Category: romance

Although there's been some attention taken to the experience of Japanese Americans during World War II when we of Japanese descent were unjustly incarcerated in American concentration camps, this is a story about which high of the public is not aware. These people suffered extreme racism and hatred. Surviving required desire to bring some light out of the darkness of their lives.

Most in the earliest immigrants from Japan who stumbled on the United States found its way to the early years in the 1900's with some arriving inside late 1800's. They were young single men who came as laborers to create a better life on their own. America was seen as the "land of opportunity" for many years where riches may be had. They had an answer to a chance to find success within this land where it seemed that anyone may make lots of money by working hard.

Although they faced racism and discrimination at just about any turn, they kept their hope alive. At that time, these were not allowed to become citizens from the United States but they had made this country their property for decades. Many could marry and also have families. Their children were American citizens. They stressed education, and lots of from the younger generation had earned college degrees. However, racism still affected them, plus it was hard for college graduates to locate meaningful work in their areas of study. Still, they held onto the hope that light will come and conditions would improve.

Then December 7, 1941, had the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii from the Imperial Navy of Japan. Immediately, immigrants from Japan who had previously been leaders inside their communities were accumulated from the FBI and set in prison. Those arrested included men who owned small businesses, leaders within community groups, Buddhist priests, and Japanese language teachers. Their families were advised little reely about where these folks were being taken.

It was a dark day for all Japanese Americans in addition to their immigrant parents. They were suspected for being the enemy. The immigrant parents thought their children can be safe because these folks were American citizens born in the United States. As rumors begun to circulate regarding the government doing their best to imprison all the people of Japanese heritage into camps, the oldsters expected it to merely occur to the immigrants. They had a belief and hope how the government may not do this to its own citizens.

Yet it did happen. Around 120,000 persons of Japanese heritage, men, women, and kids, were forcibly taken from their homes around the west coast and placed in American concentration camps. They were put in temporary detention centers at race tracks and fair grounds before the camps, that have been hastily constructed in remote and desolate areas in the country. were ready for occupancy. Hope was dim for a brighter day.

The Japanese American Story As Told Through A Collection of Speeches and Articles is a book which takes care of much of that section of American history. Many with the untold stories of the population group are told through speeches and articles which are presented. The book contains most of the storyplot of Japanese Americans and of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), a civil rights organization established to assist gain civil rights and fight racism.

When darkness has life, it is necessary to battle light which could originate from keeping hope alive instead of letting go of. Adapting to whatever changes come is essential to finding light and success. It may be important to make adjustments and change plans on the way. It is just not easy to overcome darkness when it's permeating so heavily in way of life since it was for many who were placed inside American concentration camps of World War II. Yet hope brings light and overcome the darkness.

The Japanese Americans eventually could become successful and acceptance as soon as the end of World War II, largely as a result of patriotism and sacrifices of young Japanese Americans who served in the United States military. Most were inside segregated unit with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion.

It took hope and perseverance to not quit and to find light when darkness did actually prevail. The story of Japanese Americans is one kind of hope, light, perseverance, and success

The dedication in this book is a work of poetry in itself. I had a distinct recollection of ?Sleeping with the Enemy? when reading this book, but this story has some very unique twists and turns. The characters seemed very real to me ? I live in a small town and we are just like that!
Here, we are shown the psychological cycle of the victim of domestic violence (Alison) and her growing awareness that some things can change for the better, trust can be had and given, and faith in inner strength can grow.

Like many who crawl out of hellish conditions, Alison did not do it on her strength alone, but through a few strong, giving individuals who contributed a gesture or a friendship along the way. Yet, most healing of all is to find a new, healthy love and good, solid relationships with others ? a most difficult thing for victims of abuse to do. If it was the author?s intent to use the main character to bring depth and understanding into what people go through in situations like these, then she accomplished this goal admirably!

Readers are shown how being rich, good looking and well-educated ? having all the benefits one could desire - cannot lead to happiness. Mr. Bruce Cockburn says it best in a song of his which says ?though chains be of gold, they are chains just the same?.

Amey Tippett has accomplished a work of art with this book. I really felt like I was right there watching the children play during the festivals and feeling the pain and fright of impending danger, and endured the hellish nightmares along with Alison.

This was a fantastic read and I would not hesitate to recommend Alison?s Journey.

ISBN#: 1413740073
Author: Amey Tippett
Publisher: Publish America

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In a gripping thriller, New York Times best-selling author Lisa Scottoline takes readers on a rousing ride through her beloved city of Philadelphia. But this time in "Devil's Corner" (HarperTorch, $7.99), she departs from the halls of the legal firm, Rosato & Associates, and delivers a stand-alone novel featuring a memorable new heroine.

Inspired by one of the biggest drug busts in Philadelphia history, the novels centers around two women who work together to solve a murder. These two sleuths-fresh-faced Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Allegretti and the street-smart suspect in the case, Reheema Bristow-come from backgrounds as different as night and day.

Yet when they uncover a string of connected murders, intertwined with rampant criminal activity that's putting even more families and lives at risk, the two women unite to save a neighborhood close to both their hearts.

From posh suburbs to the darkest recesses of gritty West Philly, and from buzzing government offices to dark interrogation rooms, Lisa Scottoline once again delivers a smart and compelling read. "Devil's Corner" is available in paperback wherever books are sold.

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When it comes to science fiction, one question is often asked:Isaac-Asimov.Isaac-Asimov- does he deserve the credit as "father" of Science fiction? The answer to that question has caused many debates in the past. Some of those who answer this question in the affirmative do so for a variety of reasons, including Asimov's impressive list of works. Those who answer in the negative, often do so as a matter of historical reference.
It is hard to argue against the premise that Issac Asimov was one of the founding fathers of modern science fiction. When died at the age of 70, he had published an estimated 370 books and stories. This is impressive and no one can debate that fact. Just as impressive is his life story which begins with his birth in Petrovichi, Russia in 1920 and continued throughout his lifetime.
One of the main reasons Asimov was so well loved as writer was his background in science. He knew what he was writing about, even when his knowledge was used in works of fiction. He was educated in biochemistry, kinetics, enzymology and photochemistry to name of a few of the disciplines he knew. His work ethic also helped him to achieve such prominence. He normally wrote a full eight hours a day and would write for weeks on end in order to finish a project.
There is also another question that often causes debate: In terms of science fiction novels - the Best selling novels equals the best? This is yet another of those questions that can be answered in different ways, depending on how you look at the question.
It is no secret that Issac Asimov had many best selling novels. Some of these novels are still as loved today as they were years ago when they first came out. But the same can be said of other writers as well. For instance, Jules Vern is considered by many to be one of the pioneers of science fiction, just as Asimov is considered. In terms of best selling novels, Vern was extremely popular in his day and age and his works continue to be read and cherished even in this modern time. To answer the question of whether being best selling equates to being the best, truly depends on how a person looks at it.
One of the more unique distinctions of Asimov is that while he was born Jewish, he did not believe in God or the supernatural. He was, by all accounts, a humanist. In his mind, the forces of good and evil did not reside in heaven or hell but rather within mankind itself. This deep feeling that humans were responsible for their own plight (as well as achievements) is shown throughout much of published work. Much of his work concentrates on how humans (and other intelligent beings) act and react to problems that they themselves have created.
In addition to novels, Asimov is also known a short story writer. One of his best known short stories is "Nightfall". For those new to Asimov, this would be a great place to begin as the story delves into many of the issues that his longer works focus upon.
So, to answer the question: Isaac Asimov - does he deserve the credit as "father" of Science fiction? Well, some say yes and some say no. You decide for yourself.

"The Art Of War For Writers: fiction writing strategies, tactics, and exercises" by James Scott Bell is an enlightening, informative, motivating, and practical little gem of a book for anyone who wants to successfully start and finish a publishable novel. I'm a fan of Sun Tzu, and I'm working on selling my first novel, so I was immediately drawn to this book when I saw the title. It was much better than I even anticipated. Bell's advice is solid and this book contains the essential elements needed to be victorious as a writer.
The wisdom comes in seventy-seven short chapters divided into three main parts: Reconnaissance, Tactics, and Strategy. Under reconnaissance, you find suggestions such as being aware of what the successful writing life is like, put heart into everything you write, and finish your novel. The tactics in part two include testing your premise to prove it worthy, utilizing the Q Factor as a strategic weapon for motivation at just the right time, and whether to outline or not to outline. The third part, Strategy, focuses more on the business of writing, such as goals, networks, when to get an agent and when not to, and promoting your book. I also really liked the chapters on rejections and criticism, something all writers experience as I'm currently learning first hand.
Bell uses quotes from Sun Tzu in places throughout the text, but he also quotes many authors, agents, and editors. There are tons of examples contained in the short chapters, and it's a book I know I'll be turning to again and again to assist me with my writing. I'll look to it for both for practical strategies and suggestions, and for motivation. One of the most important things Bell stresses in various places is to continue to write. He provides quotes from various authors on how they design their typical writing days, but the bottom line is that every writer must be disciplined to hit the keyboard. The final word is encouraging and motivational and I'm sure I'll read this chapter more than any other. The final words must be remembered and kept on the forefront of all writers, "Keep fighting. Keep writing."
If you are inspiring to write fiction, I highly recommend "The Art of War For Writers" by James Scott Bell. It is a great addition to any author's bookshelf, and one that you will turn to again and again as you navigate and pursue victory in the publishing industry.

Scarcely any novel enthusiast has not read any thriller novels at all. The genre is immensely popular with readers of all ages. The best thrillers have provided gripping suspense, exhilaration, and enjoyment to readers since the first beginnings of the genre. Their scope is vast, with many sub-genres.
So, what are they?
Obviously, the novel must must engender thrills in its readers. Straightforward enough, but where are the origins of this ability? The predecessors of thriller novels originated with the writers of early civilizations such as the Greeks or Persians. For example, the Odyssey in Greek and the Mahabharata in Sanskrit were, it can be argued constructed using similar narrative mechanisms to the modern day thriller novels. Originating in the Tenth Century and later translated by Sir Richard Burton, the Arabian Nights narrates the first ever detective thriller as a tale entitled "The Three Apples".
With this ancestry, the art has grown and contemporary 'thrill fiction' can be sub-divided into several genres such as the intelligence related thriller, medical, political, legal case related thriller, historical, technological, action, exploration oriented thriller, armed forces operations thriller, and romantic thriller. At least. The list is practically never ending. Thrilling the readers, that's all it's about, and there are so many ways. Normally, all of the genres will be creating thrills by working on several aspects of the reader's mind: emotions, empathy with a character, impatience, uncertainty, fear, anticipation and even panic. The most able novelist will be toying with several of these areas of the reader's mind at any one time.
The reader's imagination, though, is definitely the most effective target area for the novelist to work on, but it is also the aspect needing the highest skill to manipulate effectively. Although each of the sub genres has its inherent dimensions, there are a few regular techniques used by novelists. For example: the disguising of significant facts from the reader until the a climactic point, the dramatic description of combat (even if only verbal). Add in foreshadowing, unexpected twists in the plot and hanging chapter ends and you have the basic devices which are deployed to work up the thrill and excitement levels.
Let's examine a couple of sub-genres in more detail:
The espionage thriller offers a typical example of the thriller genre-type. Some specialize in the operation of intelligence gathering structures within particular countries and governments - for example the British SIS or the Chinese Guoanbu. Other genre-specialist writers focus on the technology of espionage, be they satellites or miniature cameras. The main character is often an anti-hero having a problem with her organization.
In psychological thriller novels, brain games as well as infatuations, persecutions, mental entrapment and other such themes are the most common structural devices.
So, there's plenty of scope for writing and giving thrills to readers.

Before becoming a novelist, Susan Goldsmith was an undercover private investigator, worked as an outside sales rep, and spent five years in pharmaceutical sales. In this interview, she talks about her journey as an author and her exciting road to publication. She also discusses her creative process and offers tips to aspiring writers.
Q: It's wonderful to have you here, Susan. Why don't you start by telling us a little about your background and how you started writing?
A: Stories are what got me through my childhood. When real life was overwhelming, I'd crawl into my imagination where sick mothers could be made better with a magical potion, or crazy fathers weren't really crazy. They were just more evolved than the rest of us. Could see whole words and realities we couldn't. Mean teachers? Witches - the whole lot of them. I soon branched out, and after sitting in Stephen King's head for a while, decided my life was a Disney movie compared to the stuff his characters endured. Poor Carrie. Now that girl had issues!
I loved stories, and had an endless supply of original ideas that would make fantastic books, but darn it, no matter how hard I willed those ideas to be carried through osmosis from my brain to my favorite authors', it never happened. There they sat, alone in the dark, wilting, while I pursued every career, but writing, and no, graduating with a degree in Journalism most definitely doesn't count. Journalism and imagination are two words that don't belong in the same sentence.
A creative imagination was also frowned upon in my brief stint as an undercover private investigator with Pinkerton when I was placed in a company (no, I'm not telling which one!), and was told to write down my observations. Uh oh, I had a captive audience but couldn't embellish what I was seeing and boy was my imagination coming up with some really good stuff. In reality, I was bored silly. Eventually that boredom had me shaking things up... but that's another story entirely.
Several career paths later, fate intervened and I found myself home, being a full time mother and wife. Suddenly, I was staring at the blank computer screen, not writing, just staring. I'd make a point to walk by it on my way to the bathroom, in-between Barney episodes, or during those times when my children actually did fall asleep during nap time.
Eventually, I did turn the computer on, and have been writing ever since.
Q: Congratulations on the release of your first novel, Abithica. That's an unusual name. How did you come up with it and what does it mean?
A: Abithica is a word I made up. Without giving too much away, it is the name of the main character, so it had to be both unique and otherworldly.
Q: What is Abithica about and what was your inspiration for it?
A: Abithica must borrow all that she is from others: names, lives, even bodies, but only for periods of time she cannot control. What is she, and why is she compelled to fix the lives of the people she inhabits, even the despicable ones?
When she switches into the troubled life of Sydney Turner, she ends up breaking the one rule that has sustained her, the one thing in her control-never get attached-and learns the pain of loving and being loved in return.
My vacuum, Thomas Moore and my very persistent imagination were the inspiration behind Abithica. Maybe I should explain that. You see, all my best thoughts have come while pulling a vacuum. Now enter Thomas Moore. He wrote a book called Care of the Soul. In it, he asked a very profound question: what is your worst fear? Hmmm, what is my worst fear, I wondered. Naturally, I grabbed said vacuum and unleashed my imagination.
Losing my husband and children was the answer. Oh, but what if I was taken from them without their knowledge and they didn't even know I was gone? Ouch! That would definitely suck. But what would suck even more is if another soul took my place and I was there, unseen, invisible, watching their lives continue as if I had never existed.
I was getting closer to my worst nightmare, but I wasn't quite there yet. It needed a little something more. Got it! What if the body I was in had never really belonged to me in the first place? What if it was me who had been the intruder all along? I had been borrowing the woman's life... and now... she wanted it back.
The question became an obsession, and my vacuum and I spent a lot of time together. Soon, the idea of "switching" was born. It grew legs and arms and even acquired a face, Abithica's face.
Q: What is your protagonist like? Tell us something irresistible about her.
A: She is you and me. She is anybody who has ever asked the questions, why am I here? Is there a God, a purpose, a cosmic plan? She perceives herself as a victim, a pawn in some cosmic joke, only to discover in the end she is oh, so much more!
Q: Who is your target reader?
A: My target readers are bound to be urban fantasy lovers, the romantic at heart, and those of us who like to ponder all those enormous, unanswerable questions about life, and what the heck we're doing here.
Q: How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline?
A: You have no idea how funny that question is! My "creative process", if you insist on calling it that, was throwing tantrum after tantrum. I wrote and I wrote and I wrote, but the words... they weren't matching the woman in my head. The tone was wrong. The voice was wrong. The action was wrong. The whole darn story was wrong. It wasn't Abithica, not even close.
The problem I soon learned was I didn't have an outline, so I ended up re-writing the first chapter 30 different ways and every one of them was the beginning of a completely different story. I was like an artist standing over an empty canvas. Was I going to use pastels, pencil or paint? Was it going to be a nature scene, or a portrait? Why not an elephant? Did it even have to be on a canvas? Why not the side of a building or a sidewalk? I had no idea so I kept trying a little of everything, until eventually, nothing worked and I found myself pinned to the ground, screaming uncle.
At the same time, I was well aware that some of my best writing had come about by accident when I had unwittingly allowed the characters to tell their own story. They were the writer, I was the vessel. Every single writing session after that, it's what I strove to duplicate. I'd sit down at the keyboard, clear my mind, and relax enough to set the characters free. On a really good day, they'd talk for eight hours straight and take me places I had never even imagined. Eventually, I got better at it, I started to set an alarm to remind myself to eat. I'd then set it to remind myself to start dinner and then again to remind myself to pick up the kids. This was the reason I wrote, and the reason I kept coming back for more.
I had a problem though. What I needed was something to keep Abithica on task, without constricting the creative flow I craved. The answer: a plot summary. I took the next couple of days building on that concept until I had a sketchy beginning, middle and end. I now had a direction, but Abithica still had plenty of wiggle room to be creative and I was still willing to follow her on whatever tangents she chose to take me on.
Q: What is your writing schedule like?
A: My writing schedule revolves around my family. When the girls are at school, my hubby is at work, and I'm alone, (if it's possible to be alone with 3 dogs, 2 cats and a bird!) I unleash my imagination and hold on for dear life. My favorite part is the end, when I get to read the crazy places my imagination took me that day.
Q: How did you find Twilight Times Books?
A: Twilight Times Books was recommended to me by my mentor, Gerry Mills, who helped me put some "magic" into my writing. It didn't hurt either that TTB was recommended by Predators & Editors, or that the water cooler discussion on Absolute Write had nothing but positive things to say about TTB and its founder, Lida Quillen.
Q: What has been the most surprising aspect of publishing for you so far?
A: I was delusional. I actually thought when I wrote, The End, I was done. Oh contraire! That was only the beginning. The hardest writing I've ever done was condensing 95,000 words into a one sentence summary!
Now, I'm learning the wonderful world of marketing. All I can say is, God Bless Goodreads! If it wasn't for that website nobody would know Abithica exists, and believe me... she is so done with that!
Q: I hear there's a sequel in the horizon. When is it coming out?
A: Yup, there is a sequel. I am 40,000 words into it. The beginning and the end are done. All I'm doing now is filling in the middle.
Q: What is your best tip for aspiring novelists?
A: Don't just talk about it, do it. Write it for yourself, and then later, after you're convinced it's a masterpiece, set it in a drawer and forget about it, the longer, the better. Then read it with fresh eyes. Fix all the problems, and then repeat, again, and again, and again....

When it comes to literary horror, there are a lot of different paths that you can take in order to get the most out of the fear created by writers, but it's sometimes hard to decide which book to read next. In order to help those that are not sure where to venture next, it became important to look into a list of 3 of the scariest books that you can get your hands on for a low cost. The following is a list of the best in horror writing from years past, and can still strike fear into the hearts of even the most jaded of imaginations. Look at the following if you dare, and never stop reading.
Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice - The first book seems innocent enough, but the pages are full of terror and fear. Long before shiny vampires took over the landscape of vampirism, Anne Rice was creating a long-standing record of beauty and terror. The book is filled with real life lamentations that would befuddle a person that had to live forever and feed. While the motion picture made this into a more dramatic and polished version, the book still stands as one of the better examples of what you can do with genre fiction.
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson - This best selling novel took the haunted house genre and created something bigger, badder, and something that still creeps people out. Could a house really push someone into the brink of insanity and then bring them back with no recollection? The boundaries of real life terror play victim to the genre here and it truly showcases how far a person will go when psychologically tormented by spirits within a house. The house recently sold and hasn't been an issue, but that hasn't stopped people from reading, watching and exploring the original big, bad, haunted house.
The Shining by Stephen King - The master of horror has written one of the most eclectic blends of books in the past but in The Shining he really turns up the volume to 11. Here we get everything from psychotic rampages, to telekinesis, and beyond. You thought the movie was creepy? Wait till you get a hold of this epic in nearly 800 pages of length. You just can't compare the movie to this solid book, which will give you nightmares if you're not careful.
The above 3 books are novels that were written long ago and are still gaining new audiences. The main reason why it's important to explore these titles is to preserve reading as a form of entertainment and learning. Remember, everyone spends years learning how to read and write, so why not continue that tradition for pleasure in your adult years? The above are just a taste of some of the better horror novels you can read and love today.