To Look on Death No More by Leta Serafim

Published by Camel Press  Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

“An impressively crafted read from beginning to end and clearly establishes author Leta Serafim as an exceptionally gifted novelist. Very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections.”

• The Midwest Book Review, Wisconsin Bookwatch

“In autumn of 1943, a lone allied soldier parachutes into Greece. His stated goal: to build an airstrip for the British. Brendon O’Malley is an Irishman, and he soon discovers that fighting the Nazis is not the same as embracing the British, who have seriously misled him about his mission. Wounded during the drop, he’s set upon and robbed by a seventeen-year-old girl, Danae, and her little brother, Stefanos, who hold him captive for over six weeks, first in a cave and later in the cellar of their home in Kalavryta. A wary friendship develops between the three.

“Over time, O’Malley’s relationship with the girl gradually deepens into love. Slowly O’Malley earns Danae’s trust, and he stays on with her family in their house in the village. After his wounds heal, he heads up into the mountains to join the Greek soldiers, the antartes, who are suspicious of the British and slow to accept him into their ranks. O’Malley is no ordinary man, and his honesty, strength, and courage impress them and finally win the day.

“But disaster lies just ahead, and the Nazis, already a palpable presence in their lives, stage a savage attack on Kalavryta. Through it all, the love of this Irishman for his indomitable Greek muse cannot be extinguished.

“To Look on Death No More is an impressively crafted read from beginning to end and clearly establishes author Leta Serafim as an exceptionally gifted novelist. Very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that To Look on Death No More is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.95).”

Free on Thursday, April 28th – Trail of Deceit by John House

Amazon http://amzn.to/1qGtnZH

Published by Argus Publishing  Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

I want to share my thoughts on a book I just read by a Facebook friend/author, Daniel C. Lorti. It is called The Avignon Legacy. Great cover by the way. Anyhow half of the book takes place in the 14th century Europe during the Middle Ages and it weaves in a lot of historical events while presenting a story about two knights who were best friends and their exploits. This part alone would make “Game of Thrones” relegated to just a King Author tale. It centers about a lost treasure which was the property of the French Vatican at Avignon. The second part is the present day and involves two friendly scoundrels and ancient book thieves who are lured into a quest for the hinted treasure. This makes a terrific follow-on to the first part. There’s romantic interests and banter throughout. Loved it!

—Marcie Stone, Facebook

Hi Friends;

I took a Facebook friend’s interesting critique of The Avignon Legacy, a book by Daniel C. Lorti to heart and got a copy. No regrets. What a wonderful story, I found myself taking it with me where ever I went just to keep reading it. Its historical basis in the 14th century was entertaining and interesting. I loved the way two knights met in the first part and how two men with a touch of larceny met in the second part which takes place in the present day. Brava!

—James Taylor, Facebook

Bon Jour:

I got curious about the touted novel, The Avignon Legacy by Daniel C. Lorti who is a Southern California author and gave it a try. If a history class was like this in college, I would have earned an A. A terrific read and I give it two thumbs up. I have to agree, it would make a great TV series or movie. The intrigue, romance and wisecracking while the story progressed kept me grinning. I’ve been to Provence, France and Avignon and I can picture the events happening just as described. A recommended read. I’m making it a housewarming present for my BFF.

—Don Murphy, Facebook

5.0 out of 5 stars

This book is a great read! Daniel Lorti is a wonderfully inventive and smart writer. He has created a world and characters that you will be happy to follow on their adventures. Read this book and you’ll have a terrific time.

—Michele Wallerstein, Screenplay and Novel Consultant

“…a fascinating tale of a treasure hunt well told.”

—Mid-Atlantic Book Reviewers

The Avignon Legacy takes us from the 14th Century and the life of Jean Termonde, a knight and papal guard, to present day and a rare book dealer, Jim Pierce, who has been “commissioned” to acquire the tome Termonde last penned for Pope Gregory XI. It is not the words or the ancient parchment it is written on, the document contains a message to the pope cryptically revealing the location of the lost papal treasure, with Pierce being chased by an unscrupulous collector, who -in turn- has attracted the FBI, New Scotland Yard and the French authorities to the unknown quest. (Taken from the back of the book)

The first part is an incredible adventure chronicling the lives of the Termonde family. We start at the beginning of an event that has a ripple effect on the family. We’re there through the first half (or possibly more) of Jean Termonde’s life. This part of the story is actually pretty entertaining. It is fictional history showing us what life was like at the time for a few extraordinary people. Most of it is believable and interesting.

When it comes to the Catholic Church history, there are times when it becomes a bit ‘history book’ but it’s not too overwhelming. Lorti makes sure that we have a good grasp of what’s going on and the historical significance of it. For me, I honestly skimmed over it. It’s not my thing. Over all, though, it’s not a lot of history. It’s enough to explain everything, but it doesn’t really bog you down. For those that ARE interested in history, you’ll find a lot here to fascinate you. I must admit, even in my skimming, I learned.

The second part of the book is very much a heist story. We have a decent cast of characters, even though they aren’t as fascinating as the first part of the book. We don’t have nearly as much history thrown at us, though there is some put in as necessary. We have some ‘bad guys’ and some ‘really bad guys’ and ‘I’m not sure if they’re bad or good guys.’ I didn’t love any of the characters in the second part of the book, but they did play their part well.

I was intrigued with the heist portion of the story. How do you steal something from the Vatican? Even when you’re a professional thief and have others at your disposal, that’s a pretty serious theft! Then to add in that you have thugs and all sorts of police after you, it’s nearly impossible! The sheer genius behind the planning of this heist and the attempt at pulling it off is what made the second part of the book good for me.

—Shawn Remfrey, Literarylitter.blogspot.com

Fantastic! Review for From Silt and Ashes by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Published by Argus Publishing  Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

It will draw you in…By J Hays

This sequel to Please Say Kaddish for Me was at least as compelling, maybe more so, than the first book. The characters are no longer characters to me, but real people. They are no longer in a country that I know little about, but here with us. And as well, they are also in a city in which I lived for some time. The population of From Silt and Ashes is now showing us not just the religious persecution in other parts of the world but shining a light on our own history, distressing as it sometimes is. Havah and Arel, and all the rest, are still struggling to make sense of the senseless and yet they remain true and strong — to themselves, to their families, and to their values. It has been said that if we don’t learn from our history we are doomed to repeat it. Havah and the rest are showing us our history in both the glory and the shame. It was very difficult to put this book down, and I now await the coming sequel with bated breath because I need to know that their struggles are not in vain. I absolutely and unequivocally recommend this book to all.

LOIACONO LITERARY AGENCY FIVE AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING EVENT

GULFPORT B&N SATURDAY, JULY 23RD 2-5PM

Crossroads Shopping Center

15246 Crossroads Pkwy, Gulfport, MS 39503

(228) 832-8906

Meet the authors and get signed copies of all their works!

Jodie Cain Smith – The Woods at Barlow Bend

Philip Levin – The Tides of Mississippi

Robert Hirsch – Promise of the Black Monks and Contrition

Robert Hirsch – Contrition and Promise of the Black Monks

Robert Shows – ‘A Sentence of Death’ Words that Killed a President

Thomas E. Simmons – By Accident of Birth, Forgotten Heroes of WWII and The Man Called Brown Condor

Thomas E. Simmons – The Man Called Brown Condor, Forgotten Heroes of World War II: Personal Accounts of Ordinary Soldiers Land, Sea and Air, and By Accident of Birth

Books in Bloom

The Crescent Hotel

75 Prospect Ave

Eureka Springs, AR 72632

(800) 342-9766

www.crescent–hotel.com

May 15, 2016

Mary Nida Smith

4:00 PM to 4:25 PM

• Location:In the Readers Tent
• Presentation:Heroes Beneath the Waves
• Author Name:Mary Nida Smith

AUTHOR WEBSITEFESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Presentation Time – 4:00 PM to 4:25 PM

Heroes Beneath the Waves

Men who served in submarines join the service to sail the seas. The unknown world was more like a nightmare to many. Out of every twenty men signing up, maybe only six would qualify. Imagine working and living in a 300-foot long, 30-foot wide, three- story building with no windows and surrounded by technology. Hear about these men and this book.

http://booksinbloom.org/event-author/mary-nida-smith

Bank Notes: The True Story of the Boonie Hat Bandit by Caroline Giammanco and Promise of the Black Monks by Robert Hirsch are featured by Argus Publishing in the New York Times Book Section.

Princess Ellen is a story of embracing uniqueness.

Princess Ellen is a little different from all the other girls at school. She is lonely and worries about making friends. When the bullies tease her on the playground, she fears she’ll never fit in. Will the quirky Princess Ellen ever find her place in the world?

Metroka asks the experts what they think.

“I am a princess. All girls are! Even if they live in tiny old attics, even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young, they’re still princesses – all of us! Didn’t your father ever tell you that? Didn’t he?” — A Little Princess (1995)

Kate Metroka is a Bay area author, singer, and actress who has enjoyed the art of storytelling her entire life. When she isn’t writing or performing on stage, she loves to read, hike, play tennis, and watch movies with her husband. Kate Metroka

Loiacono Literary Agency has taken on Jennifer Johnson’s nonfiction, The Kingdom Child, which is based on the true story of Jordan Allen.

Fourteen-year-old Jordan Allen learned the power of prayer is not always getting what you want but accepting the answer you receive. Growing up in a strong Christian home, he knew God had a plan for his life, he just did not know if playing professional sports was what He had in mind. Each night, he would ask God ‘to help him be all that he needed to be,’ hoping his prayer would reveal God’s plan.

Jordan Allen and his family: Paige, Rosalyn, Sam, and Bear Allen

Several months later, Jordan’s prayer was answered, but not in the way he expected.

After being diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor, Jordan discovered his purpose would be revealed while battling for his life. In and out of a coma, Jordan was given the gift of seeing both the physical world and the spiritual world as one. He learned it’s not a physical death we should fear but spiritual death, even among those claiming to be Christian.

The Kingdom Child will prompt each reader to look at the authenticity of their own faith through personal discovery of the path they’re on. We are either on a pathway to life or the pathway to death, and only a Kingdom Child can distinguish the difference.

Jennfer Johnson and Rosalyn Allen

Johnson’s passion is writing. She graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Her first book, What Have You Done for Me Lately? (2008), discusses God’s presence in corporate America. She is currently working on her third, Perfect Timing, based on the lives of four elderly people who meet in a nursing home. Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency https://loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/jennifer-johnson/