The Quill

While there are certain authors whose work I categorically love, sometimes, even the best of authors writes a sub-par book. So, I don’t have many authors that I wait on tenterhooks for their next release — unless it’s a sequel to a book I really liked. Somewhere Beyond the Sea continues the story began in The House in the Cerulean Sea, which really introduced me to adult, cozy fantasy. You can probably imagine my delight six months ago when it was released.

Former main character, Linus Baker, returns in Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Linus is an exceedingly ordinary man in a world with many different sorts of magical people, all of whom are marginalized and oppressed by the government. Linus has found, and accepted that he has found, his home and his family. But the systemic oppression of magical beings by the government, and Linus’ old employer DICOMY (Department in Control of Magical Youth) still remains and is threatening his new life.

Arthur Parnassus, as both a former orphanage master and a magical being himself, is uniquely situated to help change that system. Having experienced firsthand the abuse allowed in government-sanctioned orphanages for magical children when he was a child, he has dedicated his life to making sure that others have better luck and experiences. He turned the orphanage that had been a prison during his childhood into a home and safe haven for other magical children. However, everything he is working to create flies in the face of the non-magical people in power in the government. In particular, he has upset the heads of DICOMY, all of whom have an abundance of power and see him as less than human. Can Arthur change the world to protect his children, his family, and his home, even with Linus’ support?

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is, to me, the perfect sequel because it took one man’s search for a home and expanded it into another man’s quest to make the world feel like home to all those that inhabit it.

Burn of the Everflame
by Penn Cole

My most anticipated book release is definitely Burn of the Everflame, part of The Kindred’s Curse Saga by Penn Cole. I’ve been super excited for it since reading the rest of the series and can’t wait to continue the story!

Burn of the Everflame is the fourth and final book in the series, which starts with Spark of the Everflame, followed by Glow of the Everflame, and then Heat of the Everflame. The books follow Diem Bellator, a mortal girl living in a land that is ruled by the offspring of the gods, the Descended. The series is your typical fantasy book, featuring magic, dragons, and a painful yet well-worth-it slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance that kept me incredibly hooked. The books are pretty long and have a ton of world-building, so it is a bit difficult to digest and get through it all at times. Heat has almost 900 pages, so I can only imagine what Burn will have if she continues that pattern! I’ve still not emotionally picked myself up from the cliffhanger that Heat left us on

Burn of the Everflame has been delayed a few times unfortunately, and the anticipated release date has moved frequently. I’ve heard that a possible date is sometime in July 2025, but that’s just speculation so far. I have to keep reminding myself to have patience!

Grim and Oro by Alex Aster is generating a lot of buzz ahead of its release, and for good reason. Scheduled for September 2025, the story intertwines elements of fantasy and adventure, exploring themes of friendship, courage, and the struggle between light and darkness. Aster’s world-building is vivid and immersive, drawing readers into a richly crafted universe filled with unique characters and intricate lore. Her writing style is both lyrical and accessible, making it easy to get lost in the narrative. I’ve read the first book in the series (Lightlark, Nightbane, and Skyshade), and Aster’s world-building in it is also so detail-oriented, I can vividly image what I’m reading.The protagonist, Grim, is a relatable character who faces both external challenges and internal conflicts, making his journey challenging and engaging. Oro, on the other hand, adds an intriguing dynamic to the story, and their relationship evolves in unexpected ways, keeping readers on their toes.Overall, Grim and Oro promises to be an exciting addition to the fantasy genre, appealing to both young adult and adult readers. With its captivating plot and well-developed characters, it is definitely a book to keep an eye on when it hits the shelves!

Since you’re reading this newsletter, chances are, you write from time to time. When you’ve created a few different works, there’s no doubt you’re familiar with the dreaded writer’s block. If you’re struggling to get the creative juices flowing for your next piece, never fear! This quiz is here to combat your lack of inspiration by setting you up with a genre and some prompts to try something new in your next story — no AI necessary!

1. What year are you in at school?
a.) Freshman (+0)
b.) Sophomore (+1)
c.) Junior (+2)
d.) Senior/Other (+3)

2. How many pets do you have?
a.) None (+0)
b.) One (+1)
c.) Two (+2)
d.) Three or more (+3)

3. Which one of these chip flavors is your favorite?
a.) Plain (+0)
b.) Barbecue (+1)
c.) Cheddar (+2)
d.) Sour cream and onion (+3)

4. Which unique pet would you want to own?
a.) Chinchilla (+0)
b.) Bearded dragon (+1)
c.) Sugar glider (+2)
d.) Axolotl (+3)

5. How do you prefer your ice cream?
a.) In a waffle cone (+0)
b.) In a cake/sugar cone (+1)
c.) In a dish (+2)
d.) None for me, thanks! (+3)

6. About how long is your hair?
a.) Above the ears (+0)
b.) To the chin (+1)
c.) To the shoulders (+2)
d.) To the chest/longer (+3)

7. Which of these fruits are your favorite?
a.) Banana (+0)
b.) Strawberry (+1)
c.) Peach (+2)
d.) Mango (+3)

8. Where’s your ideal place to live?
a.) The big city (+0)
b.) A small town (+1)
c.) Out in the country (+2)
d.) On the seashore (+3)

9. Around what time do you usually wake up in the morning?
a.) 6:00 a.m. or earlier (+0)
b.) 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (+1)
c.) 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (+2)
d.) 11:00 a.m. or later (+3)

10. Pick a farm animal!
a.) Pig (+0)
b.) Cow (+1)
c.) Chicken (+2)
d.) Goat (+3)

Add up your points. Your total decides your results!
(If randomness isn’t your style, just pick any genre and prompt. No one cares; there are no rules!)

0-7: Romance
Here are a few prompts for your next romantic story:

8-15: Adventure
Here are some prompts to inspire the crazy journey:

16-22: Horror
Here are a few prompts for your super spooky story:

23-30: Science Fiction
Here are some prompts for some peculiar sci-fi tales:

 —Brooke Schoening, Book Quiz Editor

The Siene River is lovingly called “the only river in the world that runs between two bookshelves,” making it the perfect setting for this article’s inspiration novel, The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. The novel’s protagonist, Jean Perdu, owns a bookshop on a barge that rides the currents of the Siene River along the streets of Paris. If books were medicine, Perdu would be the doctor: he cures his customers’ ailments with carefully chosen novels.

A bookshop on a barge, on the Siene River, in Paris. Could there be a more spectacular way to shop for books? Look through my top five list of Paris bookstores and decide for yourself!

1. L’Eau et Les Rêves, which translates to “water and dreams,” is a bookshop on a boat that may have brought some inspiration to Nina George while coming up with the idea for The Little Paris Bookshop. After all, it is a bookshop (and a coffee shop), on a houseboat, on a canal, in Paris.
2. Shakespeare and Company was stablished in 1951 by American expat George Whitman. It is a store with a rich history and the literary world’s idea of an A-list clientele, such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein, to name a few
3. Librairie Delamai-Paris. This is the oldest bookstore in Paris, and when faced with closure, the community came together to save it. Filled with Parisan tales as old as time, this shop will not disappoint!
4. Galignani was first a printing press with a reading room, then a bookstore, and it has always been family-owned! If you don’t find the book you’re looking for amongst thousands of others on their shelves, they will order it for you, even if it’s no longer in print. Now that’s service!
5. Les Bouquinistes of Paris, which translates to “booksellers of Paris,” is my favorite of the list. On the riverbanks between the Louvre and the Pont Marie, and on both sides of the Seine River, you will find 900 green plywood boxes filled with books for sale. Having UNESCO status, these individual boxes hold at least 300,000 books just waiting to be purchased. Located along the Siene for approximately 500 years, they were permitted to become fixed locations in 1859, and I can vouch for their staying presence.

“A mother’s happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories.” —Honore de Balzac

Everyone comes from diverse backgrounds and social classes, and every relationship with one’s mother is unique and singular. Here are a few ideas for celebrating her on the day and throughout the month with different aims. Celebrate unforgettable moments with Mom.

Here’s a countdown of activities to celebrate Mother’s Day and make lasting memories!  

Create moments and focus on experiences. If Mom enjoys the great outdoors, make it special by jumping into these five fun ways to quality time together:

1. Picnic in the park with her favorite food and drink.
2. Take a refreshing hike where she hasn’t been, enjoy new sites!
3. Hold a movie marathon cozy up with her and her favorite movies and snacks.
4. Hit the golf course or dive into one of her favorite sports.
5. Serve fancy tea and biscuits or wine and hors d’oeuvre outdoors

Four chill-at-home spa ideas to give mom a well-deserved day of relaxation:

1. Make DIY face masks to share.
2. Create a relaxing space. Try some relaxing hand-crafted aromatherapy.
3. Consider nature with a simple fun creativity session (canvas paint, shadow art, sun prints, rock painting, nature painting, tie-dying, etc.). Be creative!
4. Create a comfortable reading nook and share the love of new books or ones she already enjoys.

Three unforgettable Mother’s Day trips in Green Bay and around Wisconsin! From thrilling activities to charming spots, you’ll create lasting memories while exploring this area’s vibrant attractions.

1. Attend a concert together.
2. Grab a bite at a new restaurant of her choice.
3. Explore the beautiful Green Bay Botanical Gardens, with free admission for moms on Mother’s Day!

With too many activities around town on May 11, two unique stops in Green Bay that are exciting ways to celebrate Mom with thrills and play:

1. Bay Beach Amusement Park: Free admission/ andparking, and tickets are 25 cents each; most rides require one or two tickets. 😲

2. New Zoo & Adventure Park: Free admission for moms from 9 to 6 p.m.

While these spots are not enough to honor Mom, some thoughtful and emotional gifts may do the job. To please Mom, include personalized jewelry, photo albums, home movies, music playlists, engraved jewelry, quilts, or mugs — anything that conveys your affection

One vital thing to do on Mother’s Day is:

• Call or visit your mother!

The goal is to spend meaningful time with her that she’ll love and that you won’t forget. By focusing on specific aspects of your mom’s life and your relationship, you can create a touching and meaningful tribute to her.

Mother’s Day is a bittersweet day for many of us. We all have mothers, but some of us have lost them.” —Faith Salie

For those of us who have lost a mother,Mother’s Day may be a time full of nostalgia; losing a parent perhaps brings a mix of emotions that one doesn’t like to bear or share. But oftentimes, remembering those moments brings a sense of peace and a smile, even a chuckle. Cherish those moments, those thoughts, old photographs, stories, recipes, hugs, those special moments held in your heart. Honor her memory by involving her good traditions in your life with your family and close friends. Always focus on the love!

Evil Dead II

Trigger warning; Brief mention of sexual violence.

Evil Dead II (1987) has always been a staple film in my house, to the point where I knew Bruce Campbell before leaving the womb. While I’ve never seen the original — since I was so young
at the time, my father always prefers that I clarify — the rest of this franchise has always been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. This film was the one to get me into horror movies at an early five-years old and will continue to receive a solid five stars on my Letterboxd for the rest of eternity. Even though there are many reasons I can throw at you as to why this is, I’ll settle for only a few and hope it’s enough to persuade or pressure you into watching!

This horror/comedy stars the “groovy” Bruce Campbell who plays Ash Williams. As Ash and his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) sneak into a cabin, things quickly go south after finding a tape recorder reciting words from The Book of the Dead. Ash, like any other oblivious horror movie character, plays the tape while browsing the book, releasing the demonic spirits it held. The spirits are quick to possess Linda, ultimately leading to her death at Ash’s hands. The spirits, still hanging around, begin to target Ash, making him go crazier and crazier. But I’m sure finals week has us all feeling just as crazy as my man Ashley J. Williams, so who am I to talk?

The film gets into a perfect blend of comedy and horror after quickly introducing four throwaway characters who help move Ash into more of a hero role when he magically becomes all-knowing. That happens after he listens to a few minutes of the tape, and is briefly possessed, but it all adds to his aura, so we’ll allow it for the plot. It results in scary, yet silly, possession prosthetics and actions from these characters as they meet their demise.

Outside of the plot, though, what makes this such a great film is the VFX done by Tom Sullivan and the camera work directed by Sam Raimi, who also wrote the script alongside Scott Spiegel. The creepy possession and corpse make-up creates a much more terrifying feeling than CGI ever could. Plus, the first-person POV camera movements from a demon’s perspective build the audience’s anxiety as we move at full force after these terrified characters, all of which help give this film and franchise its iconic feel, separating it from others in the horror category when it comes to style. But then again, maybe I’m biased. These guys are also to thank for the well-known chainsaw scene, where we not only witness Ash chop off his own hand but also see the birth of the chainsaw hand, his boomstick creation, and his catchphrase, “Groovy.” It’s beautiful, really; you almost always have to shed a tear.

While I’m sure this film has callbacks to the first Evil Dead (1981), I personally have never seen that one and honestly don’t even recommend watching it due to the sexual violence in it that Raimi regrets including. Luckily, the franchise is set up where you can easily jump into this film and can disregard anything before it. So don’t let the title saying “II” hold you back! It’s worth the watch. Plus, if you enjoy this film, or just Sam Raimi, I highly recommend trying out the horror video game The Quarry, also blessed by the hands of a Raimi brother. It’s the perfect time to add to your watch list as we head into “Summerween” in just a month.

Available on Pluto TV.