Bookreview: Incremental Courage

 "What a fantastic memoir"

Summary

In this work, the author shares a number of challenging situations and experiences 
that almost broke him at an early age. To move forward, he had to lean on his faith,
unlearn some stuff, consider a new perspective, be vulnerable and develop the
courage to confront and slay his demons. 

My review

I'm very sorry the reading and reviewing process took a while but what an amazing
book. I absolutely liked it, although it sometimes was shocking. 

It's more than a memoir and it brought a lots of mixed feelings in me. However I
really want to thank the author for sharing his experiences with us -the readers.

I would recommend this book to all readers who love a fantastic memoir!

Without any doubt I want to gave a 5 star rating to this wonderful book! 

The author

Christopher Warren was a combat veteran of nearly 25 years in the US Army. 
He had served in high-profile assignments including commander, speechwriter,
aide-de-camp, congressional liaison, Pentagon staff officer and human resources
officer. After retiring he served as a chief of staff and a senior policy advisor
for federal executive branch agencies.

The Book

Incremental Courage was published on 24 February 2021 and it contains 205 pages.

Bookreview: Volume 1 , Mona Lisa on the Moon

 Very interesting read!!

Summary

Thirty-two thousand years ago, a gifted child is born into a world most
would consider paradise. There has not been a war or hunger for some
eight thousand years. As she matures Mona Lisa just one of a highly
advanced civilization on Earth prepares to fulfil her destiny. 

After she becomes the youngest captain of the planet's fleet of 
spaceships, her career blossoms as she faces challenges and threats to her
civilization. 

Mona and others must jump into action as the health and the well-being of 
all sentient life precariously hangs in the balance. 

My Review

I enjoyed the book very much although due to the details it took a while
to read it all.

It's a very well written science fiction book with a great storytelling and
fantastic characters. However the book has lots of details.

The title named after the protagonist is well chosen. 

I certainly would recommend this interesting book too all people who
love a good science fiction story. 

Due to the details I give it a 4 star rating. I'm looking forward to the
sequel of this book. 

The Author

Author George B. is a retired scientist and senior Air Force Officer and
born in 1950. His parents met in North Africa where both were serving 
in the Third Army under General George Patton. 

George B. is now retired but worked for years in several areas of
science research and application. He started out in the biological 
sciences, moved to law, was drafted out of law school during the 
Vietnam War, and later migrated into industrial psychology,
computer-assisted analysis, programming and much more. 
Throughout he was known as a trouble-shooter and investigator. 

The book

Total pages: 242

published: 4 January 2019 by Archway Publishing. 

Booktasters

First of all my big thank you to Booktasters and author George B for
a copy in return of my honest review. 

Author in the picture: Dawne Archer

Recently I read and reviewed Trekker Girl - Morocco Bound (you can read my
review on this link). I was pleasantly surprised by the book and by the motives
of the author - Dawne Archer - as well. That's why I asked her if she wanted to
participate in an author in the picture blogpost. Luckily she said yes 😊.

So here are the questions and answers of Dawne Archer in her Author in the
picture blog post on this blog. 

 WHO IS DAWNE ARCHER?

A very good question and one I sometimes ponder. The short
answer is that I am a 61-year-old woman, reasonably fit and
healthy despite issues with thrombosis, ready to get back to
travelling the world.

 

WHAT IS THROMBOSIS?

Trombosis is the formation of blood clots. They can occur in
the arteries,often manifesting as strokes or heart attacks, or in
the veins. I havehad two veinous blood clots, one in my leg
(Deep Vein Thrombosis) and one in my lung
(Pulmonary Embolism). I am very lucky to be alive, whereas
my Dad died of a PE.

There can be multiple causes. In my case, I inherited a gene
mutation called Factor 5 Leiden, which isn't that unusual and often
causes no problems. Unfortunately, I have inherited this from both
parents, making my risk factor in certain situations up to 88 times
higher. That is an astonishing statistic and I could fill many pages
with the information I have about thrombosis,
but the most accurate and helpful source of facts, figures and
support is Thrombosis UK (www.thrombosisuk.org).

 

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR
FUNDRAISING FOR THROMBOSIS UK?

My first fundraiser was the Sahara Desert Trek which is the
subject of my book, 'Trekker Girl Morocco Bound'. I joined a
group of trekkers, paying all the expenses myself so that every
penny I raised went to Thrombosis UK. Was it a step too far
for a moderately healthy woman in her early 50s? I will let you
answer that one. It was certainly a tougher challenge than I had expected.

My fundraising is ongoing, with an overnight walk through the
mountains of Mallorca and I even competed in a ballroom dance
competition. The dancing was a long way out of my comfort zone
as I prefer walking boots to high heels, but it was a successful
fundraising event. I am currently trying to plan a challenge that
will attract both attention and donations because I aim to raise
awareness of thrombosis, something which does save lives,
as well as much needed funds.

 

YOU TRIED TO OVERCOME YOUR HEALTH
PROBLEMS BY TRAVELLING. WHY TRAVELLING?

My health issues are with me for life. I have tried to live to the full,
despite having to take care in certain situations. For example,
flying is a risk as is being immobile, especially after an operation.
In 90 minutes we all lose 50% of the blood flow in our legs.
I am a restless person and travelling keeps me 'on the go'.
Curiosity drives me forward, itching to learn more about
other countries and cultures. I may have to change my
mode of transport and adapt my methods but nothing, including
Covid, will keep me down.

 

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR NAME 'TREKKER GIRL'?

I couldn't believe this name was not already in use! I used an
organisation called 'Just Giving' to collect the funds for my trek
and needed a catchy name. I love it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE/COUNTRY EVER?

That is a difficult question to answer, having lived in the UK,
North America and Spain at various times. It is also hard to
pick on only one place I have visited, as I have had such
amazing experiences in many locations. I will say that Cuba
is full of special people, Chile has all kinds of dramatic natural
landscapes to explore and Alaska is just awe inspiring…I
could go on. A part of my heart belongs to a small rock in
the middle of the Irish Sea called the Isle of Man.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER INTERESTS OR HOBBIES?

Apart from writing and travelling? I love to entertain friends and
family and, of course, I walk most days, preferably somewhere
with a view of the sea. I enjoyed my involvement with a local
radio station, conducting interviews which gave me the opportunity
to indulge my curiosity about other people and their motivations.
You can be sure that I am rarely stuck for something to say.

Covid has made us all less mobile and I have indulged in lots
of reading (especially memoirs, thanks to the marvellous
Facebook group 'We Love Memoirs'). Tapestry and jigsaws kept
me occupied during the lockdowns, and I am always keen to try
something new, but it is safe to say that quilting proved disastrous.

Dawne Archer at the Glastonbury Music Festival

 

WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY THINK ABOUT YOUR PLANS?

Covid has made me realise that there is nothing more important
to me than family. Seeing them whenever possible has been,
and still is, a priority. However, they know I will never stop
travelling and that has always been the way. They love to hear
'tall stories' of my adventures.

 

DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE/WORK IN THE EARLY
HOURS OR LATE?

I am very much a night owl. Peace and quiet in the later hours
of the day suit me best.

 

DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO WRITE OTHER BOOKS?

Digging through some old storage boxes, I found a treasure trove
of diaries written on my trips. Some short travel memoirs sound
like a fun way to get some more of my writing out into the world.
I have also contributed to a couple of published compilations
of travel stories.

Boot problems while travelling

WHAT DO YOU WISH FOR YOU AND THE WORLD?

That is a very good question and one that needs a lot of thought.
For me, I wish continued good health with no further thrombosis
episodes. For my family, good health too.
For the world? A way through the current Covid crisis.

 

You can find me here:

www.facebook.com/trekkergirl2012/

www.amazon.com/author/dawnearcher

twitter handle: @DawneArcher19

Email: trekkergirl@outlook.com

Trekker Girl Morocco Bound is available from Amazon at

https://mybook.to/TrekkerGirl

A big Thank you

I want to say a big thank you to Dawne Archer for participating in her own

Author in the picture blogpost on this blog. 

It's always nice to talk to very inspiring authors such as Dawne Archer. 

Bookreview: Circumstances

"Interesting Science Fiction Story"

Get onboard Chimeric to trace a series of episodes and unique characters 
under intricate circumstances in the hope of taking the dream from 
anywhere to any destination without limits. 

My Review

Before I start reading a brand new book, I always take a look to the cover,
which is great to attack the readers. 

The title circumstances is chosen very carefully - it could trigger some new
readers. 

I liked the storytelling a lot just as the main character. Circumstances is written
well and I hope to read more books from the author.

I would recommend this book to all lovers of Science Fiction. 
I give a 5 star rating for Circumstances. 

The Author

Solomon Sackitey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at
Iowa State University and a Master of Science degree in Regulatory Affairs
for Drugs, Biologics and Medical Devices at Northeastern University in the
United States. 

Solomon also is the author of A Sea of Plight and Pure Joy of the Gold Coast
Boy (written under the pen name Bwana Awetse), and Roadmap. 

As a contributing author, he wrote for the PRESEC-Legon 
Senior High School Magazine, Iowa Agriculturist and the Iowa State Daily.

Booktasters

I received a review copy via Booktasters. Thank you very much! 

Book details

The book has 184 pages and was published on 9 December 2020 by
GCB Books. 

Do They All Sleep?

 Amazing children's book 

Summary

Whether you laze, doze, snuggle, cuddle, nap or kip, you need to rest for
a bit, but do animals ever sleep? The book comes with fun questions for 
each animal and an option for the toddler to fill in about their favourite way
to sleep.  

My Review

Wow! I really enjoyed this book, although it's for children, it can be a deeper
lesson for every one of us. 

I liked the way the questions were asked and how the book was written.
I absolutely loved the drawings and the layout as well!

I would recommend this book to all parents who want to read for their little
ones.

I give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating to this amazing children's book! 

The author

Srividhya is an entrepreneur and writer. She always had a passion for
storytelling and started to write when she was eleven. 

Her early success came when one of her dramas got selected by the
"All India Radio". She spent years reading and writing stories, giving her 
characters a bright sparkle!

She is a chartered accountant and spent 15 years in corporate jobs. 
Later, she founded and managed a fashion e-commerce company.

Preview: This amazing book is available on Amazon from
August 18th. 2021. 

Booksirens

I received a free copy via the author and Booksirens in return for my review.
I want to thank them very much for this fantastic book. 

Bookreview: 101 Ways To Fix Oatmeal

 Such a great choice of recipes! 

Summary

Is it possible to find cures for the boring, dreary, ordinary breakfast oatmeal? With
101 Ways to Fix Oatmeal, the answer is a resounding yes. Discover how to fix
memorable oatmeal for ex-spouses. Learn to fix sinfully luscious liquor drenched 

oatmeal etc.... Creative ventures in fixin' oatmeal await you!

My Review

I have to admit something: I'm not a fantastic cook, but I do like to read cookbooks

and I 've enjoyed 101 Ways To Fix Oatmeal. I also liked the cover!

I was amazed by the recipes, what a great choice! I have had new Breakfast inspiration
by reading 101 Ways To Fix Oatmeal.

I would recommend this book to all the readers who love inspirational cookbooks.

You'll certainly find some new ideas. 

Without any doubt, I give this book a 5 star rating! 

 

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the authors for receiving a free copy. I hope to
read more books from this fantastic author. 

This book is available on Amazon in Paperback and in Kindle Format. 

Author in the picture: Geri Walton

Already from the start of my other blog - the Allaboutroyalfamilies blog - and my big
debut on Twitter 😃, I 'met' Geri Walton, an author and historian fascinated by
the 18th. and the 19th. century. 

She also wrote several books inter alia Napoleon's downfall, which I read and reviewed
on this blog. 

I was very happy that Geri Walton was interested to participate in an Author in the picture
blogpost, so here we go. 

The Questions & Answers

Hello Geri, Could you tell me more about you? Who is Geri Walton?

I am a historian of the 18th and 19th century and host of my own blog that
I established in mid-October 2013. Because of all the fascinating subjects
and people from these eras, I learned a lot while writing my blog and have
written four books that have a connection to France. These books are
"Marie Antoinette's Confidante" (a tale about the Princesse de Lamballe
who was a friend and superintendent of the household to Marie Antoinette),
"Madame Tussaud" (a story about the famous wax figure sculptress
who established Madame Tussaud’s wax museum and provided
her version of the French Revolution), 
"Napoleon's Downfall" (an account about a French socialite,
Madame Juliette Récamier, who butted heads with the Emperor Napoleon),
and my latest book, "Jane Austen's Cousin" (a story about Eliza de Feuillide
who married a French count, survived the French Revolution, and then
married her cousin Henry Austen).

How did you get involved with history?

I have always been fascinated by people and history. During high school,
I constantly read books related to people and history so it was inevitable that
when I went to college I would major in history.

Do you have other interests than history and writing?

I have several outside interests. One is gardening. I have a raised bed where
I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, radishes, tomatillos, onions,
hot peppers, and a dozen herbs. In addition, I like to cook and make everything
from chicken pot pies to braised ribs and luscious cookies and cakes.
I also began knitting when I was eight and find it a relaxing hobby.
I often knit while watching TV.

How do you start writing books? For ex. How do you choose your topics?

My interest is usually piqued by something I read while working on
my blog or reading tweets. Then, I start researching and decide whether
to write a book, which I do partly to learn more about the subject and
partly to satisfy my own curious nature.

Do you like to travel?

I love to travel and have visited Germany, France, Austria, and England.
Some of these trips were for pleasure and some of them were related to
the books I have written. For instance, when I wrote
“Marie Antoinette’s Confidante,” I travelled to the Chateau Rambouillet
in France to learn more about the chateau and estate because both the
Princesse de Lamballe and Marie Antoinette lived there. Then when
I wrote my book on Madame Tussaud, I visited London, England, as that
was the site of Madame Tussaud’s first wax museum. I have also travelled
throughout the U.S. and visited numerous historical sites on the east
and west coasts.

Which person(s) in history fascinate you the most?

There is no one person that I find fascinating. Rather I find the 1700 and 1800s
fascinating and like to learn about the lifestyle and insights of people from those
time periods. It is interesting to try and figure out how they saw the world, what
they worried about, and why they approached life the way they did.

Which events in history are special to you?

I like almost any event that happened in the 1700 or 1800s. For instance,
I have enjoyed learning about the revolutionary periods both in America and
France and have tried to understand what motivated people during those times.
I also like the Victorian Era because it was such a time of reform and
improvement, families were also a dominate feature, and religion and morality
became a battleground among agnostics, free thinkers, and theologians.
In addition, so many interesting people of the 1700 and 1800s
(such as Queen Victoria, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte,
Benjamin Franklin, or Louis XVI) changed the world. I find that
I am always learning something new whenever I study the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries.

Do you have a daily routine?

I have a loose routine where I schedule my Facebook posts and tweets
for Twitter each morning. Then I spend four to five hours writing. Sometimes
extra material from a book becomes a blog post and sometimes a blog post
I’ve already written ends up becoming part of a book.

I always end with the same question: what are your wishes
for yourself and the world?

I am extremely grateful that my immediate family and I survived the pandemic
despite my father-in-law succumbing to Covid. With everything returning to normal
in the U.S., and as more and more people around the world get Covid vaccinations
and as covid cases go down, I hope everyone will realize how blessed they are
to be alive. I know that I am taking more time to appreciate the many wonderful
blessings that I enjoy.

Thank you 

Thank you very much Geri Walton for this interview and your participation in 
your author in the picture blogpost. 

Good luck with the publication of your new book(s) and keep me updated!

Where to follow Geri Walton?

You can read more about Geri Walton on ther website:
https://www.geriwalton.com/ .

Bookreview: Plunge

More than just a travel memoir! 

Summary

Tropical waters turn tumultuous in this travel memoir, as a free-spirited woman
jumps headfirst into a sailing adventure with a new man and his two dogs.

Join Liesbet as she faces a decision that sends her into a whirlwind of love, loss
and living in the moment. When she swaps life as she knows it for an uncertain 
future on a sailboat, she succumbs to seasickness and growing desire to be alone.

Does Liesbet find happiness? Will the dogs outlast the man? Or is this just
another reality check on a dream to live at sea. 

My Review

Plunge is so much more than just a travel memoir. It describes the whole process
from the wish to travel - the plan - the practical things and the necessary decisions 
to be made.

I admire Liesbet very much because she always makes the choice to follow her
freedom.

I recommend this book to all who like to read travel memoirs and personal
stories. 

With lots of pleasure I give Plunge a 5 star rating. 

The Author

Liesbet Collaert is a bilingual freelance writer, translator, editor and 
photographer from Belgium who has been writing and traveling her entire life.

Her work is published internationally in anthologies and magazines, including
Cruising World, Blue Water Sailing, Ocean Navigator, Eldrige Tide and many

more. 

Find her stories and photos at www.itsirie.com and www.roamingabout.com

(It's really worth to take a look at her blogs!).

Plunge is her first book. I hope other books will follow! 

We Love Memoirs group on Facebook

I received a free copy via the We Love Memoirs group on Facebook.