Independent and small presses struggle, especially ones resolute about not going hybrid. In support of authors and small presses, three Christopher Whisperings authors share some of their current reads from independent publishers.
Here's a look at what CW authors Maria Giuseppa, J. Shep, and Geralyn Hesslau Magrady have to say about what's in their hands this spring.
Maria Giuseppa, author of the award-winning R&R: A Feast of Words, discusses The Antonio Cortese Mysteries by Frank Curtiss. The series is published by Intellect Publishing, an independent press out of England.
CW: Did you finish it?
MG: I have read an entire series of books published by the independent publisher Intellect Publishing, located in the UK. It is a series of mysteries written by an American author, Frank Curtiss. The series is titled The Antonio Cortese Mysteries, which currently has five separate books: Deception in Siena, Missing in Firenze, Death in Abundance, Drowning in Betrayal, and Trusting in Vengeance.
The main character is a retired detective from Southern California who becomes a restauranteur in Washington state. His ancestry is Italian, and he has many relatives still living in the Tuscany area of Italy which he visits often, managing somehow to embroil himself in some sort of mystery shortly after each arrival.
CW: What do you like about the series?
MG: I am a fan of mysteries, and this series satisfies that qualification. I also love Italy, and the series takes place there, principally in Tuscany until the last book, which is set on the Amalfi Coast. I spent a wonderful vacation in the same small towns of Tuscany where most of the Cortese family resides, and I can visualize them as they are mentioned in the storylines. I also happen to be from the Campagna region, so I was thrilled with the Amalfi Coast location.
CW: Who would especially enjoy it?
MG: If writing is my first passion, then cooking is a close second. Food and wine and recipes for family meals are sprinkled throughout the stories. In addition, I think the books would be enjoyed by anyone interested in the history and geography of the area along with the mystery and food aspects.
CW: What drew you to it?
MG: What drew me to the first book was that so much was familiar to me. What keeps me reading is that I know and like the characters, now. They are very human in the sense that none of them is "perfect." I want to see where they are heading personally and within various interrelationships, especially a few romantic ones.
Another thing I find refreshing is that, to varying degrees and in their own personal way, each character is grounded in faith. These are not overtly religious books that hit you over the head with a particular belief system. However, moral dilemmas present themselves and are worked through based on a solid faith foundation. The author must be a man of deep faith who has no problem addressing ambiguous situations in everyday life that may deal with a character's moral well-being. An added plus is that his vocabulary goes beyond the persistent use of the F-word to make a point. (Sorry, one of my pet peeves lately.)
CW: What about The Antonio Cortese Mysteries compares to your own work?
MG: What is similar to my own writings is that despite the fun and interesting mystery, the story is primarily character-driven, and also that those characters tend to center their lives around family, friends, and goodness.
CW: Are there any books from small presses on your to-read list?
MG: I have already begun The Chocolate Cobweb by Charlotte Armstrong (Penzler Publishing).
J. Shep, author of The December Issue and After Me, just finished Spencer K. M. Brown's Hold Fast. The immersive winter novel is published by independent press Wiseblood Books.
CW: Did you finish it?
JS: I did finish it. I am usually a slow reader, and finishing a book takes me a while. With this one, I kept wanting to read more, even when I was tired.
CW: What do you like about the novel?
JS: I am drawn to atmospheric books, and this, to me, definitely falls into that category in a great way. I started this book during a cold spell in winter, and that coincided nicely with the winter setting and stark, frigid atmosphere of the novel. The world Brown pulled me into, bleak as it was at times, held me. As the characters led the narrative, the story was subtler than the setting, but the plot always progressed.
CW: Who would especially enjoy it?
JS: I’d say certainly anyone who takes to stories told during hard, cold winters would enjoy it, as would anyone tinkering with a new lease on life, anyone eager to feel the sprout of some new beginning after a period of dormancy, grief, or stagnancy. The atmosphere isn’t only conveyed through setting in this book but through the characterization of individuals trapped between seeming ends and an inability to seek beginnings. The book is more uplifting than this feeling of entrapment, though. If one likes stories with this component, it’ll be a good pick.
CW: What drew you to it?
JS: Honestly, I was drawn by the cover. When I delved further, I found the background on the book interesting enough to purchase. Every time I completed a few chapters, I stared at the cover in admiration before setting it down. In this case, the cover complemented the story well, and I’m glad it called to me because I really enjoyed the book.
CW: Which character in Hold Fast compares to one of your own characters?
JS: I wonder if, perhaps, the Jude of before the accident may have been similar to Mikey in The December Issue, both mourning a parent, both disciplined and responsible, both young and energetic. Even though The December Issue is a Lake Superior novel, I think comparisons align more with After Me. In some ways, Jude is like Ellande in After Me as they both are new to grief and both trying to find their footing in the newness of the “after.” Since their ages differ, their pursuits differ a bit, though.
CW: Are there any books from small presses on your to-read list?
JS: I do have a few. I am going to read I Think I’m Goin' Back by Michael O Sajbel (Little Creek Press) soon. Already purchased it.
When Walls Talk award-winning author Geralyn Hesslau Magrady stumbled across Shelved by Lisa Avelleyra. Wisconsin independent press Little Creek Press published the work.
CW: Did you finish it?
GHM: YES!
CW: What did you like about it?
GHM: I really enjoyed the author’s approach to describing the same scene from different characters’ perspectives. It gave a deeper understanding of those characters as well as a more rounded view of the scene without feeling redundant. I also appreciated the timelines (present, which was the late 90s, and one year prior leading up to the homicide).
Another bit of praise goes to the culture of the era. It was a real treat to be transported back to the literature, art, music, television, etc. of the 1990s. The author showed the setting through natural references to the period within discussions and spot-on details to mirror my memories. I related to it.
CW: Who would especially enjoy it?
GHM: Book lovers! The ins and outs of a bookstore were so well done! The daily work, the staff and customers, the shelving! Made me want to reorganize my bookcases!
CW: What drew you to it?
GHM: I love books about books, and I’m glad to have another recommendation for this subgenre. A Midwest locale was a plus, too.
CW: What about Shelved compares to When Walls Talk?
GHM: The major comparison between Shelved and When Walls Talk is not so much in characters as it is in the love of literature as a whole. There’s a vibe that is present in both stories with respect and celebration for the joy of books!
CW: Are there any books from small presses on your to-read list?
GHM: Yes! Emma's Demise by Roger Skrypczak (Little Creek Press); North and Central by Bob Hartley (Tortoise Books); A Song for the Road by Kathleen Basi (Alcove Press); and Brenda Barker's Next Chapter by Wendy Tokunaga (Blydyn Square Books).
Show your support for these authors and independent presses by picking up your copy of The Antonio Cortese Mysteries by Frank Curtiss, Hold Fast by Spencer K. M. Brown, and Shelved by Lisa Avelleyra soon!
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You can also show your support for independent publisher Christopher Whisperings and its authors by purchasing their books here or wherever books are sold.