Summer Sanctuary by Laurie Gray was selected as a Finalist for the Best Books of Indiana for 2011! The award is presented by the Indiana Center for the Book of the Indiana State Library.

"The Best Books of Indiana contest was created to honor Indiana's long and illustrious literary heritage and recognize Hoosier authors. One copy of each finalist entry will remain housed in the Authors Room of the Indiana State Library indefinitely."

 

Congratulations to Author Laurie Gray on receiving the Gold Moonbeam Children's Book Award for Summer Sanctuary!

"The cause of promoting childhood literacy knows no boundaries, and the award winners illustrate that point well, coming not only from long-established publishers and university presses, but from small presses, foundations, museums, and self-published entrepreneurs."

Early Reviews for "Sabrina's Window" by Al Riske ~ release date 5/15/2012

“With his trademark grace, elegance and economy, Al Riske captures the heart and teases the imagination in Sabrina’s Window.”
— Greg Bardsley, author of the novel Cash Out, forthcoming from Harper Perennial 

“This book invites you in and then shuts the door quietly behind you, allowing you to share moments between characters in a private space with an atmosphere of intimacy that may leave you afraid to breathe for fear of intruding.”
— Douglas Edwards, author of I’m Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 

“Sabrina’s Window is a pure pleasure to read. Al Riske does an excellent job of creating colorful, realistic characters.”
— Paige Lovitt, Seattle Post-Intelligencer 

“Al Riske has packed so much emotional punch in this 217-page slice-of-life novel [Sabrina's Window] that I’m still thinking about the people that inhabit the pages … Reading it was much like hearing a piece of music. I know I’ll read it again, and re-discover the nuances of something beautiful.”
- Katherine Adams, Goodreads 

“Al Riske captures the currents of love, desire and temptation coursing through all of us, and shows us how an unlikely friendship helps a boy become a man.” 
— Robert Baty, author of Vintage Conner and The Girl in the MGA

Praise for "A River So Long" by Vallie Lynn Watson ~ release date 6/15/2012

 

"Watson’s peripatetic modular fiction packs a helluva punch. Here’s an Up in the Air for the nomadic hotel administration set as written by Denis Johnson. Life = an endless river of time. Sit on the bank and everybody (living or dead) will float past--lovers, family, and friends. If Mary Gaitskill played Poohsticks with this detritus—impotent husbands, wastrel lovers, and damaged goods--maybe you’d get a neon noir improvisation as weighty as this staccato fantasia."
–Richard Peabody, editor, Gargoyle Magazine 

 

Critical acclaim for Fragile:

“When your own life is shattered, sometimes the pieces needed to repair them lie in the broken lives of others. Fragile tells the story of three individuals who face their life-long celibacy, their loveless marriages, and their own self-loathing. An elderly virgin yearns for her lost lover, the lost lover faces the passionless life he chose, and a mother bottomed out on her luck wonders what drove her to try to end her own life. Poignant and thought-provoking, Fragile is a fine piece of fiction to add to any collection.”

—Midwest Book Review

 “There is an element of higher meaning in this story that makes it fascinating to finish and to contemplate the experience of reading it. For lovers of experimental literature, this book is tasty.”

— Grady Harp, Amazon Top 10 Reviewer

“Fragile is a fine first novel by Chris Katsaropoulos . . . The wonderment is how easily we are able to edge into this disjointed style, and how readily we become part of this shattered and shattering story. At the end it’s a ‘whew’ and a ‘wow’ because it was a pleasurably demanding experience.”

—Rita Kohn, Nuvo Newsweekly

“Fragile is a beautifully-written novel . . . the writing is uniquely refreshing. After reading Fragile, I found myself feeling very contemplative. Readers will enjoy Fragile and will find meaning in it that applies to their own lives . . . Highly recommended.”

—Paige Lovitt, Reader Views

“Katsaropoulos does a wonderful job of developing the characters and intertwining their stories. The tale he creates is intriguing and attention-grabbing. Unlike anything you have read before!”

—Kam Aures, Rebeccasreads.com

 “Mesmerizing and beautiful, a truly stunning book! Katsaropoulos is new to writing fiction, and his first novel sets the bar incredibly high.”

“In what can only be described as a truly unique style, the author takes us from the thoughts of one character directly into the next:  an ongoing narrative of a brief portion of these three lives, to a moment of intersection so hauntingly profound and exquisite, it will leave the reader astounded and deeply moved. “

“With a debut such as this, I see a wonderfully promising future for this author.  A story and characters you will never forget, with a message as old and true as time itself.  I have already read this twice, and marveled at it even more the second reading.  I cannot recommend this book highly enough!  A true classic for the ages.”

—Lauri Coats, ReviewTheBook.com


 

 

Readers and reviewers love Precarious:

“The art of the short story is alive and well in the hands of Al Riske, who understands how to walk the tightrope of subtle emotional resonance.”

—Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward, Love in the Present Tense, Chasing Windmills, and many others.

“Riske’s characters brim with the fears, desires, and idiosyncrasies of real, complex human beings. In the collision of spiritual and sexual concerns that plague them, we find a truth that makes us believers in the power of his fiction.”

 —Laura Matter, Blue Mesa Review

“Enthusiastically recommended.”

—Midwest Book Review

“You will enjoy each page of this book and hope that there is just one more when you are finished reading.”

—Victoria Gonzalez, Reader Views

“The writing is Hemingway lean and it’s clear that one of Riske’s strongest gifts as a storyteller is his witty dialogue.”

—Gretchen Clark, author of “This Is a Woman” and other essays

“A hugely talented writer, Al Riske beautifully captures the nuanced behavior of relationships and the universal struggle to understand why we do what we do.”

—Rachel Canon, author of The Anniversary

 “This book will stay with you long after you close it and put it away. You’ll no doubt pick it up again for a second read, maybe even a third.”

—Reading at the Beach

“These are stories that you find yourself in—the highest compliment I can pay an author. You see your own foibles and, if you’re lucky, an occasional glance at your own grace.”

—Terry McKenzie, TMACWORDS

“Al Riske has taken this form [the short story] and made light in his collection Precarious, not that he has made light of his characters, though. He has given them voices of volume, of life. Each story carries weight of its own, leading to the common denominator that we are all flawed.”

—Sky Sanchez, San Francisco Book Review


 

 

Enthusiastic praise for Indian Summer:

“I loved this novel which has a beautiful summer backdrop. It is fun yet mysterious and also delivers that all important feeling of suspense. Certainly a book worth reading.”

—Jessica Roberts, Bookpleasures

“I’ve been blessed in these past few weeks with young adult books that have taken me to places I have absolutely not wanted to come back from.  This book will be one that will sit on my shelf for a very long time, and I will pass along to my daughter, her daughter, etc. I loved this book.” 

 —Amy Lignor, Bookpleasures

 “Indian Summer is a unique read middle school readers will relish.”

—Midwest Book Review

“This is an enjoyable young adult tale that focuses on how a courageous but frightened tweener sees things in an adult world. Marcie is terrific . . . middle school fans will enjoy Marcie’s charming Indian Summer.”

—Harriet Klausner, The Merry Genre Go Round Reviews

“Unlike many stories in this genre, Richardson presents conflicts and issues that are subtly shaded with no clear good vs. bad, right vs. wrong. This real-world treatment of complex social and environmental issues places Indian Summer a notch above similar stories. Richardson create(s) complex, yet realistic relationships.”

“Indian Summer is a thoughtfully written story requiring the reader to consider a number of value judgments along the way. For the YA reader . . . an entertaining and informative read. Thoughtfully written adventure with a hint of magic.”

—Thomas Temple, Amazon Reviewer 

“Tracy Richardson writes as if she remembers exactly how hard it is to fit in when you are Marcie’s age. Marcie learns a lot that summer about growing up and readers will learn along with her.”

—Shelley Wenger, TCM Reviews

“Twilight got your tween reading, which is great. But let’s be honest here, it isn’t the best form of literature available out there. And while your tween might not be ready (or willing) to give Shakespeare a try at this point in her life, parents can continue feeding this new-found interest for reading by picking up more books that are not only geared at tweens, but are well written, have an intriguing plot and whose main character is relatable to them. Tracy Richardson’s Indian Summer is exactly that.”

“If you’re the kind of parent who likes to read what your tween reads, rest assured: Indian Summer is a book you will also like reading.”

—Blogcritics.org

 


Reviewers are excited about Summer Sanctuary:

“Summer Sanctuary, exudes a strong voice for the two central characters . . . they learn what it means to measure a person’s worth not based on circumstances, but on the will to survive. Gray has captured the essence of what it means to be a young teen—wanting to grow as an individual while needing the security of a home and loving family. Summer Sanctuary can help guide teens through the difficult transition between childhood and becoming adults.”

 

—Kayleen Reusser, author of Taylor Swift—a Blue Banner Biography

“What a big-hearted story, told with affection and humor. I loved spending time with Matthew and his family and with Dinah, the girl who looks in from outside. Like Dinah, young readers will find a place of welcome and comfort, a true sanctuary, in the pages of this book. Like Matthew, they’ll discover something important about friendship and independence.”

 

—Helen Frost, Printz Honor Award-winning author of Keesha’s House.

“Because of my work with junior youth (aged 12 to 15), I’m always on the lookout for books that balance realism with high standards, as well as being approachable while not being patronizing. So when I get my hands on as delightful a book as Summer Sanctuary, you can understand why I would be so excited.”

—Blogcritics.org

“There are many interesting questions and dilemmas peppered throughout Summer Sanctuary. Many of them remain unanswered by the last page; however, it’s clear that the author’s purpose isn’t to answer these questions, but rather to make her readers think. I most certainly did!”

“The book’s realism is mainly related to the fact that the author Laurie Gray deals with some important issues without beating around the bush, but also without presenting it in a way that would be a little too much for a 12 to 15 year old to handle.”

 

“Summer Sanctuary is a delightful, heart-warming and thought-provoking book.”

 

—Blogcritics.org

 

“Find out what it’s like to have your perspective on life challenged. Take a walk in someone else’s shoes to see how the truths you know may not be true for others. And find a safe place and a safe person to share who you really are in Summer Sanctuary.”

—Erikka Adams, Teens Read Too

 

“The book is an easy read and is well written to trigger questions in the preteen. The author has dealt with issues of science, religion and interpersonal judgments in a kind and respectful manner, which should delight parents wishing for their children to explore their own inner feelings.”

—ReadersFavorite.com 5 Star Review

 

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