Off the Bookshelf: THE NAME OF THE WIND, by Patrick Rothfuss

Audio Book
Audible
Book 1 of the Kingkiller Chronicle

Okay, I just have to start with, "Wow ....."

And not just because this was over 27 hours, and because of quarantine I just wasn't out, driving around, taking 2-1/2 hour trips to meetings, so it took me a month to get this book listened to.

This is amazing world-building, incredible detail, so much thinking went into creating the time and place and characters.

And it's frustrating, because after 27 hours ... the story is just getting started.

Our hero, Kvothe, is only 16, going on 17, in the narration, when this first volume ends.
Plus it's a story-within-a-story. Kvothe has been cornered by a scribe who realizes who he is, despite being disguised as a mild-mannered innkeeper in a backwater town, and the scribe has demanded his story. So Kvothe is telling the story, with many interruptions that reveal the world is facing troubled times, and danger and evil is finding even the backwater towns and attacking.

Coming-of-age, hero's journey, whatever you want to call it, Rothfuss does an incredible job, making his flawed hero real, making the listener care. There were times I wanted to yell at my iPod, "No, don't be so stupid. Don't go there. Don't do that. You're smarter than that." But of course Kvothe didn't listen ...

What's it about? So very much. Magic and loss, danger, adolescent stupidity, grudges, injustice, the struggle for survival, the creeping approach of ultimate, world-destroying evil, people doing the best they can, friendship ...

Wow.

New Release Sample: CONFESSIONS OF A LOST KID

When the tour group of eight got to the second room off the restored lobby, which was the locker room, something weird happened. As far as I could tell, I was the only one who saw the green, glow-in-the-dark gas that seeped up through the cracks in the tile floor and streamed out through the vents in the rusty old locker doors. I watched those streamers swirl around for a few seconds. They turned into tentacles like an octopus, except without the suction cups, and reached across the room to us. Nobody reacted. Not even Mr. Wellington, when one of those tentacles curved around his shoulders and flicked at his coat.

I was pretty sure nothing was going to happen, because the greeny-glowing tentacles were transparent. Common sense said they were just gas. Except would gas act like that? There wasn't a breeze in the room to explain the movement if it was just gas.

One tentacle wrapped around Mr. Wellington's throat, and he choked. I opened my mouth to scream.

The tentacles vanished, just popping out of existence in silence. Mr. Wellington went on telling funny stories. The men and women who had used this locker room, during different phases of the factory's history. The different things that had been manufactured here, depending on the economy or what was needed in the rest of the country.

Nobody else seemed to have seen the tentacles, otherwise they would have said something, right? Of course, I saw them, and I didn't say anything, so how could I be sure? The freaky thing was that Mr. Wellington seemed to forget he was choking, the moment the tentacles vanished. As if he hadn't really felt them, or hadn't been choking at all.

So what had I seen, if what I saw didn't happen?

When in doubt, go to Mum and Pop. They investigated the really weird, after all.

The Adventure: SANDRA MERVILLE HART, The Story Behind the Story, part 2

Yesterday I shared how my Civil War romance, A Rebel in My House, was born. Today I’d love to tell you a bit about my current writing adventure with you. You’re welcome to come along, but strap in—it’s always a bumpy ride.

You see, I spend a lot of time in the Civil War era … while researching and writing my novels, that is. I have to research for months until I understand what the citizens and the soldiers endured. Then I’m ready to write the novel.

I’ve begun writing my next Civil War series. This one deals with the spying that went on during the war. My research has been a real eye-opener to these widespread and far-reaching effects of spying.

My three-book series is set in the capital cities of Washington DC (Union) and Richmond (Confederate). Book 1, Avenue of Betrayal, is set in Washington DC (commonly still called Washington City during the Civil War.) The number of Confederate sympathizers living mere blocks from President Abraham Lincoln shocked me.

Loyalties divided the best of friends—and even loving, close-knit families. My series will show the harsh realities of a country at war with its former citizens, igniting strong feelings and sparking tragedy. Historical figures will pop in here and there in these fictional stories.

I had planned a research trip to Richmond and Washington DC this spring before the country shut down. This has been postponed until the museums reopen. Though months of research have already birthed my story, this trip will add flavor and authenticity.

With a stack of research books nearby, I’ll keep writing Avenue of Betrayal. In the meantime, I invite you to read my other Civil War books—A Stranger on My Land, A Rebel in My House, and A Musket in My Hands.

  

About Sandra:

Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville Hart loves to uncover little-known yet fascinating facts about our American history to include in her stories. A Musket in My Hands, a Civil War romance where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love, is 2019 Serious Writer Medal Fiction Winner and a 2019 Selah Award Finalist. A Rebel in My House, set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and second place in 2018 Faith, Hope and Love Readers’ Choice Award. Her debut Civil War Romance, A Stranger on My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. Her novella Surprised by Love in "From the Lake to the River" is set during the 1913 flood in Troy, Ohio. Trail’s End in "Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys" is set in the wild cattle town of Abilene, Kansas. Not This Year, her nostalgic story in the "Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path," released in the fall of 2019.

Connect with Sandra on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page, and BookBub.

The Adventure: SANDRA MERVILLE HART, The Story Behind the Story, part 1

This is the “story behind the story” of how my Civil War romance set during the Battle of Gettysburg, A Rebel in My House, was born. 

Something drew me yet again to Gettysburg. I knew a story awaited me. My husband and I walked the battlefields. Ideas stirred when I found Tennessee troops with the brigade who began the fighting on the first day. Nothing solidified so I kept digging.

I discovered fascinating history at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum. Surely my story touched this place. After spending several hours wandering the museum and surroundings … nothing. I trudged on.

I explored Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, Gettysburg Museum of History, Gettysburg Railroad Station, General Lee’s Headquarters Museum, and The David Wills House where President Lincoln stayed. I learned intriguing facts at the Jennie Wade House, Shriver House Museum, and “The Women of Gettysburg Tour,” an evening walking tour.

Ideas strengthened. My husband and I walked the town’s streets around the “Diamond”—the town square where women and children suffered a nightmare from which they didn’t awaken for many months. Then we spent another afternoon and evening at the battlefield.

Three Tennessee regiments fought the beginning battle on July 1^st. They didn’t fight again until they joined in Pickett’s Charge on the battle’s final day.  

The sun sank low on the horizon as I stood alone on Cemetery Ridge reflecting over the expansive field crossed by Pickett’s Charge on July 3, 1863. Though the land is peaceful once more, it still tells a story. My imagination soared while the sun disappeared.

I had to tell what the townspeople endured. What if a Gettysburg seamstress fell in love with a Confederate soldier? What if they both made promises to loved ones? Some promises are impossible to keep …

About Sandra:

Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville Hart loves to uncover little-known yet fascinating facts about our American history to include in her stories. A Musket in My Hands, a Civil War romance where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love, is 2019 Serious Writer Medal Fiction Winner and a 2019 Selah Award Finalist. A Rebel in My House, set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and second place in 2018 Faith, Hope and Love Readers’ Choice Award. Her debut Civil War Romance, A Stranger on My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. Her novella Surprised by Love in "From the Lake to the River" is set during the 1913 flood in Troy, Ohio. Trail’s End in "Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys" is set in the wild cattle town of Abilene, Kansas. Not This Year, her nostalgic story in the "Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path," released in the fall of 2019.

Connect with Sandra on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page, and BookBub.

New Release Sample: CONFESSIONS OF A LOST KID

Miss Angela came to the door as I walked up the sidewalk. She waved, and I looked back to see Mrs. S sitting in her car, watching me. I had the weirdest feeling she was making sure I actually got to the front door, like there was a chance something would happen to stop me. Why would she think that? Divine's was probably the safest place in the entire town, even including Oak Cottage with all the doors and windows closed and locked and Miss Abby on duty.

"I imagine you're just eaten up with curiosity over what Charlie and Rainbow sent me, aren't you?" Miss Angela stepped back to let me go past her through the door. She laughed when I just grinned at her and nodded and handed her the envelope.

She gestured for me to follow her, and we went upstairs. Not to the second floor, to her apartment, which I had expected. We went up to the third floor, and she pulled a ring of keys out of her pocket and unlocked one of the doors.

"You do know the difference between secrets that are bad for you to keep, and secrets that are bad for everyone else if you don't keep them, don't you, Lanie?" Miss Angela paused with her hand on the doorknob.

"I think so."

"Not that I doubt you, but…" She sighed. "Why don't you tell me the kinds of secrets that are bad for you?"

"Well… When somebody gets hurt, and they tell me I better not tell the teacher. Or Miss Abby. Or you," I hurried to add. That got a twitch of her lips and she relaxed just a little bit.

"This is probably laying a burden on you far too soon, but I daresay destiny has already marked you clearly enough." She got down on one knee so she could look me in the eyes as she talked. "Say someone makes you do something that you don't understand, but you know deep in your heart, it's wrong. You don't want to do it, maybe it even hurts, but that person is much stronger than you, and they tell you not to tell anybody. Maybe they even threaten to hurt you, or people you love, if you tell anyone what they did."

"Those bad people can't find us here, in Neighborlee, can they?" I must have been scared. I know there was a queasy kind of sensation in my head and my stomach at the same time, and my voice dropped to a whisper.

Off the Bookshelf: EVER AFTER HIGH, by Shannon Hale

Five Short Stories

Apple White's Story
Briar Beauty's Story
Raven Queen's Story
Madeline Hatter's Story
Ashlynn Ella's Story

These were 5 free short-shorts I found on Nook, introductions to Ever After High, where essentially the children of faerie tale heroines go to school and get trained to step into their mother's shoes someday.

All five of our heroines are preparing to head back to school for their Legacy Year -- where they sign a contract to take over their mothers' roles: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Mad Hatter, and the Evil Queen.

Interesting concept!

Can't tell you much more than this because it would give away way too much of each girl's very short introduction -- kind of like the 1-minute teaser before the opening credits of the TV show start. And yeah, like an appetizer, to make you want to get the whole book and read it. "Just how is she going to get out of THAT situation?"

New Release Sample: CONFESSIONS OF A LOST KID

The celebrating died down, as people ran off to get on whatever phones they could find to spread the news. We didn't have a lot of cell phones back then. The Zephyrs hurried over to where I was standing by my sled. Mrs. Z hugged me and apologized. They both laughed when I told them I knew what was going on. We climbed on the sled and screamed all the way down the hill. Mr. Z pulled the sled and the Zephyrs held my hands and we walked up the hill together. We went down twice more, and then someone flagged down Mr. Z to talk about something and Mrs. Z went to get hot chocolate for us.

Then the crimson and gold figure that had been lingering on the edge of my vision attacked. She could finally tower over me because she stood two feet up the slope.

"You think you're so smart!" Sylvia shrieked. Her fists were jammed into her hips, so it made the skirts stick out in the fancy outfit more appropriate for figure skating than sledding. "You think it's funny? Those stupid, nasty, mean people are thieves!"

Then she said other things with words I didn't understand. I had to look them up later. They were mean, derogatory, and even racially hateful. She picked on Mrs. Z for being Asian and called Mr. Z a drug-pusher and a hippie and accused them of being liars and Communist spies and dozens of other things she could only have picked up from the so-called adults in her family.

Sylvia's arsenal of nastiness did have limits. When she started in on her second round, I told her she was repeating herself.

Interrupting a Grandstone wasn't smart. It just increased their speed, volume and pitch, and sometimes added spitting.

The really un-smart part of the whole encounter was that I should have turned my back on her as soon as she called the Zephyrs stupid. I mean, I had a sled right there and I was on the hill. I could have just turned and sat down and pushed. By the time she realized I wasn't listening, I would have been twenty feet away.

"That is enough, young lady," Miss Underwood said, in that tone that was so calm and disappointed, it was scary.

Most Kindergarteners would have stopped short, frozen by guilt, knowing we had made our teacher unhappy.

Sylvia let out a shriek and launched herself at me. Miss Underwood caught her by the collar of her coat. Sylvia had strong legs and a hard push-off, and enough momentum to unbalance them both and send them into the snow.