Chasing Liberty by Theresa Linden

This dystopian Catholic YA novel by Theresa Linden is the first book in her Liberty series for older teens. This novel provides a fascinating look into a future world where religion has been eliminated. What I love about this book is the concept that God would still reach us and communicate with us even if we had never been told about Him.

The main character, Liberty, has grown up in a world void of families and faith. But she has been guided through her life by an inner voice she refers to as her “friend”. Until she is given an opportunity to live outside this controlled environment, she wonders if this inner voice is something she has made up.

Dystopian stories are always an interesting premise to think about. I love the Christian viewpoint that goodness, love, and faith will continue no matter what we might face. This is a wonderful read with plenty of discussion opportunities for older teens.

Set in the not-so-distant future where faith, family and freedom do not exist . . . Liberty 554-062466-84 of Aldonia lives in a responsible society that cares for the earth and everyone on it. They have learned to balance resource consumption with replacement initiatives, unavoidable pollution with clean-environment efforts. Science ensures that every baby born is healthy. The government ensures that every baby born is needed. All are cared for, taught, and given a specific duty to perform, their unique contribution to society. Why is Liberty so unsatisfied?

The Relic of Perilous Falls by Raymond Arroyo

Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Peter Lerangis’s Seven Wonders series will embrace this epic adventure in a rollicking new series by a New York Times bestselling author.
 
Will Wilder didn’t mean to unlock his otherworldly gift. But that is exactly what happens when Will “borrows” a sacred relic believed to protect the town of Perilous Falls for nearly a century. Even though his intentions are good, the impulsive twelve-year-old unwittingly awakens an ancient evil endangering all of Perilous Falls.
 
As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, it is up to Will to confront a nightmarish enemy and set things right before it is too late. Along with his sweet—if lethal—great-aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of supernatural artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one twelve-year-old boy can change the world.

If your child likes the Percy Jackson series they’ll probably enjoy Raymond Arroyo’s action-packed Will Wilder books. The Relic of Perilous Falls is the first book in this series about Will Wilder, a young boy with unique gifts. Will doesn’t realize he has special powers but when he accidentally unleashes some demons in his hometown he learns that there is a secret society of believers that all have special powers to keep people safe from the dark side. There are many unique characters in this book that add a fun element – Will’s Aunt, friends, siblings and parents all help to make this story fast moving and enjoyable.

Today, I’m excited to share about another new Young Adult novel – Playing By Heart. Not only am I including my review but an interview with the author, Carmela  Martino.

Not only does this book have one of the most beautiful covers ever – it is a wonderful, compelling historical fiction novel for teens.

Book Description:

Emilia Salvini dreams of marrying a man who loves music as she does. But in 18th-century Milan, being the “second sister” means she’ll likely be sent to a convent instead. Emilia’s only hope is to prove her musical talents crucial to her father’s quest for nobility. First, though, she must win over her music tutor, who disdains her simply for being a girl. Too late, Emilia realizes that her success could threaten not only her dreams for her future but her sister’s very life.

Playing by Heart is inspired by two amazing sisters who were far ahead of their time—one a mathematician and the other a composer. At its core, the novel is the story of two teens struggling to follow their true calling, even when it conflicts with their father’s goals. It’s a clean historical romance appropriate for ages 12 and up.

My Review:

This beautifully written Young Adult novel centers around the strong faith of two sisters, Emilia and Maria, and their extraordinary talents. The book is set in 18^th Century Milan, Italy and focuses on their relationships with their father, as well as their struggle to follow the paths they believe God wants them to take. Unfortunately, they lived in a time when young women were subject to their father’s wishes. And their father hoped to showcase their incredible gifts to advance himself to nobility and was not interested in their desires.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and loved her writing style. In fact, the moment I finished the book, I read her first novel Rosa Sola, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. Her beautiful descriptions bring her books to life. I found the passages describing Emilia’s music particularly lovely. The author does a wonderful job of showing society and culture of 18^th century Italy. This time period makes for a very interesting book, especially for young women, to see the choices and educational opportunities available to girls their age at that time in history.

This book highlights something that’s near and dear to my heart – that we all have gifts from God and we should find ways to use these gifts to help others. I loved that these young women knew their talents were from God and they longed to use them in a positive way. I also really liked the underlying passages of jealousy. This is something we all can relate to, feeling envious of another’s successes. How Emilia deals with this and works through it is a wonderful example for readers to emulate.

Interview with Carmela Martino:

—Playing by Heart contains so many historical details. How long did it take you to write and research?

That’s a difficult question to answer because I didn’t work on it consistently. I started the project in 2008 but I kept getting bogged down by research. Then, in January 2009, I banned together with a group of fellow writers to create our own version of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which takes place every November. We decided January has fewer distractions than November, and we called ours a New Year/New Novel project, or NYNN (which rhymes with “win”). Thanks to the support of the NYNNies, I managed to complete a pretty horrible first draft. But I don’t think I had a polished draft until nearly two and half years later, in September 2011. That’s when I started submitting it. As the rejections came in, I kept revising and submitting, sending the novel to editors and agents, and entering it writing contests. But I eventually gave up and put Playing by Heart in the proverbial drawer sometime in 2014.

–Why did you give up on the novel? And how did you end up getting it published?

Playing by Heart did well in several writing contests, and even took first place in the YA category of the 2013 Windy City RWA Four Seasons Romance Writing Contest. Several of the editors and agents who judged the contests asked to see the full manuscript. Unfortunately, they all told me pretty much the same thing: Playing by Heart was well written but historical fiction is a “tough sell” in the young adult market. After studying the market, I realized that the YA historicals that sell well seem to incorporate fantasy, witches, secret societies, or a murder mystery. Playing by Heart has none of that. I’d thought my sales “hook” was that the novel is inspired by two amazing 18th-century sisters who were far ahead of their time, one a mathematician, the other a composer. Frustrated, I set the manuscript aside and hoped the market trends would change, as it often does in publishing.

Then, in March 2016, I had the opportunity to pitch to an editor from Vinspire Publishing as part of the 2016 Catholic Writers Guild Online Conference (CWCO). The editor liked the pitch, asked to see sample chapters, and eventually offered me a contract!

–You mentioned getting bogged down in the research. You include so many wonderful visual details, from the Latin inscription on the harpsichord to descriptions of specific paintings. How did you research all that?

I’m a visual learner, myself, so I need visual details to be able to picture my setting. I researched what harpsichords looked like at the time and found several with Latin inscriptions above the keyboards. That was too delicious a detail to pass up. So I researched Latin mottoes of that time and found one about joyful music that fit perfectly into the story.

Regarding the paintings: while looking at illustrations of the interiors of 18^th-century Italian palazzos in the books I researched, I noticed the walls were typically covered with paintings, many of them religious. So I researched the popular artists of the time and used their paintings as models for those I mention in the novel. For example, there’s a painting I refer to in Playing by Heart as the “Cerulean Madonna.” It’s loosely based on the painting Madonna and Child with Angels by an Italian Renaissance painter known as Masaccio.

Panel on Carmelite church in Pisa

–How did you manage to write a novel set over 200 years ago in Milan, Italy in a way that today’s teens can relate to the characters?

I spent a great deal of time and effort trying to make my characters relatable for modern readers. That’s part of the reason I chose Emilia Salvini as my main character even though there’s more research available about the real woman who inspired her older sister, Maria. I feared readers might feel Maria’s story would be “too good to be true.” Besides being a brilliant linguist and mathematician, she longed to be a nun to help the poor. Today’s teens might find a story from such a person’s point of view “boring.”

Instead, I chose Emilia as the viewpoint character. Although she, too, is gifted, she also has flaws, such as her jealousy of her sister. Sibling rivalry is something modern readers can relate to. I also focused on other problems that today’s teens could empathize with, such as the pressure of parental expectations and discerning a life’s calling. And, of course, the quest for true love.

–Are you planning a sequel to Playing by Heart?

I intentionally left one aspect of the story open to speculation at the end of the novel—what will happen to Emilia’s younger sister Isabella? I’d really like to write a companion/sequel to Playing by Heart with Isabella as the main character. Right now, though, I’m working on a short story set in the same time and place as Playing by Heart that I plan to submit to an anthology.

Thanks so much for hosting this interview, Leslea. I hope your readers will visit the other stops on the Playing by Heart Blog Tour. I invite them to go to my website for the complete list of tour links and enter for a chance to win a copy of the novel:

http://www.carmelamartino.com/blog/posts/2406

Carmela is hosting a Facebook Launch Party on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 7-9 p.m. Central Time, where readers can win not only copies of Playing by Heart but other great books and prizes.  www.facebook.com/events/1926037200756000

I’m very excited to post today about Theresa Linden’s newest book – Standing Strong  , the next chapter of the young adult West Brothers series comes out on the Feast of St.Francis, October 4th.

Theresa is offering a giveaway until October 4th, for a chance to win a copy of this new YA book.

Click here for a chance to enter: Giveaway

My Review:

Theresa Linden is an amazing talent in Catholic teen fiction. I’m a huge fan of her writing and her ability to completely draw the reader into the moment with her outstanding descriptions. Her newest novel, Standing Strong is the next chapter in her West Brothers series.

There are a few things that make this series for older teens, very special. First, these powerful books are all written from slightly different perspectives, whether from one of the three West brothers – Roland, Jarret or Keefe, from a friend – as in Life-Changing Love, or, as in Battle for His Soul – the demons and angels that are constantly battling around us. Her newest chapter in this series, Standing Strong focuses on Jarret and Keefe West, the twin brothers who are struggling with very different aspects of their faith.

The other element that makes this series unique is that it is one of the few books I’ve found in the Catholic genre that is written for teen boys. Books for middle school age boys are prevalent but, gripping, character driven books for High School boys are more difficult to find. Don’t misunderstand though, Linden does such an amazing job of writing from this perspective that any teenager would enjoy and be moved by these books.

Linden has perfectly captured the heart and soul of the tough Jarret West in this new novel. During the first book, Roland West, Loner, I couldn’t stand his older brother Jarret but as the series has continued, Jarret really developed into a fascinating character. This character that I loathed, transformed into one that I found myself rooting for. He’s made lots of mistakes, did many horrible things, treated people badly, but in the end, realized his mistakes and the importance of his faith. Standing Strong finds Jarret struggling to keep his new found faith focused and strong, while his twin brother Keefe searches for answers to his own calling.

When authors write a series, they hope that all the books will be intriguing and connect with their readers. Linden has not only mastered this goal with her West Brothers Series, but as she’s continued with this powerful family saga, each book has been better than the last. Standing Strong is by far her most powerful and gripping book yet. I devoured this novel, needing to find out what happened next.

Book blurb:

STANDING STRONG

When the path is not clear…

When temptation is near…

When God speaks in a whisper you can barely hear…

Ever since that life-changing night in the canyon, Jarret has felt the presence of the Lord in his soul. Now that presence is fading. Is it his fault? How will he remain faithful without it when he still struggles against the same temptations?

​Questioning whether he has a true calling, Keefe reads everything he can about St. Francis and the Franciscans, but he’s afraid to talk to his father about an upcoming discernment retreat because his father seems closed to faith. Is he ready to go all in?

Early Reviews

“Another chapter in Theresa Linden’s masterfully-developed series for teens that will resonate with everyone who has struggled to find his place in the world, been tempted to take the easy way out, or doubted the work of God’s hand in his life. A realistic portrait of the slow and subtle work of grace in our lives.”

     ~Carolyn Astfalk, author of coming-of-age romance Rightfully Ours

“Standing Strong refutes one-dimensional stereotypes and redefines the power of Bro. Recommended for teenage boys as well as for anyone who would like to fathom their world.”

     ~Virginia Bliss, Catholic author

“Linden is a master at getting inside the heads of today’s teenagers, and her own deep faith and love of God shine through and inspire on every page. After readingStanding Strong, your own spiritual life cannot but be strengthened, making you also want to stand strong for God. Highly recommended!”

     ~Susan Peek, author of St. Magnus, The Last Viking and many other saint stories for teens and children

“Standing Strong is a beautiful testament to how God works—in the whispers, in the quiet moments, in the gentle guidance of our hearts. It’s a reminder that Jesus is with us in ways we may never understand, and that, if we allow it, the Holy Spirit will give us the strength to stand strong for God!”

     ~Lisa Mayer, author of The Aletheian Journeys Series

“It’s not easy to reinvent yourself while you’re still in high school, as Jarret West discovers as he seeks a way to turn his life around after an intense spiritual experience. His twin brother couldn’t be more different: Keefe contemplates joining the Franciscan friars. Theresa Linden recounts twin spiritual quests in her newest novel, Standing Strong.”

     ~Barb Szyszkiewicz, editor at CatholicMom.com

Author bio:

Theresa Linden is the author of award-winning Roland West, Loner and Battle for His Soul, from her series of Catholic teen fiction. An avid reader and writer since grade school, she grew up in a military family. Moving every few years left her with the impression that life is an adventure. Her Catholic faith inspires the belief that there is no greater adventure than the reality we can’t see, the spiritual side of life. She hopes that the richness, depth, and mystery of the Catholic faith will spark her readers’ imagination of the invisible realities and the power of faith and grace. A member of the Catholic Writers Guild and the International Writers Association, Theresa lives in northeast Ohio with her husband, three boys, and one dog.