Category Archives: Ranting Thought

Kid’s Corner Book Review: Hour of the Olympics

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Book Review

Hour of the Olympics: Magic Tree House Book 16

By Mary Pope Osborne

StarReader gives it 5 Stars

No girls allowed at the Olympic Games! That’s the rule when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to ancient Greece. But when Annie tells jack to go to the games without her, he knows she’s up to something. Will Annie find a way to see the games? Or will she get herself—and Jack—into Olympic-size trouble? Find out in Hour of the Olympics.

I read a book called Hour of the Olympics, Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne. The book is good because it talks about life in Ancient Greece.

Jack and Annie travel to Ancient Greece in a magic tree house and find themselves in the middle of the Olympics. When Annie finds out that the law states girls aren’t allowed in the Olympics, she was determined to get in.

I enjoyed how this book was adventurous. I also liked how the book gave facts about Ancient Greek and the Greek gods.
This book is also perfect for a bedtime story. The chapters are fairly short.
The Magic Tree House Series is a great series to read. I do enjoy when they go in the tree house and go back in time.

For more information of the magic tree house books go to magictreehouse.com.

Do We Like ‘Happily Ever After?’

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Working towards finishing up draft one of this new project, I’m caught by the fact that I haven’t decided on the ending. Very easily, I can give each character a fantastic end to a long journey, a place in their world that makes it all worth it, that makes their sufferings and losses culminate to finality in contentment.

But is that a good ending? I loved HUNGER GAMES because of the harsh edges Katniss‘ life left her with. I appreciated Tris‘ death because I believe ultimate sacrifice is necessary for the big changes. To give less cheapens the story and teaches a certain lackness in our real lives. It’s more real, more visceral for my heart to break than to simply smile, close the book, and move on. These stories left me numb, unable to put the book out of my head after the last page was turned. THAT is what makes something spectacular over great.

This was what was missing from Maas‘ THRONE OF GLASS series IMO. That everyone, especially as there were several characters to receive it, got their happy ending was cheap. Cassandra and Brannon reconciling was lame. Some things you can not take back, and the unsatisfied longing for something creates a more lasting impression than giving it.

But I feel public opinion sways more towards handing out this latter ending than the formers. While I don’t want my words swayed by popular opinion, I do want to make money from my work, which suggests leaning towards how the masses might more like something. This is pressure I’m unused to, and unsure how to handle. Pressure I try not to let leach into my brain, but find impossible to ignore one-hundred percent.

In this case, I’m sure I’ll end up writing both endings and leave it to my beta team to decide, or at least allow their opinions to weight my own.

What do you think? How much weight do the fans (or just a general public) get in manipulating the path of art? How do you deal with this in your own work, or how might you expect an artist to react?

Tell me your thoughts! Leave comments or email me directly. I’m so curious to hear how you handle this! 🙂 cindy_martens@ymail.com.

featured image painting by Sage Barnes; “Self Portrait #3”

Free the Dark: Elwood Legacy Book 3

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Book Review

Free the Dark: Elwood Legacy Book Three

by Nicola Rose

5 stars

This stunning conclusion pulls no stops!

The world is descending into devastating chaos. There’s a new enemy to mankind on the horizon… it’s me.

I’m ready to let go of morality. It’s time to play.

But how much ‘fun’ is too much when you’ve accidentally triggered the vampire apocalypse?! Are there any lines left that shouldn’t be crossed?

There’s a brand new hunger under my skin, and it wants more. More of Alex’s darkness, more of Zac’s light—

The two don’t go together, but that doesn’t stop the pull in my chest, or the ravenous shadowy beat that strikes a constant melody in my soul, driving me forward, destruction in my wake.

Can I really side with vampires and stand by as humanity is lost?

Because once that darkness is set free, pulling it back might be beyond my capabilities…

Just wow! This conclusion gave me everything I wanted. Dark romance, twisted love, hard choices, harder consequences, and a finale that leaves room for more! The best one yet.

Not to mention the rebrand of this series! Check out the new covers! Well done!

I’m looking forward to new adventures from Nicola Rose.

Happy Reading 🙂

Blessed

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This moment is dedicated to gratitude. The day is beautiful, my “office” is filled with sunlight, the breeze is cool, and I’m feeling so lucky to have the life I live.

If you’ve read one of my books, thank you. If you’ve liked a post, or even just stopped by to check things out, thank you as well. If you follow me on some random platform, I hope we can connect. Drop me a line!

Be well and have a blessed day 🙂

MY HOME OFFICE

Vulnerability in Art

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I wrote this right before I published STUMBLING, and apparently decided not to post it. I have changed my mind on that. At least it might give you a smile. It did me, though it still holds true. My third book will release in a few days so there’s a panic thing going on at this time, too. Serendipitous? Does it matter?

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