Wednesday, August 27, 2008


BLOG TOUR - DAY 3


Broken Angel
by Sigmund Brouwer

Web site - http://www.coolreading.com/

Author moderated blog - http://www.sigmundbrouwernovels.com/

(Click book for Amazon link)

Today is the final blog tour day for Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer. Day one included an interview with Mr. Brouwer, and day two included a video clip with links to more information about the book. On day three I wanted to include some observations about the book.

Broken Angel's setting in the Appalachian Mountains has the feel of someone who has lived in the region. The people are believable, and not hillbilly stereotypes. The idea of limiting town population to small sizes fits in with the small, close-knit communities sprinkled throughout the region.
At first, I felt a little uneasy about the one church and it's leader that ran everything in the region. Reading further, I found that the people on the inside had been taught a convoluted version of the Bible. Unable to own books, especially Bibles, members were left to depend on their religious leaders for their religious training. Taking select biblical passages too literally, these leaders read out of the Bible what they wanted.
The leaders reminded me of the Pharisees. They had the final say in all matters because they "knew best." Their interpretations provided wide leeway for whatever actions they desired. The ends truly justified the means in their eyes. In Caitlyn's case the leaders were willing to sacrifice an innocent's blood to achieve their goal of surveillance satellites.
As the story unfolds, Caitlyn's father must leave her alone to make her way to the Outside world. Her spine disfigured, she meets up with other broken people and befriends them. Theo has excellent hearing, but can barely see fingers in front of his face. Billy, an honest, kind-hearted adult, has a problem understanding most things that happen to him, but he is loyal and strong armed. Even the villains are broken in some way. Mason enjoys inflicting fear and pain upon others. Seemingly without fear, a lone confrontation with a small, defenseless Caitlyn, leads Mason to face his greatest fear; that within him.
Not everyone is what they appear. Friends are foes, and foes friends. Broken Angel included some nice unexpected plot twists and conflicts. Underlying the story is the idea that man's unchecked quest for knowledge may lead to consequences for all involved.
Broken Angel weaves an interesting story into a plausible future, and leaves open the door for the book's sequel. Read Broken Angel if you have the opportunity, it will make you think long after you finish the book.
*Participants’ Links:
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008


BLOG TOUR - DAY 2


Broken Angel
by Sigmund Brouwer

Web site - http://www.coolreading.com/

Author moderated blog - http://www.sigmundbrouwernovels.com/

(Click book for Amazon link)

Sigmund Brouwer's wife, Cindy Morgan, composed a moving song to accompany Caitlyn's journey at the end of Broken Angel. The complete song lyrics may be found at the end of the book.
In the interview with Sigmund Brouwer on yesterday's blog, he mentioned an upcoming sequel. This should answer some of the questions I had by the end of the book. What happens to Caitlyn and her friends after she escapes? And were they allowed to escape by the government from the mountains so that she could be captured outside? We'll have to wait for the Broken Angel sequel to answer some questions, and explain the reasons behind other questions.



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Monday, August 25, 2008


BLOG TOUR - DAY 1


Broken Angel
by Sigmund Brouwer

Web site - http://www.coolreading.com/

Author moderated blog - http://www.sigmundbrouwernovels.com/

(Click book for Amazon link)
In Broken Angel a young girl named Caitlyn finds her life has been a series of half-truths forged to protect her very existence from state controlled bounty hunters and officials who want her dead or alive. Disfigured from birth, Caitlyn has spent her life on the run with her father by skrting the small, state run towns in the Appalachian Mountains. Mr. Brouwer has managed to capture a feel for the Appalachians, and the stron, self-relient independence of it's people.

Mr. Brouwer kindly consented to answer a few questions concerning Broken Angel and his writing.


After writing so many different books, what is your favorite genre to write?
I’m beginning to discover that what I like most is something that happened not by design with Broken Angel: a combination of trying to generate suspense like in Fuse of Armageddon, with speculation about the near future. My editor at Waterbrook, Shannon, calls it visionary suspense. In retrospect, it makes sense that I end up here. I love Harlan Coben’s suspense, and Michael Crichton’s believe sci-fi scenarios.

I’ve already been toying with other ideas for more novels like this: using evolutionary science to trace the genetic code to Adam and Eve and the first moments of human consciousness in all of history, or a carnivorous fungus that grows computer-generated intelligence or. . .

Where did you get the idea for Broken Angel?
I think of it as a father daughter story first, with a genetics background. The father/daughter is because, of course, my two little girls. As for genetics, because of previous novel, Double Helix, I’d done a lot of causal reading about genetics, and then there was a wave of news stories about incredible new advances, like fusing animal and human embryos.

Broken Angel takes place in the Appalachian Mountains, and you seemed to pick up on the independent spirit of the region. Did you spend a lot of time researching the area?
Lots and lots of time. My wife, Cindy, grew up in the region. It’s beautiful, isolated and perfect to form a theocracy! And, for reasons of domestic harmony, I won't get into stories about her families that were, um, inspirational. . .

Are there any plans for a Broken Angel sequel?
I’m working on it right now. There were too many unanswered questions at the end of the novel, and I couldn’t find a natural place to answer those questions. Especially about the events that forced Jordan to flee to Appalachia with Caitlyn. So I've followed Caitlyn to the Outside and am learning there is a far greater secret hidden from her than the one in Broken Angel.
Thank you for your time answering these questions.

*Participants’ Links:

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
* Beth Goddard
Mark Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Magma
Terri Main
Magma
Margaret
* Shannon McNear
Melissa Meeks
* Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Deena Peterson
Steve Rice
* Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
* Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams
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Saturday, August 23, 2008


The 2008 Muse Online Writer's Conference

October 15-18, 2008


(click on icon to visit web page)


Registration open until September 1
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/2008MuseConference/


This free annual online conference provides writers the opportunity to improve their craft through multiple workshops, chats with other writers, and a chance to ask questions of the published presenters. Conference coordinator, Lea Schizas, conceived of the Muse Online Conference as a way to provide many of the positive elements of a regular conference to those who could not attend due to monetary or physical restrictions.
An evolving workshop list may be found at:
http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/2008workshops.htm
Like a live conference, you register for the workshops you would like to attend, and study the handouts before asking questions during the chat sessions.
If you would like to improve your writing but can't afford the time and money to attend a big conference, the Muse Online Writer's Conference is great way to learn and meet other writers.

Register today while there are still openings.
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