Beem Weeks's Blog

Catch the Voice of Indie Podcast LIVE tonight (January 15th) right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JDbp...


Voice of Indie interviews authors, publishers, artists, musicians, and all creative sorts!

A spooky short story for Halloween! Stop by my blog to check it out! https://beemweeks.wordpress.com/2022/...

Crimes and the People Who Commit Them: Fiction with Conviction by the Guy Who Did the Time by Phil Lippert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Phil Lippert is a man who has lived a most unconventional life. Thrown into prison at the age of seventeen, Lippert, who served a forty-year stretch, has viewed the world from a position most people only know from fictionalized Hollywood treatments.

His collection of short stories offers readers a glimpse inside that world. Though mostly fiction, these tales contain a thread of truth concerning human nature. Lippert’s style is laidback and easygoing. He knows how to tell a story that holds the reader spellbound, waiting for something like redemption for these characters that might otherwise seem unworthy.

He narrates as Dude, an inmate who collects stories of life as lived by others. Some are humorous and hopeful. Others fall into a darker place where hope falters before it has a chance to find its own legs.

My favorite is the heartbreaking “Good Night, Ruby Slippers” with its darker shades mingled with streaks of light. “A Canticle for Frank” reads like a cold-war thriller mixed with prison intrigue. “My Summer Vacation” tells the story of a young bank robber. Each piece introduces unforgettable characters that often seem both familiar and other-worldly.

This is a solid collection from a promising writer with plenty to say. It’s one I’ll likely return to from time to time.




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Crackles of the Heart by Da'Kharta Rising

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This collection contains some truly intriguing works by authors who are skilled in the fine art of storytelling. Six writers lent their talents here. They have each taken a core question and answered it in their own unique words.

Though there are different styles at work, there remains a thread that connects each of the tales in this book, like a well-groomed path cutting through a summer wood. I’ve read some of these authors before. I am never disappointed in plots or mechanics or inspiration. Good writers know how to pull the reader in and dazzle.

The stories are provocative, dark, and at times, steamy in their telling—though not in an over-indulgent sort of way. There is an order to the chaos. I honestly couldn’t settle on just one or two as favorites, so I’ll give applause to each of these writers: Da’Kharta Rising, Y. Correa, Adonis Mann, Queen of Spades, C. Desert Rose, and Synful Desire. Cheers for a job well-done, authors!

I am a fan of the short form of fiction. This collection will sit on my shelf along with the others I’ve kept and returned to time after time.




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From Whence Jasmine Blooms by C. Desert Rose

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As the old saying goes, “One must die in order to truly live.” From Whence Jasmine Blooms dips into this philosophy—sort of. To reach her full potential, Jasmine finds herself on a journey most of us would die for—literally. Heaven, and all of its mysteries, becomes the classroom for this curious young lady.
Jasmine doesn’t enter the Pearly Gates in the standard way. But it’s the people she meets there who become her teachers—each one sharing lessons needed for a life well lived. And many of these teachers are people she already knows—or knew.
This is a short read filled with life lessons and a focus on the bonds of love that cannot be severed even through death. What’s the meaning of life? Grab a copy of this story and find out.




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Book: Icicle: A Tensor Matrix


Guest: Robert G. Williscroft


Tune in to the Voice of Indie podcast every Wednesday night at 8 pm EDT. We conduct live interviews with authors, musicians, and other creative sorts.

Tonight, October 7, we will be talking with sci-fi author Robert G. Williscroft. You can listen live here: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/voiceof...

If you miss a live episode, you can listen in the archive here: https://freshinkgroup.com/podcasts/

or here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Hf...

The Hippo Campus: The Interactive Brain Book: Fun Learning for Science Lovers by Helen Borel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dr. Helen Borel, PhD, knows more than a little something about the human brain and the way it works. She has made a career out of studying and diagnosing issues within this incredible organ. In The Hippo Campus, Dr. Helen shares her knowledge with readers ages 8 to 98.

The book is interactive, touching on such subjects as Your Amazing Brain, Imagine This. . .How We Imagine, What Your Brain Does For You. . .And With You, Meet Your Left Brain and Your Right Brain, and so much more.

Written from a true perspective of knowledge, The Hippo Campus educates readers on brain function, how and where emotions come into play, which parts of the brain perform its various functions, and brings it all to life with beautiful illustrations. The information is shared in a manner that allows for children to easily understand, while not talking down to adults.

Youngsters and adults alike can learn a lot about the human brain from this book. The perfect gift for summer break, birthdays, and just because!



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The ABC's of Surviving Cancer: Alive, Beautiful, & Courageous by Tammy Trover

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Author Tammy Trover is a cancer survivor. She knows first hand the energy and strength it takes to wage war against this insidious disease. In The ABC's of Surviving Cancer, Trover shares her wisdom and experiences that come from her own hard-fought battle. This book is written as an encouragement for children (and adults) who are facing their own fight. The story is told with the help of Cornelius the Cancer Fighting Crocodile. Each letter of the alphabet represents steps taken in the battle. (A is for Alive, that's what I am.)

Tammy Trover is able to take cancer out of the darkness and into the light, making the battle a little easier for youngsters — and older people as well — while sharing her own personal story. This book, with the beautiful illustrations, is designed to encourage and strengthen in the face of uncertainty. And that's exactly what it accomplishes. If you are struggling in the battle or know somebody who is, I highly recommend this book.





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Understanding: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events by Stevie Turner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Full disclosure, I took part in this book, being interviewed by Stevie Turner some years ago. That said, this is an incredible collection of intimate conversations with authors. Each has a story to tell. But these aren't the fictional tales or memoirs for which the authors are known. The stories here speak on sexual abuse, near-death experiences, battles with addiction, depression, and other obstacles life lays at our feet.

Everybody has a story to tell. Often it is the biggest obstacles that lead us into the very breakthroughs needed to move us to the next chapter in life. All of us, as human beings, suffer from various issues at points in our lives. These issues need not destroy us. I have learned more about myself from the very things I've suffered than from and other means.

These are not just issues meant to be feared; these become part of our journey through life. The old adage "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" is something every human must fully realize in order to live life to the fullest. Much solace can be gained from the experiences of others. This collection offers a variety that will surely connect with most who choose to get a copy and read.



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Congratulations to Indie Author Ronald E. Yates on winning the Grand Prize in the Goethe Historical Fiction Division and the Overall Best Book of 2018 Ribbon at the 2019 Chanticleer Writers Conference! Well done, sir! Find Ron on Twitter: @jhawker69

His blog: https://ronaldyatesbooks.com/2019/05/...