Book Spotlight: Six Things You Might Not Know about Steve Brock

1. 
   My wife and I are both animal lovers. A few years ago, after a tragic incident with a stray dog and her puppies, we decided to do something tangible about the stray population in our area. We formed a 501.c non-profit corporation dedicated to assisting people who couldn’t afford veterinary care for their animals. We held local fundraisers and formed a partnership with a local vet clinic to assist us. Over the next several years our organization paid for spaying, neutering, vaccinations, and other veterinary services for many elderly and low-income people in our area. We also purchased dog houses and pet food for those who couldn’t afford it.
2. I had intended to pursue a career as a writer after graduating college. I prepared for it by taking all the writing courses my high school offered. Instead, shortly after high school I met a young lady and fell in love with her. That put my writing aspirations on hold indefinitely. I didn’t get to college until twelve years later, even then I was attending part-time at night. The fact that I’m sixty-one years old and just now writing my first novel is that young lady’s fault. Since we’ve been married now for forty-two years and brought up two fine young men in the process, I don’t complain about it too much.
3. I’m a history buff. I think it is fascinating to learn about how our civilization has developed over the centuries. I subscribe to the adage; Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it. I think there are all too few of us these days who credit history with the value it provides. I hope to bring my love of history to my writing, entwining historical fact with fiction in an interesting way.
4. Perhaps in some measure due to my appreciation of history, I am a fan of blues music. I didn’t really discover blues in its purest form until I attended a local blues festival several years ago. I attended not knowing how I would like it, but I found I enjoyed it very much. After that, I came to realize that much of the popular music I preferred as a young man had roots in the blues. I have continued to attend blues festivals since that first one. I have even traveled to Memphis, TN to experience the annual International Blues Competition. It was such fun, not only listening to the music but also sampling the local cuisine. Chicken and sausage gumbo is served everywhere in Memphis, and I really like it. Even something as simple as a cheese and sausage platter is just different in Memphis than it is anywhere else.
5. I have had the pleasure of being part of a large family although I only have one sibling myself. My wife has four sisters and a brother, and they have all continued to live locally. After we got married her family accepted me as one of them and I consider them my sisters and brother as well. The family has always been close and we have family gatherings for just about every holiday and some birthdays as well. Now, with all the children and grandchildren not to mention the spouses, the family has grown to over fifty persons altogether. It has grown too large to have a comfortable gathering in most homes, particularly in the winter when outside activities are limited. It is for that reason that my wife and I have a house that is way too large for just the two of us. We can host family gatherings at any time of year and that is something that is important to us.
6. When I was attending college, I was also raising a family and working full-time. I had no choice but to take college classes in the evening. That worked out just fine most of the time. The college had a great many nontraditional students, most like me were older people who didn’t attend right out of high school. One thing that was required for me to qualify to graduate was a physical education class. There were several options such as golf, tennis, racquetball, and bowling. The problem was none of these classes were offered in the evening. Also, since they were daytime classes, they met either two or three times a week. I couldn’t work that into my schedule and for a while didn’t know what to do. After some research, I found another local university offered a class that would fulfill my PE requirement and it was held in the early evening only once a week. It was a pistol marksmanship class. I couldn’t have predicted how much I enjoyed that class. I found target shooting to be an activity I would continue long after that class was over. I do not hunt, and as an animal lover, I couldn’t shoot any animal for sport. I do enjoy target shooting, however, and I am proud to say many paper targets have met their demise at my hand.

About the Author: I've been an author in search of a novel for just about forty years now. Writing was the first thing I ever wanted to do seriously. Over the years I've done quite a variety of things. My first real job, the kind where you have a schedule and get paid hourly, was as a cook at the local Sonic Drive-In. I've been a machinist, a forklift driver, a production worker, a computer programmer, an IT guy, an installation manager, a software trainer, and an education department manager. Those are just the employment highlights. Through it all, I was a husband and father, and I attended college at night to get my bachelor's degree in technology management.

Before all that started, I wanted to be a writer. It just didn't work out that way. Maybe that's ok, I've had a good life and I have a wonderful family that I am proud to have. I don't regret any of what I've done to support my family over the years. The desire to write has persisted, however, and I took a look at my odometer one day and it read 61 years old. None of us know how high our personal odometer will go, but I knew if I was ever going to be a writer, now was the time,

 

I'm bringing my lifetime of experience to my novel writing. Many of my characters are loosely based upon people I've known in real life. Some of my plot elements are also influenced by real-life experiences as well. As of this writing, my first novel, Half Moon Lake, will be published on Amazon in a few weeks. I have begun work on my second book as well. I hope you will take time to register your email address so I may keep you apprised of announcements and special offers. I'd be thrilled to count you as one of my first dedicated readers.

 

Steve Brock’s latest novel is Half Moon Lake.

 

You can visit his website at www.BrockNovels.com or connect with him at Twitter.

 

TV Series Review: The Chelsea Detective

Adrian Scarborough stars as DI Max Arnold, a recently separated police officer who lives on a shabby houseboat while hoping that he’ll get back together with his wife Astrid. He's clever, determined, and perhaps most importantly, he doesn't care about wealth or status when it comes to getting justice. Raised by a local bookshop owner, he's a life-long Chelsea resident – but not part of the elite class of people who make up most of the neighbourhood. He may live in an upmarket area, but crime knows no boundaries and the dark and disturbing elements of the city manifest themselves. Max’s job is to bring criminals to book and see that justice is done. He is partnered with Sonita Henry as DS Priya Shamsie, who is a new mum, back on the beat, and with her own issues at home, most of which are of her own making.

Should you watch it? Definitely! If you enjoyed Midsomer Murders, Grantchester, or any detective series of that ilk, this is right up your alley. The stories are interesting and keep your attention. Nothing seems outlandish or far-fetched and a viewer is not asked to suspend their disbelief. The cast is diverse but there is no shoving it down your throat. The Chief Forensics Officer is played by Sophie Stone, a deaf actress. I really liked how the producers handled this angle because I have seen other shows where there is much fiddling about with sign language and then translating which stretches things out and makes an audience restless. In this series, the actress performs brilliantly and quite naturally asks Max to slow down because she can’t catch everything he is saying.

Adrian Scarborough is one of those actors that ease into the character perfectly. He is a pleasure to watch. The character is no-nonsense, gets on with the job, can be unimaginative at times, but is very appealing. His aunt is played by the inimitable Frances Barber, also a pleasure to watch. She is hilarious. For me, the only sour note was the relationship between Max’s wife Astrid (Anamaria Marinca) and Max. I found Astrid quite bland, and it was hard to believe they had been married. There was just no chemistry. Even much ado about the ownership of a coffee machine failed to convince me. However, a strong supporting cast make this series eminently watchable, and I was delighted to discover that there will be a season two!

 

Book Spotlight: Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw by DA Mucci

Is there anything worse than high school?

When a clever, peace-making verbal volley failed, and the guy pulled a switch blade, Iggy took off. A locket he wore warmed up. Suddenly, he wasn’t in Susquehanna, PA anymore. Before he could gather his wits…

…someone had tackled him.

Pinned on the ground, his assailant bade him, be quiet. Something was going on just up ahead. A horrifying-looking knight in black armor, and a strange looking creature were locked in battle.

The knight won.

The large dog-bird beast, lay dying. Iggy sensed evil had won. When the man let him up, they eased forward to see if the dog-bird beast was dead.

No. And with its dying words…

…the warrior gave Iggy his swords.

And thus, Ignatius’s adventure began.

 

“A beautiful read.” — Robin Roberts, as seen on Good Morning America

★★★★★“D.A. Mucci does such a great job of creating a universe that is entirely fantastical yet believable and relatable. Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw has an almost Harry Potter-ness to it in that we are guided into this world through the eyes of a character who is learning of it the same as the reader and who is a character very similar to its target audience. But, it is also entirely different in a good way. I have honestly not taken to a fantasy novel as much as this one in quite a long time. The author is an excellent storyteller and writer.” — Kate Leboff

★★★★★ “Right from the start this story is breathtaking in how much detailed surrounding the kingdom of Skye… a once luscious and beautiful place that had been filled with animals and people. Now it’s a kingdom with no beating heart. In desperate for a hero, a teen named Iggy finds himself becoming the hero these people need. Mastering a set of growing magic skills in a challenge but its mastering the skills in handling the towering secrets that are claiming Skye is something else altogether. A wondrous journey in a finely painted world. Highly recommended.”—Lori Goodreads review

★★★★★“The author managed to create quite intriguing magical world full of fantastic beasts, some of which are not what you typically expect from beasts – they are mighty warriors, living in seclusion, whose abilities in battles are legendary. The world building is really nice and takes your imagination to amazing places. Combine this with an awkward, introvert and insecure boy who gets swallowed into the greatest adventure of his life, one which is too big for him to understand at a time, but he grows and shows his worth and true power. Definitely recommend this book.”—Lia Goodreads review

Book Excerpt:

The towering stone Castle Maol, the unrivaled seat of power in the Kingdom of Skye, sat inland almost bereft of life. 

Once known for its inspirational beauty, Skye’s forests and meadows were more barren than green now, enveloped by stillness instead of bustling wildlife. Lakes and waterways once teeming with marine life lay stagnant. Most of those who lived here survived under gray clouds of despair.

Several of the eldest knew of the prophecy that would return the land to its prior golden age and quietly hoped it was true.

Only a handful knew the secret that would allow the prophecy to come true. They refused to speak of it.

About the Author

Months of self-induced isolation to protect loved ones from exposure to Covid-19 led Emergency Medicine Physician David Mucci to create a fantasy world as an outlet to manage pandemic stress and support his own mental health. The resulting novel, Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw (St. Bart’s Publishing, October 2021), tells the tale of an impossible mission led by an unlikely hero.

This is the coming-of-age story of 15-year-old Ignatius, “Iggy”, who is thrown into a world of unknowns, transported to a medieval world filled with magic. Based on research of myths and legends, Mucci created The Kingdom of Skye, the setting for Iggy to develop special powers and accomplish quests to fight evildoers and find his way home.

According to Mucci, Iggy must learn to trust a diverse set of characters but also learn to believe in himself and grow; much like as a medical provider, Mucci had to trust himself, trust his colleagues and learn how to adapt during the pandemic.

The first in a planned 5-part series, Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw is YA fantasy suitable for both teens and adults as it gently reminds readers that they are responsible for their own destiny, and that sometimes the most unexpected people can be the best teachers. At 67 years old, writing a YA Lit fantasy series, Mucci is also proving that there is no limit for being creative. “The only limitation is the one that you place on yourself and on your imagination,” says Mucci.

Visit his website at https://damucci.com or connect with him on Facebook.

 

Book Spotlight: Blue Haven by Lisa King

 

Welcome to Blue Haven, the world’s most lucrative condo corporation—so exclusive that only five lucky residents live in this lush, tropical paradise, housed in a top-secret location.

​

Among them is twenty-five-year-old Aloe Malone, an introvert and former waitress who traded bussing tables for lengthy sleep-ins, ocean dips, Michelin-star restaurants, spectacular sunsets, and unlikely new friends—all thanks to a spurious lottery win.

 

Life’s good. Damn good. That is, until Aloe discovers a journal, seemingly left by a past resident named Eloise whose entries are both sad and evoking, Aloe quickly suspects there’s more to Blue Haven than meets the eye. Her suspicions are confirmed when visions arise, gruesome hallucinations she can’t understand, followed by a strange yet familiar man lurking in places he shouldn’t. Something’s wrong. Or maybe it’s all in her head. Regardless, she vows to uncover the truth.

 

Except someone wants to keep her quiet, and it’s the last person she ever suspected.

​

Blue Haven is a science-fiction thriller that explores what innovation can achieve—and destroy—despite the best intentions. King’s imaginative world building, and use of moral ambiguity make this page-turning novel a thought-provoking thrill that’s impossible to put down.

 

About the Author

 Lisa King is a Canadian fiction author and researcher whose work on veteran mental health has been published in numerous academic journals. She holds degrees in psychology and neuroscience, both from Western University. Aside from writing, she enjoys family outings, ample coffee, and unapologetic napping. She lives in London, Ontario with her husband, daughter, and wonky-eyed cat.Her latest book is the adult science fiction / psychological thriller, Blue Haven.You can visit her website at www.authorlisaking.com or connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.