Author Review: Scott R. Caseley

 Whenever I talk about what my word count is for the day, my husband  always remarks that he doesn't need thousands of words to tell a story. He can do it in a few dozen. While this is true for any writer or story teller; it lacks the essential elements of character development.
Good characters have either changing characteristics or changing motivations. Great characters have both. In "isosceles", the coming of age YA novel by Scott R. Caseley, The author has developed not just one but three great characters through the use of shanging motivations and characteristics.
This triangle of friendship takes the kids from a time in their lives when they have everything in common through points of their development that mold then into not only distinct personalities, but vital roles  in the friendship.
Sean, Trey, and Madeline go through the common losses of childhood and adolescence, but they all experience uncommon tragedies that they share. The absence, abandonment, and death of parents. Heartache, heartbreak, and the loss of innocence.
Never has growing up been a more precarious journey than when it is done within their sometimes fractured and unsteady bond of friendship.
This novel pulled me into it. I was angry and frustrated at times. I ached for these kids and wept for their broken childhoods. The brutal nature of their experiences mixed with the horror of the outcome touched me as I read and I felt I knew these kids. The raw and unfettered nature of their language, their lives and their loves was masterfully accomplished as my heart was truly with these people and they lost their role as simply characters in a story.
I got a sneak peek at Caseley's next novel and I can't wait to find out what else he's got for us. To read more about Scott R. Caseley go to

Blog Address: www.scottrcaseleyauthor.com

Twitter URL: twitter.com/scottrcaseley

Facebook Fan Page URL: https://www.facebook.com/ScottRCaseleyWriter

Publisher Website: http://museituppublishing.comYou can find out more about Scott R. Caseley, his novel and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/c85xoz4

A World Without Sight

In the history of our world there have always been individuals without sight.  Historical figures like Helen Keller, Francesco Landini-a 14 th century composer, and Homer-the author of 'The Illiad' and 'The odyssey'. There are multiple references in ancient scripture to beggars who were blind. Not to mention all of us who will never be listed in the History books.
Blindness or visual impairment has existed in a sighted world and the blind have learned to compensate for situations that were not created, nor ideal for them.
Can you imagine a world where 'sight' was the disability? Imagine history and societies being built by the blind. Would all technology be voice activated and audio? Edison would never have made the history books. He would have just been some guy tinkering with wire.
What about exploration?  No one would have looked up at the stars and wondered what was out there. Even the exploration of the sea might have taken ten times longer before someone figured out how vast the ocean's really were. Navigation in the beginning was done by the stars.
I have no doubt that the incomnquerable human spirit would have figured it out. The desire to learn and expand is rooted deep within the human heart and a world in darkness would not have stood in the way. Truthfully though, The progress and expansion of our world, both sighted and blind, has been a balance and compromise between our two worlds. The blind benefit from discoveries that were only possible because of the sighted. And the sighted have experienced the best of strength, triumph, and courage thanks to people who did not just try to get along with the way the world was working for the masses.
My experiences as a blind person have brought me the best of both worlds and its the balance between them that completes and enhances my life. It's a beautiful world we live in, sighted or blind, if we can only remember to look at it through the clearest eyes.

Come Meet Scott Caseley

Scott Caseley is touring his first novel "Isosceles" throughout March and April and he has included some great information about the story. I will also be reviewing this book later this month so find out about it and I'll let you know what I think in a few weeks. . 

Follow Scott R. Caseley at

Blog Address: www.scottrcaseleyauthor.com

Twitter URL: twitter.com/scottrcaseley

Facebook Fan Page URL: https://www.facebook.com/ScottRCaseleyWriter

Publisher Website: http://museituppublishing.com

The novel takes the reader on a journey through the thirteen-year friendship between Sean McIntyre and Trey Goodsby and up to the tragic end of Trey's life, then goes into what effect his death has on Sean and those closest to the two boys.

When he finds his best friend Trey Goodsby dead and almost completely submerged in a bathtub filled with bloody water, Sean McIntyre is determined to find out if it was an accident or suicide. Did his death accidental or intentional have anything to do with Madeline Edwards, the woman who came between them constantly through their thirteen-year friendship? The tale begins with the death of Trey Goodsby, and explores his relationships with family, friends, his romances, and which of the circumstances he found himself in that led to the tragic event, and the repercussions for those he left behind.

If you have that feeling that you're coming up short...what will it take to feel equal?

While this is Scott's first novel, he wrote and directed a dramatic feature, co-wrote and directed a documentary and wrote for an online magazine. He’s also a trained voice, stage, and screen actor. In addition to his creative pursuits, he is passionate about healthy living. He follows a mostly self-directed fitness quest consisting of weight training, walking, swimming, yoga, and hula hooping. When not working out, he also enjoys cooking healthy gourmet meals as well as playing board games with family and friends with plenty of coffee brewing to keep the fun going until the wee hours of the morning.

You can find out more about Scott R. Caseley, his novel and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/c85xoz4

 

Author Scott R. Caseley joins the World of Ink Virtual Tour 

The World of Ink Network will be touring author Scott R. Caseley’s young adult romantic coming of age mystery novel, Isosceles throughout March and April 2013.

To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com  

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Full Media Kit, Photos and more are available upon request electronically.

 

Pinch of Romance, Splash of Suspense

One of the problems with writing blind is often what I think is on the blog and what I actually post are at times very different. When I originally posted this piece about Eliza Daily it had parts of her e-mail stuck in. I apologize to her and to all of you for all the extra's. This is a great romance, a fun read and worth checking out. Don't let my "blind" ignorance of computers stop you. come meet Eliza.Identity Crisis by Eliza Daly

To celebrate the March 4 release of Identity Crisis, Eliza will be awarding one $20 gift certificate, and two $10 gift certificates, for either Amazon or Barnes & Noble to three randomly drawn commenters during her excerpt reveal tour March 4. Please include your e-mail address with your comment. Winners will be contacted on March 8. Good luck everyone!

When Olivia Doyle’s father dies under suspicious circumstances, rather than inheriting a family fortune, she inherits a new identity. She learns they were placed in the Federal Witness Protection Program when she was five years old. Her father was involved in an art forgery ring and testified against the mob. Brought up not to trust anyone, Olivia has a difficult time relying on U.S. Marshal Ethan Ryder to protect her, and to keep her secret. She fears her father may have continued his life of crime through her art gallery. She has little choice but to depend on Ethan when she realizes someone is now after her. Olivia’s search for the truth leads her and Ethan across country to a family and past she doesn’t remember.

At the age of ten, Ethan witnessed a brutal murder. He vowed when he grew up, he’d protect people in danger. Protecting Olivia is difficult when she won’t trust him. He soon realizes his desire to protect her goes beyond doing his job, but if his judgment becomes clouded by emotions, her safety could be jeopardized. 

Can Ethan and Olivia learn to trust each other when they uncover secrets that will change their lives forever?

Identity Crisis is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, All Romance, eBooks.com, and Kobo.

Excerpt

Father Clifford slipped a yellowed envelope from the side pocket of his vestment. “Your father gave this to me many years ago. Asked that I give it to you upon his death.”

She took the envelope from his hand. The organ music faded and a desolate, eerie stillness fell over the church, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. She tightened the shawl around her shoulders. She opened the envelope to find a letter and a newspaper clipping. She started with the letter.

Dear Livvy,

First, know that I loved you more than anything in this world. That’s why I hope someday you’ll forgive me for what I’ve done. Telling you the truth while I was alive could have put your life in danger. Now that I’m gone, I no longer fear for your safety. They would only have hurt you to get to me.

The only way to keep us safe was to enter the Witness Protection Program when you were five. Leaving our friends and family was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I can’t stand the thought of you now being alone. I hope you’ll go back to our family, in the town where I grew up, Five Lakes, Wisconsin. I’d like to be laid to rest there, next to your mother. Please forgive me enough to grant me this one last wish. If you should ever encounter any problems, contact Roy Howard, the U.S. Marshal who relocated us, at 415-334-9076. I’m so sorry. Please believe you were the most important thing to me. You were my life. My Livvy.

Love, Dad

Olivia stood paralyzed, her mind racing, trying to comprehend the letter. Was this some kind of sick joke? For the past twenty-four years her dad had lived in fear that somebody would hurt them? What had forced him to leave behind everyone he’d loved? Everyone she’d probably loved, but obviously couldn’t remember. And if her mom wasn’t buried in San Francisco, whose grave had Olivia been visiting here all these years? She tried to hold the letter steady in her trembling hands. Of course it was vague. Her dad had been a man of few words. However, these few words expressed a lot of emotion, something he’d never been good at doing.

“Is everything all right?” Father Clifford’s voice penetrated her thoughts.

Concern creased the older man’s brow and from the curiosity filling his gray eyes, he had no clue what the envelope contained. Her dad hadn’t even trusted a priest with his secret. Her dad had been the only person she’d ever really trusted, and it turned out she hadn’t truly known him.

She merely nodded, unable to find her voice. She inhaled a deep breath. The scent of beeswax candles and incense did little to calm the panic racing through her veins. She unfolded a clipping from a Chicago newspaper, dated twenty-four years ago. The headline read Art Dealer in Bed with Mob Blows Whistle on Forgery Ring and Vinnie Carlucci. The article included a photo of police officers escorting her dad. She started reading the article.Prominent Chicago art dealer Andrew Donovan confesses to having sold more than a hundred forgeries …

Her stomach dropped. She slapped a hand over her mouth, certain she was about to vomit right there on the pew.

Her dad had been a criminal.

The nature of his crime made it all the more surreal.

She stared in disbelief at the papers in her hand. His name had been Andrew Donovan, not Alex Doyle. Her last name was Donovan. Was her first name actually Olivia? Instead of inheriting a family fortune, she’d inherited a new identity.

Or rather, an old one.

Eliza Daly’s first attempt at creative writing was in fourth grade. She and her friends were huge Charlie’s Angels fans and she would sit in her bedroom at night writing scripts for them to act out at recess the following day. She was Kelly Garrett. Fast forward to the present, she’s still writing stories about beautiful women who always get their men. The journey from fourth grade script writer to published author wasn’t an easy one, but it was always an adventure and the final destination was well worth it.

When Eliza isn’t traveling for her job as an event planner, or tracing her ancestry roots through Ireland, she’s at home in Milwaukee working on her next novel, bouncing ideas off her husband Mark, and her cats Quigley, Frankie, and Sammy.

You can find Eliza on the web at Website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.