Care and Feeding of Nightmares

Okay, so I'm shamelessly promoting my own chapbook of poetry. It's my blog and I'll pimp If I want to ...


For anyone who would like to purchase my 2nd chapbook of poetry, "Care and Feeding of Nightmares" - you can email me at:

careandfeedingofnightmares@gmail.com

with your snail-mail address. The books are $5 each plus $2 for shipping and handling. I hope to have PayPal set up on my blog in a few weeks for payments, but currently I can only accept checks or money orders. I will mail out the book on the day I receive your order. You can also buy the books at J. Sampson Antiques on Main Street in Harrodsburg. Thanks to everyone who buys a book!

With Purpose and Promise

With Purpose and Promise
A Novel by K. Melissa Burton

This book will not be released until August 31, 2010. In full disclosure, this is a review copy from the author; I already love reading her children's books.

Perfect Paperback: 240 pages; $14.99
Publisher: Tate Publishing (August 31, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616634340
ISBN-13: 978-1616634346

"She seemed like your average country girl on a farm in rural Kentucky...

But she had purpose...

She had promise...

And she had an opportunity.

Inspired by real-life local events in her hometown of Lawrenceburg, author K. Melissa Burton introduces Lilly Kate Overstreet, a resourceful young lady of the early 1900s. As Lilly Kate nears the end of eighth grade, she assumes her years of education are coming to a close. But when a family tragedy opens the door for her to attend the local high school, Lilly Kate takes up the mantle to be the first in her family to receive a high school diploma.

But the task is far from easy. Not only is the school's founder, Mrs. Kavanaugh, a formidable taskmaster, Lilly Kate is nearly overwhelmed by the changes taking place in her life and in the world around her. Yet, when the girls of Kavanaugh High are introduced to a new game called basketball, it proves to be a catalyst for moving them all forward."

Melissa Burton's grandparents met at Kavanaugh High School in the late 1940s, so it was easy to settle on a research paper while she was in college. As she was going through old newspaper clippings, she found an article with two pictures from 1912. The pictures contained five girls and a basketball. This photo opened Burton's imagination and took her on a journey that would become "With Purpose and Promise."

I normally read Burton's children's books, so I was apprehensive when I began her first novel. After the first few pages, I put my fears to rest and enjoyed one of the best stories I read in a long time.

From the time Lilly Kate was a small child, she dreamed of going to the small school in Fox Creek. When Lillian Katherine Street finally got to announce her name to her first grade teacher she did it with authority and pride. When the teacher told her that was a big name for a little girl, Lilly Kate answered, "My poppa says it's a name filled with purpose and promise." From that line, I was in love with Lilly Kate.

Life in the early 1900s was still extremely hard for most farm families. Most farms still did not have running water or electricity, but they maintained large gardens to feed and support their families. This was also a time of tragedies and serious changes in family life.

Without giving spoilers, on Lilly Kate's 13th birthday tragedy entered the Overstreet family, she and her mother were forced to move to town. One mother, one daughter, but two strong women. Even though life was hard, all things happen for a reason. When the new home in town was refurnished, Momma used money from the sale of the farm to buy a new Singer sewing machine in order to take in sewing work. Lilly Kate, who loved to bake, was able to make spending money of her own.

When she graduated eighth grade, Lilly Kate was able to begin attending Kavanaugh High School, something she thought would never happen. Keeping her nose to the grindstone and showed respect to others which opened doors for her she never thought would happen. I was proud of Lilly Kate when she stood up for women's right to vote and when she kept a private secret for a girl who had treated her badly for three years of high school.

This book made me cry and it made me laugh out loud. It made me reevaluate my life and realize that my life is easy compared to what it would have been like in 1912, the year Lilly Kate graduated high school.

The two phrases I enjoyed the most were:

"...but maybe God's just shutting this door so you'll go through a door of his choosing."

"...Daughter I'm not sure what the future holds, but I'm quite confident that it will be fantastic. Pray about it. Listen to that still small, voice, and you can't go wrong."

Burton's words were like lyrical prose on each and every page. I could smell the firewood or the food that was cooking. I could smell the flowers or the pages of brand-new books. I could she the latest fashions in the clothes Lilly Kate's Momma made. And I think the thing I love the most was Burton spelling Momma the way I always spelled Momma. I know this is a book my Momma would have enjoyed reading - it is definitely one I will be passing around to my family and recommending to family, friends and my neighborhood librarians.

I look forward to Burton's next novel.

Available from Tate Publishing and Amazon on August 31, 2010.

FIRE

FIRE (A companion to Graceling) by Kristin Cashore

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Dial; First Edition edition
trong>Language: English
ISBN-10: 0803734611
ISBN-13: 978-0803734616

From Amazon for readers Grade 9 Up — This fantasy, shot through with romance and suspense, is set in the same world as GRACELING, but on the far side of the mountain barrier in the kingdom of the DellS, are monsters, enhanced and exceptionally beautiful versions of various animal species. Fire is a human monster, so beautiful that she has to hide her hair for fear of attack by both raptor monsters and human men. She is able to enter other people's minds and exert power over them. It is a tumultuous time in the kingdom, as various lords are preparing to overthrow the king, and Fire is drawn into the fray. With a larger cast and a more complex canvas than Graceling, the story begins slowly and takes its time establishing itself. Fire's path is not immediately clear, and although full of action, her quest is largely internal. While the plotting is well done, there are a few quibbles about Cashore's world-building and about the role of a major character from GRACELING, Leck. But, this is Fire's story, and readers will fall in love with her as she struggles with her pivotal role in the war effort as well as her complex relationships with her oldest friend and lover, Archer; with Prince Brigan, whose mind is closed to her and who becomes central to her life; and with her monster father's fearsome legacy. More adult in tone than GRACELING, this marvelous prequel will appeal to older teens, who will not only devour it, but will also love talking about it.—Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

FIRE takes place in the same world as GRACELING, but with very little crossover. It is supposed to be a prequel, set at least a decade before GRACELING, and only one character appears in both books. These two books don't have to be read in order for you to understand Fire, but once you have read FIRE, you will want to immediately read GRACELING.

The Gracelings live over the mountains in kingdoms that are relatively peaceful, living on what the Gods have offered them. But over the mountains live the the kingdoms of the Dells, where many unusually monsters live among the people. The nobels of the Dell work with some of these animals to plan rebellious plot against the young king . In this country, the are monsters, brightly colored, beautiful, and often dangerous from normal animals.

Fire is a human monster, the last of her kind. Fire is an outcast in her society, with her vibrant and unnatural red hair color - a clear indicator she is a monster - and status as a powerful mind controller. She resists using her ability, remembering the terrible example of her brilliant, twisted father. When the king's brother Brigan arrives to ask for her help against the rebel lords, she is pulled against her will into the turmoil enveloping the kingdom.

King Nash is struggling to hold on to his kingdom as enemies from the north and south threaten to overthrow him. Both Nash and his brother, Brigan, distrust Fire at first because of the damage her father did to the kingdom before his death. Brigan would like nothing more than to kill Fire, but they manage to find a way to resolve their differences and work together.

Fire is a strong heroine - tough and fiercely independent - but loyal and kind to others. She is thoughtful, and concerned for the other people she has befriended. She especially struggles to reconcile her own nature and her father's actions, to become the person she wishes to be. Katsa's was a stong heroine in GRACELING, but I think Fire has developed into an even stronger character in the book, FIRE.

Although FIRE is not a happy, warm and fuzzy book all of the time, after all it does deal with death and violence and the cruelties of life. Cashore has a talent with writing optimistic and sensitive material, and inserting rare scenes of romance and humor to keep the story moving along at a fever-pitch. She is definitely a YA fantasy writer to be watching because her writing style and subject matter will attract not only the young adult population, but the adult population (like myself) who enjoy an excellent fantasy story. If readers weren't already in love with Cashore after reading GRACELING, they will be after reading Fire

This complicated and layered story made for the perfect summer read. The characters are amazing and complex, intense and believable and written with great prose and feeling. FIRE (and GRACELING) are excellent books. The characters will satisfy readers who like adventure, intrigue, and romance even the villains are interesting, intelligent people. The twists and turns of the plot are unpredictable and keep you turning the page until the wee hours of the morning.

With Purpose and Promise

With Purpose and Promise
A Novel
by K. Melissa Burton

"She seemed like your average country girl on a farm in rural Kentucky...

But she had purpose...

She had promise...

And she had an opportunity.

Inspired by real-life local events in her hometown of Lawrenceburg, author K. Melissa Burton introduces Lilly Kate Overstreet, a resourceful young lady of the early 1900s. As Lilly Kate nears the end of eighth grade, she assumes her years of education are coming to a close. But when a family tragedy opens the door for her to attend the local high school, Lilly Kate takes up the mantle to be the first in her family to receive a high school diploma.

But the task is far from easy. Not only is the school's founder, Mrs. Kavanaugh, a formidable taskmaster, Lilly Kate is nearly overwhelmed by the changes taking place in her life and in the world around her. Yet, when the girls of Kavanaugh High are introduced to a new game called basketball, it proves to be a catalyst for moving them all forward."

240 pages - $14.99 (paperback)

Available from Tate Publishing on August 31, 2010.