Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

It's Sunday.  That means it's time to link up with the Catholic Carnival, at This That n' the Other Thing.  And thanks to RAnn for hosting.  Here's the snippets I posted about.  Monday, I wrote a book review on the next book in Michael Stewart's "Assured Destruction Series", Script Kiddie.  "Assured Destruction" is about a teenage girl who is trying to save her mom, her business, her boyfriend, her future,and even her life.  It's young adult, but I'm a senior adult and I'm hooked.  script Kiddie is the second in the series.
 
Tuesday I wrote about bargaining with God.  When I was about ten years old, I made a bargain with God because I wanted to win a softball game. That bargain still haunts me.

Wednesday, a friend was upset because her pastor disrespected her.  She was trying to help the parish by pointing out an error in a notice.  Everyone's reaction was that it was no big deal and she was just being a jerk.  I felt for her.  All people had to say was, "You're correct."  That's all.  Validate her concern.  What would it have cost her pastor to say, "You're right.  Thanks for noticing and telling me."  Everyone needs affirmation.

Thursday was a big feast day for me.  I celebrated the Vigil of St. Dominic with my brothers.  The feast day, itself, began with Mass.  And that's the last post I wrote this week, because I've been celebrating ever since the Feast of St. Dominic.  Veritas!

Script Kiddie

Michael F. Stewart and Mac Doninri (Don) L. Dimanlig are the author and artist, respectively, of the Assured Destruction Series.  Michael F. Stewart is not afraid to experiment and combine the written story with stylized modern graphics, technology, and social media.  The Assured Destsruction series is published by Non Sequitur Press.

In Stewart’s first Assured Destruction the reader was introduced to the major character, Janus Rose.   Since Janus’ dad deserted the family, Janus and her mom have taken on the computer recycling business.  To complicate matters, Janus’ mom has multiple sclerosis.  The prognosis isn't good.  And this is how Janus’ life is—complicated. 

This second novel in the series, Script Kiddie, adds more drama to Janus’ life.  Assured Destruction is in danger of being foreclosed.  Janus’ friend runs into trouble with online dating.  As usual, school marks are precarious.  Janus’ boyfriend is running out of patience.  Mom’s boyfriend is suspicious.  The police have Janus doing community service.  Teen age stress is complicated even more by the online hacking community. 

An interesting concept is that Janus has a few alter egos.  She has set up old computers with names and personalities, and interacts with them.  They’re Gumps, Frannie, Heckleena, Tule, and more.  Not only do they help Janus think through her options by getting her to focus, these on-line characters help us, the reader, to explanations, and character motivation.

NB my favorite quotes:

If life’s a stage, then you should be in the audience, Heckleena tweets.

@Heckleena For some reason the director keeps shoving me out for more, JanusFlyTrap replies.

Heckleena is one of my many alter egos, which allow me to say what I want without inciting direct hatred. JanusFlyTrap is the real me.

                                                              ##

Shadows have lengthened and the sun shines into my eyes through the windows. The hair on

the back of my neck does a little dance.  It’s nearly closing time and despite the thrill of adventure a new hard drive always sends through me, I’d rather not profile a killer in the dark.

                                                                 ##

I don’t understand the half of it, but I want to, oh how I want to. And I will. It’s like

cracking the binding on a dusty old spell book and reading arcane language promising to augment your powers, create wards of protection, and destroy your enemies.

                                                                 ##

First Prize: I will bow to your feet, sing your praises,

and be otherwise suitably impressed. But you’ll never have all that, because this code is

impossible to crack.

NB these related sites:

Author Michael F. Stewart http://michaelfstewart.com/    http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2969126.Michael_F_Stewart         http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17696977-script-kiddie

How about taking a chance on a raffle to win a $ 25 gift certificate from Amazon, or a free ebook of Assured Destruction, Script Kiddie  ?

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