Tag: Andra Watkins Author

To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis -A Review

~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

andra

 

Just so we are clear, I don’t usually do reviews. I leave it up to the experts like Ionia Martin and Rosie Amber since they know what they are doing. I finished Andra Watkins book and was so impressed with the content I just couldn’t stop myself. I gave the book five stars and would have added a sixth if I could and yes, I decided to let you all know what I think. (dangerous I know)

I stayed up late night before last to finish Andrea’s wonderful book To Live Forever: An afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis. The reason I stayed up late is I could not put the book down for the last 20%. The book is so good the reader is compelled to continue as resolutely as possible to the end to see what happens. Of course, once finished then must deal with the remorse which comes with the realization the adventure is over.

The story is of Meriwether Lewis (yes, the explorer from the early eighteen hundreds) finding himself in the 1970’s with a job to do and if he does it well he may be released from his hellish position which is described in the book as Nowhere. Although to the casual observer who has not read this book this may seem a stretch. Let me assure you the author has done the ample research necessary to not only pull this juxtaposition of history off, but to make it perfectly logical and a story worth telling. The backstory is rich with the sense the author has experienced some out worldly inspiration to bring the kind of detail to the tale. After reading several chapters, the reader can discount any divine intervention and rely on the fact that the author does indeed know exactly what she is doing and has researched the facts thoroughly.

The narrative takes a unique two separate character first person point of view posture which lets the reader know exactly what the two main characters are feeling and thinking without getting into some kind of clumsy third-party voice that is unrealistic. The story is told in the present tense which is the best to involve the reader in the action and raise the tension level significantly. Not all authors can pull off this complex arrangement, Ms. Watkins does so flawlessly.

A final note. I would like to make about the story. The story itself is action packed and moves along at a pace that is very pleasing. Very little time is wasted on unnecessary prose so the reader is not held hostage to a writer’s own personal quirks on what is thought to be good writing. Trust that this is excellent writing and has all the elements of adventure, love, compassion, anger and compelling protagonists which can’t help, but become endearing to the reader. This book is for anyone who likes a good story well told.

You can find it here:

My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Andra Watkins

~ John W. Howell ~ 3 Comments

blog-header400x10003andra

andra

Andra Watkins has what I would consider an idyllic life. She has lived in Charleston South Carolina in the heart of the deep south for twenty-three years. As any of us know from reading Gone with the Wind, the South is the center of grace and good manners. It is in the South (Texas too) where there is no such thing as first names without the respectful suffix of Miss or Mr. So it can be Miss Daisy and Mr. Robert. Never just Daisy or Robert and it really doesn’t matter if the person is married or not. The term of respect does not discriminate between the two states of matrimony. Miss Andra moves in this realm with ease and grace.

Miss Andra also has her stalwart companion and spouse Mr. MTM. He maintains what could be considered the equilibrium of the relationship since he is a Yankee. As we also know Yankees were born under the practical star of wholesome work and honest values. So it is Mr. MTM who raises some of the needed questions when Andra has her mind-set on a particular action or path she want to take.

All this leads to a life filled with adventure, romance and the occasional surprises. We the readers of her blog The Accidental Chootchie Mama are the welcome recipients of Miss Andra’s descriptions of what is going on in her life today. We can’t seem to get enough and lucky for us Andra seems capable of fulfilling our needs on an almost daily basis.

If that is not hard enough writing Andra is preparing to launch her book To Live Forever and has a story Bad Deal from the book in the published collection Echoes in Darkness. If you have not picked up the book you can get it and it will give you a preview of To Live Forever which you certainly will want to get.

It is no accident Andra has gathered an immense following due to her writing talent as well as a lesson she usually manages one way or another to fit into each story. It doesn’t hurt that she has a very colorful family as well.

In addition Andra is planning to walk over 400 miles in from March 1 to April 3. She will be walking the Natchez Trace walk . She is training quite hard and is currently taking a break from her blog to do administrative work. Let’s wish her well when she returns.

Thank you Andra er Miss Andra for your help on launching My GRL especially given your schedule. I really appreciate you.