Little Red Riding Hood reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.
Princess Blanchette’s world shatters when the Black Wolf tears apart
her castle and everything she holds dear. All she clings to is the vow she
made to her grandmother on her deathbed.
Hailed as the people’s champion, Sir Rowan Dietrich liberates the
capital in a quest for vengeance. He takes Winslowe Castle with an army at
his back and his wolf, Smoke, at his side.
United by a shared cause and powerful attraction, Rowan and Blanchette
embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption—a path filled
with loss, transformation, and ultimately, the healing power of love.
Can Norland’s resplendent princess, with her captivating beauty and
spirit, tame the fabled Black Wolf?
Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Kingdom is a
passionate historical romance about the enduring quest for love and the
longing for a world at harmony.
*Red Kingdom is a standalone installment in a series of reimagined classic
fairy tales. Due to adult content and themes, it is not intended for readers
under the age of 18.
What you can expect from Red Kingdom...
Dark, Medieval Setting
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Broken Alpha Hero
Strong Heroine
Wolf Companion
He Falls First
Redemption
Warring Kingdoms
Blanchette spots the Black
Wolf during the siege
Death at her feet. Death in her home.
Death in the air.
Death screamed in every corner of her
mind.
Then she saw him.
Rowan Dietrich, the fabled Black Wolf of
Norland, strode through her castle like a waking nightmare. His armor
was crudely made, black as the surrounding night, the helm’s dark
metal twisted into the shape of a wolf’s snarling head. But the
most striking thing about him was his height. He towered above the
other fighters and battled with a chilling methodicalness. How he
moved and fought frightened Blanchette the greatest.
He looked collected. Even mildly amused.
As if this were nothing more than a game. Blood soaked his sword as
the blade whirled, whipped, slashed, and claimed lives in a macabre
dance of death. And that wolf clung to his heels, its muzzle wet with
blood, snarling and leaping at any man who dared come close to its
master.
Monster. Demons.
The Black Wolf of Norland had always had
a mist of legend around him. She remembered the stories her mother
and governess had often whispered after the feasts and in the dark of
the night.
“To me,” the Black Wolf called to a
soldier a few yards away, his deep voice effortlessly carrying above
the tumult. He didn’t need to yell, not even over the mayhem. The
force of his tone was enough.
One of her father’s guards raised his
blade, but too slowly. Rowan Dietrich’s longsword cut his head off,
then came flashing back in a terrible two-handed slash that took
another soldier in the leg.
With quivering anger, she realized that
this man—this wolf, this beast—was
the reason the sky was falling on her family. She clutched the
dagger, wishing she could stand a chance against him. How good and
right
it would feel to plunge the blade deep into his heart and avenge what
would likely be the end of her family’s dynasty.
Of course, she’d never survive him or
his demon wolf. And if she was ever to avenge her family, if she was
to keep her promise, survival meant everything.
Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Four out of Five Stars
This well-written dark fantasy retells the well-known tale of Red Riding Hood. However, in this case, Red Riding Hood isn't a little girl wearing a red hood taking a picnic basket to her grandmother's house. She is a princess given a red cloak by her grandmother during a siege on her family's castle. Her grandmother is murdered shortly thereafter by a servant whom Princess Blanchette had previously trusted implicitly.
This book is definitely not appropriate for young or more sensitive readers. It includes violent battle scenes, the slaying of helpless children and elderly victims, and the sexual assault of females unfortunate enough to be captured by the invaders and not killed outright. All of these circumstances were very real possibilities during a seizure of territory. The scenes were not written in an exploitative or gratuitous fashion. However, they can make for disturbing reading, so proceed with caution.
I appreciated Blanchette's determination and resourcefulness. I'm not a great fan of stories where the heroine falls for her captor, especially when he leads a brutal assault leading to the deaths and/or sexual assaults of innocent civilians. Roland is a more nuanced character than I initially anticipated. If the story were depicted in a less bloody fashion, it would have been easier for me to get on board with the romantic relationship between himself and Blanchette.
This story is not the right choice for those who prefer a dreamier and less bloody fantasy writing style. It's the perfect choice for readers who appreciate realistic depictions of events inspired by history, even those events that aren't pleasant to think about.
About the Author
I live in Sunny California with my dashing husband, who inspires my romance
novels every day!
Writing has always been an integral part of my identity. Before I
physically learned how to write, I'd narrate stories to my mom, and she'd
record them for me.
I graduated from Chapman’s film school, where I often received the
feedback on my scripts, “Your stories and characters are great, but
this reads like a novel!” That’s when I realized my true
calling.
In my free time, I frequent reptile expos, lift double my body’s
weight, and indulge in dinosaur trivia.
I'm passionate about writing stories that explore what it means to be human
and to be loved. My books focus on hope, courage, and redemption in the face
of adversity.
Coming of age inside the controversial world of the Spartacus Gay Guide
Blurb
It is 1981. Jaap, a Dutch teenager, is a boy taking his first steps towards becoming a man. He’s reclusive, a wallflower with a handsome face and curly blond hair. He loves playing tennis and plays drums for a student rock band.
He is attracted to men and afraid of desires that he has not acted upon. By fortuitous accident, the Dutch teen meets Briton John D. Stamford, and his life changes. Stamford is the eccentric middle-aged editor of Spartacus International Gay Guide, the crucial book for gay male travelers. It listed both welcoming destinations and countries that carried strict penalties for homosexuality.
Jaap likes mature men; John prefers youths. BOY ONEis the record of their relationship, the deluxe global travel they did for John’s work, the eye-opening experiences of a sheltered teen, and the obsessive sexual relationship that developed.
Amid the glamor of five-star hotels and restaurants, conflicts arise. Jaap still thinks about having a girlfriend and wonders if he is bisexual. John is trying to push his young lover into something he’s not ready for—being openly gay all the time. Moreover, Jaap notices the Spartacus Guide lists opportunities for sex with underaged youths in places like Thailand. He suspects this is wrong. So do the police, who begin investigating John.
Despite the excitement and eroticism of their relationship, the moral issues grow until the two are at odds.
In BOY ONE, Jaap Cové tells the honest and gripping story of a remarkable part of his life. Revealing and outspoken, it is a unique, colorful and compelling coming-of-age story. It captures the excitement of international gay life in the early 80s, but it is also a troubling saga about morality and intergenerational relationships.
NOTE: THIS EXCERPT CONTAINS MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR ADULT READERS ONLY.
Excerpt
John picks me up at the airport with a taxi. We drop my bag in the RV that’s parked just outside Basel’s old center, but don’t stay there. John has other plans. I’m in for a romantic weekend. It’s snowy and below freezing point. I never expected the city to be so beautiful, or is it because we’re together again? We lunch in an upscale Konditorei, then walk arm in arm past the historical buildings in the old center. People on the pavement glare at us, but John doesn’t let go of my arm. It feels warm and safe. We visit the Gothic church and head to the quay of the river Rhine, where we kiss. There are people watching, which makes it more exciting. Protected by John, I don’t feel any embarrassment. I exist in a constant state of being crazy in love.
He takes me to my first gay sauna in the old town to warm up. As we enter a dimly-lit steam room, I lose John in the mist. In no time, there are many hands all over my body, touching my ass, my cock and my torso. I am scared.
As I adjust to the light, I look into the faces of the young men groping me and start to panic. I want to break free, but they won’t let me. Someone shoves his tongue between my lips. I wriggle to get away from the mass of bodies. Just as I reach the point of using force, I feel a hand pull me from the crowd. John pulls me close and embraces me. He smiles and tries to calm me.
‘You didn’t like that?’ he asks.
‘No, I panicked.’
‘Come, let’s get out of here.’
He takes me to a private room where we make love on a rubber bed covered with towels. Our session isn’t long and elaborate as it would have been in the RV. It turns me on just the same. I’m quickly positioned on my belly by his big hands, feeling the cold KY-jelly on my ass, after which he carefully pushes his warm cock inside. Pleasing John, giving my lover what he wants, in the way he wants it, excites me. I become hard as a rock. This man owns me when we make love.
Downstairs in the bar area later, we have a drink. I play with the thought that John planned the episode in the steam room. At the same time, the thought is ridiculous. I can’t imagine him telling all those guys that his lover from Holland would be visiting, and asking them to give me a warm welcome.
‘It was almost like they were waiting for me,’ I say. ‘All those hands on me.’
‘Why is that strange? Have you looked in the mirror lately?’
‘Huh?’
‘You’re very handsome, Jake. You’re a fucking knockout.’
I don’t know what to say, since no one ever told me that. I know I’m not ugly, but a knockout? I’m tall and slender, not muscled. And I’ve always been on the shy side, not confident about my looks. All my life people have told me that my blond curls are beautiful. But women couldn’t keep their hands off my hair when I was a young boy and I didn’t enjoy that.
‘And you have such a hot ass,’ he adds with a big smile. Then he kisses me.
As I take a sip of my drink, I think about how my life has changed. In less than three months, I have made the metamorphosis from Dordrecht wallflower to Basel knockout. My self-esteem balloons.
But something is gnawing at me.
‘So when you’re here on your own, I suppose those hands are on you, too, right?’
‘Why do you ask?’
‘I don’t like that thought.’
‘No, that doesn’t happen to me. I’m getting too old, Jake. Older gay people are less appealing in this world. You’ll find out.’
‘I find that hard to believe. When you walk around here naked, people look.’
‘I’m glad you think so.’ He smiles and looks past me, like he’s checking out the other guys. ‘But to answer your real question, yes, I do play around when I’m on my own.’
‘What… you mean, you still do, even though we’re lovers?’
‘Yes.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Remember that black kid we met in a bar in Nice on our last evening? I fucked him soon after you left.’
That’s a sudden bucket of ice water. I put down my drink and sit frozen. I want to go home. Now.
John continues sipping his drink. ‘It’s all right, Jake; it meant nothing. I love you.’
Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Five out of Five Stars
This superbly written memoir reveals an important piece of gay history unknown to younger generations and perhaps forgotten to some of us more mature folks. Jaap Cove reveals in unflinching detail what it was like to be gay during an era when homosexuality was not as widely accepted as it later became in Western society.
In many places, homosexual activity was literally illegal. Even if it wasn't outright illegal, it was frowned upon. Growing up in a homophobic environment, Jaap Cove believed something was wrong with him. Still, he couldn't overcome his attraction to men. When fate led him to connect with John Stamford, the publisher of the Spartacus Gay Guide, his life changed forever.
Nineteen-year-old Jaap began a clandestine affair with Stamford, assisting him with the publication of Spartacus. The picture shown on the cover of the memoir once appeared on the cover of the guide. Although the relationship between Jaap and John might raise eyebrows due to John being nearly twice Jaap's age, both men were legally adults.
The Spartacus Gay Guide was invaluable in helping many gay men find places to connect safely with their like-minded fellows, enjoying vacations and celebrations. Unfortunately, as Jaap discovered, the publication and its founder had a dark side. Jaap's relationship with John was shaken when he learned the Guide featured certain venues that catered to men taking advantage of trafficked children and youth. The affair crumbled when he learned about John's own checkered past.
Jaap's account is forthright and unflinching. It is both a look into the history of gay men fighting for their rights to be treated equally under the law and a look into the mind and heart of a young gay man growing up in a homophobic society without any real support or guidance. There is also an element of the cautionary tale. Sometimes even the most seemingly wonderful things (such as the Spartacus Gay Guide) and exciting, worldly people (such as John Stamford) conceal darker truths. One must remain true to oneself and to higher principles, such as protecting society's vulnerable populations.
I commend Jaap Cove for sharing his story. I believe reading it could truly be beneficial for a vulnerable young gay man who might find himself in a similar position of self-doubt and self-denial. I highly recommend the book to readers of any sexual orientation. We can all learn something from this author.
Because of the adult subject matter contained in the text, the book is not suitable for children. Personally, I feel older teenagers, especially gay male teens, should read it. The information contained in the story could benefit them, helping them learn to accept themselves and to spot predatory men seeking to take advantage of an adolescent boy mired in self doubt: a prime target for flattery from an older man with less-than-honorable intent.
About the Author
Jaap Cové (1962) studied anthropology and debuted in 2011 with his novel Walking Among Us, followed by Cajú (2012) and The Girl in the Web (2017). Dog Gone (2023) was his first nonfiction narrative. Boy One is his first memoir.
From my website:
Jaap Cové is an anthropologist, a drummer, a flautist, a globetrotter, and an author of fiction and nonfiction. His novels are filled with mystery, spirituality, symbolism and music. His nonfiction is a reflection of his eventful life.
Two boys fall in love in a deadly world, but it’s the secrets they keep that might kill them.
Seventeen-year-old Zach was visiting his uncle in a small Montana town when a mysterious illness ripped through the world. Most died, but those who survived the Infection became mindless killers, spreading the disease with a single scratch. Now, a year later, civilization lies in ruins, and Zach is the town’s sole survivor. Desperately lonely, he longs to return to his family in Seattle, but his fears hold him captive.
Eighteen-year-old Aiden is on a critical mission for the covert Scientific Collective, delivering vials whose contents could cure the Infection. Tortured by his boyfriend’s death, he welcomes the risks of the perilous journey. When a militia attacks Aiden, he flees to Zach’s town.
The boys escape together and soon form a bond as they comfort each other in this desolate and broken world. The farther they travel, the more their affection grows, as do the forces pulling them apart. But their greatest threats are the secrets they keep. Zach hides details of his uncle’s death, and Aiden conceals the vials’ sinister origins. In order to survive, they’ll have to confront the truths that could tear their love apart.
It’s hard to get over how desolate the world is now. I haven’t seen another soul for over a week. And if I want to stay alive, I hope to keep it that way.
The road cuts a winding path through a dense forest, the cone of my headlights revealing just enough to see ahead. Everything else is stark blackness. Daft Punk and GRiZ blast through the car’s speakers—an EDM mix I made last year as a DJ for my high school. Back when DJs and high schools existed, that is. The bass rumbling through the seat makes me feel connected to the car.
With one eye on the road, I paw at the backpack resting on the passenger seat. It’s the third time this hour I’ve checked on the vials. The familiar shape of the protective aluminum case through the nylon fabric helps ease my anxiety. For the moment, anyway. It may be a little obsessive, but the vials are my critical cargo. They’re what I’m risking my life for. And I’m doing this for Marcus.
The slightest thought of him sends waves of grief flooding over me. I fight those feelings and bury them away. Letting emotions control me is the surest way of getting killed.
When I pull up to a rest area, the car cuts a path through an inch of pine needles spread over the parking lot. Weeds spring up through every possible crack, and vines are well on their way to swallowing the restrooms whole. The sheer relentlessness of Mother Nature is startling.
Since man-made light is a thing of the past, it’s impossible to see your hand six inches in front of your face, especially on a cloudy, moonless night in rural Montana. The headlights are my only guide through the darkness, so I leave them turned on.
As I open the door, I’m hit with a cold blast of air and the smell of sap. It must be low forties out. My breaths puff out in misty clouds.
Looters often overlook vending machines at rest stops, so I always check them out. I’m pleasantly surprised to find the machines undamaged and nearly full. With a few pries of a crowbar, the lock springs open. I load what I can into my backpack and stuff the rest in a black plastic bag.
After doing my business in the restroom, I return to my faded red ’97 Integra, crunching through the thick layer of decaying pine needles. I stop suddenly, staring at another pair of footprints that cross over mine, head up to my car door, and then into the woods. They were not here before. I’m sure of it.
Did I remember to lock the door?
In a flash, I run to the car and reach for the handle. Locked. Thank god. The second I’m in, I fire up the engine. Debris kicks up from the tires as I hit the gas and speed away.
For the next several minutes, I’m hypervigilant, keeping my eye on the mirrors and looking ahead for a potential ambush. Those footprints could have been from a member of a local militia. Their scouts are notorious for spotting lone cars and radioing for backup.
Or the footprints could have been from one of the people sick with that damn disease. The Infected. It’s unlikely since they went right up to the car door. Once the fever has done its damage, the Infected don’t really have that level of cognitive ability. The path would have been more random.
Either way, I’m glad to put the rest area behind me. As time passes, my nerves start to settle. Guess I got lucky. Maybe it was nothing, like a local survivor passing through.
As the minutes drift by, my eyes get heavy. It’s no use fighting sleep, so I scan the highway for a side road with enough cover to pull over and rest for the night.
That’s when headlights shine in my rearview mirror.
Goddamn it.
Carjackers.
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Four out of Five Stars
This well-written dystopian science fiction story is fast-paced and filled with action and adventure. The romance between the two protagonists, Aiden and Zach, is more a subplot than the main focus of the tale. Nonetheless, the bond between the pair is critical. Both have lost people they love and have been alone in their struggles for a long time. The author does an excellent job of describing the challenging world the characters inhabit and of making readers care about those characters.
Because of violence and adult subject matter such as an attempted sexual assault, this story is not appropriate for younger readers. It is a good choice for adults and older teens who enjoy the zombie apocalypse genre. The descriptions of attacks by the Infected and hostile individuals such as those pursuing Aiden are, in fact, less graphic than would be depicted in a television series such as The Walking Dead.
Paul is a lifelong creative writer whose life is filled with queer joy. His passion is to spread that joy through storytelling, writing books where you might not typically see queer characters. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his husband and two tuxedo kitties and might have a slight addiction to reading gay romance. But it’s not a problem. He could stop any time he wants. Honestly.
In the era of legalized marijuana in the United States, the Chinese
government has nefarious plans to exploit America's best and brightest
graduate students using synthetic Hallucinogens and THC compounds. To
accomplish their goal, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has partnered with
a disaffected American CIA agent who was instrumental in the CIA's domestic
hallucinogen experiments on American citizens known as Project MKULTRA
during the Korean and Vietnam wars. The CCP have surreptitiously funded
upscale cafés in each American city where marijuana has been
legalized and there is an American university within walking distance of
their café.
In each café, the CCP secretly adds a designer hallucinogen to the
coffee. This drug opens the graduate student's minds to the power of
suggestion and allows the baristas (Chinese security agents) to easily
question the students for technical information concerning their graduate
studies and labs. The methods used are similar to what the disaffected CIA
agent learned during his MKULTRA project missions in the 1950s and 1960s.
This allows the Communist Chinese to gain a head start on America's
most crucial security and technological innovations.
But there is a problem. The synthetic hallucinogen is beginning to have
strange effects on some students, and these effects are being noticed. A
bright Israeli E.R. doctor and his wife (an addiction counselor) living and
working in Burlington, Vermont, have encountered some of these students
suffering from bizarre psychotic symptoms. They suspect that there is more
than meets the eye in these Chinese cafés and have started
investigating. If the Chinese plan is discovered, it will open the CCP up to
significant charges of international terrorism against the United States.
With current congressional committee hearings focused on banning Tik Tok and
other Chinese technologies, the CCP will stop at nothing to prevent this
from happening.
Excerpt
Chapter
1
Tucson, Arizona
Monday, December 4, 2023
Haitao (海涛)
picked up the shiny gray flip phone on the first ring. He had been
waiting for the call from his contact in Dalian, China, the city
where he was born and raised. His phone rang at the precise moment
that was agreed to in his last communication. The contact timed the
call to coincide with a Chinese spy satellite’s orbit above Tucson,
capable of delivering an encrypted message carried on an untraceable
signal. The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence
(ODNI)21 knew of the satellite but had not yet cracked the latest
Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS)22 code.
Haitao had never met the man on the
other end of the call and did not know his name. His tone, however,
was unmistakable. Now was not the time for weakness or trepidation.
Project JAVA-WAR was moving forward on schedule, and he was tasked
with ensuring it stayed that way, at least in his Tucson café. Over
the last two years, the Chinese government secretly built and
franchised a chain of nouveau-riche cafés next to public
universities in states that had legalized recreational marijuana. His
café was an integral part of the MSS Project JAVA-WAR.
The MSS manager delivered Haitao’s
instructions in short and clipped tones. His benefactors within MSS
were well aware of the supply chain issues plaguing the delivery of
sensitive packages due to America’s continued antagonistic posture
toward Communist China. Hence, Haitao’s next “special” delivery
would arrive via an untraceable human mule. An Ecuadorian national
would cross the poorly secured MexicanAmerican border tomorrow into
Nogales, Arizona, as a stowaway on a Union Pacific freight train.
Once across the border, the human mule would pass the package to a
diplomat from the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles at a
predetermined drop site in Nogales. This Chinese national would, of
course, have diplomatic immunity. Haitao would receive the package at
the back entrance of his café two blocks from Arizona State
University at approximately 2:30 p.m. The diplomat would then return
immediately to Los Angeles. No words would be spoken between them.
These were the standing MSS orders.
Haitao’s salary was paid in
untraceable cryptocurrency by the MSS. Once the package was
delivered, as with all prior deliveries, he would carefully pour the
powder contained within the ziplock bag into the small box attached
to the back of the “special” coffee dispenser at his Sun Tzu Café
franchise. MSS agents only used the “special” coffee dispenser
after they targeted a graduate student they wanted to interview in
the café. Haitao would then burn the empty package and await further
instructions. In thirty days, the MSS would direct another phone call
to his MSS flip phone at precisely 2:30 p.m.
Haitao steeled himself and, in
perfect Chinese, began with the statement, “我们出现了问题
– We have another problem.” The MSS agent on the phone did
not like problems and, as was his nature, spoke in simple and clipped
tones, “解釋 –
Explain.” Haitao hoped his voice would not waver and said,
“We have had two incidents in the last week that I believe are
related to the delivered packages. Both resulted in a brief police
presence in my café and medical treatment for the graduate students
involved. The students became delusional and violent and had to be
subdued by one of your MSS baristas after drinking the coffee laced
with the contents of your delivered packages.”
Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating:
Five out of Five Stars
Imagine going to grab a nice cup of coffee at a local bistro in a college town only to find yourself spiraling into a state of psychosis. This is what's happening to unsuspecting university students at select coffee houses where the brew is being spiked with potent hallucinogenic drugs as part of a Chinese plot to attack the United States. It sounds like the plot of a far-fetched espionage thriller. However, the plot isn't all that far-fetched, and certain branches of the United States government conducted such experiments on their own citizens over many decades. The most famous (or infamous) of these experiments went by the name of MKULTRA. Some of the characters in Sun Tzu's Cafe are creations of the author's imagination. Others are real historical figures.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with lots of steamy sex and even more explosions, this book will not fill the bill. There's only one big explosion and there are no steamy sex scenes. On the other hand, if you want to read an immersive story with real history that will scare the hell out of anyone with a conscience and a working brain, this is absolutely the story for you. Sun Tzu's Cafe is a tightly-written, well-researched story providing plenty of links to send readers down winding rabbit holes into real U.S. history. This book may leave the reader feeling unsettled while recalling the old mantra, "You aren't paranoid if they really are out to get you."
Who can you trust? Not the government. Maybe not even your local coffee shop. However, if you're someone who enjoys an intellectually stimulating story, you can trust this book to deliver.
All my life, I’ve been haunted by her dark eyes. At birth, she cursed me to prick my finger on the spindle and sleep for a century. She appears in my dreams, my reflections, shaping my desires. Who is she? Follow me into the lonely Forest of Tears where the dwarfs dwell, walking where she once walked. Gaze into the depths of the magic mirror which reveals her secrets. For I refuse to fear her, even if I should.
My first memory was of her dark eyes. They captured all the colors of my infant universe, threatening to swallow me. Those eyes should have been terrifying, but they weren’t.
Her bloodred lips moved, shaping words I could not recall.
My parents remembered them only too well, along with everyone else who’d gathered in the castle for my christening.
“I too have a gift for this child. She will grow up with all the beauty and promise of the dawn, but her sun will never rise.”
My mother told me she nearly swooned with terror at the look of sheer malevolence the witch gave the sunbeams playing around my cradle. She wanted to stop the witch from speaking, as did my father.
No one could speak, no matter how much they wished to. Everyone froze in place, spellbound by the witch’s gaze.
“Before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, the princess shall prick her finger on a spindle. With the first drop of her blood, a sleeping curse will fall upon her, claiming her for a hundred years.”
The witch disappeared into a cloud of emerald smoke.
No one could find her after my christening, despite many attempts. The only thing she left behind was the memory of her dark eyes.
I wondered if she’d been real. Her appearance was the sort of thing I’d read about in old legends. The way she haunted my dreams, I felt like I was being drawn into one of them.
I’m a California Bay Area author, exploring the borders of reality and gender to create new worlds and populate them with compelling characters. I live with my husband and our two four footed children, i.e. cats.
I was captivated by this book from the first page. The scene descriptions are nothing short of spellbinding. The narrative is dreamlike and filled with longing for a nebulous connection which perhaps doesn't even exist in the waking world. The stories are erotic without being explicit, as exemplified in the following paragraph.
I’m not certain how long I sat there, staring at her. The lady’s painted eyes seemed equally fascinated with me. No—more than fascinated. Those eyes wanted to devour me.
I could picture every step Princess Rose and Oriana took on the path into the Forest of Tears and could visualize the dwarf Opal as if he were standing right in front of me. The more I learned about Oriana and her secrets, the more I wanted to know.
The only reason I rate this story four rather than five stars is there are places where the narrative bogs down and repeats itself, saying the same thing in slightly different ways several times. Also, the moral of the story (it's okay to be gay) becomes a bit heavy-handed at times. I fully agree with this assertion, but a lighter touch would be more in keeping with the dreamlike nature of this tale. Other than this, I have no complaints about this innovative and engaging fairytale retelling.
Most people go through life worrying about silly things: careers,
mortgages, family strife, the size of their biceps, how many Instagram
followers they have, and most importantly, fantasy football. What if there
was a way to get more out of life through deeper and more meaningful
connections with those you care the most about? Some people turn to religion
or meditation for these connections; I turned to my one true friend,
cannabis.
The book summarizes my experiences with cannabis, the interesting
connections I have made, the benefits to me from making these connections,
what I think is happening that allows me to make these connections, and some
other random and (hopefully) funny observations I have written down while
high.
I hope you enjoy the trip as much as I did.
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Five out of Five Stars
I got a kick out of this book. The author's mission isn't to encourage anyone to start using marijuana, it is simply to explain why he feels using marijuana has helped him. He describes how marijuana helps him deal with anxiety, as compared to alcohol which may numb negative feelings temporarily but in the long run, makes them worse.
The author states in the book's introduction that "I do sincerely believe that the benefits of marijuana need to be explored and researched further, as there has been a lack of significant research due to the federal illegality of cannabis." I agree with him. There is a lot of misinformation about marijuana. It is useful for a myriad of therapeutic applications and the idea that it is a "gateway drug" for harder substances is erroneous.
The history chapter detailing the thinking behind the criminalizing of cannabis use in the United States is both fascinating and enraging. There was a great deal of racism and xenophobia inherent in arguments for making marijuana illegal. For instance, insanity. The head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry Anslinger noted that “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men,” and asserted that smoking the plant "would result in white women having sex with black men."
I am a long-time proponent of the legalization of marijuana although I don't use it often myself. I find that smoking marijuana tends to make me paranoid. I sometimes use products such as teas or edibles that have a high concentration of CBD and a low concentration of THC. These products help with pain and insomnia.
I enjoyed the author's sense of humor and found myself nodding in agreement with many of his thoughts. If you enjoy autobiographies, feel passionate about the legalization of marijuana, or simply enjoy learning how other people think and feel about life, the Universe, and everything, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.
About the Author
The author, known by the penname Eric Right, is not an author by the
standard definition of one. He has been writing a variety of things in his
mind for close to 30 years, starting with love letters to girls in
elementary school that he never had the guts to deliver to and eventually
evolving to commentary and thoughts on a wide range of social issues like
the environment, religion, abortion and the state of the world. Fortunately,
due to his career and other demands, none of these thoughts made it to
paper……until now when he decided to write about his journey
with marijuana over the past several years.
Eric’s journey with marijuana began in early 2020 as a way to cope
with the stress of family, work and relationships. Eventually, his journey
evolved into unexplainable connections with those close to him to the point
where he decided it was worth writing these down into a book, which he
cleverly titled: Higher Connections: Humor and Observations of a Certified
Public Pothead.
While Eric does not expect more than 10 people to actually buy the book,
writing these thoughts down onto paper was healing and freeing and he hopes
others will hopefully benefit from one or two of the things detailed in the
book.
Eric has no awards, no honorary doctorates and no other contributions as a
knight of the pen. He is just a “normal” middle aged dude
with the normal stressors of everyday life who tried marijuana one day and
hasn’t looked back since. He does not claim to know the answers to
mysteries of life but he is sure as hell trying to figure them out.
Eric grew up in the suburbs and has three kids, a dog, guinea pigs, koi
fish and thousands of flies in the house he shares with Alexandra. Eric
loves working out, going to concerts, watching hockey, and playing
Playstation with his kids.
Trunks Maloo is a mighty elephant that roams the savannah thinking that
because he is so big and strong he can do as he pleases. He soon gets
himself into a bit of trouble, and quickly discovers that everyone needs
help from time to time. It takes one of Africa's smallest animals to help
him realize that we are all connected and that we all need to be kind to
each other.
Look out for more adventures from Trunks Maloo!
Free use image from Clkr free vector images
This book is Ornery Owl Approved
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Trunks Maloo is a big, strong elephant, but he doesn't use his strength in helpful ways. He uses it to push other animals around. When a bushbuck asks Trunks to help him reach a leaf, Trunks eats the leaf himself. Trunks then makes fun of Dung Beetle, who tells him off.
While Trunks is thinking about what Dung Beetle said, he sucks up a marula into his trunk intending to shoot it into his mouth for a snack. However, the marula gets stuck in his trunk.
The other animals decide to help Trunks even though he has been unkind to them in the past. With Dung Beetle's innovative solution, Trunks is rescued from his predicament.
This is a beautiful story. While it was written with children in mind, it has a positive message for readers of all ages. The illustrations are colorful and charming. The characters are fun and engaging. The story has several positive messages that all readers can benefit from.
When we are willing to help others, life is better for everyone.
Nobody's job is beneath contempt. Dung Beetle does dirty work, but the work he does benefits everyone.
Being big and strong does not make one creature superior to another. Even the smallest and lowliest creatures are worthwhile. The lowly dung beetle is the biggest hero in the story. Although he is small, he believes in himself and in doing what is right. He provides an excellent example of ingenuity and courage to inspire the other animals.
This book would make a wonderful gift for a child or for anyone who enjoys children's books.
Author
- Kurt Jay Bertels, Author -
With a deep love for nature and wildlife, Kurt came up with the idea of
Trunks Maloo and his friends to help introduce his two sons to the wonderful
characters that coexist in our world. The stories came about when Kurt was
waiting in the dark for his boys to fall asleep, and were completed while on
safari as a way to keep in touch with his family.
Having worked on safari for many years, Kurt is a new author and The story
of Trunks Maloo is his first book in a series of four.
Illustrator
- Anastasiya Halionka, Illustrator -
Originally from Belarus, and now living in the quaint and cozy town of
Wroclaw, Poland, Anastasiya is a self-taught artist with immense talent. She
has, to date, worked on several children’s books, and has helped
Trunks Maloo and his friends come to life in spectacular fashion.
She says, ‘When I was a child, like all children, I loved to draw and
create different images and characters - it was a place my imagination could
run free! I was not sure though if I could turn my passion into a
profession, so when I finished school I first studied law. It didn’t
take long for me to realise that I had to follow my dreams, and at 27, I
went back to my first love: drawing. This is what excites me; makes my heart
beat faster!’
Anastasiya now gets to create characters and stories that make people
happy, and leaves a lasting mark on their hearts. Her positivity in life
shows in her work, and we are very happy to have her on the Trunks Maloo
team.
