Max Blizzard and The Gem of Camelot

Spunky eight-year-old Max and 12-year-old Trudesile make their way through a very narrow cavern that becomes more narrow along the way and manage to solve a complicated puzzle in order to keep moving toward their goal of saving the universe in "Max Blizzard and The Gem of Camelot". The two kiddos are squeezed together in so many adventures throughout the book, I found myself wondering if author Pat Hatt is in league with J.J. Abrams.

Earth in "Max Blizzard and The Gem of Camelot" is a cookie cutter world, and everything is the same. The people are all boring, and life is nothing but one big, fat routine. Imagination has been suppressed, until Max begins having dreams. Bullies taunt him, and Trudesile steps in to protect him. Together they fall through a rabbit hole of sorts into another dimension where imagination is encouraged and not forbidden.

Imagination runs wild in Pat Hatt's head, and this 284-page fantasy captures but a tiny slice with fantastical names like Lempilightess (think Legolas) and Gramortimous (think Kraken) and quixotic characters including a blue goo Davy Jones or leprechaun Lester mingling their way through quests to escape monster clouds that fight with rain and snow or to reunite characters' good and evil sides amidst showers of blue lightning sparks.

Action is fast and furious. There's not a boring page in this entire book. Max's crush on Trudesile is cute, and possessed fairies make the reader want to reach for a fly swatter.

"Max Blizzard and The Gem of Camelot", available here, was an enjoyable three-day read. When I first bought the book (a while back, I'm ashamed to admit), I thought it was aimed at teenagers and perhaps young adults. Now that I've finally read it, I think it would be appropriate for anyone who enjoys Harry Potter- or J.R.R. Tolkien-type fiction, but I do need to point out a couple of characters have poor vocabularies and resort to a specific curse word a handful of times. Very minimal, nothing we don't hear every day, and even good pirates are not known for their lingual finesse, but the four-letter word stood out to me, and I caught myself wishing a different word, perhaps an imaginative made-up word, could have been used instead.

I am not receiving any compensation for writing this review, but I do consider Pat Hatt an online friend I've never met. He's been faithfully following my blog every single post since about March 2013. He even reads and comments on Snowflake Mondays!!! I'm quite sure he doesn't read the patterns, and I'll bet the closest he's ever gotten to string of any kind is to tease his rhyming cat, Orlin.


This is NOT Orlin.
Orlin blogs completely in rhyme (with a real name like Pat Hatt, how could you not?) at It's Rhyme Time seven days a week and 24 times a day once or twice a year. I think Orlin/Pat stumbled on my blog via Fundy Blue, a retired teacher right here in the Denver metro whom I have not yet met and who blogs at Standing Into Danger. Fundy stumbled upon my blog via Mrs. Micawber, a blogger and real-life dear friend I have met and who sometimes rides with The Lizard and me to fight multiple sclerosis. Small world, huh?

Pat Hatt also blogs over at PatHattBooks.com. He is a prolific writer with 58 children's books to his credit. He releases a new book every single month! I honestly don't know how he does it!

Two weeks ago I promised I'd share a review of a completely different genre of book after striking out twice trying to encourage and reward readers to enjoy and review free adoption fiction on Smashwords. No one left reviews for "Are You My Sister" or "Collecting Smiles." That means THREE autographed paperback copies of "Heart Strings" are available today! Your odds of winning just increased yet again!!!

But now I have to come up with a new contest because book reviews apparently aren't something my readers want to do. (Oh, and my previous contests weren't total failures; Smashwords sold four additional electronic copies of "Heart Strings" the day of each of the previous two book reviews, bringing my total sales to 48 books! See! I am well on my way to selling a million copies!!!)

If my lack of contest success is because the prize, my own book, doesn't seem like much of a prize, well, just let me share with you the comments of a co-worker's mom (whom I don't know), who received an autographed copy of "Heart Strings" as a gift (not from me) for Mother's Day. She said she couldn't put my book down and that she read the entire thing in a day and a half. She asked her daughter to ask me when my next book will be done.

Yikes! Guess I better get busy, huh?

Does it feel like I'm stalling? Not a bit. I have a new creative contest idea. Let's see if this one will work...

Pat typically is my first commenter each day. I'm going to ask him (right here, right now; he had no advance notice) to start a story with one sentence, preferably in rhyme, and each commenter after him should add a one-sentence continuation, preferably in rhyme (because it's good mental exercise and helps prevent and/or delay Alzheimer's). No goats in boats, though. That's already been heavily exhausted, okay?

Three autographed paperback copies (or electronic PDF copies if you are outside the US because I'm paying postage out of my own pocket) of "Heart Strings" will be awarded randomly on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

Please bear in mind I do not have internet access during the weekday except via my phone, but I will do my best to keep up with the thousands of comments I expect to garner in this sweet little contest.

On your mark, get ready, set, GO!

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Collecting Smiles

Before I announce the results of my review challenge last month, I am very excited to launch another challenge!

"Collecting Smiles" by Melody Burris caught my heart in ways I didn't imagine. It sometimes takes me so long to read the books I get because life gets in the way, I forget why I was attracted to them in the first place.

For the first 30 or so pages, I thought this book was going to be a fun little foray into college dating, a stage I missed altogether. I'm not exactly a romance novel aficionado, but I thought at least the story would be clean. After all, most of the story takes place on the campus of BYU.

Now, I'd heard stories and rumors about the rush to get married at Brigham Young University. Some students, I'd heard, are more interested in finding a mate than earning a degree, which seems sort of criminal to me, given the price of education. But this book isn't truly about dating. It's got dating stuff in there, but it's more about childlessness and the way a young woman can feel when she believes no guy is going to want to marry a sterile woman.

See why it grabbed me and wrapped its way around my heart? This is the way I felt for many lonely moons.

Today's book is a little longer than the first adoption fiction story I reviewed, at 127 pages, and this book also is free, so no financial commitment required to participate in this fun little contest. Author Melody Burris is very fortunate to have several great reviews on Amazon, where the book is not free. Unfortunately, there also are a couple of discouraging reviews by readers who were upset because in their view, the book is pushing the LDS or Mormon religion. "Collecting Smiles" didn't seem to be preaching or pushing religion to me at all. It's a story about sophomores attending BYU.

So, if the mention of LDS buzzwords bothers you, don't bother with this book. I guess this would be a good time to disclose my books also have LDS buzzwords because I'm LDS. I'm not a missionary; I didn't even grow up actively participating in church. But God is a very serious part of my life, and I can't imagine trying to survive the bumps, hiccups and tragedies without Him, so He's in all my books. I don't preach. I just tell stories. Just like here on my blog. So again, if the mention of LDS or Mormon buzzwords bothers you, don't bother with my books either.

Hopefully, in this age of what hopefully is the beginning of seeds of true tolerance, most readers won't be offended by any story just because main characters have beliefs or faith. Perhaps it's time for a remake of "Oh, God"... But only if they can do it as well as George Burns and John Denver, or George Burns and Louanne Sirota in "Oh God, Book II". (Trivia: Did you know some churches, supposedly even my own, counseled their members NOT to watch "Oh, God" when it was first released?!? Holy frijole!)

Okay, so now that I've gone off track enough to totally lose the whole point of this blog post, how about I get back to reviewing "Collecting Smiles"?


There are passages in this book that made me feel, for the first time ever in my life of reading fiction, that someone else in the world understood how it feels to not be able to have a child, to feel unworthy of marriage, especially in a church where family is the number one priority, because of an inability to give birth.

The Sunday school classes and Relief Society classes (women's classes) where child-raising routinely is a featured topic... oh, man, I can't even tell you how many of those classes I've endured and even ditched. And Mother's Day?!? Forget it.

I don't know the book's author's circumstances (she apparently hasn't written any other books), but somehow, she knows enough to totally nail that whole childlessness thing. I'd have been in tears if it wasn't for the fact I felt as if I was reading pages from my own journal. Just none of my journals take place in a BYU setting...

College sophomore Megan encounters the ultimate rejection because she can't have children... I cried, and yet, deep down inside, because of my own experiences, a flame was burning the phrase my mom used to say back into my soul: "Better fish will come along." It happened for me in real life! I hoped it would happen for Megan, too.

One thing about this story that bugged me is the typos. If I wasn't so over-committed as it is, I'd print out another copy of the book, proofread and mark it (because that's what I have done in real life for most of my career, just not for world-famous authors, unfortunately), and send it to Melody Burris in the hope she might polish up her little gem and perhaps even one day write a sequel, which many of her Amazon reviews request. I'd proof that one for her, too, if she did write it, even if it means staying off my bike for a weekend. Hope that shows you how much I enjoyed reading her book, mistakes and all.

The only other thing that bothered me about this story was the sudden absence of the title flavor in the final couple of chapters. In my opinion, and maybe because I've spent too many years dotting teas and crossing eyes (yes I intended to write it that way), I felt the ending was rushed because at least one more smile count was not included. (I could see about four places the smile counts would have fit in beautifully and added to the story as well.) The ending almost felt rushed because of that simple omission or oversight. Potential final paragraphs were dancing in my head as I read the last few pages, just knowing smile collecting was going to make a grand return at the end, but it never did. That was sort of a letdown, given the importance the game played in the first two-thirds of the book.

Now it's your turn, Dear Reader. I will award a free autographed paperback copy of "Heart Strings" on May 24, 2016, to a random reviewer of this book on Smashwords here. I will announce the winner here on my blog, assuming anyone participates, and I'll have another challenge then with a completely different genre of book. (Pat, I hope that piques your curiosity!)

I am not receiving any compensation for doing this, and I have no connection to the author. I just want to try to make a total stranger's day and help readers find good, clean fiction about a topic that envelopes my life.

And now, for the results of the "Are You My Sister?" contest: No reviews were submitted to Smashwords, so last month's challenge prize will be added to this challenge. I'll give away TWO autographed copies of "Heart Strings" on May 24, 2016. Your chances of winning just doubled!

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Are You My Sister?

How would you like to help launch another author? Doesn't that sound fun?!?

I recently staged my first book-signing, and I'm very happy to announce I sold seven copies of Heart Strings! I'm well on my way to becoming a rich and famous author, and just think, you were here at the very beginning! Ha ha ha ha!

Okay, humor aside, I'd bought 30 copies of my book for the signing, and I worried I might run out. Now I get to have another signing. And perhaps another... And then one more...

I'm not discouraged at all, but I began wondering what other adoption novels are out there on the market and if anyone is reading them. It occurred to me perhaps people just don't want to read about adoptions.

So I did an adoption search on Smashwords and immediately bought three more books. I read the first one that very same day. It was interesting, but also a little weird. It definitely answered my question about what else is out there. I'd thought since the day I began "Heart Strings" back in 2002 my novel was ground-breaking because I'd never read anything else tackling adoption quite the way I did.

The first of the three stories I bought from Smashwords made me realize there is more to adoption than just childless parents adopting an unwanted child or a young, unmarried woman giving up a child because she doesn't believe she can do the parenting thing alone. There's a whole world of different adoption scenarios out there!

The second novel really hit me. The story was engaging, and the author did a great job, in my opinion. When I finished the book, I immediately logged back onto Smashwords to write a review, and I noticed for the first time, this particular book had no reviews. (Her book does have mostly favorable reviews on Barnes & Noble, but there are spoilers.)

Not only that, the author hasn't published any more books.

That made me sad because I wondered if the author decided writing just isn't worth it. It takes a lot of time to write a book, and it sometimes takes even longer to polish it. Trying to get published in the traditional way can feel as heartbreaking as being told a child or family member is not good enough. Once you've put your heart into writing, editing and trying to sell a book, the finished product feels almost like a baby or child you've created.

To self-publish such a work takes a ton of courage. When you give your book away for free, you open yourself to crackpots who just want to say something mean. You almost have to have an extensive background in marketing to know how to help people who might truly be interested in what you have to say actually find your book.

To go through either publishing process and receive no feedback can be so extremely discouraging.

So I decided to have another little giveaway to perhaps make a writer's day.


I do not know this author, and I am receiving no compensation for what I'm about to do. I'm just trying to help another writer feel good about what she's produced.

Kathy Parsons Williams has created a believable, fun, heart-rending and satisfying story about teenage sisters who discover they have an older sister just as their family is about to experience a life-changing event. Written from the viewpoint of 14-year-old Sally Robeson (a few years after the story takes place), "Are You My Sister?" delights with realistic interactions between Sally, her 12-year-old sister Holly and her best friend Jen. Not one portion of this free 46-page PDF booklet feels contrived or unplanned. I enjoyed it from cover to cover, relishing in the tears and the smiles it brought during the two to three hours it took to read it (while multi-tasking). At the end, I had to put everything else on hold because I couldn't wait to discover the conclusion and could no longer tolerate interruptions stealing my attention away from the book. The ending did not disappoint.

The book is classified as young adult fiction; it contains no offensive language, and in my opinion, it's a wonderful tale suitable for the entire family.

I don't want to reveal any spoilers, so I'm going to leave my review here at that and invite you, Dear Reader, to join me for an afternoon of warm fuzzies by downloading this free book in whatever form suits your reading style, devouring the words and then writing a review on Smashwords here. You have to join Smashwords to leave a review, but joining is free.

On Tuesday, May 10, 2016, I will give away a free autographed paperback copy of my book, "Heart Strings", to the author of a random review on "Are You My Sister?" I'll announce the winner here on my blog, and at that time, I'll ask the winner to contact me with shipping information.

I'd love to see Kathy Parsons Williams write more, but mostly, I'd love knowing you and I, together, made a day brighter for a total stranger.

Thanks for reading!

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Heart Strings

(affiliate links to my publications)

Look what was waiting for me when I returned from an unexpected road trip!

What a wonderful thing to come home to!

I'm very happy to announce, due to special request, my latest book is now available in print-on-demand at Zulu.

"Heart Strings" also is available electronically on iTunes and Barnes & Noble and electronically and in PDF form on Smashwords.

Here's a short excerpt from the book's first chapter to give you a feel for the plot and characters:

Killer whale didn't really fit Eugene's personality. He seemed a lot more like an ostrich.

It took all the rest of the towels in the cabinet to dry up the bathroom floor. I took the pile to the laundry room and returned with the jeans, T shirt and socks Greg had scrounged.

The once-red sneakers Eugene had been wearing probably would have sufficed long enough for a trip to the department store down the canyon, but he'd worn them into the tub. They were now soaked. I tossed them into the washer along with the towels. I tossed his old clothes into the wastebasket. Upon seeing the condition of his underwear, I decided these clothes weren't worth washing. I succumbed to the burning desire to wash my hands after touching his clothing.

Eugene looked so tiny but adorable in the oversized Fleetwood Mac T-shirt, one of Greg's favorites from high school. I now could tell the boy's skin was white, and his hair was sun-streaked blonde. Chunks of hair were missing from his head. A five-year old with bald spots. He almost looked as if he'd been through chemotherapy.

I also noticed a few scars around his ears, as if someone had missed while cutting his hair. Either that, or he had squirmed. His tiny body was alarmingly slender unclothed. His ribs showed through his skin, and his knees and elbows were so bony, his skin looked like flesh-colored Saran Wrap over a skeleton.

His arms had scars that appeared to be cigarette burns. I didn't ask. It was more important right now to make him feel welcome and loved than drudge up the past.

The more I looked at him, the more I was convinced this little boy wasn't going back to any family that would leave him in such condition, much less put him in such condition in the first place.

This little boy was going to be mine.

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