Monthly Archives: April 2012

Guest Post: Nicola Black

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Today I bring to you a book of poetry by Nicola Black as part of the Making Connections book tour. First, a little Q&A with Nicola!

TK: Since this is a book of poems, do you have a favorite? One that speaks to you above the others?

NB: I think it would be a toss up between Tell Me and He Was There.  They both started as songs for me, and I catch myself singing them sometimes. They represent two prominent  areas of my life.  Tell Me questions existent and wonders if there’s a purpose for an individual, and He Was There, though written before I started dating my boyfriend, really describes our relationship and how I feel about him.  *blushes*
TK: Where do you get your inspiration from?
NB: My inspiration was from life really.  Observing it and experiencing it.  Going through the usual teen angst and coming out the other side more mature and secure.  And of course I am influenced by different mediums.  I see something on TV or read something, and it just clicks for me.  I have to write something down then.
TK: Who’s your favorite author? Genre?
NB: My favorite author is Charles Dickens actually.  But my favorite genre is fantasy.  Kind of a contradiction I think. 🙂
TK: What are you working on now? Can you give us an idea of what you’re novels will be about?
NB: I’m working on three novels and a collection of short stories.  The first novel I started was A Spy of Kings.  It’s about a young spy in another world who is sent on a dangerous mission with her dragon.  Along the way, she meets sarcastic Arnold the warlock, and charming Jaquoven Wolf, the crime lord. The second book I’m working on is Telepathetic. Kiera thinks she’s going insane because she hears a voice in her head. But the voice insists that he’s real. The newest novel is an experiment for me.  It’s called Numb Killings and is about a woman telling of her murders from person. It’s not too gory though. My collection of short stories is entitled Nightmares and Dreams.  I have a friend who describes them as psychological thrillers.
TK: Great! Thanks for stopping by, Nicola. Now, here’s more about her book: Continue reading Guest Post: Nicola Black →

Review: Midnight Magic: Be Careful What You Wish For!

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Midnight Magic: Be Careful What You Wish For!
Midnight Magic: Be Careful What You Wish For! by Nancy Di Fabbio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wish, I wish, I wish you were real and belonged to me. Please, please make my wish come true…

Mattie is horse crazy. Living in the small town of Gull’s Nest, she passes her summer days dreaming of owning her own horse and envying the rich girls that flocked to the town with their own horses to spend their summers riding and relaxing. But when Mattie takes a trip to see her Granny T and discovers a painting of Figure, a black horse with intense eyes, things start to change. She learns several lessons, including ‘Be careful what you wish for.’

Mattie’s changes through the book are fairly typical of the fourteen-year-old girl that she is. Materialistic and judgmental, Mattie learns to work for what she wants and to not judge a book, or horse, by its cover. Even while she pines for Figure to leap off the canvas and be hers, she ignores that Posey is a wonderful, show-experienced horse that she has right in front of her.

The book itself was sectioned off into chapters, sometimes very short, that would be good for a younger reader but somewhat disjointing for an older reader. The chapters are also titled, though in a font that is hard to read, which gives a glimpse of what’s to come.

Slightly reminiscent of “The Saddle Club,” Midnight Magic is a tale of growing up, learning to appreciate what you have in front of you and working for what you want. Full of spooky moments and mystery, Midnight Magic sure to capture a young horse lover’s attention and gallop away with it.

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