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With gratitude...

1/27/2021

17 Comments

 
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​Hello readers! 

Earlier this week, I mentioned that I would share a few more reviews of The Culmination. There is nothing that warms a writer's heart more than a comment, no matter how brief, that simply communicates job well done.

​After months and months of crafting a story, a writer hopes someone somewhere likes what she or he has written. Every reader is drawn to certain genres and my latest is a political thriller that tackles complicated international concerns. Not everyone is interested in such topics. When I saw the reviews coming in, I was relieved and delighted. 

I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has acknowledged my work over the years, but today I want to especially thank three reviewers who recently posted their comments. They are all
 writers of series, though each has also written numerous stand-alone books. John W. Howell is an extraordinary Thriller writer, and he co-authored the first book of The Contract series.  Jacquie Biggar is an aclaimed Romance and Suspense writer, and she is a USA TODAY best selling author. Billy Ray Chitwood writes nail-biting murder mysteries and much more. These writers are some of my favorites, and I highly recommend them. My sincere thank you, John, Jacquie, and Billy Ray. 💗


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Excerpt from John W. Howell's review: 
I describe The Culmination as a political thriller with a strong military influence. There are many challenging situations, designed with action in mind. The worldwide stage on which these situations play out serves to keep the reader riveted to the end. This story is a continuation of The Contract Thriller series and does reflect the title. I have read all three and can say that a reader must not have read the other two to enjoy this one thoroughly. If you like a book with plenty of action, compelling characters, political intrigue, military maneuverings, and a compelling love story, this one is for you.

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Excerpt from Jacquie Biggar's review:
The Culmination opens with a terrifying assassination attempt on an airforce base hitting an Admiral and his girlfriend. An investigation begins and soon the tension escalates as world leaders work to draft a denuclearization agreement and factions step in to stop the negotiations. The action takes a world stage with espionage, conspiracies, and intrigue. I enjoyed the author’s ability to create a complex plot relevant to current events. Though dire, the underlying theme is one of hope and optimism. A sweet love story gives a touch of softness to an otherwise somber tale. An enjoyable read!

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Excerpt from Billy Ray Chitwood's review:
If readers like their thrillers written by a celebrated and deft author's hand who can craft her scenes with intensity and give the readers a rushing itch to get to the following culminating pages, who can take you from a Northern California assassination attempt to edgy 'De-nuclearization ' meetings with murderous implications, who can transport you from California to the Middle East for an evil conspiracy and more 'cloak and dagger' excitement. The author to whom I refer is Gwen M. Plano... You will want to read this book.

17 Comments

Writing and climbing a mountain ...

1/25/2021

32 Comments

 
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Hello readers! If you're like me, this month has been a blur of ups and downs. When my husband flew to Florida for a family funeral, I decided to make it a retreat week for me. I never turned on the television, didn't know what was going on, and didn't care. I needed soul-refreshment.

Once everything quieted, inside and outside, I knew it was time to start writing again. For me, the experience of writing is a bit like hiking up a mountain in thick fog. You can see the path, but only a few feet of it. Ultimately, you have to trust yourself to find the way. 

I'm only four thousand words or so into the final book of the The Contract series, but I have a title, The Call for Freedom, and I like where it's headed. So this is good! Like the prior books, it is a political thriller involving international players. My background in theology and counseling really doesn't help much, so I'm constantly researching locations, rivalries, and much more. Our common humanity is at the core of why I write. No matter where we might live, we are family. I try to underscore that truth in my writing. 

While on my "retreat" I read the reviews of The Culmination and beamed with gratitude. Today I share three of the reviews, and at another time, I will share others. These reviews are from writers of series. Mae Clair is a master Mystery writer. Jill Weatherholt excels in writing Christian Romance. D.L. Finn's series entices through angels and the paranormal. All three are extraordinary writers, and I highly recommend them. My sincere thank you, Mae, Jill, and Denise. 💗

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Excerpt from Mae Clair's Review: 
A political thriller, that addresses denuclearization, tensions in the Middle East, and the fate of refugees, much of the story echoes current headlines. The plot is complex involving multiple heads of state, along with the strategical give and take of political maneuvering on a global level. The author clearly put an extensive amount of research into this book, and it shows. Adrenalin-fueled scenes alter with more cerebral moments, and even a few romantic interludes.

I especially loved the evolution of the relationship between the two central characters, Margaret Adler, VP of the United States and Ivan Smirnov, acting President of Russia. During the course of the novel those titles change, and we learn more about each, including richly developed backgrounds. I was thoroughly invested in the difficulties Margaret and Ivan faced, both on personal and political levels. Their scenes together were among my favorites of the book. There’s also a young refugee child who factors into the story and who stole my heart.

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Excerpt from Jill Weatherholt's Review:
Written by award-winning author Gwen Plano, The Culmination is a must read for readers who enjoy political and military intrigue. This book is the third in the Contract series, but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone. That said, I recommend the other two books as well. The characters in this third installment are well-developed. They take you through action-packed situations, relevant to our current world. This captivating thriller, along with a thread of romance, will keep you turning the pages.

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Excerpt from D.L. Finn's Review: 
The Culmination is the third book in the Contract Series. I loved all the books, but this one topped them. It touched me on a level of reality and fear, bringing the idea of hope in our current cold social climate. It starts after the second book and an assassination attempt. There is a group determined to cause mayhem and stop anyone in their way, including heads of state. There's not only exciting action but developing relationships and political intrigue. I found a lot of what was going on in the story relevant for current times. Where Ms. Plano took this story is a place where I could imagine the right things being done in the middle of chaos. I loved the American Vice President with her logic and heart. Beautifully written and thought-provoking with scenarios all too familiar, some heartbreaking, and some tender. This book not only scared me but offered an optimistic option at the same time. I highly recommend it and the whole series.
32 Comments

Can love bridge time?

1/24/2021

21 Comments

 
Author Suzanne Burke provides another extraordinary photo prompt and invites contributions for her 'Fiction In A Flash Challenge.' This week's image is a rocky shoreline (image on the lower left sode). My response is a simple Tanka poem of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. 

When I saw this prompt, I immediately thought of lovers separated by tragedy. I envisioned them bridging time by visits to a familiar rocky shoreline. I've entitled my poem, Forever. 

If you'd like to participate, please click on Suzanne's name and you'll travel to her website, where she provides information about the prompt. All the best!
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21 Comments

A call for Hope . . .

1/20/2021

22 Comments

 
Dear readers, I'm resending this post because there was a provider error that resulted in most subscribers not receiving the post. I'm hoping all is well now. 
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                                                                ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Each week author 
Colleen M. Chesebro invites writers to participate in her #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE. Because today is the Inauguration of the President of the United States, my Tanka (syllables 5/7/5/7/7) is entitled HOPE. It's been a long, difficult year, and whether or not we identify as a Republican, Democrat, Independent or Libertarian, I suspect all of us know heartache. I also believe only we the people can heal that pain. 💗

If you'd like to participate in this challenge, Colleen's name is linked to her blog site, where she hosts information of all sorts. We'd love to have you join us. 

My poem:
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22 Comments

A call for hope. . .

1/20/2021

12 Comments

 
Each week author Colleen M. Chesebro invites writers to participate in her #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE. Because today is the Inauguration of the President of the United States, my Tanka (syllables 5/7/5/7/7) is entitled HOPE. It's been a long, difficult year, and whether or not we identify as a Republican, Democrat, Independent or Libertarian, I suspect all of us know heartache. I also believe only we the people can heal that pain. 💗

If you'd like to participate in this challenge, Colleen's name is linked to her blog site, where she hosts information of all sorts. We'd love to have you join us. 

My poem:
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12 Comments

New Release: The Rise of Gadreel

1/18/2021

34 Comments

 
I'm super pleased to welcome author Vashti Quiroz-Vega to my site today. She's touring the blogsphere with her latest book, The Rise of Gadreel. It's the third book in the Fantasy Angels Series. This one promises to continue the ancient battle between good and evil while including fictionalized biblical accounts to highlight the stakes. 

Welcome to Blog Reflections, Vashti! Could you tell us a bit about the book? 
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​Hi, everyone! Welcome to the 2nd day of my book tour. Thank you Gwen for being a fabulous host!


The main character in The Rise of Gadreel is a fallen angel. Gadreel was never evil, but she fell into the wrong crowd and did bad things, influenced by her close friend Lilith. After her fall from grace, she had plenty of time to ponder her many mistakes. Remorseful and ashamed, she no longer wanted to follow those evil creatures that got her exiled from her home in heaven. She escaped them and has looked for ways to make amends and find God's forgiveness, ever since. She and Dracúl, son of fallen angels, found each other and became close friends. Together, and with the help of three unlikely allies; Thomas, Golem and Sabina set out to save mankind from an evil force that has awakened and threatened to end the world, as we know it.

Now that you're a little more familiar with Gadreel, I'd like to introduce you to some of the other characters from The Rise of Gadreel.

Thomas:
Thomas was once the youngest of a group of Cathar monks living in a monastery. He was a cantor and tended to the gardens. When his brethren discovered certain scrolls not admitted into Catholicism, they began to document them. The church accused them of heresy, and one night, warrior monks attacked the monastery. All the monks, including Thomas, were forced out to the courtyard where they were burned alive. Since then, the monastery has been haunted by the spirits of the monks who were wrongly accused and suffered a terrible death. Thomas is a kind soul who still sings and tends the gardens, but many of the ghosts have grown restless and furious against God and the church. Their souls have been mutated into something evil and corrupted, and Thomas is trapped in the monastery with them.

Sabina:
Sabina's mother was a white witch, a beautiful and caring woman. One day she became ill. White witches from all over the country came to their village to try to save her, to no avail. Sabina never knew her father and so became orphaned once her mother died. The people of the village loved Sabina's mother and took care of her child. A year later, a woman named Helga arrived at the village claiming to be Sabina's aunt from her father's side. Since no one had ever met Sabina's father, they assumed the woman spoke the truth. Helga took the child to her home in the woods, and even though Sabina was a child, she soon became aware that this woman was nothing like her mother. Instead, Helga was a bad witch who practiced black magic
and meant to do her harm. Unbeknownst to Sabina, she had come from a long line of white witches and had potent magic within her. Her aunt forced her to practice day and night and develop her magic, all along planning to take it from her. When Sabina finally understood Helga's plan, she began to study and practice both black and white magic, developing her strength and knowledge in secret.

A couple of years later, she escaped Helga's house where she lived in fear and had been imprisoned. Shortly after her escape, she was adopted by a pair of Lilituens who inducted her to a mighty coven of witches. Despite growing up in fear and being surrounded by evil, Sabina's mother's influence remained strong in her, and she used her powers to do good for mankind.

Golem:
As a boy, Vikings raided Golem's village. They murdered his father while he watched and hid. When another pirate grabbed his mother, he was compelled to rescue her. Golem ran to his mother, grabbed her hand, and tried to pull her away from the Viking who held her captive. He laughed as the boy struggled and hacked off his arm with his ax. Then he chopped his mother's head clean off––Golem's small, severed hand and arm still in her grip. Golem fell unconscious and was left for dead. An older couple, Abraham and Madrona, rescued him and nursed him back to health. They raised him as their own, and he grew into a strong, self-sufficient, one-armed man in their home. When the old couple died, Golem inherited a small stone figurine with supernatural powers, which he used for the good of mankind.



​Thank you, Vashti, for visiting today and offering a glimpse of your third book in the series. I wish you continued success!
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34 Comments

Laughter leads us home . . .

1/16/2021

23 Comments

 
Each week, author Suzanne Burke offers a writing prompt and encourages interested readers to respond with a story or poem or a simple one-line comment. Her Fiction In A Flash Challenge now stretches across the planet, from Australia to Europe to Africa and to the United States. If you'd like to join in the fun, please click on the link above and you'll travel to her site where you'll find helpful information.

This week's image is a lantern. I've situated the image within a larger picture of a cabin in the woods. My haiku poem (5-7-5 syllables) is called Home.
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23 Comments

First Snowfall

1/10/2021

30 Comments

 
This week Author Suzanne Burke's image for her Fiction in a Flash Challenge is a set of swings covered with snow. As I sat with the image, I felt the sweetness of children swinging high and tried to capture that emotion in a haiku poem of 5-7-5 syllables. 

Perhaps you'd like to respond to the challenge as well. Just go to Suzanne's website and follow her encouraging suggestions. It's a lot of fun and you'll meet some amazing writers. 

My contribution is entitled: First Snowfall.  
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30 Comments

New Release: Dead of Winter

1/8/2021

38 Comments

 
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Today I'm pleased to host author Teagan R. Geneviene. A few days ago, she published her first installment of a new series entitled Dead of Winter. I finished the novella earlier this week and can attest that it's a winner. Intrigue, reverie, danger -- it's all there and in exquisite writing form. 

Teagan has graciously agreed to an interview, so we're going to learn a bit about the backstory. I've had a preview, and I suspect you're going to love it. 
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                                  Interview with author Teagan R. Geneviene​ 


Thank you, Teagan, for meeting with me today. I'm curious, what inspired you to write the story?
In late 2008 I accepted a job in Washington, DC and moved across the country.  I started writing Dead of Winter in the winter of 2009 – 2010.  I was still adjusting to a different culture and climate, both of which were colder.  That December, my ever-repeating thought was “It’s the dead of winter out there!”  I began research for a story inspired and titled by that thought.  Ha! Research geek is a title I claim for myself.  The more research I did, the more inspired I became.


You've certainly inspired me, but why do you refer to this novella as Journey 1? 
Dead of Winter is what I call a quest-type fantasy, a high fantasy.  Most of the locations in Emlyn’s world are inspired by pre-industrial Great Britain and Europe, and a few farther-flung places in the real world.  I also researched all the names of the many characters and places so they would be reminiscent of those places.  I loved the research of creating that part.  More than 300 places and characters are mentioned in the overall story.  I call the installments Journeys, because the characters travel across this complex world.


​Since your protagonist sees ghosts, I just have to ask, have you seen one?
Well… yes.  Lots.  That answer would be a whole interview in itself.  So, I’ll just say that I felt I had to “close the door” on that kind of thing when I took the job in DC.  Maybe that was another inspiration for this story.  I had long wanted to write a novel about a woman who could communicate with spirits.  When Emlyn’s character came to me, the story had to be about a young girl, rather than a woman.


Having just read Forlorn Peak, I'm eagerly awaiting the next journey. Can you give us a glimpse of where it might take us?
How wonderful that you asked! High fantasy stories tend to escalate gradually.  Most of Emlyn’s life has been spent at her family’s apple orchard, with occasional visits to their village, Llyn Coombe. Or, of course, her recent lessons with Osabide who lives at the foot of Forlorn Peak, a short walk away.  In Journey 2, Emlyn goes to a neighboring village, Penllyn.  Emlyn thinks it’s strange for her father to let her go with him — and we have to wonder why he did!
The effects of the Brethren’s influence become an even greater concern.  We also meet more members of the Society of Deae Matres, including their most mysterious adherent.  Emlyn’s exploration of the wide world is only just beginning.
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What do you hope readers experience while reading the Dead of Winter series?
The Film Courage interview videos (available on YouTube) have been part of my continuous learning. I wouldn't know how to format a screenplay, but the content applies to novels. One interviewee spoke about the importance of knowing how you want the audience to feel at the end. I think that's terrific advice -- I just don't always know the answer to the question, and that’s my downfall.

I want readers to finish with a wanderlust to continue their exploration of more and different fantasy worlds.  I want them to keep thinking of the stories that might happen in Emlyn’s world long after they’ve finished the concluding journey of Dead of Winter.  The greatest compliment I can get is when people tell me that they still think of a story, or imagine themselves in it.

Wow, thank you, Teagan. Your story earned 5-stars from me, and I often find myself thinking about it. 

The trailer for Dead of Winter: 
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Journey 2
A note from Teagan: 

I can’t be exact about the monthly publication dates, but if you follow me at my Amazon Author Page, they should send an email whenever the next Journey publishes.  By the way, I follow many authors there, and have never gotten any spam email as a result.

Universal Purchase Links: 
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Amazon Author Page
:
 relinks.me/TeaganRiordainGeneviene

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX
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Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Teagan R. Geneviene

38 Comments

Forsaken - a tanka poem

1/6/2021

26 Comments

 
Author Suzanne Burke offers another great prompt, this one of an airplane. My response is a Tanka poem, syllables of 5-7-5-7-7. Perhaps you'd like to join in this exercise. It's great fun and you'll meet a number of writers. Just click on Suzanne's name and you'll travel to her website. 

My poem is below. I've entitled it Forsaken. 

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26 Comments

Happy New Year and Thank You!

1/6/2021

16 Comments

 
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It happened at the stroke of midnight. We said our goodbyes to 2020 and greeted 2021. We tossed our hopes to the heavens and asked for good health, financial security, and peace on earth. Then some of us realized that 2020 left us a gift. Through the ups and downs of the past year, we had grown more patient, more understanding, more loving, more compassionate. In a sense, we found ourselves. Could this be 2020's gift?  

I believe 2021 will be a year of radical change, and the most important development is occurring within each of us now. The politicians may continue to rant, the radical groups may still threaten, but the difference is this -- fewer and fewer of us are listening. Next year at this time, I wonder what gift we will claim.
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My year begins with much gratitude. I launched my latest book, The Culmination, during a time of personal difficulty. I frankly didn't know what to do, but then a miracle occurred. Writers came forward, offered to help, and proceeded to announce the book to their readership. Several of them read and then reviewed the book. I am forever indebted to their collective generosity. 

Below are two of the reviews:
 
​"The Culmination is the third book in the Contract Series. I loved all the books, but this one topped them. It touched me on a level of reality and fear, bringing the idea of hope in our current cold social climate. It starts after the second book and an assassination attempt. There is a group determined to cause mayhem and stop anyone in their way, including heads of state. There's not only exciting action but developing relationships and political intrigue. I found a lot of what was going on in the story relevant for current times. Where Ms. Plano took this story is a place where I could imagine the right things being done in the middle of chaos. I loved the American Vice President with her logic and heart. Beautifully written and thought-provoking with scenarios all too familiar, some heartbreaking, and some tender. This book not only scared me but offered an optimistic option at the same time. I highly recommend it and the whole series." ~ D.L. Finn

"I describe The Culmination as a political thriller with a strong military influence. There are many challenging situations presented in the plot by the author Gwen M. Plano. These situations are designed with action in mind and are very intriguing. The worldwide stage on which these situations play out serves to keep the reader riveted to the end. This story is a continuation of The Contract Thriller series and does reflect the title. It almost feels as if this book has been the end goal of the other two. I have read all three and can say that a reader must not have read the other two to enjoy this one thoroughly.
     The scope of the plot is vast. The reader moves from what appears to be simple situations of trouble to complex machinations that could lead to World War Three. The story involves multiple nations and heads of state. There are some surprising moments, as well as a tender love story.
     If you like a book with plenty of action, compelling characters, political intrigue, military maneuverings, and a compelling love story, this one is for you." ~John W. Howell


                                                                   ~ ~ ~ ~
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My most sincere Thank You to all who commented during the blog tour or tweeted the book's arrival or encouraged me through emails or reviews. Thank you one and all! I hope I can do the same for you. 💗
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My heartfelt thank you​ extends especially to those who hosted me on their sites. These extraordinary authors took time out of their busy schedules to announce The Culmination to their followers. Their names are linked to their Amazon author page. If you can, take a glimpse at their creative endeavors. Their work is simply astounding!  
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  • Staci Troilo  
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  • Joan Hall
 
  • Mae Clair​
 
  • Sally Cronin
 
  • Harmony Kent​
 
  • John Howell​
 
  • Sarah Stuart​
 
  • Jan Sikes​
 
  • C.S. Boyack 
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  • D.L. Finn​​
 
  • Marcia Meara

Happy New Year!

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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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