Linda's Top 5 Reads of 2014

5.)

Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling  by Donald Maass

He's my agent.

He's awesome

It's always good to re-examine your craft with new thoughts on the how and why you do what you do.



4.)

Insurgency & Terrorism: Inside Modern Revolutionary Warfare Paperback 

by Bard E. O'Neill

An older book but interesting to be sure as far as research material goes.

About the author:

BARD O'NEILL is professor of international affairs at the National War College, Washington, D.C., where he is also director of Middle East studies and director of studies of insurgency and revolution. His other publication credits include The Energy Crisis and U.S. Foreign Policy and Armed Struggle in Palestine. He and his family live in Springfield, Virginia.


3.)

George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution  
by Brian Kilmeade

Research for me but definitely an interesting read.

Some reviews:

“Anyone who believes that foreign espionage is pointless should read this book. More importantly, anyone who thinks the founding generation is irrelevant to modern America must read this book.”
—The Daily Caller

“A fascinating read, highlighting some of our nation’s unknown heroes—heroes who never sought credit or recognition. Brian Kilmeade places them in their proper historical context—as brave patriots who defended the American Revolution.”
—General Stanley McChrystal (U.S. Army, retired)

“Freedom is not free, never has been, and never will be. Kilmeade and Yaeger have done a wonderful job in reminding us all of the cost. Great read.”
—General Tommy Franks (U.S. Army, retired)

2.)

The Blasted Lands by James A. Moore

You all know this guy. He is awesome.

I love me some fantasy fiction and this series does not disappoint. It moves, its characters are interesting and keep me guessing.






1.) **not available until January 12, but I got to read an advance copy...

The Mussorgsky Riddle  by Darin Kennedy

Psychic Mira Tejedor possesses unique talents that enable her to find anything and anyone, but now she must find a comatose boy wandering lost inside the labyrinth of his own mind. Thirteen-year-old Anthony Faircloth hasn’t spoken a word in almost a month and with each passing day, his near catatonic state worsens. No doctor, test, or scan can tell Anthony’s distraught mother what has happened to her already troubled son. In desperation, she turns to Mira for answers, hoping her unique abilities might succeed where science has failed.

At their first encounter, Mira is pulled into Anthony’s mind and finds the child’s psyche shattered into the various movements of Modest Mussorgsky’s classical music suite, Pictures at an Exhibition. As she navigates this magical dreamscape drawn from Anthony’s twin loves of Russian composers and classical mythology, Mira must contend with gnomes, troubadours, and witches in her search for the truth behind Anthony’s mysterious malady.

The real world, however, holds its own dangers. The onset of Anthony’s condition coincides with the disappearance of his older brother’s girlfriend, a missing persons case that threatens to tear the city apart. Mira discovers that in order to save Anthony, she will have to catch a murderer who will stop at nothing to keep the secrets contained in Anthony’s unique mind from ever seeing the light.