A Book and a Chat with

It is a welcome back for my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat”, she is another of those multi-talented people who have gone from success in on artistic mode to another. Pola Muzyka is an artist, actress, speaker and award winning author, she was raised on a sheep farm, and her love for the outdoors is still something she holds onto.

Her route lead her through modeling, a  career as a dramatic actress, both starring and feature roles in Hollywood-based motion pictures. She has showcased her visual art in many galleries and currently hosts a television series for baby boomers. Add to that her being accomplished award-winning TV, commercial and corporate writer and now an award winning author and you can see just how talented Pola is.

Pola’s passion lies in her relationship with Jesus Christ, this has lead her not only to her touring  India as a media missionary where she produced documentary films helping pastors in various countries. Also she founded her own founder of the internet based, “Christian Media Alliance”.

Previously on the show we discussed her debut and now award winning novel originally entitled “Escape the Hezbollah” has now been re-edited and released as “Abducted to Kill”. The book comes in two parts “Terror Regime” and “Sleeper Cells”.

Terror Regime
After moving to Iran, a young American named Joseph Rabbani, is brutally abducted and commanded to train in a terrorist camp. As part of his training he is forced to kill people who share his Christian faith in order to survive and warn his fiancée.

Sleeper Cells
Joseph discovers a hidden agenda behind his abduction to kill. The plot to plant sleeper cells in the U.S.and Europe until Islam can take over prompts him to escape at all costs to save his loved ones.

This has now been followed by her new release “The Freedom Inside: Delicate Cargo” with a third book in the series Guerrilla Fighter" soon to join the series.

About “The Freedom Inside: Delicate Cargo”: (taken from Amazon)

In The Freedom Inside Joseph Rabbani once again faces the terror regime when he leaves the US to rescue Haleha, a pregnant doctor who lives in a terrorist country. Her husband, Francesco, must remain anonymous and that means she could be sentenced to death. To make matters worse, they have both become involved in government espionage in order to save Christians and others from the radical regime.

Haleha Ramirez must urgently leave Iran. Haleha is a doctor working for an Imam who does not know of her marriage or her new pregnancy. She dodges former friends and meets secretly with others as she passes smuggled information to her husband, Francesco, a dissident who helps the underground church. If the Imam finds out they will be executed.

Meanwhile in the U.S., Joseph Rabbani wakes to a gnawing feeling of emptiness and guilt after experiencing years of freedom from Islamic rule. Once an unwitting volunteer in the army of the Hezbollah, he now enjoys his wife and children and the peace of living in a free society where he works and worships as he pleases. But lately he's having nightmares. Some of the ones left behind were Muslims who converted to Christianity because of him. They could be in danger and he is responsible.

Back in Iran Francesco gets a message to Joseph. Haleha must leave her employer, and leave him now. But first, she wants to smuggle out the latest information—a local pastor is being targeted.

Joseph knows the danger involved with returning. He tracks down Jon Pierre Braud, an American soldier from the Bayou who once worked as a spy in Iran. Braud's profession as a wild game hunter is a cover for his work as a bounty hunter. Joseph finds Jon Pierre and they set out to the rescue, but Jon Pierre's motives are sketchy.

As we learned through the program Pola is also well down the path of with the Christian Film Fund and the making of Abducted to Kill into a movie. Hopefully next time she joins us on a show we’ll be able to find out more about that venture.


So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Pola Muzyka

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Pola Muzyka

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Pola Muzyka"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Pola Muzyka - The Freedom Inside: Delicate Cargo"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

A Book and a Chat with Temujin Hu

Temujin Hu pronounced “too mu gin who” is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” talking about his life and his debut book “The Rage”.

Though he started writing (mainly screen plays) at the age of 15 life got in the way and his life until this last year took a different path. He is much travelled in fact he has called over thirty different locations home through his life. After spending over four years in the US Navy in the 90's, and a couple of years in his family-owned internet business, latterly he spent more than six years doing professional security in Los Angeles, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Though he has dabbled in screen writing over this period it was not until earlier this year that he gave up a job he actually liked and that paid very well, doing mobile security in Iraq, so that he could finally commit to his passion for writing. 

Since then the writing has flowed and the result is his debut novel “The Rage”.

About “The Rage”:

The Rage is about two men, Roland and Nicolas, as they struggle to deal with traumatic circumstances. The neglect and abuse in Roland’s life lead him to believing crime is his lot, and his emotional struggles drive him all the way to murder. Nicolas enjoys a comfortable life until Roland takes much of it away, and his resulting obsession with revenge drives him to crime. The two almost cross paths numerous times but miss each other until a mysterious racket tries to recruit Roland and kill off Nicolas, which will bring the two together in a bloody end.

The book explores emotion in a gritty and raw way mixed an intriguing spiritual realm. It is Christian fiction the takers you to the low level of crime, drugs and violence.

As one reviewer put it…

A nice departure from the normal cat-and-mouse thriller. Neither of the main characters are what you'd traditionally call a good-guy or bad-guy, which leaves room to interpret their actions and life choices for what they are. The author manages to make me dislike what they do and who they are, yet still be sympathetic to why they do it and hope for what they can still become. Like the previous reviewer said, this is different from your typical "Christian" fiction -- it doesn't gloss over the ugly parts of life, nor does it give easy answers. In fact, the only thing that even places The Rage in the "Christian" fiction category is the author's refusal to separate the spiritual realm from the the earthly one.

Overall, the pacing is very good and the language is easy to follow. You can tell the author has had some experience with the subject matter given the level of technical detail, which helps the in-story world-building. It can slow the pacing a little for those unfamiliar with those details (myself included), but it doesn't really detract at all -- I still devoured the book in 3 days...! I understand this to be the author's first published effort, so I'd say it's not quite Mosley-level yet, but definitely in the Patterson-vein of writing (similar feel as the Women's Murder Club, etc.). The author really only focuses on the two main characters, so I didn't really bond with many of the side characters, but that's OK, since the story primarily revolves around the intersection and near-misses of the main characters. That having been said, I did connect with the main characters - both their good and bad sides -- and found myself rooting for both, even though they were on conflicting paths.

"The Rage" is worth a read -- check it out!

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Temujin Hu

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Temujin Hu

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Temujin Hu"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Temujin Hu - The Rage"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

A Book and a Chat with Pola Muzyka

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is another of those multi-talented people who have gone from success in on artistic mode to another. Pola Muzyka was raised on a sheep farm, and her love for the outdoors is still something she holds onto.

Her artistic route however has lead her through modeling, a  career as a dramatic actress, having worked in both starring and feature roles in Hollywood-based motion pictures. She has showcased her visual art in many galleries and currently hosts a television series for baby boomers. Add to that her being accomplished award-winning TV, commercial and corporate writer and now an award winning author and you can see just how talented Pola is.

Pola’s passion lies in her relationship with Jesus Christ, this has lead her not only to her touring  India as a media missionary where she produced documentary films helping pastors in various countries. But also founding her own founder of the internet based, “Christian Media Alliance”.

Her book originally entitled “Escape the Hezbollah” has now been re-edited and released as “Abducted to Kill”. 

Part 1 is Terror Regime:

After moving to Iran, a young American named Joseph Rabbani, is brutally abducted and commanded to train in a terrorist camp. As part of his training he is forced to kill people who share his Christian faith in order to survive and warn his fiancée.

Part 2 is Sleeper Cells

Joseph discovers a hidden agenda behind his abduction to kill. The plot to plant sleeper cells in the U.S.and Europe until Islam can take over prompts him to escape at all costs to save his loved ones.

Her book has already won the “Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year” and Pola has a sequel “The Freedom Inside” coming out later this year.

As one reviewer who called it “off the charts powerful!” put it…

Absolutely floored! When you've finished reading this book, you will understand the horrors of an Islamic government and in your mind's eye see some of the most horrific truths about how the Hezbollah treats women, children and men who dare resist. I was particularly stuck by their cold and heartless treatment of orphaned and abandoned children.

Yet in the midst of all that harsh and horrid reality lies a story of courage and love, and faith, brilliantly interwoven between pillars of power, fear and pure evil.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Pola Muzyka

Barry
Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Pola Muzyka

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Pola Muzyka"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Pola Muzyka - Abducted To Kill"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

A Book and a Chat with Kathi Macias

Always welcome Kathi Macias makes a return visit on today’s “A Book and a Chat”, to share with us about the success of her last book “Red Ink”, her great new novel “People of the Book” her new “Freedom” series and her first Christmas book.

Along with all that we also heard how “Easy Writer” as she is known and her husband have replaced their Harley’s with a sunburst orange Corvette… talk about a packed program!

Kathi is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 books and ghostwritten several others.

A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, she has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and was named 2008 Member of the Year by AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association).

Her “Devotion” series previously consisting of “No Greater Love” set in South Africa, “More Than Conquerors” set in Mexico, the recently nominated for the Golden Scroll Award “Red Ink” set in China, has now been joined by “People of the Book” which is set in Saudi Arabia.

With all the current upheaval in Saudi, regarding woman driving and having their own voice the book as we discussed during a really interesting and entertaining show, with this prolific writer.


About “People of the Book”:

In a nutshell, it deals with the very real issue of honor killings. Here is a brief synopsis:

Eighteen-year-old Farah, who lives inRiyadh,Saudi Arabia, with her family, wants nothing more than to develop a deeper, more meaningful devotion to her Muslim faith. She sees the month of Ramadan as her chance to draw nearer to Allah, and she pursues that goal throughout the holiday. All goes well until the prophet Isa—Jesus—appears to her in a dream and calls her to Himself. At the same time, her only brother, Kareem, who has never liked Farah, actively seeks an opportunity to expose her for the sham he believes she is.

Meanwhile, Farah’s seventeen-year-old cousin, Nura, has begun to frequent an online chat room where former Muslims gather to discuss their new faith, based on their belief that Isa is much more than a Muslim prophet—He is actually the Son of God. While there, Nura becomes acquainted with an American girl of Muslim ancestry—now a devout Christian named Sara—and a friendship quickly develops. However, Sara has problems of her own due to her fifteen-year-old brother Emir’s involvement with a gang.
The lives of Farah, Nura, and Sara ultimately dovetail until each finds herself at a place where her faith is put to the test. Will they remain faithful to the end? Will God protect and keep them safe in the midst of persecution and treachery? Or will they be required to pay the ultimate price for their faith?

The book has already received rave reviews and I’m sure it will reap even more rewards for Kathi.

As well as the news of her new book, Kathi also shared with us details of her new “Freedom” series which is due out later this year with the first book being “Deliver Me from Evil”. Also the fact that she is bringing out her first ever Christmas book “A Christmas Journey Home” which will also be out later this year.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with today Kathi Macias"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Kathi Macias".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Kathi Macias"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Kathi Macias - People of the Book"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry