James and I were recently interviewed by the folks at Archangel Radio.
Click below to listen! (45 minutes in)
Category Archives: Interviews
Interview with Author Alan Van’t Land
Alan Van’t Land is author of Eternal Light of the Crypts (new book from Full Quiver Publishing).
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was blessed with a multicultural upbringing. My family moved from Wisconsin to Hong Kong when I was six, and from there to Malaysia when I was ten. I attended a small Evangelical missionary boarding school as one of many “business kids,” where my parents and a devoted staff immersed me in the Bible. My siblings and I spent our free time exploring the jungle beyond our backyard. We didn’t move back to the US until I graduated high school, and then I went straight into the US Air Force Academy. When I graduated, I cross-commissioned into the Marine Corps, and served as a logistics officer.
When I started dating my future wife, I started going to Mass with her. I began investigating Catholicism and stumbled onto the history of the Early Church. I had never heard of it before, much less studied it. It not only led to my conversion but also sparked a life-long interest in early and medieval church history, to the point that I earned my graduate degree in it. Despite that, though, I never used it professionally, instead serving in the military and the police department.
Beyond work and writing, I love to play games with my family and hike/bike/camp/ski the Rockies. My desire exceeds my ability in gardening, woodworking, and playing piano, but I keep trying anyway.
2. What was the inspiration for your book?
In late 2014 I bought and read Furta Sacra: Thefts of Relics in the Central Middle Ages, by Patrick Geary. It’s a modern, historical study of early medieval relic thefts. My wonder at the motivation behind anyone stealing saints relics, when everyone believed he might get killed just for trying, inspired my character Egilolf. Geary’s main thrust—that bones without a written record authenticating their source and justifying their acquisition would have been just bones—necessitated Egilolf’s companion Aristeus. I kicked around ideas for a few months before writing an outline over six weeks. No more than 20 percent of that outline still remains in Eternal Light, but that first sketch got the ball rolling.
3. What drew you to writing historical fiction? This is a novel that depended on extensive research, correct?
My interests in writing and historical fiction were separate until Eternal Light. I’ve been writing since grade school, but never historical fiction before. My fascination with history, as I said, stemmed from my study of the development of the church, particularly with regards to saints and relics. When I studied about relic thieves, the book idea seemed to come naturally. By the time I sat down to draft the outline for my first historical fiction book, I had been studying various angles of church history for ten years. Very little of this book was something I had to research while I outlined or wrote. I did delve into Saint Philibert, Saint Martial, and Saint Valerie, and researched Limoges and the church of St-Philibert-de-Grand-Lieu, where my characters find the relics of Valerie. But all the rest of the research—the laws, saints, catacomb art, the medieval view of stars, Viking invasions, processions, food, magic—all of it I had already read and studied before. I got to write a book in a world I already knew and loved.
4. What do you hope the reader will take away from your book?
That depends on the reader. For the Catholic, a love of our glorious saints, many buried in time and space even more than earth. For the Protestant, an appreciation of the breadth of time where Catholicism was the only Christian faith, facing insurmountable challenges century after century, only to rise again. For the historical fiction lover, a vivid picture of the early medieval world: its daily rhythms, values, fears, and hopes. For the modern warrior, a step on the road to peace. For anyone not totally pigeon-holed by those categories, a renewed sense of wonder when gazing at the stars, or at least an adventure from your Sunday afternoon couch.
5. How do you find time to write?
Time is a lesser problem for me than energy. I’ve put in a fair amount of overtime in some of my police jobs, particularly as a Crimes Against Children detective, but for me writing—creating—takes spare brain power and emotional energy. Many work days leave me with none. I’ve heard of writers making themselves write at least five minutes a day, and that’s likely a better strategy than mine. My writing came and went in waves, particularly on vacations and during less demanding work assignments, or when I could spare a few hours to go to a coffee shop and exchange this world for an ancient one.
6. Are you working on any other writing projects?
I’ve almost always been working on writing projects since middle school. Some were mere ideas, some actually made it into notebooks of world-building, character backgrounds, and plot outlines. But until Eternal Light, I never wrote more than a handful of pages (I would like to skip over two very rough books I wrote in middle and high school, which will remain appropriately buried in my basement). Since Eternal Light, I’ve tinkered with a historical fantasy about 9th century missionaries to a group of newly discovered race of dog-headed men. That’s obviously made up, but the idea is historical, since two German bishops in the mid-800s actually reported the behaviors of such creatures and debated whether they were rational and descended from Adam. But I set aside that work when I stumbled upon The Life of St Gerald of Aurillac, a saint and noble who lived 70 miles south of Limoges, reigning from about 880 to his death in 909. The setting, time period, and the subjects of St Gerald overlap too much with Eternal Light to pass it up as a sequel to Egilolf and Aristeus’ stories. I have the outline nearly hammered out, so I’m hoping it will come to fruition faster than another six years.
7. Who are some of your favorite authors?
Historical fiction: Stephen R. Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle about King Arthur in a historical dark age of 5th and 6th century England and Wales blends history and Celtic myth. The only thing he missed was the Church’s irrefutable ties to saints and relics during that period. Or Umberto Eco: despite the success of The Name of the Rose, he captured the medieval imagination best in Baudolino.
Fantasy: For scale, I can’t beat Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time epic series, which I started in high school and finished in my 30s. But for sheer style, I’ve always loved Steven Brust’s Khaavren Romances, especially The Phoenix Guards. But if you didn’t care for Dumas’ The Three Musketeers, you may want to pass.
Catholic apologetics: Rod Bennett, for without his Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words I wouldn’t have found the history whereby I came to accept the Catholicism I had already fallen in love with. For a study of historical works, it’s extremely approachable for any reader.
War novels: Tim O’Brien, particularly in The Things They Carried, paints trauma accurately but obliquely with his short stories.
Science fiction: Ray Bradbury. In high school, I was caught up in pulp fiction Stars Wars books, and never appreciated the likes of Farenheit 451 or the Martian Chronicles. My 10th grade English teacher had better taste.
Hagiography (stories of saints, typically written a long time ago): Prudentius, of course.
Comics: Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes. No explanation needed.
Eternal Light of the Crypts is available in print or on Kindle.
Interview with Joan Kelly, author of A Thread of Evidence
- I love the title! What was the inspiration for A Thread of Evidence? Where did you come up with the idea?
When I decided to write cozy mysteries, I knew that the setting would have something to do with sewing. Besides making an outline for my story, I wrote down a list of sewing terms: needles, threads, notions, etc., and used them to develop titles. With any mystery, there needs to be clues and evidence to solve the crime. So, why not make a simple piece of thread a clue–a piece of evidence?
2. You’ve written young adult fiction before, but this is your first venture into adult fiction. What drew you to writing adult fiction?
When I wrote the inspirational adventure stories for YA (Wow! That was a few years ago.), I had just given up my position as a teacher. Writing for younger people made me still feel close to them. It was my way of still teaching without being in the classroom.
Now, I’ve been retired for several years and have the time and desire to start writing again. So, I decided to write something that would draw on my life experiences–sewing, home remodeling, trying new recipes, etc. My bookshelves are filled with a plethora of different genres, but one of my favorites is mysteries. I enjoy the cozy mystery because it brings adventure from the viewpoint of the average citizen.
3. Mibs is an amateur sleuth who happens to be an expert seamstress. Are you or someone in your extended family an expert seamstress?
I had been a professional seamstress. While raising my five daughters and taking classes part-time to earn my teaching degree, I ran a small craft and sewing business. I made everything from children’s clothing to wedding dresses. I also made the clothing for the mannequins in the fabric section of the local Wal-Mart store.
I learned to sew at an early age with guidance from my mother and my aunt. My grandmother taught me how to embroidery and make lace with a tatting shuttle. Then, when I was older, I took sewing and quilting lessons. Now, I only make quilts for myself and my family–sew on a button or mend an item if one of my grandkids asks me for help.
4. What do you hope the reader will take away from A Thread of Evidence?
First, I hope the reader will enjoy the story and spend a few hours getting lost in the town of Havendale with Mibs, Jace, and Aunt Bernie. As far as what I hope the reader will take away from A Thread of Evidence and all the books in the series, is the feeling that the ‘good person’ can win! They can face the criminal, solve the crime, and meet any challenge thrown at them while still keeping their faith and moral bearing. Even when life’s problems pull them to a dark and challenging place, they can find God’s love, strength, and forgiveness to light their way. Hopefully, even Jace (Detective Sergeant Jace Trueblood), who’s buried his faith under a cloud of pain and anger, will eventually kneel down and ask God for grace to face life’s challenges.
I want to write stories that are not ‘preachy’ but let the characters’ faith be an everyday part of their lives.
5. You’re working on additional books for the Mibs Monahan Mysteries. Please tell us a bit about Books 2 and 3 (and 4, if you have it!)
The second book in the series is called Notions of Murder. Monahan Sewing Shop has been open for a while, and business is increasing. Mibs is happy with the growing relationship between her and Jace. But, when at the local community theater working on costumes for an upcoming play, Mibs becomes the only witness who can identify an assassin who’d killed one man and wounded another. Now, the shooter wants to silence the seamstress.
The third book, Stitch in the Ditch, includes forgery and murder. A continuing question throughout the series has been about Mibs’ true identity. Information about her past has the usually self-assured and determined young woman conflicted.
The fourth book is still in the outline stage. So, I’ll save the previews on that one until later.
6. Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
I grew up before the internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc., so books were my soul food. My childhood home was filled with authors that would not necessarily be recognized today– James Fenimore Cooper, Gene Stratton Porter, Essie Summers, Louis L’Amour, Jules Verne, Ellery Queen, Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle–to mention a few. I loved them all.
Moving to more current authors, I would list some of my favorites as Mary Higgins Clark, Debbie Macomber, David Baldacci, and James Patterson. These are on my list because I love mystery stories, and these authors do the genre justice with their writing.
I also enjoy good Christian adventure authors. They bring the story, mystery, adventure, drama, romance to life and at the same time are not afraid to let the reader know that their characters have God as the center of their lives. Some of my favorites are Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series, Barbara Golder’s Lady Doc Mysteries, Ann Lewis’s Watson Chronicles, and Ellen Gable’s Great War series.
A Thread of Evidence is available here on Amazon!
Interview With RL Martin
Today, I interview RL Martin, author of Refreshing Jutta, published recently by Full Quiver Publishing.
EG: Where did you get the idea for Refreshing Jutta?
RLM: I was listening to Al Cresta one day on Catholic Radio talking about the possibility of medicine reaching a point where people will not have to die. I wondered what would prevent the really wealthy from keeping the treatments to themselves. What life would be like living under these transhuman people who are 150 years old or so. How far would they go to live indefinitely? Would they kill others to keep themselves alive? This kind of thing is happening in China right now. Organ harvesting is a big business. So, I created a world where the common people like you and I are given a near perfect environment. We don’t have to work much or suffer. We can spend all our time playing and doing pleasurable activities. Nothing sexual is taboo. The only catch is that when we start to wonder if there’s more to life, we get in trouble. Our transhuman leaders don’t need us asking pesky religious or philosophical questions. Those questions just make us unmanageable. Better we spend our time playing games and otherwise being distracted from anything at all that matters. Kind of like the world we’re in today. We have these smartphones that are with us now 24 hours a day. So, I imagined the evolution of the smartphones as being PASbots that monitor our moods and make sure we’re not thinking anything too deep or questioning why we’re here. I think our technology has pretty much done that. It’s distracted us from our true purpose, which is to be in relationship with our Creator.
EG: Have you always been interested in science fiction?
RLM: I’ve never been a huge science fiction buff. I’m not into science fiction just for the sake of science fiction. I prefer stories that are kind of thought experiments about what might happen if humans do eventually get certain technologies. In other words, the best science fiction, in my mind, provides cautionary tales about what might happen if we keep going down whatever path we’re on. That’s what Bradbury was doing with “There will come soft rains,” you know, thinking about what will happen as a result of our nuclear weapons obsession in the 50s. Or Huxley’s Brave New World and of course Orwell’s 1984. Very prescient, I might add, looking at what’s going on these days with censorship and our media. It’s Newspeak and Big Brother, for sure. I wouldn’t consider myself a real science fiction buff. I never really got into Asimov or the like. But I do like it if it’s a good cautionary tale. I believe the original Star Wars was really good. George Lucas used the “Hero’s Journey” that Joseph Campbell came up with. And I tried to follow that pattern with Refreshing Jutta as well.
EG: What do you hope the reader will take away from Refreshing Jutta?
RLM: The literary criticism class I took in college would say that we shouldn’t be concerned with what the author intended but with what meaning we make of the text. I do believe that the reader works with the text to create their own meaning. And great writers, like Faulkner if I remember correctly (or was it Hemmingway?), refused to say what they meant by their writings. They were interested in hearing what others made of their work. Well, I won’t pretend to be a Faulkner or a Hemmingway, so I’ll just tell you what I want readers to get out of the book. What I meant to say with Jutta is that I believe the world is a sort of saint factory. It’s not meant to be comfortable and we were not meant to live here forever in this current body. We’re meant to be on this Earth to learn to love God. It reminds me of the poem “The little black boy” by William Blake.
And we are put on earth a little space / That we may learn to bear the beams of love, / For when our souls have learn’d the heat to bear / The cloud will vanish we shall hear his voice. / Saying: come out from the grove my love & care, / And round my golden tent like lambs rejoice.
Any attempt to change the true purpose of creation, which is to make saints who will commune with God eternally, always ends up being destructive, no matter how good our intentions are.
EG: Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
RLM: Flannery O’Connor. I don’t know why. I always loved her stuff. She was weird and quirky. I read her Violent Bear it Away in college and thought she was cooky, but in a good way. At that time, I had no idea what Catholicism was all about. It wasn’t until I became a Catholic almost 20 years later and was teaching Literature at the community college that her work had a full impact on me. When I taught her short stories, like “Revelation” I just couldn’t help but get excited and even laugh at the ending. The students thought I was weird. They were probably right.
Others: TS Elliot, JRR Tolkien (see why I use my initials?) Ursula K Le Guin, John Steinbeck, Dostoevsky…I guess the writers I like most are the ones who give me something to think about. Le Guin’s story, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” inspired the opening scene of Jutta.
EG: Are you working on any other writing projects? If so, what are they?
RLM: I started a new book before Covid hit, but I never could get back to it. It was going to be a love story between a white woman and a Chinese man in 1883 Tacoma, leading up to the expulsion of the Chinese from Tacoma. But when Covid hit, it just didn’t seem like such an important topic, and I’ve been more concerned with blogging about current events. Oh, and I teach full-time now at a middle school, so there’s not a lot of time to write creatively. I did finish a book after Jutta about a kid who gets thrown overboard in the Pacific ocean and ends up surviving on all the trash out there. I think it turned out pretty good but probably needs edits.
To purchase Refreshing Jutta, click here. It is available as an ebook and paperback.
Interview with Allison Wajert Venini, author of Authenticity
Allison Wajert Venini is the author of Authenticity, which was published by FQP last Fall.
EG: Where did you get the idea for Authenticity?
AWV: I had an idea of a well-known and working actor asking an ingenue why she was compelled to be involved in the craft of acting. Sometimes, stories come to me, although there is a point of entry before I find it in whole. There had been much attention brought to certain celebrities, particularly young actors who were prominent in the eighties. Several turned to substances and subsequently became addicts. I am speculating, but I think some of them were exploited. They were surrounded by people who used them.
EG: Your book focuses on a close friendship between a famous actor and a background actress. Do you have any experience in the acting field?
AWV: I have experience in acting in several mediums. I have a degree in theatre acting, as well. The body of work, if you could even phrase it as such, has been broad, but on a small scale. I do not think you would recognize me from anything. I would hate getting typecast, but if I was typecast as anything, it was the victim. I consider myself as being a quiet person, but I know how to scream.
EG: Have you always been interested in literature? What drew you to writing a story with Theology of the Body themes?
AWV: I am a bibliophile. Growing up, I read novels instead of interacting with my peers at recess. The books were more inviting and inclusive than my classmates, I found. I wanted to write a story of faith, primarily. Theology of the Body has far-reaching applications; one experiences life through the body. Our decisions, often realized physically upon ourselves or upon others, impact our souls. Chastity is a virtue prevalent in the story. The protagonist’s virtue is challenged, tested, and even attacked. I believe in platonic love, and did not find it depicted between opposite sexes in literature very often.
EG: What do you hope the reader will take away from Authenticity?
AWV: What a lovely question! I am grateful when someone invests the time to read Authenticity. Hopefully, he or she will have learned a little bit about the arts, and that the people behind the art are not automatically pedantic and aloof.
EG: Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
AWV: Growing up, I read quite a bit of Torey Hayden, who is a non-fiction writer. She taught children who were deemed unfit for a regular classroom setting, often because of disability or psychological disorders. She was remarkable, and so were the children who had to, with guidance, make better lives for themselves. With children, their circumstances are out of their control, so you hope that they are in a place where they can thrive. My tastes are broad, but I have read a lot of apocalypse fiction, so Michael O’Brien’s Children of the Last Days, especially Father Elijah, captivated me. I read Steven King’s The Stand. I did read Left Behind at the peak of its popularity, but I was disappointed that Catholics were among those “left.” I found it to be unnecessarily divisive. The last book I read that I truly loved is The Buried Giant by Sir Kazuo Ishiguro. It is a love story between an elderly married couple. There are many books devoted to young love, but not nearly as many touching upon sustained love. Sir Ishiguro writes in a range of genres, so he has the ability to reach many.
EG: Are you working on any other writing projects? If so, what are they?
AWV: It all depends upon having time to write! If I do not complete it, then I hope someone puts out a novel regarding souls in Purgatory. They are too often ignored, and that is reflected in the novels being published.
Click here to read an excerpt, reviews and a synopsis of Authenticity.
Authenticity is available via Amazon as an ebook or paperback.
An Open Book – August #openbook
I’m joining with Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom on An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading over the past month.
A Saint Michael Treasury of Prayer and Reflection
by Carol Puschaver
Blurb: Make no mistake. Satan is very much alive — and hellbent on revenge. He is waging war against humanity, and indeed against all creation, with the reckless abandon of one who has nothing more to lose. Cast out of heaven; crushed at the foot of the Cross, he is multiplying evil and outrage and scandal to unprecedented effect as he “strikes at [the] heel” (Gen 3.15) of “fallen mankind” (St. Joseph Edition of the New American Bible, Revised Edition, 9).Without question we are living in a time of increasingly brazen evil. That is to say, a time of extraordinary and abundant grace also. Christ has already won the final victory over Satan. By His grace, we stand strong against the forces of evil. By that same ineffable grace, we stand in the company of holy angels — most especially the glorious Warrior Archangel Saint Michael.And the high ground belongs to us!
My review: This is a beautiful booklet dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. If you thought the only St. Michael prayer was the one we sometimes say at the end of Mass, then this book will be an eye opener for you. Included is a history of the St. Michael prayers as well as a chaplet and reflections. Highly recommend.
Unspeakable Beauty by Joshua Elzner
Blurb: When Adam awakes without a past, he is impelled to ask the question, “Who am I?” and yet this question itself is already cradled in the awe of first discovery, in which his heart is stirred to childlike wonder and playfulness at his contact with a beautiful world that he had almost lost forever. But whenever his memory comes flooding back in, and his whole being is shaken by the trauma of a painful life, will he be able to retain his childlike wonder, and will he be able to answer this question, both for himself and for others?
His only hope lies in letting himself be buoyed up by what has gone before him, carries him now, and will always remain—a mystery greater than himself and yet enfolding him in his uniqueness, a mystery knitting his life together with the lives of so many others in a tapestry that, while composed of light and darkness, of joy and sorrow, of profound hope and inexpressible anguish, is nonetheless a masterpiece of unspeakable beauty.
My review: The author can write well and the story is engaging. My only criticism is that it’s very, very long. For those who can handle lengthy books, this is a good read.
Jazz and Other Stories by Dena Hunt
Blurb: Like jazz music, these singular life stories play out in an improvisational current of tragedy, comedy, drama, and discovery. A little girl in rural Georgia, a young woman in Germany, a Floridian priest, a history professor in New Orleans, and others all contribute verses of experience—some with joy, some with sorrow, and some with shock, or even violence. Written over a period of many years by an award-winning author, these stories and their characters make up a varied collection of life’s jazz-like rhythm, its recurrent refrain of surprise, its terrible and beautiful crashes against the cymbals. Not one of the stories is about love, but they are all, in their different ways, love stories.
My review: This is a new book by my favorite author, Dena Hunt. I’ve read some of the stories and they’re wonderful. I can’t wait to read the rest of the book!
Peace Among Brambles by May Akonobi
Blurb: Mma loves children. Preoccupied by this love and the desire to have her own children, she rushes into marriage with Joey, throwing overboard her mother’s wise counsel to pray and seek God’s will. The honeymoon is a dream come true for Mma and her new husband. But when they return home, Mma finds that Joey’s mother and sister have moved in. What follows is a challenging time for Mma. How will she face her new situation? Will she ever realize her dream of having her own children?
My review: This is a beautiful story of a young Nigerian woman, who yearns for children. She marries quickly without praying to God for guidance. What follows is a series of life lessons for Mma, who eventually learns to trust in God.
Though War Be Waged Upon Me: A St. Michael Treasury of Prayer and Reflection
Since that most dire moment when “war broke out in heaven” as Lucifer rebelled against God, the war between good and evil has always raged, and our present time is no exception. To the contrary, the forces of good and evil are locked in a battle that appears to be escalating, growing more ominous by the day. And it hardly seems any exaggeration to feel that evil has the upper hand – and Satan is not about to pull any punches.
So what is the average layperson to do?
Though War Be Waged Upon Me: A Saint Michael Treasury of Prayer and Reflection is a book written by Carol Puschaver as one answer to this pressing question. The reader can draw hope and remember that grace is at work as he/she appeals to St. Michael, starting with the Prayer to St. Michael that was composed by Pope Leo XIII. As the book makes clear, however, there is much more not only to the Warrior Archangel, but also the many other prayers, including the especially powerful St. Michael Chaplet.
Also in this book:
St. Michael in Salvation History
The Vision of Pope Leo and the Original Prayer to St. Michael
St. Michael Chaplet
Prayer Treasury
Ways to Love and Honor St. Michael
The blurb: Make no mistake. Satan is very much alive — and hellbent on revenge. He is waging war against humanity, and indeed against all creation, with the reckless abandon of one who has nothing more to lose. Cast out of heaven; crushed at the foot of the Cross, he is multiplying evil and outrage and scandal to unprecedented effect as he “strikes at [the] heel” (Gen 3.15) of “fallen mankind” (St. Joseph Edition of the New American Bible, Revised Edition, 9).Without question we are living in a time of increasingly brazen evil. That is to say, a time of extraordinary and abundant grace also. Christ has already won the final victory over Satan. By His grace, we stand strong against the forces of evil. By that same ineffable grace, we stand in the company of holy angels — most especially the glorious Warrior Archangel Saint Michael. And the high ground belongs to us!
My review: This is a beautiful booklet dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. If you thought the only St. Michael prayer was the one we sometimes say at the end of Mass, then this book will be an eye opener for you. Included is a history of the St. Michael prayers as well as a chaplet and reflections. Highly recommend.
About the Author: Carol Puschaver earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in English from Kent State University, Ohio, and lives in Upstate New York. A lifelong scholar, amateur historian and world traveler, she has a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Michael the Archangel.
To purchase the Kindle edition at only 1.99, click here.
To purchase the Paperback edition at only 5.99, click here.
Virtual Book Tour: Moonchild Rising by Mina Ambrose
Beginning on Monday and for a week, my blog and other blogs will be hosting author Mina Ambrose for a Virtual Book Tour:
Synopsis: Mara the Huntress resides in the sunny little town of Archangel, California, the location of the Gate of the Underworld—a fact unknown to the general populace. Most people don’t even know that vampires exist. As Huntress, Mara does know, and it is her job to kill those that dare venture forth to the Upperworld to prey on the humans living there. She is well-suited to this purpose, gifted with skills and talents far surpassing those of ordinary mortals. Though some vampires manage to evade her, she has so far managed to prevent the unleashing of a full-scale infestation. She has been at this job for a good portion of her not-quite twenty years, and it seems she has everything in hand. Then one day she gets a chill of foreboding, a feeling that things are about to change…
For she stands in the way of the master vampire’s plan for world domination, and, he fears, may be a key player in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy foretelling his destruction. One dark night he sends the mighty Prince (his second in command) to put an end to this Huntress, this bane of vampires, once and for all. Mara confidently goes out to face him, but finds she has met her match at last. Just as all hope seems lost, this powerful vampire turns from the “dark side” to become Mara’s ally in the battle against his own kind.
Keywords: Religious inspirational, vampire fiction, clean historical, Catholic fiction fantasy, Vampire conversion
Info Link: https://www.fullquiverpublishing.com/our-publications/shadows-of-the-sun-series-by-mina-ambrose/
Buy Link Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Moonchild-Rising-Shadows-Sun-Book-ebook/dp/B087JY8X4C/
Buy Link Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1987970152/
Categories: Fantasy Fiction, Vampire Romance, Religious Inspirational Fiction, Catholic Romance Vampires, Supernatural
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53398004-moonchild-rising
Virtual Book Tour Stops
June 8 Patrice MacArthur
June 9 Steven McEvoy Book Reviews and More
June 10 Ellen Gable Plot Line and Sinker
June 11 Carolyn Astfalk My Scribbler’s Heart Blog
June 12 Karina Fabian
June 13 Theresa Linden
June 15 Sarah Reinhard, Snoring Scholar
Advanced Reviews:
A fast-paced, engaging book that draws clear lines between Good and Evil, leading the reader on a great adventure through the darkness we cannot see. I loved the story—and I’m not even a fan of vampires!” Michelle Buckman, award-winning author, Rachel’s Contrition and Turning in Circles
“Can a vampire’s soul be saved? With beautiful imagery, Moonchild Rising pairs a redeemed vampire and a skilled huntress battling both the undead and the desires of their hearts.” Carolyn Astfalk, author, Come Back to Me and All in Good Time
Interview with Linda Etchison, author of Sister Aloysius books
Today I’m interviewing the author of the Sister Aloysius books, Linda Etchison.
What inspired you to write the Sr. Aloysius series?
After my father passed away, the idea came to me to create a character in a children’s book and name her Sister Aloysius in honor of my dad, Aloysius John Winka. I cannot remember anything other than the idea popped into my head, and I knew my dad would like it. I guess I just let the idea rest in the back of my mind, pondering it for a few years as other ideas began to come along.
What do you love most about writing these stories for children?
As I write them, I like thinking of parents reading them to and with their children. I like to think that the stories will help people love Jesus, his Blessed Mother, and the wonderful Church that he has left us. As I write, in a small way I am able to share my own faith through the character of Sister Aloysius.
Where do you get your inspiration for the Sr. Aloysius stories?
I have to say that my inspiration must come from the Holy Spirit. I look back on the stories and reread them and think to myself, how did I think of that?? I have to give God the credit. Most ideas pop into my head when my mind during adoration. Many of the little things in the stories come from my own life. I attended a Catholic school in my early grade school years before it closed. It was staffed with sisters from the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. My first-grade teacher was a wonderful woman named Sister Benedict who remained a family friend until she died. She loved everyone and was full of joy and cheer. Later, I was also a teacher in the public schools for 18 years, so I have my own teaching experience to use. My dad was a wonderful inspiration as well. He never missed an opportunity to talk about his faith and the Catholic Church to anyone in the coffee shop or on the job. He loved it and spent many evenings sitting on the couch, studying and reading, trying to learn all that he could about the Church. He had many stories of faith to share with us. He prayed as he worked.
Have you always loved stories and reading?
From the time I could ride my bike, I would ride to the public library and check out books to read. I didn’t always enjoy reading things that were assigned in school though until I was older. My first job was actually working in the public library. I loved working there. I started working part time after my sophomore year in high school and worked there until I finished junior college. My love of books carried through to my studies. I chose junior high education with fields of English and library science as my major. After college I taught junior high and high school English coupled with being a school librarian. After 18 years working in public schools, I became a homeschooling mother. Reading was a big part of the Seton Home Study Program that we used. Using the Seton program gave me an opportunity to read many wonderful books that I hadn’t had the chance to read before. I have to admit that through the years I have collected many books, though, that I haven’t yet found the time to read.
What message do you hope the children and parents who read your books will bring away after reading these books?
Sister Aloysius wants everyone to love Jesus as a best friend. I think that my hope is that everyone will come to know Jesus and realize that he is the very best friend anyone could have. For many years as a PSR catechist, I have watched children pass through class seeming engaged and learning the material only to have them leave the Church once they were confirmed. It breaks my heart. My hope with these books is that children and parents will all come to know Jesus as their very best friend and come to love the wonderful Church that he left to help us get to heaven.
How can families explore the themes in the Sr. Aloysius books?
Included on the parent pages in the books are references to the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The stories are a great way to launch into Bible study. Other bits of information are also included that can be used to help parents jump-start a discussion. My hope is to have stories that parents enjoy reading along with their children, stories that help parents share their own faith, and stories that parents and children can possibly learn from together.
Who are some of your favorite children’s authors and books?
Narrowing down to favorites is nearly impossible. I could go on and on. There are so many great books that I’ve enjoyed. There were books that I read as a child, though, which I definitely made of point of having so that I could read them to my children. They were fun stories to read aloud. Some of them are The Digging-est Dog by Al Perkins, A Fish Out of Water by Helen Palmer, Dr. Seuss books, and the Berenstain Bears books by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Also, favorites that I used with my own children were the St. Joseph Picture Books by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik. My children and I both loved reading the Magic Tree House chapter books by Mary Pope Osborne. Two favorite sets of books from Neumann Press I discovered while homeschooling were Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls: Stories written and compiled in days long past by Catholic nuns in America and dedicated to Mary the Mother of God our dear lady of the Miraculous Medal (Volumes I-IV), and Angel Food for Boys and Girls: Little Talks to Young Folks (Volumes I-IV) by Father Gerald T. Brennan. I guess my all-time favorite book as a child would have to be Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. I say that because it was the only book I read and reread multiple times.
Which is your favorite Sr. Aloysius book and why?
That is a hard question to answer, but when I read the question, the second book, Sister Aloysius Arrives at Our Lady of Sorrows, flashed into my mind. I think it’s a very important book because I think that the world desperately needs Mary now. I don’t think that she is loved and appreciated as much as Our Lord wants her to be. She is the Queen of Heaven and our Mother as well. She cares so much for all of us and has willingly suffered for us along with her Son. She is the dispenser of graces. She has appeared over and over again throughout time to warn us and try to draw us to her son. It’s her Immaculate Heart to which we need to turn in order to save the world and the many lost souls in it.
Purchase links for the Sister Aloysius books: they’re available in hardcover or paperback:
Sister Aloysius Comes to Mercyville
Interview with the Hollywood Times
I was recently interviewed for the Hollywood Times. Special thanks to Jules Lavalle! Here is a short excerpt:
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4/4/20- When she joins the war effort during the Great War, American nurse Ella Neumann doesn’t see allies or enemies. The daughter of German immigrants, all soldiers — Allies or Axis — are human beings in need of care. A promise to herself and a promise made to her by an enemy officer become the catalyst for the life she plans to lead after the war. But a handsome Canadian soldier may complicate her plans. In this third installment of the Great War – Great Love series, join Ella in a tale of promises, betrayal and unconditional love.- Ella’s Promise (Great War Great Love Book 3)
Did you always want to be an author?
English, Creative Writing and Spelling were the subjects I loved most in High School and college. As a small child, I enjoyed telling stories and making up stories. When I was a young woman, I married my husband, James, and raised five sons. For me, that was a vocation in itself.
It never occurred to me to be an Author, however, until my husband suggested the idea twenty years ago after I found out some disturbing information about my great-grandmother. “You should write a novel and base it on the stories of yourself and your great-grandmother.” So that’s what I did.
There are several recurring themes in your books. One theme is that every human being is unique and irreplaceable and should be treated with charity and kindness. What are the other themes?
St. John Paul II said, “ Human life is precious because it is the gift of a God whose love is infinite; and when God gives life, it is forever.” Human beings from the moment of conception to natural death are eternal gifts, and that is another theme that flows through my novels.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Intense love does not measure; it just gives.” My faith and love for Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother are important to me, so self-sacrifice is also a theme in most of my books.
St. John Paul II also said: “Love that leads to marriage is a gift from God and a great act of faith toward other human beings.”
Another recurring theme is that husband and wife are called to love as God loves: freely, totally, faithfully and fruitfully. This is why all of my publishing company’s books are called “Theology-of-the-Body Fiction.”
To read the entire interview, click here.
Plot Line and Sinker (Ellen Gable, Author) 