Author Showcase

The reality of Christmas does not always resemble the images we see on commercial Christmas cards–or in our dreams. Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball present a booklet that can easily substitute for a Christmas card. They portray the familar–those of family and warmth, giving and receiving. You’ll also find the unusual from carols to the universe to end-of-year pondering with a couple of humorous poems thrown in for good measure.

Few books have had as great an impact on how humans think of our fellow creatures as Pourasgari’s “The American Outsider.” Intense and electrifying, she delivers a wild ride of crime and adventure. With a strong and resolute female read, the novel does not dally in its progress but delivers knuckle-hard action and thrill. Further, this plausible story is imbued with the lifestyle, traditions, and culture of the nation of Japan, resulting in a satisfying ode that goes down smoothly yet packages a knock.

Written in the first person narrative, “Silhouette” voyeurs through each of the two protagonists showcasing their emotions, quirks, personalities, and longing, thus creating a terrific character study that is both arresting and entertaining. Swingle’s oeuvre offers a resplendent feast for the body, heart, and spirit. Its evocative and poetic language highlights one of the complex turmoil facing modern-day society. It manages to invoke empathy, appraisal, understanding, and reflection in a deeply stoic manner.