BOOK REVIEW Star Scout Rising First Trail. Vol 1

I am branching out on my blog and trying something new. I received a book from a new author, and I get to tell you all about it.

STAR SCOUT RISING First Trail vol 1 by Gary Darby

This book was interesting to say the least so I'll start at the beginning and tell you first impressions. I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by the cover, but I had mixed feelings about it. I loved the top half, but the creature depicted on the cover really bothered me. I had to actually cover it with my hands to ignore the awful animal. But then, I couldn't keep my eyes off it trying to figure out what it was.

Once inside the book, it got much better.

Some things I noticed as I read it. There was a strong relationship to the way the Boy Scout program, and this Junior StarScout program, the main character Del Baldura was a member of, work. There were also hints and references to some events hundreds of years into our past.

Del is a Jr. StarScout team leader over a group of five Jr. StarScouts doing one of their final field exams before they are sent on their no notice final exam in a remote area of Earth in the year 2433. Del joined the StarScouts to try to find out what had happened to his father who had mysteriously disappeared on a mission and was thought to have turned traitor, though Del doesn't believe it.

There are good guys, bad guys, bad guys pretending to be part of the good guys, and so on. At first it was hard to keep track of who was what, but at the end, it becomes clear. (you'll have to read it to know)

The weird creature on the cover? Well it does come in to play. It is the creature the Jr. StarScouts are supposed to track on their field assignment, but come to find out, it sure packs a punch and those fangs are dangerous. As they are tracking it, and almost come close to capturing it, a band of Extra Terrestrial Poachers nab the creature, and kidnap one of the Jr. StarScouts who had been recording it. The other Jr. StarScouts sneak on board the ship to try to rescue her before it takes off and end up captives as well.

They travel around the galaxy, doing things the poachers want them to do in order to earn their freedom and learn a lot about themselves and how their training in the StarScout program has helped them manage what comes at them. There is even one place where Del has the chance to leave the poachers behind and save himself, but he remembers the oaths he took as a StarScout and saves them, even though it means he's still under their control.

Interspersed through the story is a back story and information about Del's missing father, his Uncle Jak who is a decorated StarScout himself and a group called the Gadion Faction who are an organized crime group headed by one mean and ruthless man who just wants more power, though he's considered the most powerful man in all the galaxies.

At times this back story confused me since I was just getting into the flow of the story, especially during some really action packed sequences, then the author did a few flashbacks to explain, throwing me off for a moment until I realized what had happened.

Mr. Darby has great story telling skills, got me really involved in the story, got me to care about Del and really want to know what happened to his father, though I still don't know for sure. There is some comic relief, a little bit of romance, some danger and intrigue, and life defining moments. Though it isn't resolved in this first book, he did a fantastic job making me want to know what comes next. The end of this book isn't the end, just a pausing spot and I'm a little irritated I have to wait for the rest, but I've felt that way about many books in series. It is science fiction, and not what I normally read, but I don't regret the time I spent on this book and look forward to what comes next.

If you'd like to buy it you can click here for more information.

If you prefer the kindle, click here.

The authors blog is here where you can see other reviews of this book.

Hope you enjoy it.

Laura

In which you'll learn about my personality from my TV shows

I just wanted to share a little bit about me and what I'm like by telling you some of my favorite TV shows.

I love Psych. I'm watching it on netflix, episode after episode when I have free time. (And even when I don't) I love how Shawn and Gus have such a fun friendship and solve all kinds of quirky crimes and murders.

I love Bones. About a forensic scientist who helps the FBI solve murders when all that is available to the crime is bones. Dr Brennan makes me laugh at how she's so logical, and all things of common sense go over her head, but over the years she's become more human thanks to Agent Booth.

Castle is another favorite. Castle is a crime novelist who shadowed a New York City detective and has developed a crush on her. She was the basis for his latest heroine. Castle ends up bringing some help to the force since he looks at crimes in a different way since he writes in the minds of the bad guys.

(though I like these shows, I am in no way capable of writing about crime or solving murders or anything, but it sure is fun to watch.)

And on to other shows. I love Phineas and Ferb. It's a cartoon on the Disney Channel about 2 step brothers who have a pet platapus, (Who happens to be a secret agent that fights against the Evil Dr. Dufensmirtz) and the brothers come up with all kinds of things to keep them occupied during the long summer days and really annoy their older sister with their antics since they so such outrageous things, but never get caught by their parents.

These shows are currently not showing, but can't wait to find them on hulu again: Warehouse 13, and Eureka. Hope they come back soon.

Some more I enjoy occasionally: Lie to Me. Monk. .. but don't want to go on and on.

Now I'm curious to know what you like to watch. And what fantastic shows out there am I missing???

Dr. Seuss = Genius

I know I'm a little late on this, but it was Dr. Seuss's birthday this past week. My kids enjoyed some Dr. Seuss related activities at school and on Friday they were invited to bring their favorite book to school for a read-a-thon.

My daughter took a library book she had, but my son in 1st grade took Hop on Pop. That is his favorite one since he can read it all by himself without feeling like he's struggling on every other word. He read it every day for weeks for his reading homework. I must say Dr. Seuss was definitely a genius. I know he wrote other books besides the common ones you hear about for young readers, but I haven't read any of them. I may be simple, but I love his early reader books. Especially the rhyming ones.

Fox in Socks, and Oh Say Can You Say are some awesome tongue twisters, but I love the "Oh the Places You'll Go." He gives such good advice and fun reads with such simple words. No one will ever be able to write like he did and be as loved.

As a side note, I saw a post on Facebook, though I don't remember who posted it. It said something about how their child's school was doing a week long Dr. Seuss week, but with Presidents day the week before, not much was said about two of the most important Presidents of the United States history. I totally understand her concern, but I think I also understand the reason Dr. Seuss is so celebrated. Just seeing my own son love reading when he pulls out a Dr. Seuss book makes me have hope that he'll find success in school. Learning about the Presidents will come, but for now, I'm totally in favor of schools doing something in honor of an amazing author.

What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Back from vacation, and I'm so glad.

Do you ever need a vacation after a vacation????

I do. We took our family and Mark's dad to Disneyland and Sea World last week and had a good time, but I'm sure glad it's over and I'm back home.

I tried to do some planning and thinking about my book, but every time I tried to write something down in my note book, I kept thinking I wish I had my laptop to just write the story instead of trying to plan it out. I have to have the story in front of me for it to really work.

I know the basic skeleton of my story, but I'm no good and writing down all the scenes and plot points and such on a notebook. I want to let the story develop as I go with the main end in sight.

So now that I'm home, I'm going to be catching up on some things and getting into the writing full force again.

Do the Characters dictate the story?

Time for some more deep thoughts on writing. I have been struggling lately because the story I had been so gung ho on has started to cause me problems. I have been stuck on a certain plot point that I just couldn't figure out how to over come. The kicker is, it isn't until the end of the book that my idea I had would be implemented, but since I'm in the middle working toward the end, I am afraid to work on it since I "might" not know what to do once I get there.

I had an idea the other day that will help me in my progress toward the end. Wanna know what that fantastic idea is?

I am going to write and see where it leads me. I tried that the other night and the 2 main characters did something I wasn't expecting, but loved. So I figured if I just let them get to the end, where I have a general idea where it needs to lead, I'll let them help me know what comes next and how they will solve the problem I throw at them. I know these characters well enough that when I throw that end at them, they'll handle it very well. Probably even better than I could.

Now I've heard that some people think letting your characters control where your story goes is the sign of a bad writer, but for me, I don't think so. I'm still ulitmately in charge, but I'm allowing some freedom to come since that will help me get past this stuck portion that has slowed me down for the last few months.

I'll let you know how it goes, but I would like your opinion on whether letting the characters have a say in the way your story progresses is good, bad or in between writing.

I wanna talk about books.

I just read a book and wanted to share it with you. It's called: "Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me" by Kristen Chandler.

I loved it. It made my hands tingle with the emotions I was feeling on behalf of KJ. She's a 16-year-old girl living in West End Montana near Yellowstone National Park. She lives with her widowed dad who is a guide for fishermen, hunters, and rich people who want to get a feel for the park. She struggles with knowing her father wants her to do well enough in school to have a better shot at life than West End Montana can give, dyslexia, not being popular, and thinking her dad would have been better off if she'd died in the car crash that killed her mother when KJ was 3. Or thinking he'd much rather she were a son and not a daughter.

She meets a new boy that moved to town with his single mother who has come to study the wolves that had been reintroduced into the area. The ranchers, and hunters are very angry that "Washington" has brought the wolves back since they attack the sheep or cattle the ranchers raise, or have lowered the population of the Elk (even though the Elk had overgrazed the area causing problems with the vegetation, aggravating the erosion, and even effecting the fishing.)

Though KJ the Main Character has her faults and her weakness, I never felt like she was overly whiny or that she was stereotypical. She was awesome. She overcame her dyslexia by studying hard, she became the editor of the school paper, and caused a stir in the community when she began writing about the wolves and not just in a way that made the ranchers happy. She told it like it was and got a lot of crap from it, but still made friends along with her enemies.

She had guilt, but also stood up for herself and did what she thought was right. Though there were adults featured in the story, she held her own and pulled off something fantastic. Plus there is romance, even though it wasn't the happily ever after kind. It was real and fun and special, and I felt happy for what she learned and accomplished.

Kristen Chandler wrote a fantastic debut novel and I really really can't wait until she writes another one. I want to learn how to write like her and give other people the chance to feel about my characters the way I felt about hers.

If you've read it, I'd like to hear what you thought about it. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.

Laura

Soaring with the Eagles.

Tonight my husband brought home five huge stacks of paper for work that looked a lot like a printed manuscript my kids have seen since they are in the same kind of folders. My son said to me when he saw them sitting on the table "WOW Mom, you've written a lot of books."

I smiled, actually I grinned, ear to ear wishing it was true.

When I explained they were for Dad's work he nodded his head, and said, "Well, they look a lot like your books. Some day you could write that many."

To which my daughter said, "Yeah Mom, you write a lot and are working hard on your dream. It's like you don't want to be hanging around with the chickens and you want to soar with the eagles."

Oh, the wisdom of youth. I'm excited again for the ideas I have since I know my kids are routing for me. They think it's pretty cool that I'm working on my dream and I am going to do what I can to show them hard work and perseverance can make good things happen.

Thanks kids.