Into the Fire

http://www.amazon.com/This-Quiet-Tyranny-Jessica-Thomas/dp/0989880826/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1395432457&sr=8-1&keywords=this+quiet+tyranny+by+Jessica+E.+Thomas

This Quiet Tyranny by Jessica E. Thomas is published by her indie creation Provision Books and is available in print, Kindle, and other E-book formats. A futuristic, fatalistic, dystopian story with a similar feel to The Book of Eli without the exorbitant violence, This Quiet Tyranny is a well-written but difficult read. As it should be.

Though the novel has changed since my first read-through in its formative stages a few years ago, the story retains the dark and oppressive feel which seems to usurp life itself from Laine Sutton as she medicates herself with various drugs just to get through her days.The chips ("C-chips") are already implanted in the hands of the people, something her now deceased mother resisted to her dying day. Laine's memories of her mother's life, beliefs, encouragement, and convictions have blurred and all but vanished under the haze and depression of life where the government rules and provides "everything" for its people using Isotek, where Laine's employed, as a vehicle to transport substance to the people. This means that when anything goes wrong, the provisions don't arrive, the cupboards are bare, and many times hunger prevails. But Laine has found a consistent vendor for the pills she needs to survive this dreary existence with a man she dislikes and disdains and her adopted son Hugh with whom she's severed any real connection.

When a man named Boyd intervenes in Laine's life promising an answer to her malaise, a terrible incident at home drives her to find him. When she does, she endures a procedure she's convinced is designed to kill her but actually frees her. From that point on she begins to remember pieces of her childhood and her mother's life during that time.

Laine and Boyd are desperate souls who need each other for more reasons than they can realize. Neither of them knows the other's intent, and the mysteries perpetuate while Laine suspects foul play, and Boyd discovers "the plan" on which he's based most of his decisions is wrong and must be overcome.

The cold emptiness displayed in this story is so well written, the loss of emotions other than depression and hopelessness captured to the point where we shudder at the choices and wince at the philosophies based on the ever-increasing depravity of mankind rejecting God.

The faint faith echoes in the emptiness, a distant draw in Laine's skeptical existence. Something too good to hope for, something too good to be true?

Jessica E. Thomas has written a somber reminder of a plausible futuristic existence where people are mere puppets operated by an uncaring and cruel government exercising its power over many. Those working behind the scenes as opposition members to the government's control prove to be equally as evil. This Quiet Tyranny demonstrates the multiple kinds of slavery people adhere to when they have no moral compass, no spiritual life, and are dead to the knowledge of true freedom.

The story takes some twists toward the end. A bit of confusion late. Although the ending gives resolution, there is no satisfaction – just a glimmer of hope . . .

Father, you know Jess's heart and soul. You know what drives her, what she hopes for, and how hard she works. Please direct her steps, give her hope and joy. Please bless her for all she does to honor you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

Matthew 10:26-33 (NIV)

Yup. Runnin' on empty today. Thus the graphic which displays it all. Feel fine. Just bankrupt of energy and creativity.

Father, fill me up with your good stuff. Thank you for all you do for me. My gratitude is never enough. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

And, although, this young lady is considerably younger than me, this picture says it all about what I was doing from late afternoon until this morning. No fun. My pregnancies were made up of this activity from conception to the eighth month so this is one of my most hated and dreadful activities.

Although I thought it was a touch of food poisoning because I didn't have real flu symptoms, my son ate similar food when we were at the mall and fortunately had no signs of sickness.

But then, me being who I am, I got in a spiritual "discussion" yesterday on Facebook. One of those where you're emphasizing the spiritual aspects which are left out of their reasoning and where I basically declared God was infallible and far more believable than man's calculations and theories. Of course, they didn't understand what I was saying. All they heard was how I was "against" science, etc.

As I lay in bed in the middle of the night contemplating the state of my condition, I was reminded of what happened to me many, many years ago in France after "defending" God in my discussion with a group of girls who were agnostic at best. I wasn't yet a Christian, but I knew there was a God, the God. I knew very little about Him, but I knew He was greater than mankind. Shortly after that discussion, in Aix en Provence, I was almost asphyxiated because I closed a window in the bathroom of the home where we were staying while I took a long shower with next to no water pressure. It turned out the window was open to dispel the leak from the propane gas. I didn't know about the leak.

The spiritual side of things is inarguable for me. Our enemy wants to kill us in order to shut us up. Not that my argument was so scintillating that I was presenting any danger of "conversion" for these individuals, but standing up for our supernatural and superior God is sometimes necessary – at least for me – regardless of our technical knowledge or ability to debate.

So. Whatever I endured from late afternoon until this morning I consider an interesting circumstance. Not a welcome one by any means, but I'm feeling better at this point, and that's my excuse for no blog post before now. Such as it is.

Father, thank you for my recovery and for reminding me of my experience in France. I love you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving those who love you a platform to testify. There is none like you. Thank you for dying for me. I pray you would continue to bless your son Russell Wilson as he honors you in what he does. Keep him safe from all harm and keep him strong in you and in your mighty power. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

In a recent post by Rel Mollet at RelzReviewz, she asked about the opinions and influences of book endorsements: http://relzreviewz.com/bookish-question-of-the-week-13/#more. Comments ranged from appreciation to disdain and much in between.  

What would it take for you to give an endorsement of someone's novel? Would you look forward to writing the recommendation of a friend's story if given the opportunity? Would you be honored if it showed up in the "credits" or possibly on either the front or back cover?

What would you do if you didn't like the novel you were asked to endorse?

Father, help us to help each other and to be honest and kind in the process. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Publishing is changing. The monopoly of name publishers is disintegrating and independent (indie) publishers are making their "end around" play for status in the industry. And succeeding. Yes, the big publishers still have a stronghold with their well-known NYTimes Bestselling authors, but those authors are carrying them. And through the years I've become convinced that several publishing houses aren't quite certain what to do with their "middle-grade" or "newbie" authors.

Marketing fiction is difficult, but e-publishing has flung open the doors to "cheap" novels and allowed for avid readers to purchase all kinds of books for their e-readers at little expense and lots of convenience. The emphasis to give away product(s) for promotion and all sorts of pushy hoopla has been diminished because just getting the word out about a new author's novel for sale from 99 cents to under $5 is a major prompt for readers to take a chance. So little to lose if they don't like it.

So what did you think would happen to the staid publishing industry? E-books have revolutionized the approach and dashed all the clichés about only "the best writing" making it into their publishing houses for production. Now anyone who can afford the nominal costs to produce an e-book can find multiple outfits to accommodate their desires. Not only that but independent publishing groups/presses are loading up on new clients, actually not demanding submissions via agents, and enjoying their new niches in the publishing market, producing both print and e-books. And no one is happier than the authors they represent.

Sometimes change is good, and the changes in publishing have shaken up the traditional publishing industry. They needed it.

Father, please guide all of us who write to the place where you want us to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.    

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)

The current state of affairs in this world can definitely lead to the directions the above signs indicate. Any one of them is an undesirable place to be, and what person hasn't "been there, done that"?

In addition to the condition of this chaotic world, publishing can present the very same lack of direction and emotional disturbances for writers. In today's failing economy successful authors have been abandoned by their publishers and for the first time are contemplating self-publishing. Much of the stigma – although not all of it – has been removed precisely because of "name" authors using it to further their careers.

The productivity and profitability of e-publishing bloomed into the real deal, giving all kinds of writers new opportunities for their work (good and bad). Regardless of the quality of the writing, this puts the responsibility for determining the value of a story square in the lap of the reader where it belongs. Does Amazon refund the purchase price of an e-book as is done in bookstores if a customer decides they don't like a book after reading it? I hope not.

I once again admit to being confused, baffled, and bewildered by some – or many – current CBA publishing decisions, but it's the name of the game. And at this present time I'm not playing it.

Father, your directions all have purpose, are all correct, and, although we might be confused or baffled by them, it doesn't change their value or their right nature. So, forgive me please when I question or complain. I'm near-sighted. Help me always to see more clearly and trust more deeply. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

It looks like Spring will be here soon. In the meantime please visit me today at Novel Rocket and don't hesitate to comment . . .

Once again, Lord, thank you for the opportunities. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.