About Me

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Marlan Warren is a journalist, novelist, editor, playwright, screenwriter, blogger, website designer, and publicist. She is the author of the fictionalized memoir, Roadmaps for the Sexually Challenged: All’s Not Fair in Love or War and the AIDS memoir, Rowing on a Corner. She reviews for Midwest Book Review. Marlan is also a filmmaker.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW: "THE NECESSARY BRIDE"




MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW:

Title: The Necessary Bride
Author: Patsy Frost
Publisher: Create Space
ISBN-13: 978-1501069628
Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction
Paperback  374 pages    Kindle E-Book
Available at Amazon:


“Can a lady like you watch livestock and people fall down and die of thirst in the desert, the flies swarming on the sun-bloated carcasses and smell the stench of ‘em after they bust open?”—The Necessary Bride


Rape, forced marriage, death by childbirth and the repressive status of women in Early America take center stage in Patsy Frost’s historical romantic masterpiece, The Necessary Bride. As the saga draws to a close, its heroine proclaims that if she had not run away to seek her fortune in California, her life as a Maryland “lady” would have been “proper” and “dull” (well maybe in between those times when the vicious Baltimore males would not be treating her like chattel). Frost puts a fresh spin on an old story about wagon train travel in the Old West by letting us view it through this adventurous young woman’s eyes—urging us to feel what she feels in her heart as she gradually builds a new life that is built on trust and mutual respect with a man who is not of her culture or race. 

This painstakingly crafted tale brings the smells and tastes and emotions of that time into bold relief through meticulously detailed scenes of pioneer life. The author also deftly manages multiple points of view to provide character insights that keep even the villains from coming off as one-dimensional. Frost subtly alters reader perceptions by loosening the writing style from narration-heavy, archaic language to a looser, more contemporary tone when this bold young seeker finally reaches her destination and her destiny. 

Seamless lively action carries the story, making it a fun page turner. The last line portends a sequel. One can only hope there is one soon, and also a film. Very impressive first novel!





Monday, March 2, 2015

Kelli & Kelly Books for Kids rocked the "New Day" TV Talk Show Today!



Kelli Nielsen and Kelly Hawkins of Kelli and Kelly Books for Kids absolutely ROCKED Seattle's New Day TV Talk Show today! Congrats, Super Mother Publishers!

Want more info? Please check out http://www.iamnotsellingmytooth.com for reviews, photos, ordering info (Amazon) for "I AM NOT SELLING MY TOOTH!"

Here's the link for the awesome segment (Best Line: "Okay, which one of you is Kelly?"):



Title:                           I Am NOT Selling My Tooth!
Author:                      Kelli Nielsen                Illustrator: Kelly Hawkins
Publisher:                  Kelli and Kelly Books for Kids
Pub. Date:                  11/23/14                      Genre: Children’s Picture Book (Ages 2-8)
ISBN:                           978-1503366077
Pub. Website:             http://www.kelliandkellybooks.com/
Book Website:            http://goo.gl/bBzZk9
Contact:                     Author: kelliandkellybooksforkids@gmail.com   
 or Publicist                Book Publicity by Marlan   roadmap.girl@hotmail.com
Available at Amazon in Paperback (40 pgs) and Kindle:

DENTIST DISCOUNT: 20% OFF! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Why can’t I just be small Austin and have small clothes,
small teeth and live with my mom and dad forever?

Austin is a child whose worries and fantasies reflect feelings children may have as they begin to realize that growing up means more than getting taller. He insists on coming to terms with change in his own way. Playful and original!
                  Leslie Bolinger, Children’s Librarian, San Diego, CA

I build dental offices, many of which cater to children, I will recommend this book to all my clients!—Bryan J. Alar

This book never talks down to children, but is right there with the child’s need to have some self-leadership in coping with life changes.—Midwest Book Review

Beautifully told and sweetly illustrated...a treasure for children young and old.
                  —Cate Anderson, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Skagit County

About the Author and Illustrator
Kelli Nielsen and Kelly Hawkins are also the author and illustrator, respectively, of You Will Always Be My Son. Kelli is a Certified Life Coach and former European model whose two adventurous sons inspire her. Kelly is an artist and teacher whose two daughters’ wit, charm and silly moments provide continuous ideas for drawings. Natives of Skagit County, Kelli Nielsen lives in Everett, WA and Kelly Hawkins lives in Clear Lake, WA.