Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Well - Cover Explained

This post is in reply to those who have asked about the cover of The Well, my new inspirational love story.

The cover tells a subtle story that is at once both tangentially and explicitly related to the subject matter of the events in The Well. Obviously, the cover is an image of a well, as viewed through a television camera. More precisely, it shows an electronically transmitted image of a well, as seen on an older television set, hence the reception lines. It's a way of showing the West's (I suppose I should say North Americans') attitude about social problems that occur halfway around the world. Problems such as the decades-long drought in the Sudan, for example. Imagine, not having any potable water... for over ten years! I don't know about you, but I can't do it.

We are mostly made aware of these very real and troubling social issues through the media, and in particular, through the medium of television (or the internet). TV does an amazing job of relating all these diverse issues. Unfortunately, we quickly become accustomed to the exposure, from our comfortable seat on the couch. As the networks report from around the world night after night, one disaster segues into the next one. Add to that the creation of unnecessarily hyped news items, such as, "The Dow Jones closed 100 points lower today!!!!! and viewers are not solely to blame for developing jaded and cynical views about what is really (read ethically) significant in reported news.

The cover of The Well is an attempt to point towards a more enlightened awareness of this mass media coverage of world events and our blasé attitude towards it.

If you haven`t downloaded your free copy yet, I hope you'll have a chance to read The Well. It is available in a variety of e-reader formats at Goodreads, Smashwords, and also on my website.

You can also purchase a Kindle version from Amazon.

~JT~

Monday, January 21, 2013

Review: Listening To Crows

Listening to Crows by Jaqueline Hopper

I really enjoyed how Ms Hopper, through her well-crafted short story, so cleverly conveyed the emotions of the tragic, yet commonplace drama of putting one's elderly parent in a home. I especially liked how this dramatic event is contained within a bigger romantic story arc. The use of a deaf character also added another layer of humanity to the touching story.

Since most of my own fiction involves some aspect of the arts I am always drawn to such themes. I found the use of photography in Ms Hopper's story well-conceived and well-suited to the displaying the stories major theme of what life lessons humans can learn from our fellow creatures.

I highly recommend Listening To Crows. It will brighten a reader's day. I know it did mine. I look forward to reading more of Ms Hopper's fiction.

As of January 19, 2013 (when I first discovered Listening to Crows) this story was a offered for free on Smashwords.com

~JT~

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

New Release - The Well


I'm celebrating the Fine Form Press release of my new inspirational novella/short story, The Well.


The Well
December 24th in war-torn and drought-stricken Muhajeria and Sharon convinces her husband to try to fix the broken village well. Jean-Marc is a busy doctor, reluctant to take time away from his patients, but disaster strikes and he must initiate a dramatic rescue. When Jean-Marc’s life hangs in the balance Sharon is filled with regrets. It just might be too late to reveal her Christmas secret.

The Well is available for free on Goodreads, Smashwords, and on my website. If you must pay for it, you can get it from Amazon. (They wouldn't let me give it away for free.)  

I hope you enjoy this sweet love story.

~JT~

Monday, January 07, 2013

Review: Will Work for Food


Will Work for Food
Will Work for Food by Regina Puckett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Will Work for Food was the first of Ms. Puckett's stories that I read, so I was unprepared for her stylish way of ending a tale. Since then I've read more of her works and I've found her to be a most accomplished author.

I think I can safely say, without giving anything of the ending away, that Will Work for Food is well-written and imaginative. Ms Puckett is a versatile author with a great gift for plotting and storytelling. I look forward to being entertained with many more of her tales.

If you're looking for a short read Will Work for Food could be just the thing for you. Just keep an eye out for the ending. You've been warned.


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