Second Wind’s Comments (group member since May 06, 2009)

Second Wind’s comments from the Second Wind Publishing group.

Told in his own words during the seventh game of the World Series, in what could be his last game after fourteen years in the major leagues, Backstop chronicles his rookie season, takes the reader to Chicago where he finds romance, and reveals the heartbreak he endured in the aftermath of an adulterous affair.

1. Where did Backstop play his college ball?

2. What trinket does Backstop give to Darlene when he meets her for the first time in her Chicago souvenir shop?

3. When Backstop reveals his affair to his teammate, John, a highly religious man who studies the bible, John tells Backstop he mustn’t tell Darlene of his affair. Is this good advice? Is the truth always necessary, even when it hurts? Do we tell the truth in certain instances to assuage our own guilt?

4. Do you think that sports figures and celebrities are tempted to be unfaithful to their partner more often than the common person?

5. It’s been said that to forgive is to forget, also that to forgive is human, to forgive divine. While it’s not possible to ever forget sexual betrayal, is it possible for the offended party to put unfaithfulness in the past and get back the love that first drew them to their partner? How?

1. Was Jacob's motive for seeking a trial for Cleatus purely altruistic?

2. What was Sheriff Lightner's real justification for helping Jacob? What kind of man was the sheriff?

3. Was Emily a "Northern Belle"?

4. What was the identity of "Mac", the poliltician from Robeson county?

5. How "true" was Azalea to her husband?

6. When Clarrisa Moore kills Cleatus she asked Jacob, "Will you be my lawyer just like you was hissen?". What do you think should have been his answer?

1. Cerridwen “Cerri” Baker absolutely hates her name, but her mother is constantly expecting her to live up to the expectations of the Goddess Cerridwen. Having your name set the tone for your life is a belief that goes back to Biblical days. What are your thoughts on that? Do we still pick (or avoid) names based on destiny?

2.Cerri strives to be “normal”—a normal woman, a normal wife, a normal mother. Encountering He Who Waits is anything but normal. How would you feel if a spirit guide showed up in your life?

3.How do you, as an adult, balance the life you want with the traditions you were raised with?

4.Does “destiny” or “fate” have a role in our lives today? How?

5.Are books written in a particular region or with specific cultural traditions important to you?

6.Who was your favorite character and why?

1. Did you ever try to talk yourself out of the idea that someone was watching you or even stalking you, only to find out it was true?

2. Did you ever find yourself in the position of knowing more about a crime or an important event in the life of your community than the authorities?

3. Did you ever wonder why the police quit pursuing a case that seemed to have an obvious, uninvestigated aspect?

4. Would you ever put yourself in the position of trying to trap a dangerous person all by yourself?

5. Did you ever doubt someone's credibility because they were somewhat mentally impaired, only to discover that what they were insisting was exactly the truth? Elaine Randolph, the protagonist in CHTMC is recovering from a nearly fatal aneurysm and continues to have minor seizures. The people around her disbelieve her claims that something is amiss in her new home in Veil, Texas.

1 Did you correctly figure out the true nature of the object in the quarry before it was revealed in the story? If not what were your ideas of what it might be?

2 Were you satisfied with the amount of backstory provided for the main characters? Are there any of the characters you would like to know more about?

3 Would you be interested in a sequel to this book or does it stand well on its own?

4.Is the science part of the story believable?

1. How does Jake's character grow from how we see him as a young adult to how we see him transformed at the end of his life? How can we learn from his mistakes?

2. What can we do to prevent us from living a life of regret?

3.Have you ever avoided someone because you thought they were holding your past against you, only to discover they were missing you as much as you were missing them? What peace offering can you send to open their heart for a reconciliation?

4. How can we learn from the other characters' insecurities toward Jake's success?

5. Has jealousy ever kept your focus off of your own path? How did this distraction affect the choices you have made? What can you do to mend relationships with someone you were jealous of?

6. What values have you gained for your life from Jake's legacy?

1. You've probably read about Pope Francis, the new pope with the personal touch, who comes from Argentina. He is also called the bishop of Rome. Do you see any similarity between him and the character in the novel, Michael Tucci, archbishop of Turin? Think about their feelings about shaking things up in the church or about the church bureaucrats in Rome or their experiences working with poor people. Do you think such bishops are good for religion or hurtful? Why?

2. The sect that wants to bring the Shroud of Turin back to Jerusalem believes the world is about to end. They see such developments as the growth of Islam in the world or Islamic extremists able to pull off Nine-Eleven as proof things are getting worse. Do you agree? Do you know anyone who believes the world is about to end? How do you react when they start talking about the apocalypse?

3. A member of the sect that stole the Shroud thinks he sees an angel over the city of Istanbul during an earthquake there. You know the saying, "In foxholes there are no atheists." Do you feel closer to God when your life is in danger or when you are terrified over something about to happen? What does that feeling say about your relationship to your faith?

4. Do you think Istanbul is in the path of an earthquake? Is there a major fault nearby?

5. There is talk of declaring Pope John the 23rd a saint in the Catholic church. Are there any saints today? Who do you think fits your definition of a saint? Do you think the character Giovanni Palmitessa in the novel fits your definition?

1. If you had the opportunity to meet and get to know someone who is famous, who would it be, and why?

2. Tommy Love believes that if he builds his dream house on Rainbow Lake, he will find the hope, joy, peace and love that has always alluded him. Do you believe there's such a place for you, and if so, where would it be?

3. What hurdles did Hope and Tommy encounter in their relationship and what helped them overcome these obstacles?

4. Do the main characters change by the end of the book? Do they grow, or come to learn something about themselves and how the world works?

5. How did you feel while reading this book?

6. What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?

1. From whose point of view was the story told? How did the narrator's opinions affect the book?

2. What is at stake for the main character(s)? Can you identify with their plight?

3. Everyone has at one time had their heart bloodied and bruised, and no doubt they’ve bloodied and bruised a few hearts in return. Given the choice, would you rather be the recipient of rejection, or the one doing the rejection?

4. Part of the spoils of war is winning the right to write history; i.e., one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. Was the U.S. right in dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

5. If time travel were possible, list five figures, notable or in your family tree, you’d pay a visit.

6. What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he is trying to get across to the reader?

1. Can a romance novel really have as its main character a young woman with a totally unacceptable background like an alcoholic prostitute?

2. Can a woman like Lacey, abused and betrayed by all the important men in her life and then kidnapped by a virtual stranger, really find lasting happiness?

3. Do you believe it's possible for someone simply to hear the voice of another, as Andy did with Lacey, and fall in love even as he turns to look at her?

4. Does destiny ever restore to us the love we have lost, in the way that fate gave Andy another chance at love with Lacey?

5. Have you ever been surprised by the person you loved and thought you knew completely, the way both Lacey and Andy surprise one another to very end of the book?

6. During the course of the story, do the characters come to learn something about themselves and how the world works?

1. Several readers call False World an apocalyptic story. Do you agree?

2. If False World was a musical genre, which one would it be?

3. Did you notice the tongue-in-cheek humor?

4. When you realized this was more than a mystery/thriller, in what other category would it fit?

5. Was Joe's vengeance enough or should he have shown less mercy?

6. Knowing how the first two books ended, how do you expect the third and final book to end?

1. What would your solution be for preventing future generations from accessing our nuclear waste, by either accident or design?

2. In the meantime, how could the waste we have stored be protected from deterioration while we wait until an acceptable suitable solution is found?

3. Were you even aware of our serious nuclear waste storage problem?

4. What was your reaction to the deep earth control center?

5. Would this be a good movie? Why or why not?

6. Who is the most believable character?

7. Which character were you attracted to the most and why?

1. Have you ever had an encounter with a ghost, and did you share it with anyone?

2. Do you think unexamined emotions such as grief could cause health issues later?

3. If you were in Kellan’s shoes, and a ghost followed you home, what would you do?

4. Do you believe in an afterlife? Describe what your afterlife looks like. Is it a place?

5. Are demons real or psychological?

6. Do you think paranormal stories are made up, or based in reality?

7. If you were in Anthony’s shoes, and a stranger approached you with such personal information about your deceased family member, how would you react? (If you ever seen Long Island Medium on TLC, you know what an ambush looks like.)

1. In "A Love Out of Time" the hero Alden unknowingly walks through a time portal from the Victorian era to 2006. What do you think that would have been like and how would you react?

2. Do you believe in the concept of "soul-mates" and why or why not?

3. Who was the character that you would have liked to see more of or know more about?

4. How are the book's images symbolically significant? Do the images help to develop the plot, or help to define characters?

5. From what perspective is the story told? How does that perspective impact the way you view the story?

6. In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author's world view?

1. In what way is this novel as much about America during the sixties as it is about Paris during the same period?

2. Of the following three characters, Bonnie, Abdul and Roger, which to you think deserves the most compassion and empathy from the reader, and why?

3. The concierge in the apartment building where Paul lives, 21 Rue Galande, does she remind you of anyone you know (without calling names)? And why? What universal quality does the woman possess that is no respecter of national boundaries, race or social class?

4. Considering the kind of personality Paul has and the type Bonnie has, why was he attracted to her and the reverse?

5. Following Bonnie’s death, Paul returns to Paris many times to visit places he and she knew so well when she lived. Is his return and reconnecting to these places a good thing to do for his mental health? Or will the visits only delay his ability to “get on” with his life? Or will his frequent return to The City of Light serve as a balm in the healing process?

6. Bonnie has a dream. In what way is her dream like that which is shared throughout all of mankind?

7. After reading The Phantom Lady of Paris, do you think you would like to visit The City of Light and see for yourself the bridge across whose railing Bonnie Silver “sky walked” that magical morning when she met Paul and they became kindred spirits frolicking in a magical fairyland: the same bridge from which her ashes were spread?

1. What would you do if you found a substitute for petroleum?

2. Did you find that this book transported you to the wilderness with the survivors?

3. Were you satisfied with the explanation of why the downed airliner could not be found?

4. Was Off the Chart a page turner for you? If so, were you surprised to learn that it was written by an eighty six year old guy?

5. Which character did you like the best?

6. Could you describe the book in one sentence?

1. Do you think Henry and Lady Clarissa will have a happy marriage? Why or why not?

2. Which character would you most like to see as the main character in a sequel? (Not specific, but I'd be interested to know)

3. Did reading the book increase your interest in homeopathy? Do you remember any of the remedies mentioned?

4. Would you have trusted Beau sooner than Fiona did? Or perhaps not at all?

5. What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?

6. What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?

1. What would be the worst place to be dumped out – a mountain in the winter in the middle of a blizzard, a deserted island in the middle of nowhere, or a desert in the middle of summer?

2. Do the main characters change by the end of the book? Do they grow, or come to learn something about themselves and how the world works?

3. Which of the characters would you like to see in a sequel and why?

4. If you could change Destiny’s Fate, what would you change it to?

5. What is the overall mood that is created in the book? How does that impact the story's meaning?

6. Did this book lead you to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?

1. In what ways are you supportive of your siblings or at odds with them?

2. How do people's expectations of you influence the decisions you make and the way you live your life?

3. How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger any changes?

4. Tracy and Clay repeatedly set aside their feelings for one another because of their concerns for her children, their families, and the good of the community and the employees of Clay's factory. Did they do the right thing, or should they have acted on their desires and not worried about the effect their relationship would have on other people?

5. What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?

6. How would imagine the story continues after the final page?

1. How long have Marc and Wil known one another?

2. Why is there such animosity between them?

3. Did you admire the characters? Disapprove of them or their actions?

4. What does the title signify, in your opinion?

5. Where does the story take place? How would the book have been different if it had taken place in a different time or place?

6. Who is Caprilla?