{"id":1514,"date":"2018-12-31T17:38:56","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T17:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=1514"},"modified":"2018-12-31T17:38:56","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T17:38:56","slug":"lone-star-reviewsmichelle-newby-nbcc-135","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=1514","title":{"rendered":"Lone Star ReviewsMichelle Newby, NBCC,"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/span><\/span>Lone Star Reviews<\/span>Michelle Newby, NBCC,<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

Contributing Editor<\/span><\/h1>\n
\n

CHILDREN\u2019S FICTION<\/p>\n

Mary Pope Osborne <\/span>(author), AG Ford<\/span> (illustrator)<\/p>\n

Hurricane Heroes in Texas <\/span><\/a><\/span>(Magic Tree House #30)<\/p>\n

Random House Books for Young Readers<\/p>\n

Hardcover, 978-1-5247-1312-6 (also available as an e-book and an audio-book), 112 pgs., $13.99; August 7, 2018<\/p>\n

Mary Pope Osborne\u2019s beloved Jack and Annie return to Texas, <\/span>landing in a backyard oak tree in Galveston on September 8, 1900, just in time for the Great Galveston Hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the country.<\/p>\n

Hurricane Heroes in Texas<\/span> is the thirtieth installment in the mega-bestselling Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne<\/span>. In a \u201cDear Reader\u201d note at the beginning of Hurricane Heroes in Texas,<\/span> Osborne notes that she began writing a book about the worst hurricane to strike the United States in the summer of 2017, just as Harvey, another devastating hurricane, bore down on the Texas coast.<\/p>\n

The first Magic Tree House book, Dinosaurs Before Dark, <\/span>was published in 1992, introducing Jack and Annie, a brother and sister who discover a magical tree house filled with books. (What else would a magical tree house be filled with?)\u00a0\u00a0 >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

LONE STAR INDIE REVIEWS<\/span><\/p>\n

FICTION \/ PARANORMAL ROMANCE<\/p>\n

Michael Scott Clifton<\/span><\/p>\n

The Janus Witch<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Book Liftoff<\/p>\n

Paperback, 978-1-947946-42-2 (also available as ebook), 344 pages, $14.95<\/p>\n

September 2018<\/p>\n

East Texas, specifically the areas around Mount Pleasant and Longview, <\/span>might not be your first choices for fantasy settings in a darkly toned, paranormal romance tale about a witch and an emergency room physician.<\/p>\n

But in The Janus Witch,<\/span> Mount Pleasant novelist Michael Scott Clifton uncorks a clever and entertaining tale that unfolds within a region he knows well.<\/p>\n

In The Janus Witch,<\/span> one member of a murderous witches\u2019 coven somehow plunges into another realm (contemporary East Texas) while being pursued by witch hunters. Tressalayne is seriously injured when she falls through tree branches and hits the ground, and she is left temporarily without memory of her violent, paranormal past.<\/p>\n

Tressalayne happens to be beautiful, as well, a fact noted immediately by Dr. Lucas Beckett, her attending physician at Good Shepard General Hospital. It doesn\u2019t take the handsome young bachelor very long to start paying more attention to her than is medically necessary. >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>Texas Reads<\/span>Glenn Dromgoole<\/span><\/h1>\n

>> archive<\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

A dozen favorite Texas books from 2018<\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Over the course of the year, I receive probably 200 or more books<\/span> to consider for Texas Reads, and I try to get around to as many as possible. So far I\u2019ve been able to write about, or at least mention, 110 titles by Texas authors or about Texas subjects, covering a wide range of interests and genres, and I hope to get around to several more this month before taking off a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

As we enter the home stretch, here are a dozen of my favorites from the year. They\u2019re not necessarily the best, or the best-selling, Texas books, just some that I found particularly appealing.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with two entertaining titles: W. F. Strong\u2019s<\/span> book of Stories from Texas: Some of Them Are True<\/span> ($11.99 paperback) and 100 Things to Do in Texas Before You Die<\/span> by E.R. Bills<\/span> ($18 paperback). Both are fun to read, and I learned something from each one that I didn\u2019t know about Texas.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve mentioned several times that this has been a good year for elegant coffee-table books. My three favorites (it was a hard choice) are A Mile Above Texas<\/span> featuring spectacular aerial photographs by Jay B. Sauceda<\/span> ($45 hardcover); Horses of the American West: Portrayals by Twenty-Four Artists <\/span>by Heidi Brady<\/span> and Scott White<\/span> ($40 hardcover); and As Far As You Can See: Picturing Texas, <\/span>gorgeous nature photos by Kenny Braun<\/span> ($45 hardcover).<\/p>\n

Fiction? <\/span>A lot of good ones, but I\u2019ll go with mega-best-selling author James Patterson\u2019s<\/span> fast-paced Texas Ranger<\/span> ($28 hardcover, Andrew Bourelle<\/span> co-author) and Katherine Center\u2019s<\/span> How to Walk Away, <\/span>about a young woman\u2019s heroic struggle to survive after a private plane crash ($26.99 hardcover).<\/p>\n

Another favorite novel, intended for middle grade boys, is S.J. Dalstrom\u2019s<\/span> Black Rock Brothers<\/span> ($9.95 paperback), the fifth book in his \u201cThe Adventures of Wilder Good\u201d series, which I highly recommend.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Also, I have to include John Erickson\u2019s<\/span> 71st \u201cHank the Cowdog\u201d novel, The Case of the Monster Fire<\/span> ($5.99 paperback). The story grew out of the 2017 Panhandle wildfire that destroyed\u00a0 Erickson\u2019s own ranch home.<\/p>\n

Gotta have a couple of football books. My picks this year are The 50 Greatest Players in Dallas Cowboys History<\/span> by Robert W. Cohen<\/span> ($24.95 hardcover) and Playing for More: Trust Beyond What You Can See,<\/span> an inspiring story about faith, family and football by Abilene\u2019s own Case Keenum,<\/span> now the quarterback for the Denver Broncos ($22.95 hardcover).<\/p>\n

Finally, I really enjoyed Don Graham\u2019s<\/span> book going behind the scenes of one of Texas\u2019s iconic movies, Giant: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber and the Making of a Legendary American Film<\/span> ($27.99 hardcover). After I read it, I checked out the DVD from the library and watched Giant <\/span>again for the first time in several years.<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

Glenn Dromgoole<\/span>\u2019s most recent book is <\/span>The Book Guy: One Author\u2019s Adventures in Publishing.<\/span> Contact him at<\/span>g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

>> <\/span>Check out his previous Texas Reads columns in Lone Star Lit<\/a><\/span>erary Life<\/span><\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span> Twig\u2019s Top Ten Bestsellers<\/h1>\n

October 2018<\/h1>\n

What are Texans reading these days, you ask? <\/span>Lone Star Lit\u2019s newest regular feature is a monthly list of trending titles at the <\/span>Twig Book Shop,<\/span><\/a><\/span> a leading independent bookseller in San Antonio. Click on any title for the Buy link. And we’ll also include a hotlink to related content in Lone Star Literary Life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reyna Grande,<\/span>A Dream Called Home: A Memoir,<\/span><\/a><\/span> 978-1-501171420<\/span><\/p>\n

Mitch Albom,<\/span>The Next Person You Meet in Heaven: The Sequel to the Five People You Meet in Heaven,<\/span><\/a><\/span> 978-62294449<\/span><\/p>\n

Paulo Coelho,<\/span>The Alchemist<\/span><\/a><\/span> (Harper Perennial), 978-0-062315007<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew Sean Greer,<\/span>Less,<\/span><\/a><\/span>978-0-31631613X<\/span><\/p>\n

Amor Towles,<\/span>A Gentleman in Moscow<\/span><\/a><\/span> 978-0-670026197<\/span><\/p>\n

Brene Brown,<\/span>Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts,<\/span><\/a><\/span> 978-0-399592522<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Sincero<\/span>You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life,<\/span><\/a><\/span> 978-0762490547<\/span><\/p>\n

Isabel Allende,<\/span>In the Midst of Winter,<\/span><\/a><\/span> 978-1-501178146<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Doerr,<\/span>All the Light We Cannot See,<\/span><\/a><\/span>978-1-501173219<\/span><\/p>\n

Jill Lepore,<\/span>These Truths: A History of the United States,<\/span><\/a><\/span> 978-0-393635249<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

LONE STAR CLASSIFIED LISTINGS<\/span><\/h1>\n

>>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span> CLASSIFIED LISTINGS<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>WHERE IN TEXAS?<\/span><\/h1>\n

Don’t miss a reading or a good read! Sign up for our FREE weekly
e-newsletter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Meet our bloggers<\/h1>\n

Bookmark them so you can return again and again!<\/p>\n

All the Ups and Downs<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Heather Cranmer<\/p>\n

Bibliotica<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Melissa Bartell
Book Fidelity,<\/span><\/a><\/span> Celia Medrano-Ortiz<\/p>\n

The Book Review<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Julie Whiteley
#Bookish<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Erin Decker<\/p>\n

Books and Broomsticks<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Belle Whittington<\/p>\n

Books in the Garden<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Julia Byers
Carpe Diem Chronicles<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Maida Malby<\/p>\n

Chapter Break Book Blog<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Lynn Poppe & Julia Smeltzer<\/p>\n

The Clueless Gent<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Michael O’Connor<\/p>\n

Forgotten Winds<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Christena Stephens<\/p>\n

Hall Ways Blog<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Kristine Hall
Kelly Well Read<\/a><\/span>, Kelly Moore<\/p>\n

The Librarian Talks<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Tabatha Pope
The Love of a Bibliophile<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Kristen Mouton<\/p>\n

Margie\u2019s Must Reads<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Margie Longoria
Max Knight Blog<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Max Knight<\/p>\n

Missus Gonzo<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Lorilei Gonzales<\/p>\n

Momma on the Rocks<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Jenn Belden<\/p>\n

Nerd Narration Blog<\/span>,<\/a> Taylor Sebring<\/p>\n

The Page Unbound<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Becca Cahill & Haley Ringer<\/p>\n

Rainy Days with Amanda<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Amanda Borroel<\/p>\n

Reading by Moonlight<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Ruthie Jones<\/p>\n

Rebecca R. Cahill<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Rebecca Cahill<\/p>\n

StoreyBook Reviews<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Leslie Storey<\/p>\n

Story Schmoozing Book Reviews<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Marissa Marroquin<\/p>\n

Sybrina’s Book Blog<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Sybrina Durant<\/p>\n

Syd Savvy<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Sydney Young<\/p>\n

Tangled in Text<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Kelli Quintos<\/p>\n

Texas Book Lover<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Michelle Newby<\/p>\n

That\u2019s What She\u2019s Reading<\/span><\/a><\/span>, Jenn Zavaglia<\/p>\n

COMING UP ON TOUR: FICTION<\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

THE JANUS WITCH by Michael Scott Clifton<\/h1>\n

Visit with Michael Dec. 4\u201313, 2018<\/h1>\n

12\/4\/18 Excerpt All the Ups and Downs<\/p>\n

12\/4\/18 Book Trailer Books and Broomsticks<\/p>\n

12\/5\/18 Review Bibliotica<\/p>\n

12\/6\/18 Author Interview That’s What She’s Reading<\/p>\n

12\/6\/18 Top 5 List StoreyBook Reviews<\/p>\n

12\/7\/18 Review Momma on the Rocks<\/p>\n

12\/8\/18 Excerpt Texas Book Lover<\/p>\n

12\/8\/18 Promo The Book Review<\/p>\n

12\/9\/18 Review Book Fidelity<\/p>\n

12\/10\/18 Author Interview Rebecca R. Cahill, Author<\/p>\n

12\/10\/18 Excerpt Chapter Break Book Blog<\/p>\n

12\/11\/18 Review Nerd Narration<\/p>\n

12\/12\/18 Guest Post Rainy Days with Amanda<\/p>\n

12\/13\/18 Review The Clueless Gent<\/p>\n

12\/13\/18 Review Reading by Moonlight<\/p>\n

CONTINUING ON TOUR: FICTION<\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COVEY JENCKS audiobook by Shelton Williams, narrated by Kathy James<\/h1>\n

Visit with Shelton through Dec. 6, 2018<\/span><\/h1>\n

12\/2\/18 Scrapbook Page Book Fidelity<\/p>\n

12\/3\/18 Review StoreyBook Reviews<\/p>\n

12\/4\/18 Audio Review Missus Gonzo<\/p>\n

12\/5\/18 Excerpt The Page Unbound<\/p>\n

12\/6\/18 Audio Review Forgotten Winds<\/p>\n

12\/6\/18 Review Rainy Days with Amanda<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lone Star Literary Life Facts and FAQs<\/span><\/h1>\n

\u2022 Editorial policies<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Review policies<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Advertising policies<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Event and resource list policies<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Lone Star Literary Archives<\/span><\/h1>\n

\u2022 Weekly issues<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Lone Star Listens Interviews<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Lone Star Book Reviews<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Texas Reads<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Events<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Announcement: LSLL Launches<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

WHAT TEXANS ARE READING<\/span><\/h1>\n

LONE STAR LISTENS interviews\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>>> archive<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

12.2.2018\u00a0 Stronger sustainability with the Stongers: A Texas family story talks about their off-grid, independent lifestyle<\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

Since 2011 Stewart and Shannon Stonger have been living off the grid<\/span> north of San Angelo, Texas, since 2011, and they\u2019ve chronicled their experiences in a book called <\/span>The Do-Able Off-Grid Homestead: Cultivating a Simple Life by Hand . . . on a Budget.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is Shannon\u2019s fourth book, as she has crafted three cookbooks related to their experiences and is a prolific writer posting regularly on their blog, www.nourishingdays.com, a lifestyle blog. Native Midwesterners, they talked with Lone Star Lit via email (yes, they have power and have perfected their own solar panels!) about their decision, their journey, and what\u2019s it like to be essentially to be self-sufficient.<\/p>\n

LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE: <\/span>Stewart and Shannon, I know you two aren\u2019t originally from Texas, having settled here some years ago. Can you tell our readers where you grew up, and how you\u2019d describe your younger years?<\/span><\/p>\n

STEWART STONGER: <\/span>I grew up in in Midland, Michigan. I had a fairly standard childhood, between school and Boy Scouts. When I was very young my dad had a garden in the backyard, and I remember planting peas with him one time where he got out his ruler to measure the spacing. My grandpa also had a fairly large garden, which was exciting to see every time we visited. I applied myself to schoolwork and planned for the typical college career path.<\/p>\n

Shannon grew up in northern Minnesota. Her grandparents and aunt and uncle were farmers, raising dairy cows and crops such as corn and soy down in the southern part of the state. Some of her earliest memories are of the garden her parents grew in Bemidji, Minnesota, when she was very young. By the time she was seven years old her parents moved from their country home, but the country life always stayed with her.<\/p>\n

Stewart, how did you and Shannon meet\/marry\/start out life together?<\/p>\n

Shannon and I met at Michigan Technological University, where I was working after graduating and she was finishing up her bachelor\u2019s in chemistry. We were both attending a Baptist church at the time and had some mutual friends, so those two things kind of brought us together. After a short courtship, we were married just after Shannon graduated, and then a job brought us to the Ann Arbor, Michigan, area.<\/p>\n

From before we were even married we talked about how we wanted to homestead and raise our family in the country. We began our married life in the suburbs but did what gardening and preserving we could in our little duplex. We wanted to finish paying off student loans before making the move to a homestead, and when we did, we were finally free to move forward. <\/a>>>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Texas’s only statewide, weekly calendar of book events
<\/span><\/a><\/span>Bookish Texas <\/span>event highlights\u00a0 12.2.2018<\/span>>> GO this week<\/span><\/a><\/span>Michelle Newby, Contributing Editor<\/span><\/h1>\n

SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEK<\/span><\/p>\n