‘Dream Town’ is David Baldacci’s new novel in the Archer series. Photo: amazon
David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over forty-five languages and in more than eighty countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. In his new book “Dream Town: An Archer Novel,” the third in the Archer series, private investigator and World War II veteran Aloysius Archer heads to Los Angeles, the city where dreams are made and shattered, and is ensnared in a lethal case. (amazon, 2022)
“Dream Town”– It is the eve of 1953, and Aloysius Archer is in Los Angeles to ring in the New Year with an old friend, aspiring actress Liberty Callahan, when their evening is interrupted by an acquaintance of Callahan’s: Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter in dire straits. After a series of increasingly chilling events—mysterious phone calls, the same blue car loitering outside her house, and a bloody knife left in her sink—Eleanor fears that her life is in danger, and she wants to hire Archer to look into the matter. Archer suspects that Eleanor knows more than she is saying, but before he can officially take on her case, a dead body turns up inside of Eleanor’s home and Eleanor herself disappears.
Missing client or not, Archer is dead set on finding both the murderer and Eleanor. With the help of Callahan and his partner Willie Dash, he launches an investigation that will take him from mob-ridden Las Vegas to the glamorous world of Hollywood to the darkest corners of Los Angeles—a city in which beautiful faces are attached to cutthroat schemers, where the cops can be more corrupt than the criminals and where the powerful people responsible for his client’s disappearance will kill without a moment’s hesitation if they catch Archer on their trail.
‘Battlefield Earth’ by L. Ron Hubbard. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Science fiction classics are timeless stories that continue to captivate readers over the generations. I love books of all genres (at least most genres), both new and classics, especially science fiction. Books like “The Expanse” and “Expeditionary Forces” are very entertaining, but anyone who loves sci-fi will agree that there are several sci-fi classics that stand the test of time and are must-reads. (Galaxy Press, 2022)
Take for example “Battlefield Earth” by L. Ron Hubbard It is right up there with “Dune,” The Foundation Trilogy, and “Ender’s Game” and it is similar to Star Wars in terms of epic space opera adventure. Because this year marks the 40th Anniversary, I want to give it a shout-out.
Like many other classics, it was made into a major motion picture; it stars John Travolta and Forrest Whittaker and is directed by Roger Christian. While movies may not measure up to the novels that inspire them, this one has an average of over 3.8 stars on Amazon (not bad!). Also, the unabridged audio is outstanding with thousands of 5-star reviews on Audible. The story is non-stop, and a real page-turner.
Here is the Amazon description:
Sadistic Aliens……Man is an endangered species. Is it the end of the world or the rebirth of a new one? In the year A.D. 3000, Earth is a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Cities stand crumbling as a brutal reminder of what we once were. When the aliens invaded, all the world’s armies mustered little resistance against their advanced weapons. Now, all that stands between mankind and total extinction is Jonnie Goodboy Tyler—the courageous young warrior determined to rally the scattered tribes of humanity in an all-out battle for freedom. The fate of the Galaxy lies on the Battlefield of Earth. Get it now.
Notable authors LOVE this book. Here is what a few of them have to say:
“Pulse-pounding mile-a-minute sci-fi action-adventure that does not stop. It is a masterpiece of popular adventure science fiction.” —Brandon Sanderson (Way of Kings)
“Over 1,000 pages of thrills, spills, vicious aliens and noble humans. Un-put-downable.” —Neil Gaiman (Good Omens)
“Battlefield Earth is a terrific story! A masterpiece.” —Robert A. Heinlein (Starship Troopers)
“Wonderful … adventure … great characters … a master piece.” —A. E. Van Vogt
“Non-stop and fast-paced. Every chapter has a big bang-up adventure.” —Kevin J. Anderson (co-author of the Dune Sagas)
“With great heroes, battles, wonders, and interstellar intrigue, this is a book that you won’t put down.” —David Farland (Star Wars novels)
‘The Adventure of Reese Rabbit’ features a fun-loving, energized, life-size bunny named Reese Rabbit. Photo: Hunter Reese, used with permission.
My name is Hunter Reese. I am a young writer who grew up in Southern California loving comic books; my favorites were the ones about superheroes. I am also a big fan of cartoons so I thought I would make some cartoony comics as well. Over the years I have written so many stories and characters and I thought it was time to finally bring them to life. This is the start of many issues of Reese Rabbit comics I plan to write as well as other comic books from multiple genres. “The Adventure of Reese Rabbit” is the first in the series. Read all about the adventures of a fun-loving, energized, life-sized bunny named Reese Rabbit as he travels through his animal-filled world. It is illustrated by Inggit Awalliyah. (Hunter Reese, 2022)
“The Adventure of Reese Rabbit” – This comic book is about an anthropomorphic bunny rabbit named Reese who lives in a carrot-shaped house within a city filled with other anthropomorphic animals. This particular issue focuses on Reese Rabbit and his best friend, Jack Houndsberg, trying to get rid of a rat that has made itself at home in Reese’s house.
Available now through CWS Book Store in paperback form or digital download.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo stars in The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix. Photo: Netflix
Michael Connelly is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. J. Michael “Mickey” Haller, Junior first appeared in the novel “The Lincoln Lawyer.” Haller, a Los Angeles-based defense attorney, is the paternal half-brother of Connelly’s best-known character, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. A film adaptation of “The Lincoln Lawyer” was released in 2011 with Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller and now a new series is coming out on Netflix on May 13. (Michael Connelly, 2022)
The Lincoln Lawyerseries explores the character’s Latino heritage and will be streaming on Netflix on May 13, 2022. It stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson, Becki Newton as Lorna, Jazz Raycole as Izzy (Mickey’s driver), Angus Sampson as Cisco, and Christopher Gorham as Mickey’s client. The first season has ten episodes and is based on “The Brass Verdict.”
‘L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38’ will be released June 28, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The Writers of the Futureanthology of award-winning science fiction and fantasy short stories just released volume 38 at a major Hollywood event. L. Ron Hubbard, the author of the sci-fi classic “Battlefield Earth,” started the contest as “a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged.” Bringing on board a panel of blue-ribbon authors to select the stories, it continues to make publishing history year after year. There is not publication or program like this for new authors. “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38”will be released June 28, 2022. It is available now on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited for a limited time. (Writers of the Future, 2022)
The judges include fantastic authors like Brandon Sanderson, Nnedi Okorafor, Orson Scott Card, Kevin J. Anderson, Jody Lynn Nye, Tim Powers, Larry Niven, Katherine Kurtz, and many more. A literal who’s-who of fantasy and science fiction masters.
The writing contest is free to enterand the stories are judged blind to ensure authors and illustrators of every ethnic background, gender or age compete on equal footing. Very cool. (If you are an aspiring writing, you need to check this out).
Volume 38 also has bonus content from several great authors: Frank Herbert (yes, THE author of “Dune,” who was also a judge!), L. Ron Hubbard, and David Farland as well as writing tips for new writers.
Featured authors: L. Ron Hubbard; Frank Herbert; David Farland; Brian Herbert; Kevin J. Anderson; Diane Dillon; Azure Arther; Desmond Astaire; J. A. Becker; Lazarus Black; Z. T. Bright; John Coming; Em Dupre; N. V. Haskell; Michael Panter; Brittany Rainsdon; Mike Jack Stoumbos; M. Elizabeth Ticknor; Rebecca E. Treasure
The International Review of Books calls it a “literary smorgasbord where each new story comes with a feeling of excitement and mystery. It’s a binge read. Just one more, you think, and the next thing you know the entire book is gone!”
“L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38” – In the world of science fiction, this Anthology stands out for three reasons: The stories. The art. The extras. Which will you love most? Standing on the shoulders of giants, these writers of the future have earned their place in the hallowed pages of volume 38. With 25-award winning authors and illustrators, this collection is a master work. These diverse stories will fill you with wonder and new ideas. And a few just might break your heart.
Just imagine…
It is game on, the fate of the universe is on the line—and you are about to go all in.
Saving the mammoths is in your hands—can you conjure the magic to make it happen?
You have got a monster BFF—whom you are hiding from your own monster-hunting family.
You are part of a sting, out to catch some bar hoppers who are not only bending their elbows, but bending time as well.
And much more!
Would you like to know the “Single Most Important Piece of Advice” from the author of “Dune?” The beautiful art and writing tips by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson, Frank Herbert, L. Ron Hubbard, and Diane Dillon are just as wonderful as the collection of stories.
Volume 38 is a treasure. You will love this collection from past and future science fiction masters because these stories will keep you turning the page.
Diane Dreher, Ph.D., is a bestselling author, researcher, and positive psychology coach. Her books, “The Tao of Inner Peace,” “The Tao of Personal Leadership,” “The Tao of Womanhood,” “Inner Gardening,” and “Your Personal Renaissance,” have been translated into ten languages. Her work has been featured in media outlets including USA Today, Entrepreneur, Redbook, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Science of Mind, radio and TV talk shows, and websites on leadership and personal growth. “The Tao of Inner Peace”shows how the Tao can be a powerful and calming source of growth, inspiration, and well-being in times of conflict and anxiety.
Translated more often than any other book except the Bible, the Tao Te Ching has been a spiritual guide for centuries, helping millions find peace within themselves, with each other, and with the natural world around them. Written in workbook style, complete with exercises, questionnaires, journal-keeping techniques, and affirmations, “The Tao of Inner Peace” translates the ancient Eastern philosophy into a plan for contemporary Western living. The book is divided into five sections: I The Way: Then And Now, II The Inner Way, III The Way of Nature, IV The Way of Life, and V The Way of Peace. In the Introduction, the author writes that in this book, the Tao lessons are explained with parallels and real life examples to make them more relatable to modern times. The chapters are short for a reason, to allow readers to read as many portions as time allows and then apply the lessons to his/her life. Each chapter opens with a quote from the Tao Te Ching which can be used as a meditation theme and closes with an affirmation to reinforce the lesson just covered in that chapter. The Notes and Resources section at the end has been updated as needed. Diane Dreher, Ph.D., shows the way to bring greater joy, fulfillment, and creativity to daily life, heal the body and spirit, build self-acceptance and self-esteem, resolve conflict, reverse negative cycles of emotion, and understand life as a process of changes and challenges.
“The Tao of Inner Peace” is a resourceful handbook that encourages mental wellness. It modernizes the principles of Tao and shows how to apply its lessons to everyday life to create balance and harmony. It covers every aspect of daily life, from defining peace within ourselves to becoming a citizen of the world by getting to know people of other cultures and being aware of how our actions affect the planet (nature). Diane Dreher does an admirable job of making Tao principles easy to understand by using simple and down to earth language. Readers can incorporate them into their lives by following the personal exercises listed at the end of each chapter. Highlights include Section II The Inner Way, Chapter 11: Creating Greater Joy In Life “With laughter comes the realization that all things come to pass, that life evolves through cycles of change” and Section III The Way of Nature Chapter 16: Transcending Hostiles Cycles where it stresses that “Violence begets further violence, negativity begets negativity” and the importance of not becoming hostile, fearful, or angry when faced with negativity. The most important lesson to be learned is that we are all part of a larger whole and by thinking globally while acting locally, we can “bring greater harmony to our world.” “The Tao of Inner Peace” by Diane Dreher is a practical guide as it offers advice and solutions to improve not only our personal lives but the local and global community as well. It is worth re-reading several times and is recommended for readers who appreciate books on meditation, mindfulness, self-improvement, and Taoist Philosophy.
“As the waters of a pure mountain spring slowly cleanses a stagnant pond, so by circulating loving energies we can gradually heal our world.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Noche de Romance, San Antonio’s premier mariachi event, returns to the Guadalupe Theater on April 23 and April 24, 2022. Photo: google
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s 6th Annual Noche de Romance, San Antonio’s premier mariachi event, returns to the Guadalupe Theater on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 8p.m. and Sunday, April 24, at 5p.m., featuring the award-winning Mariachi Azteca de America performing an array of traditional Mexican love songs, boleros, baladas and rancheras. (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 2022)
Audiences return year after year for the romance and grandeur of the night, along with the intimate setting of the historic Guadalupe Theater in San Antonio, located at 1301 Guadalupe St. Led by Guadalupe Traditional Music Program Director Gino Rivera, Mariachi Azteca de America’s versatile ensemble of musicians delivers dynamic performances of classic songs by Mexican musical luminaries such as Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Juan Gabriel, and Agustin Lara. This year, concert-goers will be treated to a special tribute to the legendary Vicente Fernandez, also known as “El Rey,” along with special featured guest Arturo Vargas, a world-class vocalist and member of the renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Local talents Rhonda Garcia and Mateo Lopez will also participate in the program, which will open with the Guadalupe Youth Mariachi Ensemble.
Gonzaba Medical Group is sponsoring Noche de Romance performances, which are open to the public, on Saturday April 23 at 8p.m. and Sunday April 24 at 5p.m. Tickets cost $25, $30 and $35, and table sponsorships are available. The Saturday performance includes a preconcert reception for sponsors and members of the music academy. Noche de Romance supports the continued expansion and development of Guadalupe’s Traditional Music Academy and Youth Mariachi Ensemble. Funds from the concert help to ensure that the mariachi tradition lives on for future generations while supporting students’ public performances and the annual summer mariachi camp.
The medical group also is sponsoring special private concerts for the local senior community and area schools. The concerts are offered by invitation and will take place on Friday, April 22 for seniors and on Monday, April 25 for students.
Public Concerts: Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 8p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 5p.m.
Special Private Concerts by Invitation: Friday, April 22, 2022, for Seniors Monday, April 25, 2022, for School Students
Guadalupe Theater 1301 Guadalupe St. San Antonio, TX 78207
Admission: Ticketsavailable: $25/$30/$35 Table Sponsors available
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center was founded in 1980 as a nonprofit, multi-disciplinary organization. Located in the heart of San Antonio’s westside, the Guadalupe is one of the largest community-based organizations in the US with the mission to cultivate, promote and preserve traditional and contemporary Chicano, Latino and Native American arts and culture through multidisciplinary programming.
Paulino Mamiir Chol’s ‘Leading the Lost Boys: The Untold Story’ tells the story of his extraordinary personal journey from kidnapping survivor to leader. Photo: amazon
Paulino Mamiir Chol is an author and current PhD candidate dedicated to using his experience, expertise, and education to help his current community in the US as well as his East African homeland, South Sudan. For decades, despite multiple kidnapping attempts by the radical militias, airborne assaults, and the murder of his friends and family, Mr. Chol rose in the leadership hierarchy and helped over four thousand Lost Boys to come to America. Mr. Chol has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in Law and Policy from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. He looked death in the eye multiple times, surviving abduction, a 3,000-mile barefoot trek in searing heat across South Sudan, and unspeakable starvation during the Second Sudanese Civil War. His memoir, “Leading the Lost Boys: The Untold Journey” tells of his extraordinary journey from kidnapping survivor to leader, showing how tragedy can be turned into triumph. (Mac Foundation, 2022)
As a member of the Lost Boys of South Sudan who led over 700 boys across three African countries, from refugee camp to refugee camp, Paulino Mamiir Chol is the only one in a position to tell this story. A testimony to the atrocities happening at that time—the killings and kidnappings committed by radical militias before and during the Second Sudanese Civil War—the book describes how the author had to build the grit, determination, and sheer organizational ability to save lives, and find freedom. In so doing, he also offers hope in the power of the human spirit to overcome trauma and tragedy—especially when we focus on serving others. “Leading The Lost Boys: The Untold Journey” is part of Paulino Chol’s effort to fight the inhuman darkness we are all capable of, and to empower and inspire the hearts of those suffering.
“This book is a form of defense, and I promise to fight against inhumanity and human rights abuses. This fight consolidates my belief, faith, and hope in humanity, and human rights.” – Paulino Mamiir Chol
All proceeds will go to the Mamiir Chol Foundation (MACH), which will provide funds to villagers in Twic County for clean drinking wells, clinics, schools, and community centers. Proceeds will also support organizations working for human rights, homeless children, widowed mothers, disabled people, and to protect women and girls from sexual abuse, exploitation, and gender-based violence. “Leading the Lost Boys: The Untold Journey” is available in digital and paperback on amazon and other major retailers.
‘You’re Crazy, Volume Two’ by Craig Lewis. Photo: Craig Lewis, used with permission.
Craig Lewis is an Expert by Experience, a Psychiatric Survivor, author, a lifelong punk rocker, a fearless activist, a workshop trainer, and international speaker. Craig has survived a lifetime of struggle and has chosen not to waste it. Craig shares his experiences, knowledge, and lessons learned in the hopes of supporting others in living happier, healthier, and more satisfying lives. This is an ongoing journey and Craig, like all of us, is a work in progress. Two of his books are “The Craig Lewis Guide to Surviving the Impossible” and “You’re Crazy, Volume Two: First Hand Accounts of Surviving Trauma, Addiction & Mental Health from within the Punk Rock Scene.”
“The Craig Lewis Guide to Surviving the Impossible” is written by a human being who learned the hard way the difference between being alive and truly living. This book is intended to help readers figure out their true path. If you put in the effort, you will experience improvements. The bottom line is this: You, the person reading these words, have the power within to heal and become whoever you were born to be. That is the path that this author has chosen. May your journey result in healing, peace and love. “The Craig Lewis Guide to Surviving the Impossible” features fifteen passages and worksheets intended to encourage the reader to go within themselves and figure out how to heal what is hurting them.
“You’re Crazy, Volume Two” is a collection of personal stories written by twenty punk rockers from around the world. All of the writers have experienced trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles. As you read these stories, you will know both the pain and the beauty that makes these uniquely brilliant human beings who they are today. We are unapologetic for surviving. Instead, we choose to live the lives we deserve. We hope that others like us will read these stories and recognize that they, too, have the power to create the better lives they want. After all, we are Punk Rockers!
The limited series adaptation of ‘Station Eleven’ is available on HBO Max. Photo: amazon
Emily St. John Mandel is a Canadian novelist and essayist. She has written numerous essays and five novels, including “The Glass Hotel” and “Station Eleven,” which was a finalist for a National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and has been translated into thirty-five languages. “Station Eleven” has been adapted into a limited series, which premiered on December 16, 2021, on HBO Max. It is an audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse—the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity. (amazon, 2022)
“Station Eleven” – Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end. Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. When they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. As the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.
