Monday Review by the Book Dragon: A powerful YA about spiritual warfare

The Book Dragon has read A. J. Cattapan's Angelhood, a powerful YA about the spiritual warfare going on all around us, and gives it 5 claws.

Here's my review: "When I first began this book, I didn't think I'd be able to finish it, but I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. It's difficult for this Mom to read about teen suicide, but I know it happens, and hopefully this story will reach troubled souls who might wonder whether or not ending their life would be best for themselves and others. This is a powerful story and a vivid reminder of the spiritual battle going on all around us, and I felt so uplifted by the ending. Highly recommended."

My Publication Story

In 1986 my husband and I became foster parents while living in Waco, Texas. We not only had our three year old son, but a five year old foster daughter. Later a four month old baby boy with a heart monitor temporarily joined our family, and I was pulling out my hair. My husband suggested I find something "adult" to do one evening a week while he kept the children. Since I'd always liked writing stories, I took a creative writing course at Baylor University.

I enjoyed that class so much I started pumping out short stories, dozens and dozens of them. I had always loved science and thought it would be easy for me to write science fiction. My excitement outpaced my ability, and I started submitting my stories to magazines in 1987. My first rejection was handwritten on a sticky note. It basically said, "Not for us; try again" so I did. Over the next five years I collected over 600 rejections before I sold my first story, a clean fantasy to an anthology compiled by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

My first rejection in 1987

We gave up being foster parents after two years, but I continued to write, even while homeschooling our son and later his younger brother. I found success with magazines, writing nonfiction articles on spec and short stories for children. As Catherine Jones, I published in Highlights for Children, Cricket, Cobblestone, Jack and Jill, Hopscotch, Boy's Quest, and dozens of other less-well-known magazines. I sold two easy readers and had a nonfiction book for older children published about the Navajo Code Talkers, which brought me "fifteen minutes of fame," since I did go on television and radio. I also learned public speaking the hard way, and developed a multi-media presentation which I gave to thousands of people over several years. Even after almost 20 years I still get requests for that presentation.

Then cancer struck in 2005, and it took nuclear-bomb strength chemo to put it in remission. My brain was so scrambled I couldn't get back in the groove of writing for magazines. I did publish my first novel in 2012, a MG fantasy allegory of the cancer journey called Leandra's Enchanted Flute, and the editor wanted to know if there was a sequel, so I wrote Return to Finian Jahndra, which Cool Well Press published in February 2013, one month before they went out of business. I got my rights back for both books, but I was crushed.

Return to Finian Jahndra 1st and only printing from Cool Well Press

I didn't want those stories to die, so after discovering the online group Clean Indie Reads, I was motivated to self-publish the two books. Since our homeschool was Quinlan Creek Academy, I used the name Quinlan Creek Press. I had no idea how to market the books, but at least they were available.

After almost 25 years and 22 rejections, I finally sold a YA historical fiction near and dear to my heart to Pauline Books & Media in 2014: the story of "Good King Wenceslas" from the point of view of his servant, which was released in January 2016. I also sold another easy reader the same year. Persistence is so important in this crazy publishing business!

Meanwhile, my father had been diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2011, and to distract myself while I helped my mother care for him during his last eleven months, I gave myself a writing exercise. In 1988 I'd tried to write a fantasy novel, which didn't "work" even after three complete rewrites. So I threw away everything but the opening scene and asked the characters to tell me their story, not for publication but as an outlet for my grief. Chapter after chapter literally poured out. It was like watching a movie and trying to write it down as fast as I could.

By the time I reached chapter 80, I realized this was more than one book, and ended book one at chapter 43. I paid a content editor and a proofreader and was sending out queries to agents and publishers when suddenly and unexpectedly my cancer came back in early June 2015, with such excruciating pain my husband and I thought the doctor would tell us it was stage 4 and nothing to be done but pain control. So I found a pre-made cover, asked the designer to change a few things, and self-published Mercy's Prince (book one, which could stand alone) as my "good-bye" to family and friends.

Thankfully a different chemo put the Beast back in remission, but again chemo brain made it difficult to concentrate. Eighteen months later it's still a problem, but I've managed to publish books 2 and 3, have finished book 4, and am working on book 5 (the last in this YA Christian fantasy series).

Even though I never intended to self-publish, I can now say I am a hybrid author. I still struggle with marketing, but I give thanks to God daily for His mercy. My goal is simply to write stories my grandchildren can read after I'm gone. I used to think I wanted to be a best-selling children's author and win a Newbery Medal, but now I just write for the love of writing, and if someone reads and likes my books, that's just icing on this God-blessed cancer survivor cake.

My three greatest blessings--my grandchildren

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: A fun and heart-warming story of friendship, with riddles!

The Book Dragon has read A. J. Cattapan's 7 Riddles to Nowhere and gives this wonderful story of friendship, solving riddles, and overcoming challenges 5 claws!

 

My review: "This is a fast-paced, kid-friendly, wonderful story about friendship and overcoming challenges. The riddles were especially fun and made even this grownup want to tour the Chicago churches mentioned in the book. Highly recommended for ages 10 and up!"

 

Note: For more information about this author's books as well as others writing clean fiction for Catholic Teens, visit this brand new site, Catholic Teen Books.



Monday Review by the Book Dragon: A fun mystery set in the Texas Hill Country

The Book Dragon has finished Stephanie P. McKean's Bridge to Nowhere and gives it 4.5 claws rounded up to 5!

My review: "4.5 stars for a fun story set in a fictional Texas Hill Country town which rings so true, I kept wanting to find it on my map! Miz Mike is such a loveable MC with a heart of gold and a penchant for attracting trouble. I really connected with her and want to read more of her stories now. With an eclectic cast of colorful town residents including villains and heroes, there is never a dull moment! Just one place where the tension lagged and the emotions didn't quite ring true, but it did not detract from the overall enjoyment of this story. Recommended!"



Fall in Love with Fantasy Books this Valentine's Day!

This Valentine's Day, the talented authors at Fellowship of Fantasy have banded together to provide a great selection of free and discount Fantasy and Speculative Fiction stories. Browse the titles, select as many as your heart desires, and discover your next favorite author!

All Fellowship of Fantasy titles are author rated with a guaranteed content level no higher than PG-13, so you shouldn't encounter graphic sex, gratuitous violence, or excessive language.

As pricing can be subject to the whims of the vendors, please verify that the deals are, in fact, still active before purchasing. Thank you!



FREE titles:

 

The Buick Eight—Frank B. Luke-Amazon

Cora and the Nurse Dragon—H. L. Burke-Amazon

Lands of Ash—H. L. Burke-Amazon

Prince of Alasia—Annie Douglass Lima-Amazon

Awakening—Julie C. Gilbert-Amazon

Leandra's Enchanted Flute—Katy Huth Jones-Amazon

Mercy's Prince—Katy Huth Jones-Amazon

Woe for a Faerie—B. Brumley-Amazon—iTunes—Barnes and Noble

Chasing Lady Midnight—C. L. Ragsdale-Amazon

Jin In Time Part One —Karin De Havin-Amazon—iTunes—Barnes and Noble

Nyssa Glass and the Caper Crisis—H. L. Burke-Amazon

99 cent titles:

Rebirth—Frank B. Luke-Amazon
Seven Deadly Tales—Frank B. Luke-Amazon

The Hidden Level—AJ Bakke-Amazon

To Save Two Worlds—AJ Bakke-Amazon

The Regency Shifter Series—KM Carroll-Amazon—iTunes—Barnes and Noble

Academy of Secrets—Michael Carney-Author Website

Sunbolt—Intisar Khanani-Amazon—Barnes and Noble—Kobo

Wyndano's Cloak—A. R. Silverberry Amazon—Barnes and Noble

The Stream—A. R. Silverberry -Amazon—Barnes and Noble

Rainbird—Rabia Gale-Amazon—Barnes and Noble—Kobo

Reality Break—Jennifer Kibble-Amazon

Battle for the Throne—EJ Willis-Amazon

Nyssa Glass's Clockwork Christmas—H. L. Burke-Amazon

The True Bride and the Shoemaker—L. Palmer-Author Website—Amazon

Cry of the Sea—D. G. Driver-Amazon

Foxtails—Erica Laurie-Amazon

Eun Na and the Phantom—Erica Laurie-Amazon

Perma-free titles found here: Fellowship of Fantasy

 

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Exciting continuation in this fantasy series

The Book Dragon has to file a couple of ragged claws after reading this nail-biter, The Maladorn Scroll, book 3 in Tamie Dearen's Alora series, and gives it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!



My review: "4.5 stars for this exciting continuation of the Alora series with characters I've grown to love. The stakes are high and the situation becomes critical and even deadly for some of the good guys, with betrayal and heroism in equal measure. It's difficult to write a review without spoilers, but I did want to see more in a climactic scene where some of the action was missing and felt like a "fade out" with the camera. Other than that, the story was very satisfying with both nail-biting scenes and sweet moments that made me sigh. I recommend starting with book 1 and reading all three!"

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Fantastic Steampunk Finale

Book Dragon is sad to see the wonderful Nyssa Glass steampunk series end but gives the claw-biting finale 5 claws!

My five star review: "After having read all the previous Nyssa Glass stories, I couldn't imagine how the author could end the series with a bang, but this installment has more nail-biting suspense, twists and turns in the plot, simmering romance, as well as coming full-circle back to Dalhart Mansion. Wow! I recommend reading the entire series in order. The characters, setting, and situation are unforgettable and will stay in your mind and heart forever."