Amina Thajudeen Author Interview, Book Tour, Fantacy, Fiction, Thriller, Young-Adult

An Interview with Blair James Steward| Author of “Miracle Uprising”

Today I’ll be hosting  author Blair James Steward on my blog. His book “Miracle Uprising” is available on Amazon.com

Me: What inspired you to start writing Miracle Uprising?

Blair: I was given a lot of pain with the life I was given. I needed an outlet to vent this agony and to escape my reality. Miracle Uprising was the world I created to make sense of everything in my mind. It was a free therapy tool.

Me: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Blair: I was very young, I would write down elaborate stories as a kid. I did not know that it was my escape at the time, but it was. I was probably about 10 years old when I chose writing as a source of expression.

Me: How long have you been writing?

Blair: Well, 20 years if you want to pair it with the last response. I published my first book almost 4 years ago. I worked as a freelance writer before that, but they were more informative than creative.

Me: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Blair: Editing is such a struggle for me. I’m good at it, I just hate it. Any writers that are reading this and love editing should consider themselves lucky.

Me: What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book?

Blair: It really is a freeing process. I was homeless, and the only thing that kept me alive was the ability to write in a public library. I’ve been blessed tenfold since then, but I still find freedom in creative writing.

Me: Who is your favourite author, and why?

Blair: J.R.R. Tolkien and Mitch Albom are tied. Tolkien can create depth and reality with his own vision. Albom can explain feelings that nobody else can find words for.

Me: What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Blair: To be perfectly honest with you, I have found this influence in lyrics. Pink Floyd has explained my agony back to me in three separate albums. The Beatles turn words in emotion like nobody else can. Led Zeppelin is a quenching taste of both of these elements. If I had to put them in order, I would say The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd.

Me: Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Blair: Do not hesitate to write your thoughts down. Write everything you want to express and don’t look back. That’s what editing is for, and perhaps why I hate it.

Me: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Father, Husband, Anomaly

Me: Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

Blair: I am working on the sequel to Miracle Uprising. Fans, please be patient with me. I have two children in diapers, and I am a full-time student. Thank you so much for the overwhelming support!

About the Book

The book is originally published independently in 2017 but it received an update in 2020. The story is about a boy that has to face multiple battles in his teenage life. Forbidden love and facing actual warfare is just part of his life, but his biggest challenge he needs to face is the internal battle. A mental battle defines his everyday life. This book is the biography of the protagonist, a boy who is just seeking understanding and relief. The author wrote this book during the worst years of his life and this story helped him to cope with depression and the traumatic past, it was his escape from the real world. The book uses a lot of characteristics of high fantasy books. If you want to dig into the rabbit hole, this psychological thriller is definitely a unique choice.

Purchase here: Amazon.com Amazon.in

About the Author

Blair James Steward is an avid fan of psychological thrillers and enjoys writing books that’ll keep people guessing until the very last page. As a father, he also hopes to instill a love of reading in his children. After telling them stories, he finally decided to write out the stories he tells them into children’s books so other families can enjoy them.

With five books written, he’s always focused on the next story he wants to tell. Blair lives in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, with his wife and children. When he’s not writing, he’s making music, being a family man, and searching for inspiration for his next stories.

Reach out to Blair Facebook Instagram

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Self-Help, Young-Adult

Little helper by Natalie P. Gump | Book review

In this story, our young boy wakes-up each day with sincere motivation to want to be of assistance, so much so that he considers it a very important position in life – as though it were his mission. In the delightful rhyming tale with colourful and inspiring illustrations, he sets out to be of service to each and every being that comes his way, including the worms! After all, being helpful gives his purpose and keeps him inspired to do the same each day.

Written for kids aged three to eight, the story makes a great early-reader’s book as well as a warm bedtime story to be read to them by a parent or caretaker.

Title: Little helper

Author: Natalie P. Gump

Pages: 21

My review

The worth of a human being is measured by how many lives he touched, not by the amount of money he made. The helping mindset is hard to create. Because it is the confession of our overall character. To inculcate this mindset in our children, we have to take steps from their early years. Little helper is one of those rare books that will help a parent immensely in this challenge. To help millions in our life, first, we have to start small, one step at a time. This book teaches that first step.

Our child’s education starts at home. This story follows a boy and his efforts to help his mom, dad, and little sister in their day-to-day activities. he illustrations are so captivating. This will help my child to think creatively. The story not only teaches us the importance of offering help to others, but also the qualities such as love, obedience, discipline, and fulfillment. Indeed a great addition to my collection.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Erotic fiction, Fiction, Young-Adult

Setting Fire To The Darkness (In The Garden Of Eve Love Bares No Color Book 1) by J.M Pozon | Book review

Cameron Elliott, is Chicago’s most sought after bachelor. He’s, rich, handsome, and highly regarded among his peers. He, comes across as the world’s most perfect man, but nothing could be more further from the truth.The, man is as dangerous and tormented, as he is gorgeously handsome. A martyred hero with a flawed sense of morality. His, desire to do good often eclipsed by the treachery of the world, which he was born into. Now, he wants out! But, try as he may, he can’t seem to break free of the vicious cycle of violence, and self-destruction. While, Cameron struggles to keep his demons at bay, life throws him an unexpected curve ball in the form of Evangelina Reese. A, beautiful woman, who is struggling with her own haunted past. Still, broken, and wounded, she must, learn to let go of past hurts, rediscover forgotten strengths, while attending to new wounds.

Despite, both of there valiant restraint, they fall for each other, in ways neither thought imaginable. But, this union isn’t beds of roses & sweet soft melodies. No, their love is as dark, and deadly as it is addictive.Loving, Cameron Elliott is dangerous game, one which could get them both killed.

Title: Setting Fire To The Darkness (In The Garden Of Eve Love Bares No Color Book 1)

Author: J.M Pozon

Pages: 386

My review

A perfectly crafted story!

The only way to get rid of darkness is to bring light. How about bringing the light by setting out fire to that darkness. This is the story of humans who are engulfed by the darkness. They are tormented and struggling for their existence every day. Cameron Elliott is one of those humans who is flawlessly handsome and violent at the same time. He is struggling to find a balance between his true emotions and the circle of violence he is in. When Evangelina Reese came to his life, everything changes. They know this relationship doesn’t hold any future. But the higher they resist, the stronger their love grew.

I liked the way, the main characters are crafted by the author. From the beginning itself, we know how damaged their souls are. Deep down Cameron is a good person. But he is trying to hide his pain by immersing himself in self-destruction. That’s why all his attempts to get out of this never-ending spiral ends in vain.

The storytelling technique adopted by the author is a unique one. Usually, the whole story is narrated through a single perspective. But here the narration is divided between the main characters. Thus their raw emotions are expressed without losing its intensity. Also, we could know what is happening on both sides, throughout.

Since I read the updated version of the book, I couldn’t find any grammatical issues with the story. It is perfectly edited and this ensures a smooth flow from beginning to end.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Self-Help, Young-Adult

ADHD Is My Super Power and It Comes with Great Super Strength by Alana Moore | Book review

This story is meant to bring greater awareness about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). My son Josiah was diagnosed with ADHD at the young age of 3. I see so many powerful things in him that ADHD only enhances for the better. I want children with ADHD to recognize the superpower they possess that can be used for things far greater than they ever imagined. ADHD does not have power over you, you have power over ADHD!

Title: ADHD Is My Super Power and It Comes with Great Super Strength

Author: Alana Moore

Pages: 25

My review

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is perceived as a social stigma and breaking this barrier is essential in today’s world. Many children were undiagnosed and diagnosed ones are having a hard time adjusting to the school. This book not only presenting ADHD as a superpower but also raising awareness about the special needs of these children. You don’t need to give any special care to them, you just have to be patient with them. They are capable of learning but through their own pace.

What makes this book special is this is not a book that sympathizes with this disorder. This is an ability rather than a disorder. Children with ADHD are gifted with many strengths that others don’t possess ever. This book is a confidence booster for children. When a child is facing discrimination and bullying from school because of being different, this book could possibly give a much needed moral support. A touch, a small word, that is all needed to impart a positive mindset in a child. Amidst the negativity around ADHD, this book carefully spreads positivity. The illustrations are also beautiful. They give soul to the words. We need more books like this. So innocent and so beautiful!

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Thriller, Young-Adult

Extraction (Office Pool #2) by D.L. Blackburne | Book review

Office Pool is a coming of age story of an underachieving ink pen named Arthur “Arty” Bickerson.

Arty’s unique journey is chronicled as he must quickly navigate the vast differences between the complexities of his new life and responsibilities in “The Office” and life on the home desktop. More than just a pen, Arty is mentored along the way by his childhood guardian and coworker Stan Sharply.

As Arty gets orientated to his new role, he experiences so many highs and lows, with Stan there to help Arty navigate it all.

With humans set as the backdrop, these common everyday writing utensils each with unique personalities deal with family, friendship, success, love, peer jealousy, classism, along with high expectations, greed, and self doubt. Office Pool is a family friendly witty tale, set in a small fictional world of adventure.

Title: Extraction (Office Pool #2)

Author: D.L. Blackburne

Pages: 68

My review

This is the second installment of the Office Pool series, which picks up the story from where it ended in the previous book. Arty Bickerson, who finds himself in the position of a leader of a small group of pens. He set out a journey to rescue Stanley, his mentor, and father-figure with this group. On the other hand, Stanley is deep down in the inner sanctum facing the most feared arch-villain, King Glitter Smear in an attempt to set free many of his friends and family members who were taken as captive earlier. But in this process, Arty and Stanley along with others came to know about the truth that they are now edging towards the great final battle. Who will survive and who will perish?

After reading the first book, Orientation, I was greatly impressed by the author’s creativity to frame a story like this. A story in the world of utensils and stationery items where humans are pushed into the background. In the first installment, the author concentrated on building a unique plot with strong characters. It was detailed about the past and emotions of the protagonists. In this book, the story-line is more inching towards a great battle. Hence this is a fast-paced one. The story is now shifted like a mystery thriller. Throwing suspicions on various characters, the author has framed a good thriller among the world of pens.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Thriller, Young-Adult

Blood on the Bayou: A Miranda Marquette Mystery by J.T. Kunkel | Book review

Miranda Marquette, self-made millionaire living in Malibu, is summoned by her cousin, Sabine to return home to New Orleans to solve a mystery. Miranda, an ex cop, jumps in with both feet to help her cousin, but when someone is murdered, will her offer be at the expense of her freedom? In the process, Miranda learns more family secrets than she ever wanted to know, one of which will change her relationship with Sabine forever. Miranda discovers that no matter what you think, when you go below the surface, things are seldom what they seem.

Title: Blood on the Bayou: A Miranda Marquette Mystery 

Author: J.T. Kunkel

Pages: 185

My review

A perfect thriller!

Blood on the Bayou by J. T Kunkel is a murder mystery thriller that will surely keep you at the edge of the seat throughout. It was fascinating for me to encounter with many plot twists that changed the whole storyline from time to time. These twists are so interesting that they will ascend you to another side of the story almost instantly.

Miranda Marquette is a self-made millionaire living in Malibu with estranged family relationships. One day she got a call and subsequent visit from her cousin Sabine seeking for some help with her business deal. Miranda who is an ex-cop is reluctant at first but agreed eventually trusting her investigation capabilities. She goes to her hometown for further investigation. In the mean time, she tries to repair her family relationships as well. But the investigation which seems like a piece cake at first, started shedding off its layers. In no time she finds herself as an accused in a murder trial. Will she able to solve the mystery and free herself from this dilemma?

Apart from a good murder mystery story, what makes this novel different is, the whole story is revolving around close family relationships. Miranda faced numerous issues in her childhood and in her career as well. But she fought off all the problems courageously. Family is her weak point. As we dive deep into the story, these family relationships were started to getting too complicated. But in the end, everything fall into place.

The story is slow paced at first, concentrating too much on the backgrounds and details about the main characters. But I think this detailed narration helps to get a good idea about the personality of the protagonist in the beginning itself. Towards the middle, the story is at paced with quick turns and twists. The climax is written too well because the biggest twist is only introduced in the last page.

Overall this is a must-read thriller.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Book Tour, Fiction, Thriller, Young-Adult

The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven by Peter Gray | Book review

Sela is assigned to be a private gardener for Theodore “Teddy” Woven’s ancestral home. The young gardener soon finds her presence unwelcome as she slowly uncovers the truth about his family’s past. The greatest mystery of all lies not in the house, but with its owner.

Title: The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven

Author: Peter Gray

Pages: 281

My review

A story that will leave you with tears at the end.

What a story this is! A perfect portion of creativity blended with delicate human emotions. I don’t have any words to express the overwhelming feelings that I had after I turned the last page of this book. A perfectly heartwarming romantic drama. I must not tag this as a cliche romantic drama. It will be an injustice to the story and the beautiful storytelling efforts of the author.

Theodore “Teddy” Woven lives in his exceptionally large and vast ancestral home up high in the mountain across the sea. Sela is assigned to take care of Teddy’s garden in the absence of his usual gardner. Sela was cautious because she is instructed to leave the owner alone. But the behavior of Teddy towards Sela is telling otherwise. What is the mystery behind his unusual behavior? What are the secrets that he is keeping from her?

I can say that, this is a piece of art. The appreciation towards an art will be different for everyone. Because we experience that slice of creativity differently. No two emotions are the same. This story is like that emotion. First I thought that this will be a thriller because the author was building up mystery in the beginning. But as I delve into the life of Teddy, the darker side of his life is uncovered in front of me. It is darker because of his pain. When I realized the unimaginable pain that he tried to live with, it left my heart aching. Sela was the cure for his pain. He was waiting for her. Their love goes deep and beyond imagination. The author has conveyed these raw human emotions perfectly.

I highly recommend this book. Because this beautiful story deserves to heard.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Erotic fiction, Fantacy, Fiction, Young-Adult

Wanton Desires: Overcoming Sexual Inhibitions by Misty Musette| Book review

What happens when pure carnal instinct overrides deep-seated inhibitions?

The ‘Wanton Desires’ series narrates the real life experiences of women who came forward to share confidential stories of their spontaneous pursuit of the most secret and forbidden desires of their hearts – all in a quest for deliverance.

Whether it’s a romp with the pool boy while the husband is away on yet another business trip, finally giving in to a lustful maid’s advances, or sweetening a business deal with a journey into uncharted sexual territory, our participants lay bare every detail of their exploits and delve deeper into the innate hunger that made them break free from their natural inhibitions. 

Title: Wanton Desires: Overcoming Sexual Inhibitions

Author: Misty Musette

Pages: 39

My review

Wanton Desires is a bundle of adult romance tales that slowly ascends to the forbidden sexual encounters. Justifying the title of the book, this is a saga of overcoming sexual inhibitions. All the stories are centering on the deep sexual desires of women. The stories broke every barrier you can ever imagine. They go overboard when comes to the matter of desire and fulfillment.

All the stories are different from one another. This gives a much-needed freshness to each story. You can even feel it in the first story itself. The intensity and extremeness of the sexual desires are unimaginable whether they are for keeping a marriage together to random pleasures.

Unlike in the “Secret Confessions of Naughty housewives” by the same author, these stories not necessarily revolves around bored housewives. They range from career-driven successful women to experimental college teens. This is the unique feature of these tales.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Erotic fiction, Young-Adult

Sex & Coffee: A Bitter Little Time Capsule of Love by Erika Lee

At the tender age of 21, Destiny Jones had everything going for her. A promising acting career. A loving boyfriend who adored her. A scholarship to NYU. But it wasn’t enough to quiet the self-doubt that plagued her. She would have to lose it all to find herself. This epistolary “slice of life” novel spans twenty five years between September of 1994 and June of 2019. It is woven together as a dual narrative and told from the perspective of star-crossed lovers Destiny and Matthew. The letters written by Matthew are all set in the fall of 1994 when his beloved was away at NYU and he stayed behind in their hometown of Palm Desert, California. The couple had been together less than a year and this was the first time they were apart. Destiny’s diary entries span the agonizing twenty year aftermath of their eventual breakup.

Title: Sex & Coffee: A Bitter Little Time Capsule of Love

Author: Erika Lee

Pages: 178

My review

Such an emotional roller-coaster!!

Sex & Coffee is an adult romance novel revolving around the life of star-crossed lovers, Destiny and Matthew spanning over twenty-five years. Their deep love hit rock bottom and heights in these years. This is an in-depth analysis of human emotions and our reactions towards them.

The author has adopted a unique storytelling technique in this novel, dual narrative. The story is told through the perspective of both main characters, Destiny and Matthew. We can feel their height of passion along with the pain of losing each other through words. Usually, the story is told through a single perspective which makes it a one-sided and largely partial. But when we get the idea of things that happened on both sides, then only the story completes a full circle. This style uncovers the vulnerability of the main characters. There is no room for justification in this story. We can really understand the situation and takes sides with our character of choice.

The whole story which is spanning over twenty-five years is told through diary entries of Destiny and letters from Mathew, but not necessarily in the chronological order. At first, I thought this will bring some confusion in the story. But surprisingly it does not. The story flows smoothly from beginning to end.

I’m greatly impressed by this novel. It is truly a “slice of life”. The story is very realistic and you can hardly find anything that doesn’t resonate with real life. I was so impressed by this realistic narration. All the raw human emotions are conveyed without losing its delicate nature.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Young-Adult

A Bard’s Lament by Poppy Kuroki | Book review

The town of Veilig is burdened with a terrible secret.

Ella is a bard, her sister a prostitute, working in a tavern to pay off their late mother’s debt. But Ella has a secret of her own. Her music carries codes for spies to decipher, working to undo Veilig’s horrific crimes.

Then her sister is taken captive.

Can Ella save them both, or will their tale end in darkness?

Title: A Bard’s Lament

Author: Poppy Kuroki

Pages: 69

My review

Ella is a bard and her sister Lucinda, a prostitute, working day and night in the town of Veilig to pay off their deceased mother’s debt. Veilig is a cursed rainless town, driving in injustice and anarchy. The crimes in the town is increasing without a proper law and order. In this seemingly hopeless situation, Ella is carrying a secret with her. Her songs are embedded in codes for spies to decipher. This is her last hope to escape from this town. Then one day her sister is taken as captive. All the things that she fears came true. Will she able to save her sister and escape to a better world?

This novelette is a blend of fantasy and realism. The greed will drive humanity to a catastrophic world ruled by injustice. But self-less and fearless ones emerge amidst oppression. There will come a day that you can’t oppress them anymore. There will be an end for all.

The structure and in-depth character development are two other elements that make this story more interesting. The emotions and frustrations are accurately portrayed. Ella’s character is vulnerable and courageous at the same time. The author has managed to convince this delicate nature of the character quite beautifully.

The author’s style of narration is unique. She carefully set a relevant theme and penned down an absolutely beautiful story around it. I really love the parts when the fantasy transcends to real life. It is a unique slice of creativity to taste.