Lyndsay Johnson Young Adult Author: Book Review and Author Interview: Copper Descent b...

Lyndsay Johnson Young Adult Author: Book Review and Author Interview: Copper Descent b...: Copper Descent is the first book in the Sentient Chronicles by Angela Hartley. It's a thrilling new take on creation stories that had...

Review: Fire of the Sea

 

Fire of the Sea- by Lyndsay Johnson

The first thing I noticed about this book was how beautiful the cover was. I've met Lyndsay, and I've grown to know her on a personal level. I've decided she’s a lovely human being. Of course I wanted to read her novel, but the artwork would’ve drawn me to the pages of a stranger. For one, the story’s about a mermaid! Not just any mermaid either, but a Meriad based on Norse legend. Think of Hans Christian Anderson’s tale, but placed in modern day and closer to actual Viking myths. You have the evil demigoddess, the Selurs, Silkies, and a princess of the sea who (of course) falls in love with a human.

Lyndsay’s writing was rich and as fluid as the ocean she was describing. Although I am familiar with the myths and could predict the ending, I was never certain of how I would arrive at the ultimate conclusion. The story is told from an intimate first-person perspective, placing you directly in the main character, Aeva’s head. You understand her fears and desires, and want what she wants.

All living sentient creatures desire a love so strong that they are willing to sacrifice half of themselves to be whole with someone else. They want to experience a draw towards another soul that is as tangible as the air we breathe. This is the power of myth, magic, and mysticism. The ancients had a brilliant way of explaining fate, destiny, and tragedy in a belief system that allowed gods to be just as flawed as the humans who worshiped them. Lindsay does an amazing job of capturing this element in her work. I give Fire of the Sea a five-star rating, and would recommend this read for anyone who has a love of myths and mermaids.

You can purchase Fire of the Sea at:

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Sea-Lyndsay-Johnson-ebook/dp/B00JCZQUGM/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_7

The kindle version is only $0.99 for a limited time!

 

 

LYNDSAY JOHNSON grew up in the wide expanses of Texas, where the only thing stronger than the accents was the state pride. An over-active imagination, tale-telling father, and an encouraging librarian mother lead to her love of all things creative.

When it comes to books on her bedside table, young adult lit has always been a favorite (Blue Balliett, Libba Bray, and JK Rowling, to name a few). But it was actually an old, yellowing copy of Scandinavian Folk and Fairy Tales that planted a particularly relentless seed. Shapeshifters and sea nymphs began forming an idea that would eventually grow into Lyndsay’s debut novel, Fire of the Sea.

When she is not writing, you can find Lyndsay spending time with her family in the Rocky Mountains of Utah. She enjoys sitting in dark ­theaters, trying new gluten-free recipes, watching breaking storms over the peaks out her window, and secret naps.

R.J. Craddock - Author: Book, Music and Film Critic: Copper Descent by Angela Hartley - Book Review

R.J. Craddock - Author: Book, Music and Film Critic: Copper Descent by Angela Hartley - Book Review: “Copper Descent” is the tale of Nina Douglas, a Native American girl with a secret. She walks into the dream world, even though her mothe...

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View From The Crystal Ball: Copper Descent

Terra Luft interviewed me and wrote a review for Copper Descent. Check it out:



View From The Crystal Ball: Copper Descent: This is my first author interview as part of a cool thing called a blog tour. (Don't worry, I didn't know what they were either...) ...

A Letter to My Monkey on Her Seventeenth Birthday

 

            My dearest, sweetest Kiernen,

            First and foremost, I want you to know what an honor it has been to be your mother. I so admire your strength, cherish your heart, and stand in awe of your loyalty and sense of compassion. To know you is to love you. You are remarkable in every way, and truly a gift in my life.

            It’s hard for me to comprehend that my monkey is on the cusp of adulthood. It seems like only yesterday, you were a gorgeous blue-eyed baby cradled in my arms. So many images are running through my mind as I write this. How can I summarize seventeen years of cherished memories in words? You’ve gone through more than most people will experience in a lifetime of living. It would take a book, and even if I could write that story, it wouldn’t ever capture the essence of your Kierneness. You’re just too amazing for words, soldiering through hardships even I’ve struggled to face at times.

For the past nine years, I’ve mourned the loss of your childhood. I’ve been unable to take away your pain or answer the “Why me?” question. The truth is, I don’t know why. You’re old enough to realize that I don’t always have all the answers. I’m not in control of everything that happens in our lives, and I am human. No one knows better than I that I am far from perfect, but I do have faith that everything we experience is part of a plan greater than just ourselves. I believe in times of hardship we are shaped into something greater than we would have become otherwise. I know one thing is for certain. You have grown strong, and wise beyond your age, and I am proud of the woman you have become.

The hard stuff is already figured out. Now you’re just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up with you.  You’ve learned the value of honor and carry a strong sense of right and wrong. Mostly, you’ve discovered what really matters. The rest is just white noise.

I want you to know that it’s okay to have fun, and get your hands a little dirty. Live your life instead of watching from the sidelines. Sure, you might fall and scrape your knuckles, but then again, you may not. You’ll never really know unless you decide to play. Know that I will always be here, cheering you on.

I love you!

Mom

 

Copper Descent Interview

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Erin Britt this week. Charlie ate my chocolate cinnamon bears, but we mostly talked about my upcoming release:

http://erinrbritt.com/2014/04/01/author-corner-angela-hartley/

Failing with Trees and Children

When my husband and I decided to start a family, we went into it knowing the path wouldn't be very easy. Parenting is a thankless job on a road full of disappointments and endless setbacks. Sometimes it's hard to keep trudging forward when I feel like I'm failing in every aspect, and then there are the days of elation that make all of the tears and sleepless nights worthwhile. I try to hold this course, but the stupid map never reads the same. Just when I think I've learned how to follow the compass, the center of gravity shifts, pulling the needle in another direction. I spend more time hopelessly lost than on point, but I'm a stubborn person with a one track mind. I'm their mom, and I'm committed to raising these little versions of us to be fully functional adults. Believe me when I say that I don't have all the answers. I screw up all the time, but I think sometimes this might be a good thing. It teaches them that I am human, and there is also some validity in this statement:

            Through failure, strength is gained, and in this strength, confidence grows.

Three flowering pear trees grow in our front yard. My husband and I planted them soon after we moved in. A year later, we discovered they didn't move very well when a truck backed into the first one and it laid over. I didn't think the poor little thing would survive the trauma, but seven years later it's not only living but thriving better than the other two. The smallest of the three sits in the middle. Protected and sheltered from the brunt of the elements it didn't need wander out of its comfortable little space.

As parents, our natural instinct is to shelter our children, but I think it's time to ask ourselves a very important question. Are we stunting their growth by doing so? I'll admit I'm guilty of going mama bear at times, but the challenge runs even deeper than that. Our schools have started carrying policies like 'no child left behind', sexual harassment charges are brought up on five-year-olds for a simple game of kissing tag, and youth competitive sports teams award mediocrity in fear of damaging self-esteem. Even the word self-esteem is so integrated into our society that we don't stop to reflect on its meaning. The definition is to hold yourself in a high regard. Think of the message of entitlement using this term is sending out.

I prefer to use self-confidence, which is faith in one's abilities. Children need to fail. They need to make mistakes, and then try again, and again, and again until they finally taste success, but why would anyone want to put forth so much effort if the reward at the end is exactly the same? This is the root of the problem. The difference between self-esteem and self-confidence isn't recognized in our youth, but they do realize when they gain something that isn't earned. It eats away and taints their perception of the world they live in.

Instead of enforcing this sense of privilege, we need honor true accomplishment. Allow them to travel their own crazy, imperfect paths with a comfortable awareness of their limitations, and a humble appreciation for their gifts. They will only grow as far as they believe they can reach, as far as we push them to thrive. Let’s back the truck up and bump them out of their comfort zones from time to time. Teach them solve their messy problems, and live with the consequences of those decisions. Hand them a compass that only works some of the time while they still have a guide to lead the way.

I truly believe that all children are resilient, and capable of amazing feats. They are the future of our world. I will encourage mine to screw up as often and spectacularly as I do.

 

A Tribute to Paul Columbo

Paul Columbo was significant to many of us, and I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing this last week. My high school existence wouldn’t have had the same topography without his friendship. He had a light in his soul and one of those personalities that always gravitated people in his direction.

For those of you who didn't know me when I was younger, I first have to explain that I was painfully back then. This will be a shocker to some of you, I know, but it is true none the less. I first met Paul at R&A Market in Helper when I worked at my parents’ pie shop down the street. He asked me out a week before my sophomore year began, I think mostly because his parents, Richard and Kathy liked me and prompted him to do so. I don't think I said more than two or three words that entire first date, but Paul didn't make it awkward. He filled the silence, talking about his ’57 Chevy, car shows, and football training. For weeks afterwards, I ducked around corners avoiding any contact. It wasn’t very logical, but this was how my adolescent mind dealt with most things, including crushes. I kept hidden until he had a girlfriend, and then (phew!) I could talk to him like a normal human being once again.

A few months later, Paul and his girlfriend broke up right before Preference. I still had a little crush and I decided this was my big chance! I would ask him to the dance, and I wouldn’t be a blundering idiot this time around. It was certainly a nice theory, but of course, it didn’t go quite the way I had planned in my head. I had to start out by making the experience as excruciatingly uncomfortable as I possibly could. You see, I wasn’t aware of ‘dance asking etiquette.’ Apparently, you’re supposed to send the question in a cutsie sort of way and wait for a reply a few days later, but not me.  No siree. This would have been too easy, and certainly couldn’t roll that way.  I decided to run up in front of all of his friends in Grand Canyon hallway and shouted at him like a person suffering from Tourettes. “Will you go to Preference with me?!” After a moment of shock, he smiled and answered “Yes.” We stood there in silence for a minute or so while Stephanie Jarvi laughed her butt off, and then I was like, “I think I’m gonna go now.”

Despite my lovely start, we actually had a really fun night, but never tried our hand at dating again. We did attempt to kiss a few years later, but it didn’t work. We both cracked up laughing so hard in the middle that my stomach stitched for days. We’d fallen into a brother and sister role, and mutually agreed that it was too bizarre to consider being anything else.

We lost touch over the years, but I am so grateful for the modern technology that has brought so many amazing people back into my life. It was fun catching up with him over the past couple of years. My heart is breaking for his wife, Christy and their four children. The pictures he’s shared show how much he loved them all. Even though I haven’t spoken to Rich and Kathy for a very long time, I still care for both of them. Words of comfort are eluding me, but I wanted to share this memory and say he was a really great guy who’ll be missed by so many. To all of those who loved him, you will remain in my thought and prayers.