Book Spotlight The Christmas List By Douglas Wimmer and L.B. Scott

Title: The Christmas List

Authors: Douglas Wimmer and L.B. Scott


Story
It's Winter, 1957. The snow is piling up, the days are getting shorter, and children all over the world are eagerly anticipating the night when Santa comes to visit. Except for the children at the Happy Heart Orphanage. No, the children there don't expect visits from the Man in Red. The Matrons who run the orphanage make sure each child there knows that they don't deserve such love from Jolly Ol' Saint Nick.

Santa or no, Johnny is determined to make this year's Christmas something special for the rest of the children. While executing his Christmas plan, he is caught by the Matrons and thrown in the scariest part of the house on Christmas Eve. Will Johnny escape? Will the orphans of the Happy Heart Orphanage ever have a true Christmas? 

Find out in this heartwarming short story of friendship and the Holiday spirit by L.B. Scott and Douglas B. Wimmer.

About The Authors:
Douglas Wimmer

I have been writing extensively for only a few years, however my passion for the written word extends far back to my childhood, when I was stopped by a group of teenagers on my way to elementary school.

I was carrying the hardback of the Stephen King novel, IT in the crook of my arm because it was too enormous to put in my backpack with the rest of my things. If you've never read IT, it is a tome of nearly 1,200 pages in hardback form. For my slight frame it was particularly heavy at 4 pounds. 

These teens were probably not a whole lot older than I was, maybe 2 or 3 years at the most, but to my adolescent mind that was enough so that I didn't object much when one of them asked me what I had in my hand. In a twist on the old "who's on first" routine, I answered that the book was "IT".

It was doubtful that he knew of the book, which is why he grabbed it from me to see if I was messing with him. He looked at it, opened the pages, glanced over the chapters, and the author before he looked up from the pages and said, "That's it? Freakin' IT by Stephen freakin' King?" (He pronounced the first name "Steffan")

I said "yep" and waited for him to give it back to me. I don't recall any feelings of fear or being scared of them for whatever reason, but there was some kind of emotional reaction within me since I still remember the incident from nearly thirty years ago.

In any case, he gave me back my comically over-sized book and I went on my way.

I did actually finish that book, and oddly enough it didn't give me nightmares, only more desire for good books that would cause me to feel fear, cause me to laugh, and feel sadness all within the power of their pages. That seed has caused me to delve into writing with that particular goal. To move people (myself included).

Why my parents allowed a 5th grader to read horror novelist Stephen King's opus about a psychopathic clown is a whole different topic.

L.B. Scott
Once upon a time... 

There lived a young girl with a dream of creating books that kids of all ages would love. She grew up in the wine country, which while beautiful, was unavoidably dull. Nothing strange or exciting ever happened to her. There were blocks upon blocks of suburbs surrounding her house.

In order to entertain herself, the young girl would invite friends to play make-believe. With the help of her friends, this girl's imagination would run wild and the they would find themselves in the most dramatic of stories, filled with witches and pirates, mermaids and magic spells. 

When the girl entered school, she was surrounded by those that didn't believe in the arts. She was told that she would never be able to be a writer, because writers never make money. So the girl shifted her focus away from her flights of fancy, and into a more stable direction.

When the girl was old enough, she made her way to the big city. While she did not realize that she was embodying a well-known cliché, she knew in her heart that she needed to be with all of the people. Surrounded by them. She needed to be where people were moving full speed ahead with their lives, not sitting back with a glass of wine in a hammock. She needed speed, efficiency and excitement. She needed bright lights and buildings that reached the sky.

But while she was there, she began to miss her childhood stories. The stories that were never repeated but slowly grew to become epics. She daydreamed of the majestic oak trees and rolling vineyards of her youth, and began to imagine what sort of world could have been hidden in those places, all along.

Thus began her journey of creating and building her first novel. A process that brings her both anger and joy. In order to break up the frustrations of editing a full novel and bring the fun back, she writes short stories of many different genres.

Where to find the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-List-Douglas-B-Wimmer-ebook/dp/B019G6DFVO/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481816686&sr=1-5&keywords=The+Christmas+List

Other Reviews:

Review

The Christmas List is a short story written by Douglas B. Wimmer and L.B. Scott. The Happy Heart Orphanage is not a cheerful place. Run by three tyrannical matrons who revel in the misery of the children in their charge, the orphanage's children are told on arrival that Santa never visits the children there due to the fact that he only visits children who are loved. As none of the children have parents, they are routinely told by the matrons that there is nobody in the world to love them, and therefore Christmas is not celebrated at the Happy Heart Orphanage. Outside in the freezing cold, a young boy, Johnny, trudges through the ice and snow to go to the outhouse, but the door has frozen shut and he has no way of getting it open. Desperate to relieve himself, he goes behind the outhouse and urinates in the snow. A matron witnesses the event and punishes him for such a disgusting act. Each Christmas is the same, with the matrons of the orphanage feasting on roast turkey with all of the trimmings while the orphans survive on bread, porridge, or scraps. When Johnny decides that the children deserve a happy Christmas just as much as the matrons do, he steals their turkey, but is punished in a most horrific way when caught doing so. Freezing and afraid, Johnny makes three wishes on behalf of the orphans who are so neglected ... with surprising and incredible results!

Oh my! As short as this story is, the emotion behind it is so powerful that it is very difficult for me to express. The actions of the matrons were absolutely cruel and shocking on a full time basis, and watching them rejoice in the misery and pain of the orphans was quite sickening, but the one child who seemed to draw the matrons' wrath the most was the one who always had the happiness and well-being of his fellow orphans in the forefront in his heart. Although darkness created the story's framework, love, happiness, and hope for a better tomorrow allowed the light shine into Douglas B. Wimmer and L.B. Scott's tale to such an extent that I found myself breathless and smiling, with tears in my eyes. I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed The Christmas List and I recommend this book to all readers, young or old, showing that tomorrow can bring exciting things, regardless of how bleak today might seem.

- Reviewed By Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars

5.0 out of 5 starsA Nostalgic Holiday Classic for All.

By JBM on December 21, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

The Christmas List is a story full of heart, empathy, and nostalgia, set in the same time period as the beloved film classic, "A Christmas Story". The 50's setting really drives the narrative at the start of the story. The writing is solid and brings you to a time period much simpler, and accessible for anyone familiar with classic American Christmas stories. Johnny and Lola are kids that, through hardened experience, still want to make merry Christmas for all the children at the orphanage they reside in. The two protagonists embark on a mission to make merry the Christmas of 1957 and thus the story draws you in.

This story is highly recommended for those who understand the true meaning of Christmas. The selflessness, the care, and the thoughtfulness the authors weaved into this story in such a short amount of time speaks to their ability to compose compelling prose.

Give this story a chance and then put into action the message this story imbues

Authors Websites:

http://lbscottauthor.blogspot.com/2016/06/love-triangles-in-ya.html

http://www.douglasbwimmer.com/

Product Review: Primed4U In Ear Stereo Sport Earphones with Built-in Mic

We received this product at a discounted price in exchange for an honest review.

Packaging: The box came ready for hanging on a retail store peg in a small black and green box. It was tastefully designed, however the only logo on the box was that of Bluetooth. I turned the box over and over and found no indication of the company who manufactured the product nor any real sales copy on the box. Neither of these affect the quality of the headphones themselves, but do seem a bit odd, since most every product, expensive or not, has the name of the company prominently displayed on the box and at least a little boastful blurb about the product. Not so in this package. Now that I have used the headphones, it's not as big of a deal, but my first reaction was to think to myself, "Hmm, so I have to review a set of no-name cheapie earphones... awesome." That's not a desirable reaction if as a company, you are trying to build your brand in a competitive market so I thought it was worth mentioning. Inside the box, the spartan nature of the outside continues. A simple plastic receptacle holds the earphones and charging cable with a very basic instruction sheet and replacement earphone covers and tension springs. The instructions are clear, but again, there is no positive-leaning "You're gonna love our product" sales copy to be found anywhere. (Some may find this nice, but there is something to be said psychologically for the after-purchase sell-through.)

Feature set:
For the price, this set of headphones comes well equipped. Easy Bluetooth connectability and easy to use controls mean you don't need to pull your device out of your pocket to adjust for volume, to skip back and forth between songs, or start or stop the music. The tension spring built into the earphones really do a good job of securing them in the ear canal, and as mentioned before, they come with a replacement set just in case. I used them while working around the house and the garage and they stayed put through all types of activity. They do come with a short (around 6 inches) micro USB charging cable which will power the phones for a good 5-6 hours on an hour or so charge, which is more than adequate for most applications. The also feature very effective noise cancelling technology, so if you're looking for a headset that will allow you to be aware of anything going on around you, then this one isn't for you. It filtered out all of the sounds in my home, from voices, television sets, and many other kinds of background noise.

Real world usage: The audio fidelity is top notch. No it does not have the bass response of a pair of Beats or Sennheiser would, but they do send out a very broad range of highs and lows that seem to reproduce the breadth of sounds within my personal collection without a hitch. Never did I feel like they were tinny or cheap-sounding. Due to the design of the set, they do poke out from the sides of the ear about a quarter of an inch, so they would not be good for side-sleepers (such as myself) who like to have music on while they doze. Call quality was good, and I did not have a problem with anyone hearing my voice whenever I had to make a call.

Verdict: For a $39.99 set, it'd be hard to go wrong with this set. The sound quality is above par, the battery life and technical aspects of the product are great, and they seem well built. However, while the feature set is rich and there is much to like about it, the packaging and presentation don't do anything to instill confidence in the consumer. Get past that, and you have a great little set of headphones.

Book Review Hunting for Witches By Lana Pecherczyk

 


Title: Hunting For Witches

Author: Lana Pecherczyk

Stars: 4 out of 5

Review:
I will preface this review by saying that I am not an avid reader of the urban fantasy genre of literature. Honestly, I don’t even know what an urban fantasy is. However, I do know compelling and skillful storytelling, and Hunting for Witches has that in spades.

The book revolves around Roo, who, for the bulk of the book has no clue what she really is. She assumes she is probably a witch based on the abilities she has (but hides.) However, through a series of bizarre events and exchanges with mysterious figures, she finds out that what she is is not quite that simple. She finds herself gaining powers and abilities that fascinate as well as frighten her. Powers that also make her a target for others to destroy or to acquire in order to gain advantage for themselves.

The author's verb choices make the prose smooth and she shows a steady hand in creating scenes to draw the reader into the world of the book, and she is also quite adept at choreographing action scenes so they are clear, tense, and exciting. Her characters are well drawn, and I am intrigued to see how after certain developments that occur in the last few chapters, the author will deal with the newly minted conditions of the characters' existence.

That is about as much as I am willing to write without giving away too much of the story, but I will provide some content warnings for those considering picking up this well-written and well-constructed book. There is a moderate amount of blood and gore and coarse language as well as numerous scenes of violence, although none of it is done senselessly or for simple shock value. There is also some merit in letting those who are devoutly religious know that this book may possibly offend by redrawing known figures from Judeo-Christian canon in a light that may not be appreciated. However, chances are if you’re interested in reading urban fantasies about witches, your religious sensibilities won’t be harmed.

There is no explicit sexual content, although there is one character who is habitually naked. A fact that is generally used for comedic effect, but the reason why is explained and isn’t out of line with the rest of the narrative.

If I had one complaint concerning Hunting for Witches: The Ludus: Book One, it would be that the mythology is very densely packed. With the knowledge that this is volume one of a series of books, it felt a little too much to swallow in the opening shot. I admire the way Ms. Pecherczyk has created this colorful and unique universe. However, I felt that some of the pieces of the mythology could have been left to other books in the series, as there were times my head was spinning with all the different ideas and character types introduced along the way. There were times I had to backtrack to understand how each new piece of the puzzle fit together into the larger picture. That may be more to do with my cognitive abilities than the fault of the author, but I felt it was worth noting in any case.

Author Lana Pecherczyk borrows liberally from ancient and historic traditions, religions, and texts to weave a multicolored, multi-layered tapestry on which to paint her first book in the Ludus series. A series which, based on the setup and groundwork laid in this book, will be an exciting and original modern fable that fans of the genre, and others such as myself, will enjoy.

  Synopsis:
 Witches have been obliterated - or so the world hopes. At 24, Roo struggles to keep her DNA-changing abilities secret. She doesn't feel like a witch, but if she isn't, how can she manipulate the physical world? Why does she feel the energy of all living things?

On tenuous ground, Roo keeps her skills hidden with the help of her sexy songstress BFF and her barmaid job at The Cauldron. Hiding in plain sight seems to be working until a mysterious witch hunter comes to town. Roo's powers are growing and, when a witch possesses the body of her sister, she defends her using any means possible.

Roo is exposed and attacked from all sides. She must learn to trust others while she discovers her identity and masters her powers to save the lives of her loved ones. She needs to convince herself and her town that she's more than a witch.

Inspired by mythology, science and fantasy, this fascinating debut novel is set in a brilliantly envisioned world where life is a secret game played by gods and witches until death

Kindle Edition, 405 pages

Published April 30th 2015 by Creative Cartel Publishing

About this author

 
Lana Pecherczyk fights evil by moonlight and wins love by daylight. She never runs from a real fight, she is the one – no wait, that's Sailor Moon. Lana lives in Perth, Western Australia and loves writing mashups of the fantasy, science fiction, romance, humour and horror genres. In short, she loves writing everything. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her creating art, designing websites and playing make believe with her two little boys.
As an artist, Lana creates all of her own cover work and illustrations, websites and graphic design. She shares her self-publishing journey, tips and writing kits on her blog, Author Zoo, and is a founding partner of Creative Cartel Publishing. http://www.authorzoo.com.au is her writing and personal blog and http://www.ludusbooks.com is the website devoted to The Ludus Series.
 

Review Family Ties by Debi V. Smith

Title: Family Ties

Author: Debi V. Smith

Stars: 5 out of 5

Review:
Debi V. Smith’s Family Ties is a book that is difficult to pin down. It takes place with characters that would fall into the age range for YA, but this book most definitely isn’t your typical YA. It’s full of scenes of love, hate, passion, and redemption, but it’s no weepy melodrama either. It is a story told truthfully and without fanfare, but one everyone should read knowing that the girl we meet in the first few pages is most likely someone you already know. Someone who smiles because she knows she should, but inside is struggling and broken.

We meet Sara Parker as she makes what is possibly her first friend. Arissa moves in across the street from the Parker home in a California town. They bond, despite Sara’s parents’ rules against outsiders, and over the course of the book, we discover there are crueler rules and punishments than outlawing friends. Sara finds strength in her new friend and even more in a boy, Jason, who refuses to leave her side even after she pushes him away again and again.

However, this isn’t standard fiction. Jason isn’t a white knight in shining armor and Sara doesn’t evolve superpowers. This isn’t a fairy tale. There is no meet-cute. This is fiction told not through rose-colored lenses, but through cracked shards of glass. There are adult themes and language, but don’t go looking for any bodice-ripping love scenes; they don’t belong in realistic fiction such as this.

The prose is beautifully written, carefully crafted, and efficient in its description of scenes ranging from funny and sweet, to dark and traumatic. It is written in the first person, allowing the reader to feel what happens to Sara as it happens, good and bad.

The characters are drawn without caricature. Each of the main characters is a well-rounded, flawed character that remind us of friends (and enemies) we have come across in our daily lives. We may even feel like we see pieces of ourselves in them. Characters you’ll remember long after the final page.

Be prepared. There is a lot of emotion in the pages of this book. You’ll want to have a box of tissues handy. Quite possibly two.

Kudos and congratulations to the Author, Debi V. Smith, for her debut novel and for writing a novel that will change lives for the better. 
Thank you Douglas Wimmer


Synopsis:
Sara Allison Parker spent the first fourteen years of her life living by strict rules and keeping her family’s secrets. Simon and Tibby, her parents, and her younger sister, Victoria, treat Sara as an outcast, leaving her lonely within the family. The elder Parkers maintain control over Sara’s life with rules, one of which is she is not allowed to make friends.

When Arissa Jericho moves in across the street and introduces herself to Sara, then Jason Waters befriends Sara at school, the carefully constructed world of the Parker household is threatened. As Simon and Tibby are forced to loosen their control to keep up appearances, Simon finds a way to assert a different type of power. Sara is convinced she will lose her friends if her secrets ever come to light because of her father. In a rare moment of daring, Sara stands up for herself. The next day, Simon’s recklessness reveals one of the secrets in an ugly, public display.

Sara learns the true meaning of family, bravery, and love when Arissa and Jason stand by her after witnessing Simon’s actions. Once Sara becomes comfortable, she lets her last secret slip out on accident, setting off a series of events that spins out of everyone’s control. 

ebook

Published June 26th 2015

About Author:

Debi V. Smith’s love for writing started with a class assignment to write a poem in elementary. She continued to write poetry in her free time and then tried her hand at short stories in her teens. Longer works were turned in for her college writing classes. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa and worked with children and adolescents for ten and a half years, then with adults for two years as a mental health professional.

Debi currently resides in Ohio with her husband Chaz, but Hawai`i will always be home. She is a voracious reader with an appreciation for music and movies. You can find her chatting and sharing music videos on Twitter at @DebiVSmith.