New Release Spotlight: Forsaking All Others, Historical Christian Romance by Kari Trumbo

Rose dreamed of leaving the Sioux reservation in Santee, NE. Now, faced with the wide world, she must decide if she is truly ready to strike out on her own and take the risk. Rose has fought against the painful abuse of her father and the loneliness of a mother long-dead of a white man’s sickness. When Pete offers her the chance to escape to a new life, she must take it or marry into the same abuse she’s lived for so long. Pete has always helped Rose from the shadows. Being half-white, he’s had to. He has loved Rose for as long as he can remember, but he must prove his worth to her by helping her to freedom and safety. Pete must compete for the right to take Rose to Kansas but his young and impetuous heart steers him wrong. In shame, he abandons Rose, but can never leave her care completely to someone else. When they finally make it to Kansas, Pete comes out of the shadows once again. Once within the safety of a Kansas ranch, can Rose forgive Pete for leaving her? Will Pete remain the brooding half-blood from the reservation, or grow into the man Rose needs him to be?

 

Excerpt

“Pete.” She shook him. “Wake up, something’s out there.”  

 

Pete’s eyes opened to narrow slits and he looked at her, sleep still in complete control of him. She shook him again as an ominous groaning sound came from the other side of the rock. Looking up, she caught sight of a huge furry head with a brown muzzle and black nose. A great paw with massive claws came over the top of the rocks. She heard it snort as it sniffed the air. Her eyes flew wide open and she couldn’t control her gasping breaths.

 

Pete sat upright, fully awake now. He grabbed for his pack lying next to hers by the far rock wall, and banged their spoon against a cook pot. The bear looked down at him with inquisitive, almost sad-looking eyes. It climbed onto the rock above them and stared down, its sides expanding and contracting as if this was nothing new, like it woke humans every day.

 

“Rose,” he whispered, “whatever you do, don’t run. You can’t outrun it, do you hear me?” He didn’t look away from the bear. Banging on the pot with increasing speed, he had no effect on the massive, hairy beast.

 

The bear climbed down into their small enclosure. Rose held her breath. She wanted to run more than breathe. Pete gave her a look that told her to stay put. She scooted on her backside as far away from the bear as she could, until her back hit the rock and she was trapped. It sniffed the air again and grabbed for Rose’s pack, which carried the little food she’d scraped together for their trip. The invader turned around, climbed back over the rock and she heard it splash into the river and wade downstream.

 

She sat with her mouth open and tried to get her breathing under control.

 

“Well, that was quite a start to our trip,” Pete mumbled as he shoved the pan back into his bag. “We’ll need to find breakfast, since ours is now gone.”

 

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About the Author

Kari Trumbo is a writer of Christian Historical Romance and a stay-at-home mom to four vibrant children. She does freelance developmental editing and blogging. When she isn't writing or editing, she homeschools her children and pretends to keep up with them. Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing with the worship team, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband of eighteen years, two daughters, two sons, and four cats. 

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Book Review: 5 Stars for Greg O'Brien's Revealing Memoir On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's

Books about Alzheimer's and dementia are difficult reads. Not only are they cruel reminders of a devastating fate that befalls a large proportion of us, they force us to think about and examine all the difficulties it entails. With 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and other dementias, it's important for us to learn as much as we can about it, so we can understand what is happening to the individuals who have it, whether they are known to us or not. This is a fate that could happen to someone we love or even to ourselves. Pretending it's not there is not an option. 

Greg O'Brien's On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's is one of those books that should be at the top of the reading list. Written by an award-winning journalist with 30+ years of experience, On Pluto takes us into the deepest and darkest secrets of this disease. 

O'Brien holds nothing back, revealing how his forgetfulness started to unravel the day-to-day details of his life and how he chose to meet the disease head on. He was no stranger to its cruelty after witnessing his own grandfather and his mother succumb to it, leaving him with a "blueprint" of how to live - and fight - with Alzheimer's. 

Diagnosed with Early-onset Alzheimer's in 2006 at the age of 59, he decided to use his knowledge, skills, and platform to educate others about living with a brain disease that  robs you bit by bit of your memory. It may sound easy to do given his skills and talents, but it is never easy or routine to reveal something so deep and personal as the losing of one's mind. O'Brien rightfully prized his above average intellect, and witnessing its gradual disappearance within the pages of this book is sobering and sad. 

 

The story he tells is one of loss, fear, uncertainty, and doubt. It's about the betrayal of one's own body, the altered future, the coming years not to be enjoyed. It's a story of growing up Irish, of a Cape Cod life, of a 37-year marriage, of family. It's about a lifelong dedication to a profession that revolves around words, words that the disease steals each day. 

I've read many books about Alzheimer's and this is only the second written by the person affected. The first was Thomas DeBaggio's Losing My Mind, also written by a newspaperman and writer like O'Brien. I thank God that we have men who are able to use their skills to bring us this enlightenment. We need it.

To meet Greg please visit the Living With Alzheimer's Film Project. 

To purchase On Pluto please go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

For a selection of other great books that shed light on Alzheimer's please visit #AlzAuthors.

Follow #AlzAuthors on Twitter. Visit our event page on Facebook where we share information on Alzheimer's and dementia and where you are  welcome to share your own story. 

 

To win a copy of Greg O'Brien's On Pluto as well as the other books in the #AlzAuthors collection please enter our giveaway. 

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For Your Listening Pleasure: Short Read "Ino's Love" Now Available as Audiobook

I adore audiobooks, so naturally I want other audiobook lovers to be able to listen to my stories. This summer I teamed up with veteran television reporter and co-anchor Terry Murphy to bring my short story Ino’s Love to life. Terry is best known for her nine years (1990–1998) anchoring the tabloid show Hard Copy and, since 2003, reporting for the entertainment show Extra.   She has done a fantastic job with Ino's Love and I can't wait to hear what readers have to say. (Read on for my interview with Terry.)

Why turn a short story into a 28-minute audiobook?

Short stories are enjoying a resurgence these days as more and more people have instant access to books, including audiobooks, on their smart phones. Shorter reads are easier to digest; a reader can finish a story and experience a sense of resolution in a matter of minutes. And audiobooks make this even more convenient because they’re hands-free. I love listening to a great audiobook while I’m driving, cooking, and cleaning house, even when I’m lounging in the pool. Others do too. So making all of my books and stories into audiobooks is part of my marketing plan.

Of all of the stories I’ve written, Ino’s Love is one of my favorites. I absolutely loved writing it. I don’t remember what inspired me to create the characters of Ino and Ruby, but it must have been work-related because I was working as a hospital case manager at the time. My days were filled with helping patients (and their families) find ways to remain comfortable and cared for at home when faced with long-term illness or disability.

This story displays the love that can exist between caregiver and client. There may be a few questionable actions on the part of Ino and Ruby (no spoilers!), but it’s the love between them that stays with the reader.

Ino’s Love was originally published in Kaleidoscope magazine, 2009. You can listen to a sample of the audiobook here.

Synopsis

Ino prepares a Christmas feast for her successful CEO son, but when he's too busy to spend the holiday with his mother, she shares her dinner and gifts with her home health aide. Sometimes, the people who love us best are not family.

Interview with narrator/producer Terry Murphy

photo provided by Terry Murphy

What is it about Ino’s Love that motivated you to audition for the role of producer/narrator?

“Ino’s Love really touched my heart. Sadly today, so many adults either ignore or forget about their parents. And as I’ve gotten older, I realize it’s the little things from my sons that make me the happiest now. Ino also beautifully illustrates how simple gestures from a stranger can bring such joy to a senior citizen’s life.”

Were there any challenges to preparing for or performing this role?

“The biggest challenge for me was trying to capture Ino’s personality in my voice. And it was equally difficult alternating between Ruby and Ino’s ages. Ino’s Love was my first fiction recording, and I am very proud of my collaboration with you.”

Thank you, Terry. I'm pleased to be working with someone with such a highly visible and respected position in television. Please tell us about your background.

“My career in television news began at WKRC in Cincinnati, first as a reporter and then as one of the first anchor women in Ohio. After anchor positions in Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles, I was selected to in 1989 to co-anchor Hard Copy, Paramount Studio’s nationally syndicated and very successful tabloid show. Before my retirement last year, I worked as Senior Producer on Warner Brothers nationally syndicated entertainment show, EXTRA, starring Mario Lopez. I was blessed with a national daytime Emmy Award for my work in 2014.”

How did you get started in audiobook production/narration?

“When I retired from the entertainment business and moved back from Los Angeles to my hometown of Columbus Ohio, I realized I still had something to offer, namely my voice!  So my husband built me an audio booth in our basement, I invested in some high end equipment, and began working with a voice coach to add more variety to my tone. He suggested auditioning for audiobooks, and the rest is history.”

What other books have you narrated?

“All of the other books I’ve narrated are non-fiction works, including one on how to control mood swings, and another on the burgeoning marijuana dispensary business across the country.”

How has the market for audiobooks changed over the course of your media career?

“The market for audiobooks is growing by leaps and bounds.  More people are traveling further distances to and from work, and desire to listen to something more engaging than a top forty or all-news radio station.”

If you could produce/narrate any book in or out of print which would it be?

“The Magnificent Ambersons is one of my all-time favorite books, and is at the top of my list.”

What advice do you have for authors who would like to market their books in audio?

“My advice to authors is, if you don’t have a broadcast quality voice, put your ego aside and hire a professional.”

What would you tell those who are embarking or wish to embark on a career as a producer/narrator for audiobooks?

“To all aspiring narrators I would remind them to be prepared to spend many long hours recording and editing, but the end result is a very rewarding career.  Also, begin listening to voice actors on television and radio, spend money for the best equipment, and invest in a professional coach. And most importantly, don’t take rejection personally. You may not be right for one project, but perfect for another!”

What was the best job you ever had?

“Definitely Hard Copy was my favorite job.  It thrust me into the national spotlight, and we covered several major stories, including the trials of Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson.”

Reviews

over design by Jorge Vidals

Since its publication as an ebook on Kindle in December 2013, Ino’s Love has been steadily gaining great reviews and is rated 4.9 stars on Amazon. Here’s what a few readers had to say:

“The author packs so much into so little space. This is what a short story should be.”

“Such a tender story of love...giving love, receiving love; reminding us again that it's not the "things" in our lives that are important, but the relationships.”

“A great writer can make you fall in love with a character quickly. Ms. Sciucco proves to be such a writer with this short story.”

“All I had left when the tale ended was the question: ‘Why isn't this included in the full disclosure for new home health aides?’ Because it is such a delightful short read, and yet it depicts just how important these people are to the patients they serve.”

Purchase Ino’s Love

Ino’s Love in audiobook is available on Amazon for $3.46, and on Audible and iTunes for $3.95. It’s also available as a Kindle book for $.99, and is free on Kindle Unlimited.

 

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