Showing posts with label biographical fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biographical fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

"Dying to Live" by Jono Comiskey


EXCERPT
Dying to Live
by Jono Comiskey

Dying to Live by Jono Comiskey

Dying to Live by Jono Comiskey is currently on tour with Reading Addiction Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
An inmate finds himself in an impossible predicament after a life-changing encounter in prison, his survival tied to three seemingly unconnected people on the outside. Unseen forces work to destroy them before they can discover their destiny. Divided families, destroyed careers, sexual abuse, drugs, violence, and attempted murder combine to derail their lives and thrust them into peril. If they can find a way to overcome these obstacles, they can change their world forever; but if they fail, they will set in motion a series of events spelling destruction for future generations. A cosmic war rages in an attempt to prevent the unleashing of hell’s agenda. Four lives converge at the center of the battle …
Three must die so that one may live.


Book Video


Excerpt
The orange glow outside the window seemed unnatural as he forced his eyes to open. He couldn’t move, and just breathing seemed like an impossible task. He tried to focus, but his thoughts were too blurry to make any tangible sense of what was happening. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he heard pieces of a frantic conversation going on outside.
“There’s a cop trapped inside, and the engine is on fire!”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“A definite must-read for anyone that knows the feeling of being lost or that has someone they are associated with that has been or is lost. It gives very detailed insight into the struggles of addiction, the feeling of hopelessness, but then the other side of the feeling of redemption and positive self worth once God's plan is understood.” ~ Anthony Miller
“… what an amazing tale of God’s mercy and grace, but more importantly, one of repentance and redemption. A story that proves you can’t run far enough to get away from God’s love. I encourage everyone to get this book and immerse yourself in the story. You will not be disappointed.” ~ Laura
“You would never believe that this was based an a true story because it seems like it was written to be a movie. One of the best and inspiring books I have read.” ~ Brett B.
“This book, based on a true story, is an awesome read! Whether you have a loved one fighting addiction, or you yourself are the one fighting addiction, this book will give you hope.” ~ Melissamomof1
“I simply could not put this book down. The writing was so vivid I could see it playing out as I was reading it.” ~ Kindle Customer


About the Author
Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Jono Comiskey grew up in a country that was struggling for economic stability. Following his two older brothers, he embarked on a journey to find adventure in the land of hopes and dream - the United States of America. Twenty years later, he is convinced more than ever that each person carries incredible potential to affect the world around them in either a positive or negative way and that their God-granted privilege is to choose which path they will follow. Jono is married and has three wonderful children. Having spent more than two decades in the corporate world, he now pastors Transformation Church in Conroe, Texas, which focuses on making disciples who understand their identities in Christ.



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Saturday, April 5, 2014

"#Berlin45: The Final Days of the Third Reich" by Philip Gibson

#Berlin45:
The Final Days of the Third Reich
by Philip Gibson


#Berlin45 is the first in the Hashtag Histories series. Also available: #Tokyo45, #Havana62, and Hashtag Histories Box Set (Vol 1).


Description
"What if there had been social media during World War II?"
The compelling story of the final 20 days of Hitler's Third Reich told in the form of Twitter feeds with daily tweets and actual statements by Hitler, Churchill, Truman, Zhukov, Eisenhower, Goebbels, Bormann, Weidling, Krebs, Keitel, Jodl, Patton, Bradley, Heinrici, Konev, Chuikov, Eva Braun and many others.
The story begins with the announcement of, and reactions to, the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and follows the thoughts and actions of the main participants through the capture of Vienna, the Battle of Seelow Heights, the liberation of the concentration camps, the Battle of Berlin, the death of Hitler and the eventual surrender of Reich forces.

Excerpt
Thursday, 12 April, 1945
WHITE HOUSE @Whitehouse
President died of cerebral hemorrhage this afternoon at Warm Springs, Ga. VP notified. State has been advised. Cabinet meeting called
Harry S. Truman @Truman
Going to meet Sam Rayburn, but told to go to the White House where I was informed of the President's death. Sworn in as President at about 7 p.m.
Winston Churchill @Churchill
Tragic news! I feel I have been struck a physical blow!
Joseph Goebbels @JGoebbels
Heard this news and saw the Angel of History - felt its wings flutter through the room. Is this not the future we have awaited so anxiously?
George Patton @Patton
Visited Ohrdruf work camp with Brad and Ike. Sickening what these Nazi bastards did there. It was all I could manage not to throw up
George Patton @Patton
Just heard the news of FDR’s death on the BBC radio. Unpleasant day all round!
Joseph Goebbels @Goebbels
Have informed the Führer of the good news. He is beside himself with joy! What glorious intervention! What future for National Socialism!
Joseph Stalin @JStalin
Received news of the President’s death. I have ordered his picture be printed on the front page of every Russian newspaper tomorrow
Adolf Hitler @AHitler
Goebbels has informed me of the death of Roosevelt - portent of the ultimate victory of National Socialism and the defeat of the Bolsheviks
Winston Churchill @Churchill
Grieving the loss of a warm-hearted friend! The world has lost a very great man - the foremost champion of the high causes we both served
Adolf Hitler @AHitler
Such events do not occur by happenstance, but are mandated by the gods of destiny!
Joseph Stalin @JStalin
Marshal Zhukov sends me more good news this day. Our Great Patriotic War nears its final glorious moments!
Winston Churchill @Churchill
Stalin has informed me that he expects Vienna to fall by the weekend. Would that FDR had lived to hear of this
New York Times @DCNYT
Last words of the late President: “I have a terrific pain in the back of my head!”
Eleanor Roosevelt @EleanorR
Harry asked if there was anything he could do for me. I replied, "Is there anything we can do for you? You are the one in trouble now."

Review
As a history buff and former teacher, I always look at unique ways at looking at and presenting history. I would have never thought of presenting history from the standpoint of twitter feeds but it is quite fascinating. I wish I was still in front of a classroom because I could see this being a useful educational tool.
I would have liked to see a list of sources at the end of the book. I do believe the information to be accurate, but one always likes to verify sources.
Good job. I hope to see other history topics covered in like manner (or other social events). We live in a new age and it is time to look at information in new ways, this book certainly delivers.

About the Author
Philip Gibson is a teacher and author of over thirty books on ESL and historical fiction. He has taught and lived in (in order): England, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Laos.
In 1991, he took up a position in Laos, met and married a Lao lady and now lives with his wife and two teenage boys on their small farm on the forested banks of the Nam Ngum River (tributary of the Mekong) about 25 miles from the capital city of Vientiane. Philip is a lover of history, especially modern history, and his main writing focus now is to continue to produce historical works written in the unique form of social media feeds.
Here is how Philip describes how the idea for how the Hashtag Histories series developed:
"During the Libyan Civil War in 2011, I was following the dramatic unfolding events closely. However, it was difficult to find up to date information on the regular media, so I turned to social media sites such as Twitter where I could receive minute by minute updates on the unfolding conflict. Receiving updates of unfolding events in that format was very much like watching the situation developing in real time reported by the actual warring participants, as well as live posts by journalists on the ground and up to date analysis by commentators and politicians in multiple locations.
"While a great deal of the social media posts were repetitious or inaccurate, as is often the case with sites like Twitter, it was clear that if all the information could be cross-checked and the dross and repetition edited out, what would remain would be an engaging, accurate and detailed account of the real events. It would be an account with more detail, accuracy and real-time immediacy than any produced by the more conventional media.
"So I set about constructing a day-by-day account of the final days of Hitler’s Third Reich as if the participants in World War II had been able to post their thoughts and actions through social media sites. The result was an extremely readable and informative account of the main events which was very well received by members of a history discussion site of which I am an active member.
"When the day by day account of Hitler’s last days was completed, I was encouraged to compile the daily account into book form and publish it under the name #Berlin45: The Final Days of the Third Reich.
"The rest, as they say, is … history."

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