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‘The Paper Palace’ – By Miranda Cowley Heller Review
Heller's storytelling is both tender and devastating, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's heart and mind. In a literary landscape rich with tales of love and life, "The Paper Palace" stands out as an evocative and thought-provoking masterpiece that challenges conventions and dares to explore the depths of the human experience. This novel is an absolute must-read for those who appreciate emotionally charged narratives.
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‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingslover – Review
Demon Copperhead' is a clever book that plunges readers into the rugged ‘white trash’ terrain of southern Appalachia. Drawing inspiration from Charles Dickens' 'David Copperfield,' Kingslover cleverly reimagines this classic story within the contemporary American South. The results are breathtaking. The story follows the life of Demon, a red-headed boy born into a life of adversity and challenges. It delves into the heartbreaking realities of poverty, marginalization, and addiction, themes that echo those of Dickens’ masterpiece.
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Catfishing Caitlyn By Omar Imady
Q and A with Omar Imady about his novel 'Catfishing Caitlyn.' Today sees the launch of Omar's new novel which is already garnering 5-star reviews across the board and had won a Literary Titan Award. For anyone wanting to delve deeper into Omar's inspiration for the book, we have a Q and A with Omar and a video. Do you have a question about the book that we haven't answered? Let us know!
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Does Spring Make Us More Creative?
Spring is a season that is often associated with creativity and new beginnings. As the weather warms up and the days become longer, people tend to feel more energized and inspired to try new things and explore new ideas. But does the season really affect creativity?
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AI and Publishing
Although we find A.I. generated content to have many viable uses, we at Villa Magna will continue publishing books written by individually creative humans! Creativity is all!
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Writers Block? Here are some inspirational ideas
Creativity and inspiration are vital ingredients when it comes to creating original and engaging content. Whether you are writing for page or screen ideas are vital. But what if they dry up? Here are a few ideas to try to get those creative juices flowing... Personal experiences: draw inspiration from your own life experiences. Useful for creating characters or plot points that are relatable and authentic. Observations: draw inspiration from observing the world around you. Interesting people, places, or events can spark great stories or flesh out existing ones. Research: research on a subject related to what you are writing can help you to develop new ideas and storylines. Other works of art:…
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Coffee – The essential writer’s tool?
Sitting down to write in the morning? What is in the cup beside you? I’m willing to bet it’s coffee. But is coffee really a writer’s best friend? Coffee can have a positive impact on productivity and creativity. It’s perfect for that extra boost in the morning. The caffeine in coffee has been shown to improve cognitive function, increase alertness, and boost mood, all of which can help writers to focus and generate ideas. However, it’s important to note that the effects of coffee can vary. Some people may experience jitters, anxiety, and insomnia from consuming too much caffeine, which can ultimately hinder their writing. So it’s important to find…
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Fresh Water For Flowers – Valérie Perrin
I grew up holidaying in France and my father speaks fluent French yet somehow my grasp of the French language is not good. What did stay with me is a love for the 'feel' of spoken French. The cadence, the passion, the beauty. Fresh Water For Flowers was originally written in French and was a huge bestseller in France. Its translation has taken the literary world by storm. The book has an essential French feel about it that goes beyond its settling. The turn of phrase, the style, and the feel of the book are quintessentially French and I loved it. I could not put this book down. I have a busy life…
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What We Are Reading – Horse
Based on the remarkable true story of Lexington, a record-breaking racehorse, Horse is not only the story of a racehorse and his owners but a tale of slavery and its effect down the generations to the present day. The story is led by three narratives, brought together by a painting of Lexington. The race training circuit in Kentucky in the 1850s, the New York art scene in the 1950s, and Washington DC in 2019. The novel is beautifully written with compelling characters, extensively researched history, and delivers a devastating end that is a stinging rebuke against slavery in America.
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What We Are Reading – The Immortalists
With typical childhood curiosity, they track down the fortune-teller, and enter the woman’s apartment one-by-one. She gives them a precise date for their deaths, an experience the children find terrifying, the date never to be revealed to their friends. It also becomes a seminal moment that ends up shaping their entire lives.
