FEATURE AUTHOR | Unless something is going horribly wrong, character interaction is the easiest for me. Whether it’s a dialogue scene or something more physical or emotional, anything that plays on the chemistry of the characters on the page just helps the words flow.

Sometimes I get a little too lost in the back-andforth of a dialogue scene and have to trim it back later!

Do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?

Oh, I probably have a handful I’d say were in my top favorites. In terms of my Night Shadows series, my favorite character is Jasen. He’s the mysterious, badass vampire I introduced in the first book as a supporting character, and I’ve been saving his story for the final book ever since. I’m writing that book currently, and I can’t wait to share it!

I had a surprisingly hard time with Logan Hawke, the third of my Hawke brothers from the Elemental series. I’m happy with the final product, of course, but getting there was somewhat tricky.

How do you come up with the title to your books?

If the title doesn’t come to me pretty much from the beginning, then I usually use an “interim” title until the book is written. At that point, I brainstorm ideas that play off the story’s theme or perhaps keywords.

Sometimes naming my standalone books is a real challenge, because there’s nothing to guide me—I had a real issue settling on the name for Orchid’s Heart, for example.

My system is a little different when I’m titling books in a series. The first title happens like a standalone, as described above, and then after that I try to match subsequent book titles with similar themes or patterns. For my Dark Light series I use light and fire-related words. For my Night Shadows series I try to hint at the supernatural creature’s nature in each title, as well as using a past-tense verb (i.e.

Staked by Desire for a book featuring a Slayer as a 64 | UncagedBooks.com

Hero).

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I write romance because it’s my favorite genre, but I personally have extremely limited romantic experience.

The last date I went on was in 2015!

Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages?

Yes? Ah, the answer is, sometimes it’s one, sometimes it’s the other. Most of the time it’s a little of both. For example, I’ll get this plot idea, and as the plot idea develops the characters which must endure the plot develop alongside it.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I watch too much TV if I’m not writing. I’ll watch movies or binge whichever show I found on one of my streaming services.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

Winter. I know this is an unpopular choice, but where I live we don’t get much of it, and I very much miss the colder weather. I prefer “sweater weather” to weather that makes me sweat!

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books?

Are you reading anything now?

Sentimentally of course I prefer physical books, but I have come to love the convenience and storage practicality of ebooks. Also, being disabled, it’s much easier to keep my Kindle within arm’s reach than an entire bookcase!

As for what I’m reading currently, I’m reading H.J. Marshall’s Indecent Intent, which is the second of a series.

| ROSE WULF | What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I would like to thank everyone who reads and enjoys my books! Knowing my writing has put a smile on someone’s face fills me with warmth and encourages me to keep going.

Stay Connected

more dangerous than it should have been—Kendall Wheeler was everything he’d dreamed of in a partner. Except that a life partner is the last thing he’s ever wanted.

The hunt takes them from California to Colorado, where their target finally stops running.

But Colorado has its own dangers, and without their usual allies, survival is not guaranteed.

Excerpt Durango was quieter, darker, and colder at practically four in the morning.

rosewulf.weebly.com

Enjoy an excerpt from Staked by Desire Staked by Desire Rose Wulf Paranormal Romance As the adoptive daughter of the Vampire Princess, Kendall Wheeler was raised in the sheltered world of dangerous, elite vampires. After the terrifying battle in Sacramento, Kendall realized she could no longer sit idly by while the rest of her family was in danger. So she ran off to reconvene with the shockingly capable Slayer who had been called in to eliminate a pair of serial-killer vampire brothers, eager to help him complete his task.

Adrian Colt preferred to work alone, but something about Kendall’s impassioned plea compelled him to let her join him on the hunt for the surviving Wilson brother. He realized quickly this decision was

Kendall didn’t have nearly the wardrobe for stalking through town at a crisp forty-two degrees. Her breath puffed on the air with every teeth-rattling exhale. She made a mental note to go to the nearest possible store during the light of day and purchase better gloves, as well as something warmer for her head. The lightweight beanie was probably better than nothing, but at the moment she had her doubts. Though if her fingers froze off first, she figured she wouldn’t care.

Silver lining. I’m one hundred percent awake now.

“Have you gone comatose on me?” Adrian asked, turning his head to speak quietly over his shoulder.

He was barely a foot ahead of her, arms loose at his sides, hands wrapped in thick gloves that he’d fished out from one of his duffels.

“Very funny,” Kendall said, managing somehow not to stutter like a frozen cartoon character. Which was precisely how she felt. She rubbed her hands together for the five hundredth time. “Why didn’t we go shopping earlier?”

It was too dark to be certain, but she thought she saw a faint twitch of his lips before he turned his gaze forward again. “Pretty sure you insisted you had all you needed.”

Kendall glowered at him as she shoved her thinlyIssue 66 | July/August 2022 |

65

| FEATURE AUTHOR | gloved hands back into their respective pockets.

“You obviously knew better!”

Adrian stopped walking and dipped a hand inside his coat. “Quiet.”

She’d opened her mouth to protest the command before the popsicle of her brain recognized his meaning. There was something nearby, and since he didn’t look like he was going for his machete or any other blade, she assumed it was a vampire.

Kendall licked her lips as her anxiety spiked and immediately regretted the action when the windchill practically froze the fresh moisture to her poor mouth. She was distracted for a moment after, focusing on pressing and rolling her lips together in an effort to counteract the freeze, and she missed any sign of warning she might have seen otherwise.

“I heard rumor there was a Slayer in town.” The speaker was male, and he spoke calmly, in an almost patronizing tone, even, with a smooth voice that conjured pictures of silver-haired politicians standing on podiums in Kendall’s mind. “Though this isn’t how I expected we’d meet.”

Kendall clenched her hands into tight fists within her jacket pockets and adjusted enough to face the direction of the voice—which she assumed belonged to the vampire Adrian had sensed.

Adrian shifted as well, keeping himself between her and the stranger. “If you heard rumor,” he said, “that means you either know who I’m looking for, or the asshole I had to stab earlier tonight.”

He had a very good point, and Kendall didn’t like that at all. She drew a deep, frigid breath and fought to keep her body from becoming too tense.

The shadowy figure on the street edge of the sidewalk stepped closer. “Put away the stake, boy,” he said, “or I might have to charge you with carrying a concealed weapon.”

She blinked.

66 | UncagedBooks.com

“Excuse me?” Adrian said.

The figure came closer still, seemingly unafraid of Adrian and his weapons, and pointed to his chest at about the time Kendall processed the fact that he was standing close enough for her to see him fairly well.

Her mouth fell open. For a town with no local, or reigning, Family, this vampire presented himself in classic sheriff’s regalia beneath a knee-length, probably black, coat. He wore a uniform complete with a long, dark tie hanging from his neck, a belt with a holster at his waist, and a bright-enough golden star pinned to his chest. Despite herself, Kendall blurted, “Y-you’re a—” “Sheriff Burt,” he said, lowering his arm. “This is my town.” His voice hardened just a bit. “And I don’t take too kindly to Slayers waltzing through.”

“Good luck finding a Slayer who gives a fuck,” Adrian said sharply. “You’ve got no Family backing.

You’re just posturing, using your position to take advantage of the people of this area and the tourists who come through.” His tone grew angrier the more he spoke. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you feed on your prisoners, too.”

Sheriff Burt’s lip curled back off his fangs in a low hiss of displeasure. “You’ll watch your mouth, boy.”

“He’s completely right,” Kendall said, the words toppling out of her without warning. She had a twisting spiral of feelings over the whole situation Adrian had told her about that extended over the state of Colorado, but this, this was the worst. She barely waited for the Sheriff’s dark gaze to snap back to her. “What authority do you think you have here? Do you think the locals would let you keep your position if they knew the truth about you? Were you assigned this post by a higher-up you’ve failed to mention? Or are you trying to put down roots and be the vampire who finally settles a Family in Colorado?”

Burt squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes.

“You think you know things, do you?” He looked between them. “You are ignorant infants doomed to die

| ROSE WULF | before you learn to walk. I don’t owe you any kind of explanation. But I will offer you a chance for a peaceful reconciliation. Be gone from Durango by noon, and we can forget this ever happened.”

Kendall frowned. That was the second time a vampire had told them to leave by the end of the following day, in as many encounters. That’s weird, right?

“Cough up Troy Wilson,” Adrian said, “and we’ll leave within the hour.”

Sheriff Burt dashed forward without a sound, caught Adrian around the neck and pinned him against the wall of the old brick building behind them. Though Adrian was the taller man, by several inches, Burt’s unnatural strength allowed him to hold Adrian off the ground by the full length of his extended arm. Adrian’s booted toes didn’t quite graze the concrete.

Kendall sucked in a sharp, startled breath.

The Sheriff paid her no mind but spoke just loud enough for her to hear. “I do not take orders from anyone, let alone an insignificant, self-righteous Slayer.”

He took a single step from the wall and tossed Adrian to the ground with a subtle flick of his wrist. “Go back to wherever you’re staying, pack up, and leave this town. I will not warn you again.”

Kendall bristled as Adrian’s choked cough rang in her ears. She stomped forward, her anger heating her blood, and put herself between them with her back to Adrian. Sheriff Burt was three or four inches taller than her, but she was no stranger to glaring up. A benefit from spending both her grieving period and her teenage years around moody vampires. “Exactly who the hell do you think you are? I don’t remember seeing any small print on the Welcome to Durango sign when we drove in. In fact, from what I heard, Colorado is basically open to everything—humans included.”

I’m Sheriff of this town, girl. I have every authority to toss brainless murderers out on their backsides, or haul them off to jail if I see fit.”

Kendall planted her hands on her hips. “If you even reach for your handcuffs,” she said, “I’m calling you out on police brutality.” She squared her shoulders, making sure to stand as strong as possible. “I’m sure in an hour or so he’ll have some nice bruising, and your fingerprints, too, since I notice you aren’t wearing gloves. All of which is information I’ll pass along to my stepdad’s team of lawyers if you insist on pretending to play this the legal route. So, go ahead.” Okay, she knew Joe had multiple lawyers. Calling them a team just sounded better.

She was standing close enough to have an uncomfortably good view of his fangs when he snarled at her in response.

Adrian’s presence settled at her back, sturdy and some degree warmer than the obscenely early Colorado morning. “You should listen,” he said, calm and collected again, “because this’ll turn into just another vampire-on-Slayer incident if you lay even a single finger on her.”

Sheriff Burt glared over Kendall’s shoulder, dark eyes narrowed and jaw tight for several long, cold seconds. An icy wind slipped between them, strong enough to pull at the lapels of his coat and cool the ire in Kendall’s blood. Then he popped his collar and turned, tucking his hands into his coat pockets as he moved. “Noon, tomorrow,” he said.

Burt leaned into her personal space, dark brows furrowed. “You think you’re clever, don’t you?” He tapped the partially-covered star on his chest. “But Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

67

roshanrajrajamanickam.com

3-Page Special Promo

A

Adenquick

den Quick was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. Raised in a predominantly Christian household, he became ill as him parents went through a divorce. His friends began offering corrupt coping methods to numb the pain of a broken home, for how he saw it, it was the only way they had ever known. As he sank deeper into the habits of an addict, he desired only what he could comprehend as, something he had lost long ago. Quite frankly, he never had it. What it was, was peace with his Lord. In the midst of his drug-induced binge, he was called by a voice within, telling his to get clean, seek out those in a similar position, and as a shepherd with his sheep, walk with them until the day they are called home, to heaven. He is nothing but a suburban sinner, seeking only what his wants and not what his needs. In a struggle for sober living and rehabilitation, his found poetry, music, and friendship to be his weapon. Looking for answers in all the wrong places brought his to a dark place of regret and despair. Only through the Lord’s hand was he able to understand, the meaning of life was not money, drugs, fame nor fortune. It was Love.

Oblivious Minds Aden Quick Poetry The heartache that gripped him when him parents divorced was something he didn’t realize would hurt and traumatize he so much.

Instead of facing it head-on and looking for peace, the impact of having a broken home brought him into a spiral downfall. These verses are him reflections put into paper of how he looked for answers in the wrong places that brought him darkness and desperation. But through these experiences that him was able to use him words to help others.

Enter him mind and heart so you too can experience the peace him found after the heartaches and troubles.

70 | UncagedBooks.com

Chaos in Time Buried in rain, I slept in the drain, The children have gone insane sailing the ship that sinks Upon God, they put the blame.

Point the finger, It’s not our fault You should have known better Mother’s turned to salt.

Forgive me not, She loves me still Beside the ghostly pond My wife fell ill.

All things must come to end Not even the earth Made one single friend.

Made to disrupt Always in a rut The school boy fell into

darkness The door closed shut.

Love over Lust Resist your lasciviousness.

Look the other way.

There is nothing for you When you let this affection stay...

Please, look the other way.

The grain you’ve already planted Its essence is profound Discharged through your heart Your morals slump down.

Ease the pain Through pitiful self gain Exclaim your desires When you’re in the pit of fire, Look away.

Not another day.

A sullen daze is truly what you chase, Not the impression of love you define as tame Not again.

Look away And you will be saved.

Prison Assert your dominance If you wish, I cannot blame, Stay here in this prison cell Like the rest, nobody wants to be tamed.

You are a snake in a cage hissing to all the creatures Your reputation is framed.

Refrain from your scour It stirs hour by hour your cooking something sour.

I hear not a word you speak For your anger slurs your speech Your heart grows weak.

A life oblique.

Turn the other cheek.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

What’s the hardest thing about being an author?

There’s a couple things about being an author that lays a heavy deed upon you.

When you’re writing you can’t always think of the words to expel from your mind to paper. Your heart and mind know the feeling and the moment so well, but the body is only capable of so many feelings and abilities that when you go to transfer these words or thoughts, your pushing a cloud, no matter how hard or how much you push, you just can’t. The other thing is God. What, when you’re writing or typing are you saying that will be of good use to God and his plan.

I’ve tried to work with many tools that were chipped, unworthy, or even just completely broken for job, and it just doesn’t fulfill its purpose. I don’t want to be a broken tool God can’t use.

What is the best thing about being an author?

The best thing about being able to write whatever you damn well please is just that. Not only this, but you get to, every so often see what your toilsome fingers have accomplished and the great feeling of seeing what was in your heart become a reality.

What book changed your life?

I’d have to say Brain ‘Head’ Welch’s book, “Save me From Myself”.

What inspired you to write this book?

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

71

The inspiration behind writing any poem of mine is to escape, succeed, even dream of things I feel I cannot or will not have in reality. To create a fantasy that unlike our lives can be seen without the fleshly eye.

of Jesus’ disciples were truly with him either, but nonetheless he gave them his word.

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

I’m open to suggestions… Currently reading five books amidst my pain and joy.

Like a kid that never went to class nor learned the proper way to write but had every more reason and desire to be heard.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally?

Sometimes a bit of both. Some of my favorite poems were written when I was in bed trying to sleep or ignoring a boring story being told to my face while thinking of a good line for a previous poem I’d been working on. But like prayer, you must make it a habit to go to and say what you feel.

Missing even a minute of prayer is like missing a day without water, sure you don’t feel horrible and you could probably go a couple more days without it, but when life brings you its gifts of hard stone you will feel that weight bring you down.

What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book?

Just enjoy the poems I’ve written for you all, If God is with you he will speak through these words to you, I understand not all the poems are about Him, but then again, not all 72 | UncagedBooks.com

What books are currently in your to be read pile?

Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you to those who have given a young poets word a listen! God Bless!

NANCY & Archie & Barney

ROSE & Shadow

My dogs Archie and Barney are a constant reminder that optimism and a playful spirit are beneficial in stressful times. It’s difficult to imagine my life without them. Over the past two years, my husband and I have spent almost every second with both of them, and they’ve repaid us with affection and drool (okay, the latter I can do without). Neither will go for a walk without the other – it’s a twosome or nothing. And when they play together, it’s as if nothing else matters but living in the moment, an admirable quality I wish I could bottle.

I am a proud mom to a handsome, 11-year-old German Shepherd named Shadow. I adopted him just before his 4th birthday, in 2015, and haven’t had a moment of regret since. Shadow suffers from a couple of long-term health conditions, but he doesn’t let them keep him from living a happy life! He goes with me everywhere I go. If it were up to him, I wouldn’t actually go anywhere, anyway!

JANIS & Taylor

DAN & Maggie, Millie & Olivia

We have three cats, Maggie (a mature but feisty grey-tabby), Millie (a rotund calico), and Olivia (A young and energetic, orange-tabby).

74 | UncagedBooks.com

In our happy place. My seven-year-old, Heinz 57 breed, rescue pup from Tennessee, Taylor.

As my sons want me to point out–not for Taylor Swift! When we’re on Cape Cod, we walk a mile along the beach every morning where she chases gulls, digs in the sand, sniffs (and unfortunately, rolls in) dead fish in the marsh grass, while I work through plot and character challenges.

A U T H O RS A N D T H E I R P E TS Pets and companions come in many shapes and sizes. From furry to feathered to hairy and scaley - there is a place for all of them. Authors have a special relationship with their pets - whether they remind them to get up and take a break or they inspire their writing. Meet the critters that share their love and devotion to Uncaged Feature Authors.

JULIE & Halloween & Feral Cats

Just as I was retiring from my diplomatic career, my last remaining pet died, and I decided not to have any more pets so that I could travel without having to worry about pets left behind. As we walked the Camino, my son kept lamenting that we had no pets at home, so I reconsidered and agreed to adopt a cat (ONE cat) when we got back home. Back in Houston, I visited a local shelter and came home with not one, but two cats—Halloween, whose picture is here, and Mimi, a Siamese that I just couldn’t resist. MiMi

has since passed away, but my feline family now includes a grandcat, Charles Augustus V, who was rescued by my son off the street after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017.

So, since 2017 I have two or three cats in my house all the time.

Moreover, in 2019-2020 I got involved in the track-neuter-release (TNR) program for feral cats, and over the course of one year I fostered 17 kittens from three litters until they could be adopted. Relatives bought me a welcome mat that reads “One cat short of crazy,” which makes me laugh. After I got all the neighborhood feral cats neutered or spayed and the kittens adopted, I returned to my normal two or three cats in the house at any one time, plus I feed from four to six feral cats every day, not to mention the opossums, raccoons, and birds who clean up whatever food the feral cats leave. I wish I had a dog and a horse, and maybe someday I will relent and add those to my household, too, but for now it is just cats.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

75

Showcase

Dr. Rachel feinberg

A

uthor Dr. Rachel Feinberg has over thirty years of experience treating patients. But when she has had her own injury on her right wrist, which required three operations, she grew interested and has since become and advocate of interventional medicine, biomechanics, rehabilitation, and manual physical therapy techniques. Having had to feel the extreme pain of her own injury, she has developed her own outline of treatment—that worked.

Dr. Rachel Feinberg received her M.D. degree from the State University of New York at Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, New York. She completed an anesthesiology residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Facilitated Segment

or extreme pain that appears to be not addressed by the medication prescribed to them.

Managing complex chronic pain with less use of narcotics.

Facilitated Segment: Missing Link in Treatment of Complex Chronic Pain is a book dedicated to addressing the provision of relief to patients with chronic pain with the least possible use of narcotics and more on the diagnosis of the pain generator and then providing an integrated plan to relieve the pain based on the specific patient’s physical examination.

Dr. Rachel Feinberg Self Help

It is possible.

Watching what one eats and keeping an active lifestyle are all helpful and beneficial to the body. Prevention is better than cure, as they say. But no matter how careful one is, accidents can happen. Though wounds can heal with medicines or therapy, severe physical injuries need more than just physical therapy. There is no “one size fits all” approach to all injuries. And sometimes, sadly, some patients are dismissed when they claim excessive 76 | UncagedBooks.com

Facilitated Segment: Missing Link in Treatment of Complex Chronic Pain

by Dr. Rachel A. Feinberg had been exhibited in 2022 London Book Fair on Apr 05, 2022 - Apr 07, 2022

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

77

80 | UncagedBooks.com

Janis

A

DALY

fter a career in sales and marketing and raising two boys active in sports, right through the college level, I asked the age-old question, Now what? I didn’t spend long looking for my answer. I found it within the return hits from a genealogy search on my great-great-grandfather, William S. Peirce, Esquire. From FamousAmericans.net: He took an active part in founding the Woman’s Medical College in Philadelphia.

Inspired by that line, more research ensued, and a story and characters formed. The early graduates of the Woman’s Medical College have remained in the shadows. Their stories needed to be told. With a love of history, I balanced a need for authenticity and details with a flair to create emotional connections to fictional characters.

Splitting my time between Cape Cod, New Hampshire, Florida and hotels along Route 95, a tablet became my Kindle library and desk, packed into a travel bag for reading and writing wherever I might land. My husband, along with our rescue pup, has willingly, and luckily, also embraced this nomadic lifestyle. More adventures beckon me to document other women in history whose stories need to be discovered.

Uncaged welcomes Janis Robinson Daly Welcome to Uncaged! Your newest book, The Unlocked Path will release in August. Can you tell readers more about this book?

During a genealogy search on my great-greatgrandfather, William S. Peirce, Esquire, one return hit featured a snippet from FamousAmericans.net: He took an active part in founding the Woman’s Medical College (WMC) in Philadelphia. As a graduate of Wheaton College, Massachusetts, then a women’s college, this fact piqued my interest and sent me down the rabbit hole of research. As I learned more about the graduates of WMC, and with a fond appreciation of the supportive relationships established between students, faculty, and alumnae at a women’s college, I knew the stories of these early graduates needed to be told.

Characters and plot formed to introduce a “New Woman” of the 20th century: educated, careerminded, independent Eliza Pearson Edwards. In 1897 Philadelphia, after witnessing her aunt’s suicide, Eliza rejects her mother’s wishes for a society debut, and at a time when five percent of doctors are female, she enters a woman’s medical college. With the support of a circle of women and driven by a determination to conquer curriculum demands, battle sexism, and overcome doubts, Eliza charts her new life path. Combining science and sympathy, she triumphs to heal others and herself.

Organic Chemistry may slay her, if the strain of endless study, odoriferous labs, and gruesome surgeries don’t claim her first. As a young intern, she summons a forthright confidence asserting her abilities to those mistrustful of a woman doctor. Through her work with poverty-stricken Issue 66 | July/August 2022 | 81

| FEATURE AUTHOR | patients, she defines her version of suffrage work to champion women’s rights for and beyond the right to vote. Love is found, love is lost. During a visit to the fairy-tale-like city of Newport, a new relationship may fulfill her desires. When global events devolve into chaos with the 1918 influenza pandemic and a world war, Eliza renews her vow to help and heal.

What is the most difficult scene for you to write?

What is the easiest?

Chapters 38 and 39 detail the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. I wrote those chapters in late 2019 after extensive research of reading Boston and Philadelphia newspaper accounts and Susan Meissner’s historical fiction As Bright as Heaven, set in Philadelphia, and watching the PBS American Experience episode on the 1918 Spanish Flu. The enormity and ferocity of the germ’s spread drove a sense of helpless and hopeless as I realized millions had no means to prevent nor cure the disease. Six months later, I began working on developmental edits. Six months later, I sat in my house under national lockdown orders, watching local news reports on daily death toll reports, make-shift ERs and medical personnel separated from their families, sleeping in basements, placing hands against a window to say hello to their child. The scene in Chapter 39 of Eliza standing on a sidewalk saying goodbye to her sons, telling them to stay ten feet away from her, unable to hug them, came directly from some of those news reports.

Do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?

Authors always have an affinity with their main character and while I love Eliza’s story and her character arc from near debutante to confident doctor, Olga Povitsky is a close second. A real 1901 graduate of WMC, Olga served in WWI with the American Women’s Hospital in France, became involved in suffrage support activities, and worked in research for the New York City Department 82 | UncagedBooks.com

of Health. Originally from Marijampole, (Lithuania) Russia, Olga overcame the language barrier, but later recalled an incident in which she was asked what she thought of a lecture on Darwin and replied—without meaning to make a pun—“I did not understand it very well but there seemed to be a lot of monkey business in it.” That notation helped me shape her sense of humor and direct honesty. My college roommate and longtime friend, Jean, possesses many of the same qualities.

I thought of her with a smile on my face whenever I wrote an Olga scene.

I struggled with Eliza’s husband, Harrison Shaw.

When readers meet a character, they often wonder who was the real-life inspiration? While my friend Jean, helped me shape Olga, I do not have a first-hand point of reference of an unsupportive, emotionally abusive husband. The last thing I want readers to think is that my husband, Jim, is Harrison Shaw. He’s about the furthest you could get from that conceited, moneygrabbing, womanizing, “sot of a husband.”

How do you come up with the title to your books?

Aaarrgghh! Writing 90,000 words was easy compared to picking the three of The Unlocked Path. I knew I didn’t want to use a name, lest readers thought it was a biography. Through a word cloud prompt of relevant terms, I tried several combinations of doctor, triumphs, debut, journey, forward, choice, strength, humanity, freedom, searching, tomorrow, success, course, path, key, voice, footsteps. I surveyed beta readers and editors. I polled trusted friends. I searched on Amazon.

Then, I re-read the opening and closing chapter, only those two, back-to-back and the idea of unlocking one’s future and the path followed to get there jumped out at me. I had unlocked my title. Coincidentally, the term “unlocked” has remained in the recesses of my mind. Twenty-five years ago, I consulted on marketing plans for the opening of a local children’s museum, developing the tagline, “Unlock Your Imagination.”

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I’m a sports fanatic. Growing up with two older

| JANIS DALY |

The wistful, late 1890s portrait of this young woman inspired my main character.

P.S. It’s a photo of my maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Peirce Elliott Robinson.

Reading, preferably on a beach or poolside, or nestled into a love seat under a comfy throw blanket with our wood stove roaring and our rescue pup curled beside me. I escape into other worlds to forget work and personal trials. With a special love of historical fiction, I seek stories which teach as much as they entertain, bringing forward events and people who never graced the pages of history textbooks. When the sun beats down and I need a break from the book in my hand, there’s nothing better than cooling off in the ocean or pool, floating on my back, looking at the sky and drifting into a space of nothingness.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

brothers, my parents dragged me to hockey rinks and baseball fields from the time I was six months old.

Blessed with two athletic sons of my own, I embraced a hockey/ baseball/ football/ soccer/ lacrosse mom life, from 6 AM youth hockey practices (I coached for the Learn to Play Hockey program) to thousands of miles on our car traveling to Pennsylvania from Massachusetts for eight years to watch my sons play college lacrosse and football. You can find me every Sunday in the fall either in our end-zone seats at Gillette Stadium or glued to a bar TV set to watch my New England Patriots, even without Tom Brady.

Depending on the time of the game, there’s a Bloody Mary with extra olives or a fresh Guinness sitting on my table, under the Patriots napkin I packed for my superstitious self.

Umm, hello? See Number Seven—beach season!

A New England summer means I can plant myself on the Cape Cod beach at the end of my street.

Read, swim, walk tidal flats, watch my dog chase sea gulls, dig for clams to make homemade NEW ENGLAND clam chowder, carrying home sand between my toes, rinsing off in an outdoor shower.

Finishing the day sitting on the screened porch with a fresh piece of fish off the charcoal grill accompanied by tomatoes from the garden topped with basil and a drizzle of olive oil and a glass of chilled white wine. There’s nothing better to get in touch with simple living.

Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages?

I honestly don’t have a preference, as I use all three methods at different times to ensure I always have easy access to a book. Physical books work best for outdoor reading, as I have yet to find a Kindle or tablet that adequately addresses the glare factor. E-books on my tablet for when I’m traveling since I never check luggage, there’s no room for physical books, unless I sacrificed an extra pair of shoes or two. I’ve recently adopted audiobooks as the perfect solution to walk longer and farther for exercise. Forty-five minutes and two and a half

Characters arcs and challenges inspire and a story to take shape. Learning about the graduates of WMC provided details to weave into a plot, exploring how events and circumstances affected their decisions and choices.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

83

| FEATURE AUTHOR | miles goes by a lot quicker when I’m engrossed in a story. Of course, I’m reading something now.

Between research for Book #2, belonging to three book clubs, and my own choices, there are always a few books at the ready. As I write this, I’m finishing Kate Quinn’s The Diamond Eye ahead of moderating a library book club discussion. Kate is a master of women’s historical fiction, discovering “the women in the cracks of history; they’re rarely in the bold strokes.”

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

As a debut novelist, all I can say is THANK YOU. Thank you for taking a chance in investing your time and money in reading The Unlocked Path by an unknown author. With millions of books sitting in TBR piles, I would be honored if you choose mine.

My website has information not only about me and my writing, but I also include reviews of my favorite historical fiction selections, as well as tips and recommendations for book clubs, another reading-centric topic near and dear to me. www. janisrdaly.com

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from The Unlocked Path The Unlocked Path Janis Robinson Daly Women’s Historical Fiction Releases August 25 Meet a “New Woman” of the early 20th century: educated, career-minded, independent Eliza Pearson Edwards. In 1897 Philadelphia, after witnessing her aunt’s suicide, Eliza rejects her mother’s wishes for a society debut, and enters medical college. With the support of a circle of women and determined to conquer curriculum demands, battle sexism, and overcome doubts, Eliza charts a new life course.

Excerpt

Next to Eliza, Dr. Victor Vaughan, Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, gestured in a sweeping motion. His sturdy frame sagged with the weight of the cases in front of them. The ends of his mustache drooped in an arc, echoing his frown. “Dr. Edwards–or is it Mrs. Shaw?”

“Dr. Edwards is fine, sir. Thank you.”

janisrdaly.com

84 | UncagedBooks.com

His voice, defeated and low, acknowledged the scene. “We’ve reached a crisis state. The strain we are dealing with is invincible. Our biochemists have yet to identify an effective vaccine. We tried flushing their systems with fluids, but the risk of edema is too high for lungs already over-taxed. We focus on supportive care.”

“Well, thank heavens for the nursing staff,” she said. Eliza surveyed the two women closest to the entrance. One sponged the peach-fuzzed face

| JANIS DALY |

of a soldier, the other spooned warm broth into blue-tinted lips of another. Strong, brave women tending to near-corpses. “Are they capable? They look quite young.”

Vaughan held a clipboard in his gnarled fingers, arthritic from years of tedious surgical work. “We’ve sent over 9,000 American nurses to France this year. Our regular staff is working fourteen-hour shifts. We needed help from the nursing schools. The girls here are managing, but it’s a tragedy their first on-the-job experience is working in these death wards.”

Nurses handled patient comfort and diagnoses appeared to be as simple as looking at a man’s blue face. Would they require more physicians?

“How can I help?” she said.

“Our professional duties are minimal and much the same as the nurses who need supervision for the best approach to palliative care. I’m sad to say the most demanding task for doctors is to pronounce the deceased and sign toe tags. We wrote sixty-three of them yesterday.”

So be it. Eliza hefted her medical bag to her hip, a constant companion for seventeen years. “Where shall I change, sir?” ***

would they live? Did blocking their names erase their existence?

Eliza checked her watch while she sat outside Dr. Vaughan’s office. 6:50 p.m. The summer sky remained bright outside with the DaylightSaving Law passed in March. Yet, the narrow windows denied the sunlight. Darkness prevailed.

Starting in her heart, fatigue claimed her body.

A throb in her temples spread to a twitch in her fingers. Eliza knew exhaustion on a firstname basis. Over her career, it visited her often, made itself at home and settled into her bones. But this debilitation consumed her unlike any other time. Her life classified fatigue into physical or emotional. Exam study, double shifts at the hospital, and looking after two energetic sons required physical exertion. The heartbreak of losing Patrick, cradling a dying patient’s hand, dealing with Harrison’s volatility, or concern over her children’s health drove emotional exhaustion. Here, she fought a simultaneous battle. Hour after hour she tended to patients. She lifted their limbs, walked the rows in an endless loop like Will’s train set, and carried trays of water and salves. Her arms and legs numbed. Men died; not one, not two, but eight over the course of nine hours.

The enormity of it drained every fiber of her verve. A helpless anguish seized control.

Besides breaking to use the ladies’ room twice and to nibble on two Lorna Doones a nurse shared with her, Eliza’s day blurred into a catatonic haze.

She could scarcely remember a single name of the men she attended, nor the eight whose names she penned onto death certificates and toe tags.

Since leaving West Philadelphia, she could recall at least twenty-five women and most of their babies, too. If she remembered the soldiers’ names, Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

85

Showcase

M

MiryamHolmhjemas iryam Holm Hjemas is a self-taught writer, artist, chef and homemaker. She loves classical music and sews for entertainment and for her great grandchildren. Her favorite thing is Norwegian water.

It Was a Cold Day in Paris Miryam Holm Hjemas Autobiography

Will a Cold Day End Up Warm and Comforting?

Author’s personal story woven in the pages of this heart-wrenching read.

In this real story of struggle, trauma, success and happy endings, author Miryam Holm Hjemas brings a powerful message of hope as she encourages readers to focus on their own life struggle and envision a better outcome. Even if It Was a Cold Day in Paris, the author was able to overcome it and has come out warm and dry.

This is a true life story, with real events and real people; their names have been changed to protect their privacy. It begins with the author’s childhood memories with many traumas and intervals of happy 86 | UncagedBooks.com

times. The story continues as she turns into a teen, loosing her mother and taking over the household. As she turns into a woman, she has married for convenience and more trauma and horror come as a result of three husbands.

But eventually, she ends up finally finding true love.

Readers will follow and learn from a woman who believed that life could be better, despite all the struggles and sufferings she went through. Her strength and resilience guided her to that future everyone dreams of: a good life with a great partner and economic stability.

It Was a Cold Day in Paris

by Miryam Holm Hjemas had been exhibited in

2022 London Book Fair

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

87

3-Page Special Promo

David A.landry

W

hen David A. Landry was 18 years old, he entered the United States Marine Corps Reserves and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His combination of reserves and full-time service in the Marines was 14 years. While in the Marines, he was a grunt 0311, optics technician, armorer, cook, battalion training NCOIC, base, and division combat photographer, photo lab technician, small arms weapons instructor, prisoner control chaser for the brig, and, lastly, military police officer. After the Marine Corps, he enlisted into the California Army National Guard Unit as a combat military police officer and was stationed down El Cajon, California. At the same time, he was a reserve deputy probation officer for San Diego County and a crisis counselor for San Diego, California, Trauma Intervention Program (TIP).

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1999, he was employed overseas in the Marshall Islands at Kwajalein Atoll as a civilian police officer and later hired to work as a security police officer in Kuwait and then to Bosnia. He worked at Incirlik Air Force Base, Turkey, as one of their civilian-based photographers. Later on, he accepted a position by Armor Group as an air deportation specialist returning illegal immigrants to Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico. Later, he was vehicle inspector for Lockheed Martin and his job was to locate anything that would resemble an explosive device(s) or find any illegal contraband before entering the naval base. When the contract for this position ended, he applied for a job as a Department of Defense federal police officer for the Navy. He was accepted and stationed at Fallbrook Naval Weapons Station, Fallbrook, California, for the next 10 years. He retired on April 1, 2019, and here he is now writing books about ghost and the bizarre stories

The Dead and the Bizarre David A. Landry Thriller The author and 11 other writers share their own ghost and bizarre stories in this collection. This book was fun to write for all of them but has also brought back those haunted memories they wanted to forget. They all want to share this with you so you would know that you are not alone and the paranormal are real, and they are also sharing the same plain with us. Like it or not, “The Dead and the Bizarre are here and all around us” in 90 | UncagedBooks.com

our natural world, so we need to get used to it and accept it.

The Beer Can Slide It was late in the evening, and all of us kids were getting ready for bed. Everyone just finished taking showers, and I came into the kitchen for a drink of water and to say good night to everyone there. My mother; my father; my mother’s sister, Aunt Joanne; and her husband, Uncle Ed, were at the kitchen table playing cards. That was my parents’ way of spending quality time with both sides of their family. And this was every weekend, starting on Friday nights at 8:00 p.m.

There were moments of intense laughing from everyone at the table, popping open cans of beer, money dropping into the pot for the losers, and the conqueror taking all the capital collected throughout all the games. It was great to see any family come over and have fun, and I was always out there when the company did come around.

This night was one of those nights like all the rest, and I couldn’t sleep because of all the talking, slamming down the cards hard on the table, and the money dropping into the pooling container.

Suddenly, everyone at the kitchen table felt a cold gust of air rush by their table. There were no doors open; the same with all the windows. All were closed. It was precisely like the coldness I felt that morning when the chair moved on its own in the kitchen earlier before. All of a sudden, my father’s beer can glided across the table with speed and about eight inches from where it was on the table.

Everyone seated at the table looked at each other and said, “What the hell made that beer can move across the table like that?”

two beer cans falling off the table onto the floor. This time the excuse was the front door was open while they were saying good-bye and a breeze had knock them off the table because they were empty. My dad checked the can after my aunt and uncle left, and it was dry as a bone. When this can slid across the table, there was no moisture at the bottom. After this night, my parents started using coasters.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW What’s the hardest thing about being an author?

Sitting down and committing long hours and finishing it.

What is the best thing about being an author?

For me it’s funny but it was on my bucket list forever and recognition.

What book changed your life?

I said, “Maybe it was the same ghost that moved the chair here in the kitchen.”

Of course, the first book The Dead and the Bizarre are here and all around us. Which lead me to writing three more.

Dad said, “Dave, it’s time to go to bed.”

What inspired you to write this book?

As I was heading for my bedroom, I could hear my uncle say, “What’s Dave talking about, the chair moving on its own here in the kitchen?”

Started 30 years ago writing a few stories and gave them to family and friends to read and they said they couldn’t put them down and wanted more to read.

Finally, one day on a talk show the host said why haven’t you written a book? You have done about everything else! So one day during the pandemic I sat and started to write and it continued on for a total of four books a collection.

Dad said, “David has an imagination. One morning I heard some noises coming from the kitchen, and when I got up to see what the noises were, David was sitting in the kitchen, sitting on the chair and telling me that the chair was moving by itself.”

Aunt Joanne said that everyone had too much to drink, and maybe it was time to go home. All agreed it was getting late, so after my aunt won the pot of money, everyone got up to get their jackets and Mom and Dad walked them to the door.

As they said their good-byes, they heard the sound of

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

These books where done purposely very simple that a 6 year child could read and comprehend. Using college words and forcing the readers to gather up a dictionary is not something I want to happen.

Keeping it simple to the readers it helps make translation into other languages much more easier.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 | 91

The way I write my stories is the way I get my readers involved and being part of it.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally?

To me it flowed naturally. My first book The Dead and the Bizarre are here and all around us had made me go back into time and relived the moment as if it were happening right now.

What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book?

That they’re not alone if they’ve ever in their lives experience a paranormal activity and it’s time for them to come out from hiding and tell their stories.

What books are currently in your to be read pile?

I am working on a book right now called, “Abbadon Heart” it’s a horror story if produced on screen I’m sure it be a top box hit. And of course, it has to be done by Steven King.

Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Just for them to just remember it’s in simple to read and in plain language.

92 | UncagedBooks.com

Showcase

John M. brewer Rogue Lord John M. Brewer In his desire to escape from his origins, Steven Cosgrove wanted to make something of himself.

Born to a lower middle-class family, he wanted more for himself and his future.

His uncle/guardian decided a career in law would do this. The education would begin at a London public school.

Regency London is a time of luxury where one’s status in society seems to be everyone’s business.

And Steven suffers bullying for not being born into affluence, especially at the hands of Lord Fallworth. At one point, Lord Fallworth, along with his two cohorts, left Steven with a prominent facial scar. It doesn’t help that the woman Steven fell in love with chose to marry Lord Fallworth instead.

Steven has to learn to defend himself and must work hard until he does become a lawyer. And as fate would have it, he ends up working for Lord Fallworth’s mother, whose desire is to bequeath her marriage settlement to her daughter, Lord Fallworth’s half-sister.

Lord Fallworth wants that money for himself as he is deep in debt from gambling. He would fight this decision by his mother, but there

94 | UncagedBooks.com

would be another obstacle on his path: his half-sister and Steven would fall in love with each other. This additional conflict of course increases the tension between Steven and Lord Fallworth.

About the Author Author John M. Brewer may have already hung up his professor’s hat, but that only means he now has more time to devote to writing and telling stories. As a result of his interest in reading history, he has penned a period story set in Regency London--ROGUE LORD. Follow what happens to Steven’s and Lord Fallworth’s journeys as they fight each other to get what they want.

Rogue Lord

by John M. Brewer had been exhibited in 2022 American Library Association Annual Conference Washington D.C. June 2022

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

95

Pushing Past Writer’s Block The Discipline of Inspiration Guest column by Jennifer Lieberman

GUEST COLUMN Pushing Past Writer’s Block - The Discipline of Inspiration

by Jennifer Lieberman

Have you ever been stuck in a story and still forced yourself to stare at a screen for hours to fulfil a required time limit of ‘work’? Or have you ever forced out pages of nonsense to feel like you were being productive only to delete them soon after? I don’t know about you but I hate when I’m told that to be a writer I have to write everyday. The advice usually comes with a required page amount (5-10 pages a day) or a time requirement (2-5 hours) and although I know it’s well meaning, I just don’t buy it.

I don’t write every day. There, I dared to say it; what many writers are afraid to admit. Granted I wear many hats, and have another career outside of writing, but so do most of us. Sure, we’d all love to get to the point in our careers that all we do is write, but that isn’t the reality for most writers and creatives in general. My writing style and forms fluctuate from plays to scripts, poetry to books; no matter what I’m writing, the process of conjuring worlds, characters, arcs and emotions is the same. Some of us write intuitively where we don’t know exactly where we’re going when we sit down and some of us need to have everything mapped out. No matter what your process, I’m sure you’ve had those moments when you just don’t know what comes next...and if you haven’t you’re a superhero of your craft and please share your secret.

Although I’ve been stuck many times in the past, I’ve never had writer’s block, at least I refuse to call it that. What I refer to as writer’s block is when one is stuck and chooses to have a battle of wits with one’s imagination to bleed a stone. I simply refuse to do that. I don’t see the point of fighting with myself, that only fuels my doubt and discouragement. I know that one day or one week of inspired writing or being in the zone will yield a better product than weeks or months of forced writing. So, during these times of feeling blocked I choose to take a much 98 | UncagedBooks.com

kinder and gentler approach. I walk away. I walk away from the screen, from my desk, from the story and I let it breathe. Let me be clear, I’m talking specifically about the process of creating new ideas, not about being lazy during editing.

The most important thing to focus on when we get stuck is to stay inspired, not necessarily about the project at hand, but to stay inspired creatively. Staying inspired is part of the process many of us take for granted when we are pushing towards a deadline or trying to wrap up a draft. Staying inspired in the process is just as much a discipline as forcing out the arbitrary ‘obligatory’ pages or hours a day. We don’t need to be physically writing to be writing. Story blocks have a way of working themselves out when we give ourselves permission to walk away. Ever notice once you give up on finding your keys they magically appear?

There are so many ways to stay inspired that have nothing to do with staring at the screen, or picking up a pen (yes, I’m old school and still put pen to paper). Most times when we feel blocked, the greatest gift we can give ourselves is permission to walk away and be in process.

The definition of process is for you to decide, but it has to do with feeding your imagination. It can be research, it can be listening to music or watching a great movie.

It can be going to a museum, an amusement park or the beach. What gets your juices flowing? Painting? Playing an instrument? Exercise? Sex? Connecting with nature?

Going for a great meal? A good laugh with friends? The possibilities of what we can do to stay creatively charged are infinite and nurturing our imagination is key. How can we inspire others with our work, when we’re not inspired by our work?

In Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way she talks about the ‘artist date’, insisting that once a week we take our inner child out to fuel our imagination and creative life, maintaining that all creativity

is generated from our inner child. This is not meant to be a work exercise, it’s meant to be indulging in some sort of frivolity that our ‘grown-up self’ wouldn’t normally entertain as a reasonable use of time. Have you ever done something like that before?

I like to take Cameron’s idea even a step further...What about taking one of your characters out on a date? Crazy right? But think about, dressing up like one of your characters, interacting outside in the world, speaking as if they would? Maybe go to attractions your character would choose to go to in your city or town, eat what they would eat, engage in an activity they would find joyful.

Or even just take them to the grocery store. Imagine what kind of ideas would come flooding through you once you got inside and under your character’s skin.

No matter how much resistance you have to this idea and the amount of excuses you can come up with to talk yourself out of it, if you embrace these suggestions the profound amount of ideas and inspiration you will be flooded with will outweigh your doubts tenfold.

Just keep in mind, this is meant to be a FUN process, don’t do something that will give you anxiety, the point is to feel joy and excitement. Remember, the magic always happens when we take those steps beyond the threshold of our comfort. Don’t worry about being disciplined about your writing, the discipline of staying inspired is always the most important part of your work. ©Copyright 2022 Jennifer Lieberman for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com Published with Permission

Granted, this idea may be a little too radical for some, especially if your character isn’t human. In that case, what about doing this exercise in your home? Yes, I’m suggesting crawling around the floor or pretending to fly or whatever it is your non-human character would do.

Watch a movie or a documentary or youtube video they would find interesting, choose an activity they would choose to explore. What sounds would they make? How would they interact with everyday objects? If the idea of embodying your character is still too much for you to digest, what about getting dressed to the nines for no reason, and going to some fancy places you would never go? Or going to a regular place you would go to dressed radically different? The point of the exercise is to get away from your habitualself; if you want something new, you have to do something new. Make sense?

JENNIFER LIEBERMAN is from Maple, Canada and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from York University in Toronto. She has appeared in over thirty stage productions in Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, Europe and Australia; including her Award-Winning solo-show Year of the Slut, which her Amazon #1 Best Selling novel Year of the What? was adapted from. In addition to her performance career, she has penned a number of screen and stage plays; her short films Leash and Details which both screened at the Festival De Cannes’ Court Métrage among other international film festivals as well as the wacky web-series Dumpwater Divas. Jennifer is also the founder of Make Your Own Break and has helped over 100 creatives bring their own productions to life.

More information can be found about Jennifer at: Home (jenniferliebermanactor.com) Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

99

Showcase

H. Doyle smith B

eing the son of a Southern Baptist minister, H Doyle Smith has had an early start on reading the Holy Bible. Having read it five times even before he left his teen years, and adding fifty years of further meditation, has given him profound understanding of what needs to be introduced in his book The Bible Is a Single Book. Having grown up in a religious environment, he is familiar with various denominations, including Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Mormon. These denominations are composed of Christians who live up to their faith.

At present, he is a member of a Lutheran church and very much involved in the men’s prayer group. He is also a lay reader and a former tenor in the choir.

Most people think the Bible is simply a written recording of anecdotes of God and his interaction with humans and the testament of his power. That is, however, not all of it. The Bible Is a Single Book undertakes the project of explaining the outline and theme found in the Bible.

The Bible is more than just the collection of sacred texts. The scholars have excluded the apocrypha, purposely preserving the teachings that are constant throughout the books in the Bible. The scholars have observed a system. The Bible Is a Single Book undertakes the project of explaining the outline and theme of that system found in the Bible. This will pave way for readers to be further enlightened when studying the Bible for their salvation.

100 | UncagedBooks.com

The Bible Is a Single Book

by H. Doyle Smith had been exhibited in 2022 American Library Association Annual Conference Washington D.C. June 2022

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

101

feature authors

non-fiction political humor | travel memoir

David D. Schein

Julie Gianelloni Connor

104 | UncagedBooks.com

David D. D

SCHEIN

avid D. Schein is a Professor and the Cameron Endowed Chair of Management and Marketing for the Cameron School of Business at the University of St. Thomas-Houston. He is also an author, speaker, attorney and consultant. He speaks on human resource and business matters for industry groups throughout the United States. He is also known as a political and business commentator through his regular webcasts, Saving America and Business Law 101. He is frequently quoted in national and regional publications with his views on numerous hot button issues. Dr. Schein focuses on practical, common-sense solutions. Dr. Schein’s new book, Bad Deal for America, was released in on President’s Day 2022 and became a Number 1 best seller on Amazon. His first book, The Decline of America: 100 Years of Leadership Failures, was released by Post Hill Press on Presidents’ Day 2018 and has garnered numerous favorable reviews.

BA, University of Pennsylvania; MBA, University of Virginia; JD, University of Houston; and Ph.D. University of Virginia.

Uncaged welcomes David D. Schein

How do you come up with the title to your books?

Welcome to Uncaged! Your latest book, A Bad Deal for America is a nonfiction look at the politicians and how our tax dollars are abused by the government.

Can you tell readers more about how you researched all the information in the book? Have you always been interested in the political world?

Part of my writing style is that everything I write is in my head and then when I sit at the keyboard, it kind of flows out. I conceptualize the book and the title together. Today, as I look at future books, I am more concerned with successful marketing, so I may take a different approach on book titles in the future.

This is my second non-fiction book. I focus on gathering the research to be consistent for each politician featured in this book. As a university professor, I have students who help do research under my direction.

This shortens the time it takes to get the book finalized and printed. My policy is to read everything that my researchers provide, so I am not relying on their interpretation, only the locating of the material itself. My interest in politics goes back to high school, so it pretty close to “always.”

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I work all the time. Some writers set aside a particular time to write. I have a full-time job and a couple part-time jobs, so I tend to the work first, and then turn to the writing second. By putting in very long hours 7 days a week, I am able to accomplish more than other people.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

105

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I work out at the gym every other day and then do a stretching program on the alternate days. I play tennis once or twice a week. I also attend theater and opera performances, so that provides a little break in the action.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

Probably Spring, I like the mild weather and the days getting longer each day.

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

106 | UncagedBooks.com

Depends on what I am researching or reading. For research, I prefer electronic copies. I blow them up so I can read them quickly. I read a huge amount of material on the computer screen. When I am in my car, I listen to audio books, usually mysteries. I am also reading several hard copy books right now, including “Freedom Forge,” about WW II and US industry.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I appreciate each and every person that takes the time to read either a hard copy or ecopy of my books. I am trying to put together a cast to read/perform Bad Deal for America, so I hope to have an audio book by the end of the summer.

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from: Bad Deal for America Bad Deal for America David D. Schein Non-Fiction Political Humor The stakes have never been higher. Americans concerned about inflation, the runaway National Debt, and the downward trajectory of our government must demand positive change now. It is nearly too late to turn things

around.

Political divisions are at an all-time high. Politicians are playing a shell game, repeatedly upping the ante in their public discourse and cashing in their chips while ensuring the cards are stacked against the American taxpayer. Dr. David D. Schein casts the die in “Bad Deal for America,” spotlighting a deck of 26 Republican and 26 Democratic lawmakers who have been using Washington, D.C., as their own personal casino. Part satire and part exposé, Dr. Schein’s new book follows the money through the smoke and mirrors of interviews and public statements into politicians’ pockets as they cash in exorbitant sums, leaving taxpayers wondering how they missed the trick.

Excerpts Marjorie Taylor Greene Congresswoman from GA 14th District since 2021 1 year in DC

| DAVID D. SCHEIN | “Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi’s forced Jewish people to wear a gold star.” (05/25/21) https://twitter. com/mtgreenee/status/1397150992341377027 “You ran a Nov 3rd election that was stolen bc you idiots at the SOS mailed out millions of absentee ballots to anyone and everyone while GA was an open state.” (01/17/21) h t t p s : / / t w i t t e r. c o m / m t g r e e n e e / s t a tus/1350812454918496257 [Holding AR – 15] “I have a message for Antifa terrorists - stay the hell out of northwest Georgia.” [Cocks rifle.] (06/05/20) https://patch. com/georgia/dallas-hiram/gop-house-candidatewarns-antifastay-hell-out-nw-ga “Squad’s worst nightmare” [Posted meme on Facebook of her wielding AR-15 next to OAC, Omar, and Tlaib.] (09/04/20) https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/marjorie-taylor-greene-qanon-gunfacebook-squad “[The question is] paranoid and ridiculous. Fake news is always looking for the next conspiracy theory. Go back to bed.” (09/04/20) h t t p s : / / w w w. f o r b e s . c o m / s i t e s / j a c k b r e w ster/2020/09/03/trump-backed-qanon-candidateposts-meme-showingoff-gun-and-urging-offense-against-aoc-the-squad/?sh=75441ed96aca “Trump won” [wore mask with “Trump won” written on front on the House floor on her first day in office.]

(01/04/21) https://thehill.com/homenews/532534r e p - e l e c t - m a r j o r i e - t a y l o r- g r e e n e - w e a r s trump-won-mask-onhouse-floor “President Trump will remain in office. This Hail Mary attempt to remove him from the White House is an attack on every American who voted for him. Democrats must be held accountable for the political violence inspired by their rhetoric.”

(01/12/21) h t t p s : / / t w i t t e r. c o m / m t g r e e n e e / s t a Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

107

| FEATURE AUTHOR | tus/1349190884592660488 “On January 21st, I’m filing Articles of Impeachment on President-elect @JoeBiden.”

(01/14/21) https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1349519602888355840 “She’s a hypocrite. She’s anti-American. And we’re going to kick that bitch out of Congress.”

[Referring to Nancy Pelosi.] (08/12/20) https:// www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-primary-winnermarjorie-taylor-greene-pelosi “That’s another one of those Clinton murders.”

[Referring to JFK, Jr. plane crash death in 1999.]

(11/01/18) https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=18 50&v=jhe9Fd6YRyA&feature=youtu.be “The idea is clean energy to replace coal and oil.

If they are beaming the suns energy back to Earth, I’m sure they wouldn’t ever miss a transmitter receiving station right??!! I mean mistakes are never made when anything new is invented. What would that look like anyway? A laser beam or light beam coming down to Earth I guess. Could that cause a fire?” (11/17/18) https://www.mediamatters.org/facebook/marjorie-taylor-greenepennedconspiracy-theory-laser-beam-space-started-deadly-2018 Nancy Pelosi Congresswoman from CA 12th District since 1987 Speaker of the House 2007 – 2011 & since 2019 34 years in DC “What is this, a banana republic?” (06/03/20) [Report was false.] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ what-banana-republic-pelosi-unloads-trumpover-gassingprotesters-outside-n1223346 “The Chinese, they said, prefer Biden — we don’t know that, but that’s what they’re saying, but 108 | UncagedBooks.com

they’re not really getting involved in the presidential election. Russia is actively 24/7 interfering in our election. They did so in 2016, and they are doing so now.”

(08/09/2020) https://www.politico.com/ n e w s / 2 0 2 0 / 0 8 / 0 9 / p e l o s i - r u s s i a - c h i n a - e l e ction-392798 “The racist, homophobic attack on @JussieSmollett is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love. I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery & that justice is served. May we all commit to ending this hate once & for all.” [He staged attack.] (01/29/19) https://www. businessinsider.com/nancy-pelosi-deletes-tweetsupporting-empire-actor-jussie-smollett-2019-2 “I didn’t know you were Catholic.” [Said to congressman who kneeled to beg her not to vote for the bailout bill] (09/25/08) https://www.nytimes. com/2008/09/26/business/26bailout.html “Can we drill your brains?” (08/26/08) https://www. politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2008/08/pelosi-toprotesters-can-we-drill-your-brains-011290 “You’ve heard about the controversies within the bill, the process about the bill, one or the other. But I don’t know if you have heard that it is legislation for the future, not just about health care for America, but about a healthier America, where preventive care is not something that you have to pay a deductible for or out of pocket. Prevention, prevention, prevention—it’s about diet, not diabetes. It’s going to be very, very exciting. But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” (06/20/12) https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/pelosi-defendsher-infamous-health-care-remark/2012/06/20/ gJQAqch6qV_blog.html “I take responsibility for trusting the word of the neighborhood salon that I’ve been to … many times.

It was a set up. I take responsibility for falling for a set up. I think that this salon owes me an apology.”

[Caught without a mask.] (09/02/20)

| DAVID D. SCHEIN | https://nypost.com/2020/09/02/nancy-pelosi-refuses-to-apologize-for-salon-jaunt-says-she-was-set-up/ “To minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.” [Quoted fake bible verse at least 11 times on Congressional record.]

(2002 - 2018) https://www.businessinsider.com/ nancy-pelosi-quotes-a-bible-verse-that-doesnt-existisnt-in-bible2019-2

DON’T MISS THIS TITLE:

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

109

trainingforyourpassion.com

3-Page Special Promo

BeatriceFairbankscayzer

B

eatrice Fairbanks Cayzer comes from an illustrious family. Her two ancestors who came to Upper Virginia in 1620 helped found their community. She founded the Cayzer Museum for Children in England where she was the wife of Stanley Cayzer, a grandson of Sir Charles Cayzer, founder of shipping companies that evolved into Caledonia Investments, and nephew of Admiral Lord Jellicoe, the second Governor General of New Zealand. Then she turned into writing.

In Oxfordshire, she wrote The Princes and the Princesses of Wales. In Guernsey, she wrote The Royal World of Animals. Returning to the USA, she wrote nine Rick Harrow novels, winning Book of the Year Award from the Horseracing Writers’ Association. In 2016, she had a sell out with The Secret Diary of Mrs. John Quincy Adams and in 2018 had another sell out with New Tales of Palm Beach.

Kidnapped in Jerusalem Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer Psycological Fiction Dennis McLeary, sexually abused at age 6. At 18, he accepts sexual advances of a 14 year-old girl hoping to prove to himself that he is a normal man. Jailed for 17 years for having sex with the under-age girl, he is abused in prison by fellow inmates and the prison chaplain. Free at 35, he determines to better himself and hopes to have a normal marriage. Ensnared in a messy event, he escapes more prison time by becoming a waiter on a passenger-freighter. He gets leave from his ship to swim in Turkish waters, where he meets and falls in love with Myriam alMontee, a half-Turkish half-Saudi Arabian Muslim woman. Instant adora-tion is reciprocated.

Myriam elopes with Dennis, they are married by his ship’s captain. Myriam does not tell Dennis that her fanatical father, who hopes to use her to found his dynasty, is known to behead any person showing fondness for her. When three women are beheaded at her father’s orders, she warns Den112 | UncagedBooks.com

nis, he could be next.

They hide from her father in Alexandria and in Cairo, but are located by her fa-ther’s agents in Jerusalem.

Kidnapped, Myriam is brought to her father in Saudi Arabia. He orders her locked in a cell-like room in a desert house where recently a cousin has starved to death. After three months, she get help and relieved by Alf, an Oil field worker. He tries to rape her. Dennis, agonizing for her, would travel any where including to a country where they would behead him in order to reach Myriam. They find each other near a famous oasis in time to stop Alf from raping Myriam. But fate holds more vicious challenges.

Reviews ~ ~ Ladybella ~ ~ “After reading this manuscript, I can say that

I fell in love with Louisa Adams. She was a strong individual whose life story needed to be told. Louisa Adams made an impact. I couldn’t put the book down. A must read.”

dangerous capital city.The characters vary from a Chechen terrorist to Milan’s exquisite models, to the wild west drug lords of today’s Mexico.

I have never been to Morocco until reading this BOOK. What a wonderful trip it took me through. The mysterious possibilities that the characters of this story endure are nail-biting.

This is truly a masterpiece that will enthrall all mystery and vampire fans.

I highly recomend reading this masterpiece. I loved it.

~ ~ Anthony Roberts ~ ~

~ ~ Samira Sowan ~ ~ “The author Beatrice succeeded to keep the reader thrilled to read every page in her book and to take us through the journey of the unique character of Louise and live the era of the 1700 and 1800.in such a fascinating way.

I definitely enjoyed every page in this compelling story. A must read..” ~ ~ ~ VIV ~ ~ “Reader observes as main personages meet the ups and downs that bruise those on the top level yet took to heart the enormous wrongs done to slaves in America and went into battle” THE HARROW QUARTET takes the reader to many unusual places because the narrator Rick Harrow is a racehorse trainer, and a trainer has to bring his horses to the most likely tracks to win. The reader goes to Dubai, Russia’s St. Petersburg, romantic villages in Italy, tycoon homes and estates of the newly rich in Spain, and the wilds of Mexico’s most inaccesssble mountains as well as to its over-crowded and

Inspiring story of a great lady. ~ ~ garbonzo ~ ~ Here is another installment from Beatrice Cayzer’s fabulous series featuring Happy and Rick Harrow. Travel with them as the traipse across the globe from one extravagant horse exhibition to the next, and finding trouble wherever they go. Cayzer’s prose is filled with vibrant imagery, plenty of action, and enough hanky-panky to make a sailor blush. These stories are great fun, and will have you coming back for more. Fans of any of the modern detective series found on BBC/PBS will feel right at home. Don’t be surprised if these adventures are turned into their own small-screen production. Enjoy! ~ ~ Cathryn Elwyn ~ ~ It’s not every day that jockeying, an estate in the British countryside, and a complication involving the president of Russia figure in one story, but best-selling author Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer is nothing if unpredictable. Deaths, conspiracies, and . . . a threat to beloved Happy’s life? This has got to be BFC’s best yet.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

113

~ ~ Brett Virgo ~ ~ I just finished reading this wonderful book.

I was so hooked I could not put it down. I highly recomend this Murder Mystery. It will not disappoint. Each chapter draws you in, that you have to keep on reading. I am eager to see what BF Cayzer will come up with next. ~ ~ DEE ~ ~ Murder by Medicine is a deliciously delightful book that reminds everyone of how wonderful London can be, during the Season. The descriptive scenes take you there with intrigue and GLAMOUR! Horses, men and murder are an intoxicating read in the hands of B. F. Cayzer. Without a doubt, Murder by Medicine is one of the best books that I have read. It is a perfect gift for any stylish acquaintance or be wickedly selfish and keep it all to yourself! ~ ~ Cathy ~ ~ If you like murder mysteries, this is a great book to read. It brings you into the horse people who have their own ideas of life. It travels from Ethiopia to England with fast paced action. Do read.

114 | UncagedBooks.com

Showcase

Elizabeth Hepburn conner

Sometimes, it seems like winter never ends. For broken lovers, the cold feels the same. Oftentimes, the pain appears endless. Can they ever experience the warmth of love again? Readers will witness how the characters go through the ups and downs of love as they embark on a gripping journey of love and pain and all the emotions in between in author Elizabeth Hepburn Conner’ In the Cold Where You Left Me. This is a story of endearment, grace through pain, and learning to value oneself to treasure another.

All Kyle knows is the frigid temperatures of Runestone, where he spent his entire life exploring parts of him that remain buried inside. The pure-blooded Minnesotan sees a crack through his icy ridges and attempts at a breakthrough. He pulls away from a cyclic addiction to an intoxicating five-year relationship with a childhood sweetheart, but gaslight and fond memories keep him crawling back.

Turmoil seems to have no end until he encounters hope in a Californian with deep cerulean eyes.

Liam, an idyllic splash of color from Orange County, transfers to Runestone University in time to begin the Spring semester with a promise to his father, Mr. Alexander, of a clean slate. However, redemption and clarity become blurred when Liam crosses paths with the Minnesotan and is allured by his emerald eyes and starkly raven 116 | UncagedBooks.com

demeanor. Still, Liam is plagued by a trauma that haunts him wherever he runs, resulting in Liam’s battles against addiction, anxiety, and depression.

As Liam and Kyle become enamored and endeavor in each other, their troubles seem to wash away.

Then, an Instagram post pours skeletons out of Liam’s closet and smothers his light. Mr. Alexander rushes to Liam’s side and urges him back to Orange County, leaving Kyle feeling left in the cold once again with no promise of Liam’s return. Commitment and faith in each other—and themselves—are cross-examined and tried. Still, as Liam steps on the plane back to California, Kyle and Liam begin to learn that the philosophy of felicity and serenity is forgiveness and love.

elizabethhepburnconner.com AUTHOR INTERVIEW What’s the hardest thing about being an author?

The hardest thing about being an author is knowing when to put down the pen or step away from the computer. Yes, there is always room to write a new ending or add to other chapters. However, you have to know when to say, “Okay, this is the end. I’m satisfied with what I worked hard on.”

What is the best thing about being an author?

The best thing about being an author, personally for me, is playing with different words. Since I was young, I have always been fascinated with words, especially

words that are aesthetically beautiful and captivating enough to get you thinking. It is a fascination with poeticism because words are expressions of the heart, and when you put them together into a book, you’ve created a story worth connecting with. That is only if you write from the heart and remember that the person holding your book more than likely wants substance, and maybe your work resonating with them is a plus.

What inspired you to write this book?

I started writing In the Cold Where You Left Me back in 2018. Back then, ideologies were a bit different and needed more work. I was unhappy with how media books, movies, and music - continued to portray LGBT relationships, people, characters, or lifestyles in a “taboo” narrative. For instance, they were always hypersexualized. I am all for embracing sexuality and sexual liberty, but you have to understand that there is a person with a story behind that sexuality. I was also inspired to write characters that were realistic dimensions of what people my age experience daily, specifically between the ages of 18 to 25. Adulting is a challenging and trying experience that tests your strengths and weaknesses with relationships, friendships, self-esteem, mental health, and even sexuality. It is a blurred line between innocence and facing your imperfections. So, writing a book with these inspirations in mind was a delicate process.

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

It is similar to what I think is best as an author. I love writing, and I love how I can use words to tell a story that I hope will impact someone positively. I like blending sophistication and contemporary styles of writing.

However, I am meticulous not to alienate a potential reader. I grew up reading literary classics with philosophical depictions and modern-day works that reach out to my generation. So, I draw inspiration from those.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally?

It is a little bit of both. Writing naturally comes to me because I don’t often verbally express what I am thinking. I am a bit of an introverted thinker. So, I live in my imagination, and writing allows me to do that. It is the best way to express myself. On the other hand, when I am writing for a specific purpose, I make sure tokeep myself disciplined to the prompt or goal of what I am writing.

will learn after reading this book?

There are many lessons to be learned from adulting.

It is an intimidating experience when you first go into it. However, the biggest lesson it will teach you is the importance of preserving your mental health before giving any part of you - your heart, your skills, your effort, or your kindness - to anyone you love or anything career-wise. It would help if you also surrounded yourself with people who are willing to protect your mental health with you - not for you. They see that you are strong regardless of your struggles because they love you enough to run the race with you. Nevertheless, always look forward to the best version of you that is waiting at the finish line, because that version of you is who loves you the most.

What books are currently in your to be read pile?

I have a long list of reads in my pile because I am a bookworm by nature. I’m currently reading a book called Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco. It is such a modern-day gothic read. Next, I want to finally read Find Me, which is a follow-up to Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman. I also

want to get back into classic literature. So, I also have Persuasion by Jane Austen, and The Lady of Shalott by Alfred Tennyson. I also read a lot of Colleen Hoover and John Greene books because they were my middle school and high school favorites.

Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I want to say thank you. All I can say is thank you because it is a rare opportunity for someone to take the time out of their day to check out your work. So, I appreciate those who said, “Hey, I wanna check this out. This looks like a cool book.” I can only hope that my work resonates with you and that you stick it out with me because I plan to write more.

What is the take home lesson you wish your readers Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

117

118 | UncagedBooks.com

Julie Gianelloni J

CoNNOR

ulie Gianelloni Connor is an award-winning author and retired senior Foreign Service Officer. Her first book, “Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, not the Hike,” garnered no. 1 status on Amazon in both the category for new books on hiking and walking and the category for Spain and Portugal. It subsequently went on to win a silver medal in the eLit national competition as well as being selected as a finalist by Self-Publishing Review (SPR), in addition to three other awards.

Julie is the owner and publisher of Bayou City Press (BCP) in Houston, Texas, which focuses on travel writing, Houston, history, and international affairs. Julie writes a weekly newsletter for BCP updating subscribers about activities.

Her books can be ordered from her publishing website (BayouCityPress.com), from her author website (JulieConnorAuthor.com), or from Amazon.com.

Uncaged welcomes Julie Gianelloni Conner Welcome to Uncaged! You’ve written a very personal book with Savoring the Camino de Santiago. Can you tell readers what compelled you to write this travel memoir?

For years, I have kept a travel journal on trips, noting down everything from the day’s activities to expenses.

For my Camino trip in 2016, I decided to try writing a travel blog instead of the usual travel journal. Due to connectivity problems in northern Spain, I abandoned the blog halfway through the trip and returned to keeping a travel journal. Those journal and blog entries were the basis for the book’s daily entries that charted my progress along the Camino. While on the Camino, I

discovered many aspects of the Camino that I wished someone had told me about beforehand. I wanted to share those ideas with others thinking of traveling the Camino, and those ideas formed the basis for the parts of Savoring the Camino that give advice to Camino travelers. So, my book is a hybrid, with memoir elements and guidebook-like elements.

My blog, CaminoforBoomers.com, is also a useful addendum to the book since it carries many, many photos in color that I was unable to include in the Issue 66 | July/August 2022 | 119

| FEATURE AUTHOR | book, which only has black-and-white photos. I would say that my overriding motivation for writing the book was to tell readers that to experience the Camino you don’t have to walk every step, despite the prevailing culture now reigning among Camino travelers.

Do you have any new travel plans and books in mind for the future?

Last fall I returned to the Camino, doing a horseback Camino mounted on a fabulous horse named Picasso. I plan to write a book about that horseback Camino later this year.

Pilgrimage horseback group en route to church along the Camino Later this year, I have another trip planned to Portugal and Spain. I can only hope that the COVID situation remains stable so that international travel will not be interrupted again.

you aren’t writing or working?

I have been an avid reader from childhood. Actually, I am more a reader than a writer. Perhaps I should have tried for a career as a book reviewer or librarian. Besides reading, I enjoy playing duplicate bridge, though nowadays I only play once a week due to the time pressures of my micro-publishing company. Also, I watch the news daily, keeping up with national and international affairs. I have been interested in politics and foreign affairs since my teen years.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

Summer. I love summertime—backyard barbeques, road trips, fairs and festivals. I prefer warm weather and have spent a lifetime, unsuccessfully for years at a time, trying to avoid snow.

As for future books, I plan to write a family memoir, maybe a professional memoir, and perhaps a fictional series based on my diplomatic career. I’d also like to write a couple of screenplays—so I have plenty of projects to keep me busy.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

My booth at ComicPalooza in July 2021, a summertime staple in Houston

I have lived a very international, cosmopolitan life, but I grew up on a ranch in Louisiana. Until my later teen years, I thought I would be a rancher or marry a rancher or at the least remain in the agricultural sphere. I had no idea I would have the life I have lived.

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books?

Are you reading anything now?

What are some things you like to do to relax when 120 | UncagedBooks.com

I much prefer actual physical books, though ebooks are a great way to take a library along with me when I am on an extended trip. I know a lot of people are not readers, so I had Savoring the Camino made into an audiobook for them.

| JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR | I am usually reading several books at the same time. I stash one on my bedside table, one by my place at the breakfast table, one in my TV area, etc. Right now I am working on a thriller, a historic review of Texas politics since the Civil War, and a guide to hidden places in Houston, where I live.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

Both of my books break the usual mold, and sometimes readers don’t like that. For example, Savoring the Camino is both a memoir and a guidebook to the Camino. Some readers have suggested that I should have made the text into two separate books, but I aimed my book at people who are thinking they might want to travel the Camino or who know they never will but want to know what the experience is like. And for those readers, I believe the mixture of the two gives the most overall information about and sense of the Camino.

Also, as the subtitle of Savoring the Camino indicates, this book is not for true believers who think there is no other way to travel the Camino except to walk every step.

As for following me, I am fairly active on social media, with two websites plus weekly posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. I suggest readers check out my author website at JulieConnorAuthor.com.

Enjoy an excerpt from Savoring the Camino De Santiago Savoring the Camino De Santiago Julie Gianelloni Connor Travel Memoir “Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, Not the Hike” is an award winning book by author Julie Gianelloni Connor. The book focus on the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage trail that began around 820 AD. A resurrection of interest in the Camino since the 1970s has meant that more than 300,000 individuals are nowadays undertaking the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela each year. The author made the pilgrimage in 2016 via the French route from Saint-Jean-Piedde-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a journey of some 500 miles. Her book incorporates a blog and travel journal she kept during that pilgrimage. The book is also a memoir, with Ms. Connor explaining how and why she decided to make the pilgrimage. Savoring the Camino is also a practical guide to the Camino for those interested in it. While the prevailing culture of the Camino is to walk the route, Ms. Connor believes that walking is not the only way to undertake the Camino. Taking buses, taxis, or even driving are also valid ways to experience the Camino, in her opinion. She advocates for pilgrims to slow down and savor the pilgrimage by stopping in churches, cathedrals, museums, and interesting towns and cities along the route.

Not everyone experiences spiritual or personal growth through the act of walking; Ms. Connor urges pilgrims to take the trip in the manner that Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

121

| FEATURE AUTHOR | will most connect them with their spiritual, religious, and transcendent well springs.After completing the pilgrimage, the author journeyed on to Madrid and Toledo, and there are chapters in the book covering those visits. Ms. Connor also recounts activities following the journey related to the Camino, such as writing an open letter to relevant governmental authorities in Spain and hosting a thank-you dinner in Houston for those who helped her plan and organize her pilgrimage.The book also includes a useful chapter on resources as well as an index.

Excerpt Chapter 15 The Baby Carriage ALONG THE CAMINO, you see every sort of travel group. Singles, pairs, couples holding hands, groups, large groups, even one very pregnant young woman. Parents with children. People walking with dogs.

I always looked over the children closely. I myself found the walking very strenuous. How would a six-year-old kid manage it? One time we met and chatted with a threesome on bikes: father, mother, and son, who was about ten years old. I knew how James had hated biking uphill, so I was curious about how this boy was doing on the many hills and mountains of the Camino. His parents both averred that he was doing great. They had just started the Camino, so he had only had one day of biking so far, but he had done wonderfully that first day. The boy himself seemed happy. He was proud of staying up with his parents, and even boasted of being in the lead at times. Clearly this was an adventure he was relishing. The other children we saw also seemed happy as they walked, skipped, and ranalong. I overheard no whining or complaining.

I became used to seeing all sorts. Even so, I was taken aback one day at what I saw. James and I 122 | UncagedBooks.com

were struggling down a steep, screecovered slope.

You had to really keep focused, because the slippery rocks under your feet made every step treacherous.

Walking stickswere a huge help, and I don’t know how many times I would have fallen without them.

This, for me, was dangerous going. I had already broken my ankle once years previously, and the last thing I wanted was another broken ankle or leg. If I fell and injured myself along this largely inaccessible trail, how would emergency workers even get to me, much less carry me out? I went extremely slowly, planting my walking sticks securely, carefully putting each foot down and testing the footing before fully shifting my weight onto that foot, and always being ready for the slides that inevitably happened despite my care. This was tiring and anxiety-producing hiking, so I stopped often to look around. I needed to remind myself of the beauty of the countryside. And to remember the reasons why I was doing the walk.

Thanks to my frequent stops, I had plenty of time to observe these two guys toiling up the slope towards us. Seeing them was unusual for two reasons. First, they were going in the wrong direction. That is, they were headed away from, not towards, Santiago de Compostela. The great majority of pilgrims walk to Santiago. Only a tiny fraction walks home again, or back to their starting point. In our two months of walking, we only saw a handful of pilgrims headed back.

The second reason the two men were worth observing was that they were pushing a baby carriage. Uphill!

On this scree-filled slope! It was hard enough going downhill. Going up, pushing that carriage, must have been hell. I kept wondering about what sort of crazy guys would be bringing a baby on this trip. The only explanation I could think of was that maybe they were locals, not pilgrims, and had no choice about routes to get home.

We approached closer and closer. Finally, we stopped, just uphill from them. The hood of the baby carriage was up, shielding the baby

| JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR | from the strong Spanish sun.

Usually pilgrims pass each other by with a cheery “Buen Camino!” exchanged. Occasionally a pilgrim will ask a question about the route ahead—how far to the next town, or whether the other pilgrim had seen a certain individual on the Camino?

After I exchanged a few words with this particular pair, it was clear that these two men were foreign pilgrims, not locals. I continued to wonder about what in the world they were doing bringing a baby on this trip. While I wondered, I minded my manners and did not ask them any of the questions that were fizzing in my head. Where’sthe mom? How were they feeding the baby? Where were they staying? The pilgrim hostels wouldn’t take babies, I was pretty sure.

Finally, after a few minutes of chatting about the weather and the route, I broached what I really wanted to know.

I looked down at the mama dog under the carriage with pity. She’d had to walk to Santiago pregnant, whelp seven pups, then turn around and go back the other direction while nursing her pups. I wondered, but didn’t ask, where they had acquired the baby carriage. And what about dog food for the new mom? I didn’t see any in evidence.

I looked at the mama dog again, and wished I had the courage to tell the two guys that they should be giving her a ride in the carriage too. Instead, I just said a heartfelt “Buen Camino y buena suerte!” and moved on down the slope. I am still wondering if this party of ten all made it home OK. And I still wish that I had taken a photo of the pups in the baby carriage, the littlest pilgrims I saw.

DON’T MISS THIS TITLE:

“Are you on your way home?”

“Yes,” one of the men replied, “we are going back to our starting point in France.”

“My God,” I thought, “over the Pyrenees with a baby carriage?”

“Can I see the baby?”

“Sure. Take a look.”

I made my careful way down the slope, stopping by the carriage. I peeked in, to see a mass of puppies curled up together. Only then did I notice a bitch sheltering in the shade under the baby carriage.

“Goodness! What’s this?”

“Seven puppies. Born on the Camino.”

“How old are they?”

“A week.”

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

123

Showcase

M

M.S. basmeer

. S. Basmeer is of African and Arab descent. He finally settled in Canada having lived and worked in the diaspora of three countries with his wife and five children. He holds three degrees in English studies and Education and continues to teach English studies part time.

Follow the author from the backwater of his birth town as he copes with his adolescent inhibitions and through to his incompatible marriage, then to his eleven-year estrangement after he sires and rears five children who, together with their mother and his blessings, move to the diaspora. In richly textured prose, Basmeer’s private moments are palpable as he reunites with his family only to find himself struggling to understand the shift in their personalities. His struggles are unending even in his 73rd year as he walks out of his home for the sixth time after years of miscommunication and abuse.

124 | UncagedBooks.com

What I could not understand was when Wife started spewing vitriol at me in her letters, blaming me for not trying hard enough to bring her into the Far Country, that I did not want her with me, or that Mother was arranging to send me a new bride. She would ask why another per-son she knew was able to join her husband in the same country and town while she was still “stuck” with Son in the Coastal Town. Consumed by her frustration, she assumed I was happy in the Far Country with no thought for her or Son. I still remember the vitriol, one was a specific adage I had never heard before: Maskini akipata matako hulia mbwata, a local adage stating that when a poor person acquires wealth, his buttocks flap with a resounding noise that announces his good fortune. Then she began writing that she had other plans, that she was arranging to travel to another country where a cousin, more “considerate to [her] situation than [I] could ever be, would take responsibility for both [herself and Son].” She began demanding a divorce, stating she did not need me, that she was capable of tak-ing care of herself and Son. I would telephone Wife as well as write to her with pleas, pleading that I understood her frustrations, explaining my frustrations to boot; but it was like blowing my pleas down a telephone receiver so hollow that I could hear the echoes of my voice being stunted, being received at the other end in sounds incomparable, unremitting and therefore shallow in their breadth of meaning. I would receive a six-page letter, six pages every week—each page profound in affronts toward me and in her independent plans that were already falling into place.

The discord between us would continue for thirteen months before I was granted the visa, and subsequently, a vacation of fourteen days that enabled travel to the Coastal Town. I was now in a position to apply for a resident visa for Wife and Son though a mandatory waiting period of six months, give or take a few more months, was required. I was hopeful, nevertheless, for a happy reunion despite the misunderstandings between us. Together or apart, we had been married for almost three years. We had a baby who was barely two years old but the length of time had done more in deepening the divide between us than in building a bridge toward a mutual understanding. I wanted a soul mate I could exchange ideas with, one who would hear what I had to say and reason with me with logical explanations.

Instead, Wife would choose to unhear anything I said to her. I would strive to make a reasonable understanding of her retorts and always end up letting her have her way because I could not fight and win when there was a wall between us. The premise for her divorce, while abrupt and unreasonable because her visa to the Far Country was not forthcoming, was unshakeable as was her resolve to move on to the Neighboring Far Country with her cousin.

I had booked a room at a beach hotel immediately after my arrival at the Coastal Town where we could talk in privacy, away from either family. We should have been able to snap out of the dire straits and come to a good place where we could have moved forward while awaiting the necessary documents from the Far Country. Instead, we exchanged a volley of accusations against each other. Exhausted by the futility of unrequited pleas, by the hurt each felt because of the tangible disregard the other party has inflicted, imagined or real, we came together in the unchallenged peace of our lovemaking, an act that has the illusionary effect of transporting both parties into a melody of agreement, an agreement transient nonetheless, because with physical desire quashed, reality rushes in to subdue the momentary peace.

Seeing no end to the back and forth of misunderstood communication, and from what must have seemed to Wife as my insensitivity toward her most urgent

need to join me in the Far Country, we divorced. I was decisive in the need to proceed with the divorce while she accepted my spirit, or lack thereof, with the nonchalance of inevitability. Her plans to migrate to another country under the care of her cousin were already in place while my assurances for when she could join me in the Far Country were nonspecific, lacking a timeframe, and therefore seeming insincere to her.

We went our separate ways, she threatening me with never seeing Son again and I, having already given up on my marriage, being too broken to fight her in court. I also knew that because of my long absence from the Coastal Town, and therefore from the contacts Wife had garnered at the law court, I would be impeded from any hope of winning a child-custody case against a mother who was still present in the Coastal Town. We were not to meet again for six years.

I returned to the Far Country and reported for work immediately upon arrival, forfeiting ten days of my vacation. It was not long before I heard she had gone to her cousin in the Neighbouring Far Country, leaving Son with her family in the Coastal Town.

Soon after, there was news she was engaged to a national of the Neighbouring Far Country, that marriage was soon to follow.

Son was now four years old, growing up entirely with the support of her family to whom she had given strict instructions: I was not to see or take Son out of her family’s house when I was in the country, and neither could Mother or Brother, for fear I would bundle up Son and stowaway him to the Far Country, which was absurd since children were not pret-a-porter, not items for the suitcase.

We would remarry after six years—the first time I saw Son again. It was six years in which I had had no news of Son. I was later to find out he had been going to kindergarten with fees being paid by Wife’s fiancé in the Neighboring Far Country.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

125

fang-FREAKIN-tastic reviews

feature author

ELIZABETH DEARL

E

lizabeth Dearl is a former Texas police officer who also owned a small bookstore for several years. She is an instructor and course developer for Writer’s Digest School’s Writers Online Workshops, and a part-time editor. Elizabeth lives in the Houston, Texas area with her husband and two fur children of the canine variety. She is the author of the award-winning Taylor Madison mystery series and Malicious Intent, a collection of her short stories.

Elizabeth

DEARL Enjoy an excerpt from: Broken Mate Malicious Intent Elizabeth Dearl Horror Shorts Tales for every mood, running the gamut from quirky mystery to chilling horror.

When a lifelong friend betrays her trust once too often, an elderly woman plans the ultimate revenge.

A young drifter meets a famous artist, with grisly results. A secretary’s get-rich-quick scheme backfires. Recently released from a mental institution, a woman fears she’s hallucinating -- but is she?

A detective makes use of an unusual witness. A woman escapes her coffin for a final farewell. A real estate agent discovers why her best model home is scaring away customers. Is a cache of confederate gold really haunted?

128 | UncagedBooks.com

Often strange, sometimes startling, always unpredictable, these stories and more await you in Malicious Intent.

Excerpt The Way to a Man’s Heart by Elizabeth Dearl I sprinkled the chicken with Fred’s favorite lemon seasoning and slid it into the oven.

There. I was feeling smugly organized until I glimpsed my reflection in a polished copper pot. My hair was a disaster and I had flour all over my dress. My lipstick – which I’m unaccustomed to wearing – had been thoroughly bitten off, leaving a bright red rim around my mouth, which made me look like a vampire who’d just indulged in a snack. On top of that, I still hadn’t wrapped Fred’s gift, and he’d be here in less than two hours.

“Weee-hooo!”

Oh, no. Emma. She makes that peculiar noise in lieu of knocking. I suppose it’s her version of yoo-hoo,

FangFreakinTastic but it’s most annoying.

“Come on in!” I called out, grabbing a paper napkin to scrub off the remaining lipstick. I couldn’t take any teasing from Emma today. Not when it might turn out to be the most important day of my life.

Her painted-on eyebrows rose as she bustled through the door and caught sight of me.

“Let me guess. Your can of talcum powder exploded.”

“It’s flour,” I said, swiping uselessly at my dress with a dish towel. “I was baking bread.”

She helped herself to a cup of coffee and plunked down at the table. I cast a frantic glance at the clock.

How was I going to get rid of her?

Emma sniffed the air. “Mmm. Lemon chicken?

That’s Fred’s favorite.” She smirked at me over the rim of her coffee cup.

“Is it?” I busied myself sponging the counter, refusing to meet her eyes.

“I ran into Jane at the market. She said she’d left Fred at home, and that he was getting all gussied up.”

Fred is Jane’s brother, who had recently come to stay with her. I’d met him the month before when it was Jane’s turn to host our weekly poker game. I know, I know – most elderly ladies prefer bridge or mahjong, but Emma talked us all into poker. She says it’s more stimulating. I suspect her real motive lies in the fact that she almost always wins. A nice supplement to her Social Security income, though it tends to leave the rest of us strapped for cash.

I examined her bright orange curls and wished I had the nerve to dye my own gray mane a younger color.

I probably wouldn’t choose the hue of a radioactive carrot, however. Perhaps a nice, soft brown, as it was in my youth.

“Why are you staring at me?” she demanded.

Ritz and so are you and you just happen to have his favorite meal cooking . . . well, I’m not Sherlock Holmes, but I’m capable of putting two and two together.”

I wanted to tell her that it was none of her business. I wanted to toss her out on her artificially padded fanny. But me being me and Emma being Emma, I did neither of those things. Instead, I took a seat across from her and sighed.

“Fred is coming over to have dinner with me. Satisfied?”

She smacked her orange lips. “Ah. A special dinner for Valentine’s Day.” I ran my flour-coated hands through my already disheveled hair and groaned. “Please, Emma, he’ll be here soon and now I have to change clothes.”

“That would be an excellent idea. And do something with that rat’s nest on top of your head while you’re at it.” She snapped her fingers and pushed back her chair. “On second thought, let me! I used to be a hairdresser, after all.”

I peered at her suspiciously. Emma wasn’t the type to pitch in and help out. She usually managed to suddenly remember some urgent errand or appointment if a friend dared to request her assistance.

“Come on, Grace, it’ll be fun! We used to do each other’s hair all the time when we were teenagers.”

“Well . . .”

The next thing I knew, she had me seated at my bedroom dressing table and was brushing my hair so vigorously that it crackled with static electricity.

“Ouch! Not so hard!”

“Was I? Sorry.” I twisted the sponge, which obligingly dribbled water all over my new shoes.

“Oh, hold still. Now, a chignon, do you think? Or is that too old-fashioned? Darn it, Grace, if you’d just cut this mess to a more practical length . . .”

“Speaking of gussied up, Grace, you’re looking spiffy today. At least, I’m sure you were before the incident with the flour. Let me see, now. Fred’s putting on the

“No.” Tom had liked my hair long. I’ve never forgotten how he used to twine it around his finIssue 66 | July/August 2022 |

129

gers as he kissed me. Of course, that was before Emma stole him away from me. Their marriage hadn’t been the happiest, but still, she’d shared his home and his bed for forty-two years while my own bed remained empty and lonely.

In the mirror, I watched her wield the brush, hairpins sprouting from her mouth. Had I ever really forgiven her? Did anyone really forgive Emma her outrageous behavior, or were we all simply too intimidated to make a fuss?

I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the sharp pulls at my scalp. I’d waited so long for love to find me again, and now, finally, it had. Thinking about Fred gave me a delightful tingly feeling. And he was going to ask me to marry him. Tonight.

Just the day before, he’d shown me the ring he always wore on his right pinkie. Slender, silver, studded with tiny turquoise stones.

“It was my mother’s,” he said. “I’d hoped that my late wife would wear it as a wedding band, but she wanted diamonds. Well, her diamonds are buried with her now, I hope she enjoyed them.”

“I think it would make a lovely wedding band,” I had stammered.

“Do you really?”

“I do.” I’d blushed at that unintentional lapse into wedding vows, but he didn’t seem to mind. He’d held my face between his large hands and smiled down at me.

That’s when I’d invited him over to Valentine’s dinner, and he said he’d love to come, that he had something important to ask me.

“Voila!” Emma exclaimed.

My eyes flew open. I gasped.

“What have you done to me?”

“Magic. Don’t you like it?”

“I – I love it.” I think a part of me had expected her to put gum in my hair, as she’d done when we 130 | UncagedBooks.com

were in fifth grade. Instead, she’d braided and twisted up a lovely creation, one that softened the prominent bones in my face and seemed to banish the worst of my wrinkles.

“Someday,” she said, “I’m going to get rid of that gray for you.”

“Would you?” I had a sudden vision of myself walking down the aisle to meet Fred at the altar, my hair suddenly looking as young as the rest of me would feel at that moment. Blinking back tears, I said, “I’d like that, Emma. Someday soon.”

“Fine. Well, you’d better change. I’ll baste the chicken for you, if you like.”

“Thanks.” What had gotten into her?

I donned a dress of pale rose and dabbed a little color on my cheeks, then hurried into the living room to get busy with wrapping paper and tape.

“Present for someone?”

I jumped. Emma had crept up behind me, an old habit of hers.

“For Fred,” I admitted, hoping I wasn’t blushing.

“Oh, a Valentine’s gift? How sweet. What is it? Let me see.”

I held it up. “He told me he hates electric shavers.”

“Gad, he still uses a straight razor? That takes guts.

But I guess it explains why his cheeks are always so smooth.”

“How would you know?” I blurted out.

“Oh, I know a lot about Fred. Of course, I’m sure I’ll get to know him even better after we’re married.”

My jaw dropped.

She bared her perfect dentures in a smile. “After I saw Jane at the market this morning, I went by her house to visit Fred. Sometimes it’s hard to get rid of that sister of his when we want to be alone, so I grab every opportunity.”

“You . . . and Fred?”

FangFreakinTastic Emma didn’t seem to notice that my voice had risen to a shriek. “He acted so odd when I first arrived that I wondered what on earth was wrong with him. But then –” She fumbled with a silver chain around her neck and pulled the turquoise ring from beneath her blouse. “Kind of pretty, isn’t it? It’ll do for a wedding band until I can talk him into something more expensive.” She tucked the chain out of sight. “Fred told me that he was having dinner with you tonight so that he could ask you how he should propose to me – said he knew that you and I were old friends and he was hoping you could give him some advice about how to make it more romantic.”

DON’T MISS THESE TITLES:

“Advice?” I was having trouble breathing.

“Yes, but I assured him that he did just fine on his own. Anyway, I suggested I meet him here so that we could both tell you the good news, but I just couldn’t wait another minute. Oh, well, we can still have dinner together. There’s enough chicken for three, isn’t there?” She giggled. “You should have seen him, Grace. So charming. Down on one knee, begging for my hand.”

I looked at the razor.

When the doorbell rang thirty minutes later, I left the dripping package on the coffee table while I went to answer. I realized that I’d eventually have to decide how to dispose of the rest of Emma, but fair is fair.

Fred had begged for her hand, so I’d make sure he got it – in a nicely wrapped box, tied with a big red bow.

I hid the razor behind my back as I opened the door.

Yes, he was more than welcome to her hand, but before the evening was over his heart would belong to me. I’d keep it in a jar, right next to the lemon seasoning.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

131

R E V I E W S

R E V I E W S uNCAGED BOOKS uNCAGEDBOOKS.COM

146

FANG FREAKIN TASTIC fangfreakintasticreviews.com

150

AMY’S BOOKSHELF

writeramyshannon.wixsite.com/bookshelfreviewS

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews Monsters & Mayhem Stacey Rourke Fantasy Short A dark secret lurks in Malaria Cain’s past.

She tried to run but it’s gaining fast.

There are years of her life she can’t recall.

That blacked-out time could be her downfall.

Madness is associated with

her family name.

Ever since one among them let it take the reins.

Now memories flood back of blood and pain Making Malaria fear she’s gone insane.

Will the truth revealed set her free?

Or secure her family’s morbid legacy?

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: This review is hard because all I can think of is the word, “WOW.” Like, for real. This is the part of the story I needed next and had no idea. I’ve been curious about Malaria’s background for a while now. I’m so glad Stacey Rourke came through with this to sooth my in-between book releases craving.

Yeah, so we find out all about Malaria. Her background, her life before her afterlife, why she can be so horrid at times. It all makes sense now. The mystery that is tied up in this story is perfect. It’s heartbreaking, it’s cold, and Rourke delivers each piece at the perfect moment.

So if you are at all on the fence about this series (though I can’t imagine why they would be. I

134 | UncagedBooks.com

love this series), this is a good book to try before you give up. If other people are loving this as much as I do (I’m pretty sure they do), then they already know what to expect. They can expect a solid story, occasional humor at the perfect time, creative storylines that get all wrapped up in a bow at the end with little ribbons of hope for more stories to come. There’s not really much else I can say. Just go read it already.

Suburban Zombie High Jeremy Flagg Horror Comedy Boxford High pranksters cause a chemistry lab to go wrong and students are forced to face something far worse than S.A.T.’s and cafeteria lunches – an infection that turns students into zombies scouring the halls for survivors.

A group of unlikely companions; an artistic goth, star-athlete jock, disgruntled loner, would-be marine, sassy cheerleader, and angry Asian, set aside their homework to fend off the zombie apocalypse. As they fight through locker rooms and dance their way across the theater, they find surviving zombies may be more difficult than puberty.

Now they must set aside homework and bake sale fundraisers to fend off the zombie apocalypse before the infection reaches beyond the walls of their suburban high school.

defiant, but smarter than adults give them credit for.

The adults in the first book are kind of a mess. There are some good moments for them, but all but Ms. V would make me nervous if they were teaching my kids.

The setting is exactly what you’d expect with the title. I liked the origins of how everything started too.

That’s no something you really see every day. You’ll see it once in a while, but it’s not overdone for the most part. Plenty of action, violence, and gore, but not what I would consider gratuitous.

The only thing I didn’t like about this series is that it’s only 3 books. If you like kinda cheesy horror movies and have a sense of humor, this series is worth checking out. There were a few more typos than I’m used to, but it wasn’t bad enough to actually take away from the story. The series could use a quick proofread and look for wrong spellings of words, but overall, it really is a great series. I liked this series so much, I’m not even taking points off for any mistakes I noticed. That’s how wrapped up I was in the story, and that’s saying something.

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: This is easily one of the best series I’ve read this year. It has the perfect amount of violence and humor that really makes me enjoy reading. If they were to make a movie of this book, and that movie is anywhere near as entertaining as the movie I watched in my head while reading this series, I’d even buy the DVD, and I haven’t bought a DVD in ages (do they even still release movies on DVD?).

Was this book dark? Yes Was this book violent? Yep Was this book creative? Maybe, yeah, I guess.

Was this book full of corny lines and movie moments?

Absolutely.

I think the characters in this series can be found in any high school on the planet. The pretty girl, the goth, the athlete girl, the weird kid. You know them. Hell, maybe you even were them. I know which one I was.

This makes the kids in this book easy to relate to in the sense they kind of remind us of us. They’re smart asses,

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

135

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews Accidental Magic Iris Beaglehole Faatasy Welcome to Myrtlewood, a quirky town, steeped in magic, tea, and mystery…

Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.

Despite her cousin’s sinister maneuverings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. But there’s more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out — in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures, and endless cups of tea.

Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril – for at least a little while!

A small town with endless secrets, strange activities, and a house with a mind of its own.

If you love mystery, witches, paranormal women’s fiction with a midlife main character, and a big dose of humour, you’re going to love Myrtlewood Mysteries Book 1.

136 | UncagedBooks.com

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: I really like the ideas in this book. It’s interesting, occasionally funny, while also pulling at your heartstrings a bit. The characters are likeable for the most part while also quite flawed.

Just as most of us are. The story is creative while pulling bits and pieces from mythology to create her own world.

I’ll be frank, I think Rosemary is immature, irresponsible, and not particularly likeable. She’s supposed to be a mom but her teen daughter, Athena, is far more mature than she is. The fact that the daughter doesn’t have some kind of behavioral issue would be a miracle even more than magic if this were happening in the real world. She blames her issues on others and I just don’t care for that. It doesn’t make me care what happens to her. Athena doesn’t seem to have much respect for her mother, but I can understand why. Now, the rest of the characters are just fine. Even the villains are what you would expect from villains. Some of the characters are quite loveable. I’d love to know more about a few of the other characters.

One thing I really enjoyed is the feel of the town. It feels like somewhere that magic really could exist. It’s somewhere I’d like to visit. It’s unique but also familiar.

It’s the kind of town you see on tv. There’s the typical community dynamics, but each person in the town has it’s own little quirk that that shows they belong in Myrtlewood.

The mystery aspect of this book was alright. I didn’t solve the mystery before the end of the book or anything, but the set up and follow through was pretty good. I won’t say it’s the best thing ever, but it was still enjoyable.

This series feels more like an Urban Fantasy with Cozy Mystery aspects than strictly a mystery. It’s a good way to pass the time reading and falling into a book. Worth a read if you like books about newfound magic and magical towns.

The Write Hook Robyn Peterman Paranormal Women’s Fiction Midlife is full of surprises. Not all of them are working for me.

At forty-two I’ve had my share of ups and downs. Relatively normal, except when the definition of normal changes… drastically.

NYT Bestselling Romance Author: Check Amazing besties: Check Lovely home: Check Pet cat named Thick Stella who wants to kill me: Check Wacky Tabacky Dealing Aunt: Check Cheating husband banging the weather girl on our kitchen table: Check Nasty Divorce: Oh yes Characters from my novels coming to life: Umm… yes Crazy: Possibly Four months of wallowing in embarrassed depression should be enough. I’m beginning to realize that no one is who they seem to be, and my life story might be spinning out of my control. It’s time to take a shower, put on a bra, and wear something other than sweatpants. Difficult, but doable.

With my friends—real and imaginary—by my side, I need to edit my life before the elusive darkness comes for all of us.

The plot is no longer fiction. It’s my reality, and I’m writing a happy ever after no matter what. I just have to find the write hook.

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: I have mixed feelings about this book (and series). I enjoyed reading it. I really did. BUT there were a lot of little things that just irritated me and kept taking me out of the story. I’m giving it a 3.5 instead of a 4 or 5 because of those details. Your readers care about details. Just in case you needed a reminder.

Do I love cliffhangers? No. I don’t. But I wait until a series has several books out before I read them anyway, so it doesn’t matter that much to me. I’d be missing out on a lot of great books if I didn’t read them bc I don’t like where an author divides up their stories. I’m more concerned with whether or not it’s a good story. This book has issues, yes, but the cliffhanger isn’t that big of a deal in relation.

There are some serious editing typos going on here. Between that and the author’s insistence on overusing certain phrases not only within each book, but throughout her entire library, that is a bigger deal to me than the cliffhanger.

Despite all my complaints, I really do love the ideas she puts out. The stories are engaging and interesting. I do hate being brought out of the story the way she does, but really the story is the main reason I keep reading her books. She seems to make the same mistakes in each of her books. So if you can overlook that, she has a ton of books you can enjoy. I do feel like she’s following some kind of formula for each of her books and each of her series. There’s a pattern to them, so to speak.

Regardless, this book (series) was a great way to pass the time and as annoyed as I was, I don’t regret reading it.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

137

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Lost to the Lake Anna Willet Thriller Following a home invasion, a woman begins to question everything her husband has told her.

knife point.

Beth Jacobsen wakes up in the middle of the night to a home break-in and is held at

Amy’s Review: Brilliantly written!

What a magnetic story in Lost to the Lake by Anna Willet. This is the first book of Willet’s that I’ve read, and I absolutely loved the story, how it was written, and the premise. We often find out how people truly are and what kind of people they are when in a crisis, and unfortunately for Beth, she finds out about her husband, Marty. And then, after everything, the story keeps going, adding more thrills and chills. I have become a fan of this author and wonder why I haven’t read work by her before, but now, she’s on my radar. It’s one of those embraceable stories. It’s definitely un-put-downable! This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down.

Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. The characterizations are engrossing and dynamic. The author’s technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. Masterfully written! This author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well.

138 | UncagedBooks.com

Fred: An Unbecoming Woman Annie Krabbenschmidt LGBTQ Memoir As she recounts the journey from the blissful non-committance of her “straight” origins, to falling in love, to her years spent (shockingly) alone, Annie Krabbenschmidt’s debut book is both wickedly funny and heartbreaking. More autotheory than memoir, Fred deconstructs the institution of “womanhood,” defying gender and genre.

Amy’s Review: Powerful Memoir What a powerful story of life, love, and living as ones true self in Fred: An Unbecoming Woman by Annie Krabbenschmidt. This is the first book of this author’s that I’ve read, and I find telling this personal story, was very empowering. It is not always easy, or ever easy to let the world know who you really are. As I was reading the book, being gay or homosexual were words used, but also “the thing” was an interesting concept, as it was related to coming out, and talking to others about it. As I was reading it, I was surprised that I was surprised by people’s behavior. Many things stood out in this book, and here’s a quote, that kind of sums up what I was thinking. “This book wasn’t really supposed to be about womanhood with a capital W. But to understand the challenge of defecting from my preordained social identity as a straight, cisgender woman, in order to live out my queerness, you need to know that I was constantly inundated with cautionary tales of women who have failed: what Manne might call “unbecoming women—traitors to the cause of gender—bad women, and ‘wayward’ ones.” It’s definitely un-put-downable!

Masterfully written! Brilliant writing!

Beneath Cruel Waters Jon Bassoff Suspense A wrenching psychological thriller in the vein of Tana French’s In the Woods, Jon Bassoff’s Beneath Cruel Waters reminds us that the sins of the mothers are the sins of the sons.

Amy’s Review: A tantalizing thriller What a superbly written story in Beneath Cruel Waters by Jon Bassoff. I’ve read work from Bassoff before, and I enjoyed this book very much. The title brings the reader in, and then Holt and his mysterious, and painful past, lead him back to his home. To where he must resolve the demons between he and his dead mother. Memories, secrets, and a journey of discovery into the mysteries of life. The reader goes along with Holt on his hunt for the truth, and he must decide if that is what he really wants. It is a very well developed plot, and it had so many layers, that it was real. So many questions to be answered. It’s definitely un-put-downable! This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. This read is more than just words on a page. Definitely an unpredictable story, my favorite kind!

Deadly Enterprise Kevin Chapman Thriller THE DEAD GIRL THEY FISHED OUT OF THE EAST RIVER WAS A DRUG ADDICTED HOOKER, SO NOBODY REALLY CARED. Except that Medical Examiner Michelle McNeill thinks it’s a murder, and NYPD Homicide detective Mike Stoneman agrees.

Amy’s Review: Another Great Mike Stoneman Novel!

What a suspenseful and gripping story in Deadly Enterprise by Kevin Chapman. I’ve read book one in the Mike Stoneman series. Mike is a detective with the NYPD. The books can be read separately, as each is a standalone, but to really get the feel for Stoneman, read the one that came before this one first. Sometimes, murders fall through the cracks, especially when no one cares or misses the victim. The other side of town, with the darkness that lingers from the street walkers, and the lost citizens of the city. I really enjoyed this story, and I love Chapman’s writing style and his way of showing the story. Stoneman is hot on the trail, with his partner in tow. I am a definite fan of this author! Whatever this author writes, I want to read.

The characters had a lot of depth and were very realistic. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. Very impressive story telling. Magnetic.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

139

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Cause And Effect Pete Adams Suspense

of the blue.

A self-labeled enigma, Detective Inspector Jack Austin is at once miserable and amusing, melancholy and motivated. Running the Community Police Unit from his deck chair, D.I. Austin is known for his ability to solve crimes out

Amy’s Review: Magnetic Read!

What a tantalizing story in Cause And Effect: Vice Plagues The City by Pete Adams. I am a definite fan of this author! Whatever this author writes, I want to read. Jack Austin is a very unique character, not only a detective with great abilities, but he also suffers from mental illness, which not only adds to his personality, but can hinder how others perceive him. Insert a mysterious death of a police officer, and the secrets behind the death. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). It’s definitely un-put-downable! It is always an honor to read this author’s books. This author is a great storyteller. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. A reader can get lost in the story. I liked that there was a balance of the story with the dark and light, and the light contained humor, which made it feel more real. How do some deal with what seems like the impossible is happening, but with humor.

140 | UncagedBooks.com

Sold Souls R. Weir Suspense/Thriller The brutal world of human trafficking Underage children bought, sold, and sexually abused by their deviant owners Victims traded, used up, and spit out as if their lives were meaningless A lethal adversary approaching The Divine Devils with a proposition Locate and free her sister from the tortured, abusive shackles of being trafficked Amy’s Review: Magnificent Story telling What a superb thrilling story in Sold Souls by R Weir. This is the third, and highly awaited book in the The Divine Devils series. Yes, book 3 is finally hear. I am a definite fan of this author! Whatever this author writes, I want to read or when he puts out his audiobooks, I want to listen to. Sold Souls was just released (today as of this posting), and I couldn’t wait to read it, nor was I disapointed. This story brings Hunter and his team into the darkness and tortorous world of human trafficking. Children being bought and sold, used up and passed on as if they were a recalled piece of property. It’s a hard book to put down, but sometimes you have to take a breath. Weir did a magnificent job of painting the darkness of the world, some would like to pretend it isn’t there. It’s one of those embraceable stories. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. The writing of this story probably was not easy, and unfortunately, many of these stories are true, even if under the guise of fiction.

The Lost Power Avanti Centrae Thriller

Sing Like A Canary Isobel Blackthorn Mystery

Spain 1057: During a thunderous battle, the first King of Aragon wrestles Alexander the Great’s priceless Egyptian weapon from the Moors, but finds it holds a terrifying and mysterious power.

Retired police officer Marjorie Pierce is on her way to Lanzarote to track down her old informer, Billy McKenzie. Billy ended Marjorie’s career, and she needs an explanation; an apology.

Amy’s Review: Magnetic reading What a superb story in The Lost Power by Avanti Centrae. This is the first book in the VanOps Thriller, and I actually read book three first, and now, I’m reading (or have) read the other two. This review is for the first book in the series, and it is very powerful. First, I am a big fan of this author, I was after I read book three, and going back to the beginning, I can say, I’m definitely a fan, and whatever she writes, I want to read. It is a very well-written plot, and I enjoyed it. It’s an amazing work that makes you think this is a true story, and maybe it could be.

It’s a wonderous tale of mystery, and science, adding in intrigue, and the wonder of what comes next.

It brings the far past to clash with the story’s present.

It’s a fast-paced, intriguing, unputdownable book!

Maddy and Will are interesting characters, with a lot of depth, and they bring their knowledge and appearance in the story as something incredible. It’s a plot with many subplots, history meeting it’s present, and the entrance of a sniper... It is always an honor to read this author’s books. This author is a great storyteller.

The title drew me in, but the story made me stay. This book captures the reader’s attention at chapter 1. The author’s technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. It’s a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This author’s characters develop and interacts well with the other characters

Amy’s Review: Jaw-dropping action What a magnificent story in Sing Like A Canary

by Sing Like A Canary. The fifth book in Blackthorn’s Canary Island mysteries, and what a story it is. A “retired” cop Marjorie needs to find her old informant, so she travels to Lanzarote. It’s the start of an adventure and action-packed story, that makes Marjorie intent on finding Billy, before the gangsters who are also looking for him. This story has multiple layers of plots and in-depth characters. Marjorie isn’t sure who she can trust, she has her own self on this mission, which also discovering her betrayer, if it wasn’t Billy. It’s not an easy search, but a suspense journey for Marjorie, wondering where he could be in this Island town.

It is a very well-written plot, and I enjoyed it. It’s one of those embraceable stories. This author is a great storyteller. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. The characterizations are engrossing and dynamic.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

141

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Snifter of Death Chris Karlsen Historical Thriller

The Ghost Of Villa Winter Isobel Blackthorn Mystery

The summer of 1889 was proving to be a strange one for Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner.

English psychic Clarissa Wilkinson is holidaying in the Canary Islands. Hoping to have an adventure, she boards a tour bus bound for Villa Winter, a secret Nazi base on the idyllic island of Fuerteventura.

Amy’s Review: Brilliant storytelling!!

What a magnificently suspenseful story in Snifter of Death by Chris Karlsen. This is the second book in the Bloodstone series. I’ve read the first one, Silk, and the third one, A Venomous Love.

So, I was definitely looking forward to reading this book. The crimes are just as interesting, and disturbing, as ever, and Bloodstone is on the case.

I like that it’s not just all crime and investigation, we learn about the crime as a reader, but then things take a dramatic twist. Ruddy is not just a detective, he also has a life, but it doesn’t interfere with the tasks at hand. Solving some of the most gruesome crimes. This story had several plots going on, and the reader gets to see a side of Rudyard that we haven’t before. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). It is a very well-written plot, and I enjoyed it. It’s one of those embraceable stories. It’s definitely un-put-downable! Even though I read these books out of order, I recommend that a new reader starts from the first book and read each one. They are stand alone, but you get to see the growth and more personal side of Rudyard, and how there is always a new, and interesting case or in this book, cases. A reader can get lost in the story. (I also had to look up what Snifter meant, and it makes sense for this book’s title.

142 | UncagedBooks.com

Amy’s Review: Mystical and Magnetic read What a magnificent story in The Ghost Of Villa Winter by Isobel Blackthorn. This is book four in the Canary Island series, and again we catch up with psychic Clarissa. We’re on Canary Island in the small inland town of Fuerteventura, which from reading previous books, we know has a legendary, and supernatural background. Villa Winter is in Fuerteventura, and it used to be a Nazi base. Intrigued, Clarissa is determined to visit and explore. Armed with her friend, crime writer Richard, they discover something that makes them more curious, rather than run the other way. It’s a mysterious and superbly ghostly story, with a killer on the loose, and the more they investigate, the more secrets are uncovered, and tried to be covered up. I am a definite fan of this author!

This story felt very realistic to me, and I love a good suspense, mixed with ghosts and spirits, and the supernatural. It’s one of those embraceable stories.

It’s definitely un-put-downable! A reader can get lost in the story. This author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well.

Sheltered Jacob Paul Patchen YA Historical War With America under attack from within, twelve-year-old James must fight his way to freedom while trying to hold onto his values and virtue.

“We are all given a space in life to fill, a roaring emptiness in time… and it’s how you choose to fill that void, that will determine the difference in becoming a man or a legend.”

Amy’s Review: An original story What a remarkable story in Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend by Jacob Paul Patchen. I am a definite fan of this author! A very passionate and strong read. I enjoyed this story, as it had many plot layers, and the characters were dynamic, and had a lot of depth. Many had backstories that showed how they ended up where they are now. In just reading the first chapter, there is a line that stood out, and it almost defined the story, and how important life was to these orphans. “And for me, for us, our duty was to protect the innocent and to bring our nation back together as one, united by the damage from the hate and the cruelty of adults. ‘There’s a bond in misery, a brotherhood that comes from suffering together,’ my father used to say.” It’s a powerful read, and it shows, not tells, of this dystopian life, and what is needed to survive this war. James is a character who was almost forced to lead and take care of others, but he had that spirit, that innate power within him, even with his own demons, to take care of the orphans who relied on him. It all started when the missiles were aimed toward the United States. James had courage he didn’t know he had. It is always an honor to read this author’s books. Definitely an unpredictable story, my favorite kind!

Newman’s Awesome Year Lynn F. Austin Childrens The Newman Tales share adventures of Newman, a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, rescued from the meat-industry in Taiwan and saved from euthanasia at the Humane Society. Despite what life has thrown his way, Newman Lives with the mantra, “When things seem really bad, beautiful things still happen.”

Amy’s Review: I just wanted to give Newman a huge hug.

What a magnetic story in Newman’s Awesome Year by Lynn F. Austin. I just became a fan of this author and her best friend, Newman! Any story about Newman, I definitely want to read, maybe over and over again. I think more people should read it, not just children, but people of any age. Newman is a Wheaten Terrier, who was rescued, and this rescue saved his life. Newman went through some unspeakable abuse until he found himself at the Human Society, and then his forever home. Here we learn how he started, and his ever-lasting love and loyalty to his new home.

Newman tells us his story about how he had to behave when he would be displayed for prospective parents. He just wanted to be loved, and have his own home, backyard, and family. As Newman says, “Sometimes great things happen when you least expect it.” Now, Newman has his own family. I highly recommend this book. I heard about it when the author was on the Marketing Palooza segment on The After Show with McKensie Stewart & Amy Shannon. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

143

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Tapestry of My Mother’s Life Malve von Hassell Historical Biography

New Era Tommy B. Smith Horror/Occult

Tapestry Of My Mother’s Life is a biographical account of a woman coming of age in Germany during the 1930s.

Malve von Hassell explores her mother’s life through the fragmented lens of transmitted memory, and its impact on the second generation.

Insomnia. Headaches. Fear.

It drove Marjorie down, cost her a career, and almost destroyed her marriage. When she and her husband Terry escaped to the quiet green countryside west of the Mississippi River, their new home, it seemed too good to last.

Amy’s Review: Magnificently written memoir What a magnificent title in Tapestry of My Mother’s Life by Malve von Hassell. I am a big fan of this author! And have read several of her books. von Hassel writes about her mother’s life, and how the memories can be fragmented, and how because of her mother’s life, living, surviving during the Nazi era of Germany, it affected generations of her family. The focus of the story is based on Christa’s memories, and how they are put together through telling stories. It’s the perception of the person living their life, and then talking about it. Tapestry definitely fits this title, and it is a un-put-downable story. The life she lived, sharing it with stories, memories, and memorabilia and artifacts saved from childhood.

Christa lived a complex life, especially with how she grew up, and it affected her life there after and her children’s life. The past can affect the future, and it’s how the past is looked at. I really enjoyed reading this story, and I felt connected to a life’s story that I had no part of. And now, I think it has affected me as well.

Amy’s Review: Magnificently written story What a thrilling (and chilling) story in New Era by Tommy B. Smith. I am a definite fan of this author!

Whatever this author writes, I want to read. This story touches the heart, and then rips it out. No, really, it shows that there isn’t such thing as peaceful quiet. Marjorie experiences a lot of things that I can related to, most people can relate to, no sleep, severe headaches, and most of all, fear of what’s inside of her and what is out there, in the world. There is no escape, and even running away to find quiet, isn’t what it seems. I’ve read a few of Tommy B. Smith’s books, and this is my favorite! It’s definitely un-putdownable! Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. The characterizations are engrossing and dynamic. I just love, love, love this story. This story was very unpredictable. This author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. It’s written so well, that your skin crawls and the chills run down your spine, so much that you have to stop, take a breath, and continue on.

144 | UncagedBooks.com

50 States Richard R. Becker Mystery An Idaho farmer who aches for absolution after a tragedy is given one more chance at redemption. Two runaways cross paths in a Tennessee bus station with only one ticket between them. A family sees looters racing toward their home as they escape an Oregon wildfire. A young couple takes a reckless turn off a state highway in Utah and find themselves in a nightmarish government biohazard area.

Amy’s Review: An entertaining collection What a grand collection of stories in 50 States by Richard R. Becker. This book is the first title of this author’s that I’ve read, but I did read all 50 of his short stories. I do like the premise, each story takes part in a different state, and the stories vary. The genres of the stories vary as well, and each one is a complete story, leaving the reader feeling satisfied.

Short stories are not easy to write, and Becker does a great job of writing these stories and is very talented.

A multi-genre writer, that can write short stories. I just became a fan of Becker. The stories also had different points of view, so one may be first person, and another third person. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). So many adventures, losses, triumphs, tragedies and even horrors. This book takes you on a wild journey. Of course, I had to jump ahead to read the story on New York (since I live in upstate NY), and then I went back and read all the stories until the very last one.

The Dark Web Murders Brian O’Hare Thriller I AM NEMEIN. I AM EMOTIONALLY DETACHED FROM MY KILLINGS. I AM NOT, THEREFORE, A MURDERER. I AM AN INSTRUMENT OF NEMESIS, A PUNISHER. This is a theme running through a number of blogs on the Dark Web, written by a serial killer.

Amy’s Review: Magnetic read!

What an intriguing and chilling story in The Dark Web Murders by Brian O’Hare. I have read stories from this author before, and I am a definite fan of this author! Whatever this author writes, I want to read. The Inspector Sheehan mysteries are one of my favorite series. I’ve read them out of order, but each one is a standalone, and I want to make sure I read all of them.

This story revolves around the “dark web” which is way beyond what we know as the internet, not just the dark side of the internet, but where people can be whoever they want to be, dark or not. Sometimes once in a while, there is that one “username” that is way beyond dark, and this time the psychopath has a dark web blog, almost taunting and bragging about what he is doing. So, that’s all I’m giving you, read the book.

It’s a wild and unimaginable place, especially inside this killer’s head and his side of the dark web. You don’t have to know code or technical jargon to read this book, it’s your cat-and-mouse game on the web and in IRL (Real Life) for Sheehan and his unit and this serial killer. It’s magnetic, so much you can’t put it down. It is a very well-written plot, and I enjoyed it. It is always an honor to read this author’s books.

Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. A reader can get lost in the story. And it’s a new twist on a modern-day mystery slash thriller! This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages.

Issue 66 | July/August 2022 |

145

Do you have a short story that you’d like published in Uncaged?

Uncaged is now accepting short stories - in return, Uncaged will provide ONE FULL PAGE to promote up to 3 books from the author, OR a free Sneak Peek promotion!

Guidelines: • Must be PG/PG-13 rated per Issuu’s Terms of Use • Must be approved • Free promotion will be scheduled for the same month as the short story • Submit the story or any questions to UncagedBooks@gmail.com

Submit your story today!