The Magen - Joel Liriano

The Gist: 

The Magen
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Freddy and Gustavo get busted for talking during a test, and what is their punishment? The principal sentences them to a social suicide mission; go on a fourth grade field trip to a museum. The seemingly normal trip to a museum turns into an unexpected adventure revolving around a mysterious and powerful scroll with the power of time travel. The boys did NOT know what they were getting into.

What We Think 
Reviewed by Dream Catcher 
Number of Pages: 28 
I've never been one for ebooks of any sort. But, hey, this was recommended to us, and it was only 28 pages, and there was a free download on smashwords. Win, win, win, right? That's what I thought. So I went on to smashwords and just viewed it from there. And I read it. I wanted to like it. But I did not. 
First thing: the whole story was completely ridiculous. The only reason they're going to the museum at all is because they were talking during a test. They were sentenced to the principal, who promptly sentenced them to going on a FIELD TRIP (some punishment, right?) with fourth graders. That would never happen. Ever. UGH. Oh, and let me point out a plot hole. They travel back in time to the 1600s and meet a Native American shaman (basically a psychic). And he speaks perfect English. I don't think every single 17th century native american was fluent in English. A few knew it, but it's known that not every single native knew the language. So think of the odds that Freddy and Gustavo happened to come across one of the few who DID speak English. It's a small detail, but still. THEN, at certain points Freddy and Ochu (the shaman guy) say these spell type things that supposedly came from the spirits (or whatever) of the Native Americans. But if that was the case...why were the spells in LATIN? Native Americans didn't speak Latin, much less make important time-travel spells out of it! Now, the author never comes out and says it's in Latin. No, I just thought, hey that looks like Latin... It'd be funny if it actually was, because that really wouldn't make ANY sense at all. And I looked it up. AND IT WAS. The time travel spell just says, time past present future in Latin (very original, by the way), except he spelled 'time' wrong in Latin. It's tempus, not tempos.  Jeez. Get it right, man. The other spells aren't any more original, or any less Latin. So, points off for un-authenticity.
Another thing: the supposed plot twists. They weren't twisty! AT ALL. I saw everything coming and wasn't the least bit surprised by any of the character's epiphanies or the anything else. So...plot twists were kind of a fail. A complete fail.
I would mention something about the characters, but there's really nothing to report. They were dull and cliche. Oh! And awkward. How could I EVER forget awkward? Enough said.
Then there was the writing. It was awkward and half of the lines were run-on sentences that didn't make any sense. There was this prologue thing at the beginning that served virtually no purpose to the rest of the story. It would have been better if the prologue was worded differently (I could hardly understand what was going on because of the unclear sentence structure) or if it had been taken out completely. The dialogue was also really awkward. Most of it was too stiff and not something a normal kid would say (i.e. "hello mother" is weird, especially when compared to normal phrases like "hey", "hi" or even "hi, mom"). So that really could have used some work. Then there was the author's need to point out everything that was blatantly obvious to the reader. He'd point out something random and unnecessary. Something that everyone should have been able to figure out on their own. It was annoying to have everything spelled out over and over.
I won't even get into the horrific amount of grammar typos...ugh. An editor's nightmare.That's basically it...except I have to mention one more thing. At one point, Freddy's talking to his teacher and he addresses her, not as her actual name, but 'teacher'. He just says something like "But, teacher - ". Maybe it's just me, but I don't think people tend to say that. I dunno. It's something to think on. Sadly, there was NO redeeming quality at all in this book. I honestly couldn't find one thing I liked about it.  I wanted to like this. But I couldn't. Sorry. 

Real Teen Rating ~ F : Don't even bother.

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Exclusive Interview with Singer Sunday Lane

Once we received a copy of Sunday Lane's EP album Bring Me Sunshine we couldn't resist the urge to ask her some interesting questions!

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Sunday: Ellen Degeneres because she's funny and has a record label called eleven eleven (my favorite #!)

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?

Sunday: Red wine and dark chocolate

RTR: What is your favorite genre of music to listen to? Sing? 

Sunday: Folk-rock for listening and singing!

RTR: Where do the inspiration for your lyrics come?

Sunday: My little sister's diary... Jk :) 90% of my lyrics are a reflection of my personal life and 10% is embellishing and making it rhyme.

RTR: If you could be a superhero what would your name be and what superpower would you have? 

Sunday: Shirley Temple. I'd be irresistably cute, wealthy, and famous.

RTR: Did you pick your own cover art? If so, why did you choose the picture you chose?

Sunday: I was given 7 pictures to choose from and I made the decision with my friends. We spent a good 30 minutes talking about which
picture I looked prettiest in. It was wonderful.

RTR: What's your favorite prehistoric mammal?

Sunday: I can honestly say I've never thought about that, but the
first thing that came to mind was Pterodactyl because they seemed the least scary in Jurassic park. Raptors are obviously my least favorite.

RTR: What's your favorite song on your CD and why? 

Sunday: Heavy Heart, Heavy Hands because it's not about love. Sometimes I get sick of writing about love and listening to songs about love. This song is about something bigger than me; it's about taking time to do more than just think about those in need.

RTR: What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/song/artist/album at this very second?

Sunday: Holy moley. Ok:
Book: Cold Mountain
Movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Tv Show: Grey's Anatomy AND Modern Family (tie)
Song: Santa Fe (by Samantha Crain. Such a great song)
Artist: Lissie Maurus
Album: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

RTR: Who or what inspired you to be in music?

Sunday: I've had several people keep me motivated on this crazy journey (parents, brother, bible teacher, manager, Ashley, Michela, and Sasha); but I believe God placed this musical gift within me and that's where my inspiration to keep writing and playing comes from. I didn't just wake up one day and decide to be a song-writer. It's a desire that's always been within me.


Thanks Sunday! We are gonna go back to listening to your album on repeat! :)

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Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson- Advanced Copy

The Gist

Robopocalypse
Buy it here and support our blog

In the future, robots have become part of our daily lives. They do jobs that make our lives easier and they live life with us. When Archos- the robot mastermind- rises up and starts to take over the world he starts the New War. The human race has never been more united and it will never be the same again.

What We Think
Reviewed by Shore Whisperer
I finally read this book. For the past year I have been stuck on cheesy romance novels, eventually that was going to have to change. This book was a little slow in the first chapter. The story is told through multiple perspectives and at multiple dates in time, but the first chapter is an introduction and sets a very simple plot line. The book can get confusing at first but once you're past that first chapter your home free. So here is a tip of advice: Don't stop reading because the first chapter is bad!!
Once the story of the New War starts up and you get into the different perspectives of the different contributers of the war the book picks up the pace. Once you get to this part you see what a phenominal writer Daniel Wilson is. He can write in so many different perspectives. In the book you have chapters narrated by little girls, adult women, old men, even robots. This just shows of how well he can actually write. Once I started the good part of the book I couldn't put it down. This book really pays off in the long run. Not only did I enjoy the writing but it turned a rom-com chick into a sci-fi geek. I couldn't get enough of it. Usually sci-fi is a little to weird and out there for me but not this. Not only does this book have great voice and a believable futuristic setting but it also deals with our current environmental issues, it is mentioned throughout the entire book and it really hits home how badly we take care of our world, and makes you want to do something to change that.
When I finally put this book down after hours and hours of reading I said that I felt like I had just finished reading a really interesting, scary history textbook. The way the story is written and the fact that it incorporates things that we would daily use is what makes this book so real. I seriously was scared of cars for a week and didn't want my brother to play with his mechanical toys because I thought that robots were going to attack us. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, it is truly one of the best books I have read in a while.
Real Teen Rating~ A+: Why are you still reading this go buy the book now!!!

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Hourglass (Hourglass #1) by Myra McEntire- Advanced Copy

The Gist

Hourglass
Buy it here and support our blog

Emerson sees things that aren't there. Not ghosts, exactly. Projections of people from the past. Or so it seems. But no one would believe her if she said they were images from the past. And they wouldn't believe her if she said the images were ghosts. She's just crazy. They label her, medicate her, and avoid her. Easy. Her brother, Thomas, and his wife Dru try their hardest to make her feel normal and completely accepted, but Emerson can't help but feel like she's too much of a burden - her and her visions. Too many people have tried to cure her - to no avail - for her to real believe in cures anymore. But when Emerson has to transfer to a new school - due to her old school scholarship being cut - Thomas tries one last time to find the perfect person with the right cure. He discovers the Hourglass. An Hourglass consultant - only a little older than Emerson and undeniably good-looking - comes immediately to their small southern town. Michael Weaver is handsome and mysterious, calm and collected. And the best thing is, he treats Emerson like a person. Not a crazy. He listens to her, believes what she says, and  - ridiculously - admits he can see what she sees. And neither of them are crazy; just special. But what is Emerson supposed to do? Believe this complete stranger? That would be crazy after all she's been through and every "cure" she's had to endure. But regardless of what is the smart thing, or the right thing, or the normal thing Emerson goes for it. She trusts him. But his reasons for helping her may not be what they appear, and Emerson may be more "special" than she could ever have imagined.

What We Think
Reviewed by Dream Catcher
Number of Pages: 397
I have been wanting to read this book for a long time. So when we received an ARC I got to read it first. Yay. Sad thing was, I read the first line, wasn't impressed, and put off reading it for awhile. My excuse? Too many other ARCs to read. Huh. Yeah, not like that was exactly a lie. But time went by (as it does) and I procrastinated (as I do) and here we are. I'm ashamed. But to be fair, I've been continuously working on project after project for various classes in preparation for the end of the year, AND there's finals to worry about...mer. Excuses, excuses, eh? But anyways, the point of all that was to say that the beginning could maybe use a little work. First line: "My small southern hometown is beautiful in the haunting way an aging debutante is beautiful." An interesting way to begin, right? Sure. Interesting, but it doesn't really make you think hey, this book is going to be the most epic thing I'll ever read. It sounds unique, certainly, but...I dunno I guess it's just not my type of thing. Maybe a little too formal sounding. I dunno. All personal opinion for beginnings. I thought it could have been better. 
Might as well say something about the ending, while I'm sort of on the topic. Kind of. Beginnings and endings are related. Yeah. I like the ending.  Good, good. What else is there to say about it really? It ends well in a way that isn't really a cliff-hanger but makes you want to read the second in the series. I'm not sure when that comes out, but it's probably not for a while considering I just read the ARC. Anyway, I thought the ending was good and made me want to keep reading into the next book.
PLOT. I actually really liked it. The whole crazy thing has appeal to me and my twisted mind. I'm joking. Kind of. But I really did love that aspect of it. I could totally see it coming without even reading past the back flap that she wouldn't actually have any mental illness. But as much as predictability annoys me...what she turned out to be kind of canceled out the predictability. That part of it was really cool and pretty unique. But I can't say anything because that would give the big secret away and ruin everything. Let's just say that the plot was good, but the characters made everything a little too easy to predict for my taste. I like not really knowing what's coming. And I was able to see most of the things coming from a mile away. But other than that I thought the plot was unique enough to  be good. So. Hooray.
Okay, characters now. And I'll start with Emerson, or Em. She was sarcastic and witty, which I appreciated, but what she described herself as didn't really match with what she did. Example? She said she was tough and frozen over and guarded. And she kind of was...but not particularly. Not more than the regular person, I think. So that was kind of weird. Also, there was this whole I'm-too-attracted-to-Michael thing. Which was annoying. She was always thinking about his lips or touching him or something weird. I hated that. I'm just thinking the whole time, SERIOUSLY YOU DON'T NEED TO TOUCH HIM, JEEZ. But that might just be me. Other than that I actually thought her character was really good. She was funny with her sarcasm and wit. Michael was an interesting character. He was polite...a little too polite at first. Awkwardly polite. But by the end he had completely grown out of that, and was NOT afraid to tell Emerson exactly what he was thinking. I'm not sure if that was a welcome change. I think it was. Yeah...yeah I think I liked him better in the end. He was a little corny for a chapter or two, but that was okay. If he had ended the book as a corny creeper then I would have welcomed the awkwardly-polite Michael back with open arms. But he didn't. So he is forgiven. He was pretty good, if a little aggravating (because he overreacted a little at stupid things). Thomas and his wife Drew were similar because they both had to take care of Emerson, to some extent. Thomas was sometimes not brotherly enough - a little too fatherly, which wasn't very realistic. Drew was motherly, but in a more natural way. I liked her character a lot, actually. She was spunky. Stern when she needed to be and a friend to Emerson when she needed to be. Emerson's bestie was a generic drop-dead gorgeous friend character. I liked her, but at the same time I realized that she wasn't very unique. General friend character. Kaleb comes in later and is a complete creeper. But I honestly loved his character. He was funny and witty, and I laughed aloud at some of his quotes. There were a few other characters, but I don't think they're important enough to mention. So overall I think the characters were really good.
I'll finish with the title and cover. LOVE LOVE LOVE that. The cover is amazing I think. Seriously great.  The optical illusion of it is amazing. It was what grabbed my attention in the first place. What made me want to get the ARC before I even read the synopsis. It is one of my favorite covers. Praise for Egmont USA publishing for that. Seriously. Title was great, too. Maybe not as great as the cover, but still cool. Hourglass. It sounds mysterious and intriguing. Love it. Cover and title get an A+ from me.
Overall I thought it was a good book. The plot was unique and the characters were funny and sarcastic. As I just ranted, the cover and title really grab your attention before you even know anything about the book, which is extremely good for a book and an author. The only thing I have to say is the beginning could have been executed better. All in all, though, I think it's a book worth reading. Maybe not immediately, but sometime you should definitely get around to reading it. I think the second in the series will be even better.

Real Teen Rating~ B+ : Wait for vacation.

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Laney (The Brookehaven Vampires #1) - Joann I. Martin Sowles

The Gist

Laney
Buy it here and support our blog

Laney Alexander is totally ready for her second year of college.  But when her and her best friend Kiera Blake arrive at campus, they're in for a shock in the form of new-guy Oliver Knight.  Tall dark and stunning, with piercing emerald green eyes, Oliver is gorgeous and more than a little distracting.  Especially given he's in all of Laney's classes.  They become closer, and he becomes all she ever thinks about.  As their relationship progresses, it's clear that Oliver is much more than he seems.  Laney can't stay away, but she's fighting for answers, for Oliver, and for her life.  Some creatures aren't so fictional, and Laney needs to watch her back - and her neck - to be with Oliver.  And she has to consider, 'What would you give to be with the one you love?  Would you give it all, including your life?'  


What We Think
Reviewed by Living Destiny
Number of Pages: 285
Do you know why I was graced with this book's presence first?  It was a simple decision.  Of the four of us, I'm the only one who hasn't read the Twilight series.  And from looking at it, this book seemed suspiciously like Twilight.  Yay for me, right?  Well.  No.  This was not a good book.  First of all, the pacing was bad.  It was slow for half the book, started to get faster in the middle, and was packed with action and information in the last 80-ish pages.  And it wasn't worth reading the boring first 200 to get to the action-y last 85.  Bad pacing makes a bad book, and this is absolutely no exception.  
Then there were the characters.  The main character, Laney Alexander, was awful.  She was whiny and possessive and slightly paranoid.  There's this one chapter where she flies completely off the handle for a small thing, and freaks out and screams and cries while at the same time wishing she weren't freaking out.  It was over the top and unnecessary.  I had to re-read the chapter three times before it sunk in that what I read actually happened, and wasn't just the creation of my sleep deprived mind.  Her best friend, Kiera, was ditzy.  That's pretty much all there is to say about her.  Her other friend Carter was the same.  There wasn't a lot of substance to him.  He also wasn't in the book a lot.  I give the author credit for the name 'Oliver Knight', because I really liked it.  However, there's only so many times you can say 'he's my Knight in shining armor' before it gets REALLY DUMB.  This book exceeded the limit.  He was an ok character.  He was very clingy and desperate, and I didn't find him to be a believable character.  There were two characters I liked, Julz and Hayden, but neither of them were in the book very often.  They were introduced about halfway through (more bad pacing), but weren't in too many scenes.  Julz was harsh, and Hayden was just likable.  Like I said though, they were barely there.  
The plot was over used.  It really was like Twilight, and I've never read Twilight.  In fact, they watch the movie Twilight in the book, and proceed to talk about vampires.  Ew.  I get that Twilight was popular, and it sold a lot, so quite a few authors want to jump on the vampire bandwagon, but I'm begging you here: create your own ideas.  Move away from the vampire theme.  Unless you're a writing prodigy, like someone I know, anything you do with vampires will feel old and cliche.  Including this bunk.  (Bunk is my new word.  Anything bad or annoying is bunk.  Ergo, this is bunk.)  
The writing made me want to die.  Ok, that's an exaggeration.  But barely.  Seriously, every time Laney talked about Oliver, it mentioned how gorgeous and perfect he is.  He's (or some part of him, like his eyes, smile, etc.) gorgeous, stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, perfect, beautiful, gorgeous, beautiful, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, perfect, perfect, perfect, stunning, gorgeous, drop dead gorgeous, dazzling, beautiful and gorgeous. All within six pages.  It was painful to read about he-who-is-flawless.  PHYSICAL PAIN.  There were a few little gems, but not enough to make it a good book, and not good enough for me to remember.  The first line, if you don't count the 'message from the coven' (which is stupid and cliche), wasn't good, but wasn't bad either.  Utterly forgettable.  The last line was so cheesy it made me want to throw the book against the wall.  
So yea I totally can't wait for book two!  Oh wait...
Real Teen Rating~ D+: Use it as an excuse not to do things.

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Forgotten by Cat Patrick- Advanced Copy

The Gist

Forgotten
Buy it here and support our blog

London Lane has a special gift and most people would kill to have a "special" gift but not London.  This gift is that every night after she goes to sleep London forgets what has happened the day before and every other day before that.  The upside to her gift is the London can see into the future so she can remember who certain people are that are supposed to be in her future.  To remind herself of homework and what happened the day before London leaves notes for herself every night so in the morning she can read the note and know what happened the day before.  This isn't the ideal life but she gets by pretty well with her best friend and her mom by her side, that was until Luke decided to show up.  Luke, is a gorgeous new guy at their school and apparently her new boyfriend.  She can't remember who he is in the morning even with her notes as a guide and she can't remember any memories with him in the future.  As things get more complicated with Luke and she gets into a huge fight with her only friend London doesn't know who to turn to.  Instead of figuring out what to do London goes on a search for her father who left when she was a little kid and she has no idea where he went.  All during this time London has a disturbing dream of the future and it all takes place at a funeral leading her to want to know who was the one who the funeral was for.  As things unravel and London learns more about her past she realizes that she is hating her "gift" more and more each day.  


What We Think
Reviewed by The North Star
Number of Pages: 304
I was so pumped when I heard that we were getting this book as an ARC.  I had read the synopsis on Goodreads and had never heard of anything like it before.  A girl who knows nothing of her past and can't remember anything from the day before.  This was a plot line that I had never come across before and appreciated that from the first day of reading.  I also really liked the writing style that Cat Patrick brought to the table. The relationship between London and Luke was very believable and not to overdone or cheesy.  Yes, there were some cheesy parts that were hard to get through but for the most part it wasn't that bad and over-the-top like most teen fiction nowadays.
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Now, the actual characters.  London was an OK lead character, but at points could get annoying.  When her and her best friend were fighting she would make a big deal about it, when she knew that they were going to make-up in the end because she could see the future.  Janie a.k.a London's best friend really annoyed me.  She was my least favorite character in the entire book.  In the beginning she was OK and I really liked her as the best friend but once she got in a stupid fight with London I hated her because the fight wasn't about anything important and she really only should have been mad for a day at the most, but she kept hating London for months upon months.  Her character also did nothing for the story and could have been removed all together.  Luke, who was my favorite character in the entire book was very likable.  He seemed sincere in his feelings for London and I really wanted them to end up together and make-up whenever London would yell at him.  Another thing that I didn't like about London (and most YA novels/series nowadays) she would flip out at Luke for no apparent reason.  He would do something that is sort-of bad and she would treat the problem like he had killed someone and disposed of the body on her doorstep.
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The thing that I really loved about this book besides the plot all of the twists that it had.  For the most part the beginning of the book was straight forward but as you get closer to the end Cat Patrick throws all of these surprises that really made this book good. Before these twists were added I was going to give the book a C because nothing that big was happening.  After these variations that were added towards the end made me keep reading and then I really wanted to finish the book and pick-up the next one instantly (which I couldn't sadly).
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Overall, this was an above average book that was a fun read but had some major character flaws.  The plot was original and much appreciated!  If you see it in the book store and have a gift card, I would buy it but nothing to see-out this very second. 


Real Teen Rating~ B: Read it but there's no rush

Reviewed by ShoreWhisperer

One good thing that appealed me to the book is that I didn't despise the female protaganist which is what I usually do. I really liked London. She didn't complain, she was very level headed and didn't act like she was the only person that mattered in the universe. She was greatful for her perfect boyfriend, who in real life would not exist and that pleased me because most times all the girls do is complain about them or swoon constantly over them. London was different.

Luke, was cute but was definitly not my favorite guy character. He was so very stereotypical I could probably find the exact same character with a different name in multiple young adult novels. I get the fact that young adult novels all have the same aspects but to make a really good young adult novel that appeals to teenage girls you have to have a male love interest that has something different about him and makes him appealing and in some loving way not perfect. Luke just didn't make the cut, although he was cute, he was just too cookie cutter.

As for the plot it was confusing as to what London's strange talent was until the third or fourth chapter where you could just infer. All this was annoying but it was for the sake of the book so it was ok. The whole book was told from London's perspective so every chapter was literally a blank page for her. So to get that message across and make the reader infer was a good sacrifice. The actual story as it got farther in was intriguing and made you want to keep reading which is a plus. I literally read this book in one day, I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happened. The writing was on the easier side so it was definitly not a dificult read but it was good none the less.

London's special talent will be what makes this book stand out because otherwise it would be just like any other young adult novel. There aren't really any other books that go deep into the psychological side of things and that definitly deserves a place on the young adult section of the bookshelves.Hopefully there will be more books that address the pyschological sides of people because that could be a new hit.

Real Teen Rating ~ B- : Read it but there is no rush.

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Exclusive Interview with T.J. and Larry from 'Round Midnight

After listening to their new album and loving it we had to see what they had to say about the world of a cappella 

RTR: How did you guys come together and start this group?

T. J. : Wayne, Jeff, and I met in college and we had another tenor.  He fell in love with a girl who lived in the midwest and he moved out there to get married.  Larry was recommended to us by a mutual friend and he came in and was amazing in our first rehearsal.  We stopped looking for a new tenor after that!

RTR: If you could have any super power what would it be?

'Round Midnight singers (left to right) T. J, Jeff, Wayne , Larry

T. J. : Flying

Larry: Teleportation

RTR: When were you first exposed to barbershop music?

T. J. :When I was 18.  I had a voice teacher who was in a barbershop quartet and he encouraged me to try it.  I thought it would be kind of nerdy and boring but once I tried it, I was hooked!
Larry: In college - one of the guys in my a cappella group brought Coney Island Baby to rehearsal once and asked me and two other guys to sing through the chart with him. i've been hooked ever since.

RTR: What is the top song played on your ipod or MP3 player right now?

T. J. : Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
Larry: I Saw Her Again Last Night - the Mamas and the Papas

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?

T. J. : Madden 11 on Xbox 360
Larry: Singing barbershop quartet music

RTR: What inspires you to sing the songs that you do?

T. J. : I like to sing songs that really express who I am.  When we pick songs for the quartet, we all have a vote and if one person votes no, we don't do the song.  The lyrics really have to speak to us because that makes for a more believable performance for the audience!
Larry: Over the past two years, we've moved from a quartet that did a lot of early jazz standards to one that focuses more on 1960s R&B and Soul music - i think we've found a little niche here within the barbershop community -- not many quartets are singing this type of music and i like to think that we do it pretty well (thanks in large part to the fact that our lead, Wayne, arranges these tunes very true to the original).

RTR: Do you have any weird talents of hobbies?

T. J. : I can imitate people very quickly after meeting them :)
Larry: Yeah, I sing in a barbershop quartet

RTR: If your group was made into a musical or a movie, who would play you?

T.J. : Someone told us once that we look like a quartet of celebrity lookalikes.  If they made 'Round Midnight the movie, I would be played by Chris Daughtry, Larry by Tobey Maguire, Jeff by Gerard Butler, and Wayne by Adam Sandler (someone told him that once!)
Larry: Toby MacGuire

RTR: How involved in music were you in your high school years?

T. J. : I was very active in chorus.  I sang at the New York State music festival every year starting in 10th grade.  I was in All-County and I was also the lead singer of a rock band.
Larry: I was concertmaster of the orchestra and I studied AP music as a senior. I didn't really start singing until college when I joined the Chorale and sang in an a cappella group.

RTR: What do you do to sing safely and maintain your voice?

T. J. : Sing with proper technique (breathing is so important!) and know when I'm getting vocally tired and not overdo it.  We are very respectful of each other in the group.  When one of us is getting tired, we'll pick songs to sing that aren't so hard on the voice.
Larry: Falsetto and bubble warmups every morning in the shower

RTR: Are you guys making another cd?

T. J. : Yes!  We are in the planning stages right now.  The next CD will be longer than the first one and will feature songs like New York State of Mind and Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.

RTR: Who's your idol? and Why?

T. J. : My idol is my old voice teacher, Dave Johnson.  He passed away in 2003 but he inspired me to always strive to be better not just in barbershop but in life.  It is because of his example that I am a music teacher today.
Larry: My brother Mark. He had a dream to become a screenwriter and he ran with it. Right after college he picked up and moved to California, got a job working as a clerk in a mail room and then as a gopher for a rock star. and he stuck with him and kept writing and now he's like one of the most famous screenwriters in hollywood. that's determination and it's the quality I admire most in people.

RTR: What advice would you give to teenagers who want to be involved in music later in life?

T. J. : My advice is remember that opportunities to participate in music will always be there for you and can always enrich your life.  Whether you want to sing in the local church choir, play in a community orchestra, or you just love watching others perform, music is an amazing way to express yourself and that doesn't change as you get older!
Larry: Start young -- because you're ability to retain information is better the younger you are. you will never meet a really great musician who wasn't exposed to music at a young age -- this is also why it's so important that we all make sure schools have arts programs.

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be? Why?

T. J. : I want to have lunch with Paul McCartney.  I'm curious to know what it's like to be one of the most famous musicians in the world.  Can he still just pick up and go to the movies on Friday night like the rest of us and not get mobbed by fans?  I'd love to know!
Larry: My mother's father, Grandpa Mickey. He died when my mom was 9 so obviously I never met him, but my grandmother always used to tell me that I reminded her of him. And my mom says the same thing (I think it's because he sang in the shower a lot, and the crazy thing is, he sang a lot of the same songs that I sing today in my quartet and chorus).

Thanks so much T. J. and Larry! You guys are beyond amazing and we can't wait until your next CD. 

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Exclusive Interview with Susan Goldsmith (Author of Abithica)

After we finished reading Abithica we had to pick the brain of the one who created this fantasy world!


RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Susan: I’d sit the founders of our Constitution down and drill them on what they envisioned for our country, and what they think about their vision now, but since we’re fantasizing, let’s throw in Jack Black (I love his quirky personality), and Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, just to keep the conversation interesting!

           

RTR: When did you decide to write Abithica?

Susan: Abithica was my answer to a question posed by Thomas Moore in his book, Care of the Soul, that being:  What is your worst fear.  That fear eventually grew arms and legs, and acquired a face, Abithica’s face.  By that time, I was too fascinated with her not to tell her story!

RTR: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Susan: Pizza is the perfect food.  It covers all the food groups, AND it tastes good too!  If I could toss in a chocolate pizza once in awhile, that would be even better.

RTR: Are you writing any other books other than Abithica?

Susan: I’m currently working on the sequel to Abithica.  The title is going to be Echonyza.  (I think)  The sequel centers on The Legnas and how Abithica is tied to them.  Echonyza is a mysterious character who “awakens” to help The Legnas find the missing Sarah Cummings.  Like a snowflake, no two people see him the same.  He has the ability to be whatever you need him to be.  There are huge plot twists that will keep you on your toes, and Lane and Abithica’s love is challenged on the very opening scene in a huge unexpected way. 

RTR: What are the top three songs listened to on your iPod right now?

Susan: I have created an Echonyza playlist with 59 songs.  The top three songs are: 

“Monster” by Skillet

“Corrupt” by Depeche Mode

“Your Betrayal” by Bullet For My Valentine

RTR: Is Abithica a series?

Susan: Abithica is the first of three books.

           

RTR: If so, what can we expect in the next book (without giving anything away of course)?

Susan: Oops, I already answered that.

RTR: What got you into writing?

Susan: Stories are what got me through my childhood. When real life was overwhelming, I’d crawl into my imagination where sick mothers could be made better with a magical potion, or crazy fathers weren’t really crazy. They were just more evolved than the rest of us. Could see whole words and realities we couldn’t. Mean teachers? Witches - the whole lot of them. I soon branched out, and after sitting in Stephen King’s head for a while, decided my life was a Disney movie compared to the stuff his characters endured. Poor Carrie. Now that girl had issues!

            I loved stories, and had an endless supply of original ideas that would make fantastic books, but darn it, no matter how hard I willed those ideas to be carried through osmosis from my brain to my favorite authors’, it never happened. There they sat, alone in the dark, wilting, while I pursued every career, but writing. 

            Eventually, fate intervened and I was home with my little ones.  Suddenly, I was staring at the blank computer screen, not writing, just staring. I’d make a point to walk by it on my way to the bathroom, in-between Barney episodes, or during those times when my children actually did fall asleep during nap time.

Eventually, I did turn the computer on, and have been writing ever since.

RTR: Jukeboxes or Juiceboxes?

Susan: Jukeboxes.  I love music.

RTR: Any words of wisdom to aspiring authors?

Susan: Don’t just talk about it, do it.  Write it for yourself, and then later, after you’re convinced it’s a masterpiece, set it in a drawer and forget about it, the longer, the better.  Then read it with fresh eyes.  Fix all the problems, and then repeat, again, and again, and again….


Thank you so much Susan and we can't wait to read the sequel when it comes out!

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