Catching up on Old News.

I was shocked to see that it's been over a year and a half since I posted any news from Raven Publishing. Do I have an excuse? No, but I'll just say, it's been quite a busy nineteen months since the last post. With my mind on the books being published, it seems I forgot all about this blog. I plan to do better, but I'm not making promises.

We published six books in 2014 and two—well, three, counting one that is only available as an ebook—in 2015. Here are the books and a bit about each.

The Whole Nine Yarns, by Jim Moore, is an attractive little book that will fit nicely in your hand, purse, or pocket—or someone's Christmas stocking.  Mind you, that's YARNS, not yards—and delightful yarns they are, some humorous, The Proposal, for one; some poignant and sad, Jerry Brayed and Swamp, just to name a couple; some with lessons learned the hard way, like Cut Fence, but all tales about life in the west.

Starting the Colt, by Jan Young is a sequel to her first book, The Orange Slipknot. Ben, the twelve-year-old son of a cowboy on a large cattle ranch in the Great Basin region of Nevada is being taught two conflicting methods of starting a colt. It is up to him to decide what he believes is best (not just in horse training, but in life) and to decide whether to follow his convictions.

Starting the Colt Curriculum Unit, by Jan Young give teachers and home-school parents a comprehensive lesson plan that covers several disciplines and is based on her novel. It includes an answer key.

Joe Henry's Journey, by Marcia Melton is a well-researched, historically accurate, exciting novel about the adventures of a young boy and his Pa as they escape war-torn Kentucky and travel up the Missouri River to Fort Benton, Montana, and then on to the gold fields on Grasshopper Creek, near Bannack, Montana, in 1862.

The Body in the Freezer, by Janet Muirhead Hill, explores homelessness through the eyes of a smart and arrogant rich kid who meets a homeless girl while he’s doing community service. She has a secret that he give anything to find out. It’s a story of life, hard times, and transforming circumstances.

The Dishwater Tree, a novel by Angela Janacaro, in which the old willow tree on a lonely, windswept hill outside of Miles City, Montana, saw three generations of women—and kept their secrets. But when 80-year-old Worthy learned that she hadn't long to live, she was ready to unlock the secret of her heritage if she could. Why was she left upon the doorstep of an orphanage in Williston, ND as a newborn? Who was her mother? What was her story? Worthy's daughter comes home from San Fransisco to help her find out, and finds herself as well.

That covers it for 2014. Here are our 2015 titles:

The Jenny, by Jim Moore, is a legal murder mystery set in central Montana in 1920. Young, attractive, independent, and adventuresome Merci Bruce brings a WW II biplane to her parents' ranch near Two Dot. Merci is of the next generation of the Bruce family  that was introduced in Ride the Jawbone. When the mechanic who came with Merci from California to assemble the plane is found dead on the Two Dot sidewalk, there is a note pinned to his chest with a German bayonet. The question, of course, is, "Who committed the murder?"

The Horse and the Crow, by Janet Muirhead Hill, is a Miranda and Starlight story. The six-book series about the young girl, Miranda, and Starlight, the horse she loved, was completed in 2005. Miranda was ten years old in the first two books and fourteen at the end of book six. Young readers have been asking for more ever since. Finally, in 2015, Ms. Hill answered with The Horse and the Crow, in which Miranda loses a horse and almost loses her life. Teddy Hungry Horse, a young Crow Indian boy, saves her—three times. Fans of Miranda will be interested to know that Laurie Langley, and especially, Christopher Bergman continue to play a big part in Miranda's life.

More about the e-book, Danny's Choice, by Janet Muirhead Hill, in the next post. 

Confessions of a Frustrated Editor

Sometimes after editing and proofreading manuscript after manuscript, time after time, it all runs together and the pesky punctuation rules get jumbled in my mind. I recently ran across a poem I penned a long time ago, apparently in a moment of frustration.

Commas
by Janet Muirhead Hill

Commas are such pesky things,
They sometimes get me down.
When editing I must scrutinize
Every adverb, verb, and noun.

Commas pop up everywhere
In places they shouldn't be,
And in places where they're needed,
The line is comma-free.

The manuals piled on my desk
With pages of comma rules
Sometimes seem inadequate,
So I look for online tools.

And when I'm sure I have them down,
Each rule I apply,
Until a sentence doesn't seem to fit
Any rule. Then I cry.

The rules are there, however opaque,
And we must have commas for clarity's sake
But to avoid insanity, I find I must take
This rule to avoid a worse mistake:

When you can't find a sample,
This rule is ample:
"When in doubt, leave it out!"

The Body on the Floor of the Rotunda, latest review

 

Following is a review that was published in the "About Books" section of the November/December 2013 Montana Art's Council's "State of the Arts" newspaper: 

The Body on the Floor of the Rotunda 

by Jim Moore 

Published 2013 by Raven Publishing, Inc., Norris, MT 

$26.00 Hardcover 

(Also available in softcover) 

Jim Moore

In his latest novel, Jim Moore immediately grabs the readers' attention with the description of a body falling from the fourth floor balcony in the Montana State Capitol, ergo, the title. 

Readers are introduced in short order to Senator Lynn Bruce, an attorney from Roundup, who becomes central to the story when he is enlisted to defend the prime suspect in what eventually is determined to be a case of murder. 

The author's background as a former state senator and lawyer give him the credentials to pen an intriguing murder mystery, set in the midst  of a busy legislative session, where both the accused, Senator Audrey Welter, and her defender, Senator Bruce, are trying to fulfill their elective duties while grappling with the elements of an impending with the elements of an impending trial. 

The murder victim was a trusted aide to the governor with a checkered past, working her way up the social and political ladder. More than one person would have appreciated her demise.

Untangling the details and solving the crime brings the accused and her attorney in close contact, which spices the story with romance. 

One of Moore's strong points in his work is his familiarity with courtroom scenes and dialogue. It lends his tales the authentic feel that you get from someone who has "been there, done that." Cindy Younkin, attorney and former Majority Whip for the Montana House of Representatives, agrees: "The intertwining of the legislative process, cross party politics, unscupulous politicians, murder and a senator/attorney/rancher who helps the damsel in distress makes for a great story," she writes. 

Moore is a retired lawyer, cattle rancher and former Montana Senate Minority Leader, who lives near Bozeman. His previous books include Ride the Jawbone and Election Day. 

—Judy Shafter

Book Covers

People judge a book by the cover, at least at first glance, so covers are very important to us. Our cover for Election Day was created by the very talented author, book designer, and editor, Craig Lancaster, who worked closely with me to give me just what I asked for. We wanted something to go along with both the title and the theme of the story, but more than that, something that would catch the eye of potential readers and hold their attention, and I believe this cover with the White House in stormy weather does just that. The book is about a fictional presidential election and a VERY stormy race for the White House—so it fits. As someone commented, on seeing the cover, "It's dark, foreboding, intriguing in the mist of storm. You can expect just about anything to happen as the story unfolds. Awesome!" And you'll be amazed and thrilled at all that does happen. 

Craig Lancaster also designed the cover for another of Jim Moore's amazing thrillers. A cover that invites you in to read more. 

I recommend Craig Lancaster's work, talent, and professionalism in creating a cover and/or designing a layout for anyone wanting an attractive book. He is also great to work with. 

 Janet Hill, president, Raven Publishing, Inc.

Our Forefathers' Foresight Put to the Test

Now, is a good time to sit back and enjoy the thrill ride found in Jim Moore's novel, Election Day—a better time, perhaps, than July of last year when the book was released. 2012 was an election year in which the campaign seemed to go on forever, millions were spent on ads trashing opponents reputations, and just about everyone, regardless of left or right leanings, was sick and tired of it all. At that time, potential readers may have associated Election Day, with what was currently filling radio, television, the Internet, and newspapers—and wanted no more of it. But this book is far different from any other book, heralding political events unlike any in the history of our country. Yet the happenings that will astound you in this story are entirely possible, due to contingencies our forefathers put into our nations laws.

Little-known laws in the  US Constitution and its amendments are put to a test in this story. The result of this thoughtful, thought-provoking, well-researched novel is a civics lesson wrapped in an exciting thriller with astounding revelations. It is a book that will leave the reader asking, "Are there laws here that ought to be changed in order to keep this unlikely but fully possible scenario from happening?" "What about the electoral college? Is it fair in every situation and contingency?"

The plot, the characters, the premise, the outcome of Election Day, by Jim Moore will stick in your mind long after the book has been put down or passed on. This is not your usual Election Day.

The Body on the Floor of the Rotunda

Off to a good start, our launching campaign for a great thriller by Bozeman author, Jim Moore, lost momentum when the call for help of one of Raven Publishing's authors took our immediate attention.

We are still mourning the passing of Joan Bochmann, author of Absaroka, who left her cancer-ravaged body on September 26, 2013. Yet, as Joan would want us to, we want to continue to share the news of the latest release by our best-selling author, Jim Moore. It is too good to be ignored, and there is still plenty of time to put this book, in hard or soft cover, on your holiday shopping list.

About The Body on the Floor of the Rotunda:

Murder in the Capitol becomes the top news story when the body of Gloria Angel, the popular and lovely assistant to the governor of Montana is found on the floor of the rotunda of Montana s capitol. When an autopsy indicates foul play, Missoula Senator Audrey Welter finds herself accused of murder. She turns to a Senate colleague, attorney Stretch Bruce from Roundup, to represent her. They struggle to fulfill their legislative obligations while preparing a defense to the charge and trying to figure out who is the real killer. Was it the Governor? The Attorney General? The vagrant found lurking in the basement of Capitol? Was it Audrey s former husband, who was enamored with the dead woman and had been stalking her? The twists and turns come one after another right up to the end of the trial, as Audrey’s life hangs in the balance. 

Reviews: 

“don’t pick up this book expecting to go to bed early”
Judge William Russell McElyea

“There is a ‘Montana Way’ in everything Jim Moore does. This novel deserves to be read by everyone who loves our great state.”

Neil J. Lynch, Former Majority Leader, Montana State Senate 

“The intertwining of the legislative process, cross-party politics, unscru- pulous politicians, a murder and a sneator/attorey/rancher who helps the damsel in distress makes for a great story.”

Cindy Younkin, Attorney and former Majority Whip, Montana House of Representatives. 

“Love and Lust drive the action that ends with a dramatic courtroom scene. This novel captivates right to the end.”

Kathleen Mohn, founder of Speak and Write, a corporate training firm

Available in hard or soft cover at many fine stores including Montana's largest independent books store, Country Book Shelf, as well as many online sites including http://www.ravenpublishing.net,  Amazon or as an ebook at Smashwords or Amazon's Kindle.

Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Miranda and Starlight Audio

Miranda and Starlight, by Janet Muirhead Hill, is available on CD, read by the late Joan Bochmann, author of Absaroka.

First published in 2002, Miranda and Starlight gained immediate popularity with girls who love horses as well as other readers. One young fan wrote, "My brother loves your book and he hates horses." Readers as young as five, many adults, and senior citizens have expressed their enjoyment of this story and have asked for more. Now, with the choice of being able to listen to the book on CD in addition to the paperback and ebook editions, it is available to a wider audience than ever.

This audio edition has been a long time coming, and many fans of both the book and of Joan Bochmann are thrilled to have it available now.