Unlike many other similar books I’ve read, the author does not try to force tears out of the reader (something I dislike), but instead tells a good story with all the tragedy and happiness which happens in life.

About Blood Trails – the first of a new thriller series by Diane Capri Michael Flint is the heir hunter of last resort. A forensic genealogist and former clandestine agent specializing in high-end private investigations, he promises clients he can find anyone, anytime, anywhere—dead or alive. Laura Oakwood stands to lose more than $50 million in mineral royalties if she’s not found within seventy-two hours. But she presents an extra challenge: she’s been running from the law due to her involvement in a deadly armed robbery twenty-eight years ago.Texas oil baron Sebastian Shaw desperately needs Laura’s signature to take over her family’s oil fields. And Shaw’s bitter rival, Felix Crane, will do anything to keep that from happening. In a hunt stretching from dusty, hot West Texas to snowy Saskatchewan, Flint finds himself caught in the cross fire between dueling tycoons and avaricious mercenaries out for their own piece of the pie. On Flint’s side? A knack for keeping himself alive, a hard-won moral code, and buried questions about his own family that drive everything he does. As Flint tracks Laura, he delves into his own murky history, whose secrets he is only now beginning to uncover.

About: News of the World by Paulette Jiles is a novel taking place in Texas around 1870. This book is a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award in Fiction. Check out my review of News of the World by Paulette Jiles and enter the giveaway below Synopsis: Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, an elderly widower, travels through Texas in 1870 reading papers to paying audiences hungry for news. Captain Kidd is offered $50 in gold to get a young orphan to her relatives 400 miles away. Johanna was kidnapped by Native Americans who killed her family, however at 10 years old, her adopted family, adopted language, and culture is all she knows. Johanna refuses to act as “civilized” society expects her to and will not make Captain Kidd’s job easier. Give­away Give­away ends: November 17, 2016 Winners must have a valid e-mail address US Address Only please Win­ners will have 24 hours to write back with their address, oth­er­wise an alter­nate win­ner will be picked Congratulations: Name as email

The storytelling is not fast, but not crawling either, a pace I would imagine Texas moves to and always has been. The author captures the time of the country abided by its own unwritten laws, enforced by rough quite men.

Instead of my usual “Fun Facts Friday” post, I thought that for April Fools I might list some of my favorite historical literary hoaxes. In 1794, William Henry Ireland faked a mortgage deed supposedly signed by William Shakespeare. Ireland claimed to have more artifacts (letters, receipts and contracts) but was soon discovered to be a fake, especially after a supposedly new play was performed. Ireland did become a London celebrity for a while. Author Clifford Irving claimed reclusive billionaire Howard Hues hired him to write a biography, claiming Hues was a fan. McGraw-Hill jumped at the opportunity and the writing began. Mr. Irving would have gotten away with the “biography”, but Howard Hues broke his long media silence in 1972 to denounce Irving. After 17 months in Jail Irving wrote a book about the affair titled The Hoax which was later made into a movie. After the death of American hero Davy Corkett an autobiography was published Col. Crockett’s Exploits and Adventures in Texas, written by himself. The book became a best seller but later discovered to be hoax written by newspaper editor and lawyer n Richard Penn Smith who compiled the information from resources both real and fiction filling in the rest from his own imagination….

Henry (11 September, 1862 – 5 June, 1910) was an American known for his surprising and witty short stories. “William Sydney Porter by doubleday” by W.M. Vanderweyde, New York – NYPL Digital Gallery. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons. The author’s full name was William Sydney Porter in Greensboro, North Carolina. He only went to school until the age of 15. At the age of 20, Mr. Porter was working in a ranch in Texas and later, as a bank teller. In 1887. Mr. Porter got married and at the same year founded a humorous weekly – the Rolling Stone. The Rolling Stone failed, and Mr. Porter became a columnist for the Houston Post. Due to a technical mismanagement at the bank, Mr. Porter was indicted for embezzling funds in 1896 and fled to New Orleans, then to Honduras. Sadly, he was forced to return to Texas due to his wife’s illness, and was imprisoned after her death. During his three year incarnation, Mr. Porter wrote adventure stories set in Texas and Central America which became popular. After his release in 1902, Mr. Porter took on the nom de plumb O. Henry and wrote a story a week for…

It is a brave endeavor to write a sequel or a prequel to existing, classic novels and Mr. Motion does justice to Stevenson’s style and story.

Writing a book is not what I thought it was going to be. I had seen the growth in authors. The draw it had. Instant success. (Many think.) The numerous attempts at creating worlds, but I never thought I would be drawn in. I am a math teacher. Not a writer. When we make a decision to enter a field of study, we stick with it. We do the same job every day because that is what our parents have done. What their parents have done. And their parents. Stepping out of the norm requires time. Effort. Space. Energy. And know how. I cannot write a book. I told myself that for several years. Why even try? It is not worth the time. Would anyone even read it? There was a fear of rejection. A risk that I was not quite ready to take. Where was the shift? When did I decide to just go for it? It was gradual and in the most unlikely time of my life. Senior year while student teaching. Driving forty minutes one way every morning at six o’clock. Teaching for eight hours. Making the return trip that afternoon. Preparing for the next day. Then…

House of Earth by Woody Guthrie is a recently published novel by the famed folk singer. The novel was finished in 1947 and is the only fully realized novel of the author.

H.L. Davis (18 October, 1894 – 31 October, 1960) was a poet, novelist and short stories writer. Born in Oregon he lived in California and Texas. Davis’ books are not the typical romantic “western” fiction but are more realistic and ironic . Books by H.L. Davis The H.L. stands for Harold Lenoir. Davis’ father was the country assessor and in 1912 Davis became his deputy holding that position off and on. After he graduated high school Davis has saved $1,500 and went to study in Stanford University. However, upon arrival he discovered that $1,500 won’t even be enough for one semester. Davis held multiple short-term jobs including a railroad timekeeper, a banker and various jobs with Pacific Power and Light. Davis’ first published poems, known together as Primapara, were published in Poetry magazine (1919) and won the magazine’s Levinson Prize of $200. Davis was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1932, he moved to Jalisco, Mexico where he concentrated on his writing for 2 years. In Mexico he completed Honey in the Horn which received the Harper Prize (Best Novel, 1935) and the Pulitzer Prize. To this day Davis is the only author born in Oregon to receive the Pulitzer. Davis…