Saturday, December 2, 2017

Book Spotlight: Aure the Topaz #OurAuthorGang

By Rich Feitelberg

Twenty-five years ago, invaders captured Andropolis, the capital of Thalacia, and ended the rule of King Leonard. According to prophecy, the invaders can be ousted and the royal line restored only by wielding the Aglaril, seven elven gems of unprecedented power. 

However, the circlet in which the gems were set was destroyed millennia ago and the gems lost. At least, that was the common belief. Evan Pierce, a priest of St. Michael, discovers one of the gems belongs to the town jeweler. He also uncovers a plot to steal the gem and does what he can to keep it safe. But it is not enough. 

Now, Evan must recover the gem by relying on a motley group of adventurers for help. Together, they must overcome a series of obstacles or humanity's one hope for restoring the royal line will be lost forever.


From amazon.com: Five stars. Possibly one of the best books I have read so far this year and the best fantasy I have read in a while. This book read surprisingly quick, it is easily appropriated for younger readers even early teens but it still very much so appeals to adults. There wasn't a lot of detailed world building that you normally expect, it just naturally flows and you learn as you read but don't feel lost at any point. There are a wide variety of characters, each with their own clear back story. There are several storylines going on at once but they mesh so well you don't feel you need to keep track of them. This was a very well written fantasy novel and now I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!


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Friday, December 1, 2017

Book Reviews and Ratings #OurAuthorGang

Book Reviews and Ratings:

How Many Stars Should I Give A Book Review?
Joe Bonadonna

(Toyota Escondido Information Center)

Someone once commented on the number of 5-star reviews people post on Amazon and Goodreads. “How could a book by an indie writer (such as Joe Bonadonna, for example) earn 5 stars for one of his books when such literary masterpieces as To Kill a Mockingbird, Lonesome Dove, and A Confederacy of Dunces, and when such authors as Stephen King, JK Rowling, and Anne Rice receive 5-star reviews? Does that mean your books are as good as theirs?” My answer: “Oh, God — no way!” Then I was asked how I justify giving a 5-star review to some indie author, some relatively unknown author? The answer to that is simple.

I don’t compare apples to oranges.

I like to differentiate between a western and a horror novel, a spy thriller and a heroic fantasy, science fiction and romance. I know: a book is a book, some might say; genre doesn’t matter. True: a good story is a good story. Period. But every genre has its own unique tropes, and while good grammar, proper punctuation, clarity of writing, and all the other stuff we learned in school and over time are integral to every novel, I review books in a totally different way than many others do. When I read a novel of heroic fantasy, for instance, I reflect on how it affected me, and if there is a comparison to be made, then I compare it to other books in the same genre. I mean, really . . . reading Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, for instance, is not the same experience as reading Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely. I love both equally. Reading Ross Thomas’ The Fools in Town are on Our Side is not the same experience as reading Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth. Again, I love both books. I don’t even think about which one is better than the other. As I said, it’s all apples and oranges.

First off, let me say that I am not a literary critic nor have I ever played one on the internet. So I don’t criticize any novel I review. That’s not my job. Remember, I write books, too. When I review a book it’s because that book worked on me in some way, affected me mentally or emotionally or spiritually. It made me laugh or cry, made me think, but above all, it entertained me. I review only those books I enjoyed. A story has to hit me in a certain way. If a novel is not worthy of at least 3 stars, in my opinion, I won’t review it. I don’t point out flaws in an author’s writing or plotting, not in a public forum, at least; I’m not qualified to do that, and as an author, I will not make any negative comments about someone else’s book. 

That’s a job for the Grammar Nazis, the college professors, the literati.

To me, 3 stars is a book worth reading, worth spending time with. 4 stars means it was very good, had many layers and themes to it. 5 stars means I thought it was exceptional, unique, and fired on all cylinders. My criterion for rating books is this: memorable characters, story line and plotting, setting, dialogue, themes, and originality of concept. If a book entertains and hits me with all seven of the above, then I give it 5 stars. And if any book I read has memorable characters, great dialogue and has touched my heart, even if it fails to deliver on plot and originality, I think it’s worthy of 4 stars. If a book is simply a fun, enjoyable read that entertained me with its story, I give it 3 stars. And there are certainly novels by Anne Rice and Stephen King that I’ve read and didn’t think were worthy of anything more than 2 stars.

What it really boils down to is a matter of taste. Many novels are simply plot-drive: action oriented adventures that are not concerned with character arcs, character interaction and introspection. If that’s what the writers set out to do, then they’ve succeeded. Other writers strive to make you think; they write for the brain and not the heart. But I want to have my emotions manipulated. I want to feel what I read. I always tell people that I have two main goals to what I write: first, to entertain; second, to make the reader feel something. I write for the heart, not for the head. If certain themes and concepts creep into my work, rest assured that most of the time it was not a conscious decision. It just happened. If I thrilled you, frightened you, made you laugh, and made you cry, then I succeeded. If I made you think, then I succeeded beyond my intentions and expectations.

I don’t know what criteria others use when reviewing books. Some of the praises I’ve read, as well as the harsh criticisms, are very interesting. I’m often very surprised by what readers like or dislike about a book, especially when it’s one that I’ve read.

But when you read one of my many 5-star book reviews, know that the book scored a TKO with me. Its author nailed down everything that is important to me: great dialogue, interesting setting, a well-plotted story, an original concept, a grand adventure that totally entertained me, and most important of all, memorable characters that touched my emotions.

Well, that’s my two cents worth.


#heroicfantasy  #swordandsorcery  #horror  #spaceopera  #swordandplanet  #amazonreviews 

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Thursday, November 30, 2017

Healing and Relaxing Medicinal Baths #OurAuthorGang

Hungary is called "The country of Thermal Waters"
http://www.authorerikamszabo.com
There are over 500 known thermal baths in Hungary where the water temperature is higher than 30 Celsius degree which is 86 Fahrenheit.

Thermal waters have different types of positive effects.
The physical effect: relaxes the muscles and blood vessels improving the circulation. People with damaged or diseased joints can move their limbs more easily due to water’s buoyancy.
The chemical effect: is due to the high mineral content dissolved in the water. The minerals can easily be absorbed into the circulation through the skin which helps to strengthen the immune system and promote self-healing.
The psychological effect: is due to the baths' and spas' special relaxing microclimate.

These are some my favorites thermal baths
Eger: the medicinal water has the highest radon (has great painkiller effect) content in Hungary and has positive effects on rheumatic symptoms, musculoskeletal diseases, muscle and peripheral nerve problems.
Héviz: the lake and the town are located near the southwest corner of Lake Balaton. It is the world's largest biologically active natural thermal lake.
The water and mud are perfect for preventing or treating osteoporosis. It also has positive effects on rheumatic symptoms, musculoskeletal diseases, muscle and nerve problems, as well as gynecological disorders.
Sárvár: this medicinal water contains hydrogen carbonate and salt, and is effective against skin diseases and gynecological problems.
Végardó: the medicinal water is effective mainly for musculoskeletal and rheumatic problems as well as gynecological problems.
Hajdúszoboszló: the thermal water has a natural healing effect mainly for degenerative diseases, musculoskeletal and rheumatic problems, after orthopedic surgery or stroke, and neuritis.
Miskolctapolca: this is a natural cave system filled with body relaxing thermal water which is the same temperatures all the time.

A few thermal baths in Budapest:



In my Golden Quill Award Winner romantic historical fantasy series magical things are happening in the long forgotten past when my ancestors lived in Jurtas and traveled on horseback.

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Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Angel Lore: part 4 by Toi Thomas #OurAuthorGang

From Pinterst via
I'm actually a bird.
Today, in part 4 of my Angel Lore series, I’ll be sharing more angel knowledge with you from P – T, as I work my way through the alphabet (see part ONE, part TWO, and part THREE). But first…

In a series like this, questions of faith, belief, and religious preference are always lingering in the background. While I make no attempts to hide my faith, my interest in angels goes beyond that. I have too many questions and inquiries about the world to not reach out. My study of angel lore is just one way for me to cope with and understand the world and all its peoples. I appreciate other faiths and their ideas, or lack thereof, concerning angels because it’s all part of the process to gain knowledge, and possibly enlightenment.

On to the list…

Powers are said to have been the first angels God created, though not the highest in the angelic hierarchy. They are said to be the protectors against demonic forces.

I got nothing for ‘Q’. Perhaps, think about how angels move around so quietly; no one sees or hears them. 😉

How many angels have a name that begins with the letter ‘R’? A lot. So, I give you one random angel, Raguel. While briefly shunned by the Roman church in 745AD, this “friend of God” is said to watch over the good behavior of other angels.

Shaitans are kind of like demons, derived from ancient Hebrew and Arabic mythologies. It is said that when Muhammad encountered a shaitan, he read to it from the Koran in hopes that it would reconcile with God.

Thrones are probably the most fascinating angels I’ve learned about. Said to be the ones who carry out God’s decisions or justice, these creatures are described as fiery wheels, constantly in motion.

Well, that's all I have for today. Stick around this blog so you don't miss part 5 down the road.


Be sure to check out my Eternal Curse Series.

Book 1:
Giovanni is a creature out of time. Mira is a doctor trying to classify him. Beauty and the Beast meet Jekyll and Hyde in this paranormal tale with romantic and biblical influences.


Book 2:
A tale for fathers, sons, and daughters, this epic saga touches the past and future. The story of Giovanni will bring you to tears as loss and duty blur the lines of hope for what is to come.

The Eternal Curse series was my first book and series I ever wrote and to know that someone liked it meant the world to me. It's currently unavailable pending a rewrite in order to align it with new developments in the 3rd installment. If you'd like to read the first two books and offer me your feedback, please consider joining my email list to receive a free digital copy. 

Find out more about me, my work, and my inspiration at the following links:

Amazon | Goodreads The ToiBox of Words | YouTube | See a list of my other posts here.

#cursescanbebroken, #angels, #wings, #Pinterest
COMMENTS

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Alex J. Cavanaugh

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I didn't realize there were so many types of angels. I need to pay closer attention to that when reading my Bible.
 
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Nikki McDonagh via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
 
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Nikki McDonagh

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post. Really interesting.
 
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Toi shares more information about angels on A Small Gang of Authors. Fascinating!
 
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Ruth de Jauregui

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Oooh more angels! Thank you Toi, this is great!
 
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Joe Bonadonna

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Excellent stuff, Toi! Keep it coming. You publish these -- are print it all out for those of us who'd like a physical copy. :)
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Toinette Thomas gives us part 4 of her excellent series about Angel Lore.
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Mary Anne Yarde

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I do love your post, Toi!
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Erika M Szabo via Google+

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I'm learning a lot about angels from your posts Toi, a really enjoyable series :)
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Grace Au

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Another great post, Toi! My favorite is Archangel Raphael...I guess because he is the angel of healing and medicine.
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Rich Feitelberg via Google+

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Rich Feitelberg

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Did you forget that Samuel (an angel) was fallen and becomes Satan? Do are fallen angels beyond the scope here?
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Toi Thomas

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Aside from angels, I think music is another subject that crosses racial, religious, and cultural lines. Do you agree? What other subjects do this as well? Are you enjoying this series? It's almost over.
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I'm really enjoying your posts about Angels, and I'm looking forward to your posts about music :)
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I hope the music topic goes over well.

Toi Thomas via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, I share part 4 of my angel lore series. Please, check it out.
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