The Outback Stars by Sandra McDonald

When it comes to science fiction, I enjoy books in the military sub-genre that have a strong heroine, and author Sandra McDonald has translated her experience as an officer in the U.S. navy into a trilogy of books that I devoured. The trilogy also includes elements based on Australian culture and history, especially that of the indigenous peoples, which is a rather unique spin on the genre.

The Outback Stars and its sequels, The Stars Down Under and The Stars Blue Yonder, tell the story of Lieutenant Jodenny Scott and Sergeant Terry Myell. The two main characters meet aboard the Aral Sea to which Lieutenant Scott transferred after her previous ship, the Yangtze, was destroyed in a terrorist attack.

The Aral Sea is a vast ship which ferries travelers and colonists along the Alcheringa, an alien constructed pathway between habitable worlds. The daily challenges of shipboard life are quickly overshadowed as Jodenny and Terry come to realize that the destruction of the Yangtze was not as simple as they'd been led to believe.

To promote the paperback publication of The Stars Blue Yonder, Sandra McDonald created a book trailer. It is available for viewing on YouTube: The Stars Blue Yonder: Ode to Australia
(Warning! This video contains spoilers for the first two books!)

And if you find you too enjoy Military Science Fiction with a strong heroine, you should check out these series too:

• The Honor Harrington series by David Weber are based in part on the Horatio Hornblower series of C.S. Forester, though set aboard a starship in the distant future.


• Elizabeth Moon is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, and has written several series featuring military women. Her Vatta's War series starts with Trading in Danger.
  


• The Kris Longknife series by Mike Shepherd follow the title heroine who joins the navy to escape her powerful family, but finds her heritage is not so easy to avoid.
  


• Laura E. Reeve's Ariane Kedros series feature the adventures of the title character as she navigates espionage, a cold war, and alien forces.
  

-Sarah, Adult Services

Read Alike: Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn is a New York Times bestselling author of historical romances, often set during the Regency period; she is also a member of the Romance Writers Association Hall of Fame. She is probably best known for her Bridgerton series, which saw to the matrimonial bliss of eight siblings and starts with The Duke and I. Her books feature well-developed characters who are often very witty, a reflection of the humor found in most of Ms. Quinn’s novels. To balance the light-hearted humor and wit, many of her characters face significant emotional turmoil in their quest for love. The details of the Regency setting, with characters and events that carry over from novel to novel, provide a rich and rewarding experience for her readers. Ms. Quinn does not shy away from the physical aspects of her character’s relationships.

Julia Quinn provides reading recommendations on her website: Julia Quinn Recommends

Other authors you might like if you enjoy Julia Quinn:

• Suzanne Enoch’s novels have wit, humor, and strong female characters. Sin and Sensibility is the first in her Griffith family series; it features Eleanor Griffin and her search for a little adventure before settling down in a traditional marriage.

• Sabrina Jeffries writes humorous, character-driven novels that can only be described as steamy. A Dangerous Love is the story of Griff Knighton and Lady Rosalind who desire to avoid an arranged marriage, but find their desire for each other stronger than expected.

• Eloisa James writes romances that feature strong, witty heroines, with plenty of sexual tension, but also an emphasis on the non-romantic relationships in her character’s lives. Much Ado About You is the first in a series about the Essex sisters; eldest sister Tess must choose between a socially beneficial marriage, and her heart’s desire.

• Amanda Quick, a pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz, was one of Julia Quinn’s role models when starting out as a romance author, and it shows in their shared humor, suspense and strong characters. The heroine of With this Ring is a widow and the authoress of Gothic novels, who goes looking for a set of mythical rings, and finds herself in a situation similar to one of her Gothic plots.

• Stephanie Laurens’ novels have a focus on family ties and a humorous tone, and tend to be seen from the hero’s perspective. The Lady Chosen is the story of Tristan Wemyss, who must marry to receive his inheritance, but the woman he’s chosen has no desire to wed.

• Lisa Kleypas sets many of her romances in the later Victorian period, though her unconventional characters’ battles of wit are timeless. In Mine Till Midnight, Amelia Hathaway has given up on love until she meets Cam, a half gypsy businessman.

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Support Iowa's Libraries!

.016% -- that is one sixteen hundredth of one percent! and is what the State of Iowa provided in direct state aid funding last year to its public libraries. The Governor proposes that this be cut by 25% to $557,765 to be shared among 471 libraries (with the potential for 72 additional libraries to be added).

Each year every library that has received funding from the State has submitted a report describing how that money was spent. Does any other group of organizations hold themselves so accountable. A read of this year’s report clearly tells a story of what will be lost with such a cut to funding.

Much more than the savings of less than $400,000. Talk about bang for the buck!

Please, contact the Governor and your state legislators and request full funding for “Enrich Iowa.” Contact information for your elected officials can be found below.

~ Susan, Library Director

Terry Branstad

Governor's Office, State Capitol

Des Moines, IA 50319

(515) 281-5211

https://governor.iowa.gov/contact

Mail may be sent to any legislator at:

The Honorable (name here)

Iowa Senate/Iowa House of Representatives

Statehouse

Des Moines, IA 50319

If you're unsure who your legislators are, please call the reference desk or use Find Your Legislator.

Additional contact information:

State Senators

Tod Bowman - District 13

812 Grant Street

Maquoketa, IA 52060

(563) 652-5499

tod.bowman@legis.state.ia.us

Pam Jochum - District 14

2368 Jackson

Dubuque, IA 52001

(563) 556-6530

pam.jochum@legis.state.is.us

Tom Hancock - District 16

310 East Main Street

Epworth, IA 52045

(563) 876-3219

tom.hancock@legis.state.is.us

State Representatives

Brian Moore - District 25

18314 267th Street

Zwingle, IA 52079

(563) 528-0837

brian.moore@legis.state.is.us

Chuck Isenhart - District 27

P.O. Box 3353

Dubuque, IA 52004-3353

(563) 557-1261

chuck.isenhart@legis.state.is.us

Pat Murphy - District 28

155 North Grandview Avenue

Dubuque, IA 52001

(563) 582-5922

pat.murphy@legis.state.is.us

Lee Hein - District 31

11989 Richland Road

Monticello, IA 52310

(563) 465-5805

lee.hein@legis.state.is.us

Steve Lukan - District 32

7365 Columbus

New Vienna, IA 52065

(563) 921-3725

steven.lukan@legis.state.is.us

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and to get you in the mood, we've pulled together some romantic materials available at Carnegie-Stout Public Library. If you're coming into the library, you can check out our display by the Recommendations Desk. You can also pick up one of ten different reading suggestion cards:


The cards were made with The Card Catalog Generator, and you can check out an inexpensive Valentine's craft idea using the card generator here: Card Catalog of Love Craft

Each summer, the Romance Writers of America hold an award ceremony called the RITAs to honor the best of that year's romance writing. You can take a look at past winners on their website here: RITA Awards. The library might not own all of the titles, but if you see something you'd love to read, you can fill out a Purchase Suggestion form!

You can browse the catalog for romantic movies by following this link: Romantic Movies

If romantic comedies are more your style, you can check out the catalog here: Romantic Comedy Movies

Or, if you'd like, you can watch the first kiss recorded on film, courtesy of The Library of Congress:

February is Black History Month

How much do you know about the history of African-Americans in Iowa and the United States? For instance, did you know that the first Iowa Supreme Court decision declared a slave working in Dubuque a free man?

In the early 1830s a Man named Ralph Montgomery heard that a fortune could be made in the Dubuque lead mines. In the spring of 1834 Ralph's owner, Jordan Montgomery wrote an agreement giving Ralph permission to travel to Dubuque from Missouri. Ralph promised to to pay Jordan $550 plus interest in return for his freedom.

Ralph went to work in the lead mines but never made enough money to buy his freedom. Two slave-catchers captured Ralph and offered to return him to his owner for $100. Iowa was a free territory and fortunately for Ralph, Alexander Butterworth, a concerned eye-witness saw Ralph's capture. With the aid of Judge T.S. Wilson and a court order Butterworth rescued Ralph from his captors just in time.

Ralph's freedom rested in the hands of the newly established Iowa Supreme Court and Judge Wilson, one of Iowa's first judges. The case called "The Matter of Ralph (a colored man)," made history as the first decision of the Iowa Supreme Court. On Independence Day, 1839 Ralph was declared a free man.

About a year after the hearing, the same judge saw Ralph again, working in the garden behind the judge's house. He asked Ralph what he was doing and Ralph replied, "I ain't paying you for what you done for me. But I want to work for you for one day every Spring to show you that I never forget." Ralph was true to his word.
(Adapted from original article by Elaine Croyle Bezanson, The Goldfinch 16: No. 4 (Summer 1995). Iowa City: State Historical Society of Iowa.
© State Historical Society of Iowa)

To find more about the history of African-Americans in Iowa including the story of Ralph Montgomery go to http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/mypath.cfm?ounid=ob_000238

Would you like more information? Check out one of the following websites:

http://www.blackhistory.com/
A website that celebrates black history every month.

http://afroamhistory.about.com/
Ongoing blog featuring posts about black history and events in the United States.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/
An online guide to African-American history and culture.

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history-month
Videos, speeches, photo galleries and interactive resources specific to black history month.

http://www.blackfacts.com
Facts about African-Americans throughout history.

http://www.biography.com/blackhistory
A collection of biographies about influential African-Americans throughout history.

To find more resources available at Carnegie-Stout Public Library see the display at the Recommendations desk on the first floor.