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Book Review: "Bell Tower"
Buy NOW! This near future science fiction story by Raphael Pond is an allegorical tale for our technologically-fraught times! The BELL...

marthaengber
May 192 min read


Short Story on Which THE RECORD SHOP TV Series is Based
READ STORY I recently heard four members of the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television faculty talk about the skill...

marthaengber
May 192 min read


Book Review: "Love Like This"
by Cynthia Newberry Martin Every once in a while an author perfectly captures the reality of marriage at a specific, precipitous time in...

marthaengber
Apr 142 min read


Next Book Set in Los Angeles, a City That Defies Definition
I’m currently writing my third book in the Mary Donahue series and it takes place in California, and specifically, Los Angeles, an iconic...

marthaengber
Apr 142 min read


Massive Bookfair in Los Angeles March 27 - 29!
AWP 2025 I’m really looking forward to seeing my fellow Vine Leaves Press authors and other friends at this year’s Association of...

marthaengber
Mar 261 min read


Female Heroes: Pino and Boudica
Buy NOW! When taking part in the American Historical Novel Facebook page holiday giveaway some months ago, I asked readers who their...

marthaengber
Mar 241 min read


Book Review: "Barren"
by Byddi Lee Available for preorder NOW ! Irish author Byddi Lee's BARREN ( US link , UK link ) is a wonderful mix between Jean M....

marthaengber
Mar 232 min read


Happy St. Pat's Day From Mary Donahue!
Buy NOW! Growing up in Chicago , I was used to the city dumping gallons of green dye in the Chicago River to celebrate St. Pat’s Day,...

marthaengber
Mar 171 min read


Screenwriters: Let's Talk Sizzle Reels!
Image from sizzle reel for THE RECORD SHOP (coming 2026) If you’re an aspiring screenwriter, or know someone who is, pass along this...

marthaengber
Mar 92 min read


Developmental Edit of Next Book Underway
I just started the developmental edit of SCATTERED LIGHT (published by Vine Leaves Press Nov. 2025), the Mary Donahue sequel to WINTER...

marthaengber
Mar 21 min read


Choosing My Book for Your Next Book Club Pick!
You gotta love your sisters! Or at least I do mine. They and their book club have chosen my book, THE FALCON, THE WOLF AND THE...

marthaengber
Feb 241 min read


Book Review: "Listen to Me"
by Cordelia Biddle LISTEN TO ME by Cordelia Frances Biddle is an amazingly inventive book! The author writes from the viewpoint of many...

marthaengber
Feb 51 min read


Interview With YA Author Jefferson Shupe
I had the pleasure of interviewing author Jefferson Shupe for my uniting Americans blog, Vigilant Positivity. He wrote THE BATHWATER...

marthaengber
Jan 272 min read


Happy Book Birthday THE WIND THIEF!
Buy NOW! I started writing THE WIND THIEF before the changing climate started bringing us the more extreme weather phenomenons of our...

marthaengber
Jan 221 min read


Love Reading/Watching Westerns? San Juan Bautista is Your Go-to!
I’ll bet some of you love Westerns, both books and movies. If so, the town of San Juan Bautista in CA along the old El Camino Real is a...

marthaengber
Jan 151 min read


Happy Birthday "Growing Great Characters"!
Buy NOW! Over the years I’ve had the great fortune to read books written by writers who’ve used my book to create fantastic characters...

marthaengber
Jan 131 min read


Book Review: "Tick... Tick... Tick..."
by Steve Zettler Available to preorder! Steve Zettler ’s forthcoming thriller. TICK... TICK... TICK ( Vine Leaves Press , March 25,...

marthaengber
Jan 61 min read


"Falcon" Research: Bird Calls and Birdsong
Buy NOW! While camping beside a lake, I once woke to the sound of a loon. It was one of the eeriest, most beautiful sounds I’ve ever...

marthaengber
Jan 61 min read


Happy Holidays 2024!
I loved meeting so many of you this year, and keeping up with those of you whom I’ve known for a long time now. Whatever your...

marthaengber
Dec 25, 20241 min read


Mary Donahue Means Winter
Buy NOW! Winter is most definitely the time to think about Mary Donahue, who, at the age of 15, is heading into the blizzard winter of...

marthaengber
Dec 23, 20241 min read
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