Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 245 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Publish Authority
Release date: July 2023
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all readers; no sexual content, and no vulgar language
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Anna's story begins and ends in a convalescent center in Michigan and is told by the author, whose brother looks after her in her waning years. The story is based on a short memoir written by Anna for her children. Her life is filled with trials and tribulations that test her faith to its limits. With a desperately impoverished and undernourished childhood in an itinerant and abusive family living in rural Pennsylvania, Anna is faced with obstacles that could break most people. She finds solace in God with constant prayer and attendance in church services. Although she has little formal education, she is nominated by her pastor to attend bible college. where she excels and meets her future husband. They start a family and despite their own hardships, they devote their lives to helping others. Her powerful story of sacrifice, faith, and courage is an inspiration to us all.
Expect an Inspirational, Emotional, Faith-Filled Look at Anna's Life. While creating a fictionalized version of Anna's life, the author does an excellent job keeping Anna's story grounded in her real-life courage, faith and values. This grounding creates a novel that feels honest, realistic, and inspiring. Anna faced difficulties and challenges in her life--but her faith and strength of character pulled her through and moved her to navigate her own path and also to serve others in need. Anna's story is not of a famous person--but of a relatable woman who used her faith in God to guide her in life. Anna's story is an emotional one, but one that will not lift you in some way as you watch her overcome very difficult obstacles and decisions.
Anna is a Clean Read with A Strong Storyline. The author keeps Anna's story clean and faith-driven, focusing on the main character's strength and perseverance. While the main character faced difficulties and situations that were at times heartbreaking, the story keeps the spirit of the uplifting messages that Anna likely offered in her own memoir.
Would I Recommend Anna by Travis E. Short? I love memoirs and fictionalized novels based on true events and real people. While this novel, again, isn't based on a celebrity or a well-known motivational speaker or such, the author chose a wonderful, faithful character to highlight for readers. Anna's life focused on God and her faith--with decisions and her path being driven by that faith. If you are a Christian reader, you will find Anna's story faith-strengthening and empowering. However, if you are not a believer, you will still gain powerful messages from Anna's story and her giving nature and strength in moral character--without feeling overburdened by religious messages. Stories like Anna's are always worth a spot on the reading list, and I enjoyed this well-written novel very much.
Book Title: The Adventures of Faraday Fox: A story for Young Readers by Travis E. Short
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 65 pages
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Publish Authority
Release date: January 2024
Content Rating: G. Suitable for young readers
The Adventures of Faraday Fox is the story of a domesticated red fox that is released back into the Cherokee National Forest to find happiness. Instead, he encounters perils, danger, and hunger, and he decides to return to the home he left in Georgia. His adventures take him across the United States by walking and hitching rides on a train, a tractor-trailer, a boxcar, and in the luggage compartment of a bus. He meets many wild and domesticated animals along the way. When he arrives in California, a wonderful surprise awaits him. The story contains many life lessons and is written with readers, eight to twelve years old, in mind. It contains over twenty prints of original paintings of forest scenes, bears, birds, and other animals by accomplished artist Shirley Adams.
Book Title: Killers Can't Hide by Travis E. Short
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 270 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Publish Authority
Release date: May 2024
Content Rating: PG-13. Contains cursing, street talk and sexual implications, no explicit sex.
Glamour, passion, and horses are a deadly combination for Carmen Cantrell. When the former beauty queen is murdered on her horse ranch, the logical suspect is her estranged husband, Delbert Cantrell. Caught in the throes of a bitter reelection campaign for sheriff, Delbert, a wealthy contractor, must find a way to clear his name. He enlists the help of renowned lawyer Sydney Saperstein and a local investigator by the name of Isadore Holt. Their investigation takes them to Mexico and the southwest USA. More murder, treachery, and romance keep the reader guessing as to the outcome.
Book Title: Corner of My Mind: American Short Stories by Travis E. Short
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 329 pages
Genre: Short Stories
Publisher: Publish Authority
Release date: September 2024
Format available for review: print-softback (USA only), ebook (Gifted Kindle, EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Sep 2 to Sep 29, 2025
Content Rating: PG-13. Most stories are G rated, but some contain curse words and street language. No explicit sex.
Step into the captivating world of Corners of My Mind, a rich tapestry of new American short stories. In this collection by a master storyteller, ordinary people navigate the unexpected twists of fate with resilience and heart. From soldiers and warriors—both real and imagined—to revival preachers and lonely women, each takes a window into the human experience. Drawing inspiration from real-life encounters, dreams, and whimsical imagination, the stories are as diverse as they are compelling. Meet men of action, contemplative souls, and even talking dogs whose thoughts will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page. Whether you seek moments of laughter, tears, or thrilling surprises, Corners of My Mind promises an unforgettable journey.
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Retired as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, he pursued a career in shipbuilding and manufacturing. He has extensive experience in technical writing and business consulting. He is a graduate from the U. S. Navy Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, with a degree in Engineering Sciences. He is the father of four daughters and three sons, and currently resides in Moss Point, Mississippi, with his constant companion, A Lhasa Apso named Choi.
This looks like a great read. Thanks for sharing.
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