INTRODUCTION Readers won't have to wait long for conflict to begin in Stephanie Cotta's prequel to her compelling YA fantasy, The Conjurer's Curse. In the first chapter of Beneath the Crescent Shadow (Monarch, 2026), there is a vicious storm, a shipwreck, and a cursed newborn baby. If that's not enough to hook a teen or… Continue reading Review of Beneath the Crescent Shadow: A Captivating Prequel
INTRODUCTION It's not too often that I run a book review twice. And to be honest, my TBR shelf is long and so I rarely reread a book. But I was re-researching the Jim Crow period for a presentation at the North Carolina Social Studies conference and rememberedThe Color of Love by Gene Cheek. I… Continue reading Revisiting ‘The Color of Love’: A Jim Crow Memoir Review
As far as I can tell, one of the best uses of social media is meeting someone who you connect with. That was the case with Cate Touryan, author of the award-winning debut novel, Turning Toward Eden. I met Cate on Author Media, Thomas Umstattd, Jr. social platform. It turned out that we were both… Continue reading Meet Cate Touryan: Insights from the Author of Turning Toward Eden
In an effort to organize my writing space, I've resolved to post reviews on books that I read months ago but have put off reviewing. That's often because it's difficult to write a review that's worthy of the book. From the Publisher Barbara Abbott was eighteen when her father threatened to kill her if she… Continue reading A Head of Cabbage: A Poignant Memoir and A Mini-Interview