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HOLIDAYEDITION2017 ™

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

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TopShelf Authors & Books!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS Anthony Franze

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James Rollins Mark Cheverton Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

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TOPSHELF KIDS

Getting Kids to Read & Write

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THE INSIDE SCOOP

My Writers Conference Takeaway

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AMERICAN BOOKSELLER We Visit Northshire Bookstore

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Plus Dozens of Book Reviews, Marketing Tips, and more!

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

JEFF GUNHUS

“GUNHUS DELIVERS AN UNFORGETTABLE THRILLER THAT IS THOUGHT-PROVOKING, HONEST AND TRUE BLUE.” —FOREWORD REVIEWS

“...A DELICIOUSLY CREEPY VISION OF A GRIM TOMORROW RENDERED HARROWINGLY PLAUSIBLE.”

“....AN ENGROSSING PRODUCTION INDEED, PACKED WITH SATISFYING INTRIGUE AND UNPREDICTABLE TWISTS AND TURNS.”

—KIRKUS REVIEWS

—DIANE DONOVAN, SENIOR REVIEWER, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

RESURRECTION

AMERICA www.jeffgunhus.com

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A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

TopShelf Authors & Books!

table of contents

39 41 41 43 43 45 45 47 47 49 49 51 51 53 53 55 55

columns 7

A NOVEL APPROACH Planning Your Book

9

FORGOTTEN TOMES The Other Trojan Horse

11

THE INSIDE SCOOP Writers Conference Takeaway

13

AMERICAN BOOKSELLER We Visit Northshire Bookstore

15

TOPSHELF KIDS Getting Kids to Read & Write

interviews 17 19 23 25

Anthony Franze James Rollins Mark Cheverton Preston & Child

reviews 27 27 29 29 31 31 33 33 35 35 37 37 39

Resurrection America Revenants The Odyssey Home Snow Strong to the Bone Tapping into Hidden Human Capital Touched by Darkness The Demon Crown The Liahona Effect The Midnight Line The Miseries of Mister Sparrows The Rules of Magic The Spider and the Stone The Unwilling Recruit The Last Mrs. Parrish The Wife Between Us When They Come for You Faster Than Normal

masthead CEO, President, & Publisher Keith A. Katsikas Jr.

American Drifter An Unexpected Afterlife Cashed Out City of Endless Night Daily Writing Resilience End Game Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines Eternal Bloodlines I Know a Secret In the Shadow of a Hanging Tree London Bridge is Falling Down Mad Dog Vengeance Maya

editorial policy TopShelf Magazine is a bookseller-focused buyers’ guide packed with the crème de la crème in indie and traditionally published authors and books. There’s no junk here!

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E.V.P. & Director of Marketing Rebecca Katsikas

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Lead Editor Rosemary Fifield

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Assistant Editor Kris Miller

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Creative Director Keith Katsikas

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Contributors & Reviewers J. H. Bográn Rosemary Fifield Paul Hollis Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land Sarah Noffke Kris Miller Tim Sunderland

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spotlights

Jeff Gunhus “A Deliciously Creepy Vision of a Grim Tomorrow Rendered Harrowingly Plausible.” ~Kirkus Reviews

Seven Guns Press $12.95 - 375 Pages Science Fiction ISBN: 978-0998217741

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A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

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Thea Paris—she’ll do whatever it takes to get you home alive.

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—James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Move over Jason Bourne, action has a new name as international kidnapping expert Thea Paris pulls out all the stops to rescue her own father in this clever and gritty debut.”

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Read the first chapter at kjhowe.com.

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by Paul Hollis (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @HollowManSeries | TheHollowManSeries.com

To outline or not to outline. That is the question. Is it better to create a plan or just cliff-dive into the rough seas of novel writing? Some writers will tell us they never start a novel until they have ten scenes plotted on a timeline with character sketches for the primary characters. Others will say they never intend to start a new novel at all.

The story just happens.

No matter how they do or do not plan, a novice cannot duplicate a pro’s success by copying his planning techniques. Study established authors to understand what they write and why, not how they planned to write it. You must create your own plan that works within your personal writing environment.

At the highest level, a plan will guide authors and remind them of important story elements. The moments can be metaphorical, suggest types of real situations to create, or contain actual story description and dialogue.

How extensive should an outline be? The answer depends on the author.

Let’s begin this discussion by looking at some of the advantages of planning: • During planning writers become inspired and creativity wakes up. When a novel is planned, many different ideas and creative juices start flowing.

• Equate planning to thinking about. When planning something like a birthday party or a family trip, one is thinking about it, getting excited, organizing, sorting out details, preparing.

• A plan can shorten the time an author spends actually writing a novel because what’s coming next is already known.

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PLANNING YOUR BOOK

summarizes each of the main characters by listing their name, personal features, storyline appearances, goals, conflicts, etc.

These continue to expand into full blown character sheets.

If a writer is somewhat resistant to general outlining processes, the signpost methodology may be better suited for their needs. The writer fills in place holders which briefly note the types of scenes needed including the characters, setting, and a general idea of what happens in each scene but not necessarily all of the details. The writer lays the groundwork for the basics up front then develops the nuances of each scene in the drafting stage.

Lastly, some writers simply do not want to or are unable to outline. Some brains are just not wired to be “structured”. Those who prefer to write by the seat of their pants are lovingly called pantsers. Although pantsers play in the land of Nod where anything goes, many trick themselves into creating a kind of pseudo outline by writing what’s called a zero or discovery draft. This is too unstructured to be a true first draft even though pantsers believe it is their best initial attempt. However, many times it is remarkably more extensive and detailed than the above outlines. In fact, it can run to 100 or 200 pages. If a new writer follows this loose methodology it should be written quickly. It is permissible to skip entire swathes of the actual story replaced by rough idea notes of what should occur, such as “something happens here” or “somehow they get out of the building.”

An outline can come in practically any shape and format as we’ve seen. It can be a short step-by-step plan or a detailed piece of work with extensive descriptions of all major events and characters. Make your outline selection based on whatever is appropriate for your specific style, level of patience, detail requirements, comfort, etc. Don’t go overboard on planning, but do plan smart.

Vivid understanding and visualization of your novel’s piece/parts are critical to your novel.

We’ve only touched on a few outlining methodologies here. For more details of the methodologies above and a thousand more, simply Google “writing outlines” for more information and ways to document a novel.

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A NOVEL APPROACH

• It helps with research because an author generally knows the details being sought.

• A plan helps with plot pacing.

• There is an opportunity to see problems in future work before they potentially become difficult to redirect.

• Finally a plan can help with writer’s block because, once again, next steps are already in place.

There is nothing more comforting than having some kind a roadmap when the going gets tough, especially for new authors. This is the primary reason I encourage a plan but I don't recommend an author do more detailed planning than necessary – not if the author doesn't find it useful.

Let’s look at a few outlining models and how they help with planning.

A structured outline is the most common methodology used by writers today. It is also the most restrictive to the writing process, leaving little room for changing original character and plot design. You may still painfully remember being taught its inner workings in grammar school. Structured outlines contain detailed written descriptions of individual scenes as it progresses in a linear fashion through a novel. It is the exact reason so many writers hate outlining. Such structured methodologies create a dump truck full of details and suck the fun right out of writing.

The three-act methodology is one of the best approaches for writers who are more concerned with structure than the specifics of character or plot, although this method does allow the opportunity to be very specific about them. The structure relies on the basic beginning, middle, and end format the reader is most familiar with in storytelling. Based on the structure of the theater, the first quarter of the novel establishes setting, time period, conflict, characters, goals, and quest. Act two is the fifty percent in the middle where the reader expects rising action and increasing stakes. The third act in the final quarter of the story where strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are resolved.

The snowflake method offers the writer some useful tools for brainstorming, allowing them a bit more creativity within its structure.

The basic idea here is to begin with a onesentence summary of the book followed by a paragraph-long summary. Each sentence in the one-paragraph plot summary is expanded into its own paragraph. Each of these paragraphs in turn is expanded into individual scenes. At the same time, the author

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"Brilliantly conceived… wondrously realized.”

- Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Light of Day

“It’s slick, slippery, and deadly.”

- Barry Lancet, award-winning author of Japantown and Pacific Burn

“Delivers a slow burn. Stay with it, and you might end up with blisters.”

- Raymond Benson, author of The Black Stiletto series

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FORGOTTEN TOMES THE OTHER TROJAN HORSE

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spawn seven sequels so far and has gain international recognition to the author. Each novel depicts a different trip destination, and they include Masada, Nazareth, Jordan, Canaan, and so forth.

The last one, book 9, was released in 2013, and to date, the series has sold over five million copies in several languages.

The first book was translated into English, but copies are hard to come by. So if you find one in your shelves, dust it off and bring to the center front. It’s worth it.

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follow a man carrying a jar of water until he enters a house. (Luke 22:7-38). In Trojan Horse, it’s explained that this worked out well because the previous day Jesus had sent a boy with the instructions of where and when to expect the disciples to show up. Yes, it has a lot of cloak and dagger.

As you can imagine, the story started ripples that echoed all the way to the

by J. H. Bográn (TopShelf Columnist) Vatican and about twenty years before Twitter @JHBogran | jhbogran@gmail.com the Da Vinci Code became a phenomenon. Later studies speculate Spanish author Juan José Benitez the book was based on The Urantia Book, took the world by surprise in 1984 which is a philosophical book that aims when he published the novel Caballo at uniting religion and science. de Troya or Trojan Horse.

It’s an The book is a rarity in many understatement ways. Narrated in first person in to say the book the form of a diary, the first part leaves a huge is nobody else but the same author impact in the who’s a character in the story and reader. For recounts the circumstances in instance, after which he acquired the memoirs I read it I from a Major who participated in became so a secret experiment with the inflamed that I United States Army. spoke to The experiment, of course, is time everybody and travel. anybody The second part are said memoirs, who’d listen and the Major explains how he first why the book got involved with the project. Of was not to be particular note is the scene where the taken seriously.

Major and the rest of the team I ended my discuss where, and when, they should tirade abruptly travel first. After a prolonged and when my arduous debate, they settle to visit lovely wife Jerusalem in the days leading to the pointed out I’d crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. been talking The rest, as the saying goes, is about a book I history. Except it is not the history hated for over you know, or that you think you six months know. The author goes to great with no signs of slowing down. lengths explaining many of the “Good or bad, it struck a chord!” situations depicted in the four she said. gospels. For example, when Jesus In the same vain as the original Star sends his disciples to find a place for Wars, the novel was later renamed the Last Supper He instructs them to Trojan Horse: Jerusalem. The book has

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J. H. Bográn, born and raised in Honduras, is the son of a journalist; however, he ironically prefers to write fiction.

José’s genre of choice is thrillers, but he enjoys to throw in a twist of romance on occasion. He has published three acclaimed novels and is a member of The Crime Writers Association, the Short Fiction Writers Guild, and the International Thriller Writers where he also serves as the Thriller Roundtable Coordinator and contributor editor for their official e-zine The Big Thrill.

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www.sarahnoffke.com #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Over 20 Novels!

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CONFERENCE TAKEAWAY

by Sarah Noffke (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @RealSarahNoffke | SarahNoffke.com

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Amazon ads. Guess what? That lovely author, who I’m very proud and happy for, beats me in ranking every freaking day! And a few years ago he was making $10 a month.

So don’t quit. That’s what I took away from the conference. If the book isn’t selling then make changes. If the ad isn’t working then make changes. If you want to sell more books then write more. I met a few of the top ten science fiction writers on Amazon and guess what they do for twelve hours a day, every single day? If you guess write, then you get a gold sticker. I know this

The key to selling books, what I learned from the top dogs in the industry, people like Anderle, was really strange and simple: Don’t quit.

That’s it. That was the one thing that linked every single six figure author I spoke with. Now, I realize you’re rolling your eyes at me right now. I’ve got more success secrets and will be expanding, but only a little. This really isn’t complicated.

I learned about an author who was making $10 a month off of his books. I don’t know about you, but I can’t function on $10 a day. The reason this author made this article is he’s the supreme example of how success works. He redid his covers.

That kind of worked. He reworked his copy.

More success. He ran a few Facebook and

seems obvious, but it was actually pretty inspiring to me. Those who succeed keep going, aren’t afraid to change and are willing. They are willing to look at the data, make adjustments and keep going. Of these incredibly successful authors I spoke with, every single one had a flop. That’s right.

They’d all written books that didn’t do well at first or at all. And every single one made changes or moved on until they had it right.

So don’t quit. And stay true to yourself, just as Anderle did. Oh, and buy blue hair dye if you want to be an author. That was a common thing amongst this eccentric bunch. So much blue hair I thought I was going colorblind.

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I’ve just returned from a three day conference in Las Vegas. This writer conference was put on by Michael Anderle and Craig Martelle and it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. It was more. To describe all that I learned about books, marketing and writing would take up all the pages of this lovely magazine. Since that can’t happen, because we have to leave room for other people and books, I’ll keep it brief and just cover what I found most useful for authors, booksellers and readers.

Some may have heard of Anderle. Some maybe not. He’s an indie author who selfproclaimed “did everything wrong” to start with. However, Anderle did something incredibly right when he self-published Death Becomes Her two years ago. He wrote the story he wanted to read. It’s a beautiful idea first made popular by Toni Morrison. In a short time, Anderle’s success as an indie author skyrocketed and now he serves as a mentor to many of us writers.

Anderle created a Facebook group in 2016 called 20Booksto50K inspired by the idea that it would take twenty books to put him in financial success. This awesome author hasn’t written twenty books by himself yet, but I can vouch that he’s found that success he was going after.

It was the 20Booksto50K conference that I recently attended and I’m still trying to digest so many of the things I learned. This group seeks to inspire, encourage and also teach authors at all levels. It was coordinated by Craig Martelle, a fellow science fiction writer who produces so fast that it will make your head spin. I’m fairly certain that Martelle isn’t really a man, but rather a robot who

doesn’t sleep or eat. Actually, come to think of it, I didn’t see him eat or drink once while at the conference. Mystery solved.

As an author, just as a retailer, I struggle with marketing and selling books every day.

Every. Day. It seems just when I’ve got a marketing formula that works, the industry changes, algorithms go awry and mercury dips into retrograde. Darn retrograde. However, it was comforting in an odd sort of way to know that EVERY author has the same struggles. What was incredibly encouraging was the ones who were succeeding. They had a secret and I learned it. And if you lean in close, I’ll share it with you.

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know about running a bookstore. Soon after opening they found that their 1,000-square foot store had little room for inventory. Boxes of books soon began appearing in the next logical place, the family home.

Twitter @timthewriter | tim@rulesforgiving.com

Ask Chris Morrow, the second-generation owner of Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, Vermont, about his competition. He bypasses Barnes & Noble, even though there is one ten minutes away from the second Northshire store in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Instead, Chris cuts straight to the meat, and at the same time reminds us of the strength of independent book stores.

“Our real competition is Amazon,” said Chris without hesitation. “They’ve done a good job of devaluing books. But we find people are willing to pay for the serendipity and the feeling of discovery they get when they come to our store.”

That experience is a result of the ethos that started with Chris’s parents, Ed and Barbara, when they opened the store in 1976.

“Listening to our customers,” said Chris.

“Right from the very beginning, that was what my folks did. They listened to the customers about what products to bring in, and what books to carry. We’ve always been in touch with our customers that way.”

It is a business principal that has paid off well. Northshire is having one of their best years. According to Chris, people still want the physical book. They are still looking to discover their next read in an uplifting environment.

“We don’t expect it to go away,” said Chris.

Barbara Morrow reveals they did it because it was something they believed in.

Both the elder Morrows, however, quickly admit that there were many things they didn’t

and purchased it at auction. It took another two grueling years to open the new store.

During that time Ed admits that what he didn’t know about the bookstore business in the beginning, was dwarfed by what he didn’t know about acting as his own construction contractor. When the 10,000-square-foot store opened in 1988, however, one of the lessons was clear: the entire second floor was

opened a 3,000-square-foot coffee shop called The Spiral Press.

In 2003 the Morrows received a petition from citizens from Saratoga Springs, a community 75 minutes away in New York state. The message: We like what Northshire Books has done in Vermont. We want you to come to Saratoga Springs and do the same thing. Oh, and by the way, our market area is

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This overcrowding went on for twelve years, while Ed and Barbra found themselves becoming experts at space utilization.

Listening to their customers made things even more challenging as they found the need to respond to a clear hunger for children’s books.

A solution came in 1986. The Coburn Inn, a local hotel in Manchester Center, had gone bankrupt, standing vacant for two years.

Ed and Barbra recognized the importance of the building’s location in the downtown area

given over to children’s books.

Business was booming in the new store, but the Morrow’s soon confronted two new challenges. Number one was what Ed refers to as the “malling of America.” The second threat to Northshire Bookstore was, of course, Amazon. This is when Ed and Barbara realized what they had known all along: only an independent bookstore can offer the sense of community that keeps people coming in the front door. Community had always been a driving force of Northshire, but the Morrows now knew it needed an even sharper focus Soon the Morrows were going underground—to the basement of the former Coburn Inn, where they

“We were novices,” admitted Barbara. “We didn’t know what this was going to entail.”

AMERICAN BOOKSELLER NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE

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columns ten times larger than your current location.

The Saratoga Springs store came at the right time. Ed and Barbara were thinking about retirement and making plans to turn Northshire over to Chris, their son. Opening a new store was the kind of challenge Chris lived for. He recalls it was one of the most memorable times in his career.

“It was my baby,” he said. “I designed it. I hired the people.”

Atmosphere is an important part of any good retail environment. The staff at the stores take care to add homey touches to the decor.

The Manchester Center Store features a breathtaking wrought iron banister rail to the second floor, and a wood burning stove in the cookbook section (where else?). What appears to be a cluttered store in both locations is, in fact, a marvel of effective retailing.

Both Northshire Bookstores have become community meeting places. A half-dozen book-related clubs call the two stores home. Customers gather for cooking demonstrations, informational meetings about about the environment, living in New England, and much more. Almost always there is, of course, a book connection. There have been appearances by numerous authors, including John

Irving, Steven King, John Grisham, David McCullough, Doris Kerns Goodwin, Rachel Maddow, Jeffery Toobin, and biggest event yet––Neil Gaiman.”

Both stores employ a full-time staffer whose sole responsibility is booking authors and speakers, and coordinating events. The secret to attracting authors, said Chris, lies in constant exchanges with publishers, publicists, and other members of the book industry. He adds it is a task that has been made more difficult by publishers cutting back on author tours. Nonetheless, Northshire has packed the house of both stores on many occasions. The events often require that the stores take reservations.

Between both stores, Northshire employs 50 people, with another 39 of what Chris refers to as full-time equivalent positions.

Their best employees are avid readers, of course, which is reflected in the shelf talkers that adorn both stores.

“Shelf talkers are one of the reasons people like independent bookstores,” said Chris. “They are consistently remarked on and appreciated by our customers.”

As businesspeople the Morrow family, both Ed and Barbara as well as Chris, have also learned the value of non-book sales. In

addition to books, both Northshire stores carry art supplies, board games, clothing, upscale candies, unique kitchen gifts and lots more. According to Chris, non-book sales account for anywhere between 25% and 35% of total sales.

Multiple streams of incomes at Northshire extend into other areas, most notably in selfpublishing. Shires Press was started in 2008.

The entity was actually an early beta-tester for the Expresso Machine, but now reproduction has gone to digital offset printing. Shires Press publishes local authors as well as public domain content. People like the diversity of offerings and it expands the stores offering to their customer base.

Ed Morrow cited the “malling of America” as one of the early molding forces of Northshire, but in the intervening years there has been a slow return to Main Street America. It is an energy that has served Northshire well. Both stores are in the heart of a bustling downtown area. The next time you’re in Manchester Center or across the state line in Saratoga Springs, check out the heart of downtown. That’s where you’ll find Northshire Bookstore.

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Laura Simmons Paranormal romance stories featuring astral travel, psychic abilities, reincarnation, and more...

Coming 2018

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by Mark Cheverton (TopShelf Columnist)

Twitter @MarkC_Author | MarkCheverton.com

I love hearing from teachers and parents and am thrilled when I hear how excited many kids are to read my books. It seems like Minecraft and my characters, especially Gameknight999, has ignited some excitement amongst students about reading and writing.

I’ve heard from many teachers and parents about how my books are getting reluctant readers, especially middle-grade boys, to read again. We all know about the statistics of reading literacy with boys when they enter into middle school. You’d think they all became suddenly allergic to the library.

One of the really surprising things about my books is that kids, especially boys, are excited about reading my Minecraft novels.

This has opened a door for teachers and parents to get kids off the computer games and into a book. And the irony of it is that the books are about a computer game!

Watch this boy when he gets the next book, https://youtu.be/Z-yuXEPLS78.

I would love to talk with any teacher or parent out there about how we could use my books to get more kids to read. As a past educator, I know the importance of good reading skills and would love to help if possible.

If you’re interested in discussing this, I can easily be contacted through my website. Just send me an email, I answer every one, but please be careful with spelling your email address. Now and then I get a message that I cannot answer because the reader mistyped their email address, so please be careful. I answer every email I receive, personally.

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GETTING KIDS TO READ & WRITE

few as 40K or as much as 250K. If that scares you, look at it this way. Write a thousand words a day and your novel will be finished in 3 months.

I’ve spoken with many kids about Minecraft, no big surprise, but I’ve also spoken with them about writing their own stories. A couple of things emerge as constant themes: 1. Kids want to write their own stories.

2. Kids don’t know how to write their own stories.

So I put together some materials to help them understand the basic elements of a story.

When I started writing, I knew nothing about story structure. I just knew I wanted to write. The way I learned about story structure, dialogue, character development, setting... is I started to write. I quickly realized I knew nothing about writing. I purchased lots of how-to books and took a little piece here and a small morsel of insight there. I attended conferences, and I listened to many webinars, learning everything I could.

As I wrote more failed books, I discovered that my writing wasn’t as smelly as it started out; it stunk a lot less, and in fact, sometimes my writing actually smelled pretty good. As the structure of the story began to formulate in the back of my mind, I started to see the patterns and the science of writing, and that’s when my books started to become successful.

I have distilled these learnings about the science of writing, and I am excited to share them with you here, in this exciting new TopShelf Kids column designed to encourage children not only to read and write, but also share their thoughts, ideas, and written works with others.

I hope you and your children will join me next time as I dive into the science of how to write a Minecrafter’s adventure novel.

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TOPSHELF KIDS

many stories from kids every week. Because these kids know a lot about Minecraft, many of them feel confident about creating their own stories... which is fantastic!

If you go to the BLOG tab on my website, you can see all the stories that I’ve received from kids over the past couple of years as well as their artwork. This has been very exciting, seeing the creativity of young kids blossoming as they send in story after story. There are even a couple of kids in the process of self-publishing their books online... WOW! After writing nearly 20 novels and reading countless books of plot construction, character development, scene design, setting, dialogue... I’ve come to learn a few things about writing. I have broken these learnings into bitesized pieces that are digestible for kids, then put them together in a set of workshop materials that I will be sharing with you as we move forward in this TopShelf Kids journey together.

The materials we will be discussing in issues to come have been workshop and teacher-tested, and have been received very positively. I hope that educators and parents will use these materials with their children, inspiring them to write and send me their stories so I can post them on my website. The stories don’t need to be about Minecraft; they can be about anything. I just want kids to write!

What you read translates into how you write. Then, practice, practice, practice!

And finally, preparing yourself as a writer means that you understand how long it will take to write a novel. It depends on your style (i.e., fast and furious or slow and steady), whether you’ll be able to write every day, how much description you will include, and whether your novel will be long and complicated like War and Peace, or short and easy like Love Story. A typical novel is between 80K and 100K words but can be as

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COLUMNS

More Articles at: TopShelfMagazine.net

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spotlights

Alex Lukeman

CreateSpace $12.95 - 288 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1545119730

Alex writes action/ adventure thrillers featuring a covert intelligence unit called the PROJECT and is the author of the award-winning Amazon best seller, The Tesla Secret.

www.alexlukeman.com

by Rik Stone CreateSpace $12.75 - 430 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1484088647

by Brigitte Goldstein Pierredor Books $10.21 - 284 Pages Mystery, Suspense ISBN: 978-0692246665

by Daniel M. Warloch Independently Published $6.51- 183 Pages Juvenile Fiction ISBN: 978-1520262857

by Jon Land Forge Books $26.99 - Hardcover - 352 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-0765335135

by Debra Ruh G3ict Global Initiative $19.95 - 135 Pages Business, Money ISBN: 978-0578177533

by Paul Hollis CreateSpace $16.95 - 340 Pages True Crime, Espionage ISBN: 978-1519232236

by J.C. Brennan TopShelf Indie $28.99 - Hardcover - 356 Pages Supernatural, Horror ISBN: 978-1946865113

by Sarah Noffke CreateSpace $11.99 - 248 Pages YA Paranormal Fantasy ISBN: 978-1548801373

by Paul Hollis Dog Ear Publishing $16.95 - 302 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1457520419

by Maxine Sylvester Kindle $2.99 - 167 Pages Children, Action Adventure ISBN: B075ZX3H9T

16

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

interviews

ANTHONY FRANZE is a lawyer in the Appellate and Supreme Court practice of a prominent Washington, D.C. law firm, and a critically acclaimed thriller writer with novels set in the nation’s highest court. Franze has been a commentator on legal and Supreme Court issues for The New Republic, Bloomberg, National Law Journal, and other major media outlets. He is a board member and a Vice President of the International Thriller Writers organization. Franze lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family.

Learn more at www.anthonyfranzebooks.com Now onto our conversation:

What would you like our readers to know about yourself? This could be a previously prepared bio; however, something customized exclusively for TopShelf Magazine would be greatly appreciated.

I’m a D.C. lawyer, and I write thrillers set in the insular world of the U.S. Supreme Court.

I’ve had several cases in the Supreme Court, and I try to take readers inside that fascinating community. But don’t worry, the real institution isn’t as dangerous as in my novels.

Please tell us a little about your new thriller, The Outsider.

The book is about a Supreme Court law clerk, but one unlike SCOTUS has ever www.TopShelfMagazine.net

How does your experience as a lawyer in the Appellate and U.S. Supreme Court influence your writing?

I draw on my experience and understanding of our court system to try to give the books a ring of authenticity. But unlike with my legal briefs, the fun with fiction is that I get to make up the facts.

How did you celebrate publishing of your first novel?

My daughter was hounding us to buy a dog, but we wanted to wait until she was a little older, so I said we’d get one if my book sold. So, when my first novel came out we got Lucy, our smelly Beagle.

Please explain to aspiring authors and booksellers how much work is required, even as a traditionally published author, to maintain

I’d hate to calculate the amount of time because it would likely mean I’ve been working at below minimum wage.

What’s the most important thing a bookstore can do for an author to promote sales? Obviously, every book cannot be front and center.

It is a challenge for booksellers because, as you note, not every book can be at the front table. My favorite stores rely on knowledgeable staff who keep up on the latest in thrillers, and make recommendations to customers.

HOLIDAY2017

WITH ANTHONY FRANZE

your current level of success?

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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

seen. Grayson Hernandez grew up in a rough part of D.C., and worked his way through a low-ranked law school only to graduate with massive student loans and no law job. The only work he can find is as a messenger, and it happens to be at the Supreme Court. One night after a long shift, he stumbles upon a violent mugging and rescues the victim, not realizing until later that it’s the Chief Justice of the United States. The Chief takes an interest in Gray, and soon he’s the newest law clerk at the Supreme Court, one of the most prestigious law jobs in the country.

Just as Gray begins to adapt to his new life, the FBI approaches him with unsettling news. The Feds thinks there’s a serial killer connected to the Supreme Court. Gray is the only person who didn’t work at One First Street at the time of the first murder; he’s an outsider who they can trust to report any suspicious goings-on inside the building.

Ultimately, to help find the killer obsessed with the high court will require not only Gray’s understanding of Supreme Court precedent and history, but, as it turns out, help from old friends he’d left behind.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS How big is your personal library? Who are some of your favorite authors?

We have a huge library. I was a big reader before being a published author, something I think is key to getting published. And my wife is an elementary school reading and writing teacher. I have many favorite authors. When I’m feeling like a great international espionage thriller, there’s Terry Hayes, Barry Lancet, Gayle Lynds, and Daniel Silva. If I want to read a witty tough guy, it’s Lee Child.

If I’m in the mood for twisty suspense, Joseph Finder, Lisa Gardner, Gregg Hurwitz, and James Patterson. And if I want psychological drama, Alafair Burke, Gillian Flynn, JT Ellison, and Lisa Unger. For family thrillers, I like Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay. Legal thrills, there’s Grisham, Dugoni, Fairstein, Grippando, and Turow. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors dreaming of making it big?

Yes: Write. All the hand-wringing about marketing, social media, having a “brand,” the state of publishing, etc., mean nothing if you don’t sit down and write.

Read more of our interview with Anthony Franze at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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HOLIDAY2017 17

interviews

What made you choose Alexander Graham Bell as the leader of the scientists protecting humankind against this terrifying secret?

WITH JAMES ROLLINS

JAMES ROLLINS is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages.

His Sigma series has been lauded as one of the "top crowd pleasers" (New York Times) and one of the "hottest summer reads" (People Magazine). In each novel, acclaimed for its originality, Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets––and he does it all at breakneck speed and with stunning insight.

Now, on with our discussion:

THE DEMON CROWN, slated to be released on December 5, 2017 is the 13th Sigma Force book you've written. Obviously, it's hard to maintain that momentum In a long series. How do you come up with fresh ideas to continuously evolve both the characters and the plot?

I actually have the opposite problem. I have so many thoughts and ideas for future books (or short stories) that I wish I could clone myself so I can get them out of my head. As to the origin for all those ideas, I always have my antennae up for three things: a piece of history that ends in a question mark, a tantalizing bit of science that makes me wonder “what if ?”, and finally some intriguing locale where those first two could collide. I collect all those www.TopShelfMagazine.net

In 2008 you were commissioned to write the novelization of INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL. How did this opportunity present itself and how exciting was that experience?

My earliest books were often compared to Indiana Jones, what with my mix of archaeology, crazy adventures, and international intrigue. So when I was approached to write the novelization to the fourth Indiana Jones movie, how could I refuse? I was a huge fan, even rushing wet from a weekend white-water rafting trip to a theater to catch a sneak preview of Raiders when it first debuted. So to be able to put on Indy’s hat and crack his whip—if only in my own head as I was writing the novel—was such great fun. I was also allowed to pepper a dozen or more new scenes into the story to flesh out the plot and characterizations, which was a dream come true.

Being an active spelunker and scuba diver, have you ever written any of your own personal adventures or experiences into one of your books?

A recurring theme in your novels seem to be the advancement of technology and how it affects us. What are your personal views on this advancement?

HOLIDAY2017

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

To me, Alexander Graham Bell could be a member of Sigma Force. Here we have a scientist and inventor who was not above a little skullduggery…in this case, literally. I was fascinated to learn that Mr. Bell at one point absconded in secret to Europe to steal the bones of the founder of the Smithsonian Institution from a graveyard in Genoa, Italy.

There, he bribed people, lied about his intentions, then in the middle of a snowstorm, he secured those bones and transported them back to America, where they reside today at the Smithsonian Castle.

All the time. My first novel, Subterranean, takes place almost entirely underground, leaning on my past hobby as a caver. My love of scuba diving gave rise to my third novel Deep Fathom, which deals with a marine salvage operation and the mayhem that follows when Air Force One crashes into the Pacific. I still love to travel, to explore off the beaten track. Some of my adventures (and misadventures) along the way were used in various novels over the years.

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tidbits on a daily basis, from reading newsfeeds, from magazines I subscribe to, or simply from asking someone “tell me something about this place that no one else knows about.” It’s the latter method that generates the best story ideas.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

As a veterinarian myself, I’ve always loved science, medicine, and technology, especially anything that’s cutting edge and new. In my books, it’s not so much the cogs and wheels of that new bit of science that intrigues me as it is where that technology might be heading and how it might affect our lives—good or bad. The rapid advancement of such technologies often challenges the moral compasses of society and to have that mirrored by my characters during their adventures adds that touch of relevancy to a novel. At least, I hope it does. I always love to hear from readers who have been intrigued by something I raise in one of the books and gone on ahead and pursued their own investigation into those subjects.

Looking back at your previous writing process versus your current one, what advice could you offer new authors that could help streamline their efforts?

When I was working full-time as a veterinarian, I made a commitment to write three double-spaced pages per day (5 out of 7 days of the week). It took me some trial and error to come to this schedule, but every writer needs to find that balance in their life.

To wait for inspiration before writing is seldom a path to success. I still keep to that schedule, though my page count is higher now that I write full-time.

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““JAW-DROPPING ... ...

EVERYTHINGI LOVE I LOVEININAABOOK. BOOK.” EVERYTHING

JAW DROPPING

~JAMES ROLLINS, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Seventh Plague ~ JAMES ROLLINS #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Seventh Plague

What What if if God's God's most most closely closely guarded guarded secret secret found found itself itself in in the the wrong wrong hands? hands?

“A CRISPLY PLOTTED LABYRINTH OF INTRIGUE, ACTION, AND ADVENTURE.” THE LIAHONA EFFECT THE LIAHONA EFFECT ~STEVE BERRY, New York Times “AN ADRENALINE-FUELED THRILL and #1 Internationally Bestselling Author RIDE FEATURING LOVE, FAITH, MYSTERY, AND REDEMPTION. OPEN UP TO PAGE “NOTONE TO BEAND MISSED. THEFOR BESTDEAR BOOK OF HANG ON LIFE.” ~ ALLAN LEVERONE NY Times & USA TODAY ITS KIND SINCE THE DA VINCI CODE.” Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, ~JONincluding LAND, USA Bestselling Author the TODAY acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT of over 38 Novels, including THE RISING and the acclaimed CAITLIN STRONG Series

“A CRISPLY PLOTTED LABYRINTH OF “AN ADRENALINE-FUELED THRILL INTRIGUE, ACTION, ADVENTURE.” RIDE FEATURING LOVE,AND FAITH, MYSTERY, ~ STEVE BERRY New York Times

Copyright Copyright©©2017 2017--TopShelf TopShelfPublishing Publishing

and #1 Internationally Author AND REDEMPTION. OPEN Bestselling UP TO PAGE ONE AND HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.” ~ALLAN LEVERONE, NY Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, including the acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT

“NOT TO BE MISSED. THE BEST BOOK OF ITS KIND SINCE THE DA VINCI CODE.” ~ JON LAND USA TODAY Bestselling Author of over 38 Novels, including THE RISING and the acclaimed CAITLIN STRONG Series

www.THELIAHONAEFFECT.com TopShelf Publishing United States of America www.TopShelfPub.com ISBN: 978-1946865007

The ultimate bookseller guide to indie authors and books

www.THELIAHONAEFFECT.com TopShelf Publishing

www.TopShelfPub.com

ISBN: 978-1946865007 1

interviews

What is one thing you wish you had known as a budding writer that you could share with other authors?

I’ve never had any formal training in writing, so for the longest time, I convinced myself that it would be impossible for me to ever get a book published. I read a lot… and I mean a LOT. And that instilled the desire to one day try my hand at writing, but again that earlier doubt competed with that desire to actually pick up pen and paper. But as I continued to read, it whetted that appetite to write, enough for me to finally squash that doubt. So if I had to share one wish: If you want to write— then write. It’s that simple.

You've been a member of a critique group since your early days. How has that been helpful to your writing career?

I joined my group long before I was ever published, and I’m still with the same circle of writers and readers today. They critique every page before it ever sees my editor. I’ve learned to value and appreciate their viewpoints, as each member brings their own eyes and background to the table. The group contains members with military backgrounds, PhDs, teachers, and housewives. They not only bring a critical eye, but also offer encouragement and support on the long road to composing a novel. They are my secret weapon. www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Back when I first started writing, author websites were a rarity. Today, all of the many outlets of social media allow an author to directly connect to a reader.

It’s one of the greatest marketing tools available to us. I remember decades ago trying to tell my publishing house about this new vehicle for telling people about my books. It was called Facebook. My house said basically “Don’t bother. It’s a fad.” I didn’t take their advice and was an early adopter of the platform. And it continues to this day. I love having that immediacy with my readership, whether it’s sharing something from my day or talking about the genesis of a new book.

I test titles via social media. I talk about plots and characters. It’s a great way of involving readers, of making them part of the process.

Is there any advice you could give to a small bookstore that you feel could give them an edge over a large chain?

In a word: Knowledge. I know that I value the opinion of those small bookstore employees, whether it’s those staff recommendation cards on bookshelves or simply chatting up a worker about what they’re reading and enjoying. You seldom get the level of personal attention and knowledge from chain stores. I would say almost every new author I started reading was first introduced to me by an independent bookstore seller. Word of mouth sells books far better than any expensive marketing plan. And that’s where small bookstores have a huge advantage: They love and live books.

That’s a well of strength and knowledge that a chain store will never match.

I understand that you warmly support American veterans and that you’re involved with The US 4 Warriors Foundation. Please explain a little about this fine organization and what your role is there?

My support for various veteran organizations came about when I participated in a USO tour of authors to

got the chance to visit Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital and met many of the warriors wounded on the battlefield. Upon coming home, I knew I wanted to do more. First, I worked with USA Cares (USACares.org), which raises emergency funds for vets in need, then most recently I joined US 4 Warriors (US4Warriors.org) as an advisory board member. The new charity started as a grassroots effort in San Diego and has since expanded nationwide. Besides helping to promote the social welfare of vets in a wide spectrum of activities, the latest endeavor also involves helping veterans tell their stories…and get published! So I’m excited as US 4 Warriors expands into this adventure.

HOLIDAY2017

Whenever I visit a bookstore, especially independents, I love to read those staff recommendation cards that are affixed to shelves below select titles. I’ve often discovered new authors through those recommendations. So if there were any stores with workers who enjoy my novels, any such endorsements would be greatly appreciated. It’s word-of-mouth that grows a readership far more effectively than any marketing campaign.

As a bestselling author, do you still do any of your Iraq and Kuwait in the winter of 2010. Prior to that trip abroad, I also own marketing and promotion, and if so, how?

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Obviously, not every book can be displayed front and center in a bookstore. But, let's say you had the ability to help your favorite bookstore merchandise your latest novel. How might you ensure that your book isn't lost in the crowd?

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

How much say do you have in the creation of your book covers? Is this something your publisher takes care of or do you like having say?

Ah, I wish I could say I had much input at all—or could take credit. But as a book’s cover is a significant marketing tool, the artwork is handled in-house at William Morrow by a crack team. They do keep me in the loop as a new cover undergoes the process of production, and the team asks me for ideas, but ultimately the final product usually has little or any of my fingerprints on them.

What was the most memorable thing that has happened to you throughout your writing career?

Far and above, it was meeting my literary heroes. And I think the greatest thrill of all was being able to interview Clive Cussler on stage at ThrillerFest. I was tongue-tied and in awe, having grown up reading the adventures of Dirk Pitt. And here was the author himself, seated across from me. It’s a moment I’ll treasure forever.

Read more of our interview with James Rollins at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

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spotlights

Anthony Awtrey

Anthony L. Awtrey $15.63 - 248 Pages Romance, Suspense ISBN: 978-0989476119

Despite his wealth, Alex Thompson has been living in fear since his wife died in childbirth. A frivolous wrongful death lawsuit, harassing phone calls, and anonymous threats drive him and his five-year-old twins away from their home in Houston and into the crosshairs of a sniper.

www.awtrey.com

by Regina Puckett CreateSpace $12.99 - 290 Pages Contemporary Romance ISBN: 978-1491232118

by L. B. Johnson Xulon Press $14.99 - 145 Pages Religion, Spirituality ISBN: 978-1498490719

by Larry D. Thompson Story Merchant $14.95 - 378 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-0989715478

by J.A. Gerber & Carole P. Roman CreateSpace $12.99 - 146 Pages Nonfiction, Writing Skills ISBN: 978-1537228068

by Rafael Amadeus Hines Rafael Hines $15.99 - 452 Pages Thriller, Suspense, Military ISBN: 978-0997091915

by Timothy Sunderland CreateSpace $11.99 - 322 Pages Family Life ISBN: 978-1534678309

by Patrick Bisher & Jon Land Post Hill Press $27.00 - 208 Pages - Hardcover Self-Help/Motivational ISBN: 978-1682613009

by Kathi Daley CreateSpace $10.99 - 208 Pages Thriller/Suspense, Amateur Sleuths ISBN: 978-1542944663

by Carol Marrs Phipps CreateSpace $12.99 - 434 Pages Science Fiction, Dystopian ISBN: 978-1533026408

by David Morrell Mulholland Books $27.00 - Hardcover - 352 Pages Historical, Thriller ISBN: 978-0316307901

22

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

interviews

was such an important moment? I’d gotten him a server, so he could

New York Times bestselling author, Mark Cheverton grew up in Southern California, going through high school, and college.

After college, Mark taught high school physics and math for many years. While teaching, he earned a Master's degree in Physics and conducted research on planetary atmospherics. His first book, The Algae Voices of Azule, was released in 2012, followed by the sequel shortly after.

In 2014, he released the first book in his Gameknight999 Minecraft series - Invasion of the Overworld, followed by Book 2: Battle for the Nether, and Book 3: Confronting the Dragon. This series made it to the New York Times bestseller list in February, 2015 and has been published in over 21 countries and translated into 10 languages across the globe. Currently, his second series, The Mystery of Herobrine has been released followed by his third series, called Herobrine Reborn. In 2016, Cheverton's 4th series, Herobrine's revenge will be released followed by his 5th series, the Birth of Herobrine later in that year.

You started playing Minecraft with your son after seeing the spectacular things he was able to build. Your first Minecraft novel came after a teachable moment in the game. Can you tell us about that experience, and why it www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Another of your missions is to inspire children to write their own stories. You've put together writing materials for teachers to use in the classroom. Tell us more about that and what inspired you.

Actually, it was the kids’ idea. After I released my first book, Invasion of the Overworld, I started receiving emails from

HOLIDAY2017

WITH MARK CHEVERTON

kids, with stories written about my characters, but the kids were creating the plot. I was stunned. Kids created amazing adventures for my characters, then started using their own characters, but there was one thing in common with the stories; they tended to just be battle scenes. I realized kids wanted to write stories, but didn’t understand the mechanics of storytelling. And I don’t mean punctuation, paragraph formation, commas and . . . I mean, how to do you form a story that will capture someone's attention and take them to the edge of their seat.][ So when these stories from kids were coming in, I decided I’d put some resources on my website to help them with their writing. I created a video series, sharing things I’d learned from writing books or conferences or writing workshops.

I created an example story, Battle with the Wither King, and explained how I would outline it, design the character, plot, setting and . . .then I wrote that short story, making it available to kids to download. It was my hope teachers would use these writing materials with their classes, see how I’d write as story, then show them the finished product.

Mr. Cheverton just released a new box set, The Gameknight999 Adventures Through Time Box Set: Six Unofficial Minecrafters Adventures, in anticipation of Xmas. It is available through your local bookseller.

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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

I’d gotten him a server, so he could play with friends and meet new people. A couple of players came on and ingratiated themselves to him, being helpful, kind and friendly. My son gave these kids administrator rights to the server, referred to as being OP’d. As soon as they were OP’s, these two kids came on late that night and destroyed everything he’d built.

My son has spent months building his skyscrapers, underwater village, diamond bridge, and space station in the sky. Those kids destroyed everything, recorded a video of it, said terrible foul things about him, and then sent him a link to the video on YouTube. He was crushed. We rebuilt the server and they came back again and again until we had to shut down the server. He asked me the question that many kids ask after they’ve been the victim of bullying, he asked, “Dad, what did I do to deserve this kind of treatment. I was nice to those kids and look what they did. I don’t understand.” I tried to explain to him this wasn’t about him, it was about those kids trying to feel important or powerful or in control or . . . but he didn’t get it. So I decided I’d use the thing he was obsessed with most, Minecraft, to teach him what kind of kid would do this and why it wasn’t his fault. It was one of the great moments in my life with my son.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Read more of our interview with Mark Cheverton at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAY2017

23

#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL AND #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS

A deranged killer is threatening the very lifeblood of the city that never sleeps. Special Agent SHOT DOWN Pendergast must match wits with his most dangerous foe— and survive the endless night.

ON SALE NOW

“A consistently exciting and never predictable series.”

—ASSOCIATED PRESS

AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER, EBOOK, LARGE PRINT, AND AUDIO

PrestonChild.com Photograph of city by Getty Images Photograph of cemetery by Scott Nobles

interviews

WITH PRESTON & CHILD

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are coauthors of the bestselling novels Relic, Mount Dragon, Reliquary, Riptide, Thunderhead, The Ice Limit, The Cabinet of Curiosities, Still Life with Crows, Brimstone, Dance of Death, The Book of the Dead, The Wheel of Darkness, Cemetery Dance, Fever Dream, Gideon's Sword, Cold Vengeance, Gideon's Corpse, and now City of Endless Night.

Preston’s bestselling nonfiction book, The Monster of Florence, is being made into a major motion picture. His interests include horses, scuba diving, skiing, and exploring the Maine coast in an old lobster boat. Lincoln Child is a former book editor who has published four bestselling novels of his own. He is passionate about motorcycles, exotic parrots, and nineteenth-century English literature.

Please tell us a little about your upcoming book, CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT? Lincoln Child: It’s our latest Agent Pendergast novel and it features a series of frightening and inexplicable murders— committed by someone who becomes known as “The Decapitator”—that plague New York during a busy, frigid holiday season.

What do you think your fans will enjoy the most about this upcoming book? www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Lincoln Child: When I worked as an editor at St. Martin’s Press, I was a big fan of New York’s Museum of Natural History. I thought that a behind-thescenes look at the museum would make for an interesting book, and after some research I found that a museum employee, Douglas Preston, seemed the ideal person to write such a book. A contract was signed; Doug wrote Dinosaurs; we got to talking about fiction instead of nonfiction…and somehow that ultimately resulted in our first joint novel, Relic.

In what ways has writing together made you better authors?

Douglas Preston: Writing for a writer is like practicing the piano for a musician or skiing for an Olympic skier. You need to do it every day to stay in good form. What we do is encourage, inspire (and sometimes nag) each other to put in that good day’s work.

No slacking allowed in a partnership. I have learned more from Linc about writing than anyone else by far. We are each other’s teachers and pupils simultaneously.

What’s something you wish you had known in the beginning of your careers, that you would be willing to share with new authors?

Douglas Preston: In a weird way a lot of the decisions I made as a young author, in pure ignorance, turned out to have

Explain to aspiring authors and booksellers just how much work you do, even as a traditionally published bestselling author, to maintain your level of success?

HOLIDAY2017

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Your first writing collaboration started when you, Mr. Child, edited a book about the Natural History Museum, called DINOSAURS IN THE ATTIC for Mr. Preston. How did that collaboration turn into this thrilling legacy?

been good decisions. There isn’t much I regret. One thing though: I wish I had quit my day job, left New York City, and started writing full time a few years earlier. I spent eight years working in New York at a job when I should have spent four or five. Of course, I would’ve starved longer, but starvation is part of becoming a successful author.

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Lincoln Child: Among other things, we hope they like the always-popular New York City locales Pendergast tends to haunt; the fact that he is working again with his old partner Lieutenant D’Agosta; and that the book is a standalone adventure requiring minimal prior knowledge of the protagonist’s history (and yet also tries to reward that knowledge when it exists!)

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Douglas Preston: When I was cast down by how poorly one of my books sold, my editor told me: “It’s not a book; it’s a career.” You can’t just write books; a lot of other work must go into it. No one out there gives much of a damn if your book sells or not. Only you can make your books successful. Writing the very best books you can is, of course, the one vital ingredient. Linc and I have a mortal fear of falling into a rut or just writing books by formula. We always strive to be original, we constantly challenge each other to do better, and we also care a great deal about English, and we feel privileged to be working in such a beautiful language. Writing evocative and original English prose is not easy.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve seen bookstores make? And how would you suggest they fix it?

Douglas Preston: In the age of Amazon, a bookstore has to bring to the customer something that can’t be found online. That would include author events, book signings, support to the local literary community, creating a warm and inviting environment, and building good rapport with customers.

Having a children’s section where kids can sit on the floor, select and browse through books is also important. You can’t survive just selling books anymore, because bookstores can’t compete with Amazon on price.

Read more of our interview with Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAY2017

25

H

MEET A REAL AMERICAN HERO H A RESCUE GONE WRONG.

A DEADLY DOUBLE CROSS.

Special agent Jonathan Grave faces his fiercest challenge yet in the

explosive new thriller as he tries to thwart a deadly plot that could bring America to her knees.

“Fast-paced, well plotted action.”

—BOOKLIST Available Everywhere Books Are Sold E N S I N G T O N B O O K S . C O M • J O H N G I L S T R A P. C O M

The Jonathan Grave Thriller Series

A DESPERATE RACE TO FREEDOM.

american drifter

reviews

ANGST-RIDDLED an unexpected afterlife TRIUMPH OF ROMANTIC PURE JOY AND VERY SUSPENSE! SATISFYING! American Drifter, a romantic thriller pairing the unlikely duo of megabestselling author Heather Graham with actor Chad Heather Graham Michael Murray, reminds me of classics ranging from Hitchcock’s Vertigo to Brian DePalma’s Obsession. Its hero, River Roulet, is an American war vet seeking relief from the PTSD symptoms that have plagued him with memories he can’t shake. Desperate for an answer, he flees to Brazil, the personal Xanadu he’s always dreamed of visiting, in the hope that dream can trump reality. Unfortunately, his efforts run him afoul of a notorious drug lord and gangster who takes offense at River’s running off with his girlfriend www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Complex, interesting characters in a most unusual situation. Moshe Karlin wakes up lying on the dirt in a cemetery, naked and alone, with no recollection of how he came to be there. Before long he learns the alarming truth: he died two years before. This novel grabbed my attention from the get-go with all its possibilities, and it was a great read.

In addition to being highly creative in his premise, Sofer gives us humor and adventure as well as raising a number of questions. Among them: Would it really be so great to come back from the dead?

Dan Sofer Are there people

HOLIDAY2017

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

already among us who are more than they appear to be?

Throughout the action, the author brings modern-day Israel to life for those of us who have never been there, as well as providing interesting details about Jewish tradition, Judaism’s belief in the Resurrection of the Dead, and its anticipation of the End of Days.

Moshe’s story––at least for the moment––was resolved well enough, and I hope that future books will tell us more about the fates of his fellow resurrectees. As one who enjoys novels that teach me something, as well as being wellwritten, edited, and proofread, I found this book to be pure joy and very satisfying entertainment.

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Natal. The couple’s attempted escape takes them deep into the heart of the rainforest where a shattering twist lurks amid the foliage. This wondrously effective debut from Murray and departure for Graham is as steamy and lavish as its Brazilian settings. The best book of its kind since Robert Stone’s Dog Soldiers and a stunning, angstriddled triumph of romantic suspense.

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REVIEWS

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOSEPH FINDER

ONE OF THE BEST THRILLER WRITERS IN THE BUSINESS .”

“

Finder is “a master at making the reader feel

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every emotion , jump at every shock, and squirm with every twist .”

— A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S *

A simple mix-up throws one innocent man into the crosshairs of sinister government secrets.

ON SALE JUNE 13

AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK

AUDIO AVAILABLE

*

cashed out

reviews

TOPShelf

REVIEWS the man’s murder and you’ve got the makings of a crack courtroom thriller staged against a starkly original backdrop. Cashed Out cashes in on a character culled from the likes of Michael Connolly by way of James Lee Burke, thanks to the steamy Louisiana settings. A gem of a tale I’m so glad found its way to my in-box.

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A GEM OF A TALE!

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loose, leaving the authorities stymied with no leads or possible connections, other than the victims are all ultra-rich. Time is running out, more so when the killer sets his sights on Pendergast.

Once again, Preston and Child have constructed an absorbing whodunnit with a sardonic twist in their latest thriller. Long-time fans of the wonderfully enigmatic ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews Pendergast will be glued to the last several pages, paralyzed with breathless anticipation, awaiting the final outcome as he faces his most capable adversary to date. Filled with nailbiting suspense, City of Endless Night Speaking of is an addictive page-turner that twisted and "What better place to find such icons will have readers hooked from its shady, you’ll very first, to its very last sentence. need a thousand- of excess than among the one watt bulb to cut percenters in New York City? And ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews what better place to sow vengeance— through the to, quite literally, turn Gotham into a darkness that Michael H. Rubin City of Endless Night?" It starts with permeates Michael Rubin’s finding the decapitated body of rich Cashed Out. Daring to write in the socialite, Grace Ozmian, daughter of tech billionaire, Anton Ozmian. staccato, hard-nosed style Lieutenant CDS Vincent D'Agosta is championed by the likes of the incomparable Don Winslow, Rubin called to the scene and happy to be reunited with FBI Special Agent introduces us to “Schex” Schexnaydre, a name as challenging A.X.L. Pendergast, whom previously worked a case as his current plight. Schex is a with him at the lawyer down and out enough to Museum of make John Grisham proud. That is, Natural History. until a businessman who’s made his fortune in the toxic waste industry is One body begets another, and then murdered with $5 million of his even more. A toxic cash stashed in Schex’s bank ruthless killer––or account. Add to that the fact that Preston and Child killers––is on the Schex’s own ex-wife is arrested for

city of endless night

NAIL-BITING SUSPENSE!

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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USE OF FORCE

daily writing resilience

reviews

TOPShelf

REVIEWS authors of all levels. Daily Writing Resilience is, without a doubt, a book that belongs on the desk of every author, every day.

end game

BELONGS ON THE DESK OF EVERY AUTHOR! STORYTELLING OF THE HIGHEST ORDER! Bryan Robinson speaks candidly about the challenges that

While Jack Reacher’s clearly a one-man show, David Baldacci offers two for the price of one in authors face, the persons of Will Robie and and how to have Jessica Reel in the exemplary End resilience–– Game. And, interestingly enough, Bryan E. Robinson

better yet, perseverance, in

spite of those challenges. With a full year's worth of meditations and inspirations, a plethora of practical know-how awaits every page. Starting every morning off with a page of this book will feel as if you have your own personal life coach, who has walked in your shoes, and is now cheering you on.

Whether sitting down to write for www.TopShelfMagazine.net

find what they came for, no matter how many bodies they have to leave on their way.

This is storytelling of the

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Grand, Colorado in a kind of modern-day retelling of the classic Spencer Tracy film Bad Day at Black Rock. Like ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews Tracy’s John J. Macreedy, they aren’t going to stop until they

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the first time, a seasoned pro, or thrives in laying waste to. No somewhere in between, these daily slouches themselves, Robie and doses of pick-me-up speaks to Reel find themselves in lawless

highest order, at once equal parts crime noir and action thriller fashioned by a master at the absolute top of his game. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

the comparison doesn’t end there.

That’s because the path Baldacci’s seminal series pairing takes on the trail of their missing handler the “Blue Man,” takes them to the kind of

David Baldacci

small, out-ofthe-way town Reacher

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An overzealous journalist and his cameraman find themselves at an explosive crossroads while capturing the “perfect shot.” Months later the journalist is stalked by his dead cameraman.

.

.

.

TopShelf Publishing Manchester, NH United States www.TopShelfPub.com ISBN: 978-1946865021

32

TopShelf Magazine – www.TopShelfIndie.com

evolution revolution

reviews

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

causing her sanity to come into question. She hears voices in her head and sees a dark man in her dreams. She blames the delusions on the accident. But the dark man is all too real.

With extreme bravery, JC Brennan takes on the story of the original vampire––Vlad ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews Tepes, better known as Dracula. Using her unique flair and style, Brennan gives the story a refreshing makeover, giving the undead an empathetic human touch.

Lover's of compelling mysteries will relish this as devilish twists and turns lead to dark and sinister secrets. Eternal Bloodlines captivates from the start and refuses to let go!

"Be careful what you wish for."

Twenty-four-year-old Amanda ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews Holston dreams of getting a little excitement in her life. In the sleepy town of Skidway Lake that may be asking too much. One snowy morning, while walking through the woods, Amanda stumbles upon the mutilated remains of a young woman. Hours later, police uncover two more bodies.

Just when things seem to be getting interesting, Amanda is in a near fatal J.C. Brennan accident,

In the quiet woodlands just outside a newly developed neighborhood, lives a spunky squirrel fondly Charlotte Bennardo named Jack by his young human friend. When machines come to tear down his home and the homes of the other woodland animals, Jack wants to do something never done before–– fight back. Learning tactics from his human friend and enlisting the help of all the animals, his plan may just have a fighting chance.

Written with the same classic flair as Charlotte's Web and The Velveteen Rabbit, Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines contains everything you www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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A GREAT READ FOR CHILDREN AT BEDTIME!

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want in a beloved children's book.

Delightful characters spring to life in a vividly described woodland, complete with beautifully illustrated pictures. Perfect for older children looking for a great read, or to read to the young ones as a bedtime story.

eternal bloodlines

CAPTIVATES FROM THE START AND REFUSES TO LET GO!

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“An engrossing read for fans of historical fiction.” ~Kirkus Reviews

“Goldstein's experience in historical writing shows and her deftness boosts the readability as well as the excitement of Death of a Diva.” ~ Reader's Favorite

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i know a secret

reviews

in the shadow of the hanging tree

BEST OF ITS KIND SINCE THE OUTCOME WILL KEEP RED DRAGON AND SILENCE OF THE LAMBS! YOU THINKING LONG AFTER THE FINAL WORDS HAVE BEEN READ! Tess Gerritsen’s chilling I Know a Secret brings her intrepid team of Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles back to the page in a book that’s as Tess Gerritsen harrowing as it is horrifying. A serial killer tale extraordinaire. That’s what confronts our series stalwarts when one gruesome murder piled atop a second both seem to suggest the reenactment of scenes plucked from horror films, a clue to which may lie with Maura’s dying mother, once a notorious serial killer in her own right. The complex tale weaves through both history and quasireality in constructing an elegant puzzle reminiscent of the great film www.TopShelfMagazine.net

The outcome will keep you thinking about their stories long after the final words has been read! This engrossing novel immerses the reader in the reality of post-Civil War America, following the intertwining stories of a freed slave, a high-minded West Point cadet, and a strong-willed young woman struggling to live their lives in an era of brutality and greed. We experience the terror of newly freed slaves pursued by angry white men filled with hatred. We see the power wielded by wealthy men Michael A. McLellan intent on controlling

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~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

everyone around them and witness the mindless slaughter of indigenous people as mercenaries and military seek to incite Indian uprisings to justify taking their land. At the same time, we know what a band of renegade Indians has done to white settlers and how their leader treats a female captive. There's the good, the bad, and everything in between as we travel with these multisided characters on their quests for freedom from personal oppression. The result is a book full of believable people who take you along on a journey with no guarantees that things will go well. As in real life, predictability is not an aspect here, and the outcome will keep you thinking about their stories long after the final words has been read.

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Seven that only our stalwart duo can unravel as the bodies continue to mount. Gerritsen has never been better and her seasoned mix of police procedural and psychological horrorthriller makes for a savory dish easily consumed in a single sitting. You see, I know a secret too: This book is the best of its kind since Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs.

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

~Rosemary FiField, TopShelf Reviews

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spotlights

Jane B

A Disturbing Psychological Thriller

Tredition Gmbh $16.80 - 168 Pages Contemporary Fiction ISBN: 978-3743937109

36

People don’t dare speak about the darker side of motherhood.

And the victims often remain silent – too young to speak for themselves, or merely unable to understand that what is happening to them is anything other than normal. After all, mother knows best... Right?

www.janebonline.com

by Stephen Perkins Star Born Publishing LTD $14.99 - 296 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1641368117

by Cate Beauman CreateSpace $14.99 - 452 Pages Romance, Suspense ISBN: 978-1519659996

by Paige Dearth CreateSpace $19.95 - 504 Pages Horror ISBN: 978-1544212654

by Bryan E. Robinson, PhD Llewellyn Publications $19.99 - 432 Pages Motivational, Reference ISBN: 978-0738753430

by Armand Rosamilia CreateSpace $12.99 - 206 Pages Crime Thriller ISBN: 978-1523692149

by Keith Katsikas TopShelf Publishing $16.99 - 318 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-0981761961

by Shellie Blum Shellie Blum, LLC $16.79 - 238 Pages Biographies, Memoirs ISBN: 978-0996366908

by K.J. Heritage CreateSpace $12.99 - 344 Pages Science Fiction, Time Travel ISBN: 978-1548108625

by Ethel C. Richard Well Health Publications $16.99 - 140 Pages Biography, Ethnic & National ISBN: 978-1946865090

by Millys Altman CreateSpace $5.99 - 54 Pages Medical, Biography ISBN: 978-1975826543

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

london bridge is falling down

REVIEWS himself. With him chasing the bad

destroy his career, as well as

guys, and the cops chasing him, who

himself. You know what they say

will catch who first? A classic

about making a deal with the

whodunit best describes this read.

devil, for which the New York

The author has a smooth, lyrical

mob proves an able stand-in as,

writing style that is immediately

in ironic counterpoint, Dolan is

entrancing to his audience. Chock full of mystery and suspense, London

forced to become everything he hates to save everything he loves.

Bridge is Falling Down is full of the

This must be the month for

traditional twists and turns that

gritty morality tales, and

make for a good espionage story.

Rubinstein attacks his with a skill

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

robbery goes horribly wrong for

A MASTERFUL MODERN DAY CRIME!

Paul Hollis

when a senator is

Mark Rubinstein’s mastery of the New York street scene is on keen

murdered. Bunney

display in the final installment of his

swears he had

“Mad Dog” trilogy, Mad Dog

nothing to do with the murder, citing

Vengeance. Aptly titled, given that

that the IRA has a list of prominent

this luridly effective tale starts with a

politicians they plan to murder.

vengeance and never slows up Once

Meanwhile, strategically placed

again, physician (psychiatrist,

bombs are going off, taking out important members of the English

actually)

government. Doc––an American working for the NSA––along with his

fictional doppelgänger,

girlfriend and M16 partner, Zita,

surgeon Roddy

have been tasked to find Bunney and

Dolan, finds

this elusive list. At every crime scene, Doc happens to be at the www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Harlan Coben with a smidge Linda Fairstein, seasoned with just enough Andrew Vaachs. And that makes Mad Dog Vengeance a masterful modern-day crime tale, infused with both charm and depth. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

Kenneth Bunney and his small group of provos

and aplomb that blends a dash of

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dirty dealings that threaten to

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center of it, placing suspicion upon

mad dog vengeance An attempted

TOPShelf

MORETTI’S CHARACTERS & PLACES COME ALIVE!

reviews

Rubinstein’s

Mark Rubinstein

himself embroiled in

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“Delivers... Riveting character back stories.”

~ Kirkus Reviews

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“Beautifully crafted... The author has an excellent writing style… perfectly suited for this genre.” ~ Writer’s Digest

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maya

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

town's abandoned mine. Once the premier producer of jobs, the mine has since been shut down more often than not and seeing it open today and with such a high level of security, raises suspicion––later bolstered when a virus leaks into the air and a government vaccine is the only cure. With martial law declared and the clock racing toward the town's utter destruction, a sinister plot unfolds. Set in a not so distant future, this story is both thoughtprovoking and disturbing.

Resurrection America showcases an immaculately drawn cast of characters and is a chilling tale, sure to captivate readers from the first page to the downright shocking last.

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www.TopShelfMagazine.net

What follows for her are years of psychological abuse and isolation in a dysfunctional marriage, life-threatening illnesses, and three children who are ignored by their maniacal father, even when their welfare is at stake. What sustains her throughout is her own strength of character, her belief system, and her sense of duty. Eventually, she realizes that her husband will never change, and only she can make the decision to change the course of her life and the lives of her children. For a woman in her culture and circumstance, breaking with tradition takes incredible courage and is not without risk, but she finds the strength to do so. The last chapters of the book are her take on finding the power within and achieving inner peace in the face of tremendous adversity.

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Only she can make the decision to change the course of her life and the lives of her children! This true story begins with Teren Hanz nineteen-year-old Maya, born and raised in India, attending college in the 1970s, working toward her dream of independence and self-sufficiency. Her parents, however, are traditional Sikhs, and when the opportunity for an arranged marriage suddenly presents itself, they commit her to an older man totally unknown to them or Maya. The marriage takes place within a week, giving neither her family nor Maya time to learn anything about the man, who is not the person they have been led to believe he is.

REVIEWS

TOPShelf

BREAKING TRADITION TAKES COURAGE AND IS NOT WITHOUT RISK!

reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

resurrection america A CHILLING TALE, SURE TO CAPTIVATE READERS FROM THE FIRST PAGE TO THE DOWNRIGHT SHOCKING LAST!

Jeff Gunhus

Former Marine, today the Sheriff of the small town of Resurrection Colorado, Rick Johnson is following up on a lead about the

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39

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revenants

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

plane crash once again serves as the catalyst, a plane this time carrying enough cocaine to cover an entire season of the classic Miami Vice TV show. Our (dark) heroes Zack, Steve and Curt happen upon the stash while hunting in the hinterlands of Montana—a deft touch, given they’re about to become hunted themselves by cops, killers and cartels alike. All of a sudden, the found money that’s the answer to all their problems becomes the source of far more. At its best, which is most of the time, Bond’s latest reads like a less showy and manipulative No Country for Old Men. A simple story at its heart that warps into a splendid morality tale, Snow is wrapped as tightly as a Christmas bow and just as much fun as what’s inside the box.

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www.TopShelfMagazine.net

unearthing the soldier’s life story, the girl comes to realize the significance of honoring her brother’s memory by living her own life to the fullest. This absorbing book takes the reader into the trenches of WWI as well as into the hearts and minds of the characters who have lost loved ones in Vietnam or WWI. We witness the pain experienced by siblings, the despair and heartbreak of parents, and the anguish of girlfriends and fiancés who still suffer decades later. We can only try to imagine the hell of being trapped in what remains of a body after horrifying injuries that render one unable to hear, see, walk, or communicate. At the same time, we watch the human spirit fight back, overcome, and go on.

This is not a light or happy book, but it is a book well worth reading.

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This absorbing book takes the reader into the trenches of WWI as well as into the hearts and minds of the characters! In an Ohio hospital in Scott Kauffman 1973, an unknown veteran of World War I is secreted away in a hidden room. Meanwhile, a teenaged candy striper working in that hospital has recently lost her brother in Viet Nam and is now making bad decisions that threaten to derail her future. When she accidentally discovers the hideously injured old soldier, she decides she will get him home to his family before he dies. No one seems to know who he is or where he comes from, except for one person who has good reason to keep him hidden. In the process of

REVIEWS

TOPShelf

A BOOK WELL WORTH READING!

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~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

snow

A SIMPLE STORY THAT WARPS INTO A SPLENDID MORALITY TALE!

Mike Bond

This being the month for gritty noir, let’s turn next to Snow by Mike Bond, a book that hits many of the same notes as Scott Smith’s sterling A Simple Plan. A

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“Engaging legal tale.” ~ KIRKUS REVIEWS

SHOT DOWN

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DUGONI #1 Amazon,

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strong to the bone

REVIEWS tapping hidden human capital

A thrilling adventure spanning over decades is Land's ninth addition to the Caitlin Strong series. In 1944 Texas Ranger Earl Jon Land Strong is dispatched to an erected holding camp for Germany's prisoner's of war in Hearne Texas. A prisoner has escaped after killing three men bringing the attention of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. In present day, fifth generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong is dealing with the fallout of that investigation. A modern-day Nazi movement has risen again––the likes of which haven't been seen since WWII. The leader of the movement has manpower, guns, and access to a www.TopShelfMagazine.net

A MUST-READ FOR ALL PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN TODAY’S HIRING PRACTICES!

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~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

efforts on those with disabilities and aging issues. When told by "experts" that her daughter, Sara––born with Down’s Syndrome––would be lucky to gather shopping carts for a living, Debra refused to accept this and started an organization devoted to helping companies see the worth and potential in hiring disabled employees. Debra shares her essential step-by-step guide for business executives to create accessible jobs for all. Citing numerous case studies and positive Corporate feedback, she verifies that these practices are effective in employing an underutilized market of great potential. Tapping Into Hidden Human Capital is a well developed, enlightening roadmap... a must-read for all personnel involved in today's hiring practices.

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biological weapon that can spread worldwide annihilation––but he's never been up against a powerhouse like Caitlin––who's just as unconventional and stubborn as her ancestors. Picking up where her grandfather left off, Caitlin will fight to the death to end the domination of a deranged madman.

Bringing some added heat to the hot Texas nights, this intensely suspenseful thriller is a fiery read. Infused with action, enchanting characters and a smartly plotted storyline, Strong to the Bone combines history and cutting-edge technology––creating a razor sharp read.

TOPShelf

A RAZOR SHARP READ!

reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

The largest minority group in the United States is person's with disabilities, affecting one out of every three households. Convinced that “the real disability is being unable to see human potential,” Debra Ruh–– speaker, author, and consultant for Human Potential––is Debra Ruh focusing her

TOPShelf magazine

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www.raymondbenson.com SHOT DOWN

Photo by Katherine Tootelian

NY Times Bestselling Author of over 35 books including the acclaimed “Black Stiletto� saga and six original 007 novels.

touched by darkness

reviews

STEP ASIDE TWILIGHT! Step aside Twilight; there's a new vampire tale in town!

Ambitious and career driven, Chris Blevins is the youngest news anchor at Micah Richards Channel 9's news station. He's succeeded where other's have failed. Now his hard work has paid off. He's given the promotion of a lifetime to Editor in Chief at his company's newspaper. His boss, Chandler Preston has taken a personal interest in him. He's also found the woman of his dreams. Things couldn't be more right. That is until a night in the woods changes his life forever.

Vampires and werewolves, once thought just to be myth and legends, are horrifically all too real. In Touched www.TopShelfMagazine.net

the demon crown

FLAWLESS, PULSEPOUNDING THRILLER! With his unique blend of science, history and terrific storytelling skills, Rollins brings forth his most chilling Sigma Force read to date. In 1903 Alexander Graham Bell, along with his wife, Mabel, rush to Italy on a covert mission to secure the remains of James Smithson––founder of the Smithsonian Institute––after receiving word that his remains were in danger via a trusted friend.

Buried alongside Smithson's body, Bell discoverers a secret that could solve the mysteries of life after death, but also the ability James Rollins for mass

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~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

genocidal destruction. Years later, it has fallen into the enemy's hands for that very means. Commander Grayson Pierce, along with former Guild member and girlfriend, Seichan, are on the island of Maui when the first attack hits. Within hours, the island is overrun with the terrible evil unleashed. With no time to lose, Gray must make a deal with the devil to have a chance at saving the human race, even if that means the ultimate sacrifice. Rollins creates a fearsome picture in his newest masterpiece. An utterly plausible future scenario, combined with a tightly woven storyline, renders this a stupendous, yet terrifying read.

Suspenseful and action-packed, The Demon Crown is a pulse-pounding thriller flawlessly executed.

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By Darkness, Micah Richards has done a superb job at reanimating legends of old. Gone is the glitter and glam of Hollywood, replaced by the mythological tale of Vlad IV, the descendant of Vlad the Impaler, the original vampire, better known as Dracula. An enchanting story that will have young adult fans of the supernatural anxiously awaiting more!

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

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spotlights

Steve Snyder

Sea Breeze Publishing LLC $21.55 - 376 Pages History, Military ISBN: 978-0986076008

46

Steve began his quest to learn about the World War II experiences of his father, pilot Howard Snyder, and his crew of the B-17, Susan Ruth, named after his older sister. It became his passion, and after 4 1/2 years of dedicated research, resulted in his book, SHOT DOWN which has received over 20 national book awards.

SteveSnyderOnline.com

by John Evans TopShelf Publishing $28.99 - 200 Pages Supernatural, Thriller ISBN: 978-1946865021

by Dennis Meredith Glyphus LLC $16.95 - 292 Pages Science Fiction, Fantasy ISBN: 978-1939118226

by R.L. Herron CreateSpace $14.99 - 292 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1475106237

by Richard Bard CreateSpace $16.99 - 418 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1533257604

by Laura Simmons Outskirts Press $15.95 - 244 Pages Romance, Paranormal, Time Travel ISBN: 978-1478783886

by Tricia Stewart Shiu Human Being Publishing $12.95 - 148 Pages Contemporary Women ISBN: 978-0996881609

by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne CreateSpace $8.50 - 62 Pages Childrens Book ISBN: 978-1523248025

by Lynne Constantine Sailor Dance Publishing $13.95 - 330 Pages Political Thriller ISBN: 978-0997694215

by Teymour Shahabi PageWing, Inc. $15.95 - 370 Pages YA, Supernatural ISBN: 978-0997876017

by Robert Bidinotto Braveship Books $18.00 - 482 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1939398864

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

the liahona effect

reviews

Did you see that Dan Brown has a new book out?

That one never made it to my inbox, so I thought I’d cover Keith Katsikas’ Keith Katsikas The Liahona Effect instead, which proved to be the next best thing. We start with the murder of the modern-day leader of the Mormon Church, sparking a worldwide race to uncover an ancient mystery rooted in a combination of history and myth.

At the heart of the mystery lies not only a long-buried secret, but also a powerful relic to which the secret is connected. At the helm, steering us through this maelstrom, is Michael DiBianco and his wife, Crystal, who happens to be a cryptologist and www.TopShelfMagazine.net

the midnight line

A TUMULTUOUS TRILLER THAT SUCCEEDS AT EVERY LEVEL!

his hackles and his suspicions

since what self-respecting soldier would ever part with such a symbol? A victim, it turns out, of the kind of bad guys Reacher revels in bringing to justice.

Turns out many other victims have already been claimed, with more in the offing until our nomadic, modern-day gunfighter takes up the chase. Child’s prose (third person, in this case) has its

HOLIDAY2017

A SUMPTUOUSLY SCINTILLATING TALE!

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

graduation ring, plenty to raise

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thus just the person to help unravel the cobweb-shrouded subterfuge.

The Liahona Effect strikes the same chords, and hits the same notes, as The Da Vinci Code, only in streamlined form. A sumptuously scintillating tale that delivers on its promise, making Katsikas a potential heir to the throne currently occupied by the likes of James Rollins and Steve Berry.

TOPShelf

REVIEWS usual edge and Reacher himself

has never been sharper. A human knife slicing through anything and everything in his way in a terrific, tumultuous thriller that succeeds at every level. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

Jack Reacher, the best series hero in thrillers today, seems even bigger than usual in Lee Child’s mesmerizing The Midnight Line, in which he finds himself embroiled in a high stakes criminal conspiracy that raises the stakes considerably from his past adventures. The set-up is pure gold, with Reacher typically stepping off a bus to stretch his legs and happening upon something that sets the story off to the races.

Lee Child

In this case, it’s a West Point

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"Once you start reading, you’ll be hooked.” - Suspense Magazine “Mandatory reading for any thriller aficionado.”

- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The 14th Colony

“Fans of Brad Meltzer and James Rollins will love THE VERITAS DECEPTION.” - Anthony Franze, Author of The Advocate’s Daughter & The Outsider

“A delicious blend of desperation and intrigue.”

- Sandra Brannan, Author of The Liv Bergen Mystery Series

WHAT IF THE MEDIA, THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD, AND KEY PLAYERS IN

WASHINGTON WERE CONSPIRING TO DECEIVE YOU?

THE VERITAS DECEPTION - Imagine if the media, the entertainment world, and key players in Washington were conspiring to deceive you––if nothing could be taken at face value; if those you trusted most were a part of the deception.

Days after US Senator Malcolm Phillips changes his vote on a bill he sponsored, he is murdered and his death disguised as an accident. He contacted one man before he died: investigative journalist, Jack Logan. He left Jack a single clue to help him uncover the truth and keep Phillips's widow, Taylor, safe. But safe from whom?

Jack and Taylor's desperate hunt leads them to a vast network of corrupt authority, controlling everything from social media and television programming to law enforcement and US legislation. The key to unraveling a complex web of lies is a set of ancient relics, dating back to the time of Christ. But what do these relics have to do with a senator's death?

Allies turn to foes when Jack and Taylor discover that those closest to them are part of the conspiracy and that they too have been manipulated. How long has a puppet master been pulling their strings––and will Jack and Taylor trust the right people long enough to win what becomes a colossal battle for souls?

www.LynneConstantine.com 2017 © Sailor Dance Publishing

the miseries of mister sparrows

REVIEWS

The setting is not exactly London but the very similar city of Claudon, capital of Albion, on the banks of the River Plew. Our antihero, Mr. Robin Matthew A.J. Sparrows, is a Timmins lowly legal clerk who is paid a pittance to do menial tasks for a disreputable law firm. He’s a timid, self-effacing fellow who falls prey to all sorts of dilemmas, most often due to the nefarious behavior of others. Still, his sense of duty propels him forward and keeps him going as he seeks to deliver a package to the Empire’s most notorious criminal, a man responsible for starting the Crocodile War with the nation of Crocodon. This is probably the most unusual work I’ve reviewed in a very long time. It reads like a historical novel set in Victorian London, with a strong www.TopShelfMagazine.net

the rules of magic

ALICE HOFFMAN DRAWS YOU IN AND MAKES YOU LOVE HER CHARACTERS!

HOLIDAY2017

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

courage. That’s not to say that all will go well, but what is living really about and when is fate just fate, and no one’s fault? In true Alice Hoffman style, the characters are engaging individuals who draw you into their unique world, and quickly involve you in their lives. While one can tire of the tales of young people discovering their magical abilities, the Owens girls have always known they were different; witchcraft has been in their bloodline for centuries.

Whether or not you knew of Jet and Franny before, The Rules of Magic will make them people you care about as they navigate their way through the complexities of life. As one who had no knowledge of either the novel or the movie prior to reading this book, I can attest that The Rules of Magic is a standalone story that needs no previous awareness of the Owens family or their house on Magnolia Street to be enjoyed.

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sense of place and gritty, Dickensian characters with lots of quirks and warts.

The writing is superb. I found myself chuckling at clever similes and plays on words as well as the outlandish situations in which the hapless Robin finds himself. The eccentric characters are entertaining, and the names of places and the people have the sparkling creativity of J.K. Rowling. Readers with an appreciation for the mildly absurd and those who enjoy clever narrative and strong writing skills will find this refreshing novel most entertaining. If Mr. Sparrows were to return with new adventures, I would be happy to meet up with him again.

TOPShelf

SPARKLING CREATIVITY OF J.K. ROWLING!

reviews

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

The prequel to Alice Hoffman’s novel Practical Magic, made into a movie in 1998, The Rules of Magic begins in the 1960s, when sisters Jet and Franny are children living in New York City with their parents and younger brother, Vincent. Vincent–– a rare wizard in a long line of witches––has his own approach to dealing with the curse, and the example he sets inspires his sisters Alice Hoffman to find their own

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“Packed with action, suspense, and a surprise double twist that will keep you guessing until the very end, America’s #1 bestselling author has truly brought out the in this latest installment!”

– TopShelf Reviews

SHOT DOWN

www.rlstine.com ISBN: 978-1250058966

R.L. Stine brings back his most beloved characters since the original series––the cheerleaders of Shadyside High––in this, the sixth installment in the relaunch of the runaway bestselling Fear Street series, which has sold more than 80 million copies around the world.

the spider and the stone

REVIEWS the unwilling recruit

Covering the years 1296 to 1330, the book brings to life the struggles of disparate and often warring Scottish clans to name a king they can all support Glen Craney while striving to rid Scotland of rule by the English kings Edward I, II, and III. Robert the Bruce, James Douglas, and William Wallace are among the familiar Scots portrayed here. We also meet Queen Isabella, wife of Edward II, plus a myriad of other characters including Edward II’s male lovers, some interesting clerics, a group of Knights Templar, and Isabelle MacDuff, a Scotswoman who played an www.TopShelfMagazine.net

AN INTRIGUING SUPERNATURAL THRILLER

HOLIDAY2017

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

No one should have survived.

Somehow, John did. After six months of rehabilitation, John is out of work and left with a horrific disfigurement as a reminder of that fateful day. Already close to the edge of sanity, he is pushed further when his deceased cameraman pays him a visit. Two should have died that day, yet one remains alive.

Why, and for what purpose? The Unwilling Recruit by John Evans is an intriguing and entrancing supernatural thriller. Written with immense descriptive detail, it immediately captivates you from the opening hook, and refuses to release you until the very end. Built with layer upon layer of mystery and suspense, you will be furiously reading through the pages, trying to discover the truth between the lies.

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important role in the crowning of Robert Bruce. Glen Craney makes it clear that he has fictionalized the details and stories of historic characters about whose personal lives little is known. He has done extensive research, nicely displayed in his use of the vernacular and in his descriptions of countryside, castles, and towers. The book moves steadily and kept my unflagging interest, much of that driven by Craney’s writing style which fits the era in its elegance.

The book includes intricate battle scenes based on real events, minor love scenes, and some gore. Lovers of castles and keeps, knights, and the lore of Scottish clans will thoroughly enjoy this well-written novel.

TOPShelf

LOVERS OF CASTLES, KEEPS, KNIGHTS, AND SCOTTISH LORE WILL ENJOY THIS NOVEL!

reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

Journalist John Hunt is known for taking any risk necessary to get the story. That is until his careless ambition leads to a hefty price.

Reporting in Syria, John leads his cameraman Andrew three miles out of the safe zone. An John Evans explosion strikes.

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“Wartime courage at its best!�

-TopShelf Reviews

For most, 70 years is a long time ago.

World War II fades in importance as each year goes by. Shot Down moves history SHOT DOWN

out of the footnotes into reality, keeping the stories of real people alive as they experience being shot down. You are there, almost holding your breath as Lt. Snyder gets his crew out of his B-17 when bailing out over Nazi occupied Europe.

SHOT DOWN

ISBN: 978-0986076008

the last mrs. parrish

reviews

A mesmerizing debut psychological thriller full of delicious twists about a coolly manipulative woman who worms her way into the lives of a wealthy Liv Constantine "golden couple" from Connecticut to achieve the privileged life she wants. Some women get everything. Some women get everything they deserve. Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne—a socialite and philanthropist—and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale. Amber’s envy could eat her alive... if she didn't have a plan.

Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and www.TopShelfMagazine.net

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

the wife between us

WON’T LET YOU PUT IT DOWN ‘TIL IT’S FINISHED! The authors cleverly tweak the familiar to keep it unpredictable and introduce new “aha!” moments! Hendricks and Pekkanen combine their respective careers as book editor and best-selling novelist to produce a work meant to make the most of what’s popular in today’s fiction. It’s full of familiar tropes: the rich, handsome, doting husband who’s too good to be true; the awestruck young wife blinded by her fairytale life; the vindictive former wife stalking the new wife. The write-up for this psychological thriller warns that even when you think you have things all figured out, you’ll be wrong. This is true.

Greer Hendricks & Lots of twists and Sara Pekkanen unexpected turns

HOLIDAY2017

FRESH, JUICY, AND UTTERLY ADDICTIVE!

make this a book that will keep you off-balance. What seems to be a somewhat unlikeable protagonist/ narrator morphs into someone you begin to understand. Not everything she has said and done was reckless after all. She’s not as unreliable as she seems. There are good reasons why things happened the way they did.

Things you don’t see coming suddenly make sense when you think back on how it all played out. Hendricks and Pekkanen combine their careers as book editor and best-selling novelist to produce a work meant to make the most of what’s popular in today’s fiction. It’s full of familiar tropes: the rich, handsome, doting husband who’s too good to be true; the awestruck young wife blinded by her fairy-tale life; the vindictive former wife stalking the new wife. The authors cleverly tweak the familiar to keep it unpredictable and introduce new “aha!” moments that won’t let you put the book down until it’s finished.

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caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces. With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

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A S E C R ET S OC I ET Y FR OM T H E C I V I L WAR .

A M AP H I DDEN I N T H E SM I T H S ON I AN .

BI L L ION S IN LOS T CON F E DE R AT E G OL D .

THIS WAR WILL BE ANYTHING BUT CIVIL. The electrifying new novel from New York Times bestselling author

STEVE BERRY “BERRY RAISES THIS GENRE’S STAKES.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Knights of the Golden Circle were the most dangerous clandestine organization in American history—amassing billions in stolen gold and hiding it in caches across the United States.

Now, one hundred and sixty years later, someone is uncovering the lost clues, threatening to ignite a modern-day rebellion.

STE VEB ERRY.OR G

when they come for you

REVIEWS cocoa trade. Little did we know that

difficult. In Faster Than Normal:

chocolate was dangerous for more

Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity,

than just the sugar and calories.

and Success with the Secrets of the

Once Harper unleashes her martial

ADHD Brain, Peter takes you step-

arts skills we know we’re in the

by-step through the process of

familiar territory of the hardcore

finding your hidden potential.

thriller, albeit one navigated with rare brilliance of language and sense of

Personal stories are given along with tips on how to organize and

scene. Hall is as good as ever, as

streamline your daily life. If a

adept with this landscape as his more

loved one has ADHD, this read

familiar backyard of Florida, helping

can give you insight into the

to make When They Come for You bold,

wonderful mind that they,

bracing and brilliant.

themselves, are unable to put

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

HOLIDAY2017

into that gift, that can often be

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conspiracy somehow related to the

TOPShelf

BRACING AND BRILLIANT!

reviews

words to. Whether you read this book for yourself, or a loved one, you will walk away with a better

“When They Come for You” puts front and center everything that makes James W. Hall one of

faster than normal

TURBOCHARGE YOUR FOCUS, PRODUCTIVITY AND SUCCESS!

understanding of ADHD, and ways to better organize your life. ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

our finest

James W. Hall

novelists and not just thriller

Peter Shankman does something rare

writers, even though his seminal

in his speaking about the diagnosis of

series hero Thorn is nowhere to be

ADHD, and that is that ADHD is not

found. Taking Thorn’s place is

diagnosis at all.

photographer Harper McDaniel, who finds herself in her own private hell

A diagnosis of

after her husband and baby are

something is to say that is it is a

burned to death. Finding her way out

disease of some

means taking a dark road paved with

sort. ADHD is

obsession and vengeance that winds

not a disease, but

its transcontinental way through the Ivory Coast en route to unraveling a www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Peter Shankman

a gift. It's learning to tap

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Every person with that little voice in their head―the one that tells them to write everyday―must own this book. ~ STEVE BERRY New York Times and #1 Internationally bestselling author of The Patriot Threat

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