The Late Bloomer's Book Blog: medieval times

All is Assuredly Well
by Professor Gore and Maestro Wilson
Illustrated by Angela F.M Trotter
Published June, 2018
Camille Lancaster Literary Children's Books
Softcover
Review copy provided by publisher

Received a starred review from Kirkus

Summary from Publisher
King Phillip the Good and his husband, The Most Excellent Don Carlos Emiliano Felipe de Compañero y Campañero, live sedate, uneventful lives until King Phillip dreams of having a baby girl. Structured around The Hero's Journey, King Phillip must follow his mentor, the Blue Star, and encounter allies (a newt and a bluejay) and overcome gatekeepers (a biting fish and a bear) as he completes a series of tasks to prove himself worthy of becoming a father. Once proven, the Blue Star presents him with a baby girl in the middle of a fairy circle of a thousand different flowers in a thousand brilliant hues. He returns home to present Baby Milliflora to his husband, and the loving husbands joyfully become loving fathers.

My Thoughts
This story definitely has a mystical fairy tale feel to it. The fact that it is two husbands, and not the "typical" fairy tale scenario, really has not bearing on the story. It is the story of a loving couple who wishes for a baby and is willing go to great lengths to get a little baby girl. After nearly two years of wishing, the blue star finally fulfills their wish. The authors include rich vocabulary of the period throughout the story.

The font is set in a medieval type fitting for the story. Repetition lends a bit of predictability. The text is set in a text box and surrounded by detailed, colorful illustrations. It is a bit busy for my taste, but is reminiscent of Jan Brett's intricate Illustrations.

I would recommend this book most for ages 4-7.
All is Assuredly Well is available at Amazon.com.

To win a copy of All is Assuredly Well, please leave a comment on this post by August 12:00 midnight on August 22, 2018. One winner will be selected at random. Book will be mailed from me to one winner in the US.

About the author, Professor Gore
Professor Gore's proudest hours were spent in Federal Court testifying as an expert witness and plaintiff against the city she loved. The city commission had passed an amendment that banned Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy's Roommate from the children's section of the public library. A storyteller, Professor Gore is delighted to contribute to the canon she once defended.

About the Author, Maestro Wilson
Co-author Maestro Phillip Wilson is a retired band director, music teacher, composer, and arranger. A poet at heart, his love for word play and ear for rhythm and meter lend themselves well to the lyrical art of storytelling.

About the Illustrator, Angie F. M. Trotter
Artist Angie F. M. Trotter holds a BA in Religion and Fine Art. Her pen and ink illustrations are an amalgamation of icons, illuminated manuscripts, stained glass window design, and her spiritual life. Her work has been compared to the masters of the Golden Age of British book illustration.

You can find more about All is Assuredly Well and the authors and the illustrator online:
www.AllisAssuredlyWell.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/All-is-Assuredly-Well-355497344947289/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AssuredlyWell

- Blog Tour Dates (in Chronological Order)

July 2nd @ The Muffin
Grab a morning treat over at Women on Writing's blog The Muffin and read our interview author Professor M.C. Gore and enter to win a copy of the book All is Assuredly Well.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

July 3rd @ Mari's #JournalingPower Blog
Author Professor M.C. Gore will be a guest writer over at Mari's #JournalingPower blog where she talks about writing the hero's journey.
https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog

July 5th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Come by Ashley's blog Mommy Daze: Say What?? where she shares her thoughts on Professor Gore and Maestro Wilson's book All isAssuredly Well.
http://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

July 6th @ Coffee With Lacey
Get your coffee over at Lacey's blog Coffee With Lacey where she shares her thoughts on the book All is Assuredly Well.
http://www.coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

July 7th @ Cassandra's Journey
Stop by Cassandra's blog where she interviews author Professor Gore about her book All is Assuredly Well.
http://cassandraulrich.blogspot.com/

July 8th @ Madeline Sharples Blog
Author Professor Gore is a guest writer over at Madeline Sharples blog where she shares her thoughts on alchemical literature and how it affects her thinking as a writer.
http://madelinesharples.com/

July 9th @ Bri's Book Nook
Stop by Briennai's blog Bri's Book Nook where reviews Professor Gore and Maestro Wilson's book All is Assuredly Well.
https://brisbooknook.wordpress.com/

July 10th @ Break Even Books
Come by Erik McManus' blog Break Even Books to find out what he had to say about the book All is Assuredly Well.
https://breakevenbooks.com/

July 10th @ Georgia Ball's Author Blog
Come by Georgia's blog where she features a blog post written by Professor Gore about how the author found her illustrator and who she is. http://georgiaballauthor.com/category/book-review/

July 12th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Professor M.C. Gore will be a guest writer over at Ashley's blog Mommy Daze: Say What?? where the author describes her experience on the witness stand as an expert witness when the city of Wichita Falls, Texas banned Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy's Roommate. http://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

July 12th @ George Ball's Author Blog
Come by George Ball's blog where she shares her thoughts about Professor Gore & Maestro Wilson's book All is Assuredly Well.
http://georgiaballauthor.com/category/book-review/

July 14th @ A Storybook World
Professor Gore is a guest writer over at Dierdra's blog A Storybook World and she'll be writing about how her local writers’ club convinced her to self-publish, and why/how she started her own micro-publishing company (including how a MAJOR publishing company editor she pitched to told her that she would buy the manuscript, but not the illustrations because she had a “completely different vision” for the book). http://www.astorybookworld.com/

July 15th @ The Late Bloomers Blog
Come by Gigi's blog The Late Bloomers blog where she shares her thoughts on Professsor Gore and Maestro Wilson's book All is Assuredly Well. http://thelatebloomersbookblog.blogspot.com/

July 16th @ Auden Johnson's Blog
Stop by Auden Johnson blog to read Professor Gore's guest post on her supernatural experience involving her Advanced Graduate Statistics professor and how that relates to this book.
https://www.audenjohnson.com/

July 17th @ Coffee With Lacey
Come by Lacey's blog and read her interview with Professor Gore, one of the authors for All is Assuredly Well as well as with the illustrator of the series, Angie F. M. Trotter.
http://www.coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

July 19th @ The Writing Dreamer
Come by Jessica's blog where Professor Gore will be a guest writer and will be talking about how a workshop on screenwriting made her a better story writer.

http://wolfdreamer25-myjourney.blogspot.com

July 22nd @ Just a Place to Drop My Thoughts
Stephanie will be reviewing Professor Gore & Maestro Wilson's book All is Assuredly Well. Come by and see what she thought about this impactful book!
https://stephaniemathis.blogspot.com/

July 23rd @ Cassandra's Writing World
Check out Cassandra's blog to find out her thoughts on Professor Gore & Maestro Wilson's book All is Assuredly Well. Professor Gore will also be discussing her thoughts on why attending conferences and workshops are worth the money (and how to make the best use of your time at one).
http://cassandra-mywritingworld.blogspot.com/?m=0

July 24th @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Come by Anthony Avina's blog where he shares his thoughts on Professor Gore & Maestro Wilson's book All is Assuredly Well.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

July 26th @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Check out Anthony Avina's blog where he will be sharing Professor Gore's guest post on why she
selected Maestro Wilson as her co-author and how they worked together.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

July 27th @ The Faerie Review
Come by Lily Shadowlyn's blog The Faerie Review where she reviews the book All is Assuredly Well.
www.thefaeriereview.com

July 28th @ The Faerie Review
Make sure to catch Lily's interview with author Professor Gore, one of the co-authors of All is Assuredly Well.

www.thefaeriereview.com

July 30th @ Books and Motivation
Come by Prakash Vir Sharma blog and read his interview with author Professor Gore.
www.booksandmotivation.wordpress.com

July 30th @ The Faerie Review
Come by Lily's blog where author Professor Gore writes about fighting academic freedom after a student complained about Professor Gore's class material about LGBQT class material.
www.thefaeriereview.com

To win a copy of All is Assuredly Well, please leave a comment on this post by 12:00 midnight on August 22, 2018. One winner will be selected at random. Book will be mailed from me to one winner in the US.

The Mad Wolf's Daughter
by Diane Magras
Published March, 2018
Kathy Dawson Books
288 pages
Hardcover
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
A Scottish medieval adventure about the youngest in a war-band who must free her family from a castle prison after knights attack her home.
One dark night, Drest’s sheltered life on a remote Scottish headland is shattered when invading knights capture her family, but leave Drest behind. Her father, the Mad Wolf of the North, and her beloved brothers are a fearsome war-band, but now Drest is the only one who can save them. So she starts off on a wild rescue attempt, taking a wounded invader along as a hostage.

Hunted by a bandit with a dark link to her family’s past, aided by a witch whom she rescues from the stake, Drest travels through unwelcoming villages, desolate forests, and haunted towns. Every time she faces a challenge, her five brothers speak to her in her mind about courage and her role in the war-band. But on her journey, Drest learns that the war-band is legendary for terrorizing the land. If she frees them, they’ll not hesitate to hurt the gentle knight who’s become her friend.
Drest thought that all she wanted was her family back; now she has to wonder what their freedom would really mean. Is she her father’s daughter or is it time to become her own legend?

My Thoughts

I have to admit that I don't read a lot of medieval fiction, but I enjoyed this book very much. Drest is a fantastic, multi-dimensional character. She is brave, clever, strong and, in spite of herself, compassionate. She is quite creative with her Scottish insults. Some of my favorites included, "rot-headed prickle fish" and "toad-faced boar's bladder". Drest is faced with moral challenges along her quest. She needs to get the knight, her enemy, safely to the castle. This means that she must tend to his wounds and help him to walk throughout the long journey. It is hard to harbor ill-will for someone you are caring for and Drest begins to see her enemy in a different light. She also learns things about her father and brothers who are hated and feared far and wide for the terrible things they have done. Surely the father who loves her and the brothers that protect her could not intentionally hurt people.

Magras does not shy away from the language of the age. Thankfully there is a glossary for readers can look up some of the terms. She also provides more information on medieval life in the author's note and there is a map in the front of the book so readers can follow the journey.

I would highly recommend The Mad Wolf's Daughter for grades 5-8. This is Diane Magras' debut novel and I certainly hope we get more gems from her in the near future.

Check out the official book trailer.