Colin Cahoon and The Man with the Black Box

I had the privilege and honor of working with Colin on an early draft of this haunting novel and together we found his publisher, eLectio. For those who enjoy international intrigue and early twentieth century history with a taste of a brusque Scotland Yard detective! Much to love. The author has some great background material on the era, which as a historian I thoroughly enjoyed, and the story behind how he got started on The Man with the Black Box. Also interesting are videos and pictures of the places where the main parts of the story take place.

Buy on Amazon

ISBN-13: 978-1632132642

Ebook: $4.99

Print: $15.99

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

EVERYONE'S DYING TO KNOW.

An international crisis threatens to plunge the world into war at the dawn of the Twentieth Century, but the British Foreign Office finds itself blinded by the bizarre deaths of crucial agents and informants as it struggles to stave off the coming conflagration. For help, they turn to an unconventional outsider, Inspector Jenkins of Scotland Yard, who soon finds himself on the trail of a mysterious man with a deadly black box and a host of devoted accomplices. Innocents transform into monsters. Men of God become agents of destruction. Good men rise from the flames of damnation to become soldiers in the coming apocalypse. The Man with the Black Box is a terrifying examination of the corruptibility of mankind, a riveting twist on the classic battle of good versus evil, and a fantasy thriller of historic proportions.

About the Author

Colin P. Cahoon is a practicing patent attorney, former Army helicopter pilot, and writer of historically based fiction. He is a frequent speaker at legal seminars in the US and abroad on the topic of legal ethics and patent law. Colin is the Chancellor and a Lay Eucharistic Minister for the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Dallas, Texas, where he has served on the board of its affiliated school. He earned his B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from New Mexico State University and his J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law, where he met his wife, Susan. Colin and Susan have three grown children and live in Dallas when not enjoying Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Colin grew up in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico, and enjoys traveling in Europe and fishing and skiing in the Rocky Mountains. Visit him on the web.

A Radio Spot with Rex Owens

I recently had the pleasure of being featured on 103.5 SunPrairie radio. Here's a link to the hour-long interview with very cool historical Irish fiction author 

Rex Owens on his Conversations with Wisconsin Artists.

Talking with Marc Kerry from Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel

Meet Marc Kerry

Character from Time Trap by Danele J. Rotharmel

Today, I’m talking with Marc Kerry, a professional time counselor with the Temporal Counseling Program at National Science University. Marc, can you tell us what time counseling entails?

Sure, Lisa! Time counseling is a unique—and sometimes dangerous—profession. TEMCO’s main objective is targeting death-row offenders for time-based counseling. It’s my job to travel back through time and counsel criminals while they’re children. Many times, I’m able to put the children on a better path so that when they grow up, they avoid a life of crime.

You mentioned that time counseling can be dangerous. How so?

Sometimes, time counselors encounter unexpected events. For instance, a few years ago, a student cadet encountered a serial killer during her field exam. Gil almost lost her life.

Has anything like that happened to you?

I’m happy to say that it hasn’t. But a time counselor always has to be prepared. Danger is part of the job.

Does TEMCO take precautions to keep you safe?

Of course! Since Gil’s deadly assignment, time counselors always travel in pairs. And student cadets are no longer allowed to handle criminal cases—they’re assigned suicide preventions. Speaking of which, two cadets, Phoebe and Drake, are about to tackle their field exam. I just ran into them on campus. Director Matthews and Dr. Nelson were going to tie up some last-minute details and then send them through a temporal portal.

Will Phoebe and Drake be in danger?

Probably not. Danger isn’t likely during a cadet-handled suicide prevention. Besides, TEMCO has top-notch lab technicians who constantly monitor the timeline. This helps ensure the safety of time counselors in the field.

Marc, you blushed when you mentioned TEMCO’s lab technicians. I’ve heard that one of the techs, Crystal Stuart, has caught your eye.

That may be true, but I’m not sure what to do about it. Crystal and I had a fight several years ago, and she refuses to talk with me.

If you try hard enough, I’m sure you can patch things up and grab her attention.

I don’t know, Lisa. I’d like to think that my famous “Kerry Charisma” could charm her, but Cris has a mind of her own—and that stubborn mind of hers is determined to hold a grudge. I wish she’d forgive me. She’s a fascinating woman.

Marc, thank you so much for talking with me. I want to wish you luck on your next assignment…and also luck with Crystal.

Thank you, Lisa! I appreciate it.

About Time Trap:

 When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself. 

Prism Book Group

$3.99 eBook

$16.99 Print

Buy on:

Amazon

Barnes& Noble

 About Danele J. Rotharmel 

Danele Rotharmel’s life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace was poisoning her. This poisoning triggered Multiple Chemical Sensitivity causing her to be put in quarantine. For seven years, she could only talk to friends and extended family through a windowpane. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.  Although her journey back to health was difficult, it provided her the opportunity to grow closer to God and write her books. For that, she’s forever thankful. To learn more about Danele, visit her blog:  

https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

Meet Danele on the web:

Testimony: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/welcome/

Books: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/my-books/

He's Still Working Miracles free book Aug 9

He's Still Working Miracles:  Daring To Ask God for the Impossible

Dana Rongione

About the Book:

The Bible is full of the impossible. The parting of the Red Sea. The crumbling of Jericho's walls. Jesus walking on the water. A multitude being fed with one boy's lunch. A Father sacrificing His own Son for fallen mankind. And now, Christian author and Bible teacher, Dana Rongione, wants to take you on a tour to explore what God has done, what He's capable of doing, and how He works in the lives of His children.

Each chapter of He's Still Working Miracles highlights a story in the New Testament where an ordinary person met an extraordinary God and gives application of how these encounters relate to your own life and circumstances.

You are not alone in your struggles. You don't have to face your heartaches alone. Call out to the One who cares. The One who can make a difference. The one and only God of possibilities.

In this book, you will:

·         Learn to identify miracles in your own life.

·         Understand how to apply the principles of Biblical miracles to specific circumstances that the Bible doesn't address.

·         Discover compelling reasons why keeping the faith is so difficult, yet imperative.

·         Be encouraged and inspired to stay on course with God for years to come.

·         Glean valuable insight from each story's unfolding and conclusion.

·         Learn how to pray and accept God's will in every situation.

·         Find the answer to the question, “Does God still work miracles?”

It's time to lay your questions and doubts to rest. The God of yesterday is the God of today. He is still watching. He is still working. And He is still doing miracles.

Limited Time Offer:

Sign up to receive a free Kindle copy of the book on launch day, August 9^th.  http://stillworkingmiracles.weebly.com

About the Author:

Dana Rongione is the author of several Christian books, including the highly-praised Giggles and Grace devotional series for women.  A dedicated wife and doggie “mom,” Dana lives in Greenville, SC, where she spends her days writing and reaching out to the hurting and discouraged.  Connect with her at DanaRongione.com, and be sure to sign up for her daily devotions.

Phoebe Reynolds from Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel

Meet Phoebe Reynolds

Character from Time Trap by Danele J. Rotharmel

Today, I’m talking with Phoebe Reynolds, a senior cadet in the Temporal Counseling Program at National Science University. Phoebe, I’ve heard that you’re about to take your field exam. Can you tell us more about the test?

Sure, Lisa! In order to earn my Time-Counselor License, I have to pass a field exam. For four years, I’ve been studying about time travel. Now, I have the opportunity to surf timewaves myself! I can’t wait!

How far into the past will you be traveling, and what will you be doing?

Unfortunately, because of TEMCO protocol, I can’t give specifics. However, I can say that I’ll be traveling about ten years into the past, and my case subject is a girl named Nicki. She’s a fourteen-year-old artist who is about to commit suicide. It’ll be my job to convince Nicki that life is worth living.

I’ve heard that because of new field-exam protocol, cadets are now teamed with partners. Can you tell us a little about your partner?

My partner is Drake Procerus, another senior cadet. I’m really looking forward to working with him.

You just blushed. Is there something going on between you two?

Not yet, but… Lisa, all of the girls wanted partnered with Drake. He’s so cute. When he looks at me, my bones melt. It’s been so much fun going through the preliminary stages of testing with him. I’m hoping that once we’re out in the field, I can really catch his eye. Gil, one of TEMCO’s former cadets, fell in love during her field exam. Why couldn’t it happen to me?... Not that I won’t be focused on Nicki, of course. Nicki is my first priority.

Are field exams dangerous?

Not usually. Gil ended up facing a serial killer during her exam, but I don’t think that will happen to me. After all, I’m just dealing with a suicidal teenager. What could be dangerous about that? Besides, I’ll have Drake as my partner. I feel completely safe.

You just went pale and shivered. Why?

I’m not sure… I just had the strangest feeling… Never mind, I’m just being silly. It’s just a case of nerves. I know that everything will be fine. Field exams are safe—at least, most of the time.

Phoebe, thanks for being with us today, I wish you the best with your exam.

Thanks, Lisa. I can’t wait to make a difference in Nicki’s life!

And what about catching Drake’s eye?

I can’t wait to do that too!

About Time Trap:

 When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself. 

Prism Book Group

$3.99 eBook

$16.99 Print

Buy on:

Amazon

Barnes& Noble

 Danele J. Rotharmel 

Danele Rotharmel’s life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace was poisoning her. This poisoning triggered Multiple Chemical Sensitivity causing her to be put in quarantine. For seven years, she could only talk to friends and extended family through a windowpane. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.  Although her journey back to health was difficult, it provided her the opportunity to grow closer to God and write her books. For that, she’s forever thankful. To learn more about Danele, visit her blog:  

https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

Meet Danele on the web:

Testimony: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/welcome/

Books: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/my-books/

Mystery Review of Carole Brown and Knight in Shining Apron

I introduced Carole Brown's newest book, the second in the Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mysteries series here.

Print:11.99
Ebook: 2.99
Buy on Amazon

As promised, here's my review.

Hints of an abusive relationship between restauranteur Starli and her late husband are the focus of this romantic intrigue. When first introduced, it seemed Starli had a huge chip on her shoulder and was at odds with many in the town, including her former brother-in-law, a policeman, who constantly threatens to avenge his sibling’s death. Starli has more on her plate to deal with as her former head chef abruptly leaves, with an ominous note “accidentally” left for Starli to find, vandalism and sabotage taking place in her business, a youngster in the kitchen who thinks she’s management material, an over-confident, over-the-top knighted British chef stepping in at the request of her maître d, and a boring confidant banker who wants to be more. What’s a widow to do?

Book Two of the Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mysteries (after Sabotaged Christmas) is a charming follow up. Told in alternating points of view, Sir Joel tasks himself with uncovering his new boss’s skittish untrusting persona as he repays his uncle for past kindness in rescuing this damsel in distress. Starli deals with scary parts of threats and well-meaning friends and employees who think it’s time she get out and live again after the death of her terrifying husband. Clues, plenty of red herrings, several twists all make the reader keep turning pages…and that’s only in the first quarter of the book. A proposal gone awry, a dreadful accident, and a surprise confession all bring this sweet and savory story to a satisfactory conclusion.

A huge cast will keep you entertained as well as guessing and salivating during the courses of Knight in Shining Apron.

The Scarlet Cord biblical fiction book review

The Scarlet Cord

By Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheux

Prism Book Group, September 2014

Biblical Fiction

ISBN 978-1940099699

Print $13.99

Ebook $3.99

Buy on Amazon 

About the Book:

Rahab, a resourceful beauty, struggles to survive in the pagan culture of ancient Jericho. As years of harsh labor begin to lift her and her family from poverty, a foreign army threatens the well-fortified city. Rahab is forced to make an immediate decision. Will she put her faith in the fabled walls of Jericho or the powerful God of the Hebrews? Either choice may cost her life.

My review:

Wonderfully researched, beautifully written, lovingly shared…this version of the story of one of the more elusive biblical characters is a treat for those who love fiction based on short facts known about documented people.

Rahab, called by several discourteous terms in the account of Joshua’s capture of the city of Jericho. She is a sympathetic person, and perhaps her family and descendants embody acceptance and forgiveness, mercy and love in a way the pen strokes of God’s law do not.

Canaanites occupying the Promised Land were wary of the mysterious Hebrew tribes, escaped former slaves from Egypt, marching across the land, conquering mighty kingdoms in their way, worshiping an unseen and powerful force. Rumors were rampant, and when their path led through the mighty city of Jericho, only one family was destined for salvation.