Six Literary Haunts Every Bibliophile Should Visit [PHOTOS]

Shannon Mckenna Schmidt
Shannon Mckenna Schmidt, co-author of National Geographic’s Novel Destinations, shares six of her favorite literary haunts.

Warning: Novel Destinations may inspire wanderlust. But rest assured, whether or not taking to the road is in the cards right now, the book offers an entertaining armchair journey. Rather than simply guiding readers to famous writers’ homes and haunts, Novel Destinations shares intriguing, little-known stories about the wordsmiths and the places where they lived, wrote, drew inspiration, and ventured themselves. Here are some of my favorite literary travel tales. Continue reading “Six Literary Haunts Every Bibliophile Should Visit [PHOTOS]”

‘Beneath A Scarlet Sky’ is the Story Mark Sullivan Was Born to Write [REVIEW]

Duomo di Milano
When World War II arrives in Italy, not even the Duomo di Milano is safe. (Photo by Roberto Guerrini, Flickr)

World War II is one of those unique periods in time which seems to generate an unending supply of powerful stories. Partly, I think, it is because the atrocities people endured and the horrors they witnessed were so outrageous they are still difficult for us to fully comprehend at times. The flip side of the coin, however, is that these stories often celebrate the fortitude of the human spirit and mankind’s tenacious desire to survive even the most dire of circumstances. That is definitely true in Mark Sullivan’s new novel, Beneath A Scarlet Sky. Continue reading “‘Beneath A Scarlet Sky’ is the Story Mark Sullivan Was Born to Write [REVIEW]”

Amanda Quick’s ‘The Girl Who Knew Too Much’ Is Glamorous and Intriguing [REVIEW]

Woman in pool
A reporter finds a dead actress at the bottom of a pool in 1930s Hollywood in Amanda Quick’s
The Girl Who Knew Too Much. (Photo courtesy Pexels)

There are few things as glamorous as 1930s Hollywood, back when Tinsel Town was in its heyday and everyone wanted to be the next rising star. Now, with The Girl Who Knew Too Much, New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick leaves behind “the ton” in England to tackle a new mystery, one that transpires among society’s most celebrated and infamous characters and begins with the shocking discovery of a beautiful actress found floating at the bottom of a pool.   Continue reading “Amanda Quick’s ‘The Girl Who Knew Too Much’ Is Glamorous and Intriguing [REVIEW]”

Learn to Pursue All Your Dreams in ‘How To Be Everything’ [REVIEW]

Little fireman
According to Emilie Wapnick, you can be everything you wanted to be when you grew up. (Photo by jdolenga, Flickr)

Remember how everyone used to ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up? As a child I wanted to be a teacher, a nurse, and an astronaut. I didn’t become any of those things, obviously, but perhaps that’s because like so many people, I was taught that I had to settle for one occupation for the rest of my life. In her new book, How to Be Everything, Emilie Wapnick teaches us that we no longer have to choose.  Continue reading “Learn to Pursue All Your Dreams in ‘How To Be Everything’ [REVIEW]”

‘Royally Roma’ Is a Hilarious Romp Through the Eternal City [REVIEW]

Falling in love
When Julia Costa meets Niccolo La Torre, she doesn’t realize he’s the Crown Prince of Lazaretto. (Photo by cristian, Flickr)

When a young woman moves abroad to escape the notorious family drama in her past, she goes to great lengths to live a very normal existence. But that may not be possible when she crosses paths with the dutiful grandson of an Italian monarch in Teri Wilson’s delightful new romantic comedy, Royally Roma, the first installment in her “The Royals” trilogy.  Continue reading “‘Royally Roma’ Is a Hilarious Romp Through the Eternal City [REVIEW]”