WWII in the American South: Ruth Francisco’s Camp Sunshine
Ruth Francisco’s WWII novel, Camp Sunshine, entertains and informs with clear, specific storytelling. Already a fan of WWII history and fiction, I greatly enjoyed this novel. Francisco animates a rather unattended war detail, an amphibious…
Mystery, History and Love: You’ll Find Them in the Details
My grandmother, Laura, died in 1997 and yet, she remains clear in my mind. From decades earlier, I feel her cool hands on my feverish forehead. When I was four years old and abruptly relieved…
Who Doesn’t Like to Read?
Sometimes being an avid reader begins or ends in childhood…(click post title for video).
The Darkwater Liar’s Account as The Next Big Thing
Thanks to Kourtney Heintz for nominating me for The Next Big Thing blog award. She has inspired me to keep standing up when rejections smack me down. Thanks, Coach. I look forward to reading some…
Short Attention Span Summer Fiction
Our Iowa summer days seemed long and hot, due to drought, but the season stopped short of our expectations for rainfall and yield. It also held a few surprises. That’s not a cloud towering over…
History, Courage & Learning to Remember
In college, I was no history buff. Dr. Lynwood Oyos’ legendary Western Civilization class at Augustana College nearly sank me in terms of my grade point average. He was a brilliant and personable professor who…
Back in the Game, by Charles Holdefer: a Reader’s Review
Stanley Mercer might be called an accidental teacher. After fourteen years of pursuing his youthful dream of professional baseball through the U.S., Mexico and France, he returns to America, without success or his girlfriend, Delphine….
The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.
This review is based on a pre-release reading of the uncorrected, “galley” proof provided to me by goodreads. Novel Release Date: June 5, 2012. I just finished an early taste of summer vacation, with a…
A Skunk, Google Earth and an Anvil Salesman
Scene One: Goodhusband is making toast in the kitchen. “What’s that smell?” “A smell?” I concentrate and sniff. Nothing but toast. Gilda the white WunderSchnauzer paces at our glass patio door, sliding her nose along…
Will You Like Her?
The protagonist in the novel I’m editing has likeable qualities. If she were perfect, though, one couldn’t imagine her as a real person. It does make me wonder…how much does a reader need to love…
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