Picture caption: New Release Book Banner showing the cover of The Soul Whisperer’s Decision
Today, I am delighted to welcome Gwen M. Plano to Roberta Writes with her new book release, The Soul Whisperer’s Decision.
Picture caption: Book cover of The Soul Whisper’s Decision by Gwen M. Plano
Blurb
Sarah Jameson, a nurse at County Central Hospital, survives an accident that kills her two young children. While comatose, she travels into the heavenly realm where she visits with her precious little ones. She is given a choice – return to her husband, Jack, or remain with her children in their celestial home. Jack was not in the fated automobile. Though he heard the crash and ran to help, there was nothing he could do. He suffers the loss of his children, fears the potential demise of his wife, and wonders about his own sanity. His struggle with PTSD from his military years has returned and at times, he cannot distinguish between the present and the past. An accident tragically changed the lives of this young family, but out of sorrow emerges unexpected blessings.
Backstory
I have a special interest in the Near-Death Experience phenomenon. Since the 1980s, I’ve read original research of accounts, and I’ve also read numerous books by survivors. Though I’ve not experienced an NDE, I’ve had several inexplicable experiences of a loving presence at times of great duress.
For ten years, 2002 – 2012, I was an administrator at a college near Camp Pendleton in California. I worked directly with the Marine veterans and, to a lesser degree, veterans from the other branches of the military. I quickly discovered that almost all the Marines suffered PTSD and/or physical injuries from their service in Iraq or Afghanistan. I became their advocate and tried to provide a ‘safe’ place for the veterans to meet, hang out, and process. To this day, my experience with the veterans remains the highlight of my thirty years in Higher Education.
When I wrote The Soul Whisperer’s Decision, I sought to illuminate the struggles of those who have experienced extreme violence. And, as well, I tried to show the healing power of love. None of us can erase our past or another’s, but by our choices, we can carve a hopeful future for ourselves and others.
Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, grew up in Southern California and spent most of her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Gwen’s academic background is in theology and counseling. Recently retired, she now lives in the high desert of Arizona, where she writes, gardens, and travels with her husband.
Gwen’s first book is an acclaimed memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love. Her second book, The Contract between heaven and earth, is a thriller fiction novel, co-authored by John W. Howell. It has received multiple awards and is an Amazon Best Seller. The Choice, the unexpected heroes is the sequel to The Contract. It is also a thriller, involving the attempt of an unfriendly nation to take over the world. The third book in the series, The Culmination, a new beginning is an action-packed military thriller that spans the globe and involves multiple Heads of State and the threat of World War III. Only love can change the fate of humanity.
When Gwen is not writing, she’s often in the beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, where she finds inspiration.
We had a quiet festive period at home this year. TC and I were both exhausted after a year of hospitalisations and medical issues. It didn’t take long for my spirits to rally and I managed to finish editing the sixteen short stories in my first short story collection: And, the Grave Awaits. I will share more about this collection and the artworks I completed during this period over the next few weeks.
We stayed at Thakadu River Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve. It is a luxury tented camp (who wanted that, I wonder?) The location was marvelous, on our last morning a herd of 60 elephants came down to play and swim in the river. It was an elephant madhouse. There were also lots of vervet monkeys. These monkeys are adorable but they are dreadful thieves and very bold. More about that in another post.
On our first afternoon, we had the good fortune of seeing a mother cheetah and her cubs playing and enjoying themselves in the late afternoon sunshine.
Cheetah are found in parts of Africa and Iran. There are estimated to be 8,000 cheetahs left in the world and only 50 of these are roaming in Iran. Cheetah are endangered in North and West Africa so the bulk of the remaining cheetah are found in southern Africa. Cheetah cubs are vulnerable to larger predators which is why mum is always on the lookout. Other predators also steal cheetah kills.
Just like cats, cheetah cubs play fight each otherMum, always on the lookout. This is mum’s second litter. None of her first litter survived.
It’s time for a stroll around, says this young man:
A few poems
Haiku
A caring mother
Sees to the needs of her young
Dinner is served
Picture caption: Female cheetah with a baby impala kill
Haiku
Dark grey on pale blue
With brilliant silver edges
Festival of clouds
Picture caption: Broody pre-storm sky in the late afternoon
Artwork (Shadorma)
Thunderheads
Complemented by
Dark salmon
Pale yellow
In colourful streaks and lines
Nature’s great artwork
Picture caption: Sunset in the bush pre a rainstorm
The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.
In 1858, a ship carrying ice from Alaska wrecked off the coast of California, and little does Taliah Keldan realize how that tragedy will impact her life in 1972.
When Tali decides to quit college and become a civil rights activist, her disappointed parents encourage her to think it over. What better spot for contemplation than at her aunt and uncle’s Harbor Pointe Inn, a charming seaside getaway with its own lighthouse? The place is under renovation and empty of guests. All she’ll have to deal with is the construction crew.
But the inn is far from peaceful.
Tali discovers an old Bible hidden in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Strange prayers angle down the margins, all but one ruined by the sea. When she deciphers the crude writing, a dark portal gapes open to a pre-civil war night when an escaped slave in a foundering ship prayed to his voodoo God. A winged creature emerges from the watery void, and her stay transforms into a nightmare.
With the aid of the construction foreman, Tali is determined to send the beast back through time, a choice that will risk their lives, test her convictions, and change her future.
My review
This is the fourth book I’ve read in the Harbor Pointe series, and it is certainly the darkest due to its subject matter which involves slavery and racism. This story is well written, interesting and clever. It also achieves its purpose of highlighting the injustices of slavery and racism, and the advantage taken of such thinking by people with power over others. The book incorporates a lot of mythology and fantasy elements.
The story starts on board the ship The Zenobia in 1858. The ship is sailing from Alaska to San Francisco with a cargo of ice. Among its crew is an escaped slave called Samuel. Enticed by the promise of a government reward, a few of Samuel’s fellow crew members, attack him, and after cruelly beating him, lock him in the storage locker. In desperation and fear, Samuel calls on the serpent god, Damballah, to help him out of his plight.
The story then shifts to San Francisco in 1972. A young woman with a white father and a black mother has just dropped out of university because she is frustrated and feels she can’t make a difference in her fight for equal treatment by following academic paths. Pressure from her mother, compels her to agree to look after her aunt and uncle’s inn at Harbor Pointe while they are abroad. The inn is in the process of being renovated.
Despite a difficult encounter with a racist policeman just prior to her arrival at the inn, and an aura of creepiness about the keeper’s cottage near the inn, where Tali is to live during her stay, she moves into her temporary abode and her aunt and uncle leave to catch their plane. An uncomfortable encounter with the manager of the renovation project, Greg, and the discovery of a waterlogged, ancient book, set in motion a series of frightening events that involve both the soul of Samuel and Damballah.
This story is well written and entertaining. The plot moves quickly and wracks up the tension nicely until the final scenes. I enjoyed the characters of both Samuel and Tali, and how they both grew and evolved as the drama of the storyline unfolded. The character of Greg also goes through some revelations, resulting in a different attitude emerging. This story, despite its exciting plot, is mainly character driven, in my opinion.
An excellent edition to the Harbor Pointe series of books.
Comes this Time to Float: 19 Short Stories by Stephen Geez
What Amazon says
Prepare to think as you explore these wildly disparate literary short stories by author, composer, and producer Stephen Geez. Avoiding any single genre, this collection showcases Geez’s storytelling from southern gothic to contemporary drama to coming-of-age, humor, sci-fi, and fantasy–all finessed to say something about who we are and what we seek. Some of these have been passed around enough to need a shot of penicillin, others so virgin they have never known the seductive gaze of a reader’s eyes. So when life’s currents get to pulling too hard, don’t fight it, just open the book and discover nineteen new ways of going with the flow, because NOW more than ever Comes this Time to Float.
My review
This collection is an intriguing and varied one. No two stories are remotely the same and they are all equally engaging. The author starts each story with an appropriate picture and a short commentary about what inspired the story or what he intended to achieve with the story. I found that helpful and it put me in the correct frame of mind, as a reader, for each piece.
Four of the stories stand out in my mind as I contemplate this collection. Those four are as follows:
About Face – This is a story about a young man who wakes up one morning with someone else’s face. He soon comes to know that his altered identity is only for a period of three days. I enjoyed the psychology of this story as the main character goes from complete disbelief and horror to making use of his ‘new identity’ to benefit himself from a work perspective. His ‘disguise’ is so complete that the young man decides to make the most of the short period during which he isn’t identifiable and set straight a wrong from the past. This decision has unintended and surprising consequences for the young man. It also sets in motion some interesting thoughts for the reader.
Holler Song – Retta and Lurlene are elderly and poor. The pair have cared for Lurlene’s brain damaged granddaughter, Cammie, for nearly twenty five years and are dependent on the benefits they receive for Cammie’s care. They are expecting a desperately needed lump sum payment on the girl’s forthcoming birthday. An unexpected event changes their circumstances and they are left facing destitution. Quick thinking by Retta, and tacit capitulation and compliance from a young woman who is on the run from her abusive boyfriend, help to save the situation for all parties.
Bus, Boy – This was my favourite story in the collection. A young delinquent, Andre, is forced to get a job as a busboy as part of his suspended jail sentence. Andre is against the job, believing it is demeaning to him and that he will be an object of ridicule by the community. Andre’s attitude and understanding of the world undergo a huge overhaul as he gets to know a bit about the circumstances and lives of the waitresses and other staff working with him in the restaurant. He is also surprised by the treatment he receives from people in the community who know him.
The Age-Eater – This is a fantasy short story which made it unique from the other stories in the collection. A Face-Changer is assigned the task of tracking down the mythical Age-Eater on behalf of the Master of his village. The Master’s intentions are good as he would merely like to gift some of his elders a longer and better life. The Face-Changer’s interactions with the Age-Eater bring about a partnership that goes on to make the world a better place for many years to come.
The stories all require attention from the reader. It is not the sort of book you can semi-snooze through or you won’t follow the storylines which are fairly complex. The author’s style of writing and use of colloquial language also means you have to pay attention. It is worth it as the stories are fascinating and thought provoking.
The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.
What’s the point of having it all when you have no one to share it with?
Brandon Miller has his dream job, financial security, and he’s madly in love. Only one thing is missing—a commitment.
Angela Cooper’s ex-husband left her with deep scars, souring her on the concept of marriage. She’s not interested in a do-over. Not with Brandon or anyone. Her heart is locked securely away behind a thick wall.
With a ring in his pocket and hope in his heart, Brandon arranges a romantic getaway to the historic Harbor Pointe Inn, where he plans to pop the question.
Before they reach the inn, Angela’s got her camera in hand and ghosts on her mind. But they arrive to find a much more tangible horror.
Accident or foul play?
Someone is up to no good, and Angela is the next target. When suspects can be worldly or otherworldly, danger and secrets lurk everywhere.
Poised at the perilous edge of too late, Angela and Brandon face the fight of their lives.
My review
I enjoyed this 5th book in the Harbor Pointe series which took the form of a romance with a thriller twist.
Angela has found the perfect man in Brandon Miller, but she still bears the psychological wounds of a previous disastrous marriage and is very cautious about any long-term commitment. She prefers to just enjoy his company and take things slowly.
Brandon is crazy about Angela and is desperate to propose marriage. He decides to whisk her away to the historic Harbor Pointe Inn for a romantic getaway. He aims to pop the question and hopes that Angela will succumb to his charms and the setting, and say yes.
The Inn is delightful but right from the start there are a few uncomfortable and even frightening mishaps. An ambulance is parked outside the Inn as they arrive and they soon discover that there has been an accident resulting in a guest being seriously injured. Brandon and Angela sense that something is not right at the Inn, but try to make the best of things, until they no longer can.
I enjoyed the characters of Angela and Brandon very much. Angela is a lovely woman who has suffered a bad experience and is trying hard to overcome her resultant anxieties and distrust. Brandon is a lot of fun and is devoted to the lovely Angela.
If you enjoy a good romance with a steady build up of tension and a good twist, you will enjoy this novella.
I returned from a four-day trip to Madikwe Game Reserve today, to discover this wonderful review of A Ghost and His Gold by talented author, Dave Williams. Thank you, Dave.
Happy New Year. I hope 2024 will be a good year for everyone.
Dan from No Facilities blog has requested entries for the Thursday Doors Badge for 2024. You can read more about it here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/12/14/christmas-by-candlelight/. While you are there, take a look at Dan’s fabulous Dreamer’s Alliance book series.
I am squeaking in with this post as tomorrow is the last day for entries.
Any how, better almost late than never. Here is my design, it uses one of my watercolour paintings and I just love the colours. I think it represents all seasons because we dream of summer all winter.
I’m still on a blogging break, but I will respond to comments when I get the chance.
Teagan has written a super installment of her latest weekend serial using my song choice, White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, as inspiration. It’s a fabulous way to end 2023.
My final Dark Origins post for 2023 is about the origin of the letters to Santa. I’ve included an extract from one of my manuscripts which includes extracts of historical letters to Santa. Thank you for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.
Other than my Dark Origins post in collaboration with Writing to be Read later this month, this is my last post for 2023.
Having started 2023 with my husband in hospital with a venous sinus thrombosis and ending it with both my sons undergoing major 4-hour surgeries, I feel I need a break. I will be back on 8 January 2024. I thank all of you, my blogging family, for all you support, reads and comments during the course of this year.
For this last Thursday Doors post of the year, I am sharing the gingerbread and chocolate house display I created during Covid. Some of you have seen it before, but it is very cheering and worth re-sharing. PS, its a South African Christmas display so you won’t see any snow or ice. My little joke: These are the houses that Robbie built.
Chocolate Swiss Chalet with Jelly Bean fairiesGingerbread chapel with Daffodil fairiesWhite chocolate house with Jelly bean fairy on a swingMilk chocolate house with an autumn fairy (this fairy was dedicated to Miriam Hurdle’s granddaughter, Autumn). I interviewed Miriam this week about her lovely children’s book, Tina lost in a crowd. If you missed it, you can read the interview here: https://writingtoberead.com/2023/12/13/growing-bookworms-guest-post-with-childrens-author-poet-and-memoirist-miriam-hurdle-growingbookworms-childrensfiction-readingcommunity/Gingerbread mansion with Rose fairies. Can you see their pints of Guinness. Another little joke. Milk chocolate house with fairies swimming in the pool
The house below is my niece’s contribution:
Gingerbread house created by EmilyThis is the complete display.
You can choose any one of the following options. If you feel exceptionally inspired, feel free to write more than one piece, or get them all together in one. The choice and creativity is yours,
Choose two people, concepts or theories which are opposites of each other. Write a dialogue, two paragraphs or two stanzas to bring out the perspective of each side.You can use a conflict, war or a debate as a backdrop.
Choose the above image as your inspiration.
Weave in the two lines from the poem given above in your piece – be it poetry or prose. Give due credit to the poet.
Colleen provided a beautiful picture for this week’s Tanka Tuesday. Sadly, it doesn’t really fit into a boiling hot South African heat wave pre Christmas period. So … I picked my own picture to write a poem about. This picture also works for Terri’s red and green holiday colours Sunday Stills challenge.
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