From
the good news and, well… not too bad news department. Below you will find two
recent reviews to my books, Ice Cream Camelot and Elysian Dreams. Both books
are still doing well, thank you, and I look forward to the paperback release of
my memoir, Ice Cream Camelot, sometime late next spring or early summer. (In
publishing speak that means probably mid-summer). Stay tuned! By the way, both
of my books as well as all of the magazines my stories are featured in are
available by clicking the link to the right: BJ Publications.
As
for the rest… yes, I am not crazy about hospitals, and yes, I will be having
Tommy John surgery before year’s end. But closer to home, I will be having my
gallbladder out next Monday, November 9. The good folks at Swedish Hospital, First
Hill, in Seattle will be taking care of me. This is the same place that did my
facial surgery and metal implants last year. Despite my dislike of being in
hospitals, they really do a good job of making patients feel at ease. My stay
should be a short on… hopefully, with surgery at noon on the 9th,
and released late Tuesday or possibly Wednesday. I live alone and they will be
keeping me captive until they are certain I can take care of myself. Afterwards
I should have plenty of time to do some serious writing.
Thanks
loyal readers. As always, link, like comment and share the love.
Peace,
BJ
Elysian Dreams
BJ Neblett
Brighton Publishing
ISBN: 9781936587735
Reviewed By Margaret Dolan
Official Apex Reviews
Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Elysian
Dreams, by BJ Neblett, is an intriguing offering of fantasy fiction. Though it may seem
difficult to combine such disparate elements as mob violence and space/time
travel, Neblett pulls it off with aplomb. Add to that a motley mix of
characters and their curious backstories, and you have a page-turning literary
delight.
Elysian
Dreams chronicles
the lives of a trio of individuals from various different backgrounds – lives
that are about to change in ways they could never imagine. Whereas the answers
to most of life’s problems tend to lie in either our past or future, the protagonists
in Neblett’s tale are drawn to the solutions they seek in another time and
place altogether. As their lives repeatedly intersect, the unwitting characters
find themselves drawn together for reasons only a mysterious, mystical figure
seems to understand, and their resulting adventure soon reaches
multi-dimensional proportions.
The
telling of such a fantastical tale as Elysian Dreams is not an easy
task, particularly when it comes to character development, but Neblett does an
excellent job of providing just enough detail and crafting compelling,
convincing characters in the weaving of a winding narrative sure to leave a
lasting impression on the reader. The variety of issues Neblett addresses,
along with his highly skillful storytelling, sets Elysian Dreams apart
as an insightful volume worthy of longstanding reflection. Sure to create a
healthy following of fans eagerly anticipating Neblett’s future works.
Ice Cream Camelot
BJ Neblett
Brighton Publishing
ISBN: 9781621830924
Reviewed By Margaret Dolan
Official Apex Reviews
Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
There’s
a famous saying that goes, “If you remember the ‘60s, then you weren’t really
there.” While that may be true for many who came of age during the turbulent
decade, B.J. Neblett is the exception. Throughout the pages of Ice Cream
Camelot, Neblett introduces the reader to his own personal journey through
an era that reshaped an entire nation – both for good and bad.
Touching
on everything from his first school boy crush to his forays into substance
abuse and juvenile delinquency, Neblett bears no shame in revealing some of the
most intimate moments and events of his young life; however, rather than just
serve as an anecdotal retelling of his formative years, Ice Cream Camelot skillfully
intermingles Neblett’s personal sojourn with the prevailing cultural and
political events of the time. As such, not only does the reader get to witness
the developments that caused Neblett to lose his personal naiveté, we also bear
firsthand witness to the “waking up” of a collective nation.
As
a bonus treat, some readers may be surprised to learn that Neblett’s sundry
youthful adventures ultimately led him to become DJ Billy James, the popular
radio DJ who still carries much sway throughout the music industry.
One
doesn’t have to be a fan of the ‘60s to appreciate the lasting impact the
decade has left on our nation’s history. Likewise, you don’t have to be a fan
of memoirs to enjoy Ice Cream Camelot; you need only be open to taking
an introspective look at your own impactful history
