MARIPOSA by Candis C. Coffee

Mariposa
by Candis C. Coffee
Literary Fiction/Historical Fiction/New Age Fiction
Behler Publications

A spiritual, intellectual, brave young woman creates the life of her dreams, only to be deeply disappointed by its inability to sustain her.

The setting of Mariposa is 1920s and 1930s West Texas, Los Angeles, and Mexico. The theme is that of a spiritual quest – a young woman’s desire to feel the magic she believes exists in connections to nature, to people. Deep down, she feels that fulfillment of spiritual longing, the ultimate mystical experience, is found within a connection to the “other.” The other for Annarose – an Anglo woman from rural 1920s Texas – is a Mexican man. Along the way, the story illuminates the perils of prejudice as well as the intimate, yet treacherous bond that exists between Anglo and Mexican people who live side by side near the border.

As a child in West Texas, Annarose sees life and intelligence in everything. She finds herself in a relationship with an invisible “Presence,” which beckons to her spirit and with whom she feels most alive. A friendship with a Mexican boy and her love of the landscape also nurture this young girl who feels rejected by her Mother.

Annarose is deeply hurt when she is banished to Los Angeles at thirteen. She loses her connection to spirit, then begins to seek it again through intellectual pursuits. Here she finds herself in a waiting room between worlds, that of Texas and Mexico.

Her philosophical studies and supportive friendship with Estelle, a gifted musician, lead to an awakening for Annarose. She becomes a writer, and she travels to Mexico. She wants to feel life again. She meets Mexican muralist, Crisanto and chooses him as her lover. He is her connection to all that is beautiful, wild, free and happy because he is the “Other” and she feels that she can also find aspects of the maternal within him. She befriends the artist, Frida Kahlo. She embraces all that this man, his people and his country represent.

In the end, Annarose returns to West Texas alone, ready to give birth to their child. Over a period of three days, the “Now” of the story, she spends time with her family, and she recalls her experiences. She finds peace, and she finally comprehends the true nature of joy.

This is first person literary fiction – an experience of self-discovery for educated women, particularly ethnic minorities between the ages of 16 and 60. The book contains about 87,000 words.

Mariposa is divided into three stages of Annarose’s life. The first is her youth in 1923 West Texas. Here I tell the story of Annarose’s childhood, her relationship with the Presence, her family, and her friend, Ismael. I introduce a young girl in love with mystery. The second section is 1930s Los Angeles. In this part I write about Annarose’s life in LA, her inspiring friendship with Estelle, and her new spiritual quest, which now involves reading and thinking rather than direct experience. The third stage is 1930s Mexico, the story of Annarose’s connection with magic, her love affair with Mexican muralist, Crisanto, friendship with Frida Kahlo, and the understanding of her true motivations for being in Mexico, with these people. She acknowledges her need to find connection to Spirit and magic outside herself.

The idea is to bring to light passages in Annarose’s life, with the most important occurring at the age of 13, then again thirteen years later. At the beginning of the story we meet the adult Annarose, who at 26 must decide what to do with herself, now that she has begun to see that, though her quest and objectives were honorable, the path she chose toward them was misguided. We then meet the child Annarose at the age of 13. This is a significant period, due to her spiritual life, her feelings for her friend, Ismael, and her eventual exile to Los Angeles. I divided the story into 13 chapters, with the idea that each would describe meaningful events or themes in her life. I chose the title Mariposa because the story is about transformation.

About the Author:

Candis C. Coffee grew up in West Texas where her family has lived since 1848 when they immigrated from Ireland. The house in Mariposa is based on the 150-year-old home of her grandparents on the banks of the Concho River in San Angelo.

Candis spent nearly fifteen years in Santa Monica, California, where she was employed as a writer for various organizations. She later moved to New Orleans where she helped Chef Paul Prudhomme write the cookbook of his dreams and titled it Fork in the Road. Candis longed for the desert, however, which inspired a move to Santa Fe and graduate school at the University of New Mexico. She has since returned to her birthplace in West Texas where she currently resides.

After receiving a BA in Literature from the University of Texas, she pursued graduate studies in Creative Writing, Literature, and Spanish. She is presently at work on a children’s book and is pursuing a doctoral degree in alternative health care and the healing arts.

You can visit her website at www.candiscoffee.com.

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WEST ACROSS THE BOARD by Andrew Jalbert

West Across The Board
by Andrew Jalbert
iUniverse

What are the elements of friendship that last a lifetime-the mysterious connection that can outlast great distances and more than half a century of separation to bring friends back together? For Lázaro, a salty Cuban mariner and Dominic, a brilliant Chicago engineer, the answers can be found in the game of chess.

From the time of their meeting and first chess match on Key West in the 1930s, each man’s win is scratched into the back of the board. As the game tally grows, so does their friendship. Now, both men are in their twilight years, but it’s Dominic’s life, weathered by cancer, which is reaching its conclusion. Lázaro, who fled from his island home and his friend years ago, learns that Dominic is rapidly dying and sets off on the long journey from Boston to Florida to see his old friend. Prior to leaving, Lázaro retrieves the old chessboard and makes a startling discovery. The number of scratches, first marked over sixty years before and uncounted until
now, has the two men evenly tied.

As he drives towards Dominic and the keys, Lázaro is forced to confront a past he has
struggled to forget while anticipating the reunion with his old friend and what could be their final game.

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JANEOLOGY by Karen Harrington

Janeology
by Karen Harrington
Suspense/Mainstream/Women’s Fiction
Kunati Books

Tom Nelson is struggling after the death of his son at the hands of his wife Jane. While Jane sits in a Texas mental hospital for her part in the crime, prosecutors turn their focus to Tom. They believe Tom should have known Jane was on the cusp of a breakdown and protected his children from her illness. As a result, he is charged with “failure to protect.” Enter attorney, Dave Frontella, who employs a radical defense strategy – one that lays the blame at the feet of Jane’s nature and nurture. To gather evidence about Jane’s forbears, Frontella hires a woman with the power of retrocognition – the ability to use a person’s belongings to re-create their past. An unforgettable journey through the troubled minds and souls of Jane’s ancestors, spanning decades and continents, this debut novel deftly illustrates the ways nature and nurture weave the fabric of one woman’s life, and renders a portrait of one man left in its tragic wake.

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THE OVUM FACTOR by Marvin L. Zimmerman

Title of Book: THE OVUM FACTOR
Genre: Fiction/Adventure/Thriller
Author: Marvin L. Zimmerman
Website: www.theovumfactor.com
Publisher: Synergy Books

Summary:
Destruction of Earth’s ecology threatens the survival of humanity. With time ticking away, a clandestine think tank of scientists and world leaders has identified our last hope - the controversial research of a Nobel Prize - winning professor aimed at unleashing the power of a unique molecule that can alter the course of human history.

When David Rose, a young investment banker from New York, is assigned to evaluate the professor’s research, he soon becomes swept up in a whirlwind of international espionage, assassination, and sabotage. David finds himself on a journey that takes him to the unexplored depths of the Amazon in order to fulfill two ancient prophecies for saving mankind and at the same time to realize his own destiny.

From New York to Califonia, from China to the slums of Rio de Janerio, and into the Amazon, the search for the mysterious source of this rare molecule will take you into the heart of the unknown and unseen forces of nature.

Ask the Author:

“The Ovum Factor is a unique blend of high concept thriller with Indiana Jones’ style adventure, Michael Chrichton’s scientific twist and the intrigue of the Da Vinci Code. Can you give us examples of why this is so?”

The Ovum Factor combines the imaginative scientific premise typical of Michael Crichton with the tense intrigue of a novel by Dan Brown - all told in the swashbuckling style of an Indiana Jones adventure.

A Noble Prize-winning professor from Caltech discovers a unique new molecule that will vastly increase the brain development of babies while still in the early fetal stage. He hopes that a future new generation of geniuses will offer humanity our best hope for solving the almost insurmountable problems we have created, including irreversible climate change, destruction of the natural world and imminent pandemics by virulent new micro-organisms.

The only problem is that this miraculous molecule is so complex in its chemical structure that it has so far proven highly elusive to synthesize in the laboratory. Ultimately, the only recourse is to find its only natural source which has been established to be a rare plant used by a reclusive Indian tribe living somewhere in the immense Amazon rainforest.

Parallel to this central theme, there is never slackening intrigue as assassins and saboteurs working for ultra-conservative groups try to stop the research at all costs. There is also international espionage by foreign agents whose only motive is to profit from the immense commercial value of this extraordinary molecule.

Apart from its important underlying message about the impending environmental apocalypse facing humanity, The Ovum Factor is also a thrilling adventure. The unlikely hero, David Rose, a young New York investment banker, finds himself stranded in the most remote part of the Amazon. He must battle his way past hostile Indians and the unforgiving jungle as he tries to find the source of the mysterious plant. His seemingly impossible challenge is made even more difficult when he comes to realize that he must succeed to save the lives of those he holds most dear.

As David’s journey toward his true destiny unfolds, there are constant twists and turns that will lead to an ending no one could have anticipated.

Tags: Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours, online book promotion, author publicity, virtual book tour, book promotion, Marvin L. Zimmerman, The Ovum Factor, fiction thriller, eco-thriller, environmental destruction, Amazon Indians

AWAKENING THE DRAGON by Theresa Chaze

Title of Book: AWAKENING THE DRAGON
Genre: Fantasy
Author: Theresa Chaze
Website: www.theresachaze.com
Publisher: Valkyrie Publishing
ISBN: 978-0979840609

Summary:

To protect herself and her loved ones from the violent cult, Rachael risks everything by awakening the dragon spirit prematurely. As the dragon rises within her, the cult surround her home with the intent on killing the new witch who lives inside and burning the evidence of the murder of the previous owner.

Why did you choose this title?

Originally Awakening the Dragon–Book One of the Dragon Clan Trilogy was called Dragon’s New Home. I changed it when I revised the novel to free it from an unethical publisher. The second title was more accurate and descriptive. After I had finished it originally I knew there was more to the story, so I started Dragon Domain. However, even before the first draft of Dragon Domain was finished I new that there would be a third and the Dragon Clan Trilogy was born. The characters kept taking on dimension, while new ones appeared. Although none of them are perfect, there are also no completely evil people either. Like in real life, Coyote Springs is filled with people who live lives that are varies shades of gray.

Theresa Chaze can be found at www.theresachaze.com

Her book is available at www.amazon.com,  Awakening The Dragon, Book One of the Dragon clan Trilogy.

DEVIL’S ORCHESTRA by Sydney Molare

Title of Book: DEVIL’S ORCHESTRA
Genre: Christian Fiction
Author: Sydney Molare’
Website: www.sydneymolare.com
Publisher: Wings Press
ISBN: 978-1597058490

Summary:

 Tab McGrifth- #1 radio personality on the Eastern seaboard. He made his money the old way–by stepping on one person at a time. He’s lied, cheated and “misrepresented” whatever needed to be as he clawed his way to the top of the pile. Now the man that taught him everything he knows, his old mentor Whitey Ford, has returned….

Deva- Hip hop princess extraordinaire. Many are under the impression that she is just a gorgeous airhead. But nothing could be further from the truth. With her shrewd business mind and amazing “luck”, Deva is worth somewhere in the upper nine digit range. Deva, like all of us, has her faults. She loves the money–and what accompanies it–just a bit TOO much. In fact, she is slap out of control. When an old friend from back home, Ed Burris, confronts her about her lifestyle, things get explosive…

Juan Rodriguez- gay author and proud of it too. With his life partner, Zeus and son, Loam, Juan’s life is definitely on track. That is, until Bodie pops back into his life. Bodie. Blond, beach boy tan, Juan’s first lover. He put the w-h-o-r in whore…and doggonit if Juan wasn’t still feeling him…

And then there’s Luke…

Devil’s Orchestra…whose side are you really playing for?

***

You were recently named “Mississippi Hometown Hero, Most Likely to Succeed” and 2006 Mississippi’s Best Author.” How did that come about and how did it make you feel?”

 

The Mississippi Best Awards were conceived to spotlight Mississippi’s best and brightest upcoming stars in various areas. I was nominated for the Best Author award and the top three nominees in each category got a shot at winning. I was elated when I won! I showed off my parent’s investment in braces when I picked up my plaque. The Hometown Hero and Most Likely to Succeed Awards came out of the blue. There were voted on by a panel and announced in the paper. I was stunned. I had no idea people in MS actually knew who I was! It validated my writing and definitely gave me a warm fuzzy deep in my soul. Shoot, I felt like I’d won an Oscar. Maybe next time…

You can purchase Sydney Molare’s book, DEVIL’S ORCHESTRA at Amazon.

Tags: Sydney Molare, Devil’s Orchestra

The Pit (The Death Wizard Chronicles, Book 1) by Jim Melvin

Title of Book: THE PIT (THE Death Wizard Chronicles, Book 1)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Author: Jim Melvin
Website: www.deathwizardchronicles.blogspot.com
Publisher: Rain Publishing
Date of Release: September 2007
ISBN: 978-1897381472

Summary:

The Death Wizard Chronicles is a six-book epic fantasy series from Rain Publishing Inc. Book One (The Pit) debuted September 2007; Book Two (Moon Goddess) will be published in October; Book Three (Eve of War) in November; Book Four (World on Fire) in December; Book Five (Sun God) in January 2008; Book Six (Death-Know) in February 2008. All six books will be available for purchase at rainbooks.com, amazon.com, and select bookstores in the U.S. and Canada.

The DW Chronicles is not for children and teenagers — or the faint of heart. But fans of authors such as Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, and Steven Erikson will find much to enjoy in this series.

In a groundbreaking paradox, the Death Wizard, a champion of good, derives his power from a source traditionally seen as negative — death. His nemesis, an evil sorcerer, derives his power from the sun, the benevolent source of all life. Their struggle to control the fate of the planet Triken will take your breath away.

In an original twist never before seen in this genre, the Death Wizard is able to enter the realm of death during a ‘‘temporary suicide.’’ Through intense concentration, he stops his heartbeat and feeds on death energy, which provides him with an array of magical powers.

The series also is a love triangle involving two desperate characters attempting to come together despite the machinations of an all-powerful psychopath.

Graphic and action-packed, spanning a millenium of turmoil, The DW Chronicles carries readers on a journey they will never forget.

Do you fear death? The Death Wizard does not. Find out why.

You are a student of Eastern philosophy and mindfulness meditation, both of which weaved extensively into your work. Can you explain how?

Most people have meditated in one sense or another. Just emptying your mind as you watch a beautiful sunset is a form of meditation. In Buddhism, mindfulness meditation is a technique in which a person intentionally and nonjudgmentally watches his or her thoughts and actions, in the context of the present moment. Often, sessions of meditation begin by watching the breath, but any form of single-minded concentration will do.

The Buddha, who was a spiritual genius, taught that all things are impermanent — life, death, love, hate, joy, pain, etc. Like the breath, all things have a beginning, middle and end. Because of this, there is no reason to cling to cravings or flee from aversions. If nothing lasts forever, then why sweat it? When a person meditates, he or she sees the truth of impermanence in ways that are profound and even psychologically altering. Even on surface levels, mindfulness meditation is good for you in a lot of ways. It fosters love, compassion, and peacefulness. And it’s even good for your body, slowing your heart rate and relieving pressure and stress.

Buddhists also believe that life is driven by karma, which basically means that all of us are the sum of our past and present thoughts and actions — or as one Buddhist teacher humorously put it: “Karma means you don’t get away with nothing.” Karma roars along beside us not just for one lifetime but for thousands, rebirth after rebirth after rebirth.

Still there? Sorry, these are deep concepts much better described in much greater detail by a true master of Buddhism. I am a student of Eastern philosophy, but I never claimed to be an A-student!

How does all this weave into my series? Tibetan monks have had recorded heart rates of fewer than 10 beats per minute during periods of meditation. My main character is called a Death Wizard — or more accurately, a Death-Knower — because he can carry this to the extreme, meditating with such intense concentration that he can literally stop his heart. During a temporary death, he feeds on Death Energy and then returns to his body enriched with magical powers.

This simple poem from Book One (The Pit) says it best:

Only a Death-Knower can die.
And live again.
Only a Death-Knower can return
from death.
And remember.
Only a Death-Knower can tell us
what he has seen.
Not all care to listen.

I think I’ve described the role that meditation plays in my series. Karma also plays a large role. In Book One, the Death Wizard — a champion of good — confronts an evil sorcerer with magical powers that dwarf all others. In order to defeat this god-like being, Torg makes a supreme sacrifice, setting in motion karmic forces that swirl — both on the surface and between the lines — throughout the series, playing crucial roles in the final outcome.

I could go on for pages and pages, but I think I’ll stop here. I haven’t fully answered your question, but at least I’ve given you a taste of what’s to come.

PREACHING TO THE CORPSE by Roberta Isleib

Title of Book: Preaching to the Corpse
Genre: Murder Mystery
Author: Roberta Isleib
Publisher: Berkley Prime
Date of Release: Dec. 2007
ISBN: 978-0425218372 

Summary:  

The holidays have arrived in postcard-perfect Guilford, CT, but someone’s taking the joy out of the season… Psychologist/advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman gets a call in the middle of the night from the minister at her church begging for her help. He’s in custody after going to a fellow parishioner’s home and finding her dead. The murdered matron was the leader of a search committee charged with finding a new assistant pastor after the previous assistant left in a rush. Rebecca learns that the committee was divided–has someone tried to eliminate the competition? Rebecca puts her analytical skills to work to do her own search–for a killer–all while resisting the urge to break the seventh commandment with a very married detective, and praying she’s not the next victim.   

Why did you take up writing mysteries, Roberta?

I’ve always read and loved mysteries, starting with the Bobbsey twins, Nancy Drew, and Cherry Ames, the nurse detective. I prefer to read a series where I can return to visit with the same characters many times. So this genre seemed a natural choice when I was thinking about trying to write a novel. It also happens that crime fiction fits well with my other profession, psychotherapy (I’m a clinical psychologist by trade). Both the detective and the therapist star with a problem and follow clues until they unravel its solution. I enjoy the puzzle aspect of mysteries and seeing the bad guys get their due—doesn’t always happen in real life!