Java Davis's Blog

Whatever happened to indie author Jade Varden. She fell off the radar a couple of years ago, and I would like to know that she's OK and why did she disappear.

Mid-book, non-fiction, I've sent out a book query to Macmillan. Fingers crossed, and I'll let you all know what happens.

Are you following me on Twitter? I follow back. @javadavis !

My typesetting memoir, On Becoming a Dinosaur, is currently free on Amazon for Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Dinos...

I just posted a review on LibraryThing -- 3 stars for Over the Moon, by Linda Joffe Hull.
http://www.librarything.com/work/2035...

Hello, Everyone.
I'm writing a reference book on the linguistics of unofficially adopting adults into the family, and how there is no language to describe these adjunct family members. I'm hoping to compose a linguistic tree that will cover those friends who are close enough to be family.
If anyone has any insights to offer, or stories to tell me about adopted family members, please feel free to contact me.
[email protected]

The shutdown of theroadtripwriter.com is scheduled for May 1. I'll miss it.

My latest blog post, a review of Maria Luisa Lang's book The Pharaoh's Cat:
http://wp.me/p51aKx-q7

Book Review: The Pharaoh’s Cat, Maria Luisa Lang

 

Maria Luisa Lang has written a charming adult fairy tale, The Pharaoh’s Cat, the first in a series about Wrappa-Hamen, a simple cat who is touched by the goddess Bastet and given human powers.  Wrappa-Hamen can walk on two legs, eat human food, talk in real words, and read.  He becomes the constant companion of the Pharaoh, the mortal enemy of the powerful and cruel Vizier, and the best friend of the High Priest Gato-Hamen.

Ms. Lang is a student of Egypt and its history.  She brings her fascination with Egypt to the book, and I appreciated the immersion into Egyptian life.  The themes of the book are love, friendship, and politics.  Politically, the Vizier is jockeying to take command and rule Egypt.  The Pharaoh is in jeopardy, and so is Wrappa-Hamen.  The timeline spans two thousand years, since the High Priest and the cat become time travelers in the High Priest’s magic boat.

From beginning to end, the story is fantastical.  Immediately set aside disbelief and just enjoy the story as it unfolds.

To be brutally honest, I was asked to review the second novel in the series, but I insisted on reading this first volume first.  As much as I enjoyed The Pharaoh’s Cat, I did not enjoy The Eye of Nefertiti, the second book in the series.  I found it choppy and uneven.  Rather than just pan it, I would hope that the author will rework it, smoothing it out, fixing the typos, and reworking the character continuity inconsistencies.  I think this series has great possibilities and I would like to see it succeed.

 

 

Amazon U.S. link

Amazon U.K. Link

I am oh so sick. This is week four of the flu, or something flu-like. The doctor is quite frankly not sure what it is, even though she herself has it. I am tired of being sick, exhausted, and bored since I can't focus to read, and when I watch TV, I have no idea what I'm actually watching. If you are someone who prays, please send one up for me.