Conchie Fernandez's Blog

I read "Relative Karma" a little while ago, and I meant to rate it earlier, but for one reason or another I didn't get to it sooner. I was going through my Kindle two weeks ago and decided to re-read the book, and go over my earlier notes. I'm afraid of writing too much and revealing the story, so I'll summarize my impressions as best as I can without offering any spoilers.

Mr. Reaves is intimately ensconced with the definition of the word "suspense". His characters' inner conversations, ruminations, fears and regrets are flawless and revealing. His plot's twists and turns are subtle, so that you keep turning the pages, searching for a resolution and playing an endless guessing game with the author. I did not win.

"Relative Karma" and "Relative Sanity" are two stellar novels by an author I will continue to follow closely. Both are amazing reads - enjoy them!

Relative Karma

http://tinyurl.com/bvte8t4

Undrawn

From the author:
"'Undrawn' is about self-forgiveness, about the love that surrounds us and that we often fail to recognize. Ultimately, it's about the intricate brushstrokes that make up familial ties and intimate relationships."

Highlighted reviews:

"Fernandez masterfully immerses readers in the world of Kyle's canvas, so that they paint right along with the artist." Jill Allen, Clarion ForeWord.

"The writing is wonderful, the pace is pitch perfect, and the characters are rich and convincing." Gadi Wolfsfeld, Author.

"Conchie Fernandez's novel, Undrawn, offers that Indy-e-Pub rarity, a well-written, expertly edited, bona fide page-turner." Jack A. Urquhart, Author.

Enjoy it today for free!!

No, it's not an April Fool's prank. It really is free today! Enjoy and spread the word!

http://www.amazon.com/Undrawn-ebook/d...

John W. Schouten created a perfectly plausible story of a young American student of anthropology, Sam Young, caught in the midst of a perilous leftist revolution in Peru. Sam, out of sorts in his hometown in Oregon, is searching (as many of us are in our twenties and beyond) for some sort of hinge and meaning to his life after his father's death. Sam drops out of med school and his volunteer work in a small clinic catering to Central and South American migrant workers inspires him to uproot his entire existence and move to a small town in Peru. What is certain is that Sam gets much more than he could ever imagine once he lands in Lima, and later in smaller mountain villages, and begins to peel away at the complex layers of politics and society in 1980s Peru.

Schouten describes the ravages of the local guerrilla, a Communist group called Camino Rojo or Red Road (loosely translated) which is, I think, based on the very real Sendero Luminoso that terrorized the South American nation for years in the late 70s through the 90s. As Sam meets the different and mesmerizing secondary characters of "Notes from the Lightning God", the reader is pulled into the bloody fight for social equality and one wonders, more than once, who the 'bad' guys are in Schouten's tale. Is it the rich upper class, shrouded in corruption and opportunity, the two elusive women Sam is attracted to, the Peruvian army, or the idealistic and brutal Camino Rojo? Sam is at times a demi-god, a not-so-innocent gringo observer, a logger of local history, a student of real life in Latin America in the mid-80s and a very compelling character that, in spite of the hardships of his situations, moves the story along with bewitching naivete, bravery and compassion.

As a Latina, I really appreciated the flawless depiction of life in Peru in a markedly difficult period in history, and the perfect insertion of Spanish into the English narrative. The book is a poetic, genial thriller. Mr. Schouten has written an amazing novel, and I can only hope he graces his readers with many, many other books to come. Bravo, Senor Schouten!Notes from the Lightning God

I'm not a fan of serials - I don't have that attention span. Diane Majeske's "Death on Deadline" has made me reconsider making a long-term investment in her quirky, hilarious characters and inventive plot. Ms. Majeske has created a highly likeable character in America Miles, an ever-hungry small-town journalist totally at ease with her surroundings, at peace with her friends and career, and soon the protagonist of a series of workplace murders.

I won't go into details about the twists and turns, which stray far from cliches and plot reworks; I might throw in a spoiler by mistake. What I can do is recommend this great little read to the high heavens. And 'little' only because time flew while I read it and I got the feeling it was short; I would have loved to keep on reading even more.

I really, really look forward to Ms. Majeske's next books, and I will certainly follow America's next crises. Plus, I really want to know who she'll end up with!

Congratulations to the author for a well-formatted Kindle version and most of all, for a flawlessly rendered comic thriller!

Jack Urquhart's "Baptism: 3 Stories (So They Say)" is a brilliant trio of short stories narrated by a young boy who watches life unfold around him in the Florida of the mid-1950s. The boy, Rex, is surrounded by some of the quirkiest, most colorful characters I've come across in a very long time. Mr. Urquhart tells their stories (or rather their cussin', bickerin' and other apostrophe-ridden anecdotes) in a language that takes the reader straight into the leafy, humid summers of a not-quite-idyllic past.

In the first story, "Baptism", Rex describes the highly criticized baptism of the somewhat reviled Grandfather Amos, someone not quite fit for any kind of salvation. Mr. Urquhart uses hilarious and vibrant language to pull readers into a religious ceremony that is more reminiscent of a sacrifice than a last attempt to save a cantankerous sinner.

The second story, "A Heavy Loss", opens with a phrase that addresses more than one character's conundrum: "What if you was attracted to somebody you shouldn't be attracted to?" Maybe it's about Rex's vivacious Aunt Maggie, undeniable love of his life, and maybe it's the dawning of something Rex is still too young - or verbally inexperienced - to understand or express about himself.

In the collection's third story, "How I Come to Know", Rex innocently tells his family about something he saw which he didn't quite understand - and confuses with grownups wrestling. Mr. Urquhart is incredibly skilled at placing his main character in difficult situations well beyond his 9-year-old mind's comprehension, conveying his understanding of the circumstances and countering them with the logic, impatience and intolerance that adults often direct at inquisitive children. It's very refreshing that Mr. Urquhart doesn't write with tongue-in-cheek condescension toward Rex's cluelessness as he makes his way around an adult world.

Rex seems to be on the verge of understanding the nuances of his family: his very pregnant mother's mood swings, her general and constant criticism of Maggie, his father's obvious wariness of the primarily female family dynamics. And everything told from the very unique, undeniably pure voice of a child untouched by the excessive information that makes so many of today's children obnoxiously precocious.

Mr. Urquhart has written a series of striking stories in a colorful, sonorous language seldom found in today's narrative. Kudos to the author for an amazing trio of stories that are a pleasure to read.

Jack UrquhartBaptism 3 Stories

Guys, first of all, happiest of holidays to all of you, everywhere! I hope you don't get dragged into family drama (unless it's in a book you're enjoying), overspending, stress and entertaining 'til you drop. But if you do, hopefully you'll still have a chance to unwind, relax, enjoy the moment and be grateful you're alive. :)

Just wanted to share the amazing news that the ebook version of my book, 'Undrawn', is currently #13 in contemporary fiction, #183 in Free Books on Amazon. To celebrate, it will be free until December 26th, for all those wonderful Kindles out there.

I hope you take advantage of the promo and help push the book! If I make it to #100, I will officially have a best seller on my hands, albeit a free best seller! Enjoy my book, and happy holidays to all of you!

http://tinyurl.com/79bot2u

Starting today and for a limited time only, Amazon Prime subscribers can borrow "Undrawn" for free for their Kindle devices!!

15 5 star reviews on Goodreads, 14 on Amazon, others on Smashwords and Barnes and Noble!

Go ahead - borrow it! :)

http://www.amazon.com/Undrawn-ebook/d...

Whaddya mean, you're not following Kate and Ashley's month-long Guest Author Blogs and Book Giveaways?

This is one of the most creative, unique author-reader 1:1 events. It gives authors a chance to blog about their novels and readers can engage with authors through comments and Q&As. The team at Back of the Book Reviews has done an amazing job promoting these events via Twitter and their website/FB site, and they've come up with a great deal of freebies (eBooks and Paperbacks) for readers all over the globe.

Join me on my Guest Post on 09/16, at http://www.backofthebookreviews.com.

Follow Kate and Ashley on Goodreads (Back of the Book Reviews), Twitter: @backofthebookreviews and FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Back-of....

Authors - this is a fantastic platform.

Readers - enjoy!

I'm thrilled to share that "Undrawn" is Amazon Kindle Nation, Book Gorilla and Amazon Book Lending's eBook of the Day!

http://kindlenationdaily.com/2011/09/...

http://www.bookgorilla.com/2011/09/bo...

With 2 rave Editorial Reviews and dozens of 5 star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, it's a go-to read for this holiday weekend in the US!