Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
Protagonist vs. Antagonist By R. A. Rios
Protagonist vs. Antagonist By R. A. Rios
https://www.rariospromotions.com/
By definition: The Protagonist – The leading character, Hero or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text. The Antagonist – A Villain, person or thing who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
These are the Characters that we cheer and cry for, they are the ones we remember well when mentioning the story from a movie or a book.
In the case of Superman or Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games, we can easily identify who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist. At times the writer makes it easy to identify the Villain or Antagonist but when as writers our Antagonist does not take on a human form can it be just as memorable?
Think for a moment as you visualize these Antagonists, maybe it is an animal or prehistoric beast, the weather or something supernatural, what about futuristic technology, society or maybe even a person’s own emotions! I’m sure just the mention of these brings to mind popular novels and movies.
In our development of a strong Protagonist and Antagonist, there must be a struggle between good and evil. For your Protagonist to be memorable and someone you can cheer and cry for they must not be indecisive. At one point they must decide what to do or how to move forward.
As in the case of Tom in my lasted Novel Release “The Flash Point Project.” Tom finds himself thrust into an uninhabitable world with no means of survival. He has a choice to either lie-down and die or struggle to survive. His trek would not be an easy one, as he not only has to deal with the elements but with himself as well as with the feelings deep within such as his loneliness.
While Tom struggles to survive, the reader can sympathize with his struggles and his emotions as we have all been there. That’s when the reader starts to cheer and cry for him, their hero, to make it as he finds a vestige of protection for his survival. But his struggle is not over in this epic journey, it has only just begun as he will soon discover in this secret underground city with its many levels of super advanced testing labs. Yes, our Protagonist stands out, but his Antagonist soon takes on many forms.
Friends we are only limited by our imaginations as Tom welcomes you to travel with him through time and space to the deepest part of your emotions through “The Flashpoint Project!”
Dream Cast—Western Song by Leigh Podgorski
Dream Cast—Western Song by Leigh Podgorski
Always so exciting to imagine your dream cast for a novel or a play or a screenplay, it makes the piece come alive in a way nothing else can—except for the actual casting for a film or play!
Behold below, my dream cast for Western Song a timeless love story filled with rich unique characters played out beneath the wide Wyoming sky about a bull riding rancher and his recently deceased best buddy’s Thai immigrant mail-order bride; as she discovers the true power of freedom, he discovers he’s lost his heart.
Hollywood calling!
For Weston Beaudurant—ruggedly handsome Ewan McGregor. Oh, yeah, any woman’s dream!
Best known for the TV Series Fargo and the film Beauty and the Beast, Ewan is a versatile actor with more than 79 credits and counting. Is there a Western in his future?
Michelle Ang is well known around the world for her work as a regular cast member on the Australian show “Neighbours”, “Outrageous Fortune” and the hit teen show “The Tribe” I think Michelle would be a perfect romantic Song Phan Rang to Ewan’s Weston.
Of course, no Romance would be complete without a triangle. Well, maybe we could name a few, but this one not only has a triangle but two broken-hearted unrequited loves.
Strong, smart, competent, and beautiful lawyer Wynona Velez loses her heart to, who else, Weston Beaudurant. And who else to play her but the fabulous Jessica Alba?
Our second broken heart belongs to, yup, another lawyer, Jack Deerstalker. Jack is a young, dynamic Native America who is felled by the beguiling Song. My top pick for Jack, the powerful, compelling actor, Eddie Spears.
Weston is a powerful presence in the town of Wild River, and he has a passel of friends. One of his oldest friends is the shaman Mad Bear. Wise, funny, and mentor to Jack, Mad Bear has a calming aura, though he has been known to mix it up with the best of them. My dream choice for Mad Bear? The formidable Graham Greene.
Next to Mad Bear is Zebadiah, Weston’s best friend from their school days, now married to his little sister Olive. Zeb is staunch and true, a firm stalwart of the Beaudurant family. Walton Goggins would be my dream pick for this role.
Finally, one of the deepest hearts of the piece is Weston’s sister, Zeb’s wife, Olive. When the brother and sister lost first their father and then their mother, it was Olive who held the household together. It is always Olive to whom Weston turns, though he’ll be darned if he’ll admit it. Rounding out my dream cast is the lovely and talented Zoe Deschenel as Olive Chantry.
So, there you have it.
My very own Dream Team.
Sometimes, dreams do come true. Or, from another great Hollywood “dream”:”If you build it, they will come.”*
Stay tuned!
*From the Book Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella
Movie Field of Dreams produced by Kevin Costner
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BOOKS: WESTERN SONG https://www.amazon.com/Western-Song-Leigh-Podgorski-ebook/dp/B072VR7W5S
Don’t Look for the Reason: Look for Me Under the Rainbow by Bernard Jan
Don’t Look for the Reason: Look for Me Under the Rainbow
On an early, misty morning, a ship arrived and disembarked men. All the seals ran away. All, except the young. Unprotected, unaware of the danger, they innocently waited for human beings to approach. A man lifted a club and struck the fragile little head. One, two, three times. Blood spattered the white fur. No cries, no sound. Silent and quick. And then again. One, two, three dull thuds, blood, and death. Still, no cries. Only a blank look of surprise and disappointment. . . .
This is an excerpt from the second edition of my brand new novella Look for Me Under the Rainbow self-published as an ebook (April 15, 2018) and paperback (May 9, 2018), but it was also a reality happening in eastern Canada.
Each year, tens of thousands of harp seals mostly babies no older than three weeks, are shot or clubbed with hakapiks to death. Some of them are skinned alive before the lights in their eyes go out, and their carcasses are left to rot on the ice. This year, the slaughter of harp seal pups began on April 9 and ended up with 59,111 pups killed by the sealers by mid-May, not including seals who were injured and got away, according to Harpseals.org.
Every author has this one reason to write their books, putting pestering muse aside. If you are looking for my reason for writing Look for Me Under the Rainbow, seek no further because I just answered you.
Look for Me Under the Rainbow is the story of Danny, a curious harp seal pup with soft white fur and innocent black eyes. Unknown to him, Danny’s world is facing a menace that threatens an entire generation of seals with the slaughter by merciless humans. The hope for Danny and his family lies in the hands of Helen, an environmentalist, and member of a young activist crew of the Rainbow Warriors. Their mission is to save animals. The only question is will Helen win the race against time and clubs and save Danny before the hunt begins and the ice turns red.
Look for Me Under the Rainbow is my call to stop this madness, it is my call to save the lives of baby seals. Though written for younger readers, it will appeal to anyone who cherishes our beautiful planet and wishes to protect its treasures.
Written by Bernard Jan
Buy Look for Me Under the Rainbow by Bernard Jan on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C7JGMNG/
Bernard Jan previous work: A World Without Color
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071FTK9HV
Bernard Jan’s website: www.bernardjan.com
Bernard Jan on Twitter: @BernardJanWorld
Bernard Jan on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bernard-Jan/e/B0034P69DU/
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster (Book Review #442)
The beautiful world of Aeolia is where she reaches many answers and, there, her journey begins in realizing what really happened to her.
I found the world building to be very strong. I believe that is what made this book stand out. The main character was strong yet vulnerable to things that mattered to her most. Her persona towards the magical world was beautifully told and the author tells this legendary story in an enchanted way, grabbing your attention till the end.
I would recommend this book to young readers and it was very suitable for the genre.
Sometimes we seek closure no matter how unordinary it may seem for others. I believe this story represented many things and the message it held was strong. Believe in yourself and seek answers, even when no one else cares.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine by Rajeev Kurapati (Book Review #443)
What made this book stand out was the differentiation between the relationships that healthcare providers have with their patients and how we can minimize human suffering. Read More
Love in Between by Mercy Jane Porquez Balles (Book Review #441)
I found the lyrics to be very smooth and touching. The poems did not necessarily rhymed but possessed a more in-depth meaning.
I also enjoyed the simplicity of the content and the lyrical storytelling. The author has spent time emphasizing the feelings and visualization of many aspects of the human mind and that interconnected between love, loss, and triumph.
I recommend this book to people that enjoy poems and lyrical storytelling.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
We Own the Sky by Sara Crawford (Book Review #440)
Sylvia also suffers from depression which swayed the story towards a different dimension. It added depth, meaning and made it more relatable. Sylvia’s character was very interesting and it was enjoyable to read.
What I felt could have improved was the relationship she had with Vincent. He appeared to have a stronger hold on Sylvia and that made the love interest between them questionable.
The literature was smooth and the way it was written caused the reader to feel the impact of certain scenes. This made the book stand out for me and afterward gave me a certain secure feeling about the whole storyline.
Sylvia is a school girl with the feelings of an ordinary teenager. I recommend this book to Young adult readers and fantasy lovers.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
Hell’s Judgement by Michael D. Benson (Book Review #439)
Hell’s Judgment is a story about a priest named John, and how he is bestowed with supernatural powers in order to save and protect mankind from a deadly tsunami of which is headed towards England.
John’s story does not end there, as he then pursues to confront an evil force that plans to destroy all humanity. John also meets Annabelle Smithson. Annabelle is pregnant with a girl who possesses certain powers that sway towards the evil side of things and John is then left with a few choices of which he has to make.
The concept of the story was strong and it continued to remain that way until the end. Everything including the plot was reasonable to the extent of reaching a plausible storyline. The literature was strong and I believe the author clearly spent a long time creating a beautiful fantasy story.
Hell’s judgment stood out for me because it felt complex yet remained enjoyable to read. I recommend this book to fantasy readers.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
Annual International Golf Story Writing Competition
Here is an opportunity for writers to become an International Award-Winning Writer – (something to add to the CV) and you don’t have to be a golfer as we give more weight to the quality of the story.
This is the Third Annual International Writing Competition and we receive entries from all over the world. The 700-word max. stories can b
e fiction or non-fiction and be in most all the genres – humor, documentaries, romance, etc. and even science fiction!
It’s a fun contest with no entry fee and the top three winning stories receive free Amazon Books of their choice, other prizes, and inclusion in our “Wonderful Golf Stories” anthology giving the writer added exposure.
The stories can be fiction or non-fiction and shouldn’t exceed 700 words. Entrants can also submit an Author Photo, a Bio, and other Photos (all optional) of yourself and/or the subject of your golf story. The Contest is open to all persons over 18 years of age.
Golf stories can be fiction or non-fiction and shouldn’t exceed 700 words and entries must be received by February 1, 2019. See all the details here.
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