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book reviews |
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Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Priscilla B. Shuler introduces us to her mystery story, “Favored”: She was left for dead. Now all the townspeople rally together to hunt down the perpetrator… South Carolina. Sheriff Boyd Custer is fit to be tied. Enraged that someone under his protection was brutally attacked, he vows to do whatever it takes to expose a murderer. And to spring the trap, he keeps a secret that the killer will never suspect… As the search for the man responsible heats up, Sheriff Boyd heads a group of mourning friends and families while knife-edge feelings rip open old wounds and inspire acts of heroism. But when the tragic truth is finally revealed, this tight-knit community may never recover. Can they heal from the devastating blow of a horrifying crime? FAVORED is a mind-blowing standalone murder mystery. If you like small-town characters filled with faith, surprising twists, and startling happily ever afters, then you’ll love Priscilla B. Shuler’s thought-provoking tale.  This is a powerful story! Nobody has been white-washed or their actions excused. Everyone gets to live with the consequences of their choices, frequently, for many years. Just like real life. This is an exciting Christian Historical Fiction book and I really enjoyed it. The major storyline is the solving of a crime of rape and severe physical abuse, almost to the point of death. There are several other storylines also involving secrets, marital unfaithfulness, alcoholism and more. My faith is encouraged by the reading of this book. Make no mistake, this book is full of Christian concepts and precepts. Anyone can read this book, but if the reader is not a Christian, they may find some of their beliefs challenged and they may not understand everything in the book. I enjoyed the book a lot and give it 4.7 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Favored-Priscilla-Shuler-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-favored https://www.barnesandnoble.com/favored-priscilla-shuler You can follow the author: twitter.com/ShulerPriscilla https://priscillabshulerartistauthor.com https://www.amazon.com/Priscilla-B.-Shuler www.facebook.com/priscilla.shuler.33 I have reviewed another book by Priscilla, "Kuimba": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/kuimba Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
53 Comments
8/23/2022 07:14:14 pm
FAVORED needed writing. I wanted a platform to expose inner feelings of many assorted people from all walks of life. The story morphed from ‘seeing’ shadowy figure(s) running through dark woods with wavering flashlight(s) haphazardly lighting the way. There’s no way I can assure a reader of complete rapture through the reading of my tomes, but I find myself carried away within the channels of my minds’ thought processes. I write as scenes emerge. Such entrance often takes me into cul-de-sacs where I become stymied. Here, I search for avenues that might lead up to my first scenes. Setting the story in an area very familiar to me provides ease in developing surroundings as well as sub-characters that embrace many of the beautiful people I know/have known through my long years on this earth. There’s no secret that my personal life is deeply connected to The High Power of all creation. Most of our language call Him GOD. Since His Holy Spirit is my mentor, guide, companion, etc. I find it impossible to negate His sure infiltration into my writing.
Mark
8/23/2022 07:25:31 pm
Thank you, Priscilla. That is a great opening statement. You almost answered a couple of my questions. 8/23/2022 08:19:34 pm
Inspiration has to emerge from the mental scenes of memories… Or from a single word: ie, ‘scrabbling’. …Or from an unusual natural sight, (blood red stalks of the poke berry weed). … Or from an acquaintance who experienced the horror of childhood incest. …. This world is rife with subjects to be brought into the light and fully examined. I’m blessed that I’ve never been constrained by subjects of a single or two genre(s) that - in my mind, would ‘box me in’. One of the beautiful benefits of writing is truly that ‘the world’ is exposed by our fingertips. Imagination has no limits, however, I enjoy more toward realism than sci-fi.
Mark
8/24/2022 08:19:32 am
So true, Priscilla. Inspiration can come from anything. I have read that inspiration can come from smells also. PTSD can easily be triggered by certain scents. 8/24/2022 08:41:17 am
FAVORED might best be described as ‘all encompassing’ since it speaks of ordinary, everyday people. Ie: lonely elderly, young boy, law enforcement officials with deep secrets, homeless Vet, deeply intelligent hunter, gentle grieving mother, restaurant crew, suspicious mail carrier, mortician, minister, doctors, nurses, etc. This tome gave me such freedom to bring to the reader some ideas - from my point of view, of the everyday people they pass by each day and might never have the sweet opportunities to get to know. … I might term this book to speak to the reader of interestingly mundane issues mixed with a deeper lying horror perpetrated by evil lying in wait to surface through some chosen mundane, ordinary individual. … A story of evil being overcome by good.
Mark
8/24/2022 11:09:34 am
Favored certainly deals with the everyday lives of ordinary, small-town people. I feel like the book is pretty modern in its context, yet it can't be any later than the late 80s because no one has cell phones. Those devices followed by widespread internet access have truly been dividing points in history. 8/24/2022 11:31:47 am
The cover of FAVORED was painted by me. My son, Victor, did all the other covers, but at the time I finished FAVORED, Vic was inundated with jobs and could not take time to read the book and come up with an appropriate representative cover. Since I have no propensity to ‘see’ the ideal cover, I simply tried to attract the book browser with the face of a sad, beautiful young woman… the heroine. The title was initially FORTUNATE. I soon realized that ‘Fortunate’ occurs by chance… negating the direction by GOD, whereas FAVORED is definitely of Holy origin and not not any other Spiritual force.
Mark
8/24/2022 12:07:01 pm
The cover is unique. It isn't glossy or highly polished. It definitely shows the human hand. I like it. 8/24/2022 12:52:37 pm
Years ago I started a list of names! There are first, last, male, female, childhood, pets, places, etc. I’ve really used that dog eared piece of paper … probably ought to redo it ‘losing’ names already used. Then again, I ‘see’ the name of my characters more often than not. When I began THE MEDALLION I envisioned a witch over a steaming cauldron and her name ‘came to me’… Gretchen. There are times, as characters develop they outgrow their initial names and I go back and upgrade them with whatever I’ve determined suits their character best. However, I certainly understand that whatever name I perceive to be ideal for my characters might induce an entirely different concept in the mind of the reader. I guess it’s a phenomenon readers must put up with in order to get as much entertainment as possible for the book.
Mark
8/24/2022 03:28:25 pm
Very smart to have a list of names like that. As you know, names are very important to the story and must match the time period and region. Having a name that is popular in a different time period can throw your readers off. There are websites devoted to the popular baby names for each year and sometimes for different regions or countries. Some of them go back for hundreds of years, as long as birth and death records have been kept. 8/24/2022 03:47:32 pm
As previously stipulated I don’t believe my books encompass just one or two genres. I think they run the gamut. I’ve not yet been led to maintain a genre by forwarding toward a continuation of any book. I’ve thought about it, but it’s never ‘grabbed’ my attention. Presently I’ve a novel in my trusty Dell dealing with a suicidal middle-aged man. Never known anyone close who committed suicide, but had blood relations in my fathers’ family to die by their own hand. Dads youngest brother took his own life years ago leaving a wife and two young sons. My father never got over it. … Researching will very likely be traumatic but I have to embed myself in it enough to draw on the emotions bringing one to even contemplate such. … A problem to be faced is I’ve promised myself that every book I write must have a happy ending… there’s that to deal with. Guess we’ll see how I ultimately hand this one. 🙄
Mark
8/24/2022 05:09:20 pm
Suicide is a heavy topic. I am sure that the Holy Spirit will provide the angle you are seeking. 8/24/2022 06:42:58 pm
Sunday School Teaching cannot be considered public speaking, and that’s really all I’ve ever done formally. I love to address people, love to talk! Have practically no butterflies… maybe old age has given me lots of chutzpah, or maybe I just don’t care. As far as future public speaking, I THINK I’d love to, as long as I’d be able to present my unadulterated views. Wouldn’t want to be dictated to as to subject matter. I fear this stance could negate ever being invited to speak.
Mark
8/24/2022 06:59:57 pm
Sunday school teaching is not that much different from public speaking. The group size might be smaller, and the participants may or may not be willing listeners. Most of the time, attendees of a public speaking event are there voluntarily and may have even paid money to attend. Therefore, they are eager to receive the information from the speaker. If the speaker knows their material well then all will be pleased by the result. 8/24/2022 09:46:39 pm
As well as I can recall, I entered a short story in a contest being run in an artists’ magazine. Can’t think of the name of the magazine but it had the word TRAIN in the title. It is no longer in business. My short story got Honorable Mention and I was as thrilled as if I copped the lottery!
Mark
8/25/2022 09:06:37 am
Congratulations on those achievements! I have no doubt that is very gratifying. That is a good idea to update your covers with the awards. 8/25/2022 11:08:01 am
Concerning the ‘email newsletter’ on my web site… I’m not aware of such, so I probably don’t. Honestly, I emerged into/onto this scene at such an inappropriate age until I know I’m ignorant about SO many available avenues I should take advantage of, but don’t know about. At this point in my life I’m bound by the circumstances of caring for my 93 year old Beloved Husband. He cannot make a day without my help. We’ve celebrated 71 years of marriage, and shall continue. His welfare is more important to me than my attempting to update my knowledge of everything ‘out there’ to aid in getting really successful in promoting my books. Hey! But here I am with the best! Word Refiner!
Mark
8/25/2022 12:19:29 pm
Caring for your husband of 71 years is paramount. Pretty much everything else can wait. 8/25/2022 03:11:56 pm
Your question about ‘theatre’ brings a smile to face and memories… my only brush with theatre was during my school days… wearing crepe paper costumes sewn by my mother. Miss Lillie Mae Workman was the 5th, 6th, 7th grade teacher in our country school. Three classes in one room! I was blessed to enter that room in 6th grade, when moving from Albany Georgia to Chappells SC at 12 years of age. Of course the lower grades were taught in the other two rooms. FYI… once I completed 7th grade, I was bussed 10 miles to Ninety Six SC where I finished school. BUT, I’m wandering aren’t I? Back to Lillie Mae; nearly from the first time time she saw me, she clapped her hands and declared she’d found her ‘Queen of Hearts’. The class was in the throes of preparation for a school play, and I must have fit in with her idea of that role. Asking me if my mother could sew, I answered in the affirmative. Soon I arrived home with two packages of crepe paper and a picture of the costume. Within a few days I was taking that most beautiful costume back to school. Mother made a feed sack bag to cover it as I trekked through hill and dale, across weedy meadows, across highway 39 to our school. … Wish I could remember the title of that play. I DO know there were lots of different fairy tale characters that interacted with each other. Jack Frost vied for my affections. Can’t recall what the outcome was! 🙄 Once I got to Jr High and High school there were yet more plays. This time, mother made costumes of fabrics that we paid for. In any event, school days provided my only opportunities for stage/theatre exposure.
Mark
8/25/2022 05:28:08 pm
That is a great story about your days as a young thespian! I was in a few plays also, with very few lines because of my stammer. 8/25/2022 05:43:07 pm
Coming up with a favorite song is difficult. I love music, and through the years my tastes change. Presently I love Simon and Garfunkel’s SOUND OF SILENCE sung by some man with a gravelly voice... can’t recall his name. Too, from Phantom of the Opera, MUSIC OF THE NIGHT intrigues my senses.
Mark
8/25/2022 06:55:33 pm
I was listening to Simon and Garfunkle in high school. I enjoyed a lot of their music. I am not familiar with the other. My wife mostly likely is. 8/25/2022 07:23:01 pm
Heavens yes! I’m constantly being surprised by scenes stumbling into my mind when I thought I’m was heading in another direction. I grab hold of the new idea and run with it. Sometimes (mostly) it works out. When I’m led into an untenable situation, I’m quick to back track and discard that path instead of wrestling with it. I prefer to travel through my work with ease.
Mark
8/26/2022 07:14:45 am
Many authors run into situations like that. Merrily writing along thinking they know where the story is going to go next. Then a character pops up and says, "No, this is what should happen next." or something like that. The authors are surprised and occasionally annoyed, after all, who is writing this book! Similar to your experience, the unexpected plot change usually works out for the better. 8/26/2022 08:39:24 am
I usually begin a new book by quickly scribbling down ideas/scenes, etc randomly wherever I am the moment some scene, idea arises. When I was impressed by the sight of those blood red stalks of the poke berry weeds, I was driving along a back country road and handed the ‘ever handy’ little note pad to my husband and and had him write down those words. Later, when there’s quiet time and I can begin (hopefully uninterrupted) I pull up WORD and begin typing. Pulling myself into the scenes unfolding before my eyes. I confess it takes me a relatively long time to churn out a complete book because my life is one of constant interruptions. I find it imperative to write down ideas/scenes on any scrap of paper I have at hand in order to maintain them until I am able to return to my computer.
Mark
8/26/2022 10:17:55 am
Your writing process mirrors that of many other authors. I think that is pretty smart to write every idea down as it comes to you, thus preserving the moment of inspiration. Another idea that you may find useful. I imagine you have a smartphone like most of us do. You may find it easier to dictate a memo to yourself and possibly attach a picture to the memo. 8/26/2022 10:55:38 am
In high school I wrote a ‘romance’ story of a couple of sisters… an angelic one and an evil one. The evil one coerced the fiancé of the angelic sister into a sexual encounter and made sure the angelic sister found out… causing the angelic sibling to take her own life. Then the evil sister married and made sure her husband ‘paid’, for ever thinking he had been in love with the sister. Boy! I suppose I was led by my own teenaged raging hormones!?
Mark
8/26/2022 12:45:59 pm
That was quite hormonal, no doubt. 8/26/2022 01:12:30 pm
I know this exposes my ignorance but I’d never heard of a Beta Reader! I did every bit of editing by myself until I sent my first novel - TWO CAN PLAY, to an Agent. He worked diligently with me … shipping printed manuscripts back and forth containing his markings and suggestions. We finally got it decent, and then I was told to wait for him to see if he could find a publisher. Meantime, I was writing DADDY JACKS PLACE and queried friends, if they knew of anyone that might edit for me. I paid over $500 for the editing of DJP! Since those days, I’ve worked with Rachel Newhouse to edit for me. Sadly, errors still abounded. I have probably pulled my published books to make corrections and upgrades a half dozen times. In fact, FAVORED is presently being reinstated since this last round of editing was done.
Mark
8/26/2022 04:34:55 pm
As you might have guessed, a beta reader is someone who is willing to read a draft to help you ferret out errors and plot holes, anything that disrupts the smooth flow of reading. 8/26/2022 08:05:27 pm
No. I’m swimming these waters all alone.I have no one with whom to commiserate. I suppose I’m most connected (artistically) with my son, Victor. He’s interested in writing. Has done a couple of short stories and in fact, suggested the theme of KUIMBA. He is an accomplished artist and is entering a couple pieces in our upcoming State Fair. I hope he cops some award ribbons! My two beautiful daughters are equally talented, but in different avenues.
Mark
8/27/2022 08:59:17 am
Maybe you can find someone local who is an author. If there aren't any authors where you live check in at a local library or bookstore. You can also leverage the power of social media, use the search function on your favorite platform you may find several authors near you. 8/27/2022 09:44:47 am
There are plenty more than just three things I wish I’d known before ever seriously putting pen to paper… how excruciating the process is for me. … Akin to giving birth through endless bouts of labor pains! How disappointing it is to find out that very few readers care enough to stop by and tickle your baby beneath its chin, or pat it gently… lingering long enough to see it smile! … How heart-rending it is to find ERRORS abounding in my pristine ideas stubbing toes within the Perusers reading flow. … How horribly expensive the entire process is to return such pitiful benefits. … Being informed by some all-knowing stranger that my book cover certainly is misleading! … And the list goes on.
Mark
8/27/2022 11:08:15 am
Most authors, if not all, would certainly agree with your list. The author's perspective is quite different from the reader's point of view. For readers a book is a source of entertainment or information. 8/27/2022 03:35:53 pm
I’ll venture to admit I love seeing my thoughts emerge from a scrap of paper… being free to twist words to better suit my ever-changing vision. It would be sad, to my thinking, if we had to revert to only the voice to relay our stories. Passing histories on via an elder is lost at their passing and the listeners are left with only those remembrances retained. A ‘hit or miss’ venture at best. I believe books are superior keepers of every sort of information. I love seeing my books graced by the hands of strangers! I love interacting with someone who seems excited to begin reading something I’ve written. I DO have trepidations sometimes fearing they might be disappointed in me… not so much in the book… but in me. Wonder if this comes from my childhood of deep trepidations?
Mark
8/27/2022 07:23:40 pm
Oral traditions are difficult to maintain at best. Unless a concerted and lasting effort is made in the community to share and preserve the stories. 8/27/2022 08:11:17 pm
Common Traps? I’ve no idea… but from my own struggles, I might consider that it’s difficult to press on! One gets tired. One thinks this is futile. One listens when one says ‘No one in their right minds will ever actually pay money for this!” Losing impetus is the elephant stomping through the mind! I think daring to plow ahead in the teeth of self-assured failure takes a grit too easily lost. Hanging on by one’s fingernails must demand commitment! Believe in oneself and commit!
Mark
8/28/2022 10:58:18 am
You illustrated the inner struggle writers deal with on a daily basis quite well. That inner voice that disparages everything a writer produces, non-writers suffer from the same inner liar. That voice seeks to isolate us and bring us down. I tell writers to ignore that voice. 8/28/2022 11:36:23 am
Ideal reader? Thinking a woman with some mileage. One that could easily identify with ‘everyday characters’ in KUIMBA, FAVORED, TWO CAN PLAY, and DADDY JACK’S. PLACE. As for RAT and THE MEDALLION most any adult woman might be drawn to them for simple entertainment. I was really surprised when a man read TWO CAN PLAY with the intention of proving the premise impossible to pull off. To my delight, he capitulated to my rendition of that story and agreed that, indeed, it had been feasible.
Mark
8/28/2022 02:03:37 pm
I think you are pretty accurate in your analysis, though I think many spiritually minded men will enjoy your books also. Because I have read and reviewed Kuimba and this book, Favored. Don't change your writing to aim for a male audience, your writing is fine. 8/28/2022 05:17:05 pm
No… I have no charms, amulets, crystals, schedules, etc. I believe the only source of my strength and guidance flows from The Holy Spirit of my Father God. His ever-present guidance HAS to influence my writing as well as every aspect of my life.
Mark
8/28/2022 05:26:24 pm
Very nice, the Holy Spirit is more than enough. 8/28/2022 06:05:27 pm
Never was tempted to use a pen name. Don’t know why… never gave it a passing consideration.
Mark
8/28/2022 06:43:26 pm
I am not surprised that you don't use a pen name. Some authors want total anonymity or no connection between their writing and career or family, others craft a pen name that fits the genre they are writing in, some write in multiple genres and have multiple pen names. 8/28/2022 06:57:38 pm
I cannot say that seeing a movie or hearing music makes me a better writer, but… it seems that every sense affected by outside forces are fodder for some story scene. The Simon-Garfunkel SOUND OF SILENCE displays poignant scenes flooding my mind as my ears absorb those fabulous sounds and words. Music- even instrumentals offer scenes for my mind.
Mark
8/29/2022 07:55:46 am
Music is powerful, it can affect each person in a different way. The images that appear in our minds are very personal. 8/29/2022 09:28:31 am
My favorite author is John Grisham… I enjoy everything he’s written. My other favorite genre is historical romance where the author pulls me into drafty castles, across foggy moors, interacting with costumed gentlemen and ladies. But! I’m not crazy about extended sex scenes. A little ‘sex’ can go a long way… easily becoming so distracting until I’ll drop the book and get it out of my house. I love a story that soon opens the door and bids me welcome. I like dialogue of the era and location. Am not crazy about audio books as (to my way of thinking) the voice often doesn’t lend itself to my notion of how the character needs to sound in my mind. My conjured characters have voices that perfectly suit their persons and personalities. Lord Harry Martindale is tall and thin, but with a deep voice… kindly commanding, whereas Gretchen’s is rough and certain of her rightness.
Mark
8/29/2022 11:40:31 am
I have read several of Grisham's books and watched a few of the movies, I have enjoyed all of his work so far. 8/29/2022 11:49:53 am
Somehow, I’m convinced all writers must be readers! I cannot keep from reading other authors. Maybe it’s in the DNA??
Mark
8/29/2022 01:30:05 pm
Yes, I think all writers need to be readers also. I think a writer needs to be well read in the genre or genres they are writing in, but they should read in other genres also, there is something to learn in other genres that may be useful. 8/29/2022 01:49:29 pm
I suppose the ultimate goal of FAVORED might be that the reader accepts the assurance that forgiveness of the unforgivable is possible, albeit only through one’s Spiritual connection with Father God. One of my reviewers found Colleen’s ability to forgive her attacker completely irrational and unacceptable. Our ‘old man’ isn’t capable of such forgiveness. Not until we’ve been afforded the beautiful experience of complete - never looking back- forgiveness of our own sins might we find ourselves capable of such freedom.
Mark
8/29/2022 03:18:54 pm
That makes a lot of sense to me. When we have been forgiven much, we can forgive others. We all need forgiveness in our lives. If we don't forgive, then the price we experience is very high. 8/29/2022 06:08:42 pm
Thank you. From my heart, I need you, Mark Schultz, to realize how tenderly I hold our relationship and how important it is for my shaky ego. You are brilliant and I’m blessed to have been led to connect with your talents. Sincerely, Priscilla Leave a Reply. |
Who am I?An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
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