On Tour: Frogman Puck Origins

About the Book

Book: Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides

Author: Joel Chanaca

Genre: Christian Sci-Fi / Action & Adventure (Teen & Young Adult)

Release Date: September, 2025

Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides

The Legends Awaken: A Hero’s Dream Quest

Embark on an exhilarating journey beneath the waves—where dreams awaken, faith is tested, and a new kind of hero begins to rise.

Frogman Puck Origins introduces readers to Puck, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary dream: to explore the hidden world beneath the surface. What begins as curiosity about mysterious scuba gear in a neighbor’s shed becomes a life-changing adventure—one that carries him from the dreamlike stillness of lily pad ponds into the awe-inspiring reality of deep underwater exploration.

As Puck learns to scuba dive, he uncovers hidden strengths, long-buried secrets, and a mission far greater than he ever imagined. With each descent, the boundary between dream and destiny blurs, drawing him into a world of courage, stewardship, teamwork, and biblical truth.

Told through a unique blend of immersive prose and cinematic illustrations, the story visually mirrors Puck’s growth—shifting from the hazy wonder of childhood imagination to vivid, hyper-realistic underwater missions that place readers right beside him.

Perfect for fans of discovery, mystery, faith-based adventure, and clean action storytelling, Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides is the beginning of an illustrated hero’s journey where imagination meets purpose—and the depths hold more than secrets.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Joel Chanaca is a four-time Global Book Awards–winning author whose stories blend adventure, heart, humor, and faith. His work has been recognized across multiple categories, including Humor and Heart, Children’s Books, and Teen & Young Adult Action & Adventure—celebrating storytelling that inspires without compromising imagination or excitement.

Alongside his writing career, Joel serves as a game warden with over twenty-six years of experience in wildlife law enforcement and public safety. His lifelong connection to the outdoors—shaped by years of camping, fishing, canoeing, scuba diving, and animal care—deeply informs the authenticity and spirit of his stories.

Joel is the creator of the Frogman Puck illustrated novel series, a cinematic, faith-based adventure world designed to engage reluctant readers, families, and young adults alike. The series pairs full narrative storytelling with rich illustrations to reawaken wonder, visual imagination, and purpose-driven heroism.

In 2025, Joel also released a newly illustrated edition of Patches the Cat Is a Thief, bringing fresh life to the award-winning story that first captured readers’ hearts.

Whether crafting lighthearted animal tales or epic underwater adventures, Joel’s work consistently reflects themes of character, stewardship, courage, friendship, and hope.

“The elements of design are all around us. If we pause long enough to look, we can see how God has made a place for us. Beyond the wonders of the earth, His plan reaches into eternity.”

Your honest review helps independent, faith-driven stories continue to grow.
Thank you for being part of the journey.

More from Joel

When I set out to write Frogman Puck Origins, I wanted to bring something genuinely new to readers, both those who read constantly and those who sometimes struggle to stay engaged. I envisioned an all-new, fully illustrated novel featuring clean, epic superheroes, told in a way that feels fresh, immersive, and meaningful.

Most superhero stories begin with accidents, mistakes, or powers gained by touching a mysterious artifact. In the world of Frogman Puck, the heroes’ origins are different. Their abilities are forged through purpose, hard work, teamwork, faith, and ingenious design. The story begins with the roots of child-like memories and grows into something much larger, showing how character is built long before power is ever used.

At its heart, Frogman Puck Origins is designed to do two things at once. It invites older readers back to the wonder, curiosity, and imagination of their youth, while encouraging younger readers to dream big, work hard, and plant good seeds that will grow into strong character. It is a story about becoming, not just becoming powerful, but becoming grounded, courageous, and faithful.

The series taps into riddles, adventure, super abilities, and deep friendships, all presented in a format unlike anything else currently on the market. Readers can expect wall-crawling, SCUBA diving, flying, underwater tunnels, octopods, secret labs, personally designed base headquarters, and fierce battles between darkness and light. Every element is layered to reward curiosity and keep pages turning.

Frogman Puck Origins is only the beginning. As the series continues, the world expands, the stakes rise, and the heroes are tested in ways that challenge not only their strength but their values and faith. It is a story built to entertain, inspire, and stay with readers long after the final page.

The Frogman Puck Series is a cinematic, faith-based adventure that grows in depth and intensity with each installment. Origins begins as a dream-driven journey into underwater exploration, where curiosity, mentorship, and imagination awaken a young hero’s calling. Resurgent accelerates into a full-scale action narrative, introducing advanced symbiotic technology, global stakes, and a coordinated enemy operating in the shadows. Reckoning brings the story to its most complex and consequential phase, revealing hidden systems beneath the surface of the world itself and challenging the heroes to confront truth, deception, and sacrifice on a global scale. Across all three books, the series blends illustrated storytelling, clean action, and biblical themes to explore stewardship, courage, faith, and what it means to answer a call—one step, one mission, and one choice at a time.

God Bless, Joel Chanaca

Author Interview: 

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? You get to build a world where you are creating everything. You shape the characters, the faith, the battles we all face, and the epic showdowns. In my case, I also get to sculpt the imagery of what is happening. You can communicate hope, faith, and forgiveness, and do it with style. As you create, you think about what the reader will experience. Hearing feedback is exciting. It is especially rewarding when readers catch the deeper point and truly enjoy the content.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your books? It is a lot of work. You have to push yourself to develop new skills. You must educate yourself, learn from others, and stay focused on serving the reader. What has surprised me most is the strength of the author community. Writers often share their unique skills and insights to help one another deliver the best possible experience for readers.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired your writing? Growing up in the woods, building forts, spending time at family gatherings, and being immersed in God’s creation all shaped me. Listening to stories around campfires, watching an incredible movie, and wondering how everything works together fueled that spark of creativity and imagination. The underwater world opened up an entirely new dimension for me. I have dived in rivers, lakes, and the open ocean. In that environment, you feel like you are flying, free from the weight of gravity, seeing things many people never get to see. That sense of discovery and freedom deeply inspires the adventure found in the Frogman Puck world.

How are your characters like you? How are they different? Team TIDES loves many of the same things I love: the water, the skies, the woods, intelligent design, and studying creation to adapt and improve their skills. Where they differ is when they suit up and activate Echo Sync and Hyperrealistic Amphibious Mode. At that point, they are operating on a level far beyond me. They are definitely much cooler.

What is one thing you wish you could do? I wish I could fly and dive underwater without time limits.

What was your favorite childhood book and why? I loved The Chronicles of Narnia for its depth of faith and adventure. Listening to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea on record was also epic. The underwater exploration and sense of mystery made a lasting impression on me.

Blog Stops

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 15 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, May 16 (Author Interview)

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, May 17 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, May 18 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, May 19

Simple Harvest Reads, May 20 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, May 21 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, May 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 22

Fiction Book Lover, May 23 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

The Bookish Ledger, May 25 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, May 26 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, May 27 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 28 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Joel is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and an autographed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/c1Hae/frogman-puck-origins-the-rising-tides-celebration-tour-giveaway

On Tour with CelebrateLit: Vinny

About the Book

Book: VINNY

Author: MaryAnn Diorio

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Release Date: April 15, 2026

VINNY by MaryAnn Diorio
Book 1 in The South Philly Italians Romantic Suspense Series

Vinny Morello is on track for a promising career in the fine arts. But when tragedy suddenly hurls him headlong into a life-altering crisis, he faces a frightening fork in the road. Which one will he take? The road that leads to life or the road that leads to death?

VINNY is an edge-of-your-seat, romantic suspense story where tragedy and triumph merge into transformation. Don’t miss it!

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

MaryAnn Diorio writes award-winning fiction from a quaint small town in New Jersey where neighbors still chat while walking their dogs, families and friends gather on wide, wrap-around porches, and the charming downtown finds kids licking lollipops and old married folks holding hands. A Jersey girl at heart, MaryAnn is a huge fan of Jersey diners, Jersey tomatoes, and the Jersey shore.

More from MaryAnn

All Things Italian

by MaryAnn Dorio

 I grew up in a home where Italian was my mother tongue. My late mother, one of the first war brides of World War II, was an immigrant from the romantic city of Naples, Italy. When I was born, she knew no English. So, we communicated in Italian. Although my mother eventually learned English, she and I always spoke in Italian until she passed away.

When I went off to college, I majored in French and minored in Italian. After I graduated, I spent a year of study at the University of Florence in Italy, earning my Master’s degree in Italian Language and Literature. Afterward, I taught Italian at the university level here in the States.

From my earliest days, Italy was a big part of my culture and of my heart. And it still is. It is no wonder then that I gravitate to writing fiction with an Italian flair. This is the milieu I know and understand best. It is the milieu I love. And I want to share it with you through my stories.

But, my fiction is far more than Italian. It is universal. In other words, it deals with issues that pertain to all of us humans. Issues of pride, rebellion, lust, and greed. Issues of deception, betrayal, hatred, and fear.  Issues that result from our failure to love.

When you read my stories, you will travel to the deepest places of the human heart. Places you might not want to go to because they are places of pain, of confrontation, of facing our past and our sin. But they are also places of truth where you will find the freedom from the past and from sin that only truth brings. For my stories not only explore the deepest issues of the human heart; they show you how to overcome them through Jesus Christ.

Won’t you join me on this entertaining journey of exploration and transformation? If you do, I have a feeling that at the end of my stories, you will discover that you have become a far better person than you were at the beginning.

An Interview with MaryAnn Diorio

What kind of stories do you most enjoy reading? I enjoy reading romance and romantic suspense, both historical and contemporary.

How do you come up with character names? Usually, they just pop into my head. In fact, I need a character’s name before I can start writing a novel. When an intriguing name pops into my head, the character comes to life, and I see him or her start to walk across the stage of my mind.

What is something good that has happened or something that you have learned as a result of you becoming an author? The best thing that has happened to me as a result of becoming an author is that I have learned to love Jesus in a much deeper way. Through co-creating stories with the Holy Spirit, I have learned to trust God more. I have learned more about the Father’s character and about His love for me. These are priceless lessons.

What is your favorite thing about being an author? My favorite thing about being an author is co-creating with God and sensing His Spirit hovering over me as I write.

What’s something about writing that you find surprisingly difficult? I haven’t found any one particular thing surprisingly difficult, but I have found many things difficult. For example, like all believers, writers who are Christ-Followers are continually attacked by Satan. Writers are especially attacked in those areas essential to writing; for example, in their fingers, their eyes, their bodies, their computers, their technology. The enemy wants to stop the message of Christ’s love from getting out. But praise God, we have the victory in Christ, and we can overcome any attack in His power! Glory to God!

What makes a good story? A good story stems from a character with a deep emotional wound that causes a serious problem that seems impossible to overcome. The character is forced to face the problem or else suffer severe consequences, maybe even death. When he does face the problem, he grows and is eventually transformed into becoming the person God created him to be. At its core, a good story shows the character’s process of identifying the lies in his life, renouncing those lies, and replacing them with the truth.

Do you have any traditions or special treats you enjoy as a way to celebrate when you finish a WIP or publish a new book? I either go out to eat with my husband, or I treat myself to a new book.

What kind of scenes are your favorite to write? Which are the hardest for you? I love to write scenes that show forgiveness prevailing in very hard places, where, in the natural realm, forgiveness seems impossible. The hardest scenes for me to write emotionally are scenes depicting the physical effects of evil, such as scenes in which someone is injured or killed.

When a new reader picks up you book(s), what kind of story or themes will they find? Forgiveness is a theme that occurs in every one of my novels, but I don’t plan it that way. I can only conclude that since forgiveness has been a huge part of my own life and my own healing, the Holy Spirit writes this theme through me in each of my stories.

What advice would you offer an aspiring author? Start writing TODAY. Don’t wait until things are perfect, because they never will be. When my children were small, I used to write while waiting for a red traffic light to turn green. The driver behind me always let me know when that happened. Trust God to give you the words to write. You are co-creating with Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you as you write. He will be there, inspiring you with the story of His heart. Study the craft of fiction writing (or whatever type of writing you choose). Scripture commands us to study the Word to show ourselves approved. This principle applies to writing. We need to study to learn the craft so that we can create the best stories possible. There are no shortcuts here. Read widely in your chosen genre. We learn by osmosis. Reading the works of other published authors will greatly help you improve your own work. Treat your reader with respect. Readers are very intelligent. You owe them your honor, your respect, and your best efforts.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 9

Simple Harvest Reads, May 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 11

Artistic Nobody, May 12 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 13

Guild Master, May 14 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 15

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, May 16 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 16

Pause for Tales, May 17

Fiction Book Lover, May 18 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, May 19

Books, Books, & More Books, May 20 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 21 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 21

Books Less Travelled, May 22 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour MaryAnn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/loxwx/vinny-celebration-tour-giveaway

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Aubrey Reiss Taylor

From Writing to Reenacting

A Guest Post

I’ve mulled over the idea of getting involved with a living history group for years. Finally, this year, I took the plunge. Just when I was about to ask myself what I could possibly be thinking, I found it to be a perfect complement to what I’m already doing.

All of my World War II novels are written from the German perspective, so naturally, I joined a group that portrays a German unit from WWII. Remaining true to history, I can’t reenact as a soldier, but I can portray a female civilian or a member of the women’s auxiliary.

It is easy to see how this will infuse new life into my imagination. To be able to handle the things they used and the clothes they wore, to listen to stories of their tactical events, which, like combat, take place regardless of the weather, in sun, wind, rain, snow, heat, cold—you get the idea.

Reenacting makes everything tangible, which is something period photos, wartime footage, and war movies can’t do. Seeing and hearing the boys talk and joke with each other makes everything so much more vivid. Eighty-plus years later, it is the closest thing we have to real-time experience.

I have great respect for reenactors because many of them take their craft very seriously. The ones who

don’t usually don’t last too long. The ones who stick around are always learning, always improving their “kit” (accoutrements), and if they are soldiers, they are rising through the ranks, receiving awards, and being stretched in new ways. They strive to make things as real as possible, albeit with blanks in their weapons. It is an activity even some veterans enjoy, and from what I understand, when German WWII reenacting was in its infancy, there were even veterans of the war who wanted to participate.

Everyone has something to offer, and their knowledge or specialty differs from that of the person next to them. For someone like me, who does not have a specialty but desires a broad understanding of many things, I am grateful for their knowledge.

Some of the youngest reenactors are barely in their teens. They are not even able to participate officially, and yet they are willing to put their phones away for a weekend and sink into something completely different from what most kids their age are doing. (You have to know that many people who reenact as Germans receive pushback from their families or peers—and the younger reenactors are not exempt from this.)

This brings me to what I feel is the most important point. There’s still so much we don’t understand about World War II, and I am passionate about bridging these gaps. The younger generations are interacting with things differently than previous generations, and asking questions we cannot answer. They are willing to overlook the stereotypes, assumptions, and stigmas attached to the war. They know history has been written by the victors and are hungry for an objective viewpoint.

True, there is a concern that young people might swing too far in the wrong direction, but that’s less likely when the adults nearby have already worked through the uncomfortable questions and are willing to take the time to share what they’re learning. And the truth is, sometimes, the youths already see things clearly. We can learn from them as well.

As for my books, they don’t cater to a younger crowd. My hope is that they provide adult readers with food for thought, and facilitate more conversations about the things we still don’t understand.

About Sani: The German Medic (Second Edition):

Can a young man born in America navigate between his family’s fears and the enthusiasm he encounters as he returns to his ancestral homeland?

Raised in a German-American community, Frederick cannot resist the pull of the Fatherland. America is in the depths of the Great Depression, yet Germany is thriving under Adolf Hitler. A sense of opportunity draws him back to Europe, and together with his new friend Fritz, he volunteers for the German Army.

Though Frederick anticipates adventure and camaraderie, he experiences a continent plunging into war. His new friends say he can’t possibly understand their perspective. Can an army chaplain help bridge the gap? Or does the man hold a secret that will only devastate Frederick further?

About the Book: Maintaining the heart of the original story with updated text and a more comprehensive view of the period, Aubrey Taylor Books invites you to experience Sani: The German Medic again, or for the first time!

Links:

Website: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks
Substack: https://aubreytaylorbooks.substack.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54029024.Aubrey_Reiss_Taylor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aubrey-Taylor/author/B0973KWXV8

Purchase Links for Sani: The German Medic:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ8FTX1D
eBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKQ7MBY6

Photo Credits:

Author photo and book imager: Courtesy Aubrey Reiss Taylor

German soldiers/motorcycle: Pixabay/Cico Zeljko

German soldiers/truck: Pixabay/Southtree

On Tour: Mr. Cutler's Wonderful Creations

About the Book

Book: Mr. Cutler’s Wonderful Creations: A Children’s Book About Finding Your God-given Identity.

Author: Aaron P. Gordon

Genre: Christian Children’s Book

Release Date: November, 2025

After being presented as a special birthday present to Alina, Fork, Knife, and Spoon embark on a journey to find purpose. Disappointed with what they thought happiness was, everything changes when they have a conversation with the man who created them.

 Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

A native of Washington, D.C., Aaron P. Gordon currently resides in Harrisonburg, Virginia with his wife of 28 years, Valerie. Before entering the corporate world, Aaron served as a Captain in the U.S. Army.  Aaron has a diverse and extensive leadership background with experience in the multiple industries. He is also a certified executive coach for John Maxwell and holds a B.S. in Operations Management from the United States Military Academy. With four children and six grandchildren, the passion of his life is to help people maximize their relationship with God through humor, Biblical principles, and everyday examples.

Author Interview

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? The ability to take seemingly complex subjects and make them understandable and practical to all age levels.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? I learned just how much my stories resonated with people everywhere. The concepts were simple enough for kids to understand and yet challenging enough to inspire change in adults.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired your writing? Honestly, just a desire to pass on lessons learned in my life to my kids and grandkids. I want them to always be able to see what “G-Pa” learned in a particular situation. If I can help them or others avoid one needless pothole from life, then my sacrifice was worth it in writing these books.

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book? What audience can this work make the most impact? Is the principle that I’m trying to bring out clear enough? Am I staying true to the story that God gave me? Is it biblically accurate?

What was the best money you spent as a writer? Using Fiverr to find an illustrator and help format my book. It literally saved me thousands from going the traditional publisher route.

How are your characters like you? Different? Funny enough, all of the characters represent one of my family members lol!

How do you come up with story lines/book topic? All of the stories are literally things that I’ve experienced or that actually happened to me! It’s really a function of choosing which topics are suited to be written in a book format.

Why do you write in your particular genre? Bible stories and leaderships have always been two of my passions. As John Maxwell says, “leadership is influence.” The ability to influence people to become better leaders and disciples of Christ through biblical principles is quite fulfilling to me.

What is one thing you wish you could do? Les Brown always says, “live full but die empty.” Instead of wishing what I could do, I’m actively trying to do all that I feel that I’ve been created to say and do. Whatever that looks like becomes my mandate to do. My simple work may make all the difference in the world in changing someone towards become a better and more principled God-focused leader. For me to hold out on that is malpractice against my Creator who gave it to me.

What was your favorite childhood book and why? Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. When I cried at the end, it made me understand the power of the written word to invoke emotion.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, May 2 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, May 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 3

Guild Master, May 4 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 6

Fiction Book Lover, May 7 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 8 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, May 9 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 10

For Him and My Family, May 11

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, May 12 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, May 13 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, May 14

For the Love of Literature, May 15 (Author Interview)

Book Zone Reviews, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Aaron is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/v8A9r/mr-cutlers-wonderful-creations-celebration-tour-giveaway

Movie Monday: O.S.S.

Movie Monday: O.S.S.

Everyone loves a good spy flick, and throughout the 1930s and 1940s Hollywood put out their fair share, but as soon as World War II ended, executives scrambled produce a film about the O.S.S., the Office of Strategic Services and precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Paramount won the race with the May 1946 release of O.S.S. Written by Richard Maibum, a WWII veteran who later wrote twelve of the first fifteen James Bond movies. Maibum also narrates O.S.S.

The movie stars Alan Ladd and Geraldine Fitzgerald, a prolific Irish American actress who unfortunately has been long forgotten despite winning a Daytime Emmy Award and nominations for an Academy Award, a Tony award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Initially studying painting at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, she was inspired to move into acting in 1932 by her aunt actress Shelah Richards. Relocating to London she was successful almost immediately and appeared in several films before crossing “the pond” to America where she went to Hollywood and was cast in many well-known films such as Wuthering Heights (1939), Dark Victory (1939), and Watch on the Rhine (1943). Her portrayal of Elaine Dupress in O.S.S. is strong with just enough “braininess and class to get the job done.”(1)

O.S.S. was Alan Ladd’s first film after The Blue Dahlia that released in April 1946.

, and he does a brilliant job as an undercover agent working in occupied France during the war. In intriguing twist to his character is that he is sent to work for the OSS after being arrested for espionage while attempting to steal an electric circuit from a Baltimore, Maryland manufacturing plant. Apparently, thievery was a skill in demand for the organization! His character isn’t quite Bondesque but as one source put it, the flavor of the film suggests later Bond elements.

John Hoyt, who would go on to star in many film noir, makes his noteworthy debut in O.S.S. as a darkly twisted Gestapo agent who falls for Fitzgerald and manipulates her into romantic relationship (or so he thinks). He manages to live after she attempts to kill him and spends the remainder of the movie trying to find the woman “who did him wrong.”

The movie is directed by Irving Pichel who began his acting career when studios were hiring theater-trained actors for the “new fangled” talkies. He secured a contract with Paramount and worked extensively through the 1930s as a character actor. He also performed on radio and narrated two of Hollywood’s most popular movies, How Green was my Valley and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. When acting jobs began to dry up just before WWII commenced, he turned to directing and was tapped to direct several B-movies before moving to 20th Century Fox to direct their leading actors and actresses. Many of his movies were pro-British and anti-Nazi. Tragically, he would later be part of the “Hollywood Nineteen” who refused to name suspected Communists to the House Un-American Activities Committee, were blacklisted, and saw their careers implode as a result.

Alan Ladd and Richard Benedict reprised their roles in a 60-minute adaptation for the “Lux Radio Theater” broadcast that aired on November 18, 1946.

Have you seen this classic?

________________________

Dutch Dawn

Will they survive the 500-mile journey to freedom?

Isak Westgard is only six missions short to be rotated stateside. Then the unthinkable happens, and he crashes in the occupied Netherlands where the chances of him making it back to England are slim to none. The beautiful and tough-as-nails resistance courier begs to differ and claims she hasn’t lost anyone yet. The problem is the longer they’re together, the less he wants to escape.

 
Annaliese Claasen has escorted her fair share of refugees and downed Allied pilots to safety - too numerous to remember. Until now. There’s something different about the Norwegian-American lieutenant, and it’s more than his good looks. Can she get him out of the country before losing her heart?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/bMjoxV

Photo credits:

Movie Poster: By Unknown - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038794/, Fair use

Movie Stills: Courtesy Paramount Pictures

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.S.S._(film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038794/
https://mikestakeonthemovies.com/2020/02/15/o-s-s-1946/

(1) https://mikestakeonthemovies.com/2020/02/15/o-s-s-1946/

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Jessica Brodie

Talkshow Thursdsay: 

Welcome Jessica Brodie!

I'm please to welcome Jessica to my blog for the first time and loved learning more about her. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and read on.

When did you know you wanted to be an author? I cannot remember a time when I didn’t want to be an author! I’ve been writing in my mind since I was two, when my mom let me play with her old typewriter. I was an imaginative and terribly shy child, and books were my first friends. I started to read at a young age so I didn’t have to wait for an adult to read to me. On that old typewriter I’d invent stories about my stuffed animals, and I’d play elaborate games in my room where my clothing would come to life as imaginary friends, characters in a book I hadn’t yet written. Fast forward a few years, and I began writing as a way to imitate my favorite authors. I wrote everything from short stories and plays to (bad) poetry. I wrote my first novel at age twenty-one (I call it my “practice” novel), and to date I’ve published three novels, along with devotionals and anthologies. Fiction is my heart, and I can’t fathom stopping.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? I love creating characters who feel like real people I’d enjoy spending time with. In many ways, I’m still doing what I used to do as a young girl—filling my world with imaginary friends, only I get to share these “friends” with the rest of the world. My characters aren’t perfect, and I strive to make them authentic.

How did you learn how to write? I learned to write by reading. I find we humans imitate what we

love, and I love novels—good novels, the kind of books you want to escape into and carry with you throughout the day. I also learned to write by doing—I majored in journalism in college and then got my master’s in English, and I have been a journalist for three decades. For the past sixteen years, I’ve run a Christian denominational newspaper. Having a deadline and an automatic audience forced me to become a better writer, and later challenging myself to write shorter pieces helped me learn to write tighter and stronger.

What does your writing space look like? I actually have multiple writing spaces—that way I never get burned out or stale. Sometimes I write at my desk at my office (either in a chair or standing, depending on my mood and body aches). Sometimes it’s at the kitchen table by a huge window wearing noise-canceling headphones playing some peppy instrumental music. For many years, I wrote in my car before work because it was the only place I could get some quiet. When my kids were little, I’d wake up at four a.m. to write at my grandmother’s old writing desk. One odd place I write is on my feet while taking walks in the neighborhood, voice-texting into the Notes app on my iPhone. It’s surprisingly invigorating—something about movement and fresh air triggers a wave of creative energy for me.

How do you deal with the pressure of deadlines? Deadlines are my “secret sauce,” truly. I crave deadlines. Without a deadline, I can fritter away my time, but when I have a deadline, it forces my fingers to the keys. I hate letting others down, so deadlines become a mantle of responsibility—I know I must fulfill my assignment “or else.” I also use deadlines as a faith challenge. Sometimes doubt will plague me, or I feel like I can’t deliver on a story or an article, but I pray and then choose to believe that God will fill in the missing pieces that I cannot. He always does, and I trust that he always will.

What is one thing you wish you could do? I wish I could do so many things! I’ve always said I write because I can’t paint. I admire how visual artists, particularly oil and watercolor painters, are able to capture a scene and evoke so much emotion and hope and mystery without a single word—I wish I could do that. I also wish I could dance or sing—not just carry a tune but really sing. I think we’re all creative beings in our own way, all striving to imitate the Lord in our own ways and add our gifts to his greater whole.

How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript? I usually don’t celebrate—because I’m honestly sort of stunned when the book ends. I don’t actually realize I’m “finished” for days, sometimes even longer. By then, I’m editing and onto the next project! Perhaps I don’t want to admit to myself I’m finished, because the characters and worlds I create feel so much like reality that I don’t really want them to be done. When I do remember to celebrate, I usually go out to dinner somewhere yummy with my family, then watch a good movie.

What is your advice to fledgling writers? Keep writing and keep reading. Reading makes us better writers. Writing helps us hone our craft. If you’re doing both of those things every day, then write for publication, even if it’s a volunteer stint or for your own blog or e-newsletter. You’ll surprise yourself with what you’re able to produce when you “have to” do it.

What books are on your nightstand right now? When I discover a book I like, I typically go out and read everything that writer has ever written. Right now, having finished Charles Martin’s Keeper series, I’m now reading everything he’s ever written. Next I’m planning to dive into Francine Rivers.

About Jessica:

Jessica Brodie is the author of the award-winning, Amazon bestselling, faith-based Dahlia Series, where grace meets grit in a small Southern town as faith is tested, hearts are mended, and hope refuses to stay buried. 

About her books: 

The Memory Garden: Book One: This Amazon-bestselling first book in the Dahlia Series is a gripping Southern novel following a broken journalist who finds unexpected purpose in a small town when a troubled boy’s dangerous secret puts them both at risk. 

Tangled Roots: Book Two: Tiff Steadman thought she’d escaped her shameful past—until her recently paroled brother James arrives in Dahlia, threatening the respectable life she’s carefully built. As wedding plans and buried secrets collide, these two siblings must confront the truth they’ve both been hiding and decide if redemption is worth the cost. 

Hidden Seeds: Book Three: Returning to Dahlia after tragedy exposes her fiancé’s betrayal, Natalie Motts rebuilds her life through art and unexpected friendship with Laney, a trafficking survivor hiding a dangerous past. When Natalie’s teenage sister vanishes, Laney must choose between protecting her hard-won safety and stepping back into darkness to bring the girl home. 

Book Four: Coming 2027.

Connect with Jessica:

Website/blog:https://www.jessicabrodie.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie 
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie 
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicajbrodie 
X:https://x.com/JessicaJBrodie
YouTube:https://youtube.com/jessicajbrodie 
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/shiningthelightjessicabrodie
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/jessicabrodie
Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-brodie
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jessica-Brodie/author/B0BPK3BHBZ

Photo Credits:

Author Photo and book image: courtesy of Jessica Brodie

Reader: Pixabay/Kat Sampang

Restaurant: Pixabay/Pavel Chren

Release Day! Dutch Dawn

 Release Day! Dutch Dawn 

Book 3 of The Resistance Chronicles is now available in ebook and paperback. Germany invaded The Netherlands in April 1940 beginning five years of brutal occupation. But the Dutch showed what they were made of and resisted their captures, first as individuals, then as an integrated network of cells. One of the jobs was to courier downed Allied pilots out of the country to safety - allied pilots who were taller, healthier, and full of strange habits that made them stand out in a crowd.  

About Dutch Dawn

Will they survive the 500-mile journey to freedom?

Isak Westgard is only six missions short to be rotated stateside. Then the unthinkable happens, and he crashes in the occupied Netherlands where the chances of him making it back to England are slim to none. The beautiful and tough-as-nails resistance courier begs to differ and claims she hasn’t lost anyone yet. The problem is the longer they’re together, the less he wants to escape.

Annaliese Claasen has escorted her fair share of refugees and downed Allied pilots to safety - too numerous to remember. Until now. There’s something different about the Norwegian-American lieutenant, and it’s more than his good looks. 

Can she get him out of the country before losing her heart?

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/bMjoxV