Life has its ups and downs. Writing does too. I’ve learned not to sit by the mailbox, waiting to hear from the editor as to whether they plan on publishing my story, or proceeding with my book idea. I have enough story ideas to keep me going until I am pushing up daisies. And I … More Hits and Misses
Arkwright by Allen Steele. 336 pages. Tor Books. Going back to my early childhood, one of the reasons why I became a writer is that I wanted so much to live so many lives. I wanted to be a soldier, a fireman, a detective, a scientist, an astronaut, well, you get the idea. What I … More Review: “Arkwright” by Allen Steele
The Day Jesus Moved Next Door: Jesus Still Goes After Lost Sheep by Sean Elliot Russell. Independently published. 350 pages. I’ve mentioned here before that I look for two things when I read Christian fiction: (1) an entertaining story; and (2) a spiritual message. It’s not often easy to provide both of these, and for … More Review: “The Day Jesus Moved Next Door” by Sean Elliot Russell
The Black Company by Glen Cook. Tor Essentials. 274 pages. I first came upon this book when I was looking for the sequel to The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes. As I have mentioned many times here before, I loves me some military science fiction. And the review on Amazon said, well if you like … More Review: “The Black Company” by Glen Cook
The Last Watch: A novel of the Divide by J. S. Dewes. Tor Books. 477 pages. A lot of times when I have picked up a science fiction novel, I find that it excels in one or two areas, such as story or characterization, but lacks in something else, such as science. I was pleased … More Review: “The Last Watch” by J. S. Dewes
Losing My Voice to Find It: How a Rock Star Discovered His Greatest Purpose by Mark Stuart with Robert W. Thompson. 256 pages. Nelson Books. Sometimes you find a really good book when you go to a library or bookstore. And sometimes a really good book finds you. When I was almost through with this … More Review: “Losing My Voice to Find It” by Mark Stuart
Open Season: The First Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box. 323 pages. Putnam Books. This isn’t the first time that I picked up a book because I watched a movie or TV series. But usually I waited until I was done with the viewing before I turned to the book. In this case, my … More Review: “Open Season” by C.J. Box
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, And Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson. Crown Books. 591 pages. I picked up this book while I was on vacation, mostly because I recognized the author’s name. He’s the same author who wrote In the Garden of Beasts, the excellent book about the … More Review: “The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larson
Six Years with the Texas Rangers: 1875 to 1881 by James B. Gillett. University of Nebraska Press. 260 pages. I have neglected this blog and this website for quite a while. Seems like real life has gotten the better of me. But I have recently finished a few good books that I want to share … More Review: “Six Years with the Texas Rangers” by James B. Gillett
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. Picador Books. 355 pages. Some books you read because they are a lot of fun to read. Some books you read because you come away with a memorable message. And some books you read because, well, because you just have to. I am a big Cormac McCarthy fan. My two … More Review: “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy
The Great Adventure 