Life is what it's Called

Meet Author A.L. Sowards and Giveaway

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Meet the Author

A.L. Sowards writes mysteries, romances historical fiction with action, adventure and suspense. She writes entertaining books that keep you on the edge of your seat. Her books are wholesome and clean.

Sowards was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but grew up at Moses Lake, Washington. She attended school in Utah and decided she liked it so much that she would stay. She's always loved writing from the time she was in elementary school she started writing storybooks at her grandparent's house. Sowards also attended her first writer's conference in third grade.

Besides writing, Sowards enjoys swimming. She swam for the Big Bend Manta Rays, the Moses Lake Manta Rays, Moses Lake High School and Brigham Young University. She also studied Political Science and English at Brigham Young University.

Along with being an established author, Sowards raises three children.

Books Written by A.L. Sowards:

Of Sword and Shadow

The Redgrave Murders

The Spider and the Sparrow

The Rules in Rome 2015 Whitney Award Winner, Historical Fiction category

Defiance 2017 Whitney Award finalist, Historical Fiction category

Espionage 2012 Whitney Award finalist, Historical Fiction category

Sworn Enemy

Deadly Alliance 2014 Whitney Award finalist, Historical Fiction category

The Perfect Gift

Wartime Christmas Tales

Giveaway for an Audiobook

The author has generously offered a prize of an audio book of Defiance. Here's the summary of Defiance:

Eight years after immigrating to the United States, German-born Lukas Leyem bodies the
American dream: successful athlete, gorgeous girlfriend, loving family. But beneath the surface, eighteen-year-old Lukas is driven by ambition, resolved to avenge the murder of his father at the hands of the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, a failed physical throws his plans for flight school off course. Unlike his war-hero older brother,Lukas's purpose is unclear. He can't fly, and in the eyes of the military, he's good for only one thing--the front lines.

From the foxholes of war-ravaged Luxembourg to the devastation of an enormous German offensive, Lukas's journey is fraught with peril. But when he's taken as a prisoner of war, he realizes life is about to get much worse. In the enemy camp, Lukas is viewed as a German fighting for the wrong side. Ripped from the innocence of an idealistic youth, he becomes a man beaten by the horrors of war. Now his only hope of survival is to hold tightly to his faith in God and his love of family and home. But even if he manages to make it out alive, can he ever be whole again?

To enter to win the audiobook, please fill out the rafflecopter below. Only U.S. mainland mailing addresses please may enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to A.L Sowards for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. Winner for US mainland only. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Please note that this post also contains an affiliate links to help support the maintenance of this blog.

Saving Dr. Warren..."A True Patriot" Review and Giveaway

Monday, December 14, 2020

About the Book

How do we share in patriotism with America's future?

The novel Saving Dr. Warren...A True Patriot answers that question through the eyes of a 14 year old boy.

Steve O'Dell loves to write and does it well. But as an eighth-grade student at Needham Middle School, his talent sometimes seems more an embarrassment than a blessing.

Then, on Veteran's Day 2001, Steve's award-winning essay propels him into an adventure twisting through Revolutionary battles and bloodshed. Thanks to the bizarre bequest of a manuscript and a musket ball from a long-lost family war hero, Steve's journey with the Revolutionary War hero Dr. Joseph Warren begins.

A time-traveling talisman missing from the archives of one of Boston's oldest historical societies takes Steve through the portals of history, where he walks side by side with a real Boston patriot. He makes house calls with Dr. Warren on March 5, 1770, and stumbles onto the bloodstained streets of the Boston Massacre. From the killings of March 5 to boarding tea ships in 1773, Steve's history book explodes to life as he helps Dr. Warren and forges a friendship with Boston's True Patriot. Steve watches Dr. Warren launch Paul Revere on his midnight ride, and he helps Dr. Warren dodge British musket balls in the first battles of the War for Independence. With each adventure, Steve tastes the light that ignites the Revolution.

Steve will eventually convince others that the Revolutionary relic he was given really does open portals through time, but he faces his most difficult quest alone—saving Dr. Warren from an onslaught at Bunker Hill. Can he do it? And if he fails, will he ever return to this century?Saving Dr. Warren...A True Patriot rips through the pages of history. From the Revolutionary War to the vanishing veterans of World War II, to the ashes of September 11, 2001, Saving Dr. Warren demonstrates to both old and young that patriotism, standing like an old oak tree on a grandfather's farm, has and will endure.

Check out Jeffery J. McKenna's website for plenty of free educational resources that have been created specifically for Saving Dr. Warren... A True Patriot. You'll find lesson plans, an essay contest, as well as information about author visits. This historical-fiction novel has been used in several middle school classrooms as a resource for both History and English teachers—it is a great educational tool for parents, librarians, and teachers.

Ages 11-15, 366 pages, Publisher: Jeffrey J. McKenna, ISBN-13:978-0999901205

About the Author

Jeff McKenna resides in a peaceful Southern Utah town amidst the red rocks that make up

National Parks like Zion and Arches. He loves mountain biking over the brightly colored sandstone that surrounds him, as well as new trails he finds when he goes on cross-country RV trips with his wife. Along with reading entertaining historical fiction novels, Jeff believes a great way to learn to love America is by exploring her beautiful landscape and visiting cities and states from sea to shining sea.Jeff's love for his country is what has fostered his love for writing. Uncovering America's history can be messy, but Jeff dives in with both hands to uncover what lies hidden in our nation's past. He loves to reveal forgotten heroes and help them come alive for young Americans as they race through the page of his historical fiction novel, Saving Dr. Warren..."A True Patriot".

Jeff would love to hear about the American heroes you've discovered as you dive into history. For more information, visit his website here.

Review

Saving Dr. Warren..."A True Patriot" shares many historical events including 9-11, WWII, and the Revolutionary War. Jumping around in history made me feel like I was also traveling in time and experiencing different events, however, I enjoyed it more when the book solely focused on the Revolutionary War. The transitions between the different chapters became smoother and easier to read. I would also have enjoyed the book more if the author had written the name of the character whose perspective we were reading at the beginning of the chapter.

The theme of patriotism and what it is ran throughout the book. The novel does a good job at explaining why patriotism matters in the modern world. I really enjoyed reading about the events during the Revolutionary War and learning more about Dr. Warren and his involvement with the war. It was also interesting to read Steve's perspective on the past. It was a modern take on the events through history. . Pre-teens and teens would enjoy how history comes alive in this book. It would help history to seem more real and relatable.

The characters were also engaging and interesting in the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Steve is cocky, self-serving and prideful. Throughout the story he becomes a better person and learns humility, patriotism, caring more for those around him and learns how to foster better relationships with his friends and family members. His life changes through experiencing the historical events and getting to know historical figures. I liked that Steve's character changed for the better as the story enfolded.

I could also see teachers using this in the classroom to help students gain a greater understanding of historical events. Reading about historical events in a fictional setting may help students to remember and internalize it more. There were several parts of the story that could be used in a discussion setting, project or student essay. I would recommend reading this book and learning more about the historical events that it mentions.

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

A copy of Saving Dr. Warren … “A True Patriot,” autographed by Jeffery McKenna
An original 1700’s musket ball

Two (2) winners receive:

A copy of Saving Dr. Warren … “A True Patriot,” autographed by Jeffery McKenna

The giveaway begins December 10, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends January 10, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

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Check out the other blog tour stops here.

This post is sponsored in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and author Jeffery McKenna in both your blog post and all social shares.

Saving Dr. Warren Author Interview and Giveaway

Saturday, December 12, 2020

About the Book

How do we share in patriotism with America's future?

The novel Saving Dr. Warren...A True Patriot answers that question through the eyes of a 14 year old boy.

Steve O'Dell loves to write and does it well. But as an eighth-grade student at Needham Middle School, his talent sometimes seems more an embarrassment than a blessing.

Ages 11-15, 366 pages, Publisher: Jeffrey J. McKenna, ISBN-13:978-0999901205

About the Author

Jeff would love to hear about the American heroes you've discovered as you dive into history. For more information, visit his website here.

Author Interview

Life is What It's Called - Why did you choose the Revolutionary War time for your book?

Jeff McKenna - Ultimately, I chose this period because I wanted to tell Joseph Warren's story. It's his story. It's his period. However, I really enjoy history and I couldn't just limit the story to the Revolution. I wanted to incorporate some of the most patriotic moments in American history, so this is why I chose the three historical time periods that I did: My main character is in middle school and living through the aftermath of 9/11. He experiences the islands of the Pacific through the tales of his long-lost WWII relative. He races through time, trying to save a forgotten Revolutionary War hero. To me, these three periods of U.S. history are the perfect combination to help the reader learn what it means to be a true patriot.

Life Is What It's Called - Why was Dr. Warren your choice of historical figures for Steve to follow?

Jeff McKenna - He found me.

At the beginning of 2001, I learned that Dr. Warren was the man that orchestrated and sent Paul Revere on his ride. I figured if he was important enough to govern Paul Revere's actions, I should learn more. The more I knew, the more I wondered why I'd never learned about him before. Why had he fallen from the pages of history? It was then I felt impressed to tell his story.I knew I wanted to tell his story, but I didn't know how. After the attacks of 9/11, the plot started to materialize. Additionally, at this time, within my law practice, I watched many of my WWII estate planning clients pass away. I wanted a story that involved all three elements - Dr. Warren, WWII, and September 11th. "Saving Dr. Warren..." A True Patriot" emerged from these three desires.

Life Is What It's Called - Will there be sequels for this book?

Jeff McKenna - Yes, stay tuned! Saving Dr. Warren… "A True Patriot" is the 1st book in a three-book series!The second book will be about family and will focus on Curtis. His T3 (Time Traveling Talisman) will take him on a journey to discover all that his family has sacrificed to give him the opportunities he has today.And my last book will focus on Grace Levy. My vision is still blurry on how this book will look, but it will most undoubtedly carry with it the Almighty theme. Grace will experience God and His unfailing love for his children as her T3 not only takes her through time but to another side of the globe.

Life Is What It's Called - What was your inspiration for this story?

Jeff McKenna - America's future was the inspiration for the story.I love working with America's youth. They are filled with energy and often an unabashed excitement for life. If you want to know what America will look like in 30 years, look at what the youth is being taught today. Although I am an estate planning attorney, I have dedicated countless hours to being a soccer coach and Christian youth instructor. My sole desire is to help those I work with develop skills to live a meaningful life.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope readers will gain from this story?

Jeff McKenna - A greater appreciation for their country and those who have sacrificed, and are continuing to sacrifice, so much for our liberty and freedoms.

Life Is What It's Called - How does history inspire you to write?

Jeff McKenna - I love traveling. My wife and I love to visit new places and meet new people. History is like traveling. You go back in time to a "new place." Even if you are studying your hometown's history, you will read and learn about new people. History is traveling to new places and meeting new people by merely opening and reading a book. In my eyes, historical fiction is the best genre because you can enjoy a good story while learning amazing history at the same time.Life Is What It's Called - How would you use this book in the classroom or with homeschool curriculums?Jeff McKenna - Great question! I wrote Saving Dr. Warren... "A True Patriot" with teachers in mind. It is designed to educate while entertaining the reader. The Saving Dr. Warren Team has organized excellent lesson plans on my website at www.jefferyjmckenna.com. The book closely follows the standard U.S. History curriculum while also being a great Language Arts class option.

I've also partnered with the nonprofit Help Patriotism Prevail, which helps provide free digital and print copies of Saving Dr. Warren... "A True Patriot" to schools across the country.

Life Is What It's Called - If you could be like Steve and travel back in time, what period would you choose and why?

Jeff McKenna - I would want to go back to the year 14AD as a teenage version of myself. I am a Christian who loves Jewish culture. I think it would be incredible to be friends with Jesus as I went through my awkward teenage years. Although having Jesus as a friend would be incredible, I'm not sure how long I would want to stay back in the first century, Galilee. I would definitely miss modern appliances, medicine, and technology! Let's hope I'd have a similar experience as my main character and not permanently get stuck in 14AD.

Life Is What It's Called - What would be some experiences or historical tours you would recommend to readers after reading the book?

Jeff McKenna - Boston's famous Freedom Trail is a must! I think Saving Dr. Warren... "A True Patriot" is the perfect family read for anyone living in or around Boston or planning on visiting. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum in NYC and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans are also significant historical locations to visit in connection with the book. If you're one of those lucky souls that live in or visit Hawaii, I strongly recommend visiting Pearl Harbor. In every one of the above locations, I have genuinely felt America's Spirit. However, as stated on the last page of my novel, it's not just in these great and famous locations that you can feel the influence of America's Spirit. You can attend a local veteran's ceremony in your hometown, or you can visit a local veteran's cemetery in your community. Another fantastic experience you can be a part of after reading the book is watching a veterans group "retire" old flags. If you've never experienced the proper retirement of a worn and likely torn flag, you really need to attend the next one sponsored by your local American Legion. As you participate in the above experiences, I promise there will be an excellent chance you will be touched by America's Spirit!