(See my other coffee-related posts) – I like coffee, particularly flavored coffees. For years now I have been buying roasted whole beans. I then grind them just before brewing my coffee. I recently came across the article My 15-Year Quest to Make the Ultimate DIY Coffee Roaster. I found it to be a very interesting look at how you can build a coffee roaster and roast your own beans.
I used to subscribe to Make magazine and always liked their ideas. The roaster designs in this article look interesting. I think that most of them would be easy to build. In particular, the Dog Bowl/Heat Gun Roaster from Make: Volume 65 looks like it would be a simple project.
Looking at Amazon, coffee roasters start at around $50 and go way up from there. Rather than lay out the cash just to try roasting, one of these designs might be the way to try roasting your own beans. It would also give you quite the conversation piece for visitors. You will find the full directions for the Dog Bowl/Heat Gun Roaster build here.
If I give bean roasting a try I will report how it goes.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Sean Wilson (https://www.seanwillson.com/) published the novella “Dark Nebula: Contact” in 2020. He has published five books, all in his ‘Dark Nebula’ series. This is a short prequel to the first novel.
I received a copy of this novella for signing up for the author’s newsletter. I categorize this novella as ‘G’. The story is set in the far future of 2278. Humanity has spread throughout the Solar System and has ventured to a few stars. The novella has a few different characters.
Without warning alien spacecraft appears in the solar system. That does not mean that they were not expected at some point. Abigail Olivaw President of the Confederation of Planetary Explorers (CoPE) knew they might show up one day. She just didn’t expect them to arrive in her lifetime. CoPE has been in an ongoing conflict with the Outer Ring. Old animosities are hard to forget. They are mostly set aside when the alien ships from the Galactic Alliance arrive. Humanity has enjoyed many significant scientific advancements. Most have come from the Olivaw family businesses. Few know that the basis for this technology is derived from a probe discovered by Olivaw’s ancestors. Stolen technology from the Galactic Alliance.
The novella describes what the reactions are to the alien arrival. It sets the stage for the first full-length book in the series.
I enjoyed the 2 hours I spent reading this 88-page science fiction novella. Fortunately, I had already read book 1 (Dark Nebula: Isolation). It helped me to understand what was going on in this book. I had hoped to learn more about the background of the Universe this series is set in. Unfortunately, I do not think that this book adds much. The story seems to jump around between the characters. My complaints would have likely been addressed if this had been a full-length novel. That said, it was a reasonably enjoyable read. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 3.7 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
I have visited many military museums around the world. One of the best is the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, USA. I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email about their WWII challenges. These are virtual run/walk challenges. These Challenges are a unique, virtual opportunity to honor our WWII veterans. They will let you explore the stories of two WWII journeys: Liberty Road and Pacific Theater.
The challenge began July 4 and runs through October 10. There are five different challenges you can choose to participate in:
Operation Pacific Theater: 72-mile Challenge from Pearl Harbor to Midway Island
Operation Pacific Theater: 717-mile Challenge which continues from Midway Island to Tokyo Bay
Operation Liberty Road: The 100-mile Challenge through France. This takes you from Saint-Mere-Eglise in the Normandy region to St. Malo in the Brittany region.
Operation Liberty Road: 712-mile Challenge. This challenge continues on to Bastogne, Belgium from St. Malo. Bastogne was liberated on September 10, 1944. It was an important Allied strong point during the Battle of Bulge.
Freedom 5K
The cost for the first four options is $50 per person. The 5K is just $35. Registration for all five events is open through July 31. If you start now you still have plenty of time to finish before the October 10 finish. My wife, my son, and I all signed up a few days after the challenge began. We all selected Operation Liberty Road: The 100-mile Challenge. We each have accumulated over 30 miles so far. With a little more than 10 weeks left you can easily achieve one of the race goals.
Sign up to support the museum and give yourself some exercise goals!
If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 550 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Nicholas Jellicoe published the book “George Jellicoe: SAS and SBS Commander” in 2021. This is Mr. Jellicoe’s second book.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The book tells the story of George Jellicoe and both the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS).
While this is in part a biography of George Jellicoe, it also addresses the creation of both the SAS and SBS. The book covers a lot about the struggle for those units to survive. Jellicoe was an important figure in those organizations. Included are details of many of the North African missions taken on during the early years of WWII. A great deal of attention is also given to the battle for the Greek Islands.
Jellicoe was an essential founding member of the special service organizations. When the war ended, he was involved with the liberation of Greece. He also found himself having to deal with the communist resistance forces there.
Jellicoe enjoyed a very successful military career during the war. Post-war he joined the Foreign Office. This led him into the world of intelligence and espionage. After he left the Foreign Office he was successful for a while in British politics. Jellicoe was active in and found a leadership role in many public organizations. He enjoyed a very full and eventful life.
I enjoyed the 12.5 hours I spent reading this 336-page WWII history. This book is a bit of an amalgamation. It tells of the life of George Jellicoe. It is also is a history of the early days of the SAS/SBS and those who served there. I have had the opportunity to read other books about the SAS and SBS. This one complements those by adding details about some of their operations. The book is an academic look at Jellicoe, the SAS, and the SBS. It includes many details and references. The names of several of those involved with the organizations are included. This made the book a little tedious to read. It also seemed to ramble a little in the storytelling. The last few chapters of the book deal with Jellicoe’s post-war career. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 550 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author David Evans published the novel “Tidal Rage” in 2021. This is Mr. Evan’s first publication.
I obtained this novel through promotion by the publisher. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence, mature situations, and mature language. The story is predominantly set on cruise ships. The primary character is Max Cutler an experienced Secret Service agent.
Sebastian McKenzie is a very odd man. He is also a brilliant musician so his eccentricities are overlooked. He is part Asian and has an unusual look. He has spent years at sea being the star performer on one cruise ship after another. He doesn’t stay too long on any one ship. He isn’t very social but that isolation suits him well. He is an accomplished serial killer that no one knows exists. His first murder was of a neighbor girl as a child. Now his victim tally is in double digits. He has discovered that deaths at sea fall into a gray area. The next port of call handles the investigations. Missing passengers are often attributed to suicide or just wanting to disappear. The cruise lines just want any bad publicity to go away.
Cutler has been working in Europe with Interpol. The case he is completing has put ex-Stasi agent Josef Werner behind bars. Werner has been making millions counterfeiting US currency. Cutler’s work on the case is disrupted when his 18-year-old sister Elisa disappears. She has been on a cruise with their parents. Cutler takes a leave of absence and flies to Alaska to meet his parents. The gray area on crimes at sea emerges as he begins his investigation. He resigns from the Secret Service and forms his own investigation agency to focus on crimes at sea.
Werner uses his organization and wealth to arrange an escape from custody. Cutler’s attention is fixed on the tragedies his family has suffered. Even with the disappearance of his sister he has not forgotten about Werner. He has a new employee looking for Werner. Cutler and his team must face challenges from many fronts. He wants to bring both Werner and those behind his sister’s disappearance to justice. He has no idea when he begins his quests that these two vastly separate investigations will come together.
I enjoyed the 8.5+ hours I spent reading this 297-page thriller. There were a few ‘technical errors’ in the story and the writing is not the best. That said the story is a very enjoyable thriller and a quick read. The selected cover art is appropriate to the story. I give this novel a 3.8 (Rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Henry Hemming (http://henryhemming.com) published the book “Agents of Influence: A British Campaign, a Canadian Spy, and the Secret Plot to Bring America into World War II” in 2019. Mr. Hemming has published seven books.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘G’. The story begins as WWII breaks out in Europe.
In the late 30s, there were strong antiwar and isolationist sentiments in the US. This persisted well after the Nazis invaded Poland. One of the most vocal in these feelings was the air hero and personality, Charles Lindberg. Both Germany and the UK began propaganda efforts to sway the US.
This book is the story of Canadian William ‘Bill’ Stephenson. Germany was pressing its attack on the UK. Churchill and the government came to believe that their only hope was to bring the US into the war as an ally. MI6 recruited Stephenson and sent him to New York. He became head of the station there. His mission was to sway US public opinion in favor of joining the British.
Stephenson built up a large organization in New York. He brought in workers from both Canada and the UK. An early mission was to sway the 1940 election. They took extreme measures to see President Roosevelt reelected for a third term. There was also a lot of behind-the-scenes work to expedite the Lend-Lease Act. The MI6 office worked to see William J. ‘Bill’ Donovan named as the US Coordinator of Information (COI) in 1941. This agency evolved during the war into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and after the war into the CIA.
The US had no centralized intelligence organization. The British believed that one was needed and helped to organize the young agency. The Stephenson organization spent most of its efforts towards changing American opinions. This involved overcoming the isolationist attitude. Promoting an interventionist policy was critical to the survival of the UK.
I enjoyed the 8.5+ hours I spent reading this 401-page WWII era history. Until I read this book I had no idea the extent that the British and Germans had gone to in WWII to sway US public opinion. Recent allegations of foreign government involvement in elections are nothing new. The author also brings up a few very interesting but unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. While the book is full of detail, it remains very readable. I like the selected cover art. I give this book a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 550 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author J.K. Kelly (https://jkkelly.com) published the novel “Deadly Driver” in 2021. The author has thus far published six books. I was able to interview Mr. Kelly in September of 2019. You can read that interview here.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The story is set in contemporary times at locations all around the world.
The primary character is Bryce Winters a world-class Formula One driver. He has a darker side as a CIA operative. He didn’t want to be a spy, but they had evidence against him. He had little choice but to comply.
His celebrity status from F1 racing gets him near many powerful people. This lets him make hits for the CIA without drawing too much attention to himself. He is willing to serve his country, but not while under the CIA’s thumb. He struggles to find a way to leave them behind. He travels around the world from one Formula One race to another. Beyond his work for the CIA, he faces danger from racing and those associated with it.
I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 265-page thriller. The book reminds me a lot of Flemings’s ‘James Bond’ thrillers. The main character is repeatedly ending up in trouble. He also falls into bed with beautiful women and dispatches his foes. The Winters character is far from a hero wearing the white hat. While he repeatedly comes to the aid of damsels in distress, he is ruthless. Author Kelly mixes his interest in racing with writing thrillers in this novel. This is the fifth book by Kelly that I have read. They are consistently enjoyable, though a little rough around the edges. They are an entertaining and fun read! The selected cover art is engaging and has the feel of the story. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Vincent Dugomier published the graphic novel “Children of the Resistance – Volume 1 – Opening Moves” in 2019. This is the first of six in his Children of the Resistance series. He has produced several graphic novels. Vincent
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’.The publisher suggests this publication for a 9+ audience. The story is set in 1940 France. The main characters are the two young French boys François and Eusèbe.
François lives in the village of Pontain-L’Écluse. François cannot believe how the adults have accepted the German occupation. He enlists his friend Eusèbe to unite their families and neighbors against the Germans.
I enjoyed the hour I spent reading this 60-page graphic novel of the French Resistance. I don’t read many graphic novels. This is only the third that I have reviewed. True stories from WWII inspire the story. The two barely teen resistance fighters do not accomplish great acts of sabotage. Their resistance is mischief targeted at the Germans. Though if caught they would have been severely reprimanded, even shot. They do succeed in changing village opinions about the occupation. I like the chosen cover art. I give this graphic novel a 4 out of 5.
If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 550 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
I was contacted by the publisher Bookouture and offered the opportunity to interview one of their authors. Ella Carey has published seven novels, most set in the WWII era. Her eighth and newest novel, The Lost Girl of Berlin, has just been released.
Myself: I would like to get to know a little about you. When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer?
Carey: I’ve always made up stories! However, I knew I wanted to become a writer when my university lecturer suggested we all take a week off university and go and sit at the Adelaide Writer’s Festival, which is one of the leading writers’ festivals in the world. I went, and I felt so at home amongst all the conversations about writing, and storytelling, and honestly, inspired. I knew that this was where I wanted to be.
Myself: You experienced quite the unique inspiration to begin your writing career. What is the first piece that you remember writing?
Carey: Francesca the Fanciful Frog. (I don’t know where that alliteration came from!) I still have it. Complete with bright Texta drawings!
Myself: What was your favorite class in High School?
Carey: English, Music and History. It was a tie for all three. I went on and studied all three at university.
Myself: You had a distinct creative side from an early age then. What is your academic and work background?
Carey: I have a Bachelor of Music in classical piano, a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and history, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education. I knew that I couldn’t simply graduate and say I was writing a book…so I taught English, History and music and wrote away while I did so.
Myself: Your success certainly helps to dispel the popular myth ‘Those who can, do. Those who can’t teach.’ What part of the world do you currently live in?
Carey: I live in Melbourne, Australia.
Myself: Do you think that living there has affected your writing?
Carey: I would say more that my travels have affected my writing. Melbourne is a very creative city, and there are many writers living here, so I think it is a great choice for me, but as I’m published overseas, I’m in a strange position of setting all my books in Europe, the UK, or America, and living in Australia.
Myself: There were so many Allied military who visited Australia during WWII. Either stationed there or on R and R. I would think that would let you set a novel in Australia with ties to the US, Canada, or Europe. How do you relax? What are your hobbies?
Carey: I love reading, of course, walking with my dogs, swimming, and I enjoy the theatre, music and travel.
Myself: What else would you like to share about yourself?
Carey: I do love dogs. I have three Italian Greyhounds, two who are thirteen years old and absolute treasures, and one who has just turned one and is a minx.
Myself: My step-daughter has an aging greyhound. With three you have your hands full! What’s the earliest book you remember reading for yourself?
Carey: Fluff and Nip. (Don’t ask.).
Myself: Did you read much growing up?
Carey: Yes. All the time. My mother read to me every night, all the classics, fairytales. Then, I always read to myself every night. I still do.
Myself: What book that you read as a child stands out in your memory?
Carey:Swallows and Amazons, for the setting, the adventure, and Anne of Green Gables for her quirky, fabulous character, and Noel Streatfield’s books.
Myself: What have you read recently?
Carey: I’m reading a book called Love Objects, by Emily Maguire.
Myself: What is your favorite genre? book? character? author?
Carey: My favorite genre is definitely historical fiction. My favorite character is Lizzie Bennet, and my favorite authors are too many to list.
Myself: Where is your favorite place to read?
Carey: In the sun, on my day bed.
Myself: Do you prefer paper or eBooks?
Carey: I read both print books and e-books. I love both for different reasons.
Myself: What books do you recommend to others? Give as gifts?
Carey: I tend to make sure that if I’m giving a book as a gift, that it really means something to the person. I often give book vouchers to friends who are keen readers of novels, because I don’t know what they might have read lately, and I give coffee table books to friends who might have a passion, such as guitars, or France or the like.
Myself: You have been very successful with your Secrets of Paris series. It achieved ‘bestselling’ status on both the USA Today and Amazon charts. Likewise, your standalone novels Secret Shores, The Things We Don’t Say, and Beyond the Horizon have also been very successful. To what do you attribute your success?
Carey: I try to work hard so that every book is better than the last, so I have something to strive for. I do work hard, and I guess I’m quite driven. It comes from years and years of piano practice when I was young.
Myself: What makes you sit down and want to share your stories?
Carey: I have stories coming to life in me. It’s something I’ve always had. It’s just there.
Myself: What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Carey: I want to keep writing well into old age, and to be able to continue to share my books with readers all over the world.
Myself: Why do you write? What makes you sit down and want to share your stories?
Carey: I write because I’m compelled to write, and because I love it, and because it’s like reading. It pulls me into a different world, and is also something for me. No-one can take the stories away.
Myself: I like that sentiment about writing. WWII is the setting for many of your novels. Why have you chosen that period in history for your books?
Carey: I was born when my mother was well into her forties, and my father was in his fifties. They both enlisted during the war, and were both in the Air Force for the entire six years, but neither of them really talked about it. I adored so many of their friends, and they are all gone now. Writing about that generation helps me understand the huge challenges they faced, the limitations that my mother’s generation of women faced, the difficulties that the men had to deal with after returning from that war. It brings me close to them all.
Myself: I can understand that. My father served in the US Army during the war. He was stationed in London and later in Paris. Where do your story ideas come from?
Carey: All over the place! I tend to pull together about five ideas into a book.
Myself: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just to see where an idea takes you?
Carey: I always try to put an idea into a one page synopsis, so that I know I have a story, then I usually outline, and have in-depth discussions with my editor and agent about the story, and then I write. Often, I go off outline, but if I feel the new ideas are stronger than they were in the outline, I will stick with them.
Myself: Do you ever find yourself ‘becoming’ one of your characters as you write?
Carey: No, I don’t really, although, I do see elements of myself in the struggles that many of my female characters face. I do think all writing is autobiographical to an extent. It is interesting how much has changed, and how much has not.
Myself: Where do you do your writing? Why there?
Carey: I write in a lovely room overlooking the garden. I have my sit/standing desk, and a card from Charleston, the home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant in Sussex, which inspired my book, The Things We Don’t Say, and a paperweight from Scotland, my current research books, a framed black and white photograph of Paris, and an assortment of notebooks, mad notepads filled with random thoughts about the book, and my silver pen set.
Myself: What is your schedule like when you are writing?
Carey: I do often write seven days a week when I’m under deadline. I tend to go for a walk first, then get stuck in until I am done.
Myself: How do you fit writing into your daily schedule?
Carey: I’m a full time writer. I’ve been a full time writer since Paris Time Capsule was published, so I balance this with family, and everything else.
Myself: About how long does it take you to complete the first draft? How long do your revisions take?
Carey: It takes me around six to eight months to complete a first draft, and then the revisions take around another three to four months.
Myself: How much research do you put into a novel?
Carey: I put a huge amount of research into my books. I travel to the places in my novels, interview relevant people, read books and articles set around the topic, make copious notes and then research details as I go.
Myself: It sounds like you immerse yourself in what you are writing. What tools (software?) do you use in your writing?
Carey: I just use Word.
Myself: What are the hardest and easiest things about writing?
Carey: The hardest thing is keeping away from it, not overdoing it, and the easiest thing is…well, I don’t know that any of it is easy!
Myself: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Carey: Practice, believe in yourself, and never give up.
Myself: I have heard that same advice from other authors i have interviewed. What novels/works have you published?
Carey:The Secrets of Paris series- Paris Time Capsule, The House by the Lake, From a Paris Balcony, then three standalone novels, Secret Shores, The Things We Don’t Say, Beyond the Horizon, and the Daughters of New York Series, A New York Secret, and soon The Lost Girl of Berlin.
Myself: What are you currently working on?
Carey: The third book in the Daughters of New York series.
Myself: What else would you like to share?
Carey: Thank you for having me here today!
Myself: How should your fans follow you or get in touch?
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author and historian James Holland (https://www.griffonmerlin.com/) published the book Normandy ’44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France in 2019. Mr. Holland has published more than a dozen non-fiction books as well as nine novels.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The book gives a detailed history of D-Day in 1944 and the ensuing battle for Normandy.
This book begins with preparations for D-Day. If follows several individuals over the course of the battle. As you would expect the book includes the stories of Americans, British, and Canadians. In addition, there are tales of both French and Germans as well. Most of the personal accounts are of soldiers in combat, but it also includes the experience of a nurse too.
The book goes into the planning and training in preparation for D-Day. It also covers the logistics of supporting the invasion forces. It is long and filled with many details. That said it is also very readable. D-Day occurred more than 75 years ago, yet Holland makes reading history as exciting as a thriller.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 20+ hours I spent reading this 805-page WWII history. This is the second book of Holland’s that I have read. The other was Big Week: The Biggest Air Battle of World War II. I enjoyed them both and I look forward to reading some of his other works. In particular, I enjoyed reading some of Holland’s perspectives on the battle. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a 5 out of 5.
Besides his books, Holland is the co-host of the “We Have Ways of Making You Talk” podcast. This show features Holland and comedian Al Murray. They discuss anything and everything related to WWII. It is one of the many podcasts I follow and I recommend it.
If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 550 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
John's Notes 