The First Wolf Pack by J Daniel Reed for epic lovers

 

The First Wolf Pack: A Dog’s Fable, by J. Daniel Reed

Terra 3 Communications LLC

November 15, 2021

Paper, ebook, 220 pp.

Fiction

$5.95 ebook, $11.95 paper

Buy on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/First-Wolf-Pack-Dogs-Fable-ebook/dp/B09LZ9KY6T

About the Book

An exciting and emotional journey into the ancient history of man and the wolf to discover the genesis of tolerance, cooperation, and loyalty.

Immerse yourself in the intelligence, wisdom, and majesty of the wolf as you journey through wolf-history heretofore unknown by humanity. Discover what every dog knows about the true beginnings of human civilization. You will find yourself wondering if it really did happen this way.

It was the age of the lone wolf, an ancient time of isolation and hostility. When Arn and Versa, two of the most powerful wolves to ever roam the earth, clash in a mighty battle lasting two days and two nights they collapse on the battlefield, virtually drained of life. Only by helping each other can they survive certain death. Forced to trust each other, they overcome the poisoned blood of the lone wolf and forge a super-partnership never before enjoyed by any other carnivore.

Fully healed, they become The First Wolf Pack, a hunting machine dominating all lands they choose. Lone wolves, pressed to survive, form alliances in an attempt to destroy The First Wolf Pack. While their adversaries assemble, Arn and Versa must teach their extraordinary offspring the secrets of pack life.

For The First Wolf Pack to survive, the most gifted of their young offspring, Tria, must grow up quickly, battling countless foes and her own deep flaws. Soon she becomes the invincible wolf others fear; destroying all enemies in her path, but her spirit remains empty and broken. Suffering great internal struggles to overcome her unparalleled power, brutality, and suspicious nature, Tria must learn to forgive and trust those who misunderstood her.

She embarks on an epic sojourn across continents and time in an attempt to change the course of wolf, dog, and human history. But the question remains—can she fulfill the improbable destiny that awaits her?

The legend is shared by the narrator, a British dog named Bingley, who has been granted the right to speak “human” by the great wolf spirit. Discover how The First Wolf Pack created The Wolf Ways and, in the process, how wolves and humans came together to create the ancestors of modern dogs.

My Review:

J Daniel Reed’s tale of The First Wolf Pack draws the reader into an imaginary world of two mighty predators who must decide to survive together or fight to the death.

When an accidental hunting convergence brings two of the ancient great wolfs into mortal combat, they realize they are so equally matched they must use their great intelligence to seek a common goal: survival. Versa and Arn begin to care for each other and together derive the Wolf Ways.

 

Told in the manner of the great sagas, the narrator, a contemporary dog named Bingley, reveals the secret of contemporary dog heritage to his audience. Bingley’s tale is filled with lofty wisdom and bits of advice on how to be a family, not just any family but the best at parenting, the best at sharing the role of alpha couple in a pack, the best at finding nutritious food and cooperation—the first Wolf Way. Versa and Arn are notably the first at many things, including digging an inground den in which to raise their first litter.

 

As the family grows into the First Pack, Versa and Arn form the first wolf council, the Magnificent Ones, and establish the first Wolf Utterance. Soon the offspring grow toward maturity and ponder their parents’ ways. Why do they prosper and live in a pack and work together and not fight like the lone wolves? When an intruder is assimilated into the alpha family, they teach him their ways. The story occasionally lapses into buzzable page-turning moments such as when Versa turns to Arn and asks, “Are you as amazed at this crazy, unique life we created? There are no lone wolves who live like we or that know what we know.”

 

Maturity has its leaps and drawbacks, and as the pups reach adulthood, the alpha offspring male and female must be driven off to begin their own pack. Jett soon finds his mate and begins a family even while he and his sister Tria maintain a close relationship and develop wolf speak, which humans foolishly call howling.

 

Eventually other lone wolves outside the First Pack hatch a plot to attack, and the scattered family packs reunite hoping initially to make peace and teach the others the Wolf Ways. However, the alpha daughter, Tria, suffers from hatred, or poisoned blood, and her turmoil and anger threaten her brother’s young family and the First Pack with her vigilante ways. It takes her father to remind her of her greatness and uniqueness and why she’s driven. “Only you, daughter, share our genes, strength, and cleverness,” he tells her, “and only you can teach the wolf ways.” The advice changes his daughter’s heart, much like taking a Dale Carnegie class, the narrator explains.

 

The battle ensues between the First Pack and their friends, and the lone wolves who align with malicious creatures to attack the First Pack. Find out if the First Pack can maintain its integrity and survive against these as well as strange new odds.

 

The author has created a legend, an epic saga the likes of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, or other Norse legends of old, even faintly reminiscent of Eden and the first humans. We learn how humans and wolves intertwine. Those who love poring over those tales will thoroughly enjoy The First Wolf Pack: A Dog’s Fable.

About J. Daniel Reed

J. Daniel Reed (Joe) is an independent real estate investor and author. His new novel is The First Wolf Pack: A Dog’s Fable, the legendary journey of wolf, dog, and mankind.

After a successful career in commercial real estate, Joe has spent the last year exploring his love of creative writing. In The First Wolf Pack: A Dog’s Fable, Joe combines his writing talents with his deep knowledge and respect for dogs, wolves, other animals, and nature.

Born on the Northwest side of Chicago, into a three-generation household, he was raised by a committee—grandparent, parents, and three older siblings.

Joe lives in suburban Chicago with his wife, Barbara and their Bouvier des Flandres, Keera. When not writing, he loves outdoor photography, taking walks with Keera, nature hikes, gardening, birdwatching, cooking, and grilling.

 

Boss Women: Seven Women Who Built Their Businesses

 

Write Now Literary is pleased to be organizing a two-month book tour and $25.00 Amazon gift card for Boss Women: Seven African American Women Who Built Their Business From The Ground Up by Gwen Richardson. The book tour will run Jan- Feb 25, 2022. 

 

Genre: Youth

ISBN- 978-1737449607

Gwen Richardson has been an author, entrepreneur, and "boss woman" for decades. She is the author of 13 books, including Boss Women, and is a graduate of Georgetown University. She has been twice nominated for NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Work, wants to inspire children to seek entrepreneurship as a career path. Richardson resides in Houston with her husband, Willie, and adult daughter, Sylvia.

 

Boss Women features seven African American women who started their businesses by themselves or as co-founders with family members. Some of the enterprises are relatively new, while others have been established for decades.

 

The businesswomen profiled in this book are Janice M. Adams (JMA Solutions), Valerie Daniels-Carter (V&J Holding Companies), Bea Dixon (Honey Pot), Janice Bryant Howroyd (The ACT One Group), Garnetta Sanders (Neta Scientific), Janell Stephens (Camille Rose Naturals), and J.C. Sykes (90 Degree Construction).

 

Boss Women uses poetic phrasing to make it easier for children to read and understand. While reading each poetic profile, children will be able to see themselves in these women’s successes and dream big dreams for the future. The book is also a motivational tool for adults who are seeking encouragement on their entrepreneurial journeys.

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$25 Amazon Gift Card

Mended Wings Nam history by Colin Cahoon

 

Valor Press (June 7, 2021)

249 pages
ISBN-13: ‎978-1733170727

Ebook $9.99

Print  $17.95

Buy on Amazon
 

Check out the author's trip to Vietnam.

Read about the inspiration behind the story.

You hear them first, the "whop, whop" sound of rotor blades chopping through the humid Vietnam air. Suddenly they appear, screaming toward the landing zone at treetop level. Gunships launch rockets into the nearby tree line. The resulting explosions announce the arrival of the lift helicopters, pointing their noses skyward like falcons coming out of a dive for landing. Unseen enemy respond with machinegun fire, spewing orange tracers toward the slowing birds. Bullets rip into the thin aluminum skin and plastic that surrounds the men who fly these machines. But on they come, determined to complete the mission no matter what the cost. When one pilot is hit, the other takes the controls and carries on. When one helicopter crashes in flames, the pilots in the others maintain formation and push ahead. Nothing deters these warriors, volunteers all, from flying on with the tenaciousness of zealots.

Who are these men? Where did they come from? Where have they gone?

Mended Wings is their story. Follow the lives of ten Purple Heart heroes as they relate the Vietnam War experience from the perspective of the helicopter cockpit. Get to know the generation of men who fought with pride, determination, skill, and courage only to be shunned when they brought their battered bodies and haunting memories home. Their fathers and uncles were heralded as the “greatest generation.” Meet the forgotten generation. Meet the men whose stories did not end as a name on a black wall in Washington D.C. Meet the survivors.

ColinP. Cahoon

Colin P. Cahoon is a writer of historical nonfiction and historically based fiction, a patent attorney, and former Army helicopter pilot. He grew up in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico and earned his B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering at New Mexico State University, which he attended on an Army ROTC scholarship. Colin received his Regular Army commission in 1983 and graduated with honors from the aero scout track of flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama in 1984. He served with distinction as an Aero Scout Platoon Leader in the 307th Attack Helicopter Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division, where he accumulated over 1000 hours of flight time in UH-1 and OH-58 helicopters. Captain Cahoon resigned his commission in 1988 to pursue a legal career, whereupon he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army’s second highest peacetime award for service. He subsequently earned his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Southern Methodist University School of Law, where he met his wife, Susan. Colin has served the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Dallas as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Stephen Minister, and Chancellor. Colin and Susan have three grown children and live in Dallas, Texas and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where they both enjoy skiing, hiking, and fishing.

 

Charming Cat Adventure for a holiday read

 

My One Extraordinary Life: A Feline Memoir, TD Arkenberg
Outskirts Press, Denver, Colorado
c. December 2021, ebook, print, 268 pp
Fiction
 
Print paperback $18.95
Hardcover, $28.85

Ebook $8.99
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes and Noble
 
About the Book:
“Few humans lead an extraordinary life. I’ve come to that conclusion from my years of scrutinizing the tribe of upright walkers. My credentials? I’m a cat.”
 

And with that bold assertion, Fluff invites readers into his exceptional feline world. We meet the outspoken tabby as a kitten. He lives with his mother and siblings in a cardboard box in the heart of Brussels. Charmed by exotic tales of a seasoned street cat called Grumps, Fluff dreams of adventure. But he can’t quite muster the courage to venture out on his own. His family’s disappearance forces his paw. He sets out with Siamese newcomers, Penelope and Odysseus. Once posh and pampered housecats, the brother and sister won’t survive the urban jungle without their new friend’s help. The trio encounters unexpected dangers: two- and four-legged villains; their own naiveté; and a city swarming with animal traffickers. Strays are disappearing from the streets, Fluff’s family among them. In their bid to save the catnapped felines, the three companions become targets themselves. Adventure turns into a harrowing game of intrigue where they’re both cat and mouse.

 

My Review:

Although titled a memoir, this marvelous tail, er tale, is really a fictional autobiographical adventure of one Dickens-quoting, Twain-reading homeless camp cat, Fluff, who learns the world is bigger than his slightly squashed cardboard container. He has a role to play, even if the first step is to venture outside of one’s…box, in the European city of Brussels, a place author TD Arkenberg knows well from living there once upon a time.

 

In the territory of temporaries, there exist tribal hierarchies, Fluff learns, where all manner of creatures exist side by side, and humans are known as “uprights.” When Fluff comes home from one of his romps, only brother Auguste welcomes him. It’s not long before Fluff is abandoned with the dismal advice that “it happens to us all. Time for you to stand on your own four paws.” Grumps, an older cat, has filled Fluff’s head with tales of adventure, and when Fluff believes he’s been orphaned, he decides, though hesitant and fearful, to dream big and explore the world and hopefully find his lost family. As he waits for the right moment to leave the camp, he reaches out to newcomers, domesticated castoffs Penelope and Odysseus, to help them adjust and survive the harsh reality of their new status. When bullying pushes Penelope and Odysseus into fleeing the camp, they ask to join Fluff on his quest. “Dogs travel in packs, cats don’t,” Fluff says, but when dangerous conditions arise, he relents, and comes to learn that loyalty comes in all forms from all sides. It’s not always easy to know who to trust, and sometimes one just has to get his paws dirty to achieve results.

 

Betrayal and misconceptions abound, clarify, twist, and shimmer as these friends get separated, run into old chums and make new ones, reunite only to be recaptured, find themselves embroiled in “turf issues,” uncover a dastardly international trafficking scheme, and an even greater horror of biological terrorism and research. There’s a lot going on in this page-turning story. Tempted to stay on in certain posh situations when they occasionally meet a human they think of adopting, the friends overhear rotten plans and resolve to rescue the victims.

 

Friends need friends. When Fluff and Penelope realize they’re in over their heads, they reach out to both known and new two and four-leggeds to assist them as they work to thwart the traffickers and restore not only their own families, but those of their formerly misunderstood friends.

 

The story is told in perspective through Fluff’s narration. Early on, he reminisces, “But most things in life, I’ve learned, shouldn’t be defined in absolute terms.” Filled with delicious cat-themed puns, Brussels street life, danger, adventure, and even romance, readers of Lillian Jackson Braun will love My One Extraordinary Life. As we’re encouraged in the author’s introduction to recognize and appreciate our lives, this story of using our wits, paying attention to the small things, networking, and taking a risk should spark introspection and conversation. Great holiday gift.

 
About the Author

T.D. Arkenberg left the world of global airline executive more than a decade ago to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. He is the author of novels, short stories, and memoir. T.D. has an MBA from The University of Chicago and a BA in Literature from Northwestern University. He also studied at the London Business School. He’s active in several professional groups including the Barrington Writers Workshop, Off Campus Writers Workshop, and the Brussels Writers Circle. In 2016, T.D. and his spouse repatriated from Belgium. They make their home in the Chicago area along with their favorite Belgian souvenir, Puhi, a precocious tiger cat.

New encouragement for writers

 

Writers on Writing: Interviews with writers of faith
Kymberley Payne, editor
 
Non-fiction
Writing encouragement
c. August, 2021
 
134 pp.
Buy on Amazon or BN
Ebook $5.99, or print: $9.99
 
About the Book:
Writers on Writing is a compilation of 35 interviews from writers of faith exploring where they get their ideas, what they like best about writing, and what inspires them. The writers offer insight into who influenced them to write and how their faith is reflected in their writing. They give a little snapshot into their personal lives and share writing advice. Writers on Writing is a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to be a writer who is Christian and how we may write differently but come together for the glory of God.
 
Whatever your background, you will be inspired by these incredible interviews that contain a unique look into the world of a faith writer.
 
My Review:
Writers on Writing is a nifty, sweet little book. For those writers who need a bit of a pick-me-up, a word of encouragement or even challenge, these interviews might just be a big help.
 
Compiler of this book, Kymberley Payne, interviewed several authors of inspirational fiction. Each gave a brief biography and responded to a series of ten questions. These authors approach and respond to the work and ministry of writing in unique ways. They come from diverse backgrounds and write mostly articles and stories and publish on a platform called Medium.com. They are pastors, teachers, journalists, veterans, tech experts, nurses and much more, from all over the world.
 
Some of the questions include where their ideas come from, influencers, writing goals, how their faith influences the work, and things they’ve learned. One of my favorites is about balancing professional and personal time for these authors. Regarding balancing time, some mentioned “negotiating” with partners or family for time; others set word count or number of hours for a weekly goal. All good advice. Their story ideas come from the news, people-watching, history, and Scripture.
 
Everyone has a different method, reason, and hope for their work. These stories in Writers on Writing: Interviews with writers of faith will offer writers at any stage solid guidance to meet their needs.
 
About Kymberley Payne:
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author and writer on spiritual and physical health topics. Her devotional writings relate raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle, and everyday experiences to building a relationship with God. Through her work, Kimberley hopes to inspire people to live healthier lives that glorify God. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create educational materials for children about family, fitness, science, and faith. You can visit her website at www.kimberleypayne.com
 

New addition to the Uncharted series by Keely Keith add links

 

Uncharted Courage, #10 in the series
Keely Brooke Keith

c. Nov 1 2021, Edenbrooke Press

Eboook $4.99
Print $13.99

Buy on Amazon

About the book:

When Bailey accepts John Colburn’s offer for her to visit Good Springs, she leaves the Inn at Falls Creek expecting to spend the autumn relaxing in her favorite seaside village. Upon her arrival, Connor asks her to cover a shift of guard duty on the equinox, and her quiet vacation takes a shocking turn.

Revel Roberts works hard to keep his life commitment-free, making it easy to leave community decisions to men like Connor and John. But when the Land is threatened, Revel sees his chance to prove he is a man worthy of Bailey’s love. Amid the chaos in Good Springs, his unrequited feelings for her preoccupy him. One wrong choice could ruin everything.

As Bailey’s new life in the Land unravels and threats from the outside world loom, a yearning she can’t define surges within her. It distracts her from defending the hidden world she loves, and a tragedy reinforces her need for independence.

With the survival of the Land at stake and their hearts on the line, Bailey and Revel will need more courage than fighting ever required. They will need to find the courage to love.

My review:

Keith’s world of the Uncharted Land continues with familiar favorites of the large cast, focusing on two rebellious spirits in Revel and Bailey as they battle traditions and their growing feelings. A son of the Land, Revel had thrown off the mantle of expectation that he take over the family business of innkeeper, and devised a new business for himself. Still growing into his self-worth, he seeks to challenge himself with a large enough task to impress Bailey as well as the authority figures in his circle. Bailey, a newcomer, has found home in this strange throw-back place, and struggles to keep her hard-won independence as a woman beholden to no one and able to take care of herself and everyone around her.

When an old foe returns with dread news from the outer world, the men—and Bailey—rally around to protect the values they hold most dear, even if their lives are threatened. Bailey takes comfort in being able to provide expert advice in case of catastrophe, but Revel spirals into a funk of despair as his half-plotted hope of proving his capabilities runs aground. This episode in the series focused more on the challenges of living a life of faith in times of doubt. I appreciated how Bailey was encouraged to center her life in trusting God over people, but I was distracted by how fearful the other adult women appeared, and by Revel’s apparent belief that he could walk away from a serious situation for three weeks and expect it to resolve itself. Other than that, Uncharted Courage is a charming addition to the series, following the budding romance of two special people. Those who love dystopian with a twist, and who love romantic inspirational stories, will enjoy this book. With the other stories, readers can jump in at almost any place, but I recommend reading at least one previous story, Uncharted Destiny, #7, to understand how Bailey fits into the cycle.

About the author:

Keely Brooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a futuristic twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist).

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving 80s kid. She grew up in a family who moved often, which fueled her dreams of faraway lands. When she isn’t writing, Keely enjoys teaching home school lessons and playing bass guitar. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Epic Fantasy Queen of Crows

 

Queen of Crows
SL Wilton
Fantasy, 366 pp
August, 2021, Atmosphere Press

$7.99 ebook
$18.99 print
Buy on 
Amazon 
Barnes and Noble
Kobo 
 

About the Book
In a world of strange magic, dangerous creatures, and villainous wyverns, an ousted young queen struggles to regain her throne.

Sophia Pendergast’s quest is complicated by deep-rooted misogyny embedded in her culture and religion. Her lover, a dashing young knight, offers her a life in obscure comfort, but she refuses to abandon her people to the usurper’s whims. To retake her throne and set prophecy on its path, she must embrace a long-denied secret and discover a prophecy’s hidden meaning.

In S. L. Wilton’s Queen of Crows, we discover simple truths may not exactly be simple. 

My Review:

Wilton has created a wonderful new realm of epic fantasy in his debut novel. Warriors and magic, when it works, and wondrous deeds of valor and sacrifice combine with wyverns and even a little romance to right the wrongs caused by all greedy throne-stealers.

Sophia is a spoiled young princess who thinks she has plenty of time to grow up and step into her father’s kingly slippers and, with his guidance, lead her people with justice and dignity. But stuff happens, and that time is now, and without her papa. Who can she trust?

 

Follow Sophia and her ragtag band of faithfuls, ousted and abandoned knights, and the downtrodden “crows,” commoners, as she learns how to fight for freedom and her rightful throne while having her eyes opened to the plight of everyday folks. “Why can’t the people rule themselves?” Sophia’s young ward asks at one point when Sophia tries to explain their quest. A thoughtful question indeed.

 

Told mostly through Sophia’s point of view but with a healthy sprinkling of other colorful characters, readers of fantasy slanted less toward magical creatures and more toward occasional magic and plenty of sword-fighting and things soldiers do will find much to love about Queen of Crows.

 
About the Author:
S.L. is a retired Non-Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army. He and his wife live in rural central Wisconsin with their Chihuahua, Willie.