The Elephant Company

by Vicki Constantine Croke

The Elephant Company leads you on an adventure through the jungles of post-World War I Burma following the exploits of Jim Williams, a war vet longing for peace and communion with animals. A loner all his life, he found his purpose as a forest assistant handling the magnificent, noble elephants who hauled logs for a British teak company in Burma (now called Myanmar). Williams learned much from these intelligent elephants and applied it to human relationships. The book details his more than 25 years in the harsh jungles including his rescue mission of refugees across the border into India away from the encroaching and fierce Japanese enemy. The elephants’ heroism in building bridges throughout the war helped the Allies maintain control of the British colony of Burma. When faced with a sheer wall of rock Williams came up with the crazy idea to dig stairs along the side of the mountain of rock In order to bring British, Indian and other refugees to safety. The elephants did the seemingly impossible and selflessly carried the baggage and sick up the narrow stairs – an amazing feat of courage on everyone’s part.

 I was drawn to this book through my love of animals and refugee ministry. I enjoyed this historical biography of the triumph of man and animal working together for an honorable cause.  The book’s detailed accounts were interesting but became tiresome towards the end. I would have loved more information on the refugees, but all in all it is a good read. The love between man and animals amazes me and causes me to praise our Creator God for the uniqueness of each individual animal and their ability to interact with humans and even rise to heroic challenges.

I recommend this book for adults 20 and above.

Nancy Kelley Alvarez serves with Cru International in a ministry called Story Runners. She and her husband Al live in Iloilo City, Philippines. She is the author of The Butterfly Impact: A story of unexpected courage and transformation and her upcoming novel The Opportunity: A devastating attack, an astonishing request. She is a member of an Online Chapter of Word Weavers. 

Dinosaur Do’s for Children’s Writers

While doing research for my latest book, “Dinosaur Devotions: 75 Dino Discoveries, Bible Truths, Fun Facts, and More!” (TommyNelson), I realized that we can learn a lot from our dinosaur friends, so here are three “Dino Do’s” for my fellow children’s writers. 

Do be like a Compsognathus (comp-sog-NAYTH-us)—This little dinosaur, about the size of a chicken, worked smarter, not harder. Though he chased after and munched on small prey, sometimes he watched and waited, letting the more powerful predators kill unsuspecting dinos. Then the Compsognathus would sneak in and snack on the dead animals. It’s not that this dino was lazy; it was cunning. 

• If the Compsognathus had been a writer, he wouldn’t have tried to reinvent the wheel. No, he would’ve found a             mentor text for his picture book, and you should, too!
• Learn from those who have already written successful books on your topic and use those texts to inspire your manuscript.  

Do be like a Corythosaurus (ko-RITH-o-SORE-us)—The Corythosaurus had exceptional eyesight and hearing and used those senses to survive. You’ll have to do the same if you want to survive and thrive in the children’s book world. 

• Listen to how children talk—their pacing, phrasing, and word choice. 
• Watch how they move and interact with the world around them.
• Make sure you use all of your senses when sharing your stories. 

Do be like a Utahraptor (Yoo-tah-RAP-tor)—Experts believe Utahraptors stayed together throughout their lives, hunting in packs, and surviving by working together.  

• Teamwork makes the dream work—for dinosaurs and writers. We need each other. 
• Join a critique group. By being a part of the Nonfiction Ninjas critique group, I have learned lots, become a better writer, and found my tribe. I’m so grateful. You’ll need to find your tribe, too! 
• Network with anyone and everyone you encounter at writers conferences and publishing events—you never know who might be a source, a critique partner, or a future publishing contact.
• Connect with other children’s writers on social media and exchange ideas. Share each other’s blogs. Promote each other’s work. Celebrate each other’s awards. Engage with your online communities and grow that platform together. 

So, be like a dinosaur and grow your writing career as big as a Patagotitan.

Michelle Medlock Adams is an inspirational speaker, award-winning journalist and best-selling author of more than 80 books, earning top honors from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hoosier State Press Association. Since graduating with a journalism degree from Indiana University, Michelle has written more than 1,500 articles for newspapers, magazines and websites; acted as a stringer for the Associated Press; written for a worldwide ministry; helped pen a New York Times Bestseller; served as a TV host for TBN’s “Joy in Our Town” show; and blogged for Guideposts. Today, she is President of Platinum Literary Services—a premier full-service literary firm—and she serves as chairman of the board for Serious Writer Inc., and teaches courses for Serious Writer Academy.   Michelle is married to her high school sweetheart, Jeff, and they have two grown daughters, Abby and Allyson, two son-in-laws, and one grandson, as well as a miniature dachshund, a rescue Shepherd/Collie mix, and two cats. When not writing or teaching, Michelle enjoys bass fishing and cheering on the Indiana University Basketball team and the Chicago Cubbies .

Scaramouche

by Rafael Sabatini

“To do what you imply…[set up a government of true equality and liberty]…would require nothing short of divine intervention. You must change man, not systems.” –Rafael Sabatini’s character Andre-Louis Moreau/Scaramouche

Scaramouche, by Rafael Sabatini, touches a portion of history few books do—the events leading up to the French Revolution. It revolves around the ‘leaders’ of the Revolution, who were merely trying to persuade/force the nobility to accept a republic without removing the monarchy. These leaders were mostly comprised of a bunch of men loyal to their king and many of them were eventually executed alongside the nobility.

For the first time, I had an inkling of how Thomas Paine could write Common Sense and then fan the French Revolution which became nothing more than a satanic, nation-wide slaughter, nothing like America’s war for Independence.

In Scaramouche, both sides of the French Revolution are clearly represented, leaving the reader to judge the result for themselves. Meanwhile, there are plot-twists, a strong heroine, some romance, and a dynamic hero in Andre-Louis Moreau who struggles, suffers much, and ultimately makes the right choice despite the sacrifice. When the book opens, Andre-Louis is a young lawyer just out of school, with a godfather among the lower nobility, and a best friend among the early revolutionaries. When his best friend is murdered in a brutal dual, however, he swears vengeance against the murdering marquis, and sets out to lead the revolutionaries himself. With that goal, he is forced to flee for his life, yet, he constantly turns back to his promise of revenge.

Despite its darker elements, humor also carries through the story, even in such horrors as the political duels. For example, the words spoken by Andre-Louis when scheduling a sword-fight: “I am afraid, monsieur, you will have to kill me first, and I have a prejudice against being killed before nine o’clock.”

There is unfortunately an affair that shapes a large chunk of the story, from which the hero was born. There are also some immoral characters in a traveling troupe of actors, but the book reveals that all such wrongs have their terrible comeuppance. That is truly the theme of the story.

Due to the subject matter, it is not a book for young readers, but it is a book worth reading for its masterful insight into politics, human nature, and the inevitable effects of crime.

Esther Wallace is a writer and an illustrator. She graduated with an associate Degree in graphic design. Her artwork, The Two Sailors, won second place in her school’s literary magazine.

Princess Herona and the Dragon, her flash fiction piece, won the Georgia Peach Award, third place. She rarely outlines her writing.

She is a member of Word Weavers Berkshire in Sherman, CT.