Author Patricia Kiyono pens Monogatari Mischief as part of anthology

August 31, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sefw9-12b173c

During her first career, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary school music, computer classes, elementary classrooms, and junior high social studies. She now teaches music education at the university level.

A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures.

In Monogatari Mischief short story which is a part of the Gateways to the Paranormal anthology protagonists Mindy Granger and Rob Sanders are both graduate students at Michigan State, but that seems to be all that they have in common. Mindy is on a mission to find a cure for cancer that took away her beloved grandmother. All she has left of her beloved Bachman is the Japanese tea set that she inherited, and she uses it each day, continuing one of the traditions of her grandmother’s homeland. Rob is studying Asian culture but has no idea what he wants to do with his life.

When he loses his phone charger, he meets his pretty next-door neighbor, and the tea set brings them together — in more ways than one. According to the Japanese legend of tsukomogami, once an object becomes one hundred years old, it develops a soul (as well as arms, legs, and a voice) and will often get into mischief. Mindy’s tea set wants to avoid being packed away again, and they’ve decided that it’s in their best interest to get Mindy and Rob together.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.

book podcasts, Indie authors, writing

Diane Burton pens Rescuing Mara’s Father

August 31, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-vxwxy-12b16bc

Mara’s father is gone! Taken by the Queen of Compara’s agents. Mara has to rescue him before the Queen tortures and kills him.
Instead of the kind, the loving father she’s always known, he’s become demanding, critical, with impossible expectations—not just as Father but also as the only teacher in their frontier outpost. Mara would rather scoop zircan poop than listen to another boring lecture about governments on Central Planets. Give her a starship engine to take apart or, better yet, fly, and she’s happy. Now, he’s gone.
Never mind, they’ve had a rocky road lately.
Never mind, Father promised she could go off planet to Tech Institute next month when she turns fifteen, where she’ll learn to fly starships.
Never mind, she ran away because she was furious with him because he reneged on that promise. Her Father is her only parent. She has to save him.

Along with her best friend, eleven-year-old Jako, and his brother 15-year-old Lukus, Mara sets off to find her father. Her mentor, the old spaceport mechanic, seems to know why the Queen captured Father. In fact, he seems to know her father well. But, does he tell her everything? Of course not. He dribbles out info like a mush-eating baby. Worse, he indicates he’ll be leaving them soon. And Lukus can’t wait to get off our planet. Mara’s afraid they will all leave, and she’ll be on her own. Despite her fears, Mara has to rescue her father.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.

Authors events, book podcasts, book signing, festivals, Michigan authors, Uncategorized

Into Paradise

August 16, 2022 emmapalova 1 Comment

By Emma Palova

I am getting ready for a five-hour road trip to Paradise. And it is a true paradise surrounded by the shimmering waters of Lake Superior on one side and the big woods of the Tahquamenon Falls State Park on the other. If you continue further north on Whitefish Point Road you will hit Whitefish Point with its nationally acclaimed Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and lighthouse.

The pristine magic of the Upper Peninsula (UP) has traditionally attracted authors, photographers, and filmmakers for at least one hundred years. Now, a new generation of authors writes from the UP or sets their stories in the UP. We are proud members of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association. (UPPAA)

Many of them are my friends and we’ve met in person at several different authors’ events around the state of Michigan. We will meet again at the Wild Blueberry Festival in Paradise set for Aug. 19 through Aug. 21 this weekend. Here is a sampling of authors, who will be at the festival, including their podcasts. You can meet them in person in Paradise. They will sign your next favorite read. It really doesn’t get any better than that.

Author Mikel Classen is a true Yooper who makes his home in Sault Ste. Mary. His newest book True Tales: The Forgotten History of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a treasure chest of eye-opening stories. Listen in to the podcast episode by clicking on the link below.

https://emmapalova123.podbean.com/e/author-mikel-classen-digs-out-lost-stories-in-true-tales-from-the-up-1649166655/

Author Mike Carrier will be on his home turf at the festival since he spends summers near Whitefish Point. Fourteen out of 15 Carrier’s murder mysteries with the main character Jack Handler are set in the UP.

Mike Carrier

“The festival has become one of my favorites,” Carrier said. “Beyond the proximity, I find those who attend to be more interesting. For instance, there is a biker group that usually comes through the festival, and they help make it a fun event.”

Listen in to the episode about To China with Love.

https://emmapalova123.podbean.com/e/author-michael-carrier-releases-to-china-with-love/

Then it’s me who simply loves the UP. And like many other authors and artists, I’ve always been inspired by the rugged beauty and history of the land. I will have my brand new book “The Lost Town” on hand to sign.

Listen in to the episode about The Lost Town on

https://emmapalova123.podbean.com/e/author-emma-palova-pens-the-lost-town/

Author Bob Muladore of Tuebor books. I’ve known Bob for a long time. I plan on having him as a guest on For the Love of Books Podcast soon.

Author Mary Kremer, whom I don’t know, and I look forward to meeting her at the festival.

book podcasts, Indie authors, writing

Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey brings little-known Bible characters to light

August 4, 2022 emmapalova 4 Comments

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-yza5j-128df56

In her Christian fiction novel Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey, author Barbara M. Britton features five orphaned daughters of Zelophehad as the main characters with the eldest Mahlah taking the center stage in their fight for land.

“There’s so much Scripture in the Bible devoted to them, but no one knows about them,” Britton said.

Britton skillfully brings to life the characters of the orphaned daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their individualities are reflected in their age, and their skills based on the weapons they carry: brave and courageous Mahlah who faces off Moses carries a knife, Noah a whip for sheep tending and Hoglah cooks. Milcah is ethereal and the youngest Tirzah complains all the time.

The main storyline follows the Scripture right through as Mahlah approaches Moses with a request to inherit land to keep a promise to her dying mother.

In the Book of Numbers 27:1-11, the daughters say: “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons.”

“It was challenging to keep them as separate individuals,” Britton said.

The novel has its own villain Balaam according to the Book of Revelation and plenty of action such as God’s parting of the Jordan River and Joshua assuming leadership.

In response to the question what did she do right in the novel, Britton said.

“I brought the story to Biblical fiction,” she said. “You can get a lot of Scripture out of this.”

As a Christian fiction author, Britton has to find balance when putting romance into her novels.

“As the series goes on, you get more romance with Noah,” she said.

One of the most common responses Britton gets to her books is:

“I didn’t realize the Bible could be so exciting.”

Listen in to the episode for a chance to win a signed copy of Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey.

Sponsored by author Barbara Britton, Doc Chavent, and The Lowell Ledger.

book podcast, books, For the Love of Books Podcast, Michigan authors, Shifting Sands, Shifting Sands Short Stories, Uncategorized

Michigan Authors at Holland Art in the Park on Aug. 6

August 2, 2022 emmapalova 4 Comments

By Emma Palova

I will be at Art in the Park in Holland on Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. along with other authors. We will be located along Central near the corner of 10th in booths 205 & 206. You can listen to some of these authors talk about their books on For the Love of Books Podcast at http://emmapalova123.podbean.com

https://emmapalova123.podbean.com/

These authors represent a wide variety of genres from horror and fantasy to historical fiction and everything in between. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to meet us in person and find your next favorite read.

Jean Davis

Emma Palova

Diane Burton

Andrew Smith

KM McIntyre

Janet Vormitag

Vera West

Patricia Kiyono

Mark Love

I have a brand new book The Lost Town from the Shifting Sands series that I have introduced to the market at Once Upon A Book in Frankenmuth. The third book in the series is getting awesome reviews. You can get a signed copy by visiting our authors’ booths in Holland this Saturday. I am grateful to my graphic artist Jeanne Boss of Rockford for the whimsical cover.

Reviews

This historical fiction is a reflective account of a city in Michigan’s past, called Singapore, whose development on the Lake Michigan shore was the dream of wealthy investors from New York. Their hopes in making it a booming Michigan city were affirmed in a statement made by John Bosch, one of the main characters and investors, who said, “The town of Singapore will rival both Chicago and Milwaukee, and its counterpart in Asia….” With twists and turns that love and hardships create, this fascinating saga of our state’s history will keep the reader’s attention from start to finish. Emma has successfully captured the varied emotions and accounts of the characters and conditions surrounding the growth, and later demise, of the city of Singapore.

–Carol Briggs, Lowell Person of the Year 2019

Emma’s ease at mixing actual history into her stories is remarkable, and so entails Miss Ida’s response to an invitation to a soon-to-be bustling “Singapore” on the shores of Lake Michigan. She is transported away from Chicago, family, and friends. She quickly learns the duties expected of her in maintaining a boarding house and warehouse in the rapidly growing community. Soon she falls in love with one of the corrupt founders. The many colorful characters weave a fantastic story of love, mystery, hope, and faith. This is a quick, very worthwhile read!

-Nancy Price Stroosnyder