Judge 44's verdict:
Soda Springs is “A great showcase”

I never met “Judge 44,” but doesn’t she (or is it he?) sound intriguing? Not as steamy as 69. . . . as devilish as 666 . . . or as Tebowish as 15. But intriguing still – balanced, a solid citizen, someone with an aura of authority about her.

So Judge 44 in the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards contest read Soda Springs -- from cover to cover, I assume, and far into the night – then sat down at her computer. She pondered, considered, thought . . . then banged out the following:

“Charming authorial style. Author Terry Marshall’s unique and often humorous characters make Soda Springs: Love, Sex, and Civil Rights a fun read. The zany characters populating the story speak naturally and ring true to their personalities. The conversations between characters are quick-paced and the dialogue reveals character in ways that narrative and description cannot. The author shows an overall skill with dialogue that makes the story engaging. Readers can’t help but enjoy the unexpected plot twists and turns in this enjoyable story.

“Overall, the story is a great showcase for author Marshall’s delightfully different characters and (Chuck) Asay’s delightful illustrations.”

Well, alas, “delightful” wasn’t enough – no gold medals for Soda Springs: Love, Sex, and Civil Rights this time around.

Anyway, thank you, Judge 44, for the kind comments, even if you didn’t put Soda Springs at the top of the heap. Can’t win them all, can we?