Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Psychopomps from Ilango VIlloth


Psychopomps by Ilango Villoth

Psychopomps

January 2019
108 pp
$2.99 ebook
$5.99 print
Buy on Amazon 

About the Book
Death comes to all eventually. Sometimes sudden, sometimes prolonged. Seldom welcome. And yet it remains as one of the few things we share with all other living creatures, regardless of race, color, creed or even wealth. With this in mind, Psychopomps is a collection of poetry and short stories that delve into and explore the theme of death, in all its many forms. Brutal in places, serene in others, it is a work that is as stylistically diverse as death itself, with a unique voice reaching out at the reader from experimental prose and traditional meter, to form a whole that links each to the other. Whether you read large portions of it at one sitting or simply leaf through it in a spare moment during a busy day, the effects of each piece will remain with you long after the pages have been closed.

My Review
After realizing that I had to look up the meaning of the title of Viloth’s latest publishing endeavor, I was in a slightly better place—but only slightly. Psychopomps is from the Greek for guides of the soul, creatures who take the freshly dead to an appropriate afterlife. The mix of cultures and faiths throughout the author’s lyrical offerings alludes to the many aspects of death.

I like poetry and I adore cleverness, but Viloth’s work leaves me in the dust. He takes the reader on a journey that is as small as the space of one kneeling in heartache to the maw of a whale to the world’s end and a stumble into the “no more” of piece #20.

The grouping of personal observation, of absurdity, of dark joy, the cadence of pieces like “Children’s Fable” with the refrain “I wish I had a name! I’m so Happy…” flows like a braided stream, bubbly in some places, whistling in the dark shadows under rockfall, to the “curious phenomenon” of a family-swallowing stream in the longest piece, “The Ambiguous Guest.”

The heart of the work, to me, is found in the title piece, in a Ulyssian-style refrain lamenting our own inability to seize the moment.
the cruelest privilege of the world is this: that we go about our
days while believing that we are not yet living, that our stories
have not yet begun. that someday we will leap up into action,
exclaiming “I have awoken; finally, my true self has arrived,”
and in thinking thusly become sedated through all our chapters…

Psychompomps is recommended for those who appreciate tiptoeing through mortality in song and tale, sipping a toast of Bacchanalian treasure while feasting on wit.

About the Author
I'm currently employed as a sports writer. Recently, I assisted in welcoming the Dalai Lama to the Overture Center, managed and programmed the Isthmus Jazz Festival, and co-taught UW-Madison's 400-level Shakespeare course. I currently work as a sports writer (American football) for Rotowire.

Moby-Dick is my passion.

I recently completed and published my first full-length novel, The Inconsistencies: A Comical Tragedy In Two Parts. My new novella, Psychopomps, will be released Q1 2019.
I am in the process of discovering life after university. The world is open.

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Brian Freeman headlining writers conference Sept 28

Save the Date!



St. Croix Writers and Wisconsin Writers Association are pleased to announce their Northland Fall Writers Conference, September 28, 2019.  Registration begins at 8:30 am, Solon Springs Community Center, 11523 S. Business Highway 53,  Solon Springs, WI.  Conference fee of $49 includes your catered lunch and snacks. 

Brian Freeman, international best-selling psychological thriller author, will present  "Thrill Seeker: A Writer's Life in the Northland."  Freeman, keynote presenter, is well known for his strong, complex characters Jonathan Stride, Frost Easton and Cab Bolton, with the Stride detective series set in Duluth, MN. Brian's books are sold in 46 countries and translated into 20 languages. He lives and writes in St. Paul, MN. 
 
During his fifteen years as a Midwestern writer, Brian Freeman has seen the publishing world turn upside down and reinvent itself. But one thing hasn’t changed: the love that readers have for a great story. 

Brian will take you through the evolution of his career, from writing award-winning Northland thrillers to recently taking on Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne franchise, with next book in the series,   The Bourne Conspiracy,   planned for 2020 release. 

Brian will also speak about how he develops characters and stories for different settings, platforms, and audiences. He will answer your questions about thriving in today’s publishing industry. 

Please find additional info at Brian's website:  www.bfreemanbooks.com

This exciting conference, for all writers and book lovers, is open to everyone. Additional guest presenters during the day will include Karla Huston, WI Poet Laureate 2017-2018;  Abby Frucht, novelist;  and Barry Wightman, author, editor and president of WWA.  

Regional authors featured will include Naomi Musch, Gary Banker, Janet Kay, and Thomas Wayne King, among others.  

Book tables and sales by authors and vendors will be available all day until 4 pm. 

Your cost to attend will be $49, including program, catered lunch, snacks, and artisanal coffees. Authors wanting to sell their books can reserve a vendor table for an additional $15.00. 

Further information and details will be available soon at www.WiWrite.org. 

Save the date!  Plan to attend!  Saturday. September 28, 2019.  Solon Springs, WI. 

If you love to read and write, this day is for you.  Don't miss it! 

Karen Franco advocate for special needs


Meet Karen Franco, children’s book author and advocate for children with special needs.


Karen Franco was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, started as a Feature Writer for a weekly newspaper, the Zion Benton News. Life took her to California and that’s where her son, Jacob, was born. Little did she know that Jacob would change her life forever, and begin the journey in the world of special needs.

Karen's son Jacob is the inspiration for her book series… Just Hold My Hand,” “Jacob’s Hoop,”  “What Makes Bella Special?” and now “Where Did the Sun Go?”

Karen and Jacob

Karen says, My publisher is amazing...Layne Case of AMITY Publications. I met her on LinkedIn. We both belong to the same writers groups and one day I reached out to her about publishing my books. Now four books later, we're still together. Right now, I haven't started another book. I'm still focusing on Where Did the Sun Go? which is my book that was published in December 2018. All my books are inspired by Jacob and living in his world for 24 years. He is the best subject to write about...research is just going back in time and dive into my memories of different things that have happened to us over the years. My books focus on a different aspects of Jacob's development. I wrote about sensory issues, physical limitations, his relationship with our dog Bella and behavioral changes to due weather. I always have a positive outcome within these struggles...showing what I have done to help Jacob get through these challenges.

Each book tells a different story with a positive outcome of how Jacob has to cope with his day to day struggles.  In addition to being an author, and Jacob’s mom, Franco is also a speaker, bringing the message of patience, understanding and acceptance of children who are “differently” abled.

Each 8.5 by 8.5 inch paperback between 28 and 42 pages is $12.00
Buy on Amazon
From the author (Signed)

Just Hold My Hand 
My son, Jacob sees, feels, hears and interprets the world around him differently than anyone else. One day at the county fair he experiences all these senses in a way that only he can relate to, but by holding mom’s hand, he can cope with what scares him such as loud noises, what frustrates him like not getting what he wants, and what excites him. Most of us take those feelings for granted or they wouldn’t be expected at a fun place like the fair, but for our “differently” abled children, they need ways to cope with the world around them. Nothing is more comforting than holding mom’s hand.

Jacob’s Hoop  
Jacob wants to play basketball. He tries really hard but his “different” abilities make it difficult for him to play like everyone else. One day, at his child care center Every Child’s Place, he gets a wonderful surprise. There in the playground was a basketball hoop just his size. On the backboard were the words “Jacob’s Hoop” in big green letters. This book is a simple story with a big meaning that teaches understanding, patience and most of all acceptance of someone who is different from other children. In my story, I introduce Every Child’s Place, a special child care center, who embraces children of all abilities. I am so fortunate I have been a part of their mission for over fourteen years. Jacob was welcomed with open arms, and that’s where other kids began accepting him for who he is. 



What Makes Bella Special? 
  • Is it her curly Q tail that’s always wagging?
  • Her fuzzy fur and floppy ears?
  • Her funny way that she grunts when she wants attention?
  • Her calm and friendly personality?


All those things make Bella a special part of the family but Jacob answered the question best…


Where Did the Sun Go?
When weather changes, so can behaviors. “Where Did The Sun Go?” touches on how a stormy day affects Jacob. But with positive reassurance, constant interaction, as well as fun distractions, Jacob learns how to cope with the storm. Knowing the sun will be back soon helps to keep him calm and puts a smile back on his face.


Sharing her stories about living in Jacob’s world is a wonderful way to connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges with their children. "Knowing that you aren’t alone helps to face these struggles with hope, love and strength," Franco says.

Franco is also a founding member of the Board of Directors of Every Child’s Place, an all-inclusive, not-for-profit child care center that cares for children of all abilities. She has served on the board for 20 years. Today, Franco lives in Union Grove, Wisconsin with her husband Chris, their Labradoodle Bella and of course, Jacob.

Connect with Karen through her website, Facebook, and LinkedIn. She is also available for speaking engagements. "I like to share our story with others and where our journey in Jacob's World has lead us to where we are today. I always say that it's so helpful to other families to let them know that they are not alone in this special needs world. Trust me, it can be a very lonely place when you think you are the only one who is facing these kinds of struggles. I talk about our life, Jacob's diagnosis, the doctors, therapies and how I decided to write my books. This is usually my approach to my talks."


Monday, June 10, 2019

Tim Fox and Ice Age Journeys 2

Journeys 2; An Ice Age Rescue

Ice Age Journeys 2, Ice Age Rescue
by Tim Fox
YA historic fiction

$3.99 ebook
April 1, 2019
Journeys Publications
Buy on Amazon

About the Book:
A kidnapping...
The attack of an Ice Age cat...
One seriously large Paleo Indian man...
An immigrant boy abused by two bullies...
A series of dreams...

All of these and more come together when Mark and Barry Jamison return to Ice Age Wisconsin.
This time they are on a journey with friends to help friends.
And this time, it’s more than an adventure, it’s an Ice Age rescue!

My Review:
Fox picks up his Ice Age time travel adventure for young people with a dual story that takes place in present times and thousands of years ago in the same location with an imagined ideal of life during the glacial period. This story is Barry’s, a sixth grader with a ton of energy. When a new kid from Honduras, Javier, comes to school, Barry rescues him from older bullies. In the past, a young boy with his family is attacked and a sister kidnapped while the brother watches helplessly.

Barry and his buddies learn about the plight of South and Central Americans who are bullied so badly they are no longer safe in their birth country. Although Javier is bullied in Wisconsin, he has friends to stick up for him.

When Javier and Kylie, another of Barry’s friends at school, as well as Barry all have worrisome dreams accompanied by strange blue light on the same night, Barry and Mark realize it’s time to share the secret of their time-traveling. Something is wrong back in the time of the Ice Age, and it’s up to the kids to put the clues together and figure out how to make things right.

Told in multiple viewpoints from humans and creatures in both past and present episodes, Ice Age Journey 2 is a well-reasoned look at potential lifestyle choices, blended families, and our environment. Fox cleverly shows how friends can help each other across culture and time as a portal through time opens once again on time long past. I enjoyed the author’s use of the natural geological formations in south central Wisconsin at parks I like to visit as well.

Recommended for middle graders who read well and enjoy a fun adventure with spears, giants, thinking mastodons and saber tooth tigers, family time, and good friends.

About the Author:
Tim Fox is a Wisconsin writer who loves hiking in Wisconsin’s state parks and natural areas.
He has been a teacher and coach and now does personal fitness training.
His author website is journeysiceageadventure.com.

Monday, June 3, 2019

June 6 Poetry Reading at Woodland Pattern Book Cetner

Raising Our Voices
Poetry Reading with Kathie Giorgio

 featuring Christina M.R. Norcross
and Lisa Marie Brodsky


Thursday June 6
7:00 PM

Woodland Pattern Book Center
720 E. Locust
Milwaukee, WI 53212


$GIVE WHAT YOU CAN

Throughout history, women have raised their voices to be heard in times of challenge and trouble. We haven't always been heard, but that hasn't left us silent or defeated. And now, our present day circumstances necessitate our raising our voices again, and more loudly than ever before. Whether our voices are raised in anger, in fear, in sadness, in joy, in desperation or triumph, it's time for us to shout and sing and make sure our messages are heard.

Kathie will be reading from her new poetry chapbook "When You Finally Said No."