Uncaged Book Reviews by Cyrene

ISSUE 63 | January/February 2022

note fr o m t h e edit o r

anuary/February - First of all, I apologize for the lateness of this issue. I knew in December that it was going to be late releasing, but I never would have predicted my back going out so bad I had to see my doctor. I can only hope that it keeps improving without surgery. In mid December, I finally adopted a new dog. It’s been awhile since I’ve been looking for one, and when I saw Riley at an adoption place, I knew I had to meet him. You can read more about this in the Authors and Their Pets column. We will be continuing with the “Buy 2, Get 1” promotion we’ve been running, with some changes for 2022. The promotion will only be for Full Page Ads, so if you buy 2, you will get one free. No other advertising will be eligible. With the issues selling out advertising more frequently, this gives more opportunities for all in advertising in the magazine. It really does help from a marketing standpoint, to have an advertisment run three months in a row - to repeat in the readers mind. You don’t just see a commercial on TV one time and remember it, right? So we will continue to try and provide the best bang for your buck and get the most eyes we can on your work. If you’d like to be a Feature Author, you can also fill out a form on the Reviews/Feature Info Page to request a Feature in 2021. Put in your top 3 choices and this is normally first come/first serve, but I do move around months to keep a good selection of genres in each issue. Soon I will also put up forms for Catch Up Features - these are

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for past feature authors that have a new book releasing, and we can do a shorter feature, and also a Short Story Submission form. Any author submitting an approved short story receives a full page ad in the same issue. The new form for Short Story Submissions has been added, and a Catch Up form will come next. Enjoy the January/February 2022 issue of Uncaged Book Reviews. Stay safe and healthy.

X cyrene

contents feature authors Ken Harris 14 crime thriller 28 40

Terry Shepherd technothriller

Winter Sloane organized crime/romance

non-fiction/biographical

martial arts

Mario Dell’Olio

Guy Windsor

Fil Reid

Tamara Hughes

108

Medieval Historical

paranormal romance

Zachary Steele fantasy

authors and their pets

Uncaged’s Feature Authors introduce you to their devoted writing buddies, and the devotion goes both ways.

Issue 63 | January/February 2022

fangfreakintastic Pamela Gail 126 contemporary romance

guest columns

50 90

Nerd Daily Guest Post

120

A Panster by any Other Name

Paul Bahou

Gone to the Dogs Jesse Sternberg J.E. McDonald

showcase 24 Sandra Lee Reynolds 36 Richard Sills 46 Austin Freeze 46 Peggy Hinaekian 92 Anthony Rebuck

104

JJ Spain

116

Christiane Dutrisac

cover image @raineelc via Twenty20

4 7 134 140 144

Note from the Editor Contributors|Partnerships Uncaged Reviews FangFreakinTastic Reviews Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

Uncaged on Instagram

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

Contributors | Partnerships

Follow Uncaged on Facebook

Paranormal lover’s rejoice. Uncaged review contributors.

A blog for horror fans. Uncaged review contributors.

A little bit of everything. Uncaged review contributors.

If you’d like your banner here, please email me at UncagedBooks@gmail.com Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

upcomingconventions Uncaged will watch for any cancelations or modifications for the 2021 season. Please watch their websites for information as the dates get closer.

Coastal Magic Convention February 24–27, 2022; Daytona Beach, FL http://coastalmagicconvention.com/

Wild Deadwood Reads June 18, 2022; Deadwood, SD http://wilddeadwoodreads.com/

Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together (RAGT) June 9–11, 2022; Cincinnati, OH http://readerauthorgettogether.com/ Book Bonanza July 8–9, 2022; Grapevine, TX https://bookbonanzaevent.com/

Lust in the Lowcountry Romancecon June 10–11, 2022; Charleston, SC http://www.litlowcountry.com/

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Literary Love Savannah July 20–24, 2022; Savannah, GA https://www.facebook.com/literarylovesavannah/

feature authors

thriller | suspense | organized crime

Ken Harris

Terry Shepherd

Winter Sloane

K EN HARRIS

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en Harris retired from the FBI, after thirty-two years, as a cybersecurity executive. With over three decades writing intelligence products for senior Government officials, Ken provides unique perspectives on the conventional fast-paced crime thriller. While this is his first traditionally published novel, he previously self-published two novellas and two novels. He spends days with his wife Nicolita, and two Labradors, Shady and Chalupa Batman. Evenings are spent cheering on Philadelphia sports. Ken firmly believes Pink Floyd, Irish whiskey and a Montecristo cigar are the only

muses necessary. He is a native of New Jersey and currently resides in Northern Virginia. “THE PINE BARRENS STRATAGEM: From the Case Files of Steve Rockfish” publishes on January 27, 2022 “SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY: From the Case Files of Steve Rockfish 2” publishes on July 14, 2022

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kenharrisfiction.com Uncaged welcomes Ken Harris Welcome to Uncaged! Could you tell readers more about The Pine Barrens Stratagem that releases in January? I think an early review I received said it best: “A contemporary crime thriller that works on every level, from the smoldering investigation to the whipsaw banter between characters you’re bound to love.” This book is my tribute to the 1970’s private eye, investigative television shows I grew up watching with my father. I rediscovered my love of The Rockford Files by binging the show shortly after I retired. A few episodes in, I knew my three-year battle with writer’s block was over and I could craft a humorous, fast-paced entertaining PI novel with a hard-nosed sarcastic protagonist, but set

in current times. And what is more current than the pandemic? If you read this book, you’ll come for the engaging story but stay for the dialogue and relatable characters. You are retired FBI, did your experience help with writing this crime thriller? My 32 years with the FBI provided me with a background and knowledge of proper procedurals, if that makes sense, to write a griping crime thriller. The FBI, itself, plays a very minor role in The Pine Barrens Stratagem. I find it more enjoyable to write about a small twoperson detective agency than a large bureaucratic machine. Its more personable and compelling. People have asked why I don’t write an FBI-thriller and that’s an easy answer. There are way too many people writing about the FBI and I don’t need to add to it. I’ve got other, more entertaining stories to tell. Besides, what fun is it, if you know everything about the subject matter? What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? When I have detailed handwritten notes, no scene is too difficult to write. If a scene has strong characters, I’m very much at ease writing entertaining dialogue that will hold the reader’s attention and move the story forward. Give me characters with chemistry and banter and I can write all day. I live for those scenes. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR |

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As for difficult, it’s those breadcrumb scenes, the ones that begin to lead the reader towards a major plot point that sometimes give me trouble. I find when writing these types of scenes my mind plays Short Attention Span Theater. I constantly look for a million different things to distract my concentration. Self-imposed deadlines sometimes help in these instances, but not always. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about? My favorite character to bring to life is my main protagonist, Steve Rockfish. He’s a middle-aged, harddrinking, dry-witted private eye. What’s not to love? His sarcasm and quick wit allow him to get out of dilemmas without resulting to violence. Except when its needed and then he brings the pain. He drives a car that is very near and dear to my heart, which also happens to share a name with my previous Dodge Challenger SRT. I continue to live vicariously and drive that car through my character. The least? Officer Louie Sommers. Everyone hates a cop on the take. How much belief will a reader suspend with his actions? Will they think, “oh another dirty cop? The same old same old.” Can I bring something different to the table for the reader to hate about this guy? Does he get his just desserts? You’ll have to pick up the book to find out. How do you come up with the title to your books? For The Pine Barrens Stratagem, I had finished watching The Rockford Files, S2 E2, “The Farnsworth Stratagem,” and had to look up the definition of Stratagem. It is a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end. I thought that was the first draft of my story in a nutshell. I then added the Pine Barrens as the forest that serves as the location of a pivotal scene. Additionally, much of the story’s background takes place in the famed woods. Most people hear The Pine Barrens and automatically think of the Soprano’s episode, with Paulie’s famous quote: “You’re not gonna believe this. He killed six-

| KEN HARRIS | teen Czechoslovakians. The guy was an interior decorator.” But those woods are more to me than an alleged mafia body dumping ground. I grew up in the area. It’s the home to the birth of Mother Leeds thirteenth child, more commonly known as The Jersey Devil. I did two weeks of summer camp in the middle of the Pine Barrens when I was in second grade. The camp counselors started in with the Jersey Devil stories on the first night. I’m not sure I’ve recovered from the trauma. I have memories of driving down those dirt roads with friends at unsafe speeds, and canoeing the Basto River offering to buy beer off older folks with coolers. Good times with friends I’ve lost touch with. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? Being retired and writing for a living still leaves me with a lot of time on my hands. Within the last year, I’ve taken this somewhat skillset and volunteered for some pro bono writing for a YouTube cooking show, Another Fat Guy Cooks. I’ve written up the episode descriptions and recipes for all of the shows. In return, one of the episodes was devoted to the fish tacos that Steve Rockfish loves so much. Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages? I’ve always tended to write main characters first, even in my self-publishing days. For the Pine Barrens Stratagem, I had ideas of what characters I wanted to create long before I even thought about the story or any overarching plot points. But now that I’ve crafted the main characters of Steve Rockfish and Jawnie McGee across two completed books and an in-draft third, it has become more of a “what situations can I throw these two and their supporting cast into that are outside the ordinary? What plot would bring the readers back for a second or third go round?” That was the thinking behind the sequel, See You Next Tuesday (publishing in July 2022). Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? When I’m not writing, I can usually be found playing with these two clowns, Shady McCoy and Chalupa Batman. I’ve been a gamer since my first Atari in the late ‘70s, albeit not a very good one. I’ve been hooked on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for the past year. Something about raiding and pillaging as a Viking that does wonders as a relaxation technique. Comedy podcasts are also a fun diversion that I’ve found helpful to destress, since my working days. My current go-tos are Issues with Andy and The Doug Stanhope Podcast. Lastly, I tend to torture myself most nights by watching my favorite Philly sports teams play. If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? I’m a Fall person. I love the crispness in the air, when it’s just cold enough to throw on a hoodie and make a fire outside. We have a pavilion in our backyard with a fireplace that I turn to when I hit a wall with a character or particular scene. I sit outside with a pencil and paper and watch the flames dance. Ideas usually begin to flow soon after. How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? My writing routine consists of planting my butt in front of my keyboard or a pad of paper every day, 18 | UncagedBooks.com

between the hours of 7am and noon. Sometimes if I’m on a run it’s longer. The music is always loud and helps me get into a trance. The kind where hours pass by and you have no idea how long you’ve been at the desk but your coffee is empty and you’re shocked your bladder hasn’t exploded. But with technology, the writing routine runs through the entire day. It’s not uncommon for me to wake up multiple times per night and leave the bedroom to begin dictating into the Notes app what idea was on my mind when my eyes shot open. Too many times I’ve rolled over and forgot the idea when morning comes. Now voice-to-text is my best friend. The Pine Barrens Stratagem took three and a half months to complete the first draft. The sequel, See You Next Tuesday, moved quicker and the first draft was finished in two and a half months. All bets are off with the third in the trilogy. I’ve recently passed the three-month mark and its only about half way done. Promotion for the first and edits to the second have taken a lot of my writing time away. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I’m old, so I prefer the good old traditional physical book. But I will say, with all the reading I’ve done the past year of other Black Rose Writing authors, ebooks are beginning to grow on me. I am currently reading Brent Michael Kelley’s Stay Away From Psycho Joe. I’m a big fan of horror and dark fantasy and Kelley excels at creating tales of the weird that I can never put down. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I want to thank those that have stuck with me through the self-publishing times, the long bouts of writer’s block and provided valuable feedback through early reviews of The Pine Barrens Stratagem. As for those reading this interview? Buy the ticket, take the ride. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Heck, I’m willing to

bet you’ll start a countdown on the kitchen calendar for the sequel! My blog, KenHarrisFiction.com is the best place to follow for all things Steve Rockfish. I have a monthly newsletter that readers can sign up for. I know, who needs more email? You do. My newsletter is informative, funny and most of all, short. You can check out previous episodes posted to the blog and then sign up while you’re there. Other than the other Social Media links provided (FB and Twitter), check out KenHarrisFiction on Instagram and see more of my Labradors, Shady McCoy and Chalupa Batman.

Enjoy an excerpt from The Pine Barrens Stratagem The Pine Barrens Stratagem Ken Harris Crime/Thriller Releases Jan. 27 Private Investigator Steve Rockfish needs cash, like yesterday. The bad news is that yesterday, a global pandemic raged, and Maryland was headed toward a lockdown that would ultimately lead to cheating spouses no longer “working late,” and hence a lack of new clients. Rockfish’s luck changes when a Hollywood producer reaches out, but the job is two states away and involves digging up information on a child trafficking ring from the 1940s. What he uncovers will be used to support the launch of a true crime docuseries. He grabs a mask, hand sanitizer and heads for South Jersey.

| KEN HARRIS | On-site, Rockfish meets Jawnie McGee, the great granddaughter of a local policeman gone missing while investigating the original crimes. As the duo uncover more clues, they learn the same criminal alliance has reformed to use the pandemic as a conduit to defraud the Federal Government of that sweet, sweet, stimulus money. It’s not long before the investigation turns up some key intel on a myriad of illicit activity over the last eighty years and Rockfish rockets toward a showdown with the mafia, local archdiocese and dirty cops. COVID-19 isn’t the only threat to his health. Excerpt Rockfish sat in the Scion’s passenger seat while Jawnie drove. He wasn’t thrilled with the decision, but she was adamant that some of the dirt roads, deep within the Pine Barrens, were no place for a Dodge Challenger. Plus, she didn’t feel like playing navigator. In the end, Rockfish decided not to put up much of a fight, considering Jawnie was more than a little familiar with where they were headed, although he had second thoughts with the four cases of whiplash he had suffered before even reaching the highway. “Do you drive with two feet,” he asked. “Because my head can’t keep jerking forward and slamming back much more. Unless you’re running an insurance scam, and if so, what would be my take?” “Enough with the backseat driving, and can you put your visor back up? That late afternoon glare off the mirror is killing me.” “Make a deal with you. You drive how you want. I’ll keep an eye on our surroundings the way I want. Speaking of which, can you move this rightside passenger mirror a little more to the right, all I’m seeing is the rear fender.” “You got it,” Jawnie said, and she played with the mirror control until Rockfish let her know it was Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | right where he needed it. He could monitor anyone approaching from behind without having to turn around. “I do want to fill you in on something I learned before we left,” Rockfish said. “When you went into the house to fix those sandwiches, I reached out to a guy I know in the Baltimore PD, Dan Decker. He’s an old friend and helps me out when he can. He’s going to have one of their academy cadets do some research for us and see if there is anything more than a current history between the Marini and Provolone families. The Marini’s have run Baltimore as long as the Provolone’s have this area. If Edward’s notation of the two factions working together has anything to it, Decker will let us know. He said currently both families have worked together when it was profitable to do so. Sound familiar?” “Yeah, same M.O. as our knuckle draggers and kid touchers,” Jawnie replied. Rockfish was happy to learn Jawnie’s disdain for organized religion matched his own. “Well put. But if there is a history there, what are the odds that some wealthy, non-fertile Baltimore Catholics would be willing to pony up some cash to right the situation. And Edward was witness to it all?” They drove in silence over the next twenty minutes, Rockfish trying to figure out exactly what he expected to find in a fifty-four-year-old decrepit building in the middle of the woods. He hadn’t arrived at a conclusion yet when something very familiar came into focus. “Remember when you asked me about knowing when you’re being followed?” Rockfish said. “Yeah, I just chalked it up to anxiety and paranoia. It comes standard on the Millennial base model.” “Guess what? We are,” Rockfish deadpanned. “Don’t do a damn thing different and let me think for a second. There’s a Jeep Grand Cherokee, right now, two cars back that’s been with us since we 20 | UncagedBooks.com

pulled off the highway when I was telling you what Decker said.” Rockfish pulled out a scrap of paper and jotted down the license plate. “I’ll ask Decker to run this, if they end up sticking on our ass the whole way. I could be a tad paranoid, but I’d rather err on the side of caution. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll tell you if evasive actions become necessary. We’ll start you slow and work our way up to the infamous private eye J-turn.” Ten minutes later, the Scion crossed the Hammonton City line and Rockfish lost sight of the Jeep. He had Jawnie drive a couple of concentric circles around the downtown area, before heading out on County Route 542 which, according to her, would point them towards the southern part of Wharton State Forest and the abandoned orphanage. Rockfish spotted the Jeep, only a second or two after it turned on Route 542 from a side street. “Company’s back,” Rockfish said. “I guess when we hit these dirt roads you mentioned, we’ll see how serious they are.” When the Scion’s tires soon left the asphalt, and began rolling down the slightly larger than single lane dirt road, the Jeep’s true intentions came to light. No longer concerned about being spotted, the Jeep’s speed increased until it was only a few feet from Jawnie’s bumper. Rockfish’s head swiveled from the Jeep and back to his pilot. He needed to stay calm, but Jawnie looked petrified, and while her hands had a death grip on the wheel, they were also visibly shaking. “Jawnie, listen to me and we’ll be alright.” She didn’t say a word, but Rockfish could feel the car slowing down. Screw her feelings, he thought and began giving orders. “Put your foot back on the gas. You need to keep a constant speed.” And then a minute later. “Stay in the center, don’t give them space to get alongside of us.” Lastly, he shouted. “The center I said!” His voice gave

| KEN HARRIS | out with that last outburst and he knew she heard the fear in it. Rockfish swore as the Jeep slammed into their back bumper. “That a girl, keep her straight! Gas, give it some—” The rear windshield exploded, shards of safety glass like small pellets peppered the interior of the car. Jawnie screamed and instinctively yanked the wheel to the left. Likewise, Rockfish now yelled in order to be heard. “Foot off the gas! Steer into it!” Rockfish wasn’t sure how he got through to Jawnie, but she listened, and the Scion straightened back up and they were rocketing straight down the dirt road once again. But before he could congratulate his pupil, the Jeep was now angling to get alongside; the Scion drifting dangerously close to the right shoulder, or lack thereof. Rockfish turned and looked out the driver’s side rear window. He could clearly see the Jeep’s front end. In the next instant, they were sliding again, Jawnie’s foot slammed on the brake and the Jeep’s right fender nudged the Scion’s left rear. Brakes squealed, and tires howled as dirt, dust and burnt rubber filled their lungs. “Hold on, hold on, hold on!” It was all he managed to say, but her eyes told him she was a million miles away. Rockfish closed his and braced for impact. The car spun violently to the left, a hundred and eighty degrees, and his head whipped left and then right, slamming against the window. The seatbelt dug into his chest and he had trouble breathing. A second later, the earth beneath the car’s right side began to give way and the Scion slid into a ditch before coming to a stop. By the time Rockfish opened his eyes and turned around, the taillights from the Jeep had disappeared into the distance. ********** “That settles it, I’m going to the police now! They, someone, fuck I don’t know who just tried to kill us!” Jawnie said. “Look at my car! Who’s going to pay for this? Not like we’re exchanging fucking information with them!” Her mask was around her neck and Rockfish could see the tears.

Rockfish took a second before he replied. His partner was still in shock, borderline hysterical, and he didn’t want to push her over the edge, unlike the car they pulled themselves from. The Jeep had performed a textbook pit maneuver and Rockfish bet Jawnie wasn’t a big fan of Cops or Live PD. Hence, her jumping straight to attempted murder. “Now hold on Jawnie,” Rockfish said. “You’re not hurt, right? That seatbelt and airbag did their jobs?” “Of course, but—” “No buts about it. Your chest might be a little sore tomorrow from that belt, your eyes swollen from the air bag, and more importantly, you’ll never forget your first chase. But seriously, no one tried to kill us. If they had wanted us dead, we’d be bleeding out from gunshot wounds. Your rear window was the victim of a warning shot. When we were in that ditch, no one walked up from behind and pumped a few slugs into the back of our heads.” Rockfish stopped and looked at Jawnie, he needed to make sure he was getting through. Her breathing had slowed down quite a bit and that was a start. “This was a warning, pure and simple. All this tells us is that someone thinks you might be sticking your nose somewhere it doesn’t belong. Obviously, it pertains to those boxes. I haven’t been in town long enough to piss someone off yet, at least, I hope. But if they were staking out your place, they’d have my license plate number and know who I am.” “But I’ve only dealt with Hasty on this,” Jawnie said. “Look. You might have worked out a deal with Hasty, but odds are he wasn’t the one that went into the very back of the evidence room and pulled those boxes for you. He’s probably recounted your conversation to a few of his ‘trusted’ senior men, and God knows who else might have been in the room when those conversations took place. Was Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | there anything else you mentioned either to him or anyone else at the station that might cause a reaction like what just happened?” “I d-d-did tell him I had hoped to t-t-take what I found in these boxes, scan what I could, and create a website. One that would ask the public for tips. Anonymously, of course. It would be a way to get the word out and maybe get someone’s attention who might remember something. Hasty asked his secretary to check and see if he had the authority to put the PD’s logo and tip line on this site. He was only trying to help.” “So, he’s got a secretary. Old bird, I bet?” “Yeah, Betty Lou Sommers. I’m guessing she’s logged more than a few years there.” “There’s your problem. Old Betty Lou sees all Hasty’s business that comes and goes out of his office. I’d lay odds her loyalties lie with others she’s worked with or for through the years and not the guy who knocked the latest Ringle out of office.” “I’d never thought of it that way.” “If you’re trying to be a junior special agent, I’d advise you to think that way. Someone in that department is crooked and an off-duty cop or on-duty mafioso ran us off the road. Doesn’t matter who, I’m betting they can be one and the same. Now if you feel alright, we need to call for a tow.” “And an Uber.” “Do you have any bars?” Rockfish said. “Nope.” “We were lucky this was only a warning. We’ve got some walking ahead of us. They shouldn’t be coming back.” I gotta reach out to Davenport, he thought. The stakes have significantly increased.

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sneakpeek Sandra Lee Reynolds Differently Abled Differently Abled

Sandra Lee Reynolds Children

Q: What is the best thing about being an author? The best thing about being an author is watching your project come to life; seeing your name on the cover and knowing my hard-work has paid off and helped me realize I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.

Differently Abled is about Sierra, a girl with Down’s Syndrome who is discouraged by her disability because she feels like she doesn’t fit in, and has no friends because of it. However, she refuses to let her disability discourage her from overcoming life’s challenges and is determined to be included.

Q: What book changed your life?

When Sierra decided to voice her opinion, others realized that being different doesn’t mean you can’t do something. People listened, and everyone soon learned that extending kindness, patience, and acceptance are the keys to humanity..

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

Differently Abled has been translated and is available in other languages: Capable Différemment in French, Capacidades Diferentes in Spanish, and in Mandarin.

Author Interview Q: What’s the hardest thing about being an author? Many might say the hardest part of being a writer is coming up with ideas; for me, that is not the case. The most difficult thing about being an author is having the patience to wait for success and the courage to face failures along the way. My biggest challenge is trust-ing myself and believing my dreams can come true, especially as an indie-published au-thor. 24 | UncagedBooks.com

Moby Dick by Herman Melville is probably one of my favorite novels and on some level inspired me to write about my own vulnerabilities and struggles; to face the sense of loss I felt from having a child with Down’s Syndrome.

My inspiration to write Differently Abled stems from my daughter Sierra, who the book is about. I am profoundly grateful for her; she taught me patience and the true meaning of perseverance. Q: How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work? If I were to describe my writing style to someone else, I think I would call it crisp, clean, and emphatic. Q: Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally? For me, writing is something that flows naturally; but only after I’ve thought about what message I want to get across do the creative juices flow from the pen to the paper, so to speak. Q: What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book? I want readers to learn that acceptance is the key; that

it is okay to embrace one’s differ-ences. Q: What books are currently in your to be read pile? I read any classic I can get my hands on, over and over; but my to be read pile currently includes the entire “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling. Q: Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Sandra Reynolds is an Immigration Services Officer with the Department of Homeland Security. She has 18 years’ experience raising a child with Down’s Syndrome. She specializes in spreading acceptance. She is a powerful force in teaching people to embrace others’ differences. She uses her positive attitude, patience, and tireless energy to encourage others to be kind. She is inspired by her two children, Curtis and Sierra. In her free time, she mentors children with disabilities, spends time with her children, and loves to play with her grandchildren.

People with Down’s Syndrome face stereotypes and myths that they are incapable of do-ing things. I want people to know the societal norms that man has imparted are okay to question. I want my fans to understand that having Down’s Syndrome doesn’t define someone, nor does it limit their abilities; it’s simply a condition that is part of who they are. I want them to know it’s okay to embrace someone’s differences.

sandrapaquette.com

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

TERRY SHEPHERD

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erry Shepherd wrote his first short story at age eleven and was first published as a non-fiction author in 2008. He created Detective Jessica Ramirez in 2019, publishing his thriller “Chasing Vega” in 2020. The book earned 5-Star ratings on Amazon and is also available in audio book and Spanish language editions. The second installment in the trilogy, “Chasing The Captain” was released this fall When his grandchildren asked to star in their own stories, he created the “Waterford Detective” stories for his grandson and published the popular “Juliette and the Mystery Bug” series, co-authored with his wife, Colleen, when his granddaughter wondered how kids could protect themselves during a pandemic. His forthcoming books include “Students In Time,”(September, 2021) a time travel adventure that parallels the 4th grade public

school history curriculum. Terry is also a prolific book narrator and audioartist, voicing 7 novels, along with dozens of commercials and promotional trailers. He hosts the popular Authors on the Air podcast, was a moderator and panelist at Bouchercon 2020 and is co-chair of the Sisters In Crime - Capitol Crimes Chapter’s 2021 Anthology project. He was an early social media adopter, authoring “Social Media and Your Personal Brand” in 2012. He has written over 400 motivational essays since 2004, the best of which were aggregated into three popular self-help books. Terry and Colleen live on the ocean in Jacksonville, Florida and are co-founders of “Down Syndrome Nation” a web resource for friends and families of persons with Down syndrome. Terry is a graduate of Michigan State University, has studied at both Harvard and Oxford and toured South America as a rock drummer in the summer of 1972.

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a diverse cast of heroes to inspire readers who lived similar lives to want to grow up to be like them. Chasing Vega introduces the core characters, Jess, Alexandra Clark and the ensemble of fascinating personalities that surround them. The response to Jessica’s pursuit of a serial killer with dark intentions encouraged me to pursue a trilogy. Chasing the Captain is the story of Jess’ pursuit of “the one that got away.” Readers told me after Captain that they wanted to see more of Jess working in her hometown, so the third book in the series, Chasing Karma takes place primarily in the fictional town of Paloma, Illinois. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? I’m constantly gut checking myself when I write female characters. It’s very important to me to make them believable and authentic. Thankfully, almost all my support team are women, and they make sure I get it right. Dialogue seems to be the easiest for me to write. I love being in the cast’s heads. They always take me to interesting places and sometimes the scene, and the plot go in directions I didn’t expect. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?

TerryShepherd.com Uncaged welcomes Terry Shepherd Welcome to Uncaged! Your recent release, Chasing the Captain is the second book in The Jessica Ramirez Thrillers series. Can you tell readers more about the book and the series? Jess is based on a real-life Latina cop who had to navigate some significant challenges as a trailblazing female and minority in what was then a male domain. I was drawn to the series as an opportunity to showcase

Ali is the most fun to write. She’s a computer forensics whiz and an adrenaline junky who could be making five times the income in the private sector. So, she’s fearless in dealing with the misogynists in her shop and is always running toward danger. Jess was hard to write at first, because her real-life counterpart compartmentalizes so well that I had trouble giving my protagonist the depth and complexity that makes a character interesting. During my research for Vega and Captain, I spent time with many amazing female cops. Police officers are people like the rest of us. They worry about their families and question their own judgement. Giving jess that humanity fleshed out her personality and Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | has made her a heroine others can identify with. How do you come up with the title to your books? I wanted to tag each with two memorable words that described both what the main appeal of the story is and introduces the antagonist instantly. Brief also Tweets well. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? I spent the summer of my junior year in high school touring with a band in South America. It taught me a lot about people and cured me of my desire to be a rock star. Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages? My books seem to emerge from a single scene. In Vega, the prologue at the rim of the Grand Canyon, where we meet the antagonist, came before I invented Jess. In Captain, Jessica’s witnessing of an execution was a short story at first, another attempt by her chief to demoralize her. It left a number of tantalizing questions I wanted to answer and became this world hoping popcorn thriller that was great fun to write. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? I have trouble slowing down. In addition to writing, I’m a book narrator, I host the Authors on the Air Vodcast and I do weekly guest shots as a disc jockey on two different radio stations. I have a technical background and still dabble in software and application design. I’ve learned multimedia production as part of promoting my books and that’s lead to a side hustle as a book trailer creator Relaxing for me is spending time with my beautiful wife of 42 years and our kids and grandkids. Writing has given me the flexibility to fully engage whenever they need me. After 45 years as a corpo30 | UncagedBooks.com

rate exec, it’s a slice of heaven. If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? Fall. I grew up in Michigan and fall is when all a farmer’s hard work the rest of the year pays off. The scenery is ablaze with color and the abundant harvest reminds me that of the power of discipline and resilliance. How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? The research takes the longest time. I’m focused on getting it right and once I bring someone, a business, or an agency into the story, I want to understand as much as I can about them. I set a minimum goal of a chapter a day. Some are longer. Some are shorter, depending on what’s happening in the story. I follow that with at least an hour of narration. That takes up most of the morning. However, if the muse is singing, I heed her call and sometimes will write late into the night if things are flowing. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I love all three. There’s always a book within reach wherever I am. I just finished Matt Coyle’s Last Deception and S. A. Cosby’ brilliant Blacktop Wasteland. I’m also a huge fan of Rachel Howzell Hall, Hallie Ephron and D.P. Lyle. Since I host an author interview program, I’ll consume between 75 and 100 books a year. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? Thank you for being my guiding light. I love engaging with readers and try to take Jess and crew in directions they suggest. I’m happiest in a collaborative relationship with an audience. When a young woman of color tells me she’s considering a law enforcement career after reading Jess and Ali, that makes my day. I’m on every major social platform. The best place to find everything is at TerryShepherd.com.

Enjoy an excerpt from Chasing the Captain Chasing the Captain Terry Shepherd Technothriller In Jessica Ramirez’s second outing, she’s once again a fish out of water, chasing the bad guy who got away. When forced to witness a questionable execution, Jess follows a tiny thread across the Atlantic, linking up with DI Liyanna Evans, a cop with London’s Metropolitan Police. The two quickly discover that their antagonist’s reach is both worldwide and deadly. Another delectable tale that blends technothriller with suspense and police procedural adventure, Chasing the Captain picks up where Chasing Vega left off, giving Jess the chance to find the answers she seeks, even if it endangers her life and career in the process. Excerpt “Damn, that hurt,” Jess muttered to herself. “Remind me never to fire an RSH-12 revolver with one hand ever again.” And what was wrong with her? Jumping onto a moving helicopter at the edge of a damn skyscraper? Jess’s mind was in full fear-of-heights terror. Dropping 557 feet with a rappelling rope felt like an elementary school playground compared to this insanity. But the man who ordered her father’s murder and the man who contributed to Vincent Culpado’s death were inside that cabin. Jess intended to make them pay.

| TERRY SHEPHERD | Her shooting hand was still numb but managed to slide the cannon back into her pants. She intertwined her arms and legs around the skid, holding on for dear life. It occurred to Jess at this moment that putting a bullet into the engine of the only thing keeping her from falling to her death might not have been the wisest move. She didn’t like the sounds of shattering metal and the black smoke that vomited out of the back of the enclosure. And what if the bad guys knew she was right below them? Jess was a sitting duck. One poor decision after another, Jess. When you make it personal, you make mistakes. As the terror swirled around Jess’s insides, the outside world snapped into focus and she beheld the sight below. London at night was a picture postcard on its worst days. A carpet of stars painted a ceiling above the city lights. The full moon cast the dark concrete silhouettes below into stark relief. It was breathtaking. Whatever building Jess had been in was perched on the edge of the Thames. She didn’t know enough of the city yet to pick out landmarks, except one. The London Eye was dead ahead. “Don’t call it a ‘Ferris wheel,’” Lee had warned her. “You’ll make the locals think you’re a tourist for sure.” The gargantuan trademark stopped taking passengers at 9pm. LED lighting covered its spokes in blinking dot matrix, painting pixilated scenes throughout the night that resolve into pictures at a distance. Jess could see a colorful depiction of the Union Jack as the aircraft approached it. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | They were losing altitude. Jess’s consciousness flipped back to survival mode. The distraction of the scenery vanished into what she tried to imagine were possible landing sights. Jess didn’t like any of the options. The uppermost gondola pods of the London Eye drew ever closer. There was some question in her mind if the chopper could clear them. Above the piercing whine of the turbines, she heard a door swinging open above her. Voices were yelling. “She’s here. She’s right below.” A fist appeared with an AK47 in it. The prop wash caught the shower of bullets, throwing them back behind Jess as she clung to the skid below. She knew the shooter would adjust for the slipstream the next time. An idea came to her, and Jess calculated the odds. They weren’t good, but she couldn’t think of anything else to do. The hand with the rifle appeared again, and Jess made her decision. A pod loomed large directly below. It was now or never. Jess unhooked her legs. A single appendage was all that separated her from a five hundred foot plunge to the unforgiving concrete below. Jess’s right hand gripped the landing skid. The cannon was in her left. The helio cleared the London Eye with ten feet to spare. Jess fired a single shot at one of the pod’s skylight windows. It shattered into a million safety glass shards that littered the floor of the gondola. Jess let go of the chopper and thought of her father.

32 | UncagedBooks.com

showcase Richard Sills

Christmas Story Christmas Story Richard Sills Holiday

“On the night before Christmas, there was not a sound, nothing moving or stirring, no noise all around.” So begins Christmas Story, a retelling of a well-known holiday narrative. While the children remain sleeping in their beds, it is the adult of this story who gets to witness the wonders of Christmas. Through sleigh rides and visits with Santa Claus himself, Christmas Story shows that holiday magic can be experienced by all ages.

About A classic holiday favorite retold as author writes a charming a version of “The Night Before Christmas”. Author Richard Sills draws from his experience as a former teacher of elementary classes in writing children’s books. In his book, “Christmas Story”, he retells the well-known holiday narrative “The Night Before Christmas” so both the young and adults can enjoy this classic tale. In this story, he lets the adults experience the Christmas magic. While the children remain sleeping in their beds, 36 | UncagedBooks.com

it is the adult who gets to witness the wonders of Christmas. He meets Santa Clause and goes on a ride on Santa’s sled while he delivers presents to children everywhere. He asks Santa about his presents and when he returns home, he wakes up his wife and joins his children. He finds his gift is that his wife is going to have a child. Through sleigh rides and visits with Santa Clause himself, this story shows that the holiday magic can be experienced by all ages.

Richard Sills is an educator, computer scientist, author and philanthropist. He is the founding sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Learning Center and the Reagan Hologram in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. He holds five patents in computer science. His poem, “Our Flag”, is on display in the Library.

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

inter Sloane is the alter ego of a single mother who loves reading and writing romances in her free time. She likes writing about possessive bad boys and the women who love them. Sign up for Winter’s newsletter to get all the latest news, updates and freebies on Winter’s bad boy releases <3 40 | UncagedBooks.com

Stay Connected

I love all my characters equally, so I don’t have a particular favorite. Characters struggling with depression are usually not easy for me to write as I tackled depression in the past. How do you come up with the title to your books?

wintersloane.com Uncaged Welcomes Winter Sloane Welcome to Uncaged! You just released, Indebted to the Bratva Boss in October and this is part of the Kotov Bratva series. Can you tell readers more about the series and the book? Indebted to the Bratva Boss is an enemies-to-lovers mafia romance book between a naive bookshop owner and a Bratva boss. When Marina is saddled with her father’s massive debt, she can only turn to one dangerous man for help—her ex-boyfriend Pavel. Trusting a criminal is risky but Marina has no other choice. The first two books in the series features two Bratva brothers who find the love of their lives in unlikely situations and places. Viktor and Pavel know they’re not good men. They don’t believe in love but the strong women they’re about to meet will soon change their minds. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? Fight scenes are usually difficult for me because they take require more planning, but nonetheless they’re fun and interesting to write. Date scenes are usually easy for me to write. I enjoy writing scenes where my characters have just met and are trying to get to know each other better. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?

Honestly, I’m not the best at coming up with titles but I usually try to make sure the title fits the story, so my readers know what to expect. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? Most of my books could be classified as dark romance but in real life I’m actually a very positive and cheerful person. Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages? For me, the characters always come first. I come up with up their back stories, their personalities and what they look like. Once that’s done, I’ll start working on the plot. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? I like to garden. My favorite plans are begonias and succulents. I also enjoy sketching (although I’m not very good at it) and taking long walks during my free time. If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? Autumn. It’s the perfect weather, not too warm or too cold. I’d like to sit in a quiet nook drinking chamomile tea while reading a good book. How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? I write two to four hours every day and it takes me Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | four to six weeks to finish a full novel. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I prefer a mix of ebooks and audiobooks. I’m currently reading Broken Vow by Sophie Lark and listening to The Hive audiobook by Gregg Olsen. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I would like to thank my fans for always supporting me. Without you guys, I wouldn’t be able to do keep doing what I love the most.

Enjoy an excerpt from Her Relentless Bratva Her Relentless Bratva Winter Sloane Organized Crime Thriller/ Romance Katya: Some people call me an ice princess. There’s a reason for that. I survived the massacre of my entire family. When the Kotov Bratva took me in, I swore I’d do anything for my daughter and my new family. Aleksander is off-limits. He’s also relentless, persuasive, and addictive. I lean into his touches and kisses even though I should be staying away. I’m a survivor. I don’t just open up my heart to anyone but with Aleksander it’s easy. If being with him is so wrong, then why does it feel so right? Aleksander: I know Katya Kotov inside and out. Under all that ice, lies a passionate and fiery woman I can’t wait to own and possess. I waited, hoping she’d find a better man, a decent man to settle with. But I’m not that generous. I’m a self42 | UncagedBooks.com

ish and possessive bastard. Katya’s mine to tame and I’d kill anyone that gets in the way. Excerpt “Why don’t you make yourself more comfortable and sit next to me?” he asked. “I’m fine here,” she said, returning to the armchair. “Why, scared I’ll bite?” Aleks teased. “Maybe you should avoid flirting with me when you’re injured,” she suggested. Aleks considered her words for a few moments. There and then, he came to a decision. They’d been dancing around each other for years. It was about time he changed that. Aleks didn’t pursue Katya not because he was worried about what Viktor and Pavel would do if they found out he wanted her for his own. She wasn’t a fling either. He wanted to own her, body, heart, and soul. If Katya found a normal, decent man who’d be able to take care of her and Anya, Aleks thought he’d be able to live with that. He was wrong. Aleks would kill any man who so much as looked at Katya wrong. “When I’m better, we’ll revisit this conversation,” Aleks said. He made it clear that wasn’t a question, but a statement. “Aleks—” she started, rising to her feet. He cut her off by grabbing her hand and yanking him close to him. Katya gasped, then ended up spilling on his lap. Aleks suppressed a wince, then wrapped his good arm around her waist, nudging her close. Her breasts touched his chest, and he nearly lost it. Aleks reined in what self-control he had left. If she showed any sign that she wasn’t into this, he’d released her. Katya widened her eyes but didn’t stop him when he closed his mouth over hers.

Fuck, but she tasted as sweet as she imagined. Like raspberries and just the hint of the wine she drank earlier. She slid her hands up his shoulders. When he pushed his tongue down her throat, she sucked down hard on it. Aleks slid his hands under her blouse, touching smooth and heated skin. He pushed past the wire of her bra to give her left nipple a squeeze. She let out a moan when he tore his mouth away from hers. The sound didn’t do his thickening dick any favors. “You better get off me right now or I’ll end up mauling you,” he said in a rough voice. “You don’t think I can handle you?” she asked. Challenge blazed in her sharp blue eyes.

Don’t miss this title:

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

showcase

Austin Freeze

The Infection

The Infection Austin Freeze Horror

When The Infection spreads, who will survive? Will there be a cure to end The Infection? Find out how people will face, struggle and battle against The Infection in this first book of author Austin Freeze’s horror trilogy. Join the intriguing characters and witness how they battle each day head on. Follow Samantha, a very young and capable girl surviving during this infectious time, and her caretakers Zach and Emilia. But with crazy cults and bloody terrible destruction, it’s hard to keep Samantha safe, especially since the cure hasn’t been made and probably will never be. Samantha also has her own tricks up her sleeve, especially since she is infected; but no one but her knows. Will she survive this infectious world and help find a cure or will this be a continuous amount of death and despair that everyone will have to go through? Read on to find out.

Excerpt Subject seems to be compliant with the testing, let’s continue with the copycat injection.” The room went silent as the subject was injected with the copycat drug, there was screaming from the subject and blood pouring out through the subject’s mouth. After the intense trial everyone 46 | UncagedBooks.com

went back to work as if nothing had just happened, but one scientist got up from his seat and walked over to where the subject had just been tested on. The man in the cage seemed to still be breathing steadily and didn’t show any signs of a dying state, but there was one thing that still needed to be tested. Experiment 717AB. Also referred to as the infection experiment. November 18th, 2012. The first sign of the infection, seventeen people already reported dead without any previous conditions. Nobody was prepared for this to be happening, there was no sign of an infection starting until people were already dead. Scientists worked as hard as possible since the start of this infection, but some of the scientists didn’t want to participate in curing the infection. They wanted to increase the danger of it. Dylan was one of the scientists that did not want to participate in the curing of this horrible infection, all he wanted to do was increase the likelihood of people dying. There was something about the smell of death and the lifeless bodies that really made Dylan feel good about what he was doing, yet there was always going to be the people who would try and stop him. “Creators”. Creators were a group of scientists that built their own private army within their lab, this army would barge into random research sites that were housing the terrible man killers and their research. When this army would go into the research sites their orders were to kill anything and everything that moves and by the time the army would exit the building. No one would be left breathing. Then there was the worst thing that anyone could possibly think about. Experiment 717AB. This experiment is what had started this mess in the first place and was also the experiment that was being performed by the rival research sites. What this experi-

ment did was something of a shock that this could be done, and a worldwide tragedy that it had been released. Dylan was the one to warn others about what this experiment actually and truly did since he wanted to make sure they knew that nothing could be done, he sent an envelope out to all the Creators research sites and told them what was happening and that there was no way to stop what the end goal was to be.

Austin Freeze’s love for writing goes back to when he was very young. His first love is horror/suspense, but he also likes to dabble in other genres. His current residence is outside of Austin, Texas, in the small sleepy town of Lockhart. Writing is something that he loves to do almost every day; now, whether it is horror or suspense is all up to chance. He hopes all will enjoy the book he has written because there’s more to come. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

Nerd Daily Guest Post Guest column by Paul Bahou

| GUEST COLUMN |

Nerd Daily Guest Post by Paul Bahou

People only get half of the story when it comes to being in a band. I’m not talking about cover-band, playing ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ for the five-thousandth time at the tail end of your third set, please tip your waitress, shout out to the drunk cougars in the front, type band experiences. No.

It’s this way regardless if you’re playing the one AM set on a Tuesday at a dive bar, or are at a music festival with bands you idolize, the melting of self into performance enraptures you. Its why people stick with it even when it no longer suits them, even when it’s the very thing holding them back.

I’m talking about writing and recording original music, arguing about who gets pushed higher in the mix, get the tub of merch in the van, driving to new cities just to play on an off night, shout out to the sound guy and the guitarist from the opener who loaned us his amp, type band experience. I’m talking about the less than glorious aspects of the rock and roll lifestyle of the yet to make it crowd: Hustling to get people into the door, nerding out over the obscure band you’re going to be opening up for and the unfiltered joy of finding the perfect tone. The band life can be rewarding and hit you with a level of satisfaction that gets you right in the soul… or maybe it’s just the oxy receptors in your brain. Regardless, few things top being immersed in music you had a hand in writing, while performing it in front of a crowd who reciprocates that energy. It’s in those moments that you hit a level of clarity in your life as the absoluteness of your dedication flowers: The thousands of hours in the practice room, the lost battle of the bands, the hopes hung on an A&R rep who never showed up… It all melts away in the show. Not all of them of course. Some are downright abysmal. No one wants to get up on stage in front of a room full of people when you’re battling the stomach flu, or your gear is breaking, or your dog just died, or the crowd just plain hates you. But sometimes… sometimes… it’s pure magic. 50 | UncagedBooks.com

Such is the story of Lazer, the protagonist in my debut novel Sunset Distortion. He plays guitar in a heavy metal cover-band at a dive bar on the sunset strip. He is so enmeshed in what it is to play music, that the rest of his life has fallen away from him. It’s a story about a man who is unabashedly all-in on the rock and roll lifestyle, despite what he’s lost along the way… but then on page five he gets abducted by space aliens and all bets are off. Sure, most people’s experiences with playing in a band don’t include space pirates, inter- dimensional brain leeches or cloned replicas of famed soviet cosmonaut Laika the dog, but the baseline experiences are all there: the joy, the agony… the hearing loss. But in the end what it really comes down to is the energy you get back from

| PAUL BAHOU | your connections forged in the moment. The kinetic exchange between artist and fan. Short of holding your baby in your arms for the first time, there’s nothing else quite like it. You’ve been a wonderful audience. Thanks for sticking around. Please tip your waitress. Buy my book and shout out to the cougars in the front.

PAUL BAHOU is the author of Sunset Distortion: The Pyramid at the End of the World. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Cal State University Long Beach with a minor in music. He began his career writing grants while playing in his rock band, eventually moving out of music and into the sustainability sector. He lives in Southern California with his wife Melissa, daughter Sophie and son Harrison. He writes fiction, music and the occasional dad joke in his spare time.

thenerddaily.com

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

feature authors

Mario Dell’Olio

non-fiction | historical

Guy Windsor

Fil Reid

MARIO DELL’OLIO

56 | UncagedBooks.com

Stay Co n n e c te d

What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? The most difficult scenes to write were those where my mother or father left family and friends behind, risking stability in hopes of a better life, a dream of the unknown. Reaching deeply into their struggles and fears, I tried to communicate the intensity of their experiences.

Welcome to Mario Dell’Olio Welcome to Uncaged! Could you tell readers more about Letters from Italy, your new book coming out in February? Letters From Italy is narrative nonfiction of a love story about my immigrant Italian parents. My mother and father were always storytellers. Framed by letters written from the 1930s to the 1950s, I recount the experiences of my parents who emigrated from southern Italy to New York City. Nicoletta was orphaned at a young age and her position in life changed dramatically. Her family struggled to make ends meet after the war and her dreams of higher educations were dashed. Orazio Dell’Olio was born into a poor family split between Italy and the United States. Half of his siblings grew up in New York, while he and three of his siblings remained in Italy. His dream of joining his family didn’t come to pass until he was twenty years old. Tales of their childhood in a little town on the Puglian coast beget images of a fishing village, families from different socio-economic classes, and of love born out of chance. Their romance began in 1950 when my uncle sent a photograph of his new fiancé to his parents in New York City. Orazio spotted an attractive young woman in the photo. What ensued was two years of correspondence. The letters he received from Italy were his lifeline. Eventually they led to their first encounter in the town of Bisceglie, Bari. Married nearly sixty years at the time of my father’s death, theirs was a love story like no other I have known.

The easiest parts to write were scenes that described their longing for each other, their two-year courtship through expressive love-letters. One of my favorite chapters was when they finally meet. The connection between Nicoletta and Orazio is palpable. There was such adoration and heart-felt emotion in their first encounter. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about? I loved writing about my mother as a little girl. She came alive to me in her insecurities, her growing pains, and her dreams for her future. She was a delightful child whose privileged life was abruptly transformed by the death of her parents. Despite all of her woes, her maintained an optimistic and hopeful attitude. She always believed in happy endings. I found it difficult to write about two uncles who took advantage of my parents’ generosity and their trust. Because of that, I didn’t like them very much, and it was painful to spend so much time with them in the story. \How do you come up with the title to your books? The title was a natural choice. My mother always told me about their love letters from Italy. I remember seeing them when I was a child—carefully stored in my mother’s nightstand. Some had colorful roses on the stationary, others were worn from repeated readings. When my father passed, she discovered the letters she wrote to him from Italy. I knew that had to be the title. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR |

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? My husband and I nearly lost our lives on two occasions during a harrowing sailing expedition across the ocean. We hung off a dinghy in shark infested waters for hours. Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages? For me, the characters always come first. Although I have a general idea of the plot, the characters lead the way through the story. It’s almost as if they are telling me what to write. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? I love to cook, especially various pasta sauces. Growing up with immigrant Italian parents, our 58 | UncagedBooks.com

kitchen was from southern Italy. I now search for cuisine from all the regions of Italy. Pasta is my favorite Italian food—when it’s done right! I also love to grow vegetables and herbs in my garden. If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? It would have to be summer. That’s when I can grow fresh vegetables and cook items from my very own garden. I also love the warm summer sun. How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? Since I’m a school teacher, I do most of my writing during summer break. I write four or five hours each morning. Early morning is the most creative time of the day for me. I generally complete a first draft in four or five weeks. Of course, there are many drafts after the first. But in general, I can have a book finished in nine

months. Letters from Italy took much longer to write because of the scope of the project. I had to interview my mother and translate all their letters. All told, it took three years to write. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I prefer physical books. I love the feel of them in my hands and I like to flip back to parts I may have forgotten. That is difficult to do with ebooks. However, I always have a number of ebooks on my phone so that I’m never without a book. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I’m a storyteller. I love to tell of characters who doubt themselves, fall down and get back up again. In whatever context the novel is written, my characters end up discovering more about who they are and what they believe in. I’ve written a memoir as well as fiction. My writing is eclectic and always entertaining. I’m a musician, singer, and choir director. You can find my music on YouTube and follow me on Twitter as well.

Enjoy an excerpt from Letters from Italy Letters from Italy Mario Dell’Olio Non-fiction/Biographical Releases Feb. 24 Letters from Italy is a story of true love that spans an ocean. Against all odds, an orphaned girl and a young dreamer find solace in a romance sparked by a single photo and years of transatlantic letters. From a tiny Italian town in pre-WWII to New York City in her golden age, hopeful immigrants take a chance at living the American dream. Set on the Puglian coast, a world comes alive with images of a fishing village, families from

| MARIO DELL’OLIO | different socio-economic classes, and a love born out of chance. When they finally meet, Nicoletta and Orazio know they are destined to be together. Framed by the letters they wrote to each other, Letters from Italy takes us on a passage back through time with a romantic young couple whose devotion to one another prompted a bold journey in a foreign land. Excerpt Chapter Eighteen The Encounter Bisceglie, Province of Bari, Italy 1951 Given their long-anticipated encounter, Orazio and Nicoletta decided that if their feelings were as strong upon meeting as they were in their letters, they would marry; if not, they would part friends. There was a great deal resting on their first meeting. Orazio, though confident in his love for Nicoletta, was extremely anxious. With a chiseled jawline and a thick mane of black hair, Orazio was a handsome man but didn’t realize it. All he could see was a man, short in stature, who had always endured his brother’s jokes. He had worked hard, and his determination had brought some measure of success. He hoped Nicoletta would see how deeply he wanted to take care of her and provide her with the best life he possibly could. Through their letters, he could tell she was more educated than he, and although Orazio felt intimidated after reading those first letters, he opened his heart to her. In return, Nicoletta expressed her profound desire to be with him. The photo that had brought them together showed her beauty, but those letters from Italy revealed her heart. He was confident that they were meant to be together forever. The train ride from Paris seemed to take forever, but he was on his way to Bisceglie. Orazio had traveled by ship from New York to France, and he Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | had been on the train for over twenty-one hours. Thankfully, he was finally in the province of Bari. The train had passed Foggia and Barletta over an hour before, and he realized he was almost there. Orazio was getting antsy as the train reduced its speed; he knew Bisceglie was the next station. When the train slowed to a stop, he left Gino sound asleep, grabbed his suitcase, and jumped off. There had been no announcement, but he didn’t think twice about it. Orazio was in Bisceglie at last! Orazio gathered his luggage alongside the train and looked around. It was a chilly November morning, and the sun had not yet risen. He had been away from Bisceglie for four years and was trying to get his bearings. As the train pulled away, he realized they had not reached the train station. He was at least a mile outside the city center. Olive groves flanked both sides of the street, and there was no one in sight at that hour. What could he do now? How was he going to get to Bisceglie with all his luggage in tow? He gathered all his bags and hobbled down the road toward the city. It was slow going, and his arms ached from the weight of his burden. Piercing the silence, he heard the clip-clop of a horse-drawn cart in the distance. It was carrying milk from the farms and heading into town. He turned and waved as it approached him. The driver slowed down to a crawl. “What are you doing out here by yourself at this hour?” he asked. “I have been traveling for days from America. I was so excited to see my fiancée that I hopped off the train too early.” “Poor young lover! Then you must get to her as quickly as you can. I can drive you as far as the Palazzolo (the main square of the town).” “That is perfect! My brother Carlo lives right near there.” The driver stepped down and helped Orazio hoist his luggage onto the back of the cart. Orazio could not have been more grateful as he climbed aboard and told his love story. By the time they arrived at the piazza, his new friend had bid him farewell with a warm embrace. “Buona fortuna, Orazio!” 60 | UncagedBooks.com

he exclaimed with a big smile. He looked around to gain his bearings. Finding his way, he lugged his bags to Carlo’s apartment. Although he wanted to go directly to Niocoletta’s house, he knew Carlo should accompany him on his first visit with her family. It would have been improper to show up alone, especially at this hour. Carlo opened the door with a broad smile on his face. “Orazio, finalmente sei arrivato!” he exclaimed. Orazio had finally arrived, and with one arm holding a baby, Carlo grabbed him by the back of his head and pulled him in for a hearty embrace. In moments, Orazio had little Francesca in his arms. Carlo’s firstborn was less than a year old and giggled with glee as he bounced her up and down. “We have to go now, Carlo. Please come with me to Nicoletta’s house. I can’t wait to see her!” “Are you crazy, Orazio? It’s much too early. You can’t show up at this hour; you’ll wake the whole house up!” Carlo tried to reason with him, but Orazio was like a schoolboy. He couldn’t wait one more minute to meet the love of his life. “Carlo, please, I have been waiting for two years already. What does it matter if I wake them all up? I need to meet my fiancée now,” he pleaded. “Okay, okay, Orazio. Who am I to stand in the way of true love?” Carlo said sarcastically. “Just give me a minute to get dressed. Do you want an espresso before we go?” “No, no, I just want to be on our way as quickly as we can, Carlo. Please hurry.” It was only 6:00 a.m. when they arrived. With Francesca still in his arms, he knocked gently on the door, but no one seemed to stir. Maybe Carlo was right. What will they think of him waking them all up at this hour? he thought. But his excitement won out over his hesitation. He knocked again with more authority, and he heard a woman’s voice, cautiously asked, “Chi é?” Who is it? He was sure that he had woken her up. How could he be so foolish? He should have waited at his brother’s house until it was a reasonable hour. He could have had breakfast and washed up a bit before coming to see Nicoletta. But he was so excited that he wasn’t thinking straight. He just knew that he had to see her

| MARIO DELL’OLIO | as soon as possible. “Sono Orazio dal’America.” It’s Orazio from America. “I just arrived moments ago,” he replied. “Si, si, Orazio. Just a moment, I will be right there,” Antonietta yelled out as she grabbed her house dress, slipped it on and headed to the door. She poked her head into Nicoletta’s bedroom and said, “Nicoletta, wake up! Orazio is here.” “What? He can’t be. It’s much too early,” she said with a combination of fear and excitement. “Quickly, Nicoletta! Fix your hair while I let him in,” Antonietta instructed. “I look terrible! I can’t let him see me like this.” “You’ve been waiting for two years, cara. What does it matter that you have sleep in your eyes? You have love in your heart! Hurry, now.” Piero opened the door before Antonietta got there. He greeted Orazio and Carlo with a warm embrace. Orazio was still carrying Francesca. Everything was happening so quickly, and Nicoletta was still trying to shake her mind from her slumber. She would have liked to run a brush through her hair, but there was no time. She could hear him coming her way, so she pinched her cheeks to make them red and ran her fingers through her hair. I can’t believe he’s here at last! I hope he thinks I’m pretty, she thought. As excited as she was, Nicoletta could not bring herself to get out of the bed. She sat up in bed and quietly listened through the door. “Orazio, I am Antonietta. It is wonderful to meet you; I have heard so much about you from Nicoletta.” He reached out and kissed her on both cheeks and said, “I am so happy to meet you after all this time, Antonietta. Nicoletta always speaks of you with such love and admiration. I am so sorry to have come so early in the morning, but to be honest, I just couldn’t wait to meet her. I hope you understand.” Nicoletta blushed at his words as she listened intently. “Please, no need to apologize. We will be a family soon. Go, go see her. She is still sleeping,” she said as she pointed toward her door. Nicoletta straightened the covers just as the door opened; there he was, in the flesh, carrying a beautiful baby in his arms. The image of him with a baby of their own flashed in her mind. Her heart was bursting.

He was more handsome in person than in his photos. He crossed the room in three steps and leaned down. Their first kiss was pure and chaste but full of untapped passion. Antonietta stood at the door and smiled, while Carlo and Piero chatted amiably just beyond. Antonietta placed her hand on her heart, and her eyes filled with tears. This is what it must feel like to be a mother, she thought as she looked on with joy. She stayed in the room with them since they had not yet married. It would have been improper for them to be alone, especially at their first meeting. Orazio sat on the bed beside Nicoletta. There was so much he wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come. The eloquence of their letters rendered them mute in person, so they made small talk. “You look beautiful, Nicoletta. I can’t believe that I am actually here with you.” “Oh, Orazio, I look terrible! I didn’t even get to fix my hair.” “Not to me, my love. At this moment, you are the most beautiful girl in the world.” She felt herself blush, and was grateful he didn’t notice in the darkened room. “How was your trip? Your train ride from France must have been difficult.” “It was arduous—never-ending, and then I got off the train miles from the station. I had to walk until I found a ride. I felt so foolish, but I just couldn’t wait to see you.” “Oh, Orazio,” she chuckled, “you must have been a sight walking down the road with all your luggage. I am glad you are finally here.” They chatted for a bit longer and made plans to see each other later in the day. He kissed her again, and little Francesca let out a squeal. They both laughed, and Orazio left her room to let her dress. He handed the baby off to Carlo and extended his hand to Piero, Nicoletta’s brother. “Buon giorno, Piero. I am sorry that we arrived so early this morning. I could not wait to see your sister.” “No need to worry, Orazio. Who can argue with true love?” Piero said with a wry smile. “It is nice to meet you finally—Nicoletta has been pining Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

over you for months. Let’s spend some time together during your visit. I am eager to get to know this American who stole my little sister’s heart!” “Of course, Piero. Nicoletta wrote how important you are to her, that you are father, mother, and brother to her.” “And she means the world to me as well.” The next few days were a whirlwind. The happy couple couldn’t get enough of each other as they made the rounds in their little town of Bisceglie. Nicoletta brought Orazio to meet everyone in her family, and he did the same for his. One day, Nicoletta was a single young woman writing to a man she had never met; then next, she was indeed in love. It was a dream come true. Every moment spent together buzzed with energy. Neither could hardly believe the intensity of their feelings for each other. When he wrote to tell her he was making the journey to Italy, they had decided that if their love for each other was as profound in person as it was in their written word, they would marry. Given their exuberance during their first week together, they didn’t delay. They set a date for their wedding just after Christmas—only four weeks later. The weeks leading up to their wedding also brought unexpected misunderstandings. As much as they shared during the two years they wrote to each other, Nicoletta and Orazio were just getting to know one another. The prose of their letters was heartfelt and filled with love and dreams for their future. However, tending to the ordinary difficulties of daily life and family dynamics was not nearly as romantic. Orazio had arrived on December 5, 1952, the day before the feast of St. Nicolas. In Italy, it was customary to celebrate each person’s name day just as if it was a birthday. Since they named Nicoletta for St. Nicolas, she couldn’t wait for Orazio to surprise her with the traditional bouquet of flowers. Similar to the tradition of Valentine’s Day in the U.S., Nicoletta was thrilled to have a man in her life who would celebrate her as his sweetheart. But when Orazio visited her that day, he 62 | UncagedBooks.com

was empty-handed. There was no mention of her feast day when he kissed her hello. Nicoletta hid her disappointment as best she could. Perhaps he forgot, she thought. As the day wore on with many visits to relatives, each of them wished her Buon Onomastico, Happy Name Day. And even with these constant reminders, Orazio made no mention of it. Still, Nicoletta remained hopeful. Surely he would surprise her with something later in the day. Orazio knew what the custom was, but thought it was old-fashioned. We don’t celebrate name days in America. What a silly tradition, he thought. Being new to romantic relationships, his insensitivity to her feelings never occurred to him. He chose not to bring Nicoletta flowers and didn’t think twice about it. Unfortunately, he didn’t explain that to her, so she wondered why not. Orazio is so thoughtful and kind. But the flowers never came. Nicoletta put her hurt feelings aside, though never out of her mind. She was just getting to know him in person. She didn’t want to seem needy or insecure, so she said nothing to him. During his first visit back, Orazio saw his little town with open eyes. The big city sophistication of New York shone brightly in contrast to the old world he left. He had no desire to be drawn back into outdated customs. Although his apartment and job back in the States were not much to brag about, the wealth of postwar New York surrounded him. Broadway, Wall Street, Macy’s, and Gimbels overshadowed all he had known in Bisceglie. He was in the land of opportunity where one needed only to work hard to achieve his goal. An ambitious young man, Orazio understood that the world was his oyster in New York City. He would never return to his hometown as anything but a visitor. He was an American now. Many years later, after many years of marriage, Nicoletta told Orazio of her hurt feelings. A man of very few words, he explained his reasoning. As sensitive as Orazio was, he had no clue that he had hurt her feelings and was astonished that she had not forgotten his transgression. “Nicoletta, I didn’t know,” he simply said. Then he pulled her in for a kiss.

KEN HARRIS & Chalupa Batman This is one of my favorite pictures of myself and Chalupa Batman. He tagged along when I had some photos taken for my book jacket. Funny how my anxiety disappeared with him hanging around.

TERRY SHEPHERD & Tanna

MARIO DELL’OLIO & Petie My writing partner is a 15 year old cocker spaniel named Petie. He sits by my side as I write and makes sure I take lots of breaks to let him out. Of course, he does so not necessarily because he has to go, but because he knows a biscuit awaits him upon his return. Petie loves to snuggle and demands attention. When I wrestle with a chapter or storyline, he’s the perfect distraction.

FIL REID & Nancy & Bella

Colleen and I have been dog people for most of our married lives. When the kids were at home, we had two Yorkies. The younger one, “Tanna,” was my wife’s constant companion during a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. She’s a ten-year survivor and our baby played a huge role in her healing. When we lost her at the age of 14, it was a blow that we’ve never totally recovered from. We are between dogs now but babysit “Nilla Belle” our grand puppy whenever we can. She’s just a mile away and is a constant reminder of the meaning of unconditional love.

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At the moment, only one dog and one cat call us theirs, but we’re a family who have always been owned by pets of some sort, often in large numbers. But now we live on a boat, two is fine. So we share our home with 14-year-old Nancy, our French cat, and Bella the dog, aka Mistress Barksalot, who’s three and from Romania. As an only dog, Bella is undeniably spoilt and gets to sleep on our bed, mostly jammed between us so we only get a narrow strip each. Somehow, she also seems to get all the covers. She loves living on a boat, and her favourite spot is lying on the back of one of the sofas from where she can

A U T H O RS A N D T H E I R P E TS Pets and companions come in many shapes and sizes. From furry to feathered to hairy and scaley - there is a place for all of them. Authors have a special relationship with their pets - whether they remind them to get up and take a break or they inspire their writing. Meet the critters that share their love and devotion to Uncaged Feature Authors.

keep an eye on the ducks and swans on the water side of the boat, and vociferously police anyone who has the temerity to pass the windows on the landward side. Her absolute favourite pastime is chasing squirrels – she even tries to climb trees after them, and failing that does hopeful leaps into the air in case she’s gained the power of flight since the last time she tried. Nancy, who’s a bit of a disapproving dowager duchess, tolerates Bella, the frivolous young debutante of our household. Her favourite spot is my knees – either jamming herself on them under the desk, or on my lap at nights, preventing me from sewing or knitting. If I do try to knit, I end up with soggy wool where unbeknownst to me she’s been sneakily chewing it. We love them dearly, like surrogate children, and wouldn’t be without them. A house without a dog or cat is an empty house.

TAMARAH HUGHES & Sabbia, Mabel & Oscar We have three cats in our household right now. Both of my daughters have a cat, and then we have a family cat. Sabbia was two years old when my oldest daughter adopted her. Sabbia is an anxious girl who loves to climb and follow everyone into the bathroom for pets. Poor baby takes antianxiety meds every day, but she’s doing pretty well these days. A year ago, Mabel was found in a field with a badly broken tail and a severe respiratory infection. Her tail had to be amputated, but she recovered and was taken in by my youngest Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

daughter. Mabel is super fluffy and soft and enjoys knocking everything she can off tables. Mabel also gets bored a lot and frequently gets after the other two cats for entertainment. Oscar is a tuxedo cat. He’s thirteen years old now, and does a lot of sleeping these days, although he goes outside whenever he can. He’s a calm, sweet boy.

CYRENE & Riley

ZACHARY STEELE & Winnie

For the past year, I’ve watched shelters, casually looking for a new dog to join the family. I was pretty set in what I was looking for, I wanted a medium sized dog, that was in the herding group, like Australian Shepherd, Healer, Border Collie, etc. Although I saw many that were in that category, I just didn’t see the one that spoke to me. And then there was this guy, at the time, named Colt, and was a shelter close by, and I knew I had to meet him.

My cat Winnie is a rescue. I got her the day before Valentine’s Day, one month before the pandemic started. It was a little more than six months since my previous cat, Maggie, died from cancer after 13 years with me, so the grief was still strong. But it was time and I knew the moment I saw her picture on the rescue’s Facebook page that she was coming home with me. Winnie is a lovable fussbucket, difficult and demanding, but always nearby. She is the epitome of catness and I love her dearly.

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He was brought in from a rescue in Arkansas, and sent to a Kentucky rescue who shipped dogs up north to help find them homes, since most of the shelters were high kill. Riley was found chained outside, no food or water and emaciated and covered with dry feces. They cleaned him up, treated him and shipped him up north. He’s 10 months old, and believed to be Catahoula Leopard and Border Collie mix. I’m leaning toward a higher percentage of Border. We took Ziva, and went and met Riley. It went very well, and we brought him home. He’s been here a month now, and is smart, energetic and has worked out well here. I will take him to obedience and agility classes when the weather improves.

GUY WINDSOR

r. Guy Windsor is a world-renowned instructor and a pioneering researcher of medieval and renaissance martial arts. He has been teaching the Art of Arms fulltime since founding The School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki, Finland, in 2001. His day job is finding and analysing historical swordsmanship treatises, figuring out the systems they represent, creating a syllabus from 68 the treatises for his students to train with, | UncagedBooks.com

and teaching the system to his students all over the world. Guy is the author of numerous classic books about the art of swordsmanship and has consulted on swordfighting game design and stage combat. He developed the card game, Audatia, based on Fiore dei Liberi’s Art of Arms, his primary field of study. In 2018 Edinburgh University awarded him a PhD by Research Publications for his work recreating historical combat systems. When not studying medieval and renaissance swordsmanship or writing books Guy can be found in his shed woodworking or spending time with his family.

Stay Co n n e c te d swordschool.com Uncaged welcomes Guy Windsor Welcome to Uncaged! Your book, The Windsor Method is a self-help guide to solo training, can you tell readers why you wrote this book and what do you hope readers get out of it? Thanks for having me, nice to be here. When lockdown hit my global swordsmanship community the skills of solo training became really important. It’s always been the case that martial artists (or indeed any kind of artist) need to spend time doing various kinds of solo practice, but it’s easy to overlook it when you have training partners to play with. Lockdown exposed a common weakness in the training of most historical martial artists: they didn’t know how to keep improving when they had no access to their regular classes. I already had an online course on the subject, so I made that available at a 95% discount (because money was very tight for most people at the time). That’s great for the specifics of sword handling drills, breathing exercises, and so on. But the underlying principles, the theoretical architecture for a successful practice, is better presented in book form. The message of the book is simple: find out what works for you, and do that. Of course, I go into the specifics of

how to find out what works, and how to incorporate it into your life. Surprisingly for most people who come across it, it’s not a sword fighting book at all: it’s about building a robust foundation of mental health and physical health, upon which you can build whatever artistic or martial skills you desire. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? I’m a baby whisperer. Seriously, hand me a crying newborn and I can usually feel what’s upsetting them and do something about it in seconds. It’s usually one of five things: they’re tired, bored, hungry, dirty, or sick. So, soothe them, play with them, feed them, clean them, or take them to the doctor (unless you know what’s wrong and can handle it). Sometimes, you’ll just need to hold them while they cry for an hour or two. Usually though, they just need to feel that everything’s going to be ok, which they get from your calm, confident, demeanour (whether you’re actually calm and confident or not. Fake it as necessary, just try to keep your heart rate low). What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? Other than holding babies? I’m a keen woodworker, mostly with hand tools. I really like sharp steel, I guess. I’m also currently learning to fly a light aircraft. This is not at all relaxing, but it’s astonishingly fabulous. If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? Summer. Ironically, given that I lived in Finland for about 18 years, and consider Helsinki my home town, I much prefer a long hot summer. Even though I’ll spend the whole of it in the shade because I melt in direct sunlight. I would guess it’s because I lived in Botswana and Peru, while going to boarding school in the UK. Going home three Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | times a year meant going somewhere hot, so I just feel better when it’s summer. How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? This really depends. When I’m on a writing roll, I might spend four hours a day writing. But I often spend a month or more between books, or resting a book. To be honest I find the focus on ‘writing time’ to be misleading. Producing a book includes writing the first draft (which for me is the fun bit), but also editing it, writing the second draft, working with the professional editor, etc. My rule is that every day I push one major project (often a book, sometimes an online course, or something else entirely) one significant step forwards. On a stellar first draft day, that might mean adding 6k words. On a bad day, that might be just contacting my cover designer or layout designer and asking for a quote. Or editing a single paragraph. It all counts. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical

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books? Are you reading anything now? Physical books, all the way. I just can’t get on with ebooks at all, and while I do listen to podcasts (especially when woodworking), I’ve never sat and listened to an audiobook all the way through. Though I have produced a couple. I’m currently reading Sebastien de Castell’s Tales of the Greatcoats for fun, and Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying by Wolfgang Langewiesche, to understand how planes fly. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? Perhaps the best place to start would be my website swordschool.com, which has a ton of resources for anyone interested in swords and how they work. I don’t generally do social media in person, but I’m available to my readers and students through my mailing list which you can sign up for at swordschool.com.

| GUY WINDSOR |

Enjoy an excerpt from The Windsor Method The Windsor Method Guy Windsor Martial Arts The secret behind all great artists is how they practice. The Windsor Method: The Principles of Solo Training is the selfhelp book for people who want to add years to their life and life to their years.In this refreshingly straight-forward and gentle guide, bestselling author and world-renowned historical swordsmanship instructor Dr. Guy Windsor lays out the fundamental principles behind personal development and excellence in any field. How? By establishing a solid foundation, and a step-bystep approach to mechanics and training. This is The Windsor Method: use it to guide your practice and elevate your skills. Excerpt I am a swordsman, but this is not a sword fighting book. To excel in any art, including swordsmanship, we need a solid foundation of mental and physical fitness. Swords are cool. They are the shiny hook that pulled me off the sofa and into an active life. But they can also be a distraction that pulls us away from building our foundation. I have been training in martial arts of one sort or another for nearly forty years. In 1994, I co-founded one of the first historical fencing clubs in the world. In 2001 I founded my own school, and have been researching, training, and teaching swordsmanship for a living ever since. Through all these years, I have spent most of my personal training time on solo training. Even when I’m in a room full of people and swords and could do other things. If I neglect the real fundamentals, something will break.

Soon after the pandemic of 2020 began, my student Wout contacted me for some advice. For reasons unconnected with training or the pandemic, his right lung had collapsed. The doctors re-inflated it, but he was strictly banned from exercise for six weeks. He used some of my breathing training to help him cope with pain in the hospital, which the doctors encouraged him to continue. But other than that, what should he do? What kind of training is possible when all you’re allowed to do is sit around the house? I suggested meditation. If you can’t move at all, you can still build your ability to focus, expand your inner horizons, and improve your state of mind. If you are able to moderate your breath, you can practise breathing more efficiently. Breath is the only unconscious process that is easily made conscious. It acts as a bridge between your will and your automatic responses, allowing you some control over stress and your level of neurological and hormonal stimulation. Some breathing exercises require movement, but many don’t. We can adapt those that do; one of my students has his elderly mother doing variations on my breathing exercises while sitting in a chair. I’m told she loves them! If you can move your body and have a little bit of space to move in, you can work on strength, range of motion, and cardiovascular fitness. You can also look after your joints. This is why you’ll find me at the back of the plane on long-haul flights doing squats, push-ups, and stretches. Yes, I get funny looks, but one advantage of being a professional swordsman in the 21st century is that nobody reasonably expects me to behave like a normal person. Add a stick and a bit more space (neither of which are usually available on aeroplanes) and you can practice footwork, and putting your sword where you want it to go. Point control, cutting practice, power generation, and most sword handling drills just need a stick of the right length. Sure, it’s more fun to use a proper sword, but this way you get to work your imagination too, which allows you to practise your control of measure and timing against your imaginary training partners. ImagiIssue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | nary partners have many limitations but they have two huge advantages over real ones: they are always available, and you don’t have to worry about their safety. Add a sword or other bladed weapon and you can train a broader range of handling drills; if you’re using sharps, you can do actual cutting practice, slicing through targets to improve your edge alignment. With one real-life training partner, you can practise all the techniques and pair drills. Add some protective equipment and you can practise coaching drills, do free-fencing, and — most importantly — get pushed a little outside your comfort zone, without having to do the pushing yourself. With multiple real-life training partners, you can experience a broader range of responses to the stimuli you provide. You may find that not everyone falls for your best moves, the ones that always worked when you just had one other person to practise with. With an instructor, you get a more carefully constructed training environment, one that is designed to keep you practising in that sweet spot between “it’s too hard, it’s frustrating”, and “it’s too easy, it’s boring”. If the instructor is doing their job properly you will grow apace in the Art. But sooner or later you will come across a limitation in yourself that requires something other than pair practice. Maybe your sword isn’t going quite where you want it to, and you need to practise point control in a simpler environment for a while. Perhaps your hamstrings are too short for you to lunge fully so you need to work on your range of motion. Or maybe you get stressed and flustered in competitive environments, and need to learn ways to calm down and mentally prepare. A very common problem that even high-level competitors experience is that their mental approach is not up to the task. Most of the best do some form of meditation to deal with that. The tools of solo training are clearly essential for all martial artists, regardless of whether they have access to coaches, training partners, and opponents. Often the best solution to a training problem 72 | UncagedBooks.com

is one from your solo training repertoire. In this book we will cover the principles of solo training, from meditation through to sword practice. If you practise an unarmed art, or a differently armed art, then these principles apply there too. I have organised this book in the order of constraints, starting with what you can do when all you have is your mind, and progressing from there. I have tried to avoid describing specific exercises, because they tend to be applicable to only some people, and some arts, and the goal of this book is to be useful to all martial artists. If you want specifics, you can find a list of resources, including other books and online courses, at the back of this book. And I’m happy to report that Wout has recovered from his collapsed lung, is fighting fit, training with me regularly, and is still meditating. It’s impossible to measure exactly how it contributed to his recovery, but at the very least it gave him a sense of agency at a very difficult time.

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Collection of Short Stories and Essays – Of Humans and Animals Collection of Short Stories and Essays – Of Humans and Animals Enjoy thirty short stories and essays, which were written between 2016 and 2020, in Collection of Short Stories and Essays – Of Humans and Animals. It is a quirky collection of life’s experiences interjected with honest yet playful sexual overtones and perceptions about love and attraction. Some of them are true stories, while others are purely fictional. They portray current contemporary life. The theme of man/woman relationships appears often in the collection, as well as the feelings of children and animals. The characters described here are taken from real life but their names have been changed. It is up to the reader to determine what is fiction and what is real. The personal pronoun does not always depict that it is a true story. It is used for emphasis. The images in this book are all the author’s drawings and paintings.

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The Girl from Cairo – A Memoir The Girl from CairoA Memoir Follow The Girl from Cairo – A Memoir throughout her journey of challenging the norms of a society different from hers in this compelling memoir that unveils the author’s life in Egypt, Canada and the United States between 1940 and 1963. It is an autobiography of an Armenian girl who grew up in a suburb of Cairo. It is a story depicting the difficulty of growing up in a different culture, where one’s ideals or beliefs are contradicting to majority of the population. Readers will witness the author’s resilience as she pushes head on and survives the diverse situations she finds herself in. Her unwavering spirit is a testament of her strength as a young woman in this challenging era.

Of Julia and Men

Of Julia and Men Meet Julia, a young Middle Eastern woman, and her men in Of Julia and Men. After a failed first marriage, she is engaged to a Swiss banker, and accidentally runs into an old flame whom she had met during a year-end trip to Morocco. A seething love affair ensues and she is torn between her love for the two men who both want to marry her. Julia’s exhaustive double life goes on for a few months until an unexpected event complicates her dilemma and, in desperation, she turns to her first husband, whom she happens to meet on a trip up the Nile River. Immerse in an intriguing tale of love, passion and forgiveness which starts in 1950’s Egypt and takes twists and turns through Morocco and 1960’s Europe, with a surprise ending in the United States.

Of Armenian origin, Peggy Hinaekian, was born and raised in Egypt. She owes her love of books to her grandfather who owned the largest private library in Egypt. A recipient of a Five-Star Review from Readers’ Favorite, for her Collection of Short Stories and Essays – Of Humans and Animals, she is an internationally recognized artist and author who lives and works in the U.S. and Switzerland. Several of her short stories have appeared in anthologies of the San Diego Writers and Editors Group. Her novel, Of Julia and Men, appeared in the New York Times Book Review Magazine. She designed the cover illustration, plus 26 interior images. In 2020, her life as an author and as an artist was featured on Living Your Dreams (Mara Brown) airing on Los Angeles T.V. During the same year, she won an award from The Writers Workshop in Asheville, N.C., for a 5000-word memoir, describing her life in Egypt in the 1940s and 1950s. Her lengthier memoir, The Girl from Cairo – A Memoir, covers the years between 1940 to 1963. All books may also be purchased by contacting the author’s website. peggyhinaekian.com Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

FIL REID

il, who’s from Southern England, has always loved horses. She’s worked with them and owned them for much of her life. Consequently, she likes to include horses in all her books, which is handy as her favourite thing to write about is the Dark Ages, when horses were essential.

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When she’s not writing she’s researching, because she loves to learn new things, and she’s

taught herself both Latin and Greek, and is now embarking on learning Brythonic Celtic – for reasons of research, of course.

Stay Co n n e c te d

filreid.com Uncaged welcomes Fil Reid Welcome to Uncaged! Your first book in a series, Guinevere: The Dragon Ring, will release in January. Can you tell readers more about this series? Is this your debut novel? Thank you very much for asking me to talk to you. I’m very excited about your invitation. This will be my first published novel. It stems from an experience I had about twenty years ago. My husband and I visited Glastonbury Tor where he took four photos from a distance on motor drive with infrared film loaded in his camera. In those days he had his own dark room, so when we arrived home he developed the film straightaway. And what a shock we got when we looked at the negatives. In the first photo the ruined church tower is there on the summit of the Tor, in the second it’s fading, in the third it’s totally vanished, and in the fourth it’s back. This made me wonder if we’d had a glimpse into the past, just for an infinitesimally small moment in time, back to when no tower sat on top of the Tor. And I wondered what would have happened had we been inside the tower when it vanished. I’d always wanted to write an Arthurian novel from the point of view of Guinevere, and much later, with my children all grown up, I put finger to keyboard and these books were born.

21st-century librarian, Gwen, is the daughter of an obsessive Arthurian scholar who named her and her twin brother after Arthur and Guinevere. When she goes to fulfill her late father’s wishes by scattering his ashes on top of the Tor, she finds a dragon ring inside the ruined tower. Touching it snatches her back in time to the Dark Ages to become the woman she’s named after – King Arthur’s legendary queen, Guinevere. So she’s a conundrum herself, a classic ‘which came first – the chicken or the egg?’. There’s an element of magic in my books but I try not to make it overbearing. It’s magic that brings Gwen back to the end of the fifth century, and magic that gives her a perfect understanding of both Brythonic Celtic and Latin, but apart from that the world she finds herself in is basic and primitive. And very dangerous. Not just from the terrain – a lot of perilous marshland where she could drown and forests full of wolves and brigands, but from hostile villagers thinking she’s a bog spirit or Saxon spy, and from Merlin himself, who informs her that he’s brought her here to fulfill a prophecy and marry Prince Arthur. There will be six books in all, recounting Gwen’s life as Arthur’s queen, experienced through the critical mind of a modern young woman. And not just any modern young woman – one who, thanks to her father, intimately knows all the legends and history surrounding Arthur and his era. Unfortunately for Gwen, she also knows the story of his ultimate tragic fate – if the legends are correct. As time passes, and that fateful day draws ever nearer, Gwen is forced to count down the days to the terrible finale she foresees. All the places in my books exist, and I’ve visited practically all of them. I’m lucky enough to live in the UK and be able to travel to, and experience for myself, every location I include in my stories. I like to stand where my characters stand, and see what they see. From South Cadbury Castle (Din Cadan), through Glastonbury (Ynys Witrin), to Wroxeter (Viroconium), Wall (Caer Luit Coyt) and Chedworth Villa (unnamed in my book but there) – all are places you can visit if you want to, and stand in the Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | footprints of Arthur and Guinevere. The above are just the settings for book one – the other books will take you further afield, but don’t worry, as maps will be included. You won the Dragonblade Publishing Writestuff Competition 2021, a contest that is running now. What would you say to authors that are hesitant to enter?

my time, and this was the first one I won, although I’ve been shortlisted before now. In April 2021, I was more than surprised to find I’d made the semi-final list, but when I googled the other finalists, I felt sure I wouldn’t win, as many of them were already published authors with success under their belts.

Don’t hesitate. In no way did I ever think I was going to win this competition. I didn’t think my book was the sort of novel that would win because it’s not about the Regency period, or Scotland – although there is a bit set in Scotland in book three – and the books are a saga of one woman’s lifelong love, rather than separate stories linked together.

On the day they announced the results, July 1st, because I live in the UK, I was a good six hours in front of the US, so I didn’t see the announcement until after 10 in the evening. As Kathryn Le Veque read out the winners in reverse order, I became more and more convinced I had no chance, until she reached the overall winner. I screamed. Literally. Several times, in fact. No one could have been more surprised than me! So however you see yourself and your chances, definitely enter this competition – because you never know. It could be you next year.

I entered as soon as the competition opened, then forgot about it. I’ve entered a lot of competitions in

What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest?

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Quite definitely all the battle scenes are really hard to write. Firstly because my MC is written in first person, and she’s a woman in Dark Age Britain, so it’s really hard to find an excuse to have her present at battles – that taxes my imagination to start with. And secondly it’s hard to make each battle a bit different. I’m mortally scared of making them too samey. And of course, I don’t know all that much about warfare – other than the research I’ve done. I fear they might be my weak point. Paradoxically, some of the easiest scenes to write are the after-battle scenes. I think this is because I enjoy writing heart-wringing emotion, and I’m determined not to glorify the battles too much. Gwen sees the carnage and loss through 21st-century eyes, and she’s horrified by every aspect of the terrible aftermath. I love writing emotional scenes in general, but these in particular I think I enjoy the most. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about? I love Gwen, my MC. She’s snarky and a little bit opinionated, and determined not to conform to what the Dark Age expects of a woman, but in book one she’s carried along on a wave of action she has no control over, and finds she has to go along with. As the books progress, she comes into her own, and Arthur accepts her more as an equal than at first it seemed he would, although they sometimes have to pretend to other kings that she’s unimportant. Although I have to say I love Arthur and Merlin as well. Since childhood I’ve been obsessed by all things Arthurian, and I doubt this will ever go away. Arthur’s such a romantic, heroic character, and as nothing at all is known about the real Arthur, for a novelist he’s the gift that keeps on giving. That said, though, I also have great fun writing the villains of the piece – Arthur’s sister Morgana, and his half-brother Cadwy, and then in later books Medraut, Arthur’s nephew. I don’t find any of the characters hard to write. How do you come up with the title to your books?

| FIL REID | When I first started to write book one, I used the working title ‘Pendragon’, as I didn’t know where the story was going. I soon realised it wasn’t the right title though, and chose Guinevere’s name instead. I just wanted a short and snappy title that would stand out on a book cover. I thought hard about the subtitle – The Dragon Ring – and as it’s the ring that snatches her back in time, I felt that was the right way to go. The other books are The Bear Cub, now, I think, the Bear’s Heart, and The Sword – I’ll leave you to guess what that one is about! I’d have loved to have been able to choose The Sword in the Stone – but that’s been taken! By the way, the sword in the stone is not Excalibur. That’s part of a different legend. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? As I don’t live a very conventional life, there are a few things that might surprise them I should think. First off, I don’t live in a house but in a boat – a widebeam canal boat. She’s nearly seventy feet long and eleven feet wide, and we’ve had her for nearly ten years. Before that we lived in France, and I speak and write fluent French. But the other thing about me that’s more unusual in a writer, I guess, is that I’m autistic. I have Asperger’s Syndrome – which more than likely accounts for my lifelong obsession with King Arthur – and with horses. It makes me very single-minded, so when I do one thing, I do it to the exclusion of all else. They say we Aspies don’t have much empathy, but I’ve also read that we have too much. I think I have a lot of empathy in some things – hence my love of strong emotional scenes, but I tend to leave out lesser reactions in my books where others would put them in, most likely because I’d have no reaction there myself. So perhaps my characters might come over as a bit Aspie like me! Oh, and I can list all the kings and queens of England with all their dates as my party piece. And I’ve seen a ghost that looked as solid and real as you and me. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages? Haha! There is no planning stage. I just sit down and write and see where it takes me, and my characters leap out of the page fully formed. I introduce them, see them in my head and describe them, and voila, they are whole, even the very minor ones. I’m very much a pantser when it comes to writing. Occasionally I have a vague conception of something I want to happen in a book in my head, but generally I have zero idea of how I’ll get there. And when I start a chapter I don’t know how it will progress, or end. Sometimes I get very surprised by the ending my characters create for me. At the moment I’m working on book five, which I knew would contain Arthur’s most famous battle, the Battle of Badon, but the rather tortuous path to get there was a mystery What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? I love to use my hands – so I sew, knit and embroider. Although now I’m concentrating on my writing, this has been put to one side. Whenever I sit down on the sofa I get the cat on my knee and she objects to me sewing or knitting. I’ve made all sorts of things – clothes, of course, cross-stitch self-designed pictures, finger puppets, and my latest foray was into making Waldorf dolls for my granddaughters. I had to design all my own patterns – for the dolls themselves and for all their clothes and knitwear. I’m quite artistic so it wasn’t all that hard – I like the dolls to have a good wardrobe as I 80 | UncagedBooks.com

well remember the fun of having a doll was being able to dress her in different outfits. They’re 20 inches tall. My husband and I also have an allotment where we grow our own vegetables. I love to spend time over there, weeding, digging, planting and watching the seeds grow, or just having a cup of tea in the sun. And of course, we walk our dog a lot. If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? This is a hard one. Living in the UK the seasons are pretty much the same length, and I love every one of them. By the time I’m getting fed up with the one I’m in, another is arriving. So I tend to favour the one I’m in at the moment. They all have their good points – cosy winter fires and snow (ha ha, not much in the south of England!), golden autumn days with frosty mornings, the heat of summer, and the fresh green of spring. If forced, I might choose autumn as my favourite, but that could very well be because it’s autumn right now! How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? This can vary. In summer I get up at six to walk the dog and go to the allotment, so can be back home and at the computer by eight. In which case I can work for up to twelve hours with a few breaks. But not every day. And not so much in winter. It’s dark in the mornings so the dog goes out later, and I’m back later, so my time working is less, maybe only eight hours. And it’s not all writing – I do my social media as well, and research. I love the ease with which one can do research online, but it can get very distracting. I start off looking one thing up, find something that fascinates me but isn’t really to do with what I’m after, and am off down a rabbit hole of facts and information for far too long. Consequently I’m quite good at quizzes! On the first draft I tend to write a chapter a day, sometimes two. Book three took me about 25 days to write 30 chapters. However that’s not the end, of course. I do a revision after that, and then I do a polish. And only then is the book ready. That would be a book of a little over 100,000 words. I like revising my books

– it’s fun, and much quicker than the original writing process. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I’ve never really tried audiobooks, but I have a kindle and that’s handy for reading when away from home – or in the dark. But I don’t like the fact that you can’t go back and look at something you’ve already read a few chapters back very easily. So I have to say I prefer physical books – I love the look of a shelf of books. On the boat I have my writing corner with a row of three shelves above me, lined with books. In fact, we have books crammed into every available space. I’m reading Kings and Queens of Early Britain by Geoffrey Ashe, at the same time as The Emperor Charlemagne by E.R.Chamberlain, and I’ve just bought Medicus by Ruth Downie to read while I’m visiting my son next week. I also just enjoyed The Wall by Alistair Moffat, and I have The King in the North: The Life and Times of Oswald of Northumbria by Max Adams lined up. These are all on my kindle except for Medicus. I do read a lot of non-fiction because I love to research and learn new things. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? The thought of having fans is so alien to me! This is all such a new experience I’m finding it hard to think I might end up with real-life fans of my books. Such a strange thought for someone who all her life has wanted to be published. I’m only just getting used to the idea that at last my dream has come true. What would I say? “Thank you! Thank you for buying my books and thank you for liking them. Without people like you – readers – where would any writer be? And I would love for you to follow me.” I have a website – courtesy of my clever son Jake, who is an Aspie like me – www.filreid.com. Or I’m on facebook https://www.facebook.com/filreidauthor or twitter https://twitter.com/Filreidauthor . I’m on instagram too, but I do more on twitter and facebook as I find it easier.

| FIL REID |

Enjoy an excerpt from The Dragon Ring

The Dragon Ring Fil Reid Medieval Historical Gwen, a twenty-four-yearold librarian, lives with her boyfriend, Nathan, in a small house, with all the accoutrements of modern living any girl could ask for. When her father dies, and with her ne’er-do-well twin brother on the other side of the world, it’s left to Gwen to fulfill her father’s wishes and scatter his ashes on the top of Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, England. Stepping into the ruined church tower, a gold ring catches her eye – a ring embossed with a dragon emblem. When Gwen picks it up, she’s snatched into the dangerous world of the Dark Ages, where she discovers she’s expected to fulfill a prophecy, by marrying Prince Arthur and helping him become the king of legend. Will she stay with Arthur? Arthur, Prince of Dumnonia, and son of the ailing King Uthyr Pendragon, has ruled the hilltop fortress of Din Cadan for his father since he was a boy of sixteen. But he has an older brother who looks set to inherit both the kingdom and the High Kingship. Tall, handsome, ruthless, he’s less than convinced that any prophecy can decide his future, and he doesn’t think he needs a wife. But news comes that his father is at last dying in far-off Viroconium. Taking Gwen with him, further and further from the Tor where she had hoped to return to her own world, he sets off to outwit his brother. Will he grow to love Gwen? Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | Excerpt Chapter One When I went to scatter my father’s ashes, I didn’t expect to get kidnapped. On that chilly Sunday morning in November, I wanted to be alone for the last words I’d ever say to him. With Dad in my backpack, and leaving my boyfriend, Nathan, asleep in bed in our Glastonbury hotel, I climbed the steep path to the Tor. In the half-light of early morning, thick mist lay over the town, and no one else was about. For miles around only the odd dark treetop and the tip of a church spire emerged from the sea of white. Easy to see why some people believed this hill could have been part of Avalon, that mystical land King Arthur had vanished to after being mortally wounded in his last battle. My father had been one of those people. Shouldering off my backpack, I pulled out Dad’s urn. It weighed surprisingly heavily in my hands for someone who’d only been skin and bone when he’d died. I stood him on the grass beside the roofless church tower. “I wish Artie could be here, Dad.” No answer, of course. My twin brother was on the far side of the world on a prolonged trip with his mates, and I’d have to imagine him here with me, spiritually, despite the fact he hadn’t made the effort to get back. Typical. A bitter frost sparkled on the short grass. For a minute or two, I stood looking at the bleak hilltop, remembering the last time I’d been up here seventeen years ago. Artie and I were seven, our mother was already dying. Although being so young we weren’t aware of the limitation on our time with her. I remember it so well because it 82 | UncagedBooks.com

was the first time I saw the Fancy-Dress-Man. *** The trees’ naked branches rattle in the wind beneath a dull grey sky. Damp cold penetrates to my very bones. My mother’s skin is parchment pale, her once glorious auburn hair wispy and colorless beneath her hand-knitted hat. My father, over-enthusiastic as usual, expounds on the history of the Tor. He looks old, with his bush of grey hair, jutting eyebrows and thick-lensed spectacles. He’s a university professor and obsessive Arthurian scholar, which is how my brother and I have come to be called Arthur and Guinevere. Although my mother shortens those to Artie and Gwennie. The hump of Glastonbury Tor rises out of the surrounding flat farmland, long since reclaimed from ancient marshes. Dad parks our Land Rover on a rutted grass verge, and we take the shortest route to the summit. Artie and I run on ahead, our boots splashing through the puddles. We’re oblivious to the quiet suffering of our mother as she and our father slog along behind us. It’s a pilgrimage for them, as it will be the last time she sees the Tor. But to exuberant seven-yearolds, she just seems annoyingly slow. We reach the summit together, well ahead of our parents. For a moment the gaunt outline of the tower holds me mesmerized, even though I’ve seen it countless times before. Artie and I have been visiting Glastonbury since just after we were born. “Race you to the tower.” Artie gives me a backward push and sets off at a run. I sprint after him, but he’s long-legged and athletic and taller than I am, and besides, he’s given himself a cheating head start. He wins, of course. I pretend I haven’t been trying. We walk round to the far side of the tower and look out at the view over the Somerset Levels. Voices carry on the wind. I peer through the arches of the tower. Our parents appear at the far end of the hilltop.

| FIL REID | “Race you back.” Artie’s off again, legs hammering down the slight slope. This time I ignore him. I’m alone. The wind blows through the empty shell of the tower. Below me, the town lies quiet. I turn on the spot, my short arms outstretched, my face uplifted to the slate grey sky overhead, eyes stretched wide to take it all in. Strands of my long chestnut hair whip across my cheeks. Above the whistling of the wind, a faint musical note sounds. I close my eyes and open my ears. Such a sweet sound. To a seven-year-old brought up on bedtime tales of Celtic heroes it carries all the allure of fairyland. My lips curl in a smile. My small feet take tentative steps toward the sound. I open my eyes. I’m standing inside the tower. The wicked wind has died to nothing. All I can hear is that single faint musical note. Beyond the stone arches the world has blurred out of focus, yet within, every stone is crystal clear. I turn around, pushing loose strands of my hair out of my eyes. He’s standing watching me. A man in strange oldfashioned clothing. Immediately in my head I dub him the Fancy-Dress-Man. He’s tall and slim and as out of place as a hawk on a garden bird table. His clothes remind me of a picture of the Pied Piper of Hamelin in one of my books. A long russet cloak hangs below his knees. I’m not afraid. He smiles at me, dark eyes crinkling in a thin, tanned face. His shoulder-length hair’s a darker shade of brown, his clothes like autumn leaves. I smile back, just a little shyly. He extends a hand. Something sparkles in it. Without thinking, I reach for what he offers. My fingers close over warm metal. It shimmers like solid gold. He releases his hold, and I look down in curiosity. Heavy in my hand lies an open-ended gold bracelet, at each end an intricately worked dragon’s head. It takes my breath away. I’ve never seen anything so

beautiful. I lift my eyes, words of surprise and, I like to think, of thanks on my lips. But he’s gone. The wind whistles through the tower again and my parents approach up the grassy slope, Artie between them. I’ve never felt more alone. What a fuss this causes. There’s nothing secretive about me at seven, and the first thing I do is show my parents, proudly, what I’ve been given. “The Fancy-Dress-Man gave it to me,” sounds feeble, even though it’s true. Artie goes green with envy and runs off round the tower looking for the Fancy-Dress-Man until our father brings him back and anchors him down with a firm grip on his hand. “A stranger?” my mother asks, rising panic in her voice, her sunken eyes darting over the empty hilltop but finding nothing. “Haven’t we always told you never to talk to strangers?” Every father would say the same. My mother goes to the brow of the hill and looks down the path to the town. She shakes her head. Artie tries to free himself from our father’s iron grasp and can’t. He whines his hand is hurting. My mother comes back, and my father holds out his hand for the bracelet. I hesitate. I don’t want to let it go. It’s mine. The Fancy-Dress-Man gave it to me. I’ve seen the kindness in his dark eyes, telling me the gift is meant for me alone. My jaw juts in rebellion. I’m angry that my parents think differently. “Let me see it,” my father says. With great reluctance I hand it over. Immediately, I feel naked without it, my hand where it nestled warm against my palm, cold and lost. A Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | tear sneaks its way out of the corner of my eye and runs down my cheek. “Look at the work on the dragon head terminals. This is exquisite craftsmanship. It’s old, very old.” “It’s mine,” I say tearfully. “The Fancy-DressMan gave it me.” My mother’s gloved hand, tight around mine, reassures rather than admonishes. “Of course it’s yours.” There’s strain in her voice and an unhealthy flush to her thin cheeks. “You shall have it as soon as Daddy has taken a good look at it.” And so I do eventually, after my father has completed his research and shown it to his fellow Dark Age scholars. He never tells me what he’s concluded, and I never ask. It’s enough that it’s mine again, my present from the Fancy-DressMan. Too big for my wrist for years, I keep it in the little wooden jewelry chest my mother gives me before she dies. I have her to thank for it. She insists my father let me keep it, so it’s a present from her as well as the Fancy-Dress-Man. That isn’t to be the only time I see him, though. *** Roused from my reverie, I stroked the warm gold of the bracelet and it chased away the cold. “Well, I can’t stand here all day reminiscing,” I said to Dad’s urn, “or someone’s likely to come up the hill, and then I won’t be able to scatter you.” I bent and picked him up, the feeling strong that he was here, in this urn, still with me. I unscrewed the top. This was something I’d vowed to do – something I’d promised Artie. I swallowed the lump that threatened to rise in my throat and walked the few steps to the brow of the hill. I cleared my throat. “Dad.” My voice cracked 84 | UncagedBooks.com

with emotion, “I’ve brought you here, like you wanted. You’ll always be a part of Glastonbury now. You’ll be here for all eternity...” My voice trailed off. Shimmering through the cold air came a musical note, high and pure and lovely. It felt like a salutation to my father. More tears trickled down my cheeks. No way would I let it interrupt me. “I’ll never forget you. You were the best dad ever. I know you’re with Mum now, and one day Artie and I will see you again. I love you, Dad.” I upended the urn. A sudden breeze took the ashes, spreading them across the hillside like fine snow. The musical note swelled. Was I just overcome with the emotion of the moment and imagining it? Or was the Fancy-Dress-Man up here too, stalking me when I most wanted to be alone? Indignation welled up in me at the thought. Because that’s what I half-believed he was. A stalker. *** The summer after our thirteenth birthday, Artie and I miss the last two weeks of school to go on a dig with Dad at Glastonbury Abbey. Piled into our Land Rover amidst all the paraphernalia of archaeology, we travel from our Berkshire home and set up camp in a couple of ridge pole tents on site. Like dutiful little budding archaeologists, Artie and I set to with the mix of students and volunteers to scrape away, millimeter by millimeter, the layers of soil in the trenches that have been opened. The end of the summer holidays arrives, and we only have a few days left on the dig. It’s evening. Everyone else has gone home or to the pub. I sit outside my tent twirling my gold bracelet in my fingers. Under my touch, the warm metal throbs with heat and for the first time in years I think about the Fancy-DressMan. From where I’m sitting, the taped off area of the dig lies between me and the deserted abbey ruins.

| FIL REID | A slight movement, glimpsed from the corner of my eye, draws my gaze, and I turn my head. A faint ringing starts. Just beyond the far tape barrier stands a lone figure. A man, in tunic, trousers and a long cloak – fancy dress.

year-old. Brown wavy hair reaches his shoulders and a shadow of stubble covers his chin. “A friend.” There’s a lilt to his voice that’s pleasant and reassuring. Like no voice I’ve heard before. A voice for reciting poetry.

It’s him.

“Why are you watching me?” I’m still unafraid, despite the fact that I’m alone with a strange man. He tilts his head to one side. His face is unlined yet full of wisdom.

Memories come flooding back to me as clear as though they happened yesterday, memories I didn’t know I still had. The bracelet burns hot against my skin as though it, too, recognizes him. I remember the earthy shades of his clothing, the russet cloak, the soft brown boots splattered with dried mud. For a long minute his dark eyes hold mine across an acre of open ground, and then he turns toward the path up to the Tor. Without thinking, I follow him. On a warm summer’s evening, to encounter not a single other person on the Tor path is strange. Ahead of me the Fancy-Dress-Man, his russet cloak swishing, strides always out of reach, no matter how I hurry. It’s quiet, too. No noise penetrates from the town. I’m inside a bubble of silence broken only by the lonely cries of a colony of rooks in the treetops. Emerging from the trees, I spot him above me on the summit, silhouetted against the evening sky. I hurry. He turns away, vanishing from sight over the brow. I want to shout “wait for me” but can’t find my voice. Out of breath, I reach the top of the hill. And there he is, leaning against the wall of the tower. I approach in curiosity. In the background the thrumming musical note I remember from our first encounter swells to fill the air. “Who are you?” I ask, my hand automatically going to the hot bracelet on my wrist. I’m up close now. He smiles, and his eyes crinkle just as I remember, and I can’t be afraid of him. But now I look at him with more interest than I did as a seven-

“To make sure you’re safe.” “That’s a funny answer. Why wouldn’t I be safe? I’m with my dad.” “Not now you’re not.” I frown. “That’s because I followed you.” He grins. “How do you know you’re safe then?” Of course, I don’t. Any amount of danger might be lurking. He can’t be the source of it though, because for some reason I know he means me no harm. A different tack is needed. “What d’you want? Why me? Why do I need a guardian angel?” This makes him laugh out loud. “No one’s ever called me that before.” I scowl. I don’t like being laughed at. “Why me?” He doesn’t answer but indicates the bracelet on my wrist with a nod of his head. “I’m glad to see your mother let you wear it. Keep it on. Never take it off. It’s your protection when I’m not here.” With all the wisdom of my thirteen years it begins to dawn on me that he might just be a teeny bit nutty. After all, this is Glastonbury, and he’s wearing fancy-dress as though he’s off to a party or is maybe an actor playing a part. But there’s also something deep within my mind that urges me to believe him. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR | “My mother’s dead.” It’s a ploy I’ve used a number of times to put people on the back foot. It usually works a treat.

“I know you’re here.” My voice sounded small and lost in the stillness of the morning. Anger made me bold. “Come out right now.”

It doesn’t with him. He just nods. “I know.” “How do you know? How do you know me? Are you a stalker?”

Nothing. I walked around the tower again, then paused and looked inside. Low sunlight slanted across the uneven paving slabs, but it seemed as empty as everywhere else. Or was it?

He holds his hand up to silence me. “Your name is Guinevere. You’re thirteen years old. Your father is Professor Andrew Fry. Your twin brother is Arthur Fry. Your mother Alison died when you were eight.” “You are a stalker.” I’m still not afraid, even though he knows so much about me, but I take a wary step back, just the same. “I’m here to keep you safe. You’re not ready yet. Go back now to your father and brother. Never take your bracelet off. Others seek you. One day we’ll meet again.” He straightens up from where he’s been leaning against the wall and steps inside the ruined tower. I follow him, to have it out. He hasn’t answered my questions properly at all. He’s only left me with more, and I’m angry. The tower is empty. *** The memory blew away. My father’s ashes settled, leaving the air empty once again, but the musical note continued. I put the open urn beside my backpack and walked around the tower, half expecting to find the Fancy-Dress-Man lurking there, intruding on my grief. Not a soul. I surveyed the frosty hillside in every direction. Still no one. Yet that musical note swelled until it filled the crisp, early morning air. 86 | UncagedBooks.com

Something shone on the ground in one corner. I stepped inside. The note, loud in my ears, rose to a crescendo. A ring. Lying on the flagstones. I took another step. The morning sun filled the ancient building, bouncing off the uneven walls, magnified so much I had to screw up my eyes against the glare. On the floor at my feet, the ring shone as though a star had fallen from the sky. The musical note rose. I bent, reaching for the ring. It looked like solid gold, with a dragon, like the ones on my bracelet, carved on its face. My outstretched fingers touched it. A powerful force yanked me forwards and I fell, arms outstretched, fingers clenched tight around the ring. The sunlight vanished, and the stone walls of the tower melted away as bright lights exploded in my head. Air rushed past my ears, and a high-pitched wailing joined the musical note. It might have been me making it.

Gone to the Dogs:

an excerpt on becoming your dog’s alpha Guest column by Jesse Sternberg

| GUEST COLUMN |

Becoming Your Dog’s Alpha by Jesse Sternberg

Any dog owner knows that our furry little lovebeasts can take us on an emotional ride. Consider a sleepin-sunday kind of moment: The popcorn scent of those fuzzy little paws, that peaceful cuddle in our shared cozy nest. One could so easily be lured into a snuggly state of bliss, the kind that makes it impossible to get out of bed. Yet we must get up, because we’re expecting guests for brunch. Inevitably, when the doorbell rings, our former snuggle buddies become rogue protectors, or neurotically excited little attention hogs. It’s hard to remember the tranquility of the snuggle-bliss when our dogs are lunging, jumping, whining and scratching at the crack of the front door. Let’s be honest about something. All we know at this moment is that our dog is embarrassing us, driving us nuts, or we’ve completely tuned them out (even though our guests haven’t). Every owner knows what I’m talking about here because we’ve tried many things so far and nothing’s ever worked. The doorbell makes our dog’s go temporarily nuts.

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As a former owner and operator of a dog daycare, grooming shop and training center, I saw this very same pattern day in and day out. I’d be meditating in the back room with twenty or more dogs curled into me, then all of a sudden a client would show up at the door and mayhem would break out. This actually drove me nuts because it was always the first impression that new clients would see - twenty or thirty maniacal beasts chomping at the crack of the doorway, squealing as if to say, “get me the heck out of here, this guy is torturing us!” This is a total human projection by the way, a glimpse into my neuroses if you will. My pack was just doing what they’re supposed to do, informing me of a potential intruder. A little overkill, though, don’t you think? I didn’t need that much protection (nor do you). This inspired me to study all kinds of dog training modalities, simply because it would be great for business to show my clients how calm I could keep their dogs. Interestingly, every method I studied and applied, worked in a one-on-one situation with just about every canine (some better than others, mind you). Yet none of these methods worked on a pack of dogs. I knew there

had to be a more enlightened way to connect with these animals. And thus I meditated on the challenge (with tons of dogs nestled into me) for quite some time. I was contemplating that every pooch in a dog park scenario, and even in my daycare, seemed to have a way of communicating peacefully with one another. How else did every pup know not to take Stevie’s tennis ball when he looked at you, his toy tauntingly located underneath his raised paw (later known to me as the asset claiming position)? Why couldn’t I accomplish the control Stevie did with his ball, with the front doorway? Why couldn’t you, when people come over for brunch?

traction, and introducing cutting-edge meditation techniques. Through the use of real-life case studies, readers learn how to soothe anxiety, heal neuroses, overcome aggression issues, transform tension into harmony, communicate with actions, command with respect and love, and deepen the human-animal bond in a soulfully satisfying way. Diagrams accompany the dog language playbook, and each chapter ends with a meditation that will help you cultivate your own Peaceful Alpha Power. ©Copyright 2022 Jesse Sternberg for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com

My first eureka moment hit when I discovered that animals talk using actions. As present moment beings, they are never not-talking with their body-language, (and they’re reading our bodies as if we are doing the same thing back, which of course we are not). Dogs use facial gestures (mostly to avert unnecessary eye contact), lip licks, angles and all sorts of other calming signals to communicate with each other (and us). Most of the time they’re saying something like: me calm down, you calm down, or ….something in our environment is a little sketchy right now! These types of feelings-based signals represent 99% of animal communication. Then there’s the Forbidden Angle, which is basically holding direct eye contact. While this action is socially taboo in nature, there are critical moments when we’ll see an animal parent use this on their young, not because they’re being mean, but because they’re commanding some respect in a very important moment. In my book Enlightened Dog Training, I introduce readers into the realm of animal consciousness, resource-guarding theory, territory management, hypnotic training exercises, and of course, the secret language of dogs. This work is about spreading light to animal lovers, leveraging the law of at-

Jesse Sternberg is a master dog trainer, meditation teacher and author of critically acclaimed ‘Enlightened Dog Training: Become the Peaceful Alpha Your Dog Needs and Respects’ , which releases on November 23. Jesse resides in Toronto, Canada. Connect with him through his website, www.peacefulalpha.com, or check out his course, “Become Your Dog’s Own Whisperer”.

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

showcase Anthony Rebuck The Most Unusual Pet and Her Favorite Dream Childrens What will one do to get what she wants? In the new picture book A Most Unusual Pet and Her Favorite Dream, author Anthony Rebuck shares a beautiful story of how a little joey will do anything and everything to get some of the best honey in the world. With vivid and colorful illustrations across the pages, this children’s fable will surely be a great reading companion for parents and children during their bonding time. Young readers will meet Little Skippy, a baby kangaroo from Australia, who has a lot of friends and loves to play. But what she loves the most in this world is honey. She often wonders where she can find the best honey. A friend told her that the best honey in the world is made from Guatemala. At night, she dreams of going there and getting some of that honey. When she has finally saved enough money to travel, she is very happy and buys a ticket for her long trip to Guatemala. But upon arriving in Guatemala, she feels sad because all the honey had been sold out, bought by people from all over the world. What will Skippy do? Will she go back to Australia empty-handed or will she continue her journey to find the best honey? Readers will find out in the pages of this charming picture book.

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A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts Sports and the Torah Breathing Poison: Smoking, Pollution, and Fires Readers can also check out his other books: A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts, where he recaptured some of the talks he gave at a Synagogue in Singapore; Sports and the Torah, where he combined stories from the Old Testament with his other main interest: sports; and Breathing Poison: Smoking, Pollution, and Fires, where he gives an eye-opener on the prevailing triple threat in the air to human health and well-being. His books are available online and can be purchased at online bookstores and author’s website. anthonyrebuck.com A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts During the years in which we lived and worked in Singapore, it was the Rabbi’s practice to invite members of the congregation to say a few words during the meal at the end of the Sabbath. The Synagogue in Singapore is Sephardic, so having an Ashkenazi visitor such as myself who was willing to take part in the custom was quite a novelty for the congregation. I am no Torah expert, but the combination of my British Commonwealth accent, enjoyment of story telling and tendency to lateral thinking, nudged me into becoming the regular speaker at the ‘third meal’ on Saturday afternoons. I have tried in this little book, to recapture some of the talks I gave during my happy years with the community in Singapore.

A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts Anthony Rebuck, a retired Professor of Medicine, combines stories from the Old Testament with his other main interest, being a sports fan.

Breathing Poison: Smoking, Pollution and Fires

Dr. Anthony Rebuck was born in London, England. He is married with four children and eight grandchildren. He attended Sydney University Medical School, Australia and graduated with First Class Honors and awarded University Medal. He was appointed Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada and won as Best Teacher in Medical Faculty. He practised Respiratory Medicine at the Toronto Lung Clinic and retired from University and joined Pharmaceutical Industry in Philadelphia, in charge of clinical development of Respiratory and Diabetes medicines. He was posted to Singapore for many years directing clinical research in Asian countries. After retiring again, has been busy consulting on Clinical Research projects, writing and Masters Swimming.

There is a triple threat in the air to human health and well-being. First, we are going to see an increase in tobacco-attributable deaths as more and more people smoke. Much of this mortality, as well as crippling chronic lung disease, can be prevented if smokers stop smoking. Secondly, additional suffering, disability and premature death from lung disease can be prevented if pollution Asian pollution being the worst in the world - can be reduced. And lastly, the coughing, wheezing and attacks of bronchitis caused by the uniquely Asian problem of the haze would be eliminated if the illegal practice of slash & burn is prohibited.

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

feature authors

Tamara Hughes

paranormal | fantasy

Zachary Steele

TA M A R A HUGHES

small town girl with a big imagination, Tamara Hughes had no idea what to do with her life. After graduating from college, she moved to a big city, started a family and a job, and still struggled to find that creative outlet she craved. An avid reader of romance, she gave writing a try and became hooked on the power of exploring characters, envisioning adventures, and creating worlds. She enjoys stories with interesting twists and heroines who have the grit to surmount any obstacle, all without losing the ability to laugh. 96 | UncagedBooks.com

Stay Co n n e c te d

tamarahughes.com Uncaged welcomes Tamara Hughes Welcome to Uncaged! This year you released the third book in the series, Bewitching the Beast, called The Goddess of Magic. Can you tell readers more about the book and the series? The Bewitching the Beast series is about a family of witches battling the dragon spirits who have invaded the world. These spirits are possessing hosts and feeding off humans, and can only be defeated if these women, their significant others, and their friends band together. All of these books are stand-alone romances and follow the love stories of those on this growing team of dragon hunters. The third and final book in this series, The Goddess of Magic, centers around Holly, a family friend, who has been kept in the dark about the dragon spirits for her own protection only to find herself in the sights of the most powerful dragon spirit the team has ever encountered. She is put under the protection of Peter, the brother of one of the dragon hunters. He tries his best to keep Holly out of trouble and safe, and in the process, they grow close, although there’s no stopping the evil forces that stand against them. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? For me, writing love scene is the most difficult. There’s

just so much to them. Not only do you have the act itself to describe in a sexy way, but the scene should be unique to that particular couple. Emotions, thoughts, and dialogue should reflect their individual personalities and character growth. It’s also important that the scene carry the story forward. That’s a lot to think about! The easiest scenes for me are probably action scenes. Once I plan out what I want to happen, it seems like I can get the words on the page fairly quickly. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about? In this series, I have a handful of characters that I really enjoyed writing. Tess, the heroine in the first book, Bewitching the Beast, has a fun midwestern sense of humor (very wry and deadpan) that tickled me. I hadn’t planned to write her like that. She just came out that way, and I loved it! I also have a couple of secondary characters in these books that I had fun with—Gram (who is Tess and Faith’s dead grandmother) and Dorothy (an eccentric witch who owns an occult store). Both these older ladies were somewhat odd but funny. Faith, the heroine of the second book, Spellbound Captive, gave me a little bit of trouble at first. I think because I loved Tess’s sense of humor so much, I assumed Faith would be the same. But just like in real life, sisters are not exactly the same. They find different things funny. She ended up a bit different, still enjoyable but different. Part of the reason she wasn’t as open and free as Tess was because of the trauma she’d survived—she’d run away from home and tried for years to save her friend from the dragon possessing him. How do you come up with the title to your books? Ugh. Figuring out a title is almost harder than writing the book! I usually agonize over it forever before settling on something. For the last title in this Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR |

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series, The Goddess of Magic, I got the idea from the various names of the goddess Isis, who plays a part in all three of these books. Isis was known as the goddess of healing and magic, the goddess of health and wisdom, the protector of the dead, and the goddess of children, as well as the one who is all, among other names. Coming up with a name usually requires looking for words that describe what type of book I’ve written as well as the tone, then mixing and matching them until I come up with something I like that hasn’t been used by too many others already. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? My daughter and I have appointments to get tattoos! We found this talented artist who does watercolor tattoos, but he’s booked out until May. We’re both so excited! Mine will be a heart with a red-orange-andyellow watercolor background. Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages? I usually come up with a nugget of an idea for a possible story, then I cast the characters before I try to plot in detail. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

| TAMARA HUGHES | year. I would definitely miss the changing seasons. How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? I usually write in the mornings from the time I get up until lunchtime. As for how long it takes me to write a book, it really depends. I’ve written one in as little as four months, but with both of my grown kids at home right now (and three cats), it’s been taking a lot longer. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I have to say I love physical books, although ebooks are certainly convenient. There’s still something about holding a book in my hands and flipping the pages that is really appealing. I’m currently between books. I work as an editor during my afternoons, so I mostly read books for work – which is soooo cool! What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? Thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to read my stories. I hope you get as much pleasure in reading them as I do writing them. I love to hear from fans, so please come find me!

I am absolutely addicted to Asian dramas. The plots they come up with for their love stories are so fresh and interesting! I’m constantly binge-watching something from China, Korea, or Taiwan. If you’re interested in what I’m watching, I give a show recommendation every month in my newsletter. If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? I love autumn. I’ve always enjoyed the ideal temperatures, colorful leaves, and fun holidays during those months. That said, while it would be great for autumn to be extended, I’m not so sure about having it a whole

Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

| FEATURE AUTHOR |

Enjoy an excerpt from Bewitching the Beast Bewitching the Beast Tamara Hughes Paranormal Romance

Ethan Lockwood hates what he’s become—a slave to a parasitic monster whose victims’ names pepper the obituaries. He’s possessed by The Beast, a dragon who feeds off human spiritual energy. After a year of fighting The Beast’s demands, Ethan is losing the battle. The creature is taking over his mind, body, and soul. When he spies Tess, he can relate to her weary look and the sadness in her eyes, but her aura shines like a beacon, attracting The Beast. Ethan is forced to drain her energy, but for a split second, she subdues the creature inside him, compelling the spirit to slumber. How? Can she somehow free him from The Beast? Ethan chases after her. He can’t afford to let Tess die. Since her fiancé’s death, Tess Edwards struggles to find new meaning in life. She doesn’t expect that new meaning to involve a sexy photographer who says he’s possessed by an energy-stealing beast. He claims she’s in danger and that he’s the only one who can save her. Great. He’s a nut job—cute, but delusional. She doesn’t believe in dragon spirits and magic, not until she finds her grandmother’s Book of Shadows. She’s descended from witches, and the book warns her of her fate. Although the beast inside Ethan needs her alive, he isn’t the only one of his kind. There’s another, and he wants Tess dead. Excerpt

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Chapter One Tess knew guilt. As a former Catholic schoolgirl, sometimes she felt like she had a sign on her back that read “Guilt trips work here.” What else would explain why she’d let Holly talk her into coming here tonight? When Holly had found out her boyfriend, Wade, had invited his bro Jay out for New Year’s Eve, she’d begged, “Tess, I’m going to end up being the third wheel. Please come out with us. Save me.” Blind dates sucked, and this one wasn’t going to be any different. Flashing strobe lights distorted the movements on the dance floor, while a pulsing beat rattled the glasses on the tall table in front of Tess and reverberated through her chest. The Mood on New Year’s Eve. Big whoop. Tess adjusted her position on the stool and scanned the dim interior of the club. She should have told Holly she was busy. Her imaginary cat, Arty, needed his toenails polished. The DJ bobbed his head and shuffled back and forth, his eyes closed, consumed by the music. Of course, this might have been fun with Matt by her side. She would have liked to see his awkward dance again. The one where he swayed from foot to foot and punched his arms out in wild directions. She’d always needed to duck and cover whenever they danced together. Matt. The one she was supposed to grow old with. That dull, empty ache gnawed at her stomach again. Good going, Tess. She downed the last of her champagne and set the flute on the table, then turned from the dance floor to the seating behind her. Couches and plush chairs were grouped together toward the back of the club, each seating arrangement dimly lit by hanging cone-shaped lamps. A group of five women sat huddled together, deep in conversation. They whispered and chatted before twisting in their chairs to ogle someone seated along the opposite wall. Tess followed their stares to an ungodly handsome man—gorgeous in a modelmeets-biker sort of way. His wavy, dark hair brushed the tops of his shoulders, framing his angular jaw and piercing eyes. A black leather jacket hugged his broad shoulders, while snug jeans emphasized his lean build.

| TAMARA HUGHES | He drained the last of his beer and set the empty on the table. His arms resting on his knees, he focused on the beer bottle as if willing it to refill, then pinched the bridge of his nose. His hand was covered by a black leather glove. Was wearing one glove coming back into style? Man, she hoped not. He surveyed the room, his eyes blazing with intensity. Tess could almost hear the collective sigh from the women eyeing him. His gaze edged her way before darting past toward the door, a wistful expression on his face. He stiffened and flexed his gloved hand. The need to escape. Tess knew the feeling. But what was stopping him? She gave a short laugh. He’d probably promised someone he’d stay until midnight, like she had. Not that she cared. She had her own problems. Tess studied the crowd, but her attention was drawn back to him. She was such a sucker for sad, needy people. A cute brunette waitress approached him, and he sat up. She smiled and ran her fingers through her pixie cut as she crouched beside him. He tossed back the shot she handed him and returned the empty glass. The waitress laughed and touched his arm, her overthe-top flirting painful to watch. The biker shook his head and took the fresh beer she offered. A slight frown marred the woman’s face as she rose and left, swaying her hips. No doubt the motion usually attracted loads of attention, like the hypnotic flashing lights at a railroad crossing. He barely noticed. His stare veered away from the spectacle and toward Tess. This time their eyes met and held. Her heart jumped, then skipped in a circle. Without thinking, she smoothed her dress. Everything seemed to be in order—no toilet paper hanging, all the important parts covered. His look captivated, mesmerized. Her skin tingled as if he’d touched her, like the brush of his fingertip along her thigh. An intoxicating thrill raced through her body, something that hadn’t happened in a very long time. She’d been so consumed with being sad and lonely, she hadn’t noticed how much she’d missed the sensation until this moment. What would she do if Mr. Biker came over? The way she was feeling right now, she’d probably jump his

bones. Pfft. She giggled. The champagne must be going to her head. Jump his bones. Like she’d ever have the nerve to go through with a one-night stand, although for the first time ever, the idea was tempting. Extremely tempting. Would a one-night stand really be so bad? What she wouldn’t give to feel alive again even if only for tonight. The stool next to Tess squawked against the floor, and she almost leapt from her seat. “Your drink,” Jay shouted over the noise, taking a seat next to her. Tess inhaled a steadying breath and studied the bruise shadowing her date’s left eye—a hockey injury he’d said. Judging by his scraped knuckles, the “hockey” injury had nothing to do with actually playing the game. He set a glass in front of her. “Sorry it took me so long. The bartender had no idea how to make a Wisconsin Old Fashioned. He had to look it up.” “Thanks.” Tess glanced over her shoulder. The biker still stared. Who was this guy? Did he ever blink? A delicious shiver rolled down her spine. She turned to study the amber liquid in her glass. A brandy Old Fashioned sweet. Just like Grandma used to make. The old lush. Tess tried to forget the guy beside her by taking a super-sized gulp of the Old Fashioned and swallowing hard, forcing the nasty brew down. Yuck. Too strong. Her body reacted with something between a cough and a hiccup. Fizzing soda traveled up her nose, and she grimaced against the sting. Didn’t taste as good as Gram’s. Then again, nothing tasted as good as it used to. Plucking the cherry that bobbed on top of the ice cubes, she popped it into her mouth, snapping off the stem. The syrupy sweetness of the fruit dulled the bitter aftertaste of the drink. “May I?” Jay asked, nodding toward her glass. Without waiting for a reply, he swilled half the glass before setting it down. “Pretty good.” Tess glared at her grabby table-mate. He didn’t notice as he downed a quarter of his beer, then leaned close, so close she could smell peanuts on his breath. “Then again, I’m not too picky when it comes to alcohol,” he said. “As Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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| FEATURE AUTHOR | long as it gives me a buzz, I’m happy.” She wrinkled her nose and turned away to peek over her shoulder again. The biker was gone. The couch he’d been sitting on was now overrun by the women who’d been ogling him. Jay’s hand brushed over her back, and she straightened, half tempted to wriggle her shoulders until she shook him off. Instead, she faced him with a smile. “Where’d you get the nuts?” “What?” “The peanuts.” He lifted his hand and smelled his breath, then laughed. “Could be worse.” He pointed across the room. “They had bowls of peanuts on the bar.” Maybe she should send him on a peanut run just to get rid of him for a while. The words were practically hanging off her tongue when she noticed the packed bar. Its lines were four people deep all around. That would be kind of mean, wouldn’t it? Besides, then she’d have to eat the peanuts he brought back or be a jerk and ignore them. Well, crap. Jay grinned, his teeth straight and glaringly white. “Dinner was great. I’ve never eaten Cuban food before.” “Yeah, it’s one of my favorite restaurants. Matt . . .” Tess cleared her throat. “I used to—” “Although if you ask me, Chinese is the best food on the planet. Maybe next time I’ll take you to Chow’s. They make a mean sweet and sour chicken.” His hand continued to roam over her back as if searching for something he might find more easily on her front. She took his hand and set it on the table. There would be no next date. He most definitely wasn’t her type. “Look, Jay, you seem like a nice guy, but I’m not feeling the chemistry here.” Annoyance flashed in his eyes, but he smiled anyway. “Fair enough.” He turned toward the bar, or more precisely, he turned toward a breathtaking woman just off to the side of the bar. He recovered quickly. The beat changed as a new song started up. Thankfully, a little quieter. Holly and Wade stepped from 102 | UncagedBooks.com

the dance floor with their hands linked. Holly was her usual stunning self, although her black leather pants had to be hot. Ah, the price of beauty. Wade’s blond hair jutted in every direction, while the rest of him was polished perfection in a suave metrocasual kind of style Tess had never seen back home in rural Wisconsin. What a beautiful couple. They belonged on a freaking runway. Sleek. Stylish. Tess grabbed her drink, took a healthy swallow, and gagged. She peered down at the teal wrap dress she’d borrowed from Holly. Somehow it didn’t look as good on her as it did on her best friend. “Whew. You should get out there.” Holly winked and snatched up her club soda. Tess watched the writhing bodies on the dance floor. “Maybe later.” From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the signal. A head jerk from Holly to Wade. “Hey, man, let’s get another round,” Wade said, before guzzling his beer. “But I just—” “C’mon.” Wade walked away, giving Jay no chance to argue. Jay shrugged and slipped off his stool, following Wade, with his half-full beer bottle in his hand. “I’m sorry. You don’t look like you’re having a good time.” Holly stared at Tess as if reading her mind. “It’s Jay, isn’t it? I knew he wasn’t your type, but I was desperate.” “No, this is great. I’m having fun.” Tess grabbed a headband from the table—one with pink fuzzy stars suspended on springs. A free New Year’s Eve goodie, courtesy of The Mood. She slipped it on and wiggled her head to get the most bobble for her buck. Holly frowned. “Liar. You look like you’ve just eaten cat food.” “Cat food? What does that mean?” Holly screwed up her face for an instant and somehow still radiated cool. Maybe it was her red hair, perfectly chic in a layered bob. “So, are you saying you like Jay? I knew it was a long shot, but you never can tell exactly who someone will click with.” What could she say about Wade’s friend? “He’s nice.” “He’s hot too.” She glanced toward the bar where Jay stood in line,

now seven deep. “Yeah, I guess.” “Tess Edwards.” “Who are you, my mother? I’m sorry. Your instincts were right. I don’t feel a connection.” “Are you sure that’s all it is?” Holly reached out and rubbed Tess’s arm. “It’s been, what, nine months? It’s okay to move on.” The gesture seemed so Oprah, it annoyed her. “Hey, I’m here, aren’t I? I could be at home reading a good book.” “Wearing Matt’s shirt.” “It’s comfortable.” “Maybe that’s the problem. You’re getting too comfortable being alone.” Not true. She hated being alone. “Well, I’m not too comfortable now.” Tears misted her eyes. A quick blink kept them from falling. She could be strong, at least until she reached the bathroom. “I’ll be back.” “It’s almost midnight.” “So?” Holly sighed. The sympathy in her eyes only made things worse. “Do you want me to go with you?” “I think I can find the bathroom on my own.” She and Matt had been together for three years, engaged for one. Nine months wasn’t enough time to get over losing him, not for her. Now, where was the bathroom? She waded through the drunken mob. Maybe she could find a window in there. Everyone in the movies escaped through restroom windows when they wanted to make a break for it. No reason why she couldn’t too. She picked a person at random, a man about her height, with curly brown hair. “Do you know where . . . ?” The guy, no, the pervert, smiled what he must have thought was a sexy smile, his bloodshot eyes studying her from chest to . . . chest. “Never mind.” She turned away and stopped cold. The biker stood not more than ten feet away. He stared at her so intently goose bumps rose along her arms. Even at a distance, something like static electricity arced between them, a current that should have made her hair float up around her head in a perfect sphere. His eyes bored into hers. At first glance, they appeared dark, midnight blue. As he drew closer, brushstrokes

of ultramarine violet and a hint of turquoise came through. He peered into her soul, with compassion and sadness, then held out a trembling hand. A black tattoo of a dragon covered his palm. “Come.” She shook herself and almost laughed out loud. This couldn’t be happening. His dark-blue eyes changed to a shimmering, deep green. Nice trick. Did they make remote control contacts? She liked the blue better, but the more she saw of the green, the more they grew on her. He leaned in and whispered low, “Come.” The command echoed inside her head as if it were her own thought brought to life. Her body warmed, and she had the overwhelming desire to be with him, to touch him. She stared into his green eyes and felt that dark thrill of eating a second piece of cake, of drinking a third glass of wine, knowing somewhere deep inside she’d regret it later. Tess placed her hand on his warm palm and let him lead her away, her mind focused with absolute clarity on one thing: she had to have him. Now.

Don’t miss these titles:

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showcase

JJ Spain Last Night in Sturgis Last Night in Sturgis JJ Spain Mystery

In book one of the Salas detective series:

About Detective Mike Salas has identified the killer and he knows where the killer is. He makes a simple plan: arrest the killer before he strikes again. But there’s just one problem, there is a million bikers at the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Follow Detective Salas to Sturgis, South Dakota as he tracks down the serial murderer. Ride the Black Hills, experience Mount Rushmore, the Chip, Da Bus and downtown Sturgis while the killer stalks his next victim. Be there when the killer strikes. Will Salas be able to stop him or will he make his next kill?

A simple arrest. . .

...

Detective Mike Salas has identified the killer

Salas knows where the killer is . . . His plan: Arrest the suspect before he strikes again. His problem: One million bikers at the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

JJ Spain is a 25year veteran of the Sturgis Rally, bringing the Black Hills ride and the Sturgis experience at readers’ fingertips. Visit https://mikesalasnovels.com/ for updates on new releases and events.

Follow Indiana Detective Mike Salas to Sturgis, South Dakota as he tracks down the serial murderer. Ride the Black Hills, experience Mount Rushmore, the Chip, Da Bus and downtown Sturgis while the killer stalks his next victim. Be there when the killer strikes. Will he make his kill? Will Salas stop him? Will it be the last night in Sturgis?

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mikesalasnovels.com

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ZACHARY S T EE L E

roadleaf Writers Association Founder & Executive Director Zachary Steele is the author of three novels, including his latest, The Weight of Ashes. He was nominated for the Sidewise Award for Alternate Fiction and has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Magazine, Shelf Awareness and City Lights with Lois Reitzes on NPR. Currently, he is hard at work on the first book in his upcoming fantasy series, The Fallen Hero, for release in 2022. You can follow his ramblings on writing and life at http://zacharysteele.com/. 108 | UncagedBooks.com

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zacharysteele.com Uncaged welcomes Zachary Steele Welcome to Uncaged! You released, The Weight of Ashes in August. Can you tell readers more about the book? Are you working on anything now that you tell us about? The Weight of Ashes is about Mark Murphy, a young boy unwilling to accept the death of his older brother and enlists the help of his friends to carry his ashes to the Witch on Spook Hill to have him resurrected. In the end, it a story about grief and loss and the myriad ways in which we cope with it. At the moment, I’m working on the second book in a young adult fantasy series. The first, The Fallen Hero, will hopefully have a home soon! What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? Whew. There were so many emotionally challenging scenes in this one. Avoiding spoilers, I’ll say the most difficult was the scene in which Mark finally arrives where he believes the witch lives. The emotional weight of the journey, his brother’s loss, and the hopes he carries just spill over. I had to stop multiple times to compose myself. The easiest is a flashback with his brother and cousin on a baseball field. Despite the intensity the scene closes with, I’m always most comfortable and happy on a baseball field. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write

about? A favorite is tough. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, right? But if I must choose, I’d go with Belle, a thirteen-year-old autistic girl in The Fallen Hero. She’s so pure, full of joy, sees more than people give her credit for, and is the glue that holds that group of friends together. The most difficult was Gordon, in The Weight of Ashes. Closely based on a friend of mine who committed suicide when I was seventeen, he opened up a number of channels of grief I had no idea were still broadcasting. How do you come up with the title to your books? Much like element of storytelling, it has to have a purpose. I want it to say something about the story, about a character, or to capture the voice or mood of the pages within. The Weight of Ashes, for example, has a dual meaning: the literal weight of his brother’s ashes as well as the emotional weight attached to them. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? I’m kind of an open book. I have a whole blog dedicated to the dumb things I’ve done in my life. So, it’s getting harder to surprise people. I suppose the one thing that has surprised people most—and still will—is that I was so incredibly shy as a kid I would blush if someone sneezed next to me, knowing the entire class would turn my way. Even though I didn’t sneeze. The thought of raising my hand and actually talking in class gave me anxiety. Now, my entire profession is me comfortably talking in front of crowds and being social with no issues. I can hear my inner child screaming in denial as I type this. Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages? I tend to be plot driven in my writing, at least initially. The characters are based on what the story needs. Once I have the framework of the characters, I tend Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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to develop deep, truly digging into everything that makes them tick. Then, once I start writing, I let the characters determine where we go next, even if that’s off script. Well developed characters dropped in a fully realized world are the lighthouse guiding the ships home. What are some things you like to do to relax when

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you aren’t writing or working? Well, from April through October the answer is baseball. I love it. Deeply. Otherwise, reading, spending time outdoors, cooking, or catching up on shows or movies that have made the list of things I need to watch.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why? Fall and it isn’t close. Between the changing of the leaves, lower humidity, and reasonable temperature during the day, it bests Spring solely because there’s no blanket of pollen coating everything in a sneeze-inducing yellow powder. How many hours a day do you write? On average, how long does it take to write a full novel? At my best I average three to four hours of day of writing, which includes editing the previous ten pages from the day before to get started. Generally speaking, I’d say it takes a year to write a full novel. That’s the first draft and at least one pass with revisions and rewrites. Then it’s ready for professional eyes. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? Physical books, always. Though I am a fan of audiobooks read by a performer or ensemble. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I take writing seriously. In large part because I am a reader first and want to create stories that are fun and memorable. But also because life is hard, for everyone. Having an outlet to escape to is so necessary. I want my worlds, difficult though life may be in them as well, to offer a place for the mind to wander, to meet new people, to feel at home within, and to return to often. I’m easy to find online. My website is zacharysteele.com and I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I have an account on Tik Tok but my inner child is still refusing to speak up there.

| ZACHARY STEELE |

Enjoy an excerpt from The Weight of Ashes The Weight of Ashes Zachary Steele YA Fantasy

After a car accident claims his older brother’s life, Mark Murphy’s world is turned upside down. The silence of their shared bedroom, the memories of Mitch’s guidance, and his mother’s drunken spiral are constant reminders of the cost of his absence. But Mark isn’t ready to grieve. He isn’t ready to accept that his brother is truly gone. Despite the insistence of the adults in his life that he accept Mitch’s death, Mark is undeterred. They don’t know what he knows. They don’t know the story of the Witch on Spook Hill. Aided by his loyal band of misfit friends, Mark’s plan to carry Mitch’s ashes to the witch is complicated by the pursuit of the town sheriff and the cousin responsible for his brother’s death. With no time to regroup, Mark and his friends must navigate the dangerous path to Spook Hill before the sun sets, so that Mitch can be resurrected in exchange for the life of the one who took it Excerpt Another minute flipped by. 8:45. The red numbers seemed to burn hotter. Like they were mad at me for still sitting on the floor. Two hours had passed, and I hadn’t moved. If the bed wasn’t at my back, I’d have probably dropped flat on the floor, curled up with my pack and bat, and never moved again. I needed to get up, but the fear wouldn’t let me. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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| FEATURE AUTHOR | through. What if Mama had the box?

Mama was up.

What if I couldn’t find what I needed at the Junkyard?

I’d waited too long.

What if I made it to the witch and she couldn’t…

She couldn’t be up. That wasn’t the plan.

She could. She had to.

I bounded to my feet as if my legs hadn’t refused to budge for the past two hours. The door stuck in the frame. In the summer months, the humidity made the wood swell. Took my shoulder to knock it loose, setting it to pop and rattle as it swayed outward, into the wall. From the sink, Mama gave me a tired smile. “Morning, baby. You hungry? I was just about to make some eggs.”

My arms trembled. I was supposed to be gone already. The walk to the Junkyard would take thirty minutes. No way I could avoid being late now. If my friends didn’t wait, I’d be on my own. I couldn’t do this alone. And if I waited much longer, there wouldn’t be time to do it at all. It’d take a while to find Gordon’s car, then it was at least another twenty minutes through the woods to the Mall. Then, from there, we had to find the trail. We’d be pushing dark getting back as it was. Any later and we had bigger problems. Trying to get through the woods at night would be impossible, even with Mitch leading the way. A sting ran deep into my chest. The corner of the box peeking out of the rip in my pack jabbed into my collar bone. My arms wrapped tight around the pack like it was the only thing keeping me alive. I didn’t know how long the box had been like that, but the sting didn’t go away when I lowered the pack. In fact, it spread until my entire body ached. “Get up, Mark. Get up and go. Now. You have to. Mitch needs you.” Mama’s door was always open unless she was out of her room. I just needed to sneak in, switch the ashes, then sneak out and go. That’s all. If she woke, I only had to be faster than her. She’d forgive me later. I didn’t want it to go like that, but there was no other way. Dishes clinked. My heart beat so hard I thought it might bust 112 | UncagedBooks.com

I wasn’t and I’d never hated the thought of eggs so much in my life. “No, ma’am.” My stomach hurt. I was pretty sure I’d never be hungry again. Her bedroom door was shut. She’d already showered and looked presentable. On Saturdays, she was always in her blue sleeping gown until late morning. She showered while I watched cartoons. It was all wrong. Mitch was waiting. I couldn’t go tomorrow. This was the fourth day. There wouldn’t be a fifth. Mitch would be gone. “Cereal?” Took me a second, but I shook my head. Words weren’t coming. “Pancakes?” With Mama up and about and already showered, I didn’t have any chance at all. “You need to eat something, Markie. It’s been a tough week.” She lowered to me, her hands on my shoulders, and kissed my forehead. “I know I haven’t given you much since … Well, I know. I’ve been… It’s been hard. Let me make it up to you. Whatever you want for breakfast. Then we’ll spend the day together, okay? Just you and me. We could go watch that Indi-

| ZACHARY STEELE | ana Jones movie you wanted to see.” Her eyes glistened. I looked away, but the only place I could think to look was her door. When she noticed, the slim line of her smile dropped. “Don’t be mad. We can talk about it. It’ll just be the two of us.” Now there were tears. She pulled back, arms folded. “I’m not mad.” Spending the day with Mama sounded nice, though I’d already watched the movie with my friends. Mitch got most of the attention. Usually, she’d ask him what he wanted to eat on Saturday. He was older. He got to choose. Mitch always said the same thing, even if she only gave in every once in a while. It was the best answer I could think of, and I could only hope she’d bite. “Donuts!” When her smile returned, I saw Mitch. I’d never really noticed how much his trouble-making grin matched Mama’s. “Donuts? We haven’t had donuts in a while, have we? I like it! We could sit around for your cartoons, eat donuts, then go watch the movie. How’s that sound?” It sounded perfect. Like something I’d very much like to do. If I could. I nodded. It felt less like a lie that way. Not that I felt better about it. The sting in my chest pressed again like a pinecone trying to worm its way to my stomach. Mama clapped her hands and hopped into action. “Give me a few minutes and we’ll head out. We can talk on the way.” “Head out? You want me to go with you?” If I left with her, that’d be the end of that. “Can I stay here?” “You don’t want to go with me?” It was like watching all the happy melt away. Every part of her body seemed to let go at once. My shoes were all I could stand to look at.

“I—” Answers drifted around my head like dandelion seeds on the breeze. “Please? Can I stay here? I just, I really don’t feel like being out. I want to be here. With Mitch.” Mama had this way of looking at me sometimes. Eyes cut, teeth clamped on the bottom of her lip. Like she was sorting through my head to see all my devilish plans. She didn’t ask, but I still worried she had it all figured out. I pushed back against the desire to confess to everything. Even the things I hadn’t done. “All right. It’s your day. Stay here.” Her bedroom door didn’t open much. She squeezed through, into the darkness, then closed it. Sounded like she was talking to herself a moment, then it got quiet. Took a few minutes for her to return. I watched every second on the clock above the television. When Mama wedged her way out of her room, she almost clipped her heel shutting the door so fast. After a kiss on my head, she jingled her keys. “Back in about fifteen minutes. I’ll get a mix. Sure you don’t want to come with me?” “Sure, Mama.” “Just stay—” Whatever she wanted to say didn’t make it out. She looked me over, smiled a smile that was somehow sad at the same time. “You’re growing up so fast.” Then she was gone, eyes welled with tears. As soon as the car cranked, I jumped to my feet. The sting in my chest left with her. At a distance from the diamond-shaped window high on the front door, I watched her reach the end of the long muddy drive. When she turned right, I sprinted to my room. I’d checked the pack already, but I did it again anyway. Patted the back pocket of my jeans to confirm I had the map. Not that a shoe box of ashes or a folded map were going anywhere on their own. I just couldn’t help myself. Once I left, that was it. I couldn’t return without Mitch. In the living room, Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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| FEATURE AUTHOR | I set the Easton by the door and wiggled the box halfway out, until the lid opened enough for me to fish out the baggie. The ashes felt heavier than before. Now that I looked at them in daylight, I could see visible bits of charred twig poking into the plastic. I should have been more careful. If Mama looked too close, she’d know in a flash that they weren’t right. Nothing I could do about it. There wasn’t a breath deep enough to make me feel at peace. Maybe when I was on my way, I’d feel better. Maybe when I was back with Mitch, Mama would forgive me. Even though she was gone, I took her bedroom door easy. Like she’d sense anything more and turn the car around. Silly though I knew it was, sometimes I’d swear she had a crystal ball. She came to school during lunch once. Said she sensed I’d caused a scene in class. Just an hour before I’d gotten into it with Mr. Vance over math problems. He gave me detention. Mama gave me worse.

the thick-walled plastic bag in the box—didn’t have a medallion. I wasn’t even sure why it was there. The slightest scent of soot tickled my nose. The bag was much smaller than I’d expected. Much too small for Mitch. It should have been bigger. Mine was almost twice the size. It’s not Mitch. That can’t be Mitch. There’s not enough in there. Someone groaned. That’s when I noticed the belt and holstered gun at the end of the dresser. “Mark?” I didn’t turn. I didn’t need to. I could see him in the mirror atop the dresser. I turned my gaze back to the box, like I’d peeked in on something I shouldn’t have seen. Officer John rustled the sheets aside. The bed creaked when he sat up. He made a noise like a yawn, though it could as easily have been a gasp. I had no idea what to do, but as if I was one of his suspects, my hands rose. If he didn’t see the bag before, he would now.

The shades were drawn. Bedroom was mostly dark, but with enough light to see the white box on the dresser. I let loose a sigh of relief. Just a quick switch and I’d be gone and on my way. Maybe Mama would look at them today, maybe she wouldn’t. I’d have a head start no matter.

“Turn around, Mark.”

The box wasn’t anything extraordinary. White oak, trimmed in swirls of gold. Gold latch on the front, small knob to lock it shut. Looked more like one of Mama’s jewelry boxes than, well, than what it was. Picking it open wasn’t easy. The tiny knob slotted tight. When I finally got it turned and released the latch, the lid was lighter than expected. It clapped against the dresser like a gunshot, which gave me as much a start as the bag within.

But whatever Mama would do wouldn’t be worse than failing Mitch.

For a moment, I froze, staring at it. A charred silver medallion tied the top of a clear baggie. My bag—a plain ole zip top that looked nothing like 114 | UncagedBooks.com

I had a vision of Mama coming home to find me in handcuffs, bawling and stuffed in the back of Officer John’s car. Prison would be better than what she’d do to me.

Mama had never had a man over before. It’d just been the three of us forever. Didn’t even know I had a daddy until I learned that he ran off to have another family elsewhere before I was born. I didn’t want to see Officer John in her bed, but I couldn’t let him stop me neither. The bag in the box was there for the taking, wide white sticker on the plastic blaring “Mitchell Murphy” at me. As fast as I could, I swapped out the baggie of firepit ash for the bag in the box. I knew instantly that Mama wouldn’t be fooled. My bag didn’t

| ZACHARY STEELE | fit in the box well enough to close the lid, and the bag I held didn’t feel like ash at all. Some of the bits within were sharp against my palms, like ground pebbles. Like ground bone. When I gave it a squeeze, it didn’t give the same as my bag. I pinched the medallion between my fingers, looking for some sign I had it all wrong. That this wasn’t Mitch. But the inscription bore his name. Black soot marked my fingers. I’d printed the lid of the box with sooty fingerprints. Something in my throat twitched and I nearly threw up. “Mark?” Once the lid to the white box was as shut as it’d get, I turned to Officer John, bag clutched to my chest. A white tank top covered some of his hairy chest, slacks draped over the wooden chair by the wall, shoes on the floor at the foot of the bed. I knew I could get all the head start I needed. Couldn’t imagine he’d chase me outside in his briefs and bare feet. “Put the bag back, Mark.” I slid a step toward the door. “I have to go. Tell Mama it’ll be all right. We’ll be back later.” “What do you mean? What are you doing?” The sheets shifted aside. A bit of hairy leg draped over the edge of the bed, challenging me. Not wanting to wait until he completely stood, I took off. The trailer floor shook as he landed hard, calling my name, but I got to my pack in a flash. By the time he reached the bedroom door, trousers half on in a one-legged dance, Mitch’s ashes were in the shoe box, pack zipped, bat in hand. “Whatever you’re doing, think about your mom. She doesn’t need this.” He nearly tripped trying to get his second leg in but caught himself on the doorframe. “She needs Mitch. So do I.” And I ran.

“Needs Mitch? Mark, your brother—” Officer John’s voice cut short as the storm door clapped shut. His patrol car was there, right out front of my bedroom window. If I had looked at all, I’d have seen it. Better I didn’t. I wouldn’t have chanced going in the room. Sky was still grey, but the rain had finally stopped. Mosquitos were out in full force, air thick and swampy. The yard and drive were nothing but puddles. Much more and we’d have been the start of a new pond. I did my best not to slosh, but the faster I ran, the more impossible it became. Water seeped through the legs of my jeans. My sneakers were coated in mud and heavy as tires. I didn’t look back until I reached the end of the long drive, and only then because I heard the siren of the patrol car yelp. Officer John shouted something I couldn’t make out, half in the car, uniform shirt unbuttoned. The Junkyard was to the right, straight down Moody Road into downtown Hogan, but I wouldn’t get far with Officer John trailing me. Only choice was to cut straight across Moody, through the Herberts’ lot, into the woods behind their house, until I reached the train tracks. They ran along the same path as Moody, but with no cross street until Silver Lake Drive in town. The Junkyard was on the other side of the Square. Another blast of the siren gave me a jolt as I crossed the road, but there was no way I was looking back. I hit the tracks at full speed and didn’t slow down, no matter how much it hurt, no matter how hard it was to breathe. If I kept at a run, I could cut some time. Hopefully, my friends would wait for me. By the time I neared the break in the trees just outside of downtown, my legs were screaming for rest. I didn’t want to chance coming out in the open, so I ducked back into the woods the rest of the way. At the clearing near the Square, I saw the swirling lights and knew I was in for it. Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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showcase Christiane Dutrisac Wish Upon a Star Wish Upon a Star Childrens From a motherdaughter tandem comes a charming picture book that depicts the importance of friendship, believing and trusting. Author Christiane Dutrisac and illustrator Sophie Dutrisac bring you a beautiful and touching story in Wish Upon a Star. After wishing upon a star one night, a series of unfortunate incidents leads to the loss of Josie’s senses... all but one. How will she function? How will she persevere? Who would have thought that her wish would come true and save the day in various ways! Come, join Josie as she discovers the value of having good friends who’ll always be there.

Excerpt Ally added: “Don’t forget Josie, when all your other senses fail you, your touch will always save the day!” Just then, Stanley pulled Josie in to give her a Hug. “I wish upon a star!” thought Josie. 116 | UncagedBooks.com

Christiane Dutrisac is a Wolfram Syndrome (WS) survivor who wants to bring hope to children bearing the burden of this condition. Just as the main character, she loses the use of each of her senses except touch, due to WS. Her talented 10-year-old daughter Sophie Dutrisac is aspiring to be an artist one day and makes a beautiful contribution to this project.

christianedutrisac.com

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A Pantser By Any Other Name Guest column by J.E. McDonald

| GUEST COLUMN |

A Pantser By Any Other Name by J.E. McDonald

As a fledging writer I wrote by the seat of my pants. A pantser. Every night before bed, I would handwrite a few pages in a notebook, a love story set in the far future where we’d messed up Earth so badly it had become a conservation zone. From what I’ve found, the term pantser came from National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. It’s appropriate then, that the first time I sat down and decided to write a manuscript from start to finish was during NaNoWriMo one November years ago. I’ve heard there are those who are “true” pantsers, those who write without any idea of what they want to write about. That wasn’t me, no. I definitely had the shape of a story in my head before I set out to write it (usually the beginning and the end), I just never put pen to paper outlining which event would lead to the next, in any chronological fashion beforehand. That first story will always have a place in my heart. Not only because I loved the romance between two people of warring cultures, but because the story grabbed me so tight I wasn’t happy until I wrote what came next—even if I had no clue what that event would be. Fast forward several years and several manuscripts later. My writing had become technically stronger. But I’d also learned that without a plan, I often had to rewrite whole sections of a book, not realizing I needed to include something in the beginning until I reached the end. That amount of rewriting became frustrating. Besides that, there was something fundamentally missing from the stories I wrote. I could acknowledge the lack, but I had no idea how to fix it. Cue the writing groups. One of the best resources for writers is to connect with other writers. I joined as many local writing groups as I could, and in doing so exposed myself to many different writing styles and techniques. There were those who wrote over a hundred thousand words of outline spanning three books without writing a single word of the actual manuscript. There 120 | UncagedBooks.com

were those who handwrote in notebooks like how I had started. There were those who only wrote short stories and those who wrote epic fantasies. By mingling with such a cross-section, I discovered there was no right or wrong way to approach a story. Even then, I continued to feel like I lacked something in my own writing. In seeing how others worked, I thought perhaps I should take a crack at this mystical thing I’d heard of called “plotting.” I began to write pages of what I knew would happen in the story and then I’d go back over those pages to fill in the blanks. I kept up with this process until the shape of an entire manuscript took the form of an outline. The plot existed. When I sat down to write the actual story itself, I did so knowing what would happen next and found I enjoyed it. It allowed me enough wiggle room to discover new and interesting things about the work while moving on to the next plot point. I’d feared some magic would be lost in the process. Luckily, in understanding what came next and leaving wiggle room to be imaginative, this new method became fundamentally freeing. It still wasn’t enough. So the pantser thing hadn’t worked, and the plotter thing didn’t fill all the gaps I could still see in my narrative. I wanted to create the kind of stories I enjoyed, the addictive ones so many of my favorite authors seemed to create effortlessly. (I know now none of it is effortless.) I continued to write, to try to make my work better, but could never find that elusive thing I searched for. No matter how many critique partners and beta readers I hoped would shed light on the issue, it never appeared. It all came down to character. My “Ah ha!” moment came in the form of a three-hour workshop at a Romance Writers of America conference. It felt like the whole workshop had been created specifically for the problem I could see in my work. I sat there dumbfounded (and a little embarrassed to be honest) that I hadn’t seen it before. I’m still usure if it was what presenter said or if it happened to be the best possible time for me to listen. Maybe if I’d heard the same words two years earlier, I wouldn’t have understood them in the same way. The plot must be driven by the characters. The story must come from the characters. Every choice they make, every action they perform, needs to come from somewhere, some point of origin that makes them behave the way

they do. Just as we, in real life, are victims of repeating the same patterns for reasons that have been ingrained in us since childhood, so are our characters. Ironically, the pantser in me began to flourish once more. In backstory. This is where I let my imagination run wild. This is where I don’t worry about what comes next, instead immersing myself in the scene, using as much vivid detail as I can muster. I write scene after scene for my main characters (and even secondary ones where it’s called for), depicting past events, pivotal moments in their lives, searching for those things called “emotional wounds” or “misbeliefs.” And when I find them, I can understand what pushes them onward, where the plot comes from. Not only do I allow myself this pantser freedom in backstory, but I allow myself to fall down the rabbit holes of research during this planning stage. What I once thought of as constraining becomes freeing. My research takes me to places I never fathomed, enriching my stories in more ways than I can count. And all of this happens before I’ve ever written a word of the actual manuscript. There are times I pause in writing to research something I hadn’t thought of. There are times when I need to add a couple more scenes I hadn’t considered because of timeline issues. And that’s ok! The best thing I can do for myself at that point is to not get frustrated with doing something “wrong.” None of it is wrong. It’s all part of the process. The lovely people in my writing groups taught me that. I no longer call myself a pantser. But I’m not a plotter either. I think the term “planster” is just about right—the pantser who plans. I don’t know who coined the phrase, but for a person who likes to know where they fit in, it feels just about perfect.

J.E. McDonald was born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, The Land of the Living Skies. As a child, she was either searching the clouds for identifiable shapes, or stargazing way past her bedtime. She cut her teeth watching Star Trek, James Bond movies, and reading the Harlequin novels her mother left in the bathroom—which resulted in an extremely skewed sense of sex education by age eleven. All of these factors contribute to her love of writing paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and far-future romance. J.E. resides in Saskatchewan with her husband and three daughters and drinks way too much coffee.

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fang-FREAKIN-tastic reviews

feature author

Pamela Gail

PAMELA GAIL

amela Gail was raised in the rich, coastal traditions of southeast Georgia. She has been married to her husband, Rick, for over 20 years, and they have two sons. As a wife and mother, she finds solitude and comfort in her creative outlets. Pamela expresses herself through stories that relay her deep appreciation of family and the virtue of life. Her hobbies include writing, reading, listening to music, wine tasting and watching football. 126 | UncagedBooks.com

After graduating from college in South Carolina, Pamela returned to her hometown and was blessed with an amazing twenty-year career teaching elementary school. In 2018, she made the decision to leave the only job she’d ever known in order to pursue her life-long dream of becoming a published author. In addition to writing, she owns two businesses that keep her busy. With little time to relax, Pamela cherishes the free time she has and enjoys spending it with family and friends.

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I pick their brains. I also read articles and books to further my understanding of each topic. What do you like to do when you aren’t writing? When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I like to watch football, cook, read, attend wine tastings, walk on the beach and play board games. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? I wanted to be an actress, author and teacher. From middle school until I had my first child, I di local theater. I earned a degree in education and taught elementary school for twenty years. Now, I’m an author. It took a long time, but I eventually pursued all of my loves. Does writing energize or exhaust you?

authorpamelagail.com

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I’ve always enjoyed writing, even as a child. I was in my twenties when I first realized that I’d like to get published one day. How long does it take you to write a book? Depending on the length of the book and how much time I have to devote to it each day, it takes one to three months to write the rough draft. Then it takes two to four weeks to run it by my alpha readers and finally about two months to do all of the editing. From start date to publish date is usually six to eight months. Where do you get information or ideas for your books? Most of my ideas have been brewing in my head for years. I research various topics that I deal with in my books in many different ways. If I have a friend who knows anything about the topic or works in the field,

Energize! Writing always makes me feel good whether I spend a few minutes or a few hours doing it. If I’m in a funk, writing pulls me out of it. I find that it’s great therapy, so I try to write every day even if it isn’t something that ever ends up in a book. Do you want each book to standalone, or do you prefer to write series? I actually enjoy writing both. Some books are meant to standalone and don’t need to be part of a series or have a sequel. Others need multiple books to tell the whole story. Sometimes, I don’t know if a book is going to be a series until I get started. Right now, I am working on several projects. – two young adult novels that will both be standalones, a college romance series that will have at least four books and a children’s chapter book series. How do you select the names of your characters? Naming characters can be the hardest part of the writing process. Names are an important part of the book and I struggle to write the story before I Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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choose the perfect names. I keep a running list of names, so I always have hundreds to choose from, but that doesn’t make the process easy. The names have to fit the character’s personality and mess with the other characters, especially if I am writing a love interest or siblings. What comes first for you – the plot or the characters? This varies for me. I had the character names chosen before I started writing Path of the Heartbeats, but it took me some time to figure out Dallas and Wylde’s story, so in this case the characters came before the plot. For my two young adult novels, I had the plots first, but it took time to figure out the character’s names. Right now, I have two characters who definitely have a story that needs to be written, but I don’t have the plot yet.

Enjoy an excerpt from: Path of the Heartbeats Path of the Heartbeats Pamela Gail Contemporary Romance Releases Feb. 7 Wylde Sutton is your typical twenty-year-old. He likes to hang out with his friends, party and hit on girls. Life was working out just the way he planned until his mother cut him off without warning. Now, he’s a college drop-out working two jobs with little time for sleep much less romance. Dallas Carter grew up in a small town in South Carolina and always dreamed of going to college. She spent much of her childhood raising her three younger siblings while her single mother worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. Dallas knew a scholarship was the only way she’d ever go to college. Wylde and Dallas are neighbors with little in common. He sees a stuck-up girl who’s too good for their parties and would rather study than have fun. Dallas sees a jerk who thinks getting 128 | UncagedBooks.com

drunk and laid is the key to happiness. But their situations are far more similar that they think. When Wylde’s kid brother, Motley, shows up unexpectedly, Dallas finally sees the softer side of Wylde and is intrigued. Watching how he cares for Motley, she realizes he grew up saddled with responsibility just as she had. While they are drawn together by the similarities of their pasts, a crushing betrayal rips them apart. The road to love isn’t always easy even when our heartbeats are connected. Will the path that led Dallas and Wylde to each other find a way to reunite them? Or will the journey through shocking revelations broken promises in the midst of a devastating tragedy be destroy their chance at a future together? Excerpt The spring heat hits me like a sauna when I step outside. Why is it this hot already? I’m glad I have a tank top on under my t-shirt. At least if I’m going to be hot, I can get a little sun. Checking my bag, I make sure I have everything. Sunscreen, pencils, sketch pad, water, keys in my hand, chair and beach towel are in the car. Okay, ready to go. Adjusting the bag on my shoulder, I drop my keys. “Nice ass,” Dean calls as I lean down to pick them up. If I had seen him standing in his doorway, I would’ve left the keys on the ground, but I was too focused on my bag to notice my surroundings. For once, can he not ogle me? Is that too much to ask? I don’t respond as I turn for the stairs. “Not so fast, hot stuff,” he purrs, stepping in front of me, raking his eyes over my body. His smirk tells me that he thinks my involuntary shudder is one of need and lust, but he’s sorely mistaken. It’s one of revolt while trying to choke down vomit. Dean creeps me out. I feel dirty standing next to him. Lily says he’s harmless, but her judgment isn’t the best. He doesn’t understand boundaries at all. “Excuse me,” I clip. “I need to get going.” I wouldn’t dare tell him where I’m going because he might fol-

low me. “Why are you in such a hurry? I have the apartment to myself for the next few hours. We can spend a little time together.” He reaches out, caressing my cheek. I swallow bile in a failed attempt to keep my composure. He knows he’s getting to me. “No,” snapping, I step to the left. He mirrors my movement, so I step to the right. He follows. I sigh in frustration. “I’m going to be late. Move, Dean.” He holds his hands up and feigns innocence. “I’m sorry, Dallas.” I roll my eyes and force my way past him. This time, he lets me go. “Why are you such a bitch? Someone needs to fuck you. Maybe then you’ll lighten up a little,” he calls after me. I ignore him and rush to my car. My hands shake as I try to put the key in the ignition. It takes three attempts. Dean’s disgusting and disrespectful and has no idea how to treat people. He’s been trying to get me into bed for the past year, and it’s getting old. Why do I let him get under my skin? I need to learn to be more assertive with him and not let his words get to me so much. I don’t care for Wylde’s superior attitude, but he’s better than Dean, and he’s pretty hot. Stop, Dallas, you cannot think Wylde is hot. At least Turner’s nice. I can have a conversation with him without wanting to punch something. On the other hand, his roommates leave a lot to be desired. I’m not running late for anything, but I didn’t want to be around Dean any longer than absolutely necessary. I have some drawings to finish for my illustration class. Nature has always inspired me, so I work better outside. It’s hard to get my creativity flowing under harsh indoor fluorescent lights, so I’m spending a few hours at my favorite place to draw. Lake

Cherub, at the base of Raigus Mountain. The gorgeous mountains surround the serene lake on all sides. It’s a great place to hike. Some trails lead up the mountains and two lead even further into the valley. At the end of one of those trails is Angel Falls, a waterfall fed from Lake Cherub. It’s only a fifteen-minute drive from campus, so I spend a great deal of time there. I always feel at peace by the lake, it reminds me of home. Well, not the mountains. My little town is flat, but we have a huge lake where I spent a lot of time growing up. It was an inexpensive vacation since my mom couldn’t afford much when we were little. She always called it our “staycation weekend.” On Friday evening, we would pack the car and drive the few miles to the lake, then spend the weekend camping out, fishing, and cooking over a campfire. It was heaven. I miss those days. It doesn’t take long for me to get situated. I set up my chair, apply some sunscreen, then take out my sketch pad and get comfortable. My assignment is to draw a person you don’t often see from memory. I thought about drawing my mom or one of my siblings. I don’t get to see them much since I moved to college. Then I decided it might be fun to draw one of my high school friends I haven’t seen in two years. I even considered drawing my dad. He left us when I was ten. I still miss him so much, even though I shouldn’t. My heart aches for Landry, who was only one when he left, and Deion, who barely remembers him. His leaving was devastating for all of us. I want to capture what I still remember about him. That sounds stupid. I should hate the man who hurt us. “Hey, chickie,” a voice startles me. I look up as Adalyn lays a towel on the sand next to my chair and sits down. I should have known it was her. No one else calls me chickie. “Hey, what are you doing here?” “I figured you’d be here drawing since this is where you are most Sunday afternoons. I’m turning into a ghost from not being in the sun for Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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months, so I came to keep you company.” “You came to get a tan. I happen to be the consolation prize,” I tease. Adalyn loves the sun. Her skin will tan perfectly within a few hours. It makes me a little jealous. It takes me all summer to get a decent tan, then the winter comes, and it all becomes pointless. “I need some Dallas time. I haven’t seen you in almost a week.” “It’s been crazy busy. I have four projects and a paper due in the next week, and I worked a double at the restaurant yesterday because two girls called in sick,” I complain. “I spent fourteen hours in the studio yesterday working on my final project for my design class. It’s due in three weeks, so I’ll practically be living in the studio for the rest of April, but I’m taking today off!” she announces as she stretches out on the towel and closes her eyes. I return to my sketch, well, my blank page. I still have no idea who to draw. There’s a huge pull inside of me to my father. He left us in April, and I always find this time of year brings a flood of emotions. I get angry all over again, but I also miss him more in the spring than the rest of the year. I probably spend an unhealthy amount of time thinking about him each April. As his memories flood my mind, my hand begins to sketch. Without making a conscious decision, my father’s face slowly appears on the paper in my lap. He was a handsome man, and Emmitt looks more and more like him every year. I often wonder if it’s hard for my mother to watch my brother grow into a man with her ex-husband’s features. It has to be, especially after the way he treated her. My brother is kind and caring. I hope he never hurts anyone the way our father hurt us. By the time the drawing is done, I’m starving. I 130 | UncagedBooks.com

root around in the cooler and pull out a bottle of water and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “You hungry?” I asked Adalyn. “No, thanks, I ate before I came,” she responds. “How are those hotties across the hall? Have you talked to Wylde lately,” she singsongs. “Why are you so fixated on them? I’ve told you a hundred times, I’m not interested in Wylde.” “Then why do you get so riled up when I mention him? You don’t react that way to talk of Dean and Turner,” she teases. She’s right, and I hate it. I don’t know why I get like this when she mentions Wylde. Well, he is yummy, but he’s such a pain. “I don’t get riled up,” I argue. “All he cares about is getting drunk and laid. Obviously, with the nightly parties and revolving door of girls in their apartment, that’s all any of them care about.” “How would you know what goes on over there? Have you ever been to one of their parties?” “No, and I don’t plan on starting.” “Why are you so judgey when it comes to them? That’s not like you.” “I’m not being judgey. Dean comes onto me every chance he gets. It got old a year ago. Turner’s okay. He’s nice enough and did help me move some of my furniture last year. Wylde won’t even try to get to know anyone. He’s always rushing off somewhere, and the few times we’ve spoken, he’s been short with me. I don’t know what I did to make him hate me, but the feeling is kind of mutual.” “I think you should give them a chance. Turner is a nice guy. I’ve talked to him a few times when I’ve been in Burke Hall. He’s a freaking genius when it

comes to building. You should see his final project for his architectural design course. It’s amazing. I’d love to design the interior of a hotel like the one he’s creating. Dean gets under everyone’s skin, but I’m sure he’s harmless. Wylde’s probably just busy. Turner said he works a lot.” “My schedule doesn’t allow for a social life, so it doesn’t matter anyway.” Adalyn drops the conversation, closing her eyes again. I finish my sandwich, then flip to a new page in my sketchbook. I need to work on some other drawings. The assignment due next is to sketch twenty small drawings of nature scenes by Friday. We have to divide five pages into four sections. Each of the four sketches has to relate to each other somehow, but not to the other sixteen drawings. I went to a nearby dog park a few days ago after class and drew four of the dogs I saw there. Another day, I chose four trees on campus in different stages of blooming. Today, I’m going to draw pictures of the lake and mountains. I still need to decide what my other two pages will be. There are a bunch of waterfalls nearby, so that would be fun for one of the sets. I’ll have some time after classes tomorrow before my shift. I think I want my last set to be animals, but not dogs again. Sometimes, later in the day, I see deer and rabbits around the lake when it gets quiet. Maybe I’ll come back tonight before sunset. As I work on my drawings, my mind wanders to the conversation I just had with Adalyn. She’s right about Wylde. I hate to admit it, but I am drawn to him. Even though we don’t get along and probably will never spend any real-time together, there’s something about him that piques my interest. Maybe it’s that mysterious vibe he portrays.

was nothing but an excuse that I wouldn’t allow myself to see past. The DUI arrest was easy to blow off, but I couldn’t lie to myself any longer when he was arrested for armed robbery. Last I heard, he was in prison. It isn’t a story I tell many people because I’m not proud of my decisions when we were together. I never did anything too terrible. I drank when we were together, and I lost my virginity to him. The part I’m not proud of is arguing with my mom and not listening when she tried to tell me he was bad news. It put a strain on our relationship for about two years. Thankfully, I came to my senses at the beginning of my senior year, apologized to my mom, and mended our relationship. After that experience, I decided to focus on school and my art. I’ve been on dates since then, but nothing serious. Wylde is the opposite in looks. His hair is short, and he’s clean-shaven most of the time and definitely works out. His muscles stretch his shirts, and I enjoy the view. I wonder if what Turner told Adalyn is true. Wylde is likely working, and that’s why he’s always rushing off somewhere. He might be paying his way through school. Looking at the pad in my lap, I realize that I’ve been completely lost in thoughts of Wylde, and his face has appeared on the paper. I cut my eyes to make sure Adalyn isn’t watching as I quickly turn the page. What the hell? How did a sketch of the lake become of a portrait of Wylde?

I was always attracted to guys with long hair and bad reputations in high school. My mom didn’t like Derek, my high school boyfriend, but I thought he was perfect. Of course, my mom was right. It took three arrests before I finally broke up with him. Using the lies he told me, I convinced myself that he was misunderstood and had a rough home life. It Issue 63 | January/February 2022 |

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AMY’S BOOKSHELF

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Uncaged Reviews Midnight Marked Chloe Neill Paranormal Romance As the Chicagoland Vampires series continues, Merit and Ethan find themselves in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where winning may require the ultimate sacri-

fice... A vampire’s grudges don’t stay dead long... Merit is one of Chicago’s most skilled vampire warriors; these days, she doesn’t scare easily. But she and Master vampire Ethan have made a new and powerful enemy, and he won’t give up until he owns the Windy City.

Uncaged Review: This is the twelfth book in this series and it still is going strong. There has been quite a lapse in time since I read in the series, but it was simple to pick it back up. In this outing, there is a business man trying to take over the city and using a sorceress and a rogue vampire to help with a magical spell that will take over the supernatural community. Ethan and Merit and even the other Houses, the Pack and the independent vampire community will need to work together to save the city. This book is full of action and suspense, but there is still some wonderful Ethan and Merit time. Even though I guessed a couple of the things that happened, it was still great fun getting there. One more book to go in this series before the spin off, and it’s been a series very worth reading. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Mirror Image Mary Cook Crime/Suspense A killer has come to town. Been in her house. Watched her sleep. Is leaving her notes. Men who live in Orchard Grove have become the target of a vicious serial killer. Antonia Delgado is determined to bring the killer to justice before she claims her next victim. A new truth is revealed when the notes become more personal.

Uncaged Review: There is a serial killer on the loose and the killer is targeting men who have daughters. The book opens with a grizzly scene of a man being tortured by the killer and then the book speeds onward. Toni and Rob are the detectives that are working the case and every single clue is pointing toward a woman being the killer. One of the problems is that Toni is an alcoholic and has blackouts, and the clues that have been gathered at each scene make it look suspiciously like Toni is the killer. Is she killing during her blackouts? This is a book that will keep you guessing and never slows the pace. As you learn more and more, you will change your mind several times during the book to whom the killer is, and may stump you until the end. There was a couple of things that I had a hard time believing, but all in all, this is a good crime thriller that was a quick read. Reviewed by Cyrene

The Runaway Wife CiCi Cordelia Historical Western

Sinners MC Various MC Romance Anthology

SAFER, TOGETHER . . .

Are you ready to fall in love with some hardcore bikers?

Sam’s never been the nurturing type, but Izzy’s sweetness and innocent bravery touches his heart. He finds himself willing to protect her from her scheming family at any cost, even if it means tying himself down with a wife.

Uncaged Review: It’s always a treat to read a book from these authors, together they write a seamless story, and the reader can never see where one author leaves off and the other begins. The Brides of Little Creede is a great series, each one is original and true page turners. In this book, we get Izzy and Sam’s story. Izzy runs away from an abusive family, a family aiming to marry her off to an old abusive man, for money. She makes it to Little Creede where Sam finds her and takes her under his protection. Danger mounts for Izzy and Sam when Izzy’s brother, father and the dangerous man they want to marry her off to, comes looking for her. This book has almost everything you’d want in a historical romance. Danger, even a bit of a thriller vibe, and the dashing hero and a woman who grows into her own throughout the story. A bonus, the ebook version of this story has a bonus short story about Robert and Maggie, and how they are trapped in a cabin during a snow storm. Reviewed by Cyrene

They might be outlaws, but one thing is certain… Nobody messes with their women or their clubs. Those that stupidly enough dare to do so, will have hell to pay. Uncaged Review: This anthology covers 6 stories by mostly new to me authors, with the exception of Ginger Ring. Each story is easy to read in one sitting, and they range from an almost sweet romance to almost erotic, so there is something for everyone. A couple stories stood out for me, Born to Hide from Ginger Ring is a story within her Lake Genoa series, and a few characters from her Genoa Mafia Series show up to tie this story up. I really liked Saige and Capone’s story and how it tied into the main series. I really hope that the author has more stories within this world in the future. Also, Ecstasy was a nice story of friends to lovers and Mayhem MC was a story with some suspense tossed in. Overall, this is a nice anthology that may introduce you to new authors, and if you like the motor cross worlds, this is a good choice for some easy reads. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Reviews Lady Brazen Scarlett Scott Historical Regency Lady Philippa Shaw had it all: a husband who was madly in love with her, a sweet baby daughter, and a house in the most exclusive square in London. Until a shocking discovery after her husband’s death revealed her happy life was a lie. Now, his past crimes are returning to haunt her, bringing danger, devastation, and the one man she’s spent the past few years despising.

Uncaged Review: This is the 6th book in a se-

Lady Frederica and the Scot Who Would Not Julie Johnstone Historical Regency When the guarded King of the Underworld collides with a maddeningly reckless lady, the road to ruination becomes impossible not to take.

Lady Frederica Darlington isn’t prim, obedient, or appropriately dispassionate as a proper lady of the aristocracy should be. Nor is she interested in securing a husband, whether rake, rogue, duke, or lord. Freddy wants to live as she pleases in a place she feels she belongs, and for a unconventional lady, the bohemian world of Covent Garden seems the perfect spot

ries, and it reads perfectly fine as a standalone. After losing her husband, Pippa finds out that her marriage was all a ruse, her husband with his bad business dealings and it’s all coming back to haunt Pippa and her daughter. Roland, who was jilted by Pippa years ago, still steps up to the plate and offers his protection.

Uncaged Review: I love this series by this author, but this one doesn’t measure up as well as the others. Freddy is not a very likable character in the beginning, and although she redeems herself later on, it’s hard to completely like her when she starts out a bit selfish. I feel this one was written in a bit of a rush, but it’s still a good addition to the series.

I have to admit, I love this author’s books, but I did not like the heroine in the first two thirds of the book. She was very immature and undecided, and I didn’t see much growth with her until the last part of the book. So unfortunately, reading most of a book, not really connecting to the heroine, makes it a bit harder to put up there with my favorites. Reviewed by Cyrene

As for Gabe, I felt more connection to him, but it was still not the connection I’ve felt with other heroes in the series. I am intrigued by Frederica’s brother, and looking forward to that book. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Christmas Magic Catherine Kean Comedy – Fantasy Romance Will cursed cookies poison their magical Christmas? Molly Hendrickson is looking forward to a happy holiday with her fiancé, Lucian Lord, manager of Black Cat Antiquities. A sorcerer and reincarnated knight from the Middle Ages, Lucian protects Cat’s Paw Cove from evil magic and is teaching Molly how to use her newfound abilities—because even in the festive season, their enemies, The Dealers, could strike again.

Uncaged Review: What a great time to go back and visit Lucian and Molly again. If you haven’t read the book where these two first showed up, Hot Magic, you needn’t read it to read this one, but you probably should, it’s way too much fun in Cat’s Paw Cove to miss. This time The Dealers are trying to hex the couple, and Molly will need to find out how to break the spell. This is a fun suspense/romance and you may find yourself laughing often, and if not, you will smile the whole way through. This is a fun, cozy fantasy mystery that’s a lot of fun. Reviewed by Cyrene

Tangled in Tinsel N. Jade Grey Holiday Romance Sugar Plum fairies eat your heart out. Madison Reynolds has visions of a different kind dancing in her head. Home for the holidays in Cedar Bend, Colorado, Madison must focus on helping her bedridden pregnant sister, not fantasize about the one who got away. But how is she supposed to forget about her high school crush when she bumps into him at every turn?

Uncaged Review: I love second chance romances, and add in the holiday, and it just makes it that much better. Madison returns to her hometown to help her pregnant sister, but runs in to her high school crush, Ryder. There is a definite love triangle going on, which is at times frustrating. What was really fun about this book is the secondary cast of characters. Four year old nephew Taggert and his father Jim were hilarious at times and great additions to the story. This is a romantic holiday book, with romance and humor. The author keeps it flowing seamlessly and it was over before I realized it. This is a book that should be a Hallmark movie, not those corny ones. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Reviews Sea of Dreams D.A. Henneman Fantasy Romance In a land that parallels ours, a great evil lies in wait. To defeat it, Brooke must face her greatest fears.Just when Brooke Fisher thought she had a handle on her anxiety, strange things start to happen. In addition to her hair turning green, she has had nothing but cold showers and iced coffee for weeks. When the man starring in her nightmares walks into her reality, she must determine their connection. Uncaged Review: This romance was a refreshing

change of pace for me. When Brooke and Will meet, they find a connection and are drawn to each other pretty early on. A little bit of magic, tossed in – made this for a book that was difficult to put down at times. I liked how together, they grew closer unraveling a mystery. Even Will will find some things about himself he never knew. This is an easy recommendation, the characters are easy to like, there is suspense, mystery, fantasy and even a bit of heat and humor. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Holding Kata Čuić Sports Romance Every rule has an exception.

Tori Russo’s job is very simple—be a pretty distraction for a professional football player with a bad attitude. Her only problem? She’d rather gain some actual marketing experience during her internship than be someone’s arm candy for photo ops. Growing up with a Navy captain father and five older, overprotective brothers, she’s never been allowed to stand on her own two feet

Uncaged Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this romance, as I’m not a big contemporary sports romance reader, but this was an enjoyable read. I liked the witty characters and their chemistry, but I was confused at times at how much time had passed, sometimes I had to go back and look to see if I missed something. This is the fifth book in the series, and I did not read the first four, but I’m guessing I would have had a bit more background on some of the secondary couples that pop up and would have made this story even better. This is a nice read, I think that even though it holds up okay as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the first four books in the series first. Reviewed by Cyrene

Moonlight Becomes You Robert Herold Dark Fantasy/Horror The Eidola Project travels to Petersburg, Virginia, to investigate a series of murders in the Black community—rumored to be caused by a werewolf. Once there, danger comes from all quarters. Not only do they face threats from the supernatural, the KKK objects to the team’s activities, and the group is falling apart. Can they overcome their human frailties to defeat the evil that surrounds them?

Uncaged Review: This is not a typical werewolf book, like you might think looking at the cover. This is a historical horror book and is not for the easily offended by racism or the Klu-Klux-Klan, or the asylums. This is a book that is hard to put down, and a lot of things happen that I never saw coming. This is better than book one in this series, and I’d recommend reading the first book, The Eidola Project first to get a good background. This author seems to be a new welcome voice in the gothic horror world, and I look forward to reading more. Reviewed by Cyrene

Nation of the Sun HR Moore Fantasy Romance Amari has a perfect life. She’s a successful food critic, and is marrying a high flying human rights lawyer. But the day before her wedding, a stranger, Caspar, tries to solicit her help. She sends him away, but can’t shake the feeling that she knows him. Uncaged Review: Amari and Caspar are demons who have lived many lives, but when Amari reincarnates, she never remembers her past. Caspar is her soulmate, and each lifetime, Caspar must get to her for her to remember who they are. This time, there are assassins trying to get to them and they need to find out why. Many mysteries need to be unraveled in this book, and it’s a very intricate and intriguing storyline. It did end on a bit of a cliffhanger – the author claims that the third and final book in the main series will be out in March 2022 – so at least it’s not that big of a wait. There is a lot to like about this book, Pagans and demons, past lives and new discoveries, a lot of details that I find myself scratching my head as to how the author keeps it all straight, make this easy to recommend. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews Making Midlife Magic Heloise Hull Occult/Fantasy A Paranormal Women’s Fiction adventure for those who believe that finding your true self late in life is a blessing, not a curse—even if it turns out you may actually be cursed. After finding my soon-to-be ex-husband together with my soon-to-be ex-assistant, I realize his “for better or for worse” didn’t include my forties. An extended vacation on a remote Italian island sounds like the perfect antidote to a midlife crisis— until I arrive. I’m expecting Chianti and pasta. What I get is a run-down bed and breakfast with the oldest Nonna in existence. There’s something about this island. Something odd. Like how everyone keeps calling me Mamma or how I’m the first tourist in decades. And that’s before I wake up to a talking chipmunk holding a glass of wine. He says I have something ancient in me, and for once, it’s not my creaking joints. When I finally discover the island’s deepest secrets, I know my forties are about to be fabulous, if only I can survive long enough to enjoy them.

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: Making Midlife Magic is a surprising and fun book. Due to there being multiple books in the series already out, I was able to fly through it, one right after the other. I enjoyed the characters as well as the storyline itself. There are several characters I would still like to know more about. I love the setting in this series. It’s in Italy on an island hidden from MILF’s. Which refers to nonmagical people in this world. I don’t remember what it actually stands for, but I thought it was funny. I appreciated that there was such a variety

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of paranormal characters. I think I may have even learned of a few I hadn’t heard of before. I also liked the inclusion of the old gods and how Remus and Romulus are tied into things. One thing I’ve noticed about these “women’s fiction” books is that in every single one of them, the main character is always either widowed or recently come through a nasty, bitter divorce. And this book is no different in that aspect. Her twins have left for college (another common theme). She’s on a magical island in Italy finding herself, with an awesome Nonna. Her life is turned upside down, and she must very quickly learn how to save the world, essentially. I can appreciate that the author touches on many of the themes women over forty encounter, specifically body image insecurities and the feeling that their entire life has been about nothing but caring for their family, forgetting who they were themselves before the children came along. I do wish the author gave us more backstory about who Ava was. The author gives hints and little tidbits, but I feel like there is a lot of her story that’s missing. Granted, later in the series we learn a bit more about why she’s an orphan, but it’s not really enough to feel satisfied with her story. She’s also way more accepting than one would expect of this suddenly magical world of which she’s a member. Then again, I’d like to think anyone who reads a ton of paranormal related books would have a similar situation. I read the entire series before I wrote this review, so I’m trying to be careful to not give away too much, but I will say that it’s a good series. There are a few places where you wish she would just get to the point already or do whatever it is, but I liked the storyline so much, I just kept going. I’d really like to see some spin offs about some of the other characters.

Circus of the Dead Kimberly Loth YA Horror There are many ways to die at the Circus of the Dead. You’re invited to witness them all. Mom sent me all the way across the country to the Louisiana bayou to join the circus and help my uncle for the summer. Except there is something not quite right on this swampy cursed island, and after having my fortune told, I can’t leave. I try to escape, but Benny, an all too charming ghost gangster tries to kill me by feeding me to a tiger. Thankfully I’m rescued by Samuel, the incredibly hot ringmaster who can’t be a day over twenty. Can he? In addition to avoiding the human scorpion, staying away from the big cats, and having trouble figuring out who’s dead and who’s alive, I have to find a way to escape this horror show. Will I get out of the circus alive or will I join their army of ghosts and become a murderer myself?

made things harder to believe. She reads as a much older character, and many times I had to remind myself that she was still a child. Much of what she was doing was more appropriate for a twenty something year old, and many of the themes are for a much more mature audience. That being said, this series sucked me in and I couldn’t stop reading until I finished the entire series. I needed closure bc every time I thought I’d get it, nope. Not today. There were a few spots that felt like they dragged, but overall, it was much more enjoyable than not. I like the variety of paranormal/supernatural elements and the way they’re all tied together. This was a series that gives you a little bit of everything without being annoying.

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: This book took me completely by surprise. I’m not sure what I expected, but what I got wasn’t quite it. And that’s not a bad thing.

Circus of the Dead has so many crazy things going on. You have no idea who to believe or trust. Every time you think you know what’s going on, something changes and causes you to question everything. I like a book that can keep me on my toes. My only real complaint with this book is that the main character is like 15 years old. I find it really hard to believe that she could do the many of things she did as a 15-year-old. Not that there aren’t smart 15-year-olds, I happen to have one myself, but it just

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Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews Witching After Forty Box set 1 Lia Davis Paranormal Mystery Widow and empty nester, Ava Harper, never dreamed of turning forty without the love of her life. Nor did she know she would bury her favorite aunt, who raised her after the death of her mother, a few years later. Then again, she doesn’t have the power of foresight. No, her powers are much darker. Powers she has kept behind lock and key.

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: I am loving this series. Lia Davis has done a great job of creating a world of magic and realistic main characters that I’ve quickly fallen in love with. There are a ton of books in this series, which I can appreciate. I love that she has created a box set format for this series. I read pretty fast, and I hate having to stop in between books to find the next one. There are 2 volumes, so prepare to commit some time to Shipton Harbor, Maine. Get your snacks, comfy clothes and a good spot to immerse yourself. Ava has been suppressing her magic for ages. She’s in her forties now, a widow, and her son has moved on to his next life adventure in college. She’s gone to her hometown to prep and sell her ancestral home, but the fate has other plans for her. She really can’t get a break. Every time she thinks she can take a breath, life throws her another curveball. While the things that happen to her aren’t real things, they are believable in a world of magic. I’ve read both volumes now, so I’m doing my best to not include any spoilers, so I’m going to have to be vaguer than I usually like to be. Though some things can be figured out by reading the blurbs for the subsequent books.

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The pacing of this series is great. At no point did I feel like I was wasting my time or that there was useless info the author was including just to fill pages. I became attached to several characters. Larry and Luci are probably my favorites. They definitely have some funny moments. Luci is just so much better than one would expect of Lucifer. I will say there were just a few things that bothered me in this series. I really liked the story itself, so I can live with them. There is a bit of inconsistency in the villain’s name in book one to book two. It starts as one thing, changes in the 2nd book to something else, then back to the first name, and then to another spelling of the 2nd name. That’s probably just something that was overlooked during the editing process. I knew who she was talking about, and that’s what matters. The next thing was how often she reminds us that Ava’s husband is dead. We know he’s dead; it’s mentioned sooo many times. And I get that she’s a grieving widow, but it’s been 5 years and she’s dating someone else now. We didn’t need to be told on almost every page in some sections that he was dead. She’d already told us repeatedly at that point. My last slight complaint is how quickly she changes her mind about the girl who tormented her in high school. She went from despising and trying to avoid her to besties in half a book. If someone has caused you that much trauma growing up, you don’t just suddenly forget you hate them and that they hurt you. While the girl has made a lot of changes in her life, including marrying Ava’s best friend, you don’t just change those feelings overnight the way Ava seems to. Despite what that list of complaints sounds like, I really loved this series and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I love so many of these characters and am looking forward to seeing what they get up to in the next book.

Bitten in the Midlife Lia Davis and L.A. Boruff Paranormal Mystery Jilted at the altar a month before her fortieth birthday. Poor Hailey. Midlife really does have a crisis. Or is it that midlife is the crisis? Either way, it sucks. Hailey Whitfield can’t take anymore run-ins with her ex. It’s time for a big change. She’s never considered moving away, but it’s her best plan yet. Bonus – her bestie lives next door! However, her new neighbor is… weird, to say the least. Extremely hot, but odd. So are his friends. But Hailey will take strange neighbors over facing her lying, cheat, deadbeat ex-fiancé all day, any day.

Fang-Freakin-Tastic Review: The Fanged After Forty ties in with the Witching After Forty series, but I read the Fanged series first without a problem. You really could start with either of them, but if you read the Witching series first, you get more insight into a few of the side characters when they make an appearance, specifically Luci. Who is my favorite character, btw. Hailey Whitfield moves into a new house for a fresh start after being jilted at the alter. She’s bought the house next to her best friend and buys the house from Ava (the main character in the Witching After Forty series). She takes a job as a home nurse for an injured bounty hunter and then things just go sideways from there. I like Hailey as a character. She seems reasonable and pretty cool. She’s realistic to me. She’s around my age and has lived a bit, so it’s nice to see characters that don’t have all the answers to the universe at 23.

I actually enjoyed most of the characters in this book. It’s rare for me to come across a book or series where I can’t really think of anyone in the book who just didn’t sit right with me. The villains are villains, but they’re reasonable in the sense that while awful people/vampires, they make sense. I would like to learn more about the bounty hunter lady that Hailey went to work for. She seems like she has an interesting back story. I’m not sure if there is another series about her story, but I plan to look for it just in case. Things move quickly in this book, and I never felt like anything was dragging, so that’s good. The author grabbed and kept my attention until I finished the 2nd book, but since the 3rd is not out as of this review, I will have to wait until its release next month. It is most definitely something I plan to watch for. I like the sense of humor in this book as well. If an author can make me laugh while reading, that is one of my favorite things. And I don’t mean laughing for a bad reason. Many times, an author’s sense of humor carries over into their books, and I absolutely appreciate that. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this author at several book events over the years and she always has such fun things going on. To wrap this up, I really don’t have anything negative to say about this series so far. It was fun, had enough darkness to satisfy my morbid little heart, good pacing, plenty of humor, and all the things I normally look for in a book. It’s lighthearted while also being slightly dark.

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews The Lost Letter McKensie Stewart Mystery Former investment banker, Samantha Walker’s world changed with a phone call from Rikers Island. Yes, the prison in New York City called her to claim the personal belongings of her father, Charles Walker. She uses the contents in the box to navigate the life of her father. She even visits (several times) her father’s cellmate, Charlie. Later realizing that Charlie told misleading stories to keep her coming back to visit him. Amy’s Review: There’s no such thing as coincidence! Everyone knows that McKensie Stewart is my business partner and best friend. However, when I read her work, I read it without bias, and completely honesty of my opinion. The Lost Letter is one that shows that there isn’t such thing as coincidence, and it brings several mysteries to a close. Just when you’re wondering where the story is going, there is a twist that pulls you in, and makes you keep on reading. I love Stewart’s writing and can see how it has grown over the years. It’s one of those embraceable stories. It’s definitely un-put-downable! I love the coincidences, and the action and secrets that the characters bring, and the search for answers. Stewart has a writing style all her own, and it how she shows magnetic stories. This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. This read is so engrossing that it brings you right in the middle of the story. This read is more than just words on a page. Definitely an unpredictable story, my favorite kind! And, I must say, well, wow!

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All Because of You Isobel Blackthorn Women Shorts Infused with gentle optimism, these fifteen uncompromising stories explore themes of sacrifice and hope in domestic relationships.

Amy’s Review: Magnificent collection of stories Blackthorn pens a grand collection of stories in All because of You. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed reading this author’s work. The author brings the stories to life. The stories had different themes within different relationships. The title of the book tells it all, and the stories fit within the title. I really enjoyed reading each of the 15 different stories. They were raw, and the characters definitely were connected, and worked with each other, through faith and hope. This author has a great imagination and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. The title drew me in, but the stories made me stay. I really enjoyed each story, but I think “The Moon Circle” really kept my attention. I read that more than once. These words really rang true for me, “Tammy stubs out another cigarette. ‘Did he hit you?’ she asks bluntly. ‘Words were his fists. And you?’ ‘He tried to kill me.’ She lifts her neck, revealing the thick weals and the purple, thumb-print bruises.” It wasn’t a trigger, just a reminder, and this one was the most relatable story for me.

Everything Is Perfect Kate Nason Audio/Memoir Seven years into her second marriage, Kate Nason discovered her husband was cheating on her. Then, the unimaginable happened. Kate woke to the news that one of her husband’s “other women” was involved with an American president. It was January of 1998. The press surrounded her home, clamoring for details and transformed Kate’s private heartbreak into public humiliation. Amy’s Review: An amazing story Nason tells an amazing memoir in Everything Is Perfect. I haven’t heard or read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. This book gives a lot of information about her life, especially around her husband, who was a cheater. She was married to a man who had a lot of “other women” and one day, because of one woman, her heartbreak went public. I like that Nason narrates her own story. She is a strong woman, and find out how to keep herself together. I like how she dives into the roles of women and their roles. I really liked how she told the story and was able to bring the story together. Her story and commentary, and how at first she ignored her own intuition. Nason has a bravery and courage that can’t be measured by not just sharing the story, but telling it in her own voice, which makes it so real, and compelling. It’s also about survival, and overcoming obstacles, especially by her husband. I recommend listening to it from beginning to end, including the author note, and epilogue. It’s a long listen, but it is definitely worth it.

Fallen Star R. Weir Crime Thriller Megan Getz lived among Hollywood royalty A Tinseltown celebrity of a long-running sitcom Being extorted because of an adult indiscretion Attempting to cover up her

perilous life Hiring the team of Divine Devils Hoping they’ll free her from the blackmail bonds

Amy’s Review: Chaos and Mayhem, what a combo! Weir pens a dramatic and thrilling story in Fallen Star: The Divine Devils. I am a big fan of this author, and reads whatever he writes. The characters were raw, gritty, and very determined! This author brings the story to life. Hunter Divine needs to figure out how to help Megan Getz, a Hollywood celebrity. Secrets, extortion, danger, mixed with drugs and looming shadows, encompass the Divine Devils. It’s magnificent read, that kept this reader turning the pages, and sometimes, rereading the pages. It’s definitely un-put-downable! A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. This story captures the reader’s attention at chapter 1. Action-packed and it takes the reader on a superb adventure. Very impressive story telling.

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews The Brotherhood of the Dragon Phil Hore YA Paranormal Strange things are happening at Stamford House. It was not that Mr Fortey was particularly loved, but that he died in such a horrible way, and in the presence of almost the entire household. We must have been only a few feet away, yet no one heard or saw anything. If it could happen to a strapping veteran like the footman, it could happen to any of us. Amy’s Review: What a remarkable premise! Hore pens a remarkable chilling and thrilling story in The Brotherhood of the Dragon. The characters were raw and very realistic. This author brings the story to life. First, this book brings adds the authors, Sir Doyle, and Stoker, that have to come together to save a secret that has been protected within the Brotherhood. That in itself, is very interesting and exciting. I’ve read other work by Hore, and this was his debut novel, and it is a chilling, and absolutely thrilling story that not only has a lot of secrets, but there is also very suspicious death, maybe even something that is not human. This author has a great imagination and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. The author’s technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. It’s a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This author’s characters develop and interacts well with the other characters. I am a big fan of Hore, and this one just proves how talented he is. The historical England theme with shadows, secrets and two of the greatest writing minds of their time. Who could ask for more?

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The Road Remembered Kaye D. Schmitz Historical War Fiction Love and humanity triumph amid the atrocities of World War II. In the final months of World War II, Sam Ryan takes his place as a new soldier in the 89th Infantry Division on the front lines in Europe. He’s trained to kill but struggles with the thought of taking the life of another human being, a contradiction with the way he was raised. Amy’s Review: Magnificent read! Schmitz pens a magnificent story in The Road Remembered, I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. This author brings the story to life, the life of her late father. Schmitz writes, “So there we were, the day of the trip, preparing to fly overseas to attend the seventieth anniversary celebration of V-E Day—the end of World War II in Europe. We’d join several of his former Army buddies from K Company in the 353rd Regiment of the 89th Infantry Division at Le Havre, France, where the former soldiers first touched the European mainland on their way to join the war,” and then he told her the story. What an amazing and intriguing, yet fearing the battles, the story shows that determination, loyalty to one’s country, and the secret of not showing the story. Simply awe-inspiring. Very impressive story telling.

True Course Brigid Johnson YA Non-fiction

Two Turtle Doves Richard Wall Horror Short

True Course is more than a memoir or a story of the lure of aviation--it’s a story of learning to let the spirit soar and unfurling the wings of personal freedom, an inspiration to adventurers everywhere.

Suicidal teenager Rich Anthony was on his way to step in front of an express train when he spots a battered acoustic guitar left outside an Oxfam shop. Intrigued, Rich changes his mind, takes the guitar home and teaches

Amy’s Review: An Amazing Story!!! Johnson pens a wonderfully told memoir in True Course–Lessons of a Life Aloft. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. This book not only tells the story of when Brigid learned to fly, but how she got there, and the struggles and strength she had to reach that goal. The author details what she refers to as destiny and to gain her airline career as a pilot. Life changed her trajectory and she grew with grand spirit, and life living. She writes so passionately about her life, and it’s not a mystery that this book is a great story. Nothing better than an adventurous life and living it one moment at a time with life and humor. An amazing story!

himself to play. What happens next changes his life.

Amy’s Review: Powerful story Wall pens a powerful story in Two Turtle Doves. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s not one of those happy Christmas stories. It’s a raw story about an aspiring rock star, fixated on his guitar, he fondly calls El Diablo. I haven’t read work from this author before, and I enjoyed this story. It’s told in first person, and this person is a mess. It’s detailed and raw, and not the kind of story that gives any peace. The dark side of the main character feeds his obsession. It’s a short read but embrace every single word. Sometimes, all I can is Wow! The writing is impressive, the story is dark and driven.

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Who is Ma Kemah? Sianah Nalika DeShield African Literature Born in war-torn Liberia, Ma Kemah George has had a series of bad luck in the course of her young life. Among other troubles, she was molested as a child and the only thing that got her through her childhood sane was her best friend, Vincent, who later became her fiancé. Amy’s Review: Wow!

DeShield pens a remarkably unputdownable story in Who is Ma Kemah? I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it, but this, yes, it’s a Wow. Ma Kemah is an unforgettable character, who had struggles growing up and into adult life, being raised in Africa, Liberia to be exact. She took her tragedies and set goals for herself to start a new chapter. I really loved this story, more than loved, and it was written so well, I felt I knew who Ma Kemah is, and would enjoy her company. It’s a magnificent story, making me wonder the author’s inspiration for the book. Ma Kemah George will not be forgotten by me. The author does a wonderful job of showing the story, and making the reader feel the emotions within the story. If you love a good empowering woman story (and its much more), this book should be next on your list. The title drew me in, but the story made me stay. I wanted to know who Ma Kemah is, and I did. This author has a great imagination and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. This read is more than just words on a page. So, far it’s my favorite of all DeShields’s books, though I enjoyed all the ones I have read. I am a true fan!

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Dead No More Pete Adams Historical Thriller Operation Rhubarb was an MI5 and Scotland Yard joint undercover investigation of Brockeln Belland, a City of London Bank of impenetrable pedigree, that was brought to a violent close ten ago. One survivor of the blast, now 16-year-old Juliet, is seeking the truth about her parents’ death. As the old case notes land on a Scotland Yard Detective Inspector’s desk, Juliet’s back door inquiry opens a deadly can of worms that the Establishment presumed buried. Amy’s Review: Grand Story Adams pens a grand story in Dead No More: Rhubarb In The Mammon. I am a big fan of this author! This author brings the story to life. The characters had a lot of depth and were very intriguing. I read a lot of stories, and I love the different writing styles and storytelling abilities. This author had a grand writing style, and indeed can tell stories. Spies and secrets, and an undercover investigation called Operation Rhubarb. A large blast that rocked London, brings forward a survivor wanting to know the truth, and won’t stop until she gets it. Past crimes and history are buried, so there is a lot of digging to do. It is a very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. It’s one of those embraceable stories. This story was very intriguing and unpredictable.

Murder in Second Position Lori Robbins Mystery Ballerina Leah Siderova belongs onstage. Not in an interrogation room at Manhattan’s Twentieth Precinct. And yet, for the second time in less than a year, that’s where she has a starring role. It wasn’t her fault someone killed the autocratic new director of the American Ballet Company. And it wasn’t her job to find the killer. Amy’s Review: A Compelling and superb murder mystery Robbins pens a wondrous story in Murder in Second Position. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. This is the second book in the On Pointe Mystery series (and I hope there will be more). I definitely like how it is written, Robbins has a grand writing style, and a high knowledge of dance, particularly ballet. One quote by Olivia, caught my eye from the beginning, and I think it set the tone for what is to come. “Murder, suicide, and the everpopular death via a broken heart. Those are the best dramatic roles.” She is talking about ballet, and it foreshadows the story. This author has a great imagination and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. It’s one of those embraceable stories. It’s definitely un-put-downable! It is always an honor to read this author’s stories. This story captures the reader’s attention at chapter 1. It’s a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Masterfully written!

Here We Are & There We Go Jill Dobbe Family Travel Mango fly larvae, malaria, hurricanes, gun-wielding soldiers, and cow stampedes were just a few of the erratic events that transpired as the Dobbe family lived in four different countries within ten years—Guam, Singapore, Ghana, and Mexico.

Amy’s Review: Another teaching and traveling adventure (especially with kids)

I love reading about Jill Dobbe’s traveling adventures, and not only that she’s a teacher and a mother. So, here she is, teaching not just learning herself and her family learning, but teaching others on her travels. I find this one the most interesting, as the family lived in four different countries within a ten-year span. And she and her husband, Dan, were also bringing their toddlers with them. Toddlers are a treat, treasure, and sometimes a terror of all their own (I’ve been there) in a regular home setting, but traveling, my virtual hat is off to Dobbe. The family dealt with upas and down, learning about cultures, and traditions, and when returning home to the US, let’s just say, it was a bit different. That’s where I leave this review. Read all of her travel/teaching adventures while also being a mother and wife. Just remember, wherever you are, there you are. It was an amazing true adventure, and very real. Yes, you couldn’t make this stuff up. So, I love reading her real-life adventures, and how it includes her family relationships, especially between she and Dan.

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Kolkata Noir Tom Vater Heist Thriller Becker is a British traveler in trouble. Madhurima is a rising star police officer. In these three explosive tales, the two join forces to investigate the city’s crooked high society. On the way, they take on deluded would-be messiahs in search of Mother Teresa’s stolen millions, encounter fanatics, circus freaks and cannibals, fall in and out of love and pay homage to one of the world’s most beautiful and toughest cities. Amy’s Review: A Magnificent story Vader pens a magnetic story in Kolkata Noir. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. It’s an adventure, between Becker, and Madhurima. There are three stories that bring these characters together, and it leads to their investigations, of secrets and danger. I like how the novellas are different, where they are in settings of past, present and future. This author has a great imagination and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. This author is not just a writer but a great storyteller. If you love a good intriguing, British thrilling story, this book should be next on your list

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The Revenge of Blood-Red Rivers Martin Lundqvist Dystopian After surviving the Rwandan genocide, Samantha sets out to avenge her family.

Amy’s Review: Powerfully told! Lundqvist tells an intriguing story in The Revenge of Blood-Red Rivers. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. I did read the story and enjoyed it. It’s 1994 in Rwanda during the genocide. Yes, a terrible time to be a woman, let alone a child. The story is about Samantha, and her horrifying encounters and abuse with rape and mutilation, and then, the murder of her family. She is one determined survivor. I’s a very powerful read, and you get that lump in your throat as you pray Samantha will survive and avenge her family. Magnificent story, kept this reader turning the hanging on every word of the story. If you love a good psychological thriller, this book should be next on your list. Unfortunately, this story could be about any one during the genocide, and the ones that were able to survive, and survival was not always the goal.

Diamond Blood Eric Danhoff Fiction Anthology From the writer of Revenant Sun and the Paavo Harker Mystery comes a collection of stories and poems inspired by the paintings of his daughter. Enjoy these tales of space travel and monsters, of dreams and aging, of children lost and found. Amy’s Review: Wonderful collection This is a unique collection of stories. Danhoff put together the stories and poetry in Diamond Blood, as they were inspired by Danhoff’s daughter’s paintings. Each one was unique and very well written. I found that the words flowed like the paint across a canvas. This author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. Simply awe-inspiring. Very impressive story telling. Each story shows the painting that from where it was inspired, simply beautiful paintings and I can see where they emit inspiration

Deadly Associates Matthias McCarn, Emma Seifert, Joe Seifert, Nick Seifert History/Midwest Step into Chicago during the 1960s and ‘70s, where mobsters influence everyone from strip-club owners to Teamsters, aldermen, judges, and local police. It is a world where good men are corrupted by the irresistible lure of money and power, and families are shattered by lies, violence, and tragedy. Amy’s Review: Bringing down the mob, isn’t just

black and white. McCarn, Seifert, Seifert, Seifert writes about the Chicago Mob in DEADLY ASSOCIATES: A True Story of Murder, Survival, and Bringing Down the Chicago Mob. I’ve read true crime titles about mob connections before, and though there are similarities, I think the location and how the mob is “run” is affected by what is done and not done. Take a step back to the 60s and 70s in Chicago. Danny Seifert is determined to succeed his father, especially with the thought of money and power that is just in his reach. Danny finally sees the “life” without blinders, where it’s a world of murder, secrets, and retaliation. Danny decides in order to protect his family, to detach his loyalty to the mob, and cooperate with the feds. Eventually, Danny’s sons are now grown, and seek retribution. It’s an interesting story of the rise and fall of the mob, and how and where the Seifert family fall in line. This book was written very well. Sometimes the line between loyalty and freedom is death.

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