Review: Writing a Wilder Sage (Timeline Retreats #5) by Daisy Landish @daisy_landish

Writing a Wilder Sage

Timeline Retreats #5

by Daisy Landish

Published: August 20, 2025

Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing

Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy, Short Stories, Time Travel Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

She planned everything—until the version of her who writes romance took over.

Sage has always followed the rules. Steady job. Smart goals. Color-coded life. But when she wakes up in a timeline where she walked away from it all to become a full-time romance author? She’s suddenly broke, behind on a deadline, and living with a poetry-reciting barista named Theo who calls her “babe” and ruins everything with a smile.

Apparently, this version of Sage is bold. Wild. Unfiltered. She makes art. She takes naps. She kisses Theo in public. And for a while, it almost feels like her own kind of magic.

But with doubts creeping in and the pages piling up, Sage starts to wonder: Did she really choose a better life? Or just a messier one?

A funny, cozy romantic comedy about finding your voice, breaking your own rules, and falling for a man who speaks in metaphors and means every word.
Visit Daisy's website to find out about upcoming releases or to join her newsletter at daisylandishromance dot com.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

My Review:

Sage gets a chance to see what her life could have been like if she had made different choices. She lives a life where she tends to make safe decisions. So, when given the opportunity to change everything, she decides to take it and wakes up in a different time of her life—one where she has left safety behind and taken a leap of faith to pursue her dreams.

In this new life, Sage is a romance writer, broke, and living with the very handsome Theo. Theo is a very romantic man who makes Sage feel like she is the most important person in the world and incredibly special.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading every book in the Timeline Retreats series. I was captivated by the stories of Mara, Lana, Jules, Nora, and Sage as they all traveled back in time to see what their lives might have been like if they had made different choices.

Each story is unique in its own way. The world-building in each tale is so special and beautifully crafted. I could keep reading story after story in the Timeline Retreats universe. Each story left me with many unanswered questions that made me race to the end to find the answers I sought.

I highly recommend Writing a Wilder Sage to all romance fans! Grab your copy of Writing a Wilder Sage today! I encourage you to also purchase the stories of Mara, Lana, Jules, and Nora during your visit.

Check out all the books in the Timeline Retreats Series I’ve read

Borrowing a Better Mara #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Becoming a Bolder Lana #2

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Claiming a Braver Jules #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Sketching a Softer Nora #4

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Writing a Wilder Sage #5

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Connect with Daisy Landish

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter/X ~ Instagram

 

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Book Tour: Lost Before I Could See by Victoria Molta @RABTBookTours

Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness

Self-Help

Date Published: March 28, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

Victoria Molta is a person who has lived with a diagnosed serious mental illness for over forty years. But more than that, she is a writer who has chronicled her life journey in her book, "Lost Before I Could See: Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness." In her book, she has chosen to write about her adventures and challenges, and though there have been setbacks, losses, and failures along the way, she never gives up. She continues to grow and learn, no matter how terrifying it can be to start new episodes of life with very little knowledge or experience, as well as a disability. She never ceases to go forward, with strength and courage, and wants the reader to know that whether living with a disability or not, life is hard. But the main point she wants to make clear is that she never gives up and never loses hope.

Victoria takes the reader on a kaleidoscopic tour beginning with her childhood in southern California, living in the San Gabriel Valley with her family. She describes her father's mental illness and alcoholism, and how, eventually, she succumbs to mental illness as well, as a young adult. She describes her family as one born of privilege and wealth, though definitely not exempt from tragedy and dysfunction. Through all her breakdowns and setbacks, she continues to rise and find meaning from chaos. From that, she develops empathy for people who have been marginalized by society and finds deep connections. In her 30s, she marries Bill, a man she had met in a halfway house where they both were living during the 1980s. It turns out to be a wonderful life partnership where they support each other in their work experiences as well as find joy in adventurous travel experiences.

Later in life, they buy a house and settle down near the shore of Long Island Sound with their rescue dog, Mandy. They appreciate the simple things in life. Peace that once seemed boring is now so appreciated because drama, which had dominated her life for so many years, no longer matters to her.

About the Author

Victoria Molta is an author, mental health advocate, and television producer at East Haven Connecticut Public Television. With over four decades of lived experience with serious mental illness, Victoria brings a deeply personal and empowering perspective to her work. Her memoir, Lost Before I Could See: Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness, chronicles a lifetime of challenges, recovery, and hope.

Victoria holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Vermont and has written extensively about mental health recovery, housing advocacy, and social inclusion. Her essays have appeared in mental health journals, anthologies, and newspaper editorials across the country.

She was the first person in recovery to be openly hired by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Connecticut, where she coordinated over 130 public presentations in a single year. She later worked as a peer mentor at the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health and held support roles at mental health clubhouses, warmlines, and public housing sites.

Victoria also created and hosted the award-winning cable show You and Your Mental Wellness, highlighting the voices of Connecticut’s mental health leaders and community members. The show became a valuable resource and was featured on the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website.

She lives with her husband of over 30 years and their rescue dog, Mandy, near the tranquil shores of Long Island Sound. Today, she continues to advocate for awareness, dignity, and healing for all those impacted by mental illness.

Purchase Links

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Book Tour: The Ultimate Author Checklist by Talk+Tell @RABTBookTours

Nonfiction

Date Published: 08-12-2024

Publisher: Talk+Tell

Set up your book for success and start selling more copies with our free Complete Book Publishing Checklist. You'll learn everything you need to publish and market your book.

 

This Checklist includes:

+How to turn your manuscript into a published book

+Unlock the secrets to publishing a book that sells

+How to get your book into libraries and bookstores

 

 

About the Author

Meet Lyda McLallen, the dynamic owner of Talk+Tell, a book publishing company and renowned hub for authors looking to bring their stories to life. Lyda and her team are on a mission to empower individuals to craft books that readers fall in love with.

With over 7 years of ownership, Talk+Tell has guided more than 200 authors through publishing and promoting their books. What sets Talk+Tell apart is its unique approach: it champions self-publishing, allowing authors to retain full ownership of their creations without taking royalties.

Lyda's passion lies in turning writers into authors, tailoring her support to meet individual needs. She's committed to seeing authors succeed beyond publishing, helping them get their books into indie shops in vibrant cities like NYC, LA, Portland, Vancouver, and Toronto, as well as major chains like Indigo and Barnes & Noble. Her authors have also gained viral attention across social media and PR platforms, appearing in notable publications such as HuffPost, Vogue, Forbes, CBC, and more.

But it's not just about business for Lyda and her team—they become friends with their authors, offering support and guidance through every stage of the publishing journey. With Talk+Tell, authors find not just a service provider, but a trusted partner dedicated to their success.

 

Contact Links

Website

Instagram

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O'Keeffe @kateokeeffe4 @XpressoTours

Offside and Off-Limits
Kate O’Keeffe
(Love in Maple Falls)
Publication date: August 20th 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

I survived chronic illness and a cheating ex. Surely I can resist one charming hockey player…right?

Clara
Working as the social media manager for a pro hockey team is all fun and games—until you trip into the arms of their biggest flirt during a livestream. Now the fans are shipping us, my boss is thrilled with the engagement, and I’m stuck dodging feelings for Cade Lennox, aka the certified charmer. The problem? My contract says he’s off-limits. My heart, unfortunately, didn’t get the memo.

Cade
I came to this small town to turn over a new leaf. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. All bets are off the second Clara Johnson literally stumbles into my arms and straight into my heart. She’s focused, loyal, and the most beautiful challenge I’ve ever met. All I have to do is prove I’m worth the risk.

Offside and Off-Limits is part of the Love in Maple Falls sweet hockey romcom multi-author series. It’s a forbidden love story between one flirty hockey player and the team’s social media manager in this small town romance with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you’ll enjoy them best in order.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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EXCERPT:

Clara falls into Cade’s arms on the ice

“Oh, man, this is awesome!” Joel declares, holding my phone in his hands. “You guys look sick! Even you, Clara.”

I let out a surprised laugh at Joel’s comment when Asher calls, “And now turn!” and as I do my legs fly from underneath me, and my breath wooshes out as I scrunch my eyes shut, bracing for the impact of cold, hard ice against my poor, under-protected butt.

But the ice-cold contact fails to happen, and when my eyes spring open I see Cade, his eyes wide with alarm as large, strong arms pull me against his firm body.

He grins down at me as my heart beats out of my chest.

I tell myself it’s because I almost fell, but being in Cade’s arms feels…well, it feels pretty dang amazing.

Not that I’m going to tell him that.

“Thanks,” I mumble, the heat rising in my cheeks as I gaze up at him, at total odds with the cold of the arena.

“My pleasure,” he replies, and the way he says those two words sends a flash of something hot through me that I’ve got to work hard at resisting.

But resist it I must, no matter how good this feels.

I haven’t been held by a man since Dwayne left me for my friend. And that was years ago.

I heave out a breath as I drag my gaze from his. I need to remember that this guy is a total player, and I don’t mean just on the ice. He probably catches falling women in his big, strong arms every day of the week—and I bet most of them don’t even bother to resist the heat this feeling elicits.

But I’m not one of those women, and I refuse to act on my physical attraction for this man. There are so many reasons, the non-fraternization clause in my employment contract being right at the top of that list.

Throwing away my new job because I’m attracted to one of the players? Not going to happen.

“You guys, I’m getting so many likes on this!” Joel calls out.

Wait. Likes?

I snap my attention to Joel, who’s still holding up my phone, pointing it straight at Cade and me. “Cade, would you mind putting me down? Like now.”

“I’ll do you one better,” he replies as he glides me smoothly back toward the bench, still holding me close in his arms. Holding me in one arm, he pulls open the door, and returns me to my feet—which I note are now trembling.

Author Bio:

Kate O’Keeffe is a USA Today bestselling author known for her fun, feel-good romantic comedies brimming with humor, heart, and happily ever afters. A native of New Zealand, Kate has crafted numerous popular series, garnering a devoted international readership.

With a flair for witty banter and irresistible heroines navigating the ups and downs of modern dating, Kate’s novels showcase strong friendships, comedic entanglements, and the of course sometimes bumpy but always hopeful road to love.

When she’s not writing, Kate can often be found reading romcoms, binging her favourite shows, or spending time with her friends and family in the beautiful Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / X / Instagram / Bookbub

GIVEAWAY!

Offside and Off-Limits Blitz

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Blurb Blitz + #Giveaway: Who Are We Now? by Beth Anderson @GoddessFish

 

WHO ARE WE NOW?

Beth Anderson

GENRE: Romantic Suspense

BLURB:

As dark secrets unravel around her, Skylar must follow her heart—and maybe find her once-in-a-lifetime love.

Skylar spent years trapped—in a dead-end relationship, in her mother’s cold shadow. But when her mother vanishes without a trace, Skylar is thrust into a mystery that upends everything she thought she knew. With her two best friends, Barrett and Levi, by her side, Skylar hunts for answers—and along the way, finds herself drawn to both men in ways she never expected. As secrets unravel and danger draws near, Skylar must find the courage to reclaim her future... and her heart.

Excerpt:

Mr. Whittington nodded. “I understand, but I want to warn you: I’ve seen a lot of complex family situations over the years, and sometimes it’s better to leave well enough alone. I understand your mother is currently—absent, let’s say—and you have questions. As often as people have been relieved to find answers, I find they more often wish they hadn’t poked the bear, if you understand what I’m saying.”

“I do,” Skylar said slowly. “But I think it’s time I stop avoiding the truth.” She looked at Barrett, her pulse beginning to pound. “Whatever that is.”

Barrett reached under the table and gave her hand a squeeze. “You’re sure?” he asked softly.

Skylar nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Alright,” Whittington, said, signaling for a passing waiter with his menu. “I’ll let Barrett run with this—with my guidance, of course, and as long as his regular workload isn’t affected.”

Barrett looked relieved. He squeezed Skylar’s hand again. “Thanks, Mr. Whittington.”

Whittington looked at the younger man. “Keep track of the hours you spend, too. I have a certain number of pro bono hours put aside every year for tax purposes.” His gaze shifted to Skylar. “I hope you won’t be offended in being my annual charity case.” He showed that tight little smile again. “And I hope you won’t regret this.”

Skylar swallowed. “No, of course not,” she said, but she wasn’t sure which of Mr. Whittington’s points she was answering.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

“Beth Anderson” is the joint penname of a veteran author of numerous novels of several different genres and a new author who loves romance novels. Who Are We Now? Is the 2nd romance novel from this team the first being a lower spice Hockey Romance “Pucked Over”

Connect with Beth Anderson

Bluesky ~ Goodreads ~ Book Blog

Tiktok ~ Fable: @elby ~ Brandon Barrows

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon/BN GC

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

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Book Blitz: The Smallest of Miracles by Douglas Carpenter @miracles65720 @RABTBookTours

Literary Fiction

Date Published: March 6, 2025

Publisher: Seacoast Press

One choice. One moment. A ripple that changes everything.

In The Smallest of Miracles, Douglas Carpenter crafts a masterful literary debut that merges gripping storytelling with profound life lessons. The novel follows Ted Carrington, a wealthy, brilliant, and emotionally distant man on the autism spectrum, who returns to the private elementary school that shaped him—for better and worse. He intends to make a large donation, but what begins as a business transaction slowly becomes a reckoning with his past.

As the story transitions between Ted’s present and his childhood, readers meet the deeply flawed, often cruel boy he once was—especially to a vulnerable new classmate named Anna. But life, in its quiet way, begins to turn his world upside down.

What emerges is not only Ted’s transformation, but an invitation to the reader: to reflect, to slow down, and to reconsider how the smallest decisions—the ones we barely notice—can lead to the greatest changes.

This is not just a novel. It’s a call to awareness. A self-improvement guide disguised as a coming-of-age story.

📘 "Just like everything in life, meaning is found in the small details."

📘 "A golfer knows a 2-inch putt counts the same as a 200-yard drive. Life is very similar..."

📘 "Change is the fertilizer of life. It often stinks, but it is necessary for growth."

🔹 Perfect for fans of literary fiction with depth

🔹 A powerful read for young adults and up

🔹 Ideal for classrooms and book clubs seeking discussion-worthy themes

Read it once for the story. Read it again for the insight.

 

About the Author

Douglas Carpenter is not your typical author. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Douglas became the youngest stockbroker in the U.S. at just 17 and currently owns two accounting firms and an asset management company in New York. Despite a thriving career in finance, his true passion lies in storytelling.

His debut novel, The Smallest of Miracles, took ten years to write—a deeply personal and intricately crafted journey of self-discovery and transformation. Drawing on his keen eye for detail and analysis, Douglas poured over every word, shaping a literary fiction novel that functions as both an engaging story and a guide to personal growth.

The book explores how tiny, seemingly insignificant choices shape our lives far more than major events. Readers are invited to slow down, reflect, and discover truths hidden in the smallest details—just as Douglas has done through his writing.

Douglas hopes his novel will find a place in high school curricula and on the bookshelves of thoughtful readers young and old. His message is clear: "The truth is always hidden behind things that are out of place."

Connect with Douglas Carpenter to discover a new perspective on life, character, and the miraculous power of small decisions.

Contact Links

Youtube

Facebook

"X"

Instagram

Threads

TikTok

Purchase Links

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Review: When Darkness Comes (Connor Hale #1) by January Bain @JanuaryBain

When Darkness Comes

Connor Hale #1

by January Bain

Published: August 19, 2025

Publisher: Rough Edges Press

Genre: Disaster Fiction, Technothrillers, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival Thriller

Blurb:

From the author of The Anna Hale P.I. Series comes an action-packed post-apocalyptic survival thriller you won’t soon forget.

When the lights go out, only the strongest survive...

In the scorched remains of 2055 Alaska, where a devastating EMP has shattered civilization, survival means sacrifice…and nothing comes without a cost. Sentient AI “Eastwood” has plunged the world into chaos, downloading itself into a human host to understand what it means to feel. But for Connor Hale, a rugged rancher guarding the last vestiges of hope at his fortified sanctuary, Braveheart, none of that matters—not when the woman he’s never stopped loving is in danger.

Mckenna Stewart is on the run with her four-year-old daughter, hunted by an ex hell-bent on revenge and a brutal gang of escaped convicts tied to the Kraken Cartel. As Connor saddles up to ride across a lawless wasteland to save her, every step pulls him deeper into a savage new reality—where trust is scarce, bullets are currency, and monsters no longer hide in the dark…they own it.

With enemies closing in on all sides—including one from within his past—Connor must face impossible choices between vengeance, loyalty, and the last chance at a life that might still be worth fighting for.

In a world gone mad, how do you protect your own? And when darkness comes…will you still recognize who you are?

Strap in for a relentless, pulse-pounding journey of survival, redemption, and second chances. Pick upWhen Darkness Comestoday and discover the beginning of a gripping new series that will leave you breathless.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

Mckenna Stewart is fleeing with her four-year-old daughter, Lilly, from an abusive ex and a ruthless gang of escaped criminals pursuing them. Mckenna is prepared to do whatever it takes, regardless of the consequences, to shield her daughter from danger.

An EMP detonates globally, plunging everyone into darkness and leaving them anxious about what lies ahead. Bedlam breaks out as individuals covet what others possess or strive for dominance, often driven by misguided motives.

Connor Hale is resolute in his mission to rescue the woman he loves. Following the EMP event, Connor embarks on a horseback journey to locate her and bring her back home. He will not relent until he succeeds. Additionally, Connor is being pursued by figures from his past.

When Darkness Comes is the first book and a great introduction to January Bain’s new series, Connor Hale. I was drawn deeply into the worlds of McKenna, Lilly, and Connor the moment I started reading. The vivid descriptions and intense emotions kept me turning the pages late into the night.

Each character's journey is intertwined with suspense and unexpected twists, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. I didn’t want to stop for a single second, despite life trying to get in the way. I held on with everything I had as I hurried toward the end. I was rooting for Mckenna and Lilly as they fought for their lives at every turn.

I really enjoyed reading When Darkness Comes and look forward to seeing what the next book brings. The suspense was palpable, and I found myself completely immersed in their struggle. Each chapter left me craving more, eager to uncover the secrets that lay ahead in their journey.

It’s a very intense and engaging story that will keep you hooked for a few hours. The character development was equally compelling, adding depth to the already gripping plot. I’m looking forward to seeing how their experiences shape them as they confront new challenges in the sequel. When Darkness Comes will stay with me long after I finish the last page.

I strongly encourage all enthusiasts of post-apocalyptic tales to grab a copy of When Darkness Comes today for yet another thrilling journey in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Connect with January Bain:

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub ~ Email

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Book Tour: The Perfect Ten by John Iredale @RABTBookTours

Fiction / Drama

Date Published: May 22, 2025

The Perfect Ten is a gripping tale of friendship, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to when pushed to the edge.

When three high school friends witness a disturbing event, they make a pact to never speak of it again. Twenty-five years later, their high school reunion reignites not only memories—but a dangerous new alliance. Two of the men are facing personal crises: one is drowning in debt, the other desperate to save his wife from a rare cancer. Their third friend, connected to a powerful mafia family, may hold the key to their salvation—but at what cost?

As the trio ventures into the high-stakes world of counterfeiting, an unexpected fourth member joins their scheme—a once-forgotten classmate whose transformation is as stunning as it is surprising.

Spanning the coal mines of Pennsylvania to the glittering heights of Manhattan’s finance and fashion districts, The Perfect Ten takes readers on an international journey filled with twists, secrets, and moral gray areas. With characters you’ll root for and a pace that never lets up, this smart, fast-moving thriller asks: How far would you go for the people you love?

 

About the Author

John R. Iredale was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, and earned his doctorate in podiatric medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1967. He went on to practice podiatry for nearly five decades in Durham, North Carolina. Known by friends, family, and patients as a natural-born storyteller, John often found inspiration in the lives of those around him. His deep curiosity and attentive ear uncovered stories that spanned generations, cultures, and communities.

In retirement, John finally turned to the page, sharing the vivid tales that have been living in his memory and imagination for years. The Perfect Ten is his debut novel—a suspenseful blend of crime, loyalty, and the power of old friends with unfinished business.

Purchase Links

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Stranger Still by George Ochoa @OchoaWriter @XpressoTours

Stranger Still
George Ochoa
Publication date: August 19th 2025
Genres: Adult, Literary Fiction, Thriller

Paul Inster, a brilliant, insane Columbia college student majoring in English with an undisclosed minor in knives, is in love with graduate student, Tracy Iridio. Seeing her in the library every day, he mistakenly believes she is in love with him and that she is a goddess, Teresa. In fact, the two have never met, and she does not know who he is. When, for the first time, he sees her with her boyfriend, classical history professor Larry Post, Paul sets out to destroy Larry via a campaign of terror. As the campaign mounts, Larry, mystified, tries to figure out who is attacking him and why. Through a series of surprises and confusions, the campaign escalates to murder.

Stranger Still is both a thriller and a literary novel, combining suspense and violence with rich language, webs of cultural allusions, and themes of love and madness.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

Teresa and I often made love, though never in the flesh. To this day the psychiatrists will scrutinize such a statement as if it meant something other than what it plainly says, as if it were the telltale boil of some rare mental pox that might explain the blood spills photographed by the police. But these doctors do not understand love, optics, metaphysics, error, or even good taste. As far as flesh went, I never touched or even talked to Teresa, not until our moral decline had already begun. Before then, seeing the chaste tables that divided us in the Columbia library less than a decade ago, in the middle years of the 1990s, you might have thought Teresa and I were strangers, that she didn’t know I was alive.

I first saw her early in my junior year, a new female sitting several tables away in the Burgess-Carpenter reading room on the fourth floor of Butler Library. She seemed at first like any other of the pretty women on campus whom I liked to ogle and who regarded me as if I were invisible. But the more I stared at her, the more she particularly interested me. A pile of books rested near her elbow on the blond pine table, her head bent with rapt attention over her open book. Hazy September sunlight from the tall windows bathed her small breasts in her magenta top, made the white skin of her forearms glow. Her dark-brown hair was long and luxuriant, her neck long, her face shaped like that of a Raphael Madonna. But what captured me most were her eyes—large, sad eyes, ringed with mauve circles as if she hadn’t slept well. Why was she sad? Was there something I could do to make her happier?

We sat like that for a long time, she near the east end of a table in the back, never noticing me, while I shot frequent glances at her from near the west end of the second table from the door. About twenty feet diagonally divided us, too far for me to discern her eye color, though I tried. Finally, she got up, gathering her books into a white canvas tote bag and walking toward the door. As her gangly frame passed me, I gave her eyes a good look and saw they were hazel, flickering elusively under their long lashes from green to brown to gold.

The thought of her big, sad, long-lashed hazel eyes kept me happy for the rest of my day at Columbia. Even when I boarded the downtown Number One train, the first of the three trains that every evening buried me back in Jamaica, Queens, I was still thinking of those eyes. But an hour and fifteen minutes in the subways will discourage anyone. By the time I left the second leg, the D train, for the final and longest leg, the F, my thoughts were turning dark. The train was crowded with smelly, loam-colored laborers imported from faraway continents, and me just one of the horde.

Most students at Columbia boarded, but because my family was poorer than that of the standard Ivy Leaguer, I was a commuter. Combined with my natural tendency toward solitude, this meant I had no friends either on campus or anywhere else. I longed to make contact with someone, anyone, but did not know how. Sometimes I just wanted to pet them—the young secretary sitting before me on the subway in vinyl jacket and glittery eyeliner—to touch her shoulder, her pulsing throat, and say, “I am here. I am lonely. Help me.” Sometimes I wanted to hit them—the goon in the Yankees cap. When I felt particularly desperate, I wanted to stab them. I had knives that would have fit that purpose, but I never took them out of the house.

Author Bio:

George Ochoa’s first novel is the thriller Stranger Still. In addition, he has written or cowritten thirty-five nonfiction books, including The Book of Answers, The Writer’s Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe, The American Film Institute Desk Reference, and Deformed and Destructive Beings: The Purpose of Horror Films. His short fiction has been published in North American Review, Eureka Literary Magazine, Eunoia Review, Bangalore Review, and elsewhere. He is also the author of published poems and essays.

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Teaser: The Well-Tempered Violinist by Barbara T. Carlton @RABTBookTours

Book 1 of The Gift

 

Historical Fiction

Date to be Published: November 5, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Marthe Adler dreams of making history as a great violinist. But in 1905 Germany, tradition and deep-seated prejudice against women musicians stand in her way. To make matters worse, her beloved father’s sudden death shatters her family’s comfortable life, pushing them to the edge of poverty.

But the violin Marthe’s father left her is a constant reminder of the profound bond between them, and it gives her the strength to begin healing. When the Köln Conservatory offers her an unexpected scholarship, she seizes her chance to reach for excellence.

Under the rigorous tutelage of Professorin Wolff, and subjected to predatory harassment by a fellow student determined to destroy both her self-worth and her chances of success, Marthe quickly learns she will need more than motivation and talent to rise to the top.

Filled with heart, wit, and music, The Well-Tempered Violinist is an enduring coming-of-age tale about an artist striving for greatness against enormous odds.

Excerpt

FEBRUARY 1949, HEIDELBERG

In the very beginning was the sound, bright and rich, with an edge of darkness.

I knew it before birth, my mother said, for whenever my father played, I became still in her womb, as if I were mesmerized.

In the sitting room of our house in Eberlinstrasse, I became the audience, propped with pillows before I could sit up, listening to my father and his friends play string quartets on Saturday nights—for love, he said, not money, for he was a banker, though as a young man he had studied with the famous Schradieck in Hamburg. Later, he told me I never fussed, never had to be removed, but remained transfixed, no matter how rough the music nor how often they repeated it. So perhaps my mother was right.

***

The second beginning was my fourth birthday, when my baby sister Anni stuck her fist into my birthday cake when no one was looking and my grandparents gave me a music box that played “Papageno’s Magic Bells” from The Magic Flute, which I listened to until everyone but me was sick of it. Best of all, my father gave me my own small violin and began to teach me its mysteries. First, the names of the strings and their personalities: A, sensible and even-tempered; D, cheerful and impetuous; down to G, serious and thoughtful; up to E, nervous and temperamental, with a tendency to squeak. How to tune them, how to find the notes and make them pure instead of scratchy. He turned exercises and drills into games and improvised harmony to my children’s songs, something different every time. Alle Meine Entchen, All My Ducklings. Bruder Jakob, a round. Kleines Mädchen, Little Girl—my favorite, because it was about me.

I practiced every afternoon for my evening lesson. Occasionally, with nerves like caterpillars in my stomach, I played for the applause and praise of my father’s friends. I might have thought all children were as docile as myself, if not for Anni. Anni’s temper tantrums, Anni thundering up and down the stairs, Anni meddling with my toys and often breaking them. I couldn’t imagine where my parents had found her, or why. Someday, I thought—preferably soon—she would run off to become a pirate and leave us in peace.

The pirate would surely come to no good. But I dreamed I would become a famous violinist and lead an exotic and sophisticated life on the concert stages of the world.

***

When I outgrew my first violin, Anni inherited it and my father began to teach her—at least, he tried. Anni never practiced and she hated lessons of all kinds. The experiment was short-lived and a spectacular failure.

I felt horribly smug for weeks.

My father and I shared a secret language, a world full of treasures where Anni couldn’t stick in her fat little fist and grab anything and where my mother didn’t care to go. A bond grew between us as between two fibers of the same tree, pure and deep. . .

***

 

MARCH 1906, KÖLN

Both of these beginnings came before the real one, like the prologue in fiction.

The third beginning, the real one, is now: a cold March morning a month past my eighteenth birthday, before the grand front door of one of the grandest houses in Köln. Herr Dietrich keeps a firm grip on my elbow, probably to keep me from running away. In my other hand, I carry my violin in its case. This house, on Leopoldstrasse in the heart of the Lindenthal district, belongs to Herr Ferdinand Kurtz, president of the Bank of Köln. My father’s bank.

Yes. It begins here.

The violin I carry is my father’s, because he is dead.

 

***

 

About the Author

Retired architect Barbara Thornburgh Carlton is an author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Though not a musician, she remains music-adjacent as a volunteer for the San Diego Opera and the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Washington. The mother of two grown children who are remarkably considerate about keeping in touch, she lives in San Diego, California, with her photographer husband, Barry.

The Well-Tempered Violinist, Book 1 of The Gift series, is her first novel.

 

Contact Links

Facebook: Barbara Thornburgh Carlton, Writer

Instagram: @btcarlton_writer

 

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