Although
her debut Christian fiction novel, Cooking the Books—A Sloan Templeton
Mystery (Abingdon Press) is pegged to be released in early 2012, Bonnie
S. Calhoun is no stranger to Christian fiction. In addition to her infamous
*snort giggle* one thing you may not know about Bonnie is that she is the founder
and publisher of Christian
Fiction Online Magazine. She is also the owner and director of the Christian
Fiction Blog Alliance, leading a contingency of over 200 book reviewers.
Award
winning author Sandra D. Bricker describes Calhoun’s debut novel as “as fun and
quirky as the author herself.”
Her
impressive knowledge, experience and accolades include being the Northeast Zone
Director, covering New York, New Jersey and the New England States for the
American Christian Fiction Writers. Mrs. Calhoun is an instructor for the
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer’s Conference and the Colorado Christian
Writers Conference. The list goes on and on.
As if
she didn’t have time for anything else, Bonnie is a bible study teacher, Sunday
school teacher, owner of her own seamstress and designer business.
Mrs.
Calhoun lives with her husband in the ideal writing setting, in a log cabin on
fifteen acres, with a pond, apple orchards and a cat and dog. I’d say that one
could write many books surrounded by such beauty.
To
learn more about this exciting new novelist and lover of Christian fiction,
please visit her website at www.bonniescalhoun.com.
Look for Cooking the Books in April
of 2012 and look for our review of her book on Review Wednesday.
Title:Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed: Leverage Resources, Establish Online Credibility, and Crush Your Competition
Author:Patrick Schwerdtfeger
ISBN 13:978-1-118-01420-2
Pages:257
Publisher:John Wiley and Sons
Cover:Hardcover
Reviewer:Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant– Literary Wonders!
Rating:5 Stars
If you are an author, if you are a marketer, if you are an entrepreneur, or, if you’re a blogger, you need this book. Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed by Patrick Schwerdtfeger is an awesome resource for anyone looking to gain credibility and increase business on the internet.
When I say this book is packed with information, I kid you not. I read the entire book in a matter of hours and already have it marked up with highlights and stickies. Although I recommend you read the entire book, Mr. Schwerdtfeger makes it so easy to use, that you can navigate the book by 1) the table of contents, 2) the Implementation Checklist at the back of each chapter, or 3) The expansive index at the very back of the book.
This valuable guide covers everything from developing your expertise, to SEO, to Social Media and Business Plans. At 257 pages, it is a wonder that Patrick was able to pack so much information into this book. However, he has and each chapter is short, sweet and to the point.
Did you know the various ways you can create podcasts for free, or extensive, untapped uses for Google? I’ve been in this business for many years, and I can tell you that I learned something new in each chapter including Belief Systems.
Thank you so much Mr. Schwerdtfeger for this book. With all this information, I know you’re working on another info packed title. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
FAMILY SECRETS by Sharon Rhodes is jam packed with plots and sub-plots. The novel begins with the anticipation of many issues to arise and the content of each chapter lives up to that forecast. Ms. Rhodes uses the subject of family to explore many facets of the human experience.
The main character, Shelia Taylor begins the trail of secrets with her adolescent experience and the secrets continue to develop with her family and friends. Shelia Taylor’s experience occurs from her innocence and will lead to life changing decisions to be felt for the rest of her life. Each character throughout the novel also has a secret that will influence the outcome of their lives. Although some plots were predictable, the characters’ secrets were life experiences.
FAMILY SECRETS can best be described as a good novel. The writing style was sufficient, although attention to using conversational writing when the characters are speaking could have been developed more efficiently. Overall, FAMILY SECRETS by Sharon Rhodes is a novel to be recommended as a good read.
Reviewer:Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant – Literary Wonders!
Rating:5 Stars
I’ve never met anyone, besides myself, that was so passionate about writing and publishing than Kristen Eckstein. Kristen is one of the publishing industry’s top “plethora guru”. Mrs. Eckstein always gives her readers simple, no-nonsense tips and advice on how to follow our dreams and make an impact in this industry.
21 Ways to Powerfully Network Your Business from Kristen’s21 Ways Series is full of what I’ve come to expect from the remarkable writer. She gives valuable tips on how to present your business and market yourself and your business.
You’d be surprise that, even in simplicity, many businesses owners, specifically entrepreneurs do not know how to carry themselves or present themselves in a professional manner. In this book alone, Kristen gives fixes to many things that are broken with networking.
Just as I’ve enjoyed and took away valuable information from Kristen’s other books, this too, is one that is a must-have for my professional library. Mrs. Eckstein adds humor to practical tips and my favorite chapter in the book was brush your teeth. Kristen is truly awesome!
Title: Osguards: Guardians of the Universe - Homecoming
Author: Malcolm Petteway
ASIN:B002SQKMEI
Pages:227
Publisher:Rage Books LLC
Cover:Electronic ARC
Reviewer:Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant – Literary Wonders!
Rating:4 Stars
Homecoming is an installment of Osguards: Guardians of the Universe. Michael Genesis and his family members have created the Osguard community for their elderly parents. The community is a place where these retired parents want for nothing, but they have no idea what it is their children do in order to keep them in unwavering comfort. That is until the Kulusk’s try to destroy the earth.
Mr. Petteway combines third world galaxies, political propaganda and military speak to form a great novel that will win over the hearts of sci-fi fans.
This book was originally published in 2002. It is my personal opinion that if this book was re-edited, and not for spelling errors, but more for flow and development, and re-marketed with a new cover, this could go to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list.
If you’re not familiar with “inside information” of the military, this book may be a hard read. However, once you get past that difficulty, it might make a non-Christian reader wonder if there really are other worlds out there and if aliens really exist. Great job Malcolm.
Title: Bring out the Best in Your Child and Your Self: Creating a Family Based on Mutual Respect
Author:Ilene Val-Essen, Ph.D.
ISBN 13:978-0-9675371—1-5
Pages:334
Publisher:Quality Parenting
Cover:E-book Galley
Reviewer:Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant – Literary Wonders!
Rating:4 Stars
Dr. Ilene Val-Essen has created a guide that helps parents better understand their children and themselves. We were all raised in different ways and in different eras, and with children in the current era, reaching them is much more challenging.
Dr. Val-Essen defines and evaluates the three levels of self and how we all shift back and forth through these phases. This book gives examples and exercises for each level of self. It also defines how changing our attitudes can better help with the development of our children and allow parents to see themselves in a new light.
I’d have to say, my personal opinion, I disagree with Dr. Val-Essen on the issue of spanking. Again, I said this is a personal opinion, but could be derived from the fact that I was raised in a strict environment that included spanking and I actually think it helped me in my personal development.
Overall, I’d say that this book was written very well and has some great advice to parents. It gives possible reasons as to where a child may be, as opposed to where they could be. It gives examples of being Aggressive versus passive versus assertive.
Although I think there is something in this book for every parent, I believe that the entire book will not be completely received by generational, religious and cultural audiences. One of the good things about this book is that although it will not be everything to everybody, there is something for everyone.
This is not a book that you just read and put on the shelf. There are actual exercises and skills that require implementation.
Reviewer:Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant– Literary Wonders!
Rating:5 Stars
The Promised One – Seeing Jesus is Genesis is part of the Seeing Jesus in The Old Testament 10-Week Bible Study Series. Nancy Guthrie takes 10 different points in Genesis and breaks them down into ten easy bible study lessons. Lessons include the creation of mankind to Noah’s Ark, as well as the Tower of Babel and the sagas of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Each chapter is broken up into four parts: 1) personal bible study, 2) teaching chapter, 3) how Genesis points to what is to come and 4) discussion guide. There is plenty of scripture reference and workspace worked right into each chapter.
I think this is a great Bible study resource and look forward to Ms. Guthrie’s future chapter studies. The writing of each chapter makes it easy for Christians to follow the bible from the beginning and have a better understanding of its meaning.
Chapter 5 is about the Tower of Babel, which has always been an interesting part of the New Testament. The author shows us in elementary terms how various nationalities came to be. The chapter discusses the people’s plan to build the tower and the problems and issues that were associated with them. The author also compares verses and allows readers to see many Old Testament values, parables and foresights in the New Testament.
This is a very valuable book and an asset to anyone’s Christian Bible study and or/ Christian study collection. It is something that one can constantly refer to.
Reviewer:Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant – Literary Wonders!
Rating:3 Stars
Possessions by Elana Johnson is a prime example of “The Breakfast Club meets Demolition Man”. This sci-fi story of rebellion, teenage love and self-discovery was interesting at best.
I found a lot of things to be confusing and felt that some sort of or a better explanation could have been given. Violet is arrested after being caught walking with whom she thinks is the love of her life, yet she is thrown in a cell with bad boy Jag, whom she tries her best not to fall for.
I tried to figure why I couldn’t feel this book. At first, I thought perhaps it was the fact that I am not a big sci-fi fan, but realized that was not it, as I realized I have read many sci-fi titles that I do like.
Even though Vi lived in a world of fantasy, I did like how the author realistically told us, or led us to believe that many of the reasons Vi was a bit of a rebel was because of how different her mother treated her from her sister.
There were a couple of curse words and being that this is a YA novel, most would frown upon it, but I’ve heard YA’s say much worse.
Overall, I would have to say that I would recommend this book to a YA that I knew liked sci-fi, otherwise, I wouldn’t. Perhaps in the future, after I read a few more YA sci-fi novels, I might come back to this one to get a better understanding.
There is a twist in the end, but it was predictable. I think some people will either like it or hate it.
Malcolm Dylan Petteway is a military analyst and a twenty-year veteran of the United States Air Force. He flew B-52's as an Electronic Warfare Officer and has 3,000 flight hours and 300 combat hours. In his distinguished career, Malcolm has used his knowledge in the art of war, military weapons and combat defenses in planning over 400 combat sorties. Besides his Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters and numerous other awards, Malcolm is the recipient of the U.S. Air Force Air Medal and the U.S. Air Force Air Achievement Medal for his actions during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Malcolm Petteway is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and California State University.
As a child Malcolm watched many action adventures, read comic books of superheroes and was captivated by science fiction television shows. Even though his writing gravitates towards military science fiction, many styles appeal to him. Some of his best childhood memories are of watching shows like Creature Feature and Science Fiction Theater with his older brother late at night.
Additionally, Malcolm is an avid reader. He is a fan of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series, James Patterson’s Alex Cross series and Alex Haley’s Roots. He is also a fan of science fiction writers, Octavia Butler and Steven Barnes.
About the book:
Homecoming is a military science fiction book; written in the same fashion as the Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate books. It is the first book in a series of four novels. It tells the adventures of Michael David Genesis and his family, the Earth-born Osguards. They are leaders of a United Nations type organization in space, called the Universal Science, Security and Trade Association of Planets – USSTAP (pronounced ewes-tap). The Osguards administer diplomatic, informational military and economic tools of power to keep the peace throughout 60 galaxies of the known universe. Their adversary is a race of humans called Kulusks, who want to destroy the Osguards and take over USSTAP. Homecoming is set in the near-present day and people of Earth are unaware of USSTAP or the Kulusks’ existence. In Homecoming,Earth has become an unwitting pawn in the Kulusk Empire's thirst for revenge against USSTAP. Maxum Ritchen, the leader of the Kulusk Empire, has set into motion the destruction of USSTAP and with it the destruction of Earth. Michael and his family must prepare USSTAP, for the first time, to go on the offensive and wage an all out universal war. If he is successful, many people will die, and if he is not, Earth will be destroyed.
For centuries the planets of Kulusk and Chaktun have battled in the heavens above Earth. In 1860, twin Chaktun princesses, Laurona and Nausona Osguard, fled to Earth and were beaten and raped as slaves in the United States’ antebellum south. Unbeknownst to the people of 21st century Earth, their descendants, the Osguards now govern a universal peacekeeping organization called the Universal Science, Security and Trade Association of Planets—USSTAP. The First Osguard, Michael Genesis leads the Osguards in protecting the 60 known galaxies of the universe from Kulusk tyranny. Now Earth has become an unwitting pawn in the Kulusk Empire’s thirst for revenge against the people of Chaktun, forcing Michael to prepare USSTAP, for the first time, to go on the offensive and wage an all out universal war. If he is successful, many people will die, and if he is not, Earth will be destroyed.
Literary Wonders! review:
Date: 7/29/11
Title: Osguards: Guardians of the Universe - Homecoming
Author: Malcolm Petteway
ASIN: B002SQKMEI
Pages: 227
Publisher: Rage Books LLC
Cover: Electronic ARC
Reviewer: Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant – Literary Wonders!
Rating: 4 Stars
Homecoming is an installment of Osguards: Guardians of the Universe. Michael Genesis and his family members have created the Osguard community for their elderly parents. The community is a place where these retired parents want for nothing, but they have no idea what it is their children do in order to keep them in unwavering comfort. That is until the Kulusk’s try to destroy the earth.
Mr. Petteway combines third world galaxies, political propaganda and military speak to form a great novel that will win over the hearts of sci-fi fans.
This book was originally published in 2002. It is my personal opinion that if this book was re-edited, and not for spelling errors, but more for flow and development, and re-marketed with a new cover, this could go to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list.
If you’re not familiar with “inside information” of the military, this book may be a hard read. However, once you get past that difficulty, it might make a non-Christian reader wonder if there really are other worlds out there and if aliens really exist. Great job Malcolm.
Question: Why Science Fiction and why the Osguards?
Answer: In life, we all need role models, someone that shines the light of inspiration to fuel our aspirations. The entertainment media, like books, usually provide that inspiration through strong characters doing the right thing during difficult situations. I am using science fiction to interject positive African American role models into an entertainment media that is bombarded with negative characters that somehow have become role models.
In my English and Creative Writing classes, I wrote police dramas, adventure and science fiction stories, with African American protagonists. The story of the Osguards is my science fiction creation that began as an honor English class writing assignment in 1978. It garnered laughs from both white and black students in the class because they could not fathom African Americans as leaders, especially commanders of complex and intricate spaceships. But I received praise from the teacher for a bold effort.
Several years ago, due to a professional setback in my career, I resolved to focus my frustration in a positive manner. So I decided to write. I chose science fiction because of the freedom of imagination the genre allows. It also allows me to inject other genres like mystery, crime, love or adventure stories into it.
Question: Why do you think Osguards: Guardians of the Universe is different than other science fiction books?
Answer: Osguards is about an African American family, descendant from a technologically advanced world, charged with defending the universe. The plot merges history, social, science and speculative fiction in a contemporary setting. Osguards has it all. Seldom has Science Fiction detailed African Americans as the heroes, leaders and stewards of a space odyssey, framed in American history and peppered with intrigue, adventure and technical wizardry—until now
Question: Who is your audience and why do you think they will buy your books?
Answer: I think I have two types of audiences that will find my books worth their time, intriguing and most of all exciting to read.
First I have the loyal science fiction fan. They will find Osguards is fresh, innovative and exciting with a new voice. Many traditional publishing companies have settled into a rut. They market safe books that follow an old formula that uses a checklist. This checklist is too rigid and inflexible and not visionary enough to recognize new voices…different voices, cutting down the ivory pillars holding up the old institutional thought. Today, most traditional authors write the same story, just with a twist, because the industry stifles imagination. My books capture the reader’s imagination, and challenge the industry. There is a quiet revolution taking place in the reading world. There is a new generation of readers, touched by advanced technology. Today, technological hunger, personal experience and raw attraction are what define this audience. They will buy my books because they are avid readers who can relate to the characters using advanced technology as they push through electrifying adventures. These characters are normal people pushed into extraordinary circumstances.
My second fan base consist of disciplined people, mainly military oriented. Between my time in the Air Force Academy, twenty years as an Air Force Officer and my time now as a military analyst, I dare say I know a little something about the military and how to speak to the military. Osguards is a contemporary blend of Science Fiction, Technical Thriller, and American History wrapped in Professional Military Science. My military experience, coupled with my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Masters Degree in International Relations, gives me credence to reach an untapped audience of Military Science Fiction fans and enhances my ability to compose exciting stories filled with scientific essence and political intrigue encircled in military conflict.
Malcolm Petteway is available for Book Signing, Media Interviews, and Book Club Workshops.
If you want to host an event or ask questions you can contact us
e-mail: marketing@ragebooks.net
Phone Toll Free: (866) 448-2585
