Category: Books

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“Banning” Books… Again

Twice in 2022 I wrote about banning books (here and here), but the recent hysteria over books that are being pushed by the LGBTQ community, and others, along with an FB post by a friend of mine brought the matter back to mind. As with so many issues these days, the left has taken a word and twisted it until they find a definition and use that suits their needs. Just as the government and its cronies created Newspeak in Orwell’s 1984, so the progressive left is creating their own version of newspeak. My friend walked into a Barnes and Noble to be faced with the display shown below. Now, yes, the signs under the books say “Challenged” which is indeed accurate. But notice the display sign – that says “Banned Books.” Whether this is a marketing ploy (likely), or not, someone at B&N is engaged in some serious misdirection and propagandizing.

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Book Review: “Bowl of Red” by Sarah A. Hoyt

Bowl of Red is the fourth book in Sarah A. Hoyt’s shifter series. Kyrie Smith and Tom Ormson are about to be parents and about to get married. Since Tom is worried that the new fryer will explode if it’s not monitored constantly, they’re getting married in The George, the diner they own, and their friends and employees are giving them a twelve-hour honeymoon break.

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Holiday Book Sale!

Looking for Christmas presents? I am offering signed paperback copies of all three books in my series, Academic Magic, for $10 each plus shipping! That’s signed copies of Academic Magic, Night Mage, and Magic Abroad for $30 plus shipping! Send an email to profornery at gmail dot com with “Books” in the subject line, if you are interested.

Also, starting Wednesday, November 23 at midnight PST and continuing until Wednesday, November 30 at midnight the ebook version of Night Mage will be available for $0.99! Academic Magic in ebook format is permanently available for $0.99 as well!

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New Anthology Out!

Fantastic Schools Hols is out now and available in ebook on Kindle Unlimited! Have you ever wondered what school holidays can be like for students at magical schools other than Hogwarts? Well, this collection gives you fourteen tales of the adventures of students when they’re not at school. Do they get into trouble at home? Have adventures and mishaps on the way home? All the adventure and exploration that kids get into when they get a break from school, with a dose of magic thrown into the mix.

My story, Christmas Shenanigans takes us back to the world of The Academy Arcane and 13-year old Mo Donaldson when she goes home for the Christmas holiday break. How much trouble can one girl with a knack for kinetic magic get into? Mo Donaldson is learning kinetic magic and she’s getting quite good. Helping her father put the Christmas decorations on the roof gives her a chance to prove to him how good she is. But when things go sliding down, she has to explain the situation to her father and face one of her biggest fears – talking to her neighbor, the grouchy, scary Mr. Cumberland. Will there be a Christmas miracle? Can Mo fix the Christmas decorations and win over Mr. Cumberland?

Indie writers live and die by the reviews, so if you’re so inclined, please remember to leave a review on Amazon when you’ve read the book. Thank you very much!

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Banning Books and People

I’ve written about this before, but the issue seems to have come around once again (truly, it’s never ending). There has been a huge kerfuffle in recent weeks and months over the “banning” of certain books. Yes, parents in some school districts have argued for the removal of certain books from the school library as not appropriate for the age group of the school (does anybody really think that third graders should be reading books more appropriate for middle-schoolers or high-schoolers? Yes, it’s happening in some school libraries). But in the end, that is not banning books. If you can go out and get the book from your local public library or pick it up off the “banned books” table at Barnes and Noble, the book is not banned. And if your small-town library doesn’t have a copy of the scandalous book you’re looking for… they’ll use interlibrary loan to get it from elsewhere for you.

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Book Review: Odd Magics: Tales for the Lost

Odd Magics, by Sarah A. Hoyt, is a collection of classic fairy tales reimagined as short stories set in the modern world. They don’t quite follow the original story, but those who know their fairy tales will quickly figure them out. Sarah Hoyt has given us a collection of stories that are quirky and fun and take you out of your head for a short while. The entire book is a quick read that will give you a lift and inspire you to look for the magic in everyday life.

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New Release: Adventure Stories for Young Readers

I am proud to announce that I have a story in this wonderful anthology of eleven thrilling action stories suitable for readers age 10 and up with a high reading level. Eleven tales of derring-do, friendship, and action in science fiction and fantasy settings.

Surviving in space, dealing with lost baby dragons, rescuing a little girl from goblins…what do you do? Who can you rely on for help? These stories show the strength of family and friends as we watch young people grow and learn…even from their own mistakes.