Something To Write About

Winner of MAY B Announced

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to collkosinski!!!

Your name was chosen at random to receive a free copy of MAY B courtesy of me! (No publishers were involved in this giveaway. Just a reader wanting to share book love with other readers.)

Please email your mailing address to valeriegeary1@gmail.com and I will ship you the book straight away!

Thank you all for participating!

Read on, dear friends, read on.

Win A Copy of Caroline Starr Rose's Debut MAY B

2012-01-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

Confession: I read this book twice.

My favorite stanza:

106

"So many things

I know about myself

I've learned from others.

Without someone else to listen,

to judge,

to tell me what to do,

and to choose

who I am,

do I get to decide for myself?"

Confession: I liked this book so much I made my pets pose with it...

...all my pets.

Confession: I liked it so much, I'm giving away a free copy to one lucky reader!

A novel in verse, MAY B. tells the story of a young girl who, after being separated from her family and left alone on an unfamiliar homestead, faces blizzards, starvation, wolves, and her own self-doubt as she fights for survival on the Kansas prairie. Though it's marketed for Middle Grade readers (8-12 years old), MAY B is a book readers of any age will enjoy. A story of self-empowerment and strength, of fighting your way through the hard times, MAY B inspires.

Comment on this post by next Wednesday, January 25th and you'll be entered to win a copy of MAY B shipped straight to your mailbox. US residents only, please.

Feel free to tell your friends about this giveaway. No extra entries will be given--just feel-good karma.

For more information about MAY B, the Kansas Prairie, or the author, Caroline Starr Rose, please visit her website.

A Year of Reading: 2011

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Not counting the books I started, but never finished, I read 94 books in 2011. My goal was 100. As you can see, I fell short. Oh well. I was, however, quite successful with regards to my goal of reading more non-fiction. Not only did I read more non-fiction, but I found myself seeking it out at the bookstore, eager to discover new and intriguing topics. This year, though, I will not be setting any goals. Too much pressure and I found myself rushing. This year, I plan on lingering between the pages a while and getting lost in good stories. I think that will be better.

Now without further ado, I present to you, in no particular order, my favorite reads of 2011:

Well, what are you waiting for? Happy reading!

Selfpubs, Epubs: Sell Me Your Books

2011-12-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

Before we all disappear into the holiday vapor...I'm sending out a call for book recommendations. But hold on, before you inundate me willy-nilly with delightful titles from the Big 6, you should know that I am looking specifically for recommendations of fantastic indie/self-pubbed e-books or e-books published through small presses and/or e-publishers.

You see, Santa (and by Santa I mean myself) is bringing me a Kindle for Christmas and I would like to fill it with wonderful stories. So, dear readers and writers...You have exactly 4 days to sell me your books (or if not your books, someone else's).

Leave your recommendations in the comments section of this post or send me a recommendation on Twitter: @valeriegeary.

A recommendation from you does not necessarily mean I'm going to buy the book, but I'll certainly take a closer look. And though I am willing to give most any book a try (except erotica and vampire fiction), I offer you this reminder:

"..the books I buy contain stories I want to return to again and again. Stories that keep me up at night. Stories that make it hard for me to breath. Stories that resonate with me on a deeply personal level. More specifically: stories about sisters, mothers and daughters, death, grief, animals, ghosts (real or imagined), wild things and dark places, savage wildernesses and surviving; stories that might not have a happy ending, but I won't know until I read to the last page." Sit Down, Shut Up, Write Another Story

Please remember, I'm only opening myself up to recommendations and book promotion for a limited time. 4 days. After Dec 24th, any recommendations that show up on this blog will most likely be labeled spam and ignored. Any recommendations via Twitter after Dec 24th will also be ignored and I reserve the right to block the sender. (Grinchy, aren't I?)

All right, ready? For the next 4 days, indie authors and e-pubbers, you have my full attention.

A Brief Interjection

2011-12-07T08:45:00.001-08:00

Today Flashquake's Winter Issue is available. And with it, my short story "How We Said Goodbye" (pg 17).

Peruse at your leisure.

It's Raining, I'm Writing, Come Back Next Year

2011-11-21T06:59:00.001-08:00

It's cold here. Darkness settles. Rain lashes the windows. Against my cheeks, it stings like ice. The wind. Oh, the wind. Goodbye gentle fall. Hello gray winter. Not that I'm complaining. This is the best time of year to write. No golden sun drawing me into the woods. No warm evenings calling me out to walk under the stars. No light wind beckoning me to spend my entire day sailing over blue water and chasing herons. Here I am, wrapped in fleece sweaters and fuzzy socks. Here, hunkered down in front of a fire with a mug of hot tea and an exciting new book idea. Winter is the best time of year for writing first drafts. And for contemplation. Both call for quiet rooms and space to breathe. As such, I'm taking an extended time out from this blog. If you come looking between now and the new year, you won't find me here. Though, you might, on occasion, find me squawking on Twitter (@valeriegeary). So until we meet again, I wish you a happy, warm, and wonderful holiday season full of love and family and beautiful things.

Before Embarking On a New Creative Project, Consider This:

2011-10-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

"...inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time. But we must regularly and every day give it a chance to start flowing, and prime it with a little solitude and idleness. I learned that when writing you should not feel like Lord Byron on a mountaintop, but like a child stringing beads in kindergarten--happy, absorbed, and quietly putting one bead on after another."

--Brenda Ueland

If You Want To Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit

These Guys Sing It Better Than Me

2011-10-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today: my thoughts are scattered. Today: I will let AWOLNATION have the microphone.

Sit Down, Shut Up, Write Another Story

2011-10-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

I read a lot. Which is not to say I buy books a lot. I probably buy more books than the average person, but I don't buy everything I read. (Libraries rock!) Figuring out why a reader buys this book, but not that book, is, most days, a scream-inducing riddle for book sellers. Because, let's face it, every reader is different and every reader chooses whether or not to buy a book for their own, very personal and very different reasons.

I am but one obsessive reader in a sea of obsessive (or not-so-obsessive) readers, so I can only reveal the mysteries about what makes me choose to spend money on a book instead of just borrowing it from the library or a friend. But I like to think my reasons will resonate with other readers and might offer insight to those in the throes of book marketing.

Here goes. I buy a book for one reason and one reason only:

Because the story interests me.

That's it. Mystery solved. Simple.

And completely frustrating for anyone trying to sell a book.

An author can give interviews, write a blog, tweet 100,000 times a day about the awesome adventures waiting for me inside their book, and it won't make me any more likely to buy than if they had just sat quietly rocking in a dark corner.

The book can win a slew of awards, garner thousands of 5-star reviews on Goodreads, and have prose so beautiful it makes me cry, but I still might not buy it.

A cover could be the most stunning work of art I've ever seen. The title might get stuck in my head for days, but that doesn't mean I'm rushing to a bookstore.

See, the books I buy contain stories I want to return to again and again. Stories that keep me up at night. Stories that make it hard for me to breath. Stories that resonate with me on a deeply personal level. More specifically: stories about sisters, mothers and daughters, death, grief, animals, ghosts (real or imagined), wild things and dark places, savage wildernesses and surviving; stories that might not have a happy ending, but I won't know until I read to the last page. Other types of stories will obviously resonate with other types of readers, but the bottom line is: readers want good stories, and we are willing to pay money for stories that have the potential to speak truth into our lives, to change us, to make us laugh and cry and feel alive. If readers don't see any potential to connect with a story, we probably aren't going to buy the book. And no amount of promotion or marketing will get us to change our minds.

Now, I don't want anyone who is trying to sell a book right now leaving this post feeling frustrated and hopeless, confused, terrified. I don't want you throwing in the towel and saying, "What's the point?" Because all that promotion and marketing and getting the word out...all of that is still important.

If you don't tell readers about your story, we will not know it exists. And if we do not know your story exists, we will never be able to decide whether or not it resonates, whether or not we want to spend our hard-earned money to find out what happens next.

So yes, marketing and promotion are important. But in the end, it is still the reader's decision. And, really, there's not a whole lot you can do about that side of things. Except perhaps...sit down, shut up, and write another story.

Debut Novel Series: THE NIGHT CIRCUS

2011-10-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

THE NIGHT CIRCUS
Erin Morgenstern

Amazon Description: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

My Thoughts: Sweet, delicious word candy. A book full of magical descriptions that sweep you straight into a world you won't ever want to leave. A perfect autumnal read. Here's a small taste:

Work Hard, Play Often, Take Time for Love

2011-10-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

After my husband finished school, we had the followingconversation:

Me: You should find a hobby.
Husband: Oh really?
Me: Yes, something that will keep you busy while I write.
Husband: Like video games?
Me: No. Video games are a waste of time, and they rot your brain.
Husband: Couldn’t I just watch you write?
Me: No. That, too, is a waste of time and will rot yourbrain.
Husband: Fine, what did you have in mind?
Me: Why don’t you build something? You know, like how youused to build those model airplanes?Husband: …
Me: Seriously, you need to find something to do.
Husband: … … … What if I build a boat?
Me: Like a canoe?
Husband: No, like a sailboat.
Me: But we don’t know how to sail.
Husband: We can learn.

Two years later...

Watching my husband build this 14 foot Hartley was inspiring. He started with a pile of wood and a set of plans. He did not complete any special training or apprentice with a master. He does not have a degree in boat building or construction or how to build cool things from wood scraps. He did read a couple of books and spent some time in a few online boat building forums asking questions. Mostly, though, he went into the garage and worked. He worked hard. He made mistakes and smashed his fingers and got frustrated and threatened to quit more than once, but he didn't. He kept building and, when we put the boat on the water for the first time, our victorious shouts--"She floats! She floats!"--were well earned.

So far, we've taken our little boat out on the river a grand total of six times. I’m still not quite sure what a halyard is or whatit means to raise the jib. I’m confused by the differences between tack and jibe and why we have to use separate words for movements that seem to me essentially the same. I have no idea how to read tell tales. Every time the boat heels to one side, I break into a sweat.

But I'm learning.

And I'm having fun.

Most importantly, I am spending precious moments with my husband, laughing, loving, and watching herons fly low across dark water. There are wondrous adventures to be had here inside the wind.

Everyday Inspiration: Climbing Mountains

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

photo credit: valerie geary

I do not believe in moving mountains.

That is an impossible task.

The thing to do, then, is to put one foot in front of the other and start climbing.

Eventually, you'll reach the top...but the journey, and what you discover along the way, is far better.

The journey is the reason we climb.

That, and this burning desire to feel alive.

When Letting Go Means More Than Giving Up

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

A year or so ago I frequented a group of eclectic persons who called their once-monthly meetings, Emotive Gatherings. Sadly, they no longer meet--life gets in the way. But in the short time I lingered and bantered and sipped wine with these people, I was changed.

Among us were writers and poets, opera singers and pianists, painters and sculptors, and people who just came for the hell of it. We met together and shared bits of our souls, bits of our art. And there was no talk of money or fame and fortune, no talk of jealousy or egos. Sometimes we offered critiques, and sometimes we didn't agree with the critiques offered and so delightful, half-drunk arguments ensued where only a few of the words we said made any sort of sense.

The things we shared weren't always good. Sometimes they were terrible. But the beauty of meeting with these people was just that: we didn't have to be perfect. All we had to do was share something dear to us, something that expressed a small part of our inner selves, some sort of emotional truth. Instead of following rules and getting it right, these Emotive Gatherings were about passion and doing, about reaching deep inside you and grasping your dreams, pulling them out and sharing them with others, saying, "Look, this is where I am now, this is how I choose to express myself and I am not ashamed."

I was at a strange place in my writing journey when I started attending these meetings. I was fumbling with a manuscript that felt wrong in every way, but one I was afraid to let go of because it was my fifth manuscript. My fifth and all I could think was: Shouldn't I be getting close to publishing something by now? My previous manuscripts hadn't made it very far. Either I shelved them halfway through revisions because I wanted to write something better or I made half-hearted attempts at querying only to hear from agents the very thing I already knew: this book isn't ready. I was terrified of shelving this fifth one. It felt too much like giving up.

And then I went to my first Emotive and I watched these people so excited about the process of creation, the act of living through their art and it touched me. And I wanted to be like them. I wanted my love for writing to be simple again. For it to be about nothing more difficult than creating and trying to find beauty amid this chaos we call life. But in order to do that, I needed to let go of my inhibitions and start trusting myself again. I needed to stop rushing headlong towards my what-if future and start living in my present.

So I shelved my fifth manuscript and started a new one, number six, and was delighted to find it felt nothing like giving up.

In fact, quite the opposite: it felt like ropes slipping free, like running full-tilt down a steep hill, like swimming in a snow-cold stream. It felt very much like freedom.

And I realized then that letting go is not equivalent to giving up and in the letting go there is opportunity for rediscovery, for finding beauty and joy and truths unexpected.

Two Things and A Yellow-Bellied Marmot

2011-09-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

THING 1:

NPR's 3 Minute Fiction Contest (Round 7) was announced on Sunday. The challenge? Write a 600 word story where someone leaves town and someone arrives in town. The deadline? September 25. You still have plenty of time to submit your entry. So put on your creative thinking caps and start writing! If nothing else, it'll be a good exercise to awaken your creative soul.

THING 2:

I am now a proud owner of a monkey hat AKA my creative thinking cap.

See, I was in Denver, Colorado last week celebrating my grandparents' 80th birthdays (woot, woot!) and went with my family for a quick jaunt through Rocky Mountain National Park. Alas, I was not expecting it to snow. Lucky for me, there is a souvenir shop at the summit. Helloooo Monkey Hat! My head has never been warmer.

A YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT:

He is almost cuter than my monkey hat. Almost........... Oh, who am I kidding? He's so much cuter than the monkey hat. I mean, come on! Look at his little paws!

10 PLACES THAT CAN SPARK IDEAS

2011-09-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Merriam-Webster offers this definition for the word "idea": a plan for action. I like that. Not a wispy, ghost-like thing we can never hold onto. Not a vague, maybe-I'll-get-around-to-it shrug of the shoulders. No. An idea is a plan. An idea is an action. An idea is a way to move forward. It's deciding how you want to create something and then going about the business of creating. But what if you don't have an idea yet? Simple. You start looking for one.

1. THE NEWSPAPER
Life's huge tragedies and victories condensed to bite-sized headlines.

2. HISTORY
We have much to learn from those who came before.

3. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
If you've seen Rear Window, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

4. NATURE
Beauty and truth in the wild.

5. DREAMS
The unconscious mind is not inhibited by fear.

6. YOUR FAMILY TREE
Everyone has skeletons.

7. MUSIC AND POETRY
Feel the rhythm and let it get under your skin.

8. PHOTOGRAPHS
Pieces of life captured in the most beautiful light.

9. BOOKS (Including Classics, Shakespeare, Mythology, the Bible)
Who doesn't love a good hero's journey?

10. A QUIET ROOM
Never underestimate the power of being alone with your own self and your own brilliant thoughts.

Where do you go for ideas?

Inspirational Reading: DEEP SURVIVAL

2011-08-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

Jacketflap: In Deep Survival Laurence Gonzales combines hard science and powerful storytelling to illuminate the mysteries of survival, whether in the wilderness or in meeting any of life's great challenges. This gripping narrative, the first book to describe the art and science of survival will change the way you see your world. Everyone has a mountain to climb. Everyone has a wilderness inside.

My Thoughts: I didn't go into this book looking for inspiration, but I certainly came away transformed and ready to take on the world, or at least my own little piece of it. Part adventure story, part neurological study, part survival guide, part Zen living, the topics Gonzales delves into with this book can be applied not only to the daredevil adventurer who climbs mountains and sails across oceans, but also to the average person who just wants to live the best life she can.

I devoured this book. Nom, nom, nom. And it's non-fiction. So, given my history with non-fiction (think small child going to the doctor to be vaccinated) I think that's as good of a recommendation as anything else I could say.

Take Away Quotes:

"'...doing bold things isn't about engineering risk to zero. Shit happens, and if we just want to restrict ourselves to things where shit can't happen...we're not going to do anything very interesting.'"

"We must plan. But we must be able to let go of the plan, too."

"Be here now. And plan for everything to take eight times as long as you expect it to take."

"To live life is to risk it."

Everyday Inspiration: Spiderwebbing

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

photo credit: valerie geary

"I live by my wits. I have to be sharp and clever, lest I go hungry. I have to think things out, catch what I can, take what comes."

-Charlotte's Web, E.B. White

Your Creative Soul

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have one. You have one, too. Yes, even you, there, hiding under that terrible green lamp shade. We all have within us, buried deep or hovering near the surface, a soul yearning to create.

It's the part of us that, as children, drove us to smash together purple and blue play-dough and say, "Hamburger!" It's the part by which we named our imaginary friends Frock and Queenie and Mr. Rumplesputtersworth.

And it's there still. You might have grown up, gotten a real job, settled into your responsibilities, but a part of you still wants to play with play-dough and have tea parties with fake scones. (Or real scones, even, now that you're old enough to use the stove!)

But what about all that responsibility-paying-bills-being-mature-and-acting-our-age stuff?

The good news is: You never outgrow your creative soul.
The bad news is: Sometimes other things get in the way.
The really good news is: Your creative soul will be there whenever you decide you're ready to reconnect.

So...what's stopping you?

Rebooting the Blog

2011-08-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Every so often, it's important to take a step back from life and reassess, objectively, how things are going. To determine what's working and what's not and how to change the what's not into winning!

I've been struggling with my blog for several months now. Part of that was due to a sudden lack of time. The other part, to my sudden lack of inspiration.

I like blogging. But sometimes I just don't know what to say and then I start feeling like, what's the point? And then things start feeling stale and worn and very much like I'm standing in a corner whispering to myself. "Hello, precious. What shall we do today? What's that? Pick the lint out of our belly button? Okay." But I have good news!

After weeks of soul-searching, I now have a shiny, new idea for my sad and neglected blog. A shiny, new idea that will allow me to connect more with you dear reader and give you better content. Content that you will hopefully find inspiring and useful and entertaining. This new shift will allow me to continue sharing with you my passion for books and words and writing, but I'll also be able to expand and allow other creative lovelies into the fold. Because the world is large and should be explored.

So thank you for sticking with me through the doldrums. Hopefully, as the new content comes flowing in, you will find it worth your while to come back around and perhaps even join in the conversation.

I am a recent convert to the slow blogging movement and since my desire is not to become a professional blogger (fiction is my love, stories are my addiction), I will continue to post only once a week on Mondays. I do, however, enjoy connecting through social media and experimenting with this different medium...so, to that end...once a week, dear reader, once a week let's get our creative souls together and set the world on fire.

Borders Is Kaput, and That Makes Me Sad

2011-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's not that I was particularly attached to the place...

And I'm excited about all the possibilities of the e-book world...

And I like getting books in the mail...

But...but...

I also like browsing shelves and touching spines and flipping pages and seeing all the beautiful covers and all the beautiful words, my lovelies, my lovelies. And yes, I still buy books from bookstores. Brick and mortar buildings. That may make me unfashionable, but I don't mind.

I also think people in the smaller towns will feel the loss more than those of us in larger cities with more options (Powell's! I heart you!). And I think that is the saddest thing. The possibility of losing readers. The fact that a person who doesn't usually read will no longer be able to enter Borders just to "kill some time" and then find themselves walking out with an armload of delicious books.

Sigh. So yes, I'm sad.

And to cheer myself up, I've decided to watch Simon's Cat.

Hahahaha! Ahhh...all better.

Debut Novel Series: BRIGHT BEFORE US

2011-07-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

BRIGHT BEFORE US
Katie Arnold-Ratliff

Publication Date: May 2011

Jacketflap: Facing the prospect of fatherhood, disillusioned by his fledgling teaching career, and mourning the loss of a fraught former relationship, 25-year-old Francis Mason is a prisoner of his past mistakes. But when his second-grade class discovers a dead body during a field trip to a San Francisco beach, Francis spirals into unbearable grief and all-consuming paranoia. As his behavior grows increasingly erratic, and tensions arise with the school principal and the parents of his students, he faces the familiar urge to flee — a choice that forces him to confront the character weaknesses that have shattered his life again and again — and to accept the wrenching truth about the past he’s never been able to move beyond.

My Thoughts: There's a lot to like about this debut. Prose that cuts to the bone. A protagonist you want to hate, but can't because he reminds you too much of yourself. It's beautiful and tragic. Delicate and infuriating. Here's a young man who can't seem to get it together...I wanted to shout at him and shake him and say grow up! I wanted to nod my head and say I understand and take his hand and say, we've all been there; you can fix this.

There's also this: Ratliff writes part of the book in second person narrative. And it works with astonishing clarity. I loved it -- it drew me closer to the protagonist's emotions in a way I wouldn't have thought possible.

Here's a sampling:

"Maybe you don't remember everything, the way I do. But I keep these memories for the two of us. If you ever want them, you can have them."

"She put her arm around you and pulled you away, and you let her, because this was too big to fight: not the goldfish and hamster death we knew from childhood, but real death, searing and complete."

So if you're looking for something different, something challenging and a little on the sad side, something luminous...look no further.

Book Bloggers Are Ruining My Life

2011-07-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Recently I read an article on santacruz.com titled Book Expo's Sorry Turn. It was an opinion piece in which the writer was expressing her disappointment with the growing trend of e-books, e-readers and book bloggers. I don't agree with much of her opinion, but one thought stuck with me:

"All these 20-year-old bloggers form a community that is replacing the traditional book reviewers; they know each other, read each other’s blogs and blog about the same books. So, in a paradoxical way, this subculture is even more limited in its interests than the mainstream media."

At first I found myself nodding in agreement. How am I supposed to find a diverse choice of books if everyone's blogging and writing reviews about the same books over and over again? Because it happens. It does. It's part of being in a community where people share similar interests and similar connections. These people are going to read and talk about the same books. So yes, it's quite possible to grow tired of book bloggers if all the blogs you subscribe to are reviewing the same books.

But then I started thinking about where I uncovered the books on my to-be-read list. Some of them were recommendations from friends, the good old, tried and true "Valerie I think you'd really like this book" routine. Some were from perusing the bookstore, window-shopping if you will. But the majority of the books I've put on my list have come from onlines sources.

I remembered that The Nervous Breakdown offers an eclectic array of out-of-the-box book recommendations for when I'm feeling dark and crazy. And that White Readers Meet Black Writers opened my eyes to a whole new and unexplored section of beautiful prose. And that I share similar reading tastes with Sam Settler over at Book Chase and can always count on him to offer up thoughtful reviews of books I've read or am about to read. I frequently haunt the pages of NPR Books and New York Times Books when I'm feeling literary or mainstream. And then of course, there's my old standby, my dear, dear friend: Goodreads.

With so many diverse and delightful book bloggers and online sources for reviews and recommendations, how could you not find something to read?

In fact, now that I think about it, rather than limiting my choices, book bloggers are making it impossible for me to do anything but read! Which makes the business of writing, making money and general living (eating, sleeping, taking a shower) quite difficult.

Where do you go for book recommendations?

Summer Reading

2011-06-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

She sits under a cottonwood and the white puffs drift around her. Some clings in her hair. She brushes the stuff from her arm and the pages of her book. In the distance, a man laughs. His voice is muffled by the river’s burble and hiss. She keeps reading, turns the page. They are shouting for her now, calling her name and saying, “It’s time to eat.” She says, “Let me just finish this chapter.” But she’s already done and moved on to the next and they haven’t heard her anyway because when she spoke her voice was barely a whisper. An ant crawls up her leg. She brushes it away and turns another page.

Where Do You Read?

2011-06-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

... in bed ...
... on the back porch ...
... when it's raining ...
... when it's sunny ...
... during lunch ...
... and breakfast ...
... sometimes dinner ...
... in the bathroom ...
... ahem ...
... in the kitchen ...
... waiting for water to boil ...
... or while loading the dishwasher ...
... on a couch ...
... or an overstuffed chair ...
... with my dog ...
... anywhere I can.

While I Was Out

2011-06-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

I sat down today to write a post thinking I'd only been away for a week, maybe two. Imagine my surprise when I read the date of my last post. April 25!! Apologies my friends. If you'd like someone to blame, blame this little dude:

We adopted him from our local humane society and we think he's about 9 months old. We have no idea what breed he is (your guess is as good as ours!), but we've been having a lot of fun getting to know him.

I've been doing my best trying to keep up with recent happenings, though, including:

The release of Elana Johnson's debut novel Possession!
Michelle Davidson Argyle receives ARCs of her upcoming novel Monarch!
Bane of Anubis reveals his true identity AND sells his debut trilogy Kissing Dragons!

I'll admit I've probably missed more than a few bits of news. So, dear reader, feel free to share and celebrate in the comments! I'd love to find out what you've been up to these past few weeks.

5 Steps to Change Your Writing Life

2011-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Since returning to a full time day job, I've felt very much like I'm starting over with many things, but especially with writing. A one step forward, two steps back kind of shuffle. That's not the truth though...I'm not starting over. And I'm not going backwards. It's been a slow transition, but I think I'm finally finding my after-work writing groove again. And I'd like to share with you some things I've found helpful to remember during my readjustment period. Hopefully you'll find them helpful too, no matter where you are in your writing life.

(For those who don't write, the following 5 bulletpoints could also be applied to a veritable smorgasbord of activities...including, but not limited to: building a boat, training a dog, or baking pies.)

1. Commit

Writers write. No way around it my friends. If you don't want to write, that's fine. You're not any less of a person. But if you do want to write, commit to it. Instead of thinking of writing as a passing phase or a cute hobby, think of it as a marathon or even a marriage. Something for which you must train and prepare. Something which requires hard work, sweat and tears. Something so rewarding that when you reach the end you decide to do it over again despite your aching muscles, despite how many times you said you were ready to quit.

2. Baby Steps

I'll let Dr. Marvin and Bob explain this one:

3. Forgive Yourself

There will be times when life gets in the way, when for one reason or another you won't be able to meet your goals. There will be times when writing is really the last thing you want to do. And guess what? That's okay. Have a good cry, then pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start again. Tomorrow is a new day.

4. Try Again, Try Harder, Ask for Help

Maybe you need to readjust your goals--make them smaller, more manageable. Maybe you need someone to help prod you those first few miles (or those last few!). Someone who can hold you accountable to your goals through encouragement and unconditional love. Maybe you just need a fresh cup of coffee. You will fail. Accept that, but remember, it's a process. Don't quit.

5. Celebrate!

When you reach milestones--big or small--pause a moment. Get up from your chair and do a dance or take a walk or go out to dinner with your family. Do something to celebrate finishing that first draft or second or third. Do something to celebrate pushing through and finishing a tough writing session. Some celebrations will be grander than others, but every one is important. Too often we berate ourselves for failing when what we really need to be doing is shrugging off the times we stumble and focusing instead on the times we succeed. It's a long, uphill climb. Be encouraged with every step you take; savor the journey.

Short Stories, E-readers and A Recommendation

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

One really cool thing I see happening with e-readers is the resurrection of the short story. Yes, authors selling collections in single-book form, but I'm also referring to the idea of building-your-own-collection. Picking and choosing from your favorite authors, your favorite subjects, your favorite types of stories. Instead of having an editor choose the stories for you and shoving them together with twenty extra pages of advertising, you make your own literary mag to peruse at your leisure. (I don't have an e-reader yet, but the idea of having more access to short stories is very tempting.)

For writers, I also see the e-reader being a fantastic medium to get your short stories out to readers through self-publishing. Very few publishers pick up short story collections these days and they certainly don't publish singles! But think about the opportunities of publishing in an e-format!

Author Richard Thomas recently self-published in e-reader form an extended version of his short story "Victimized", a story about a near-future society in which victims of heinous crimes seek revenge against their oppressors in a fight-to-the-death-boxing match. A shorter version was originally published in Murky Depths #15, but I, for one, am glad Richard chose to expand his audience and self-publish an extended version.

For readers who like their fiction gritty, rough and hard-hitting, swung on over to Amazon.com or Smashwords to pick up your copy of "Victimized" for a well-spent $0.99. It's a story that keeps the punches coming, hit after hit after hit until the very last page. Just a warning though...while reading this story, there's a slight chance you could get a little blood on your shoes.

Bits of Life

2011-04-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging. And I think that's okay. Last weekend, the hubby and I celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss. We went to the beach and explored a very muddy trail. Ate some good food. Read some good books. Played some frisbee. Life can get in the way of blogging anytime it wants to if this is the result:

In book-related news...for the first time ever I went to Powell's Bookstore and walked out with 4 non-fiction books and 0 fiction books! Wha-what?! I know. I was surprised too. Normally I come out of there with a huge stack of fiction. But my whole reading-two-non-fiction-books-a-month-thing is really starting to grow on me. I'm enjoying the books and find myself talking about them more to people than I do with fiction books. Anyway...want to know what I bought? Of course you do! What a silly question.

I haven't started any of them yet, but soon enough. (And yes, The Bedside Book of Beasts is beside my bed.)

What new things have you done lately to stretch yourself?

A Conversation With My Husband

2011-03-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Setting: Friday evening, say around 7:00pm. Hubby and I are lounging in our pjs on the couch sharing a bag of peanut M&Ms.

Me: "How do people do it?"

Hubby: "Do what?"

Me: "Work a full time job and then come home and do something other than sleep."

Hubby: "What are you talking about? Most people just come home and watch tv."

Me: "Oh."

Hubby: "There are some people who do other things. But they're extraordinary."

Me: "I want to be extraordinary."

Terry Lynn Johnson...On Choosing a Challenging and Rewarding Path

2011-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Terry Lynn Johnson lives and writes adventurously in Ontario Canada. She's written numerous magazine articles and more recently, the children's novel Dogsled Dreams. Read more about Terry and her adventures on her blog or visit her website for all things dogsledding including pictures, videos and fun facts!!

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What piece of advice might you give someone who is interested in getting involved with dog sledding?

Most definitely you should get in contact with a musher and learn all you can first! It is such a commitment, you need to know what you're getting into. The dogs take over your finances, your dreams, your time, your thoughts. Also, I would suggest having a mentor for a while as you learn. You want to make sure you understand what you're doing before you put yourself or your dogs at risk. And then, take a moment to be grateful for how much richer your life is for knowing the dogs, and accept the joy that comes from choosing a challenging and rewarding path that not many people take.

Other than the sled, dogs and harnesses, what is the most important thing to have with you during a race?

Some races differ from what their required gear is, but all mid-distance and long-distance races have a list of gear you will need to keep with you in the sled. Gear for your safety as well as the dogs' safety. The most important items:

* sleeping bag
* axe
* dog booties
* headlamp
* snowshoes

The list can really grow if you're not careful. My first race I brought way too much stuff and the dogs had to pull it all. Camera, binoculars, extra snowhook, a shipment of gel packs, small burner stove - really, my list was impressive. I think we came in second last.

Was there anything about the publishing process that surprised you, anything that you weren’t expecting?

I wasn't expecting the amazing support from the writing community. I feel so lucky to have met brilliant new friends through blogging, Twitter, Verla Kay, Facebook. Especially my friends in the Elevensies - I don't know what I'd do without them. And the selfless time and energy book bloggers spend on helping authors get their books known is incredible.

If you could go back in time to when you first starting writing and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be patient!

Debut Novel Series: DOGSLED DREAMS

2011-03-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

DOGSLED DREAMS
Terry Lynn Johnson

Release Date: January 2011

Backcover: Twelve-year-old Rebecca dreams of becoming a famous dog sled racer. She's an inventive but self-doubting musher who tackles blinding blizzards, wild animal attacks, puppy training, and flying poo missiles. All of her challengers, though, seem easier than living up to the dogs' trust in her abilities.

My Thoughts: I've been looking forward to reading Dogsled Dreams since I first connected with Terry through the blogosphere over a year ago and discovered she was writing a book about dogsledding. See, the thing is, when I was a little girl I dreamed of being a musher. (*grin* No lie. And I don't think Terry knows that...well now she probably does...annnnyyywayyy...what was I saying? Oh yes. Book review.) So...I dreamed of being a musher...Once I even tied a small log to my poor Golden Retriever and made her pull it around the backyard while I yelled, "Mush! Mush!" Of course now I know, thanks in part to Dogsled Dreams, that I was doing it all wrong.

Enough about me...what I'm trying to say is: I really enjoyed this book. Rebecca's story is exhilarating and inspiring with plenty of mischief and unexpected surprises; I laughed out loud more than once at the trouble she and her team got into together. This is a warm, big-hearted debut that will definitely leave you smiling.

So now I say to you, dear reader, if you have young daughters (or sons) who are tying things to the family dog shouting "Mush, mush!", buy them this book. I would also recommend it for adults who want to reconnect with their inner adventurer, that young dreamer who believed in the impossible and never gave up. Dogsled Dreams will make you feel young again. At least for a few hours anyway.

Buy your copy today! And be sure to swing by again tomorrow to check out Terry's interview!

Why Do You Stop Reading?

2011-03-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, when I start reading a book, I finish it, even if I'm not finding it particularly entertaining. But this past week I read to page 62 of a book and then stopped. I was bored with the premise and the writing style, mostly. I also thought the author showed his hand a little too often, like the characters were being manipulated instead of simply being allowed to tell their story. Every time I sat down to read, I just kept thinking about the next book on my stack and how badly I wanted to start reading that book. So...I moved on.

Then I started thinking about some of the other books I've stopped reading after only a few pages. A few I stopped reading because I just wasn't all that interested in the premise or subject. I might come back to those books one day, try them again when I have a little more time and when I'm feeling a little more generous. But the majority of the books I've stopped reading part way through were put aside because of the writing style. Sometimes the story was overwritten. Sometimes the prose felt weak and unfinished. Sometimes every word just came across sounding juvenile and trite.

I read a wide variety of different stories and characters and for the most part I am a patient reader, but I'm beginning to see why sometimes it might be better to put a book down unfinished rather than struggle through to the end.

What about you, dear reader? What makes you stop reading?

March Rocks My Socks Like a Fox in a Box

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." --Dr. Seuss

Want to know something cool? I was born in the same month as the late, great and ever-so-fabulous Dr. Seuss! (Though many, many, many years later.)

I remember reading Fox In Socks with my sister and trying to see who could say the following phrase fastest:

"When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles and the bottle's on a poodle and the poodle's eating noodles...
...they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle bottle paddle battle."

It usually ended with both of us rolling on the floor in raucous laughter. Ahhhh...I'm laughing right now just thinking about...poodles, noodles, puddles, paddles...bahaha! Good times, Dr. Seuss. Good times all thanks to your delightful genius.

Despite my fond memories of Fox in Socks, I do have to say, my favorite Dr. Seuss books remains Green Eggs and Ham. I'm a big fan of the grumpy narrator who refuses to eat green eggs and ham until the very end. (Oh no! Spoiler alert!) I'm also a big fan of this cartoon:

So Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Thank you for making reading fun!

You tell me: What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

What Are You Reading?

2011-02-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

My blog was dark last Monday. But I had a good reason. Or rather, a terrible reason. Short and sour, my dear sweet pup Chloe died unexpectedly early last Saturday morning from complications after emergency surgery to try and remove a piece of rubber ball she swallowed. We didn't know she swallowed it until it was far too late.

Needless to say, I was not feeling very chipper last week and am in fact still working things out in my head and heart. But I spent this weekend with my novel, writing and making good progress and I'm starting to feel somewhat like my normal self. She was a good dog who will be deeply missed.

In other, much less depressing news, I started reading Paolo Bacigalupi's book Ship Breaker this weekend. And I mean just started, so I can't really tell you yet what I think.

But I would love to find out what you're reading (and if it's any good). Sharing time! Ready? Go!

Neil Davis...On Believing In Yourself

2011-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

As promised, today I bring you an interview with indie author Neil Davis. He lives and writes in Portland, OR. You can purchase his debut book Incense for Calliope through Powell's.com or as an Ebook through Barnes and Noble. Follow him on Facebook to keep up with all his latest news.

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Could you tell us a little bit about your decision to self-publish and what that process was like for you?

Self publishing for me came down to a nuts and bolts issue. I had this book that I was hearing great things about from Agents and Editors, but wasn’t being picked up because I was unknown and it’s literary fiction. People told me to do things like write short stories to develop a tear-sheet or write genre fiction. But short stories take a special hand and it’s not my forte. Genre fiction just isn’t my bag, you write what moves you.

So I looked into the vanity presses, but found them exorbitantly expensive. I wanted to get my book out there, but I’m poor and wasn’t looking to grow poorer in the process. I was sitting and reading something one day when pages actually fell out of the book and I thought “Even I could do better than that.” Then it occurred to me that I should.

The rest was simply a matter of research. Cover stock, standard page stocks, formatting issues, binding methods. My goal was to create a book that someone would pick up and have no idea it was made in someone’s living room. It was a lot of trial and error, a lot of frustrated nights, but I stuck with it and feel damn good about the end result.

Were there any tools or references (websites, programs, people, etc) that you found particularly useful when you were putting your book together?

Google. Seriously though, I dredged information from so many resources I can’t begin to recount them all. I will say that the Independent Publishing Resource Center in Portland, Or was a huge help. Most people there are doing fundamentally different things than I, but there’s a solid base of people with knowledge in that group. If they don’t know how to do what you’re suggesting than they’re more than happy to jump in and help you figure it out.

Overall that was my experience everywhere I went. People want to help and love to show off what they know. It’s all about asking stupid questions, learning what you’re talking about, and then asking slightly less stupid questions.

What kind of promotion have you done and/or would you recommend for others who are self-publishing?

Even promotional experts will tell you that there’s no silver bullet to getting your work out there and it’s even more challenging if you don’t have a budget the size of the publishing giants. It’s my feeling though that people are awash in information these days, everything’s an advertisement of one sort or another. As a result they respond to something real, something human. If you want to get a self-published work out there you have to get out there; readings, events, signings at independent bookstores (chains won’t touch you, since they can’t make a buck off your name). Again, it’s all just about talking to people and showing an interest.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a writer who is considering self-publishing their book?

Man-up, or for the women out there, find your big-girl panties. You really have to believe in yourself and your work, because no one else gives a shit. It’s thankless and you won’t get rich … but you shouldn’t go broke either. Most of all, realize you have no idea what you’re doing and in all those suggestions that everyone will feel obligated to throw your way, one or two are solid gold.

If you could go back in time to when you first starting writing and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Just write. Honestly, most of what anybody puts down on paper is garbage, but you put it down anyway and sift through it later. Eventually you’ll stumble on an amazing idea or fundamental truth and when you can cobble enough of those together you’ve got a book. Oh, and try to be more in love with your work than you are with the idea of being a writer. The later is disingenuous and just leads to bad prose and worse poetry. And most important, get someone with decent punctuation and grammar skills to edit your work. I don’t care how solid a writer you are, eventually in rewriting you reach a point where you can’t see what’s on the page from what should be on the page.

Debut Novel Series: INCENSE FOR CALLIOPE

2011-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

INCENSE FOR CALLIOPE
Neil Davis

Summary: A young, aspiring novelist finds himself stuck in a rut, uninspired and working as an advertising copywriter. His life is safe and predictable. Then he falls in love with an extremely literate and intelligent exotic dancer who stokes his passion and pushes him to strive for more. But she's keeping secrets from him, secrets that might tear them apart.

My Thoughts: When Neil contacted me, asking if I would be interested in reviewing his debut novel, I almost said no. It just didn't seem like the kind of book I would normally read, but then I reminded myself about "reading outside the box" and said, "Sure, why not?" Good news: I found myself pleasantly surprised.

Incense for Calliope is a character-driven book with a very meta-fictional feel to it which I enjoyed, but there were times when the plot seemed a little forced, a little out of sync with the dynamic and intelligent nature of the characters. It moved at a smooth enough pace, though, to keep me reading. The writing is solid and his tongue-in-cheek examination of Corporate America had me laughing out loud. There is some sexual content at the beginning of the story that may not appeal to some readers, otherwise it's a quick read with some delightful moments of humor throughout. I'd recommend this book to jaded writers who need a bit of inspiration or to men who have ever fantasized about dating a stripper.

Stop back tomorrow to check out my interview with Neil wherein he talks about his decision to self-publish Incense for Calliope and what that process was like for him. A quick tidbit that I thought was pretty neat: the cover art for this book is a painting Neil did of a friend. The original hangs above his couch! Very shnazzy.

**The author provided me with a copy of his book for the specific purpose of review.**

How Long is Too Long?

2011-02-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Average novel word counts vary, but a good rule of thumb is 80,000-100,000 words or about 300 to 400 pages. That's the "sweet spot". Middle grade fiction as well as some young adult and romance novels run shorter. Some epic fantasies run longer.

Take for instance, Justin Cronin's The Passage which I recently finished reading. Coming in at 766 pages, this book is well above "sweet spot" numbers. Now, I've read long books in the past--The Stand, Atlas Shrugged (now that one's a doozie!), The Counte of Monte Cristo, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows--but back then I was young and eager and had all the time in the world.

More and more I find myself drawn to the smaller books, the "sweet spots" or shorter even. (Partly, I think this is because I like to carry a book with me wherever I go and these big suckers just don't fit into my purse very well. I know, I know...it's time for an e-reader.)

Don't read me wrong here, I enjoyed The Passage well enough. (It's like a cross between The Stand and Twilight, only the government plays a bigger role and the vampires are ridiculously terrifying.) But by page 502 my interest started dropping...fast. Which got me thinking, can a book be too long? Is some of the storytelling power lost by going on and on and on?

I think, yes.

I have a long attention span, dear reader. I really do. But by page 600 I was just ready to move on. Of course, when you put that much time and energy into a book, you can't just walk away. You feel obligated to finish. And if you reach that point, that point of obligation, whatever power the story may have held before, is significantly lessened. When someone asks, "Hey what did you think of such-and-such a book?" The first thing you're probably going to say is, "Well...it was long." Everything else (good, bad, indifferent) is overshadowed by page count.

A few months ago, I put a book (which shall remain nameless) on my to-be-read list because it sounded like something I might like. A couple weeks later my hubby and I were at the bookstore and I saw it on the shelf. I picked it up, said, "Holy shit" and put it back. The book was over 1000 pages. Thin pages too, Bible-paper. With teeny-tiny print. I no longer have any desire to read that book. Solely because of it's length.

Now, I'm not saying I'm going to refuse to read long books from here on out. If the subject matter interests me...if someone tells me I simply must...then I probably will. Though I think I'll wait until I get that e-reader...

Your turn! What's the longest book you've ever read? Have you ever decided NOT to read a book because of length?

Also if you have a few minutes, check out these websites I found that list some of the longest books ever!!

Mental Floss: The 10 Longest Novel's Ever

List Verse: Top 10 Longest Novels in the English Language

Amazon: Read the 10 Longest Novels Ever Written

News Alert: Short Story Published

2011-02-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

Hello, dear reader.

My how quickly life changes. The new day job is going well. Keeping me very busy. I miss you!! Okay, let's get down to business... I am going to see Alice Hoffman read tonight (excellent!) and I need to eat dinner first so my growling stomach doesn't disrupt things.

So here's the scoop...

The UK literary magazine LITRO published my short story "The End of Love" this past week in their online section Ones To Watch. The theme for February was Anti-Love and goody for me, they felt my story fit right in! So check it out if you have some time! Hope you enjoy it!

Have a good rest of the week and weekend!

Live A Better Story

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

"We were destined to live through something rather than to attain something, and the thing we were meant to live through was designed to change us. The point of a story is the character arc, the change."

Donald Miller's premise is simple: your life is a story and it’s up to you to make it a story worth telling.

Consider what makes a good story: conflict and change. Consider what makes a good protagonist: courage and action. Even though it would be easier to run and hide when things become difficult, a good protagonist acts in the face of fear to overcome obstacles and ultimately, become a better person.

"I’ve wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don’t want the responsibility inherent in the acknowledgment. We don’t want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn’t remarkable, then we don’t have to do any of that; we can be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants."

Change is never easy. We enjoy our routines. We enjoy being comfortable, but can you imagine reading a book or watching a movie where the protagonist just sits in front of the television all day? Where nothing ever really happens except the usual humdrum of life?

Living, really living, requires taking risks.

Start small: cancel cable, take a walk, eat at a new restaurant, start a new hobby, talk to the person sitting next to you on the bus.

Go big: run a marathon, travel the world, volunteer, rebuild broken relationships, change lives.

Change takes time. Have patience. With yourself, with other people, with life and all its mysteries. Remember that every good story has positive and negative turns. You may not always be on top, but you can always keep climbing.

Think of your favorite movie, your favorite book, your favorite story. Did the characters ever have it easy? Weren't they challenged at every turn? Pushed to the breaking point? But do you remember what was so great about that favorite story? Do you? The protagonist fought bravely, she gave everything she had, she never gave up.

When Miller asked a friend of his what the key to living a great story was, his friend responded that we shouldn't be "afraid to embrace whimsy...that nagging idea that life could be magical; it could be special if we were only willing to take a few risks."

So my friends, do you want to live a story people are drawn to and changed by, or one where people walk away saying "who cares?"

I, for one, want to face life with courage. I want to participate and live a better story. Every day I will wake up and choose to be brave. My hope is that you will do the same.

"It wasn't necessary to win for the story to be great, it was only necessary to sacrifice everything."

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(One quick thing before you head out to change the world...Be sure to stop by here again on Wednesday. I'll have a special treat for you!)

A Very Special Guest Post

2011-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last year at the Willamette Writers Conference I met this woman named Aimee and we decided to be friends. Now Aimee writes this great blog called The Mad Hatter: One Working Mom's Quest to Have It All. And even though I'm not a mom, her posts delight me to no end. She serves up wisdom with a healthy dollop of humor. Take for instance, this post where she volunteered to make play dough for her daughter's class and almost ended up with something... well... something not even remotely close to play dough. Or there's the one where she learns a valuable lesson from her daughter about what it means to be a family. I'm still laughing about that one...ahahahaaaa...ahem. All this to say, that if you're not following Aimee by now, you should be.

Now, Aimee and I couldn't be more different bloggers. She's personal and talks about her life and family and all that good stuff. I, on the other hand, hold you all at arm's length and talk about books. But in December, Aimee asked me to get naked. Wait, what? No, not like that. She challenged me to open up a little bit and write something personal, something close to my heart. So I did. And today she's featuring it as a guest post on her blog. Gulp. Without further ado, I guess...I'll send you on to read: A Mother's Legacy

Read This Book: THE WILDING

2011-01-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

Last week, I read Benjamin Percy's new novel The Wilding and instead of you listening to me rant and rave about how much I lurved it (I did, I did, I did! I lurved it so much I added it to my favorite-books list!), I'm going to let you take a brief glimpse between the pages. Ahem, here we go:

"He might wait ten minutes or he might wait an hour--it's hard to tell, as he floats in a gray zone between waking and dreaming--and then he notices, only inches from his cot, the tent wall is moving, denting inward. This is not the wind. This is a compacted pressure--rounded and growing in size, coming slowly toward him. A snout or a paw. A snout, he decides, when he hears a sharp exhalation--huff--against the canvas. He is sitting up in his cot and leaning away from the indentation, only an inch from his face." --The Wilding

Well? What are you waiting for?

Eleanor Brown...On Climbing Trees

2011-01-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

Eleanor Brown lives and writes in Colorado. Also, she's a fan of the Dixie Chicks. Perhaps equally important...her debut novel The Weird Sisters, listed by both Amazon and Barnes and Noble as a best book of the month, goes on sale today! Check out her website to find out where you can get your very own copy or follow her on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest information.

Of course, the reason you're all here is because Eleanor graciously agreed to an interview and, I must tell you, her answers are simply delightful! Read on, my friends. Read on.

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Shakespeare plays such a fun role in The Weird Sisters. Which of his plays would you consider your favorite?

I don't think I could choose just one! I really love seeing Shakespeare performed, so I tend to have favorite productions rather than favorite plays - seeing The Tempest at The Globe Theater in London was a highlight, as was a visually gorgeous production of As You Like It by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, and an achingly sad version of Othello at the Folger Theater in Washington, D.C. People do such wonderful and inventive things with Shakespeare, and a really good actor can bring the words to life.

That said, I am very partial to Beatrice and Benedick's banter in Much Ado About Nothing (check out the Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson film if you haven't seen it - just plug your ears when Keanu Reeves is on screen), and Macbeth has a special place in my heart because it was the first Shakespeare play I ever really fell in love with.

Was there anything about the publishing process that surprised you, that you weren’t expecting?

I didn't go in with a lot of expectations, which I think has worked in my favor - I haven't been disappointed by any dashed hopes, and every good thing has been a pleasant surprise.

I think one thing I hadn't realized was how warm and welcoming everyone is - people at my publisher (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam) are kind and enthusiastic and supportive, book bloggers like you are excited about The Weird Sisters and willing to share your time and energy to promote it to readers, readers are looking forward to taking a chance on a debut author, and fellow authors are warm and welcoming and friendly.

If money were no object, how would you celebrate on release day?

I'd go around and personally thank all the people who have and are contributing to making The Weird Sisters a success - my agent and editor and all the folks at Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam in New York City, the teachers who encouraged my writing, the friends, fellow authors, and book bloggers who have supported it - basically I'd be like Santa Claus, zooming around the world to dispense hugs and gratitude to the people who helped get me here!

If you could go back in time to when you first starting writing and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

If I went back to when I started to treat writing as a career, I think I'd tell myself to do it all just the way I did - read a lot, write a lot, and not try for publication until I was good and ready and had a story I really wanted to share.

If I went back to when I first started writing, period, I was in elementary school, so I'd probably just say hi and help myself climb the tree in the front yard. The heavy stuff can wait.

Debut Novel Series: THE WEIRD SISTERS

2011-01-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

THE WEIRD SISTERS
Eleanor Brown

Release Date: January 20, 2011

Goodreads: The Andreas family is one of readers. Their father, a renowned Shakespeare professor who speaks almost entirely in verse, has named his three daughters after famous Shakespearean women. When the sisters return to their childhood home, ostensibly to care for their ailing mother, but really to lick their wounds and bury their secrets, they are horrified to find the others there. See, we love each other. We just don't happen to like each other very much. But the sisters soon discover that everything they've been running from-one another, their small hometown, and themselves-might offer more than they ever expected.

My Thoughts: A delightful, heartwarming story about the resilience of family and the redemptive power of unconditional love. Eleanor Brown writes a strong narrative voice, a unique plurality of sisters that takes some getting used to, but makes perfect sense for this book. The three sisters are flawed and make many mistakes, but they are endearing, likable and easy to relate to (even if you don't have sisters). The plot moves forward in a peaceful, lingering way and might even leave you feeling like a part of the Andreas family. A good book for those looking to escape their own family for a while.

*I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of review.

What's Happening With My Blog

2011-01-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

Hi friends. Blog housekeeping time.

After spending a few weeks thinking about what I want to do with this blog now that the Frenzy of Genres series is over, I think I've finally made a decision. And really, nothing much is going to change regarding content. I'm going to continue writing about my first love: books. How general of me, I know. With the exception of one reoccurring series, post topics will be random and sporadic and whatever I feel like writing about...as long as it relates to books in some form or another. Reading books, writing books, publishing books, smelling books. You get the idea, yeah?

As for frequency of posts, there are some things changing in my personal life (namely I am going back to work, day job work, a 9-5 gig) and so since writing will be taking up most of my evening and weekend time, the blog must take a backseat. But don't cry just yet! I'm committing to at least one post a week. I promise you a new post every Monday. Additionally, there may be weeks when I post more frequently. If this happens, I'll tell you in the Monday post so you can know to come back for more later. Making sense yet?

Okie-dokie. One more thing and then I'll let you go do something more important. I am calling the reoccurring series I mentioned above, simply, Debut Novel Series. Each month I will read and review a debut novel. Also, I'll be asking for interviews from the author and so far, I'm 1 for 1. So I'm off to a good start.

I'm kicking off the series this week so stop by Wednesday for a review of The Weird Sisters and Thursday for an interview with the author, Eleanor Brown.

And as always, thank you for reading!!

5 Dos and Don'ts for Writing Book Reviews

2011-01-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

Writing reviews can be tricky. How much information do you include? What do you say? How do you say it? To help ease your anxiety, here are some of my tips for writing a quality review:

DO

1. Provide a brief description of the book. Whether you copy what the publisher wrote on the book jacket or write your own short synopsis, a quality review should always leave your reader with a good understanding of the basic storyline.

2. Include cover art. Nothing sells a book better than a great cover! Plus it will help readers remember and locate the book later.

3. Share your honest thoughts. A review is your opinion. If you didn't like a book, say so. If you adored a book, say so. If a book changed your life, please, tell us! Readers want to know why you did or didn't like a book, not just how many stars you'd give it. To most people, stars mean nothing.

4. Be respectful. Just remember, in your honesty, don't be a jerkwad. A lot of hard work goes into the writing and publishing of a book. Respect that process, even if you think the end result is less than stellar.

5. Offer suggestions for who might like the book. Even if you didn't particularly enjoy a certain book, there is probably someone out there who would. For instance, I didn't think War For The Oaks was all that great of a book, but in my review I suggested that readers who liked urban fantasy, faeries and/or had ever dreamed of being in a rock band should check it out.

DON'T

1. Include spoilers. There's nothing more annoying than reading a review and finding out the book you just bought ends with a catastrophic earthquake and all the characters die. Boo, spoilers, boo! The kind of book reviews I'm discussing today, are not the kind you wrote for school. So don't, I'll say it again, DO NOT tell us how the book ends. Don't even hint.

2. Write a dissertation, critique or line edit. The best reviews are short, no more than 1-2 paragraphs. Save the pondering of themes and symbolism for your book group.

3. Say the same thing over and over and over. If you call every book you read "deeply moving" and "the best thing since sliced bread", not only will readers tire of your reviews, they will also be less likely to trust your opinion. Get creative, mix things up every now and again!

4. Be intentionally cruel. Reviews are not venues for airing frustrations you may have with the publishing industry or all the things you feel have gone wrong in your life. They are not to be used for revenge. You can be honest about not liking a book, but if your intent in writing a review is to hurt someone's feeling, it would be better to stay silent.

5. Attack the author. They are called book reviews, not author reviews for a reason. Regardless of whether you think the author is an empty-headed buffoon who can't tell his left hand from his right, you are reviewing the book. The story, the plot, the characters, etc. If you didn't like the book, fine, say so, but don't drag the author through the mud. That's just petty. Quality book reviews should never include any kind of name calling or verbal abuse.

What say you, dear reader? Did I miss anything? Any other suggestions or tips you want to throw into the mix?

My Non-Quandry About Book Reviews

2011-01-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

I write. I read. Sometimes I write about what I read. And it's as simple as this: I write reviews because I love books.

Over the past few years, I have read a number of posts about writers (published and aspiring) who struggle with whether or not to share their opinions about what they’re reading. They worry about giving a too-honest review, about hurting the author’s feelings, about karma, about being too lovey-dovey, mushy-gushy or sounding fake. It's become almost taboo for a novelist to write a review these days. And this makes me sad.

Talli Roland (author of The Hating Game) wrote a great post a few weeks ago offering her opinion on the matter, and while I agree with much of what she said about integrity and doing unto others, I think deciding not to review a book because of the “if you can’t say anything nice…” rule is not the solution.

Listen, if you want to write a review, write a review. If it makes you uncomfortable, then don’t. But here’s how I see it: Readers usually read what they want to read, regardless of what any reviewer says. Readers are smart enough to know that reviews are subjective. They will sift through the good, the bad and the evil, and, in the end, they will make up their own minds about what to read and what to leave on the shelf.

A good review should not be a scathing critique of what the author did wrong and how you can do better. It is not a dumping ground to air your grievances about the money-grubbing publishing industry who can’t tell good writing from chicken scratches. A well-written review simply gives readers a better idea of what to expect from a certain book before they decide to spend time with the story.

Think of the hundreds upon millions of books out there, just hoping and praying and flipping their pages anxiously, waiting for you to swing by for a quick spot of tea. Now think of a world where no one gave reviews. Books would be sad and lonely. People would be bored and thirsty. You get the idea.

Reviews=exposure for books.
Reviews=people finding new and exciting things to read.

Reviews bring books and people together.

When I review a book, I review it first and foremost as a reader. So, for me, there is no quandary, no dilemma about being a writer and writing honest reviews. I know how much work, how much blood, sweat and tears, goes into novel writing. I also know that once the book is given to the world, it's time for the author to let it go and wish it luck, step back and give the reader a turn. Because that's why we write books, isn't it? To share with others?

So if you have been on the fence about whether or not to review a book, I say, go for it! I, for one, am always on the lookout for new books to add to my collection!

PS- Swing by tomorrow; I'll be sharing some Dos and Don'ts for writing book reviews.

2011 Book Challenge

2011-01-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I signed up to participate in Steena Holmes' 2011 Book Challenge. It's a simple challenge really: read a certain number of books this year (a number you decide) and keep a list charting your progress. Is there a prize? you ask. If pride, a sense of accomplishment and bragging rights are prizes, then yes. There is a prize. So without further ado...

My 2011 reading goal: 100 books

In addition to this numerical goal, I am adding an additional challenge. Since fiction makes up the majority of what I read, I am challenging myself in 2011 to read 2 non-fiction books a month. Gulp. Anyone have any recommendations?

I will be keeping track of the books I read on the Page labeled 2011 Book Challenge. (In case it wasn't obvious or in case you are reading this in Google Reader.)

Also, the year is still young. There is still time for you to sign up and participate!

Do it.

Do it now.

Reading is fun and your brain will thank you.

The End of A Frenzy

2011-01-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I challenged myself to read outside my comfort zone in 2010. And read, read, read I did. I read 111 books from 12 different genres and wrote something like 85 reviews. I'm exhausted. But it was well worth it. Now as A Frenzy of Genres comes to an end, I would like to take a moment to reflect.

Many of you have been asking if my favorite genre has changed since completing this challenge. (For those wondering, 1 year ago I would have told you my favorite genre to read was literary fiction.) And I will admit, yes, yes it has changed. I think I will always have a special affinity toward lit fic, but because of the Frenzy, I have come to understand the following:

There are great books in every genre. There are good books in every genre. And there are terrible books in every genre. One genre is not "better" or "worse" than another. A good book is a good book no matter which section of the bookstore it might be shelved. To exclude an entire genre from your reading list based on prejudice (not on your own reading experience) is to exclude a huge chunk of good books. Books that have the potential to entertain, to make you laugh, cry, and swoon, to teach, to change your life. Books that took time and energy and much author-care to create. Books that deserve a chance regardless of what label a publisher decided to give for marketing purposes.

So what is my new favorite genre?

Well, the simple answer is, I no longer have one. I do have a type of book, a style of writing I like to read--dark, provocative, raw, emotional, with a little bit of humor, magic, or history thrown in for a twist--but I found at least one (sometimes more) of this type/style of book in every genre I read this year. So to say the majority of my reading will come from a specific genre no longer rings true.

Summer Frey wrote a great, quick post in December about why we should be reading in multiple genres. She compared it to food and eating balanced meals.

Her thoughts echo mine: read widely; sample the literary world's many unique and delicious flavors.

And now that the Frenzy is over? What is on the horizon for 2011? Good question. To be perfectly honest, I'm still trying to figure things out. First things first, I'm going to be taking a bit of a blog break this month to recover from the Frenzy and to decide what I want to do next. I'll still be posting, but sporadically and spontaneously, without any real rhyme or reason. After I've had a chance to catch my breath? Well, you'll just have to wait and see.

I know one thing for certain, I will not be doing as many book reviews as I have in the past. However, if you enjoyed hearing my thoughts on the books I read and want to continue hearing those thoughts, feel free to connect with me on Goodreads. (My reviews aren't quite as extensive as the ones for my blog, but you'll get a general idea of why I did or didn't enjoy a particular book.)

I'm excited about the new year, about changing things up on my blog, about continuing to read and write and experience life. I feel good about 2011, dear reader. I feel good.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a year-long backlog of to-be-read books that need my attention. If you need to find me for some reason, I'll be over there, behind that teetering stack of paperbacks.

Scene-In-Verse BlogFest!

2010-12-29T07:57:00.000-08:00

It's on my friends! To read the other delightful verses, visit the original post! If you are feeling frisky, you can still participate. You have all day today to post something.

Thank you to those who did participate, I'm on my way to read your creations right now!

***

The boy swings and
the gallows’ rope creaks
and moans.
The father silently seeps.
And I sit with my stained hands,
stained soul,
and think about Guernica.

“He knew better,” my comrade says.
“They both did.”

To create is a crime.

To play
To build
To laugh and
Love.
All are acts of rebellion.

The Patron does not allow such extravagance
amid his desolation.
Even a simple snowman,
that will melt before noon,
that is already melting,
is too much beauty.

Give them pencils and they want pens.
Give them pens and they want paint.
Give them paint and they think they’re gods.

I used to paint. In the time before.
Now my gun is my brush
The ground, my canvas.

The white,
white
snow turns
blood,
blood red.

“Don’t look so glum,” my comrade says.
But he doesn’t see the girl.

Tiny child, crying child,
I see you there
hiding behind the tree.
Snow glitters in your hair
On your lashes
In your eyes
Like tears and diamonds and stars
and all such beautiful things
destroyed.

For what she has seen.
For what she has done.
She will have to swing too.

I fold my hands
carefully, carefully.
I say to my comrade,
carefully, carefully,

“You go on ahead, go back to camp.
I’ll clean up here.”

“Are you sure, brother?”
Yes, yes. I nod.

And he goes, whistling.
And I sit, waiting.

Then say, “You can come out now.
I won’t hurt you.
There’s a place, just over that rise, between those silver trees,
A settlement
where the Patron’s reach does not extend.
You will be safe there.”

(I do not tell her
that I do not know
if it is still safe.
If it is still there.
I do not tell her
that I have not been over that rise in years.
I do not tell her.)

She runs.
Coal-black hair streaming—
short brush strokes across a
gray canvas sky.
She runs.

A Quick Reminder

2010-12-28T09:34:00.001-08:00

For those who are hanging around the blog-o-sphere this week... just a quick reminder that the Scene-In-Verse Blogfest is tomorrow. If you're participating, I can't wait to read your end products! If you're not, please stop by anyway. Check out what the rest of us came up with!

Poetic Tragedy

2010-12-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

YOUR OWN, SYLVIA: A VERSE PORTRAIT OF SYLVIA PLATH
Stephanie Hemphill

Jacketflap: She wrote. In journals and essays and letters home. In blazing poetry collections and one searing autobiographical novel. She stumbled and soared, was loved, rejected, and acclaimed. On February 11, 1963, she took her own life, and passed into a myth that has since imprinted itself on the hearts of millions. She was and is Sylvia Plath, and this is a portrait of her life, told in poems.

My Thoughts: A good primer on Sylvia Plath that will leave you wanting more...of her writing, of her story, of her legacy.

There is a lot to love about this book. The individual poem's, the unique way Hemphill tells Sylvia's story, being able to relate to Sylvia on a more personal level.

However, I am a reader who suffers from an obsessive habit of reading every single word on every single page. And, for whatever reason, the author or editor or whomever, decided to put biographical notes at the end of each poem. These notes were supposed to act as further explanation, but I thought each poem was extremely self-explanatory and so found the notes distracting and extraneous. They took away a lot of the poetry's emotional impact and would have worked better in an appendix. I stopped reading them around page 40 and my reading experience improved exponentially.

So take note...if you read this book someday, read the poems first. Save the extra stuff until the end, or skip them altogether. The poems, the poems are what you must read.

This One Rhymes

2010-12-24T07:30:00.001-08:00

THE GOLDEN GATE
Vikram Seth

Jacketflap: Um...there was none on the book I had.

If I Wrote The Jacketflap: A yuppie living in San Fransisco realizes something is missing from his fast-paced, productive life. Something important. Love. He enlists the help of an ex-girlfriend who ends up placing a personal ad in the newspaper without really asking for his permission. Many women respond, but only one holds his interest. And so begins a rather tangled, messy story (told completely in rhyming sonnets) of love and loss and how life never ends up exactly how you plan.

My Thoughts: I thought about keeping my thoughts to myself with this one...it being Christmas Eve and all. Then I thought, what the hell, this book was written in 1986 to rave reviews...how much can my opinion really matter at this point?

So here's what I wrote on Goodreads...I think it sums things up pretty well:

Not my particular cup of tea.
Rhyming prose just isn't for me.
Not to mention the plot lagged.
And the characters were kind of a drag.
But since the author was brave and witty,
and inspired me to write this ditty,
instead of two stars, I shall give him three.

Yes. That's about right.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Guest Post--Tips for Writing Verse Novels

2010-12-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm thrilled to host Caroline Starr Rose. She agreed to write a guest post for me giving all you wonderful people some useful information about writing verse novels. Her verse novel May B. will be published with Random House imprint Schwartz and Wade sometime in 2012. (Stop by her blog to get all the latest information.)

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at May B. and though I'm not going to do a full review right now (I want to wait until you can go get your own copy), I will say it was a delight to read! An utter delight! But more on that later...

So now without further ado...

***

Here are some things to consider when writing verse novels:

Is the subject matter right for poetry?

Some topics lend themselves more easily to poetry than others. Some subjects refuse to be written as prose. While many stories can and will work as poetry, ask yourself if this medium is the best way to tell your story. If not, I'd advise you to take another approach.

Is the protagonist right for poetry?

Often (though not always) verse novels are told from a very close first-person point of view. This can be really tricky, as such writing calls for a lot of introspection on the protagonist's part. If this isn't your character, it's best, in my opinion, to avoid verse.

Can you sustain the intensity required to write a novel this way?

Sometimes writing in verse feels really natural. Other times the close-to-the-bone nature of poetry is hard to sustain.

If you are someone who can knock off thousands of words at one sitting, verse novels are going to hurt. Word counts will more realistically be in the hundreds. Entire novels are usually under 20,000 words. It can be slow and painful at times.

Can each poem stand alone?

Each poem in a verse novel must capture one moment, scene, idea, mark of change in your character's life. Poems should also be able to function separately from the rest of the story. This can be really daunting.

Does each poem contribute to the whole?

When I worked through my own verse novel, I kept a quilt in mind, treating each poem like its own square of fabric. Each patch had to be able to function separately while at the same time contribute to the whole. I trusted that if certain patterns and shades in my story quilt were repeated (think themes or story strands), eventually the interconnectedness would surface.

This approach is much more organic than the typical sequential approach taken with prose and can be kind of intimidating.

Vary the length of poems

Some scenes flow, some end abruptly. Some thoughts wander, some jab. Use this knowledge to your advantage in composing your poetry.

Vary the length of lines

Are there key phrases or words at the heart of your poem? Play with the way you arrange words on the page to determine what look best "speaks" the poem.

Within your poem, group similar ideas as stanzas or allow key lines to stand alone.

Structure

Because poetry is both visual and aural, let the structure of your work communicate to your reader your protagonist's emotional state.

Is she frightened? Think of how this feeling looks structurally (little punctuation? words tightly packed together?).

Is he in a hurry? How can you express this on the page?

You can also use specific types of poetry (sonnets, for example), as Pat Brisson did with her book, THE BEST AND HARDEST THING. In writing about Sylvia Plath (YOUR OWN, SYLVIA), author Stephanie Hemphill chose to mirror several of Plath's poems, giving her readers a sense of the poet's style, subject matter, intensity, and character.

Not every story can be told using poetry, but for those stories that demand to be written in verse, hopefully these guidelines will help get you moving in the right direction.

***

Now that Caroline's given you some handy tips for writing verse novels, feel free to jump on over to my Scene-In-Verse Blogfest and sign up! You still have plenty of time to be brave and give it a whirl, even if you end up writing just one stanza!

Gift Card Giveaway Winner Announced!

2010-12-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in my Giveaway! And an extra big "Hi and Haallloooo!!!" to all you delightful new followers.

(Yeah, yeah. Get to the point.)

Using a random number generator to pick the winners....

The winner of the $25 Gift Card is: Deanna Edsall

The winner of the $15 Gift Card is: Catherine Denton

Yeah!!! Congratulations to both of you! I'll be emailing you shortly to get the info I need to send the cards along. An early Merry Christmas to you both!

Thank you again to everyone who participated! I had a good time learning what your favorite genres were!

And now I bring you fun statistics:

27 people entered the giveaway. To Note: some people picked more than one favorite (which is fine with me...I completely understand! I'm only telling you that in case the numbers below don't quite "add up").

13 picks for Fantasy of some sort...epic, urban, paranormal

8 picks for Science Fiction and/or Dystopian (which though I love it as it's own genre is really a sub-genre of Sci Fi)

4 picks for Young Adult and/or a Young Adult sub-genre

3 picks for Literary and/or Contemporary Fiction

2 picks for Romance

1 pick for Mystery

1 pick for Travel

1 pick for Historical Fiction

1 pick for General Nonfiction

Cripes! Fantasy swept the board!

Now I know you are all waiting impatiently to hear my favorite genre...and you're going to have to continue waiting. But don't fret, all will be revealed in the end.

Also...you still have 1 week (8 days!!!) to sign up and participate in my Scene-In-Verse Blogfest. Don't be shy. No one's expecting perfection. The verse doesn't have to rhyme. You don't even have to consider yourself a writer to participate! Trust me, it's fun for the whole family!! Who doesn't like a little poetry with breakfast?

Be Jolly By Golly Blogfest-A Peppermint Fiesta!

2010-12-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

PLEASE NOTE: Today is the last day to enter your name for a chance to win one of two Gift Cards! Hurry hurry! Don't miss out! I'll be announcing the winner TOMORROW.

I'm stepping away from Novel-in-Verse month today to participate in Be Jolly By Golly Blogfest! Why? Because it looked like a lot of fun. That's really all the reason I need.

(Click on this badge for rules and to check out the other participants!)

***

First, here are my meager Christmas decorations. We don't really do a lot at our house. We don't have kids so...mostly we keep things small.

Our table centerpiece.

A mug of treats.

And finally, my cat sitting in a box.
(I was going to put her in a reindeer costume, but she kept scratching me.)

As for Christmas treats, my favorite is Peppermint Bark. I usually just buy it, but here's a tasty looking recipe from Sugar and Spice that seems easy enough to make. Perhaps I will try it this year!

Finally, in keeping with the Peppermint theme...

My favorite holiday drink is a Peppermint Mocha and/or hot chocolate.

My husband makes a mean mocha using a little bit of coco powder and peppermint syrup, but here's a recipe from The Kitchen to get you started.

As for the hot chocolate, that's easy:

Step 1. Boil water
Step 2. Empty packet of Swiss Miss into mug
Step 3. Pour water over powder
Step 4. Put unwrapped candy cane into hot chocolate and let melt
Step 5. Stir, sip and enjoy!!

If you don't want it so sweet, adding a peppermint tea bag to the hot chocolate and letting it steep for 3-4 minutes is also quite tasty. Mmmm...I think I'll go make some right now....

Short Story Published Today!!

2010-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

December has been a good month for me and so also for you, my friends. My short story Under The Skin was published today with the Foundling Review.

Here's the first line: "I can feel her moving in my bones, straining to be set free."

Want to read more? Click here.

You can find the links to all my short stories anytime by clicking on the Short Fiction tab at the top of this page.

Happy reading!!

Not For The Casual Reader

2010-12-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

(PSSSSST! Don't forget to enter my giveaway. It's simple. I promise! And also: Free money! Free. Money. What's not to love about that?)

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF RED
Anne Carson

Jacketflap: A volcanic journey into the soul of a winged red monster named Geryon. Tormented as a boy by his brother, Geryon escapes to a parallel world of photography, and falls in love with Herakles--a golden young man who leaves Geryon at the peak of infatuation. Geryon retreats ever further into the world created by his camera, until that glass house is suddenly and irrevocably shattered by Herakles' return.

My Thoughts: Reminiscent of something I might have read in one of my college literature classes. At the risk of ruining all your grand impressions of me, this was a difficult book to read. It is less about story, though there is a story entwined. It is more about the words, the poetry, the sound and rhythm and the emotions those things provoke. It is a book to re-read and ponder and study, but if you don't have time for that, read it once for the unique and unexpected ways Carson strings together words and images and ideas. Read it once for the beauty of language.

An Excerpt:

"Under the seams runs the pain.
___

Panic jumped down on Geryon at three a.m. He stood at the window of his hotel room.

Empty street below gave back nothing of itself.

Cars nested along the curb on their shadows. Buildings leaned back out of the street.

Little rackety wind went by.

Moon gone. Sky shut. Night had delved deep. Somewhere (he thought) beneath

this strip of sleeping pavement

the enormous solid globe is spinning on its way--pistons thumping, lava pouring

from shelf to shelf,

evidence and time lignifying into their traces. At what point does one say of a man

that he has become unreal?"

A Book I Won't Soon Forget

2010-12-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

BURNED
Ellen Hopkins

Jacketflap: Raised in a religious--yet abusive--family, Pattyn Von Stratten starts asking questions--about God, a woman's role, sex, love. She experiences the first stirrings of passion, but when her father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control. Pattyn is sent to live with an aunt in the wilds of Nevada to find salvation and redemption. What she finds instead is love and acceptance--until she realizes that her old demons will not let her go.

My Thoughts: This is one of those I-feel-uncomfortable-but-I-can't-stop-reading books. Hopkins has no mercy on her characters. She hits her reader with a one-two punch and then when you're just beginning to scramble to your feet, she hits you again. The verse is poignant. The topics painful, but important. The ending...well...let's just say it's one I'll remember for a very, very long time. A warning: do not read if you prefer your books happy and made of rainbows.

Want To Win Some Book $$$?

2010-12-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

As this is the final month of my Genre Series, I wanted to send it off in style by giving out prizes!! Yeah! Prizes! I also thought it would be a great way to say Thank You, Thank You to all my dear readers. So without further ado...two prizes just for you!

Prize #1: $25 giftcard to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Powell's or bookstore of your choice as long as I can order and send the card from their website.

Prize #2: $15 giftcard to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Powell's or bookstore of your choice as long as I can order and send the card from their website.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite genre is or which genre you read the most.

(If you do not have your email listed in your blogger profile, please please please make sure to put it in your comment.)

To earn additional entries:

+1 mentioning this contest on Facebook

+1 mentioning this contest on Twitter

+3 promoting contest on Blog sidebar.

+5 mentioning this contest in Blog post

+10 Participating/Signing up for the Scene-in-Verse Blogfest (Also, I made a badge for the blogfest! See sidebar. Feel free to take it and help me spread the word!! December 29th is right around the corner!)

Contest is International.
Final entries must be submitted by midnight (PST) December 20th.

Winners will be announced December 22nd!!

Ready? Set... Go!

Ghosts Like Poetry

2010-12-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

CHASING BROOKLYN
Lisa Schroeder

Jacketflap: Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants, or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the message become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they are being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

My Thoughts: I like ghost stories, but this one just fell short for me. Now, I know a lot of people liked this book, I've read a lot of shining reviews, so don't let my review stop you from reading this one if you think it might be something you would enjoy. I should also mention that this is a Young Adult book, written for teens. I am not a teen. And so, keeping that in mind...

I didn't think the stakes were high enough. Most of the story took place in Brooklyn's dreams. And dreams (unless we're talking Nightmare On Elm Street) are just not dangerous/scary/exciting enough for me. I'm just not a big fan of stories where the character spends a lot of time dreaming. I didn't really get why she needed help...from what/who she needed rescuing. All the reasons/explanations seemed a little shallow. So, for me, this book was disappointing.

A final thought...I think I probably would have liked this story as a teenager. Cute boy. Ghosts. Training for a triathlon. Cute boy. Yes, I imagine 14 or 15-year-old me might have liked this story very much. Adult me, however, gives it a half-shrug.

A Wild Gnashing of Teeth

2010-12-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

SHARP TEETH
Toby Barlow

Jacketflap: An ancient race of lycanthropes has survived to the present day, and its numbers are growing as the initiated convince L.A.'s down-and-out to join their pack. Paying no heed to moons, full or otherwise, they change from human to canine at will--and they're bent on domination at any cost.

Caught in the middle are Anthony, a kindhearted, besotted dogcatcher, and the girl he loves, a female werewolf who has abandoned her pack. Anthony has no idea that she's more than she seems, and she wants to keep it that way. But her efforts to protect her secret lead to murderous results.

My Thoughts: Raw and gritty, dark and edgy. Everything I love in a book. There was something about it being written in verse that made it even more powerful. Every word carefully chosen, carefully placed, pulsing across the page, giving the story life.

These aren't your grandmother's werewolves. They make plans. They recruit. They change shape whenever they damn well please. The human and the animal, so intertwined it's very difficult to tell where one stops and the other begins. This book isn't for the faint of heart, but I recommend it to anyone who likes their stories a little rough around the edges.

Some videos for you. First, a short excerpt with coinciding animation:

Next, a public service announcement:

After reading this book, you'll never look at your dog the same way again.

Scene-In-Verse Blogfest

2010-12-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd try something new. I think it might be fun. But I'll need your participation. You in? What's that? You want to know what you're signing up for first? Well, okay. I suppose that's fair.

1) Between now and December 29, sign up below to participate in the Scene-In-Verse Blogfest I'll be hosting. That's right...a scene written in verse!

2) Using one of the photo prompts below, write a scene no longer than 500 words using the narrative-verse style (i.e. poetry that tells a story) found in Verse Novels.

3) Post your scene on December 29th and then come back here to read and comment on the other entries! In your blogfest post, please reference which photo you used.

If none of the following photos inspire you (I tried to include a variety), feel free to choose your own, but please make it a wintry theme! It is December after all. (Click on the photos to enlarge.)

Photo 1:

Photo 2:

Photo 3:

Photo 4:

I know this is a busy time of year so if you need to post your scene-in-verse early, please feel free to do so (just make sure to stop back here and let us know so we don't miss it!).

Also, I know writing in verse can be daunting, but think of it as an experiment, a challenge, something new and fun to try. Don't worry about it being perfect. It doesn't really have to be all that good. It'll be fun, trust me! I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

So without further ado... Mr. Linky. Sign up and then invite your friends to do the same! See you back here December 29th for some good, old fashioned, wintry writing fun!

A Flood of Poetry

2010-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

THREE RIVERS RISING
Jame Richards

Jacketflap: Sixteen-year-old Celestia vacations with her family at the elite resort at Lake Conemaugh, a shimmering Allegheny Mountain reservoir held in place by an earthen dam. Tired of the superficial cheer and sly judgments of the society crowd, she much prefers to swim and fish with Peter, the hotel's hired boy. It's a friendship she must keep secret--her parents would never approve--and when companionship turns to romance, it's a love that could get Celestia disowned.

These affairs of the heart become all the more wrenching on a single, tragic day in May 1889. After days of heavy rain, the dam fails, unleashing twenty million tons of water onto Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the valley below--the town where Peter lives with his father.

My Thoughts: If you have never tried a verse novel, might I suggest this one? The simple, yet elegant poetry weaves a fast-moving story about love triumphing over all odds, the resilience of the human spirit, and forgiveness.

Though there were points where I thought the characters felt a little flat and where I wished the narrative could have plumbed deeper, there was something quite beautiful in the simplicity. So yes, I think you should put this on your to-be-read list...unless you don't like good books.

Give Your Friends and Family A Book This Christmas

2010-12-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I read and reviewed Justin Kramon's debut novel Finny. (As a reminder, I found it "quirky and fun, full of delightful and entertaining characters...charming, bittersweet at times, but tender and full of heart".)

I learned this week that an independent bookstore in New York, The Open Book, is offering signed and personalized copies of Finny, wrapped and shipped (continental US only), delivered by Christmas for the reasonable price of $17.

$1 dollar from every purchase will be donated to Feeding America, an accredited charity that feeds hungry children across the U.S.

Why should you participate? Several reasons! Let me list them...

1. Finny is a great book! It's perfect for those people on your shopping list who like to read or even for the ones who don't like to read. Because, let's face it...those people need to start reading ASAP.

2. You are supporting a debut novelist.

3. You are supporting an independent bookstore.

4. You are helping to feed hungry children.

5. It comes pre-wrapped!! WITH A FEATHER!!! I don't know about you, but I am terrible at wrapping presents. And I could always use more feathers.

6. Justin will personalize his signature. He'll write whatever message you want. If you want to tell that cute girl/boy-next-door this book reminds you of her/him, he'll write that. If you want to tell Aunt Mildred she smells a bit like stinky cheese, I'm pretty sure he'll write that too (tell him I told you he would).

So see... plenty of good reasons to get out there and order your copy!! To guarantee timely arrival, you should order by December 7.

Here's how:

Send an email to openbookgifts@gmail.com with the following information:

1) Your name and phone number
2) The number of copies you’re ordering
3) Any special message(s) to include with the book(s)
4) The addresses where you would like them shipped

That’s it. You’ll then receive an invoice with easy payment instructions. No need to share credit card or personal information by email.

For more information check out Justin's website.

The Final Genre (and A Short Story!!)

2010-12-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

Back in April, Caroline Starr Rose challenged her readers to read 5 Novels-In-Verse by the end of this year. I accepted her challenge but have not yet found the time to read those 5 novels. Thus, December, the final month in my genre series, is going to be dedicated to Verse Novels.

What is a Novel-In-Verse? Exactly what it sounds like. A novel-length narrative written as poetry.

*crickets*

Wait! Don't go! Oh, dear, dear Reader. Verse Novels are fun! And I'm not just saying that. Okay, I'll admit...I haven't read that many, but what I've read so far has been crazy brilliant. And I'm just getting started! So stick around, join me if you'd like. It'll be good times, good times.

So as a refresher, the 5 books I originally said I'd read were:

Sharp Teeth -- Toby Barlow
Three Rivers Rising -- Jame Richards
Chasing Brooklyn -- Lisa Schroeder
Autobiography of Red -- Anne Carson
Burned -- Ellen Hopkins

But I'll probably end up reading a few more than that.

I've also got some other exciting things planned...ex-cite-ing. And there's still time to jump in on Caroline's contest! You can read 5 books this month, easy. Come on now...don't be shy! Verse novels don't bite. And neither does Caroline...most days.

***

Now...switching gears completely... This next piece of news has nothing to do at all with Novels-in-Verse, but is nonetheless quite important.

My short story "Dealing" was published today with The Molotov Cocktail, an online journal that calls itself "A Projectile For Incendiary Flash Fiction". Check it out some time. Let me know what you think. It's short and a little twisted and was a heckofalotta fun to write.

Fantasy Wrap-Up

2010-11-29T07:30:00.001-08:00

Well, here we are again, Dear Reader. The final post of fantasy month. I hope you had a fantastical time! (hehehe)

I wanted to do this book review last Friday, but life got in the way...such things happen. So for the final fantasy (bahahaha!) post, a final review.

AMERICAN GODS
Neil Gaiman

Jacketflap: Released from prison, Shadow finds his world turned upside down. His wife has been killed; a mysterious stranger offers him a job. But Mr. Wednesday, who knows more about Shadow than is possible, warns that a storm is coming--a battle for the very soul of America...and they are in its direct path.

My Thoughts: Intriguing premise and expansive storytelling. Basically, all the old world gods have been brought to America by immigrants, but once here--and many generations later--those old world gods have been forgotten or replaced by more, shall we say, technological gods. Let the war begin.

I like mythology, and though I didn't get every single reference in this book, I did appreciate the subtle nuances and intricate web of well-known and lesser-known gods. But don't fret--even if you don't know any mythology there's enough plot and character development to appreciate the book on its own. But knowing a little bit of mythological history does make for a richer reading experience.

Ultimately, this book was kind of exhausting. But in the good way...in the I-should-read-this-one-more-time-before-I-die-in-case-I-missed-something kind of way. Have you read this book, Dear Reader? What say you?

Be sure to stop back on Wednesday. I'll be introducing the final genre for this series and it's a fun one!

Giving Thanks

2010-11-24T07:30:00.001-08:00

I'm not often sentimental. I have a hard time remembering people's birthdays. And I don't talk about personal stuff on this blog very much. But here it is, Thanksgiving Eve, and I'm thinking to myself: what better time to pause and say thank you. To you, dear reader. You, who return again and again. You, with your smiling face and delightful wit. Consider this a hug from me to you. Or a handshake if you're not really into the whole hugging thing...

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for loving books.

Thank you for commenting.

Thank you for making me laugh.

Thank you for your encouragement.

Thank you for your inspiration.

And an extra special thank you to Shannon O'Donnell who knew exactly what I needed to hear this week to keep me on the "write" track.

Thank you and thank you and thank you.

Rockin' With the Fey

2010-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

WAR FOR THE OAKS
Emma Bull

Jacketflap: Eddi McCandry sings rock and roll. But her boyfriend just dumped her, her band just broke up, and life could hardly be worse. Then, walking home through downtown Minneapolis on a dark night, she finds herself drafted into an invisible war between the faerie folk. Now, more than her own survival is at risk--and her own preferences, musical and personal, are very much beside the point.

My Thoughts: There were some fun parts in this book, some entertaining characters, some exciting bits. But the dialogue was clunky (and at times downright cheesy), and the plot was predictable.

I didn't particularly enjoy this book, but that shouldn't stop you from trying it out. Especially, if you like urban fantasy, faeries and/or have ever dreamed of being in a rock band.

Graveyard Tales

2010-11-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE
Peter S. Beagle

Jacketflap: For nineteen years, Jonathan Rebeck has hidden from the world within the confines of the Bronx's Yorkchester Cemetery, making an abandoned mausoleum his secret home. He speaks with the newly dead as they pass from life to wherever spirits truly go, providing them with comfort, an understanding ear, and even the occasional game of chess.

But Mr. Rebeck's reclusive life is soon to be disrupted. An impossible love has blossomed between two ghosts, and Rebeck himself is drawn to a living woman. Helped along by a cynical talking raven and a mysterious cemetery guard, these four souls must learn the true difference between life and death, and make choices that really are forever.

My Thoughts: A gem. A true gem.

This is an older book that should at least go on your "to read someday" list. I checked a copy out from the library, but I'm going to have to scrounge up a copy of my own because there are so many brilliant passages and sentences, concepts I want to underline and read over and over. The story does not move at a break-neck pace. It is slow and thoughtful; it is a story to chew on and return to again and again.

Let me give you a bit, to show you what I mean:

"People used to imagine hell as a place where evil is done and being in hell as having evil things done to you eternally, praise God and don't push; there's plenty of room in the balcony for all the blessed souls. Well, Morgan amplifies this. Hell is forever. Hell is having anything done to you constantly, good or evil. There isn't any good or evil after a few billion millenniums. There's just something happening that has happened before. Think of it--forever. For ever. We don't know what that word means, and we die ignorant and unarmed."

See? Mmhmm, yes ma'am.

Pressed Fairies

2010-11-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader, have you every seen this book?

Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book

Part art, part humor, part scientific study.

I do not own this book, but I wish I did.

Let me show you several reasons why...........................

Please, scroll down a bit.

* * *

Delightful, no? A whole book of squashed fairies. It makes me smile.

For more information about these books and the artists, please visit HERE.

Of Dragons and Jade

2010-11-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

DRAGON IN CHAINS
Daniel Fox

Jacketflap: Deposed by a vicious usurper, a young emperor flees with his court to the small island of Taishu. There, with dwindling army, a manipulative mother, and a resentful population--and his only friend a local fishergirl he takes as a concubine--he prepares for his last stand.

In the mountains of Taishu, a young miner finds a huge piece of jade, the potent mineral whose ingestion can gift the emperor with superhuman attributes. Setting out to deliver the stone to the embattled emperor, Yu Shan finds himself changing into something more than human, something forbidden.

Meanwhile, a great dragon lies beneath the strait that separates Taishu from the mainland, bound by chains that must be constantly renewed by the magic of a community of monks. When the monks are slaughtered by a willful pirate captain, a maimed slave assumes the terrible burden of keeping the dragon subdued. If he should fail, if she should rise free, the result will be slaughter on an unimaginable scale.

My Thoughts: A lyrical and intricately woven story with a very unsatisfying ending. To be fair, this is Book #1 in a series, but I like stand-alone's more than to-be-continued's. Really, though, that's the only thing about this book I found dissatisfying.

I was drawn into the mysterious and picturesque setting (where jade holds magical properties and nothing is quite as it seems) by Fox's unique prose and delicately layered characters. It's a book to read slowly, to savor and imagine.

Fantasy Movies and Confessions

2010-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

After taking a gander at this list:, 100 Greatest Fantasy Movies, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite fantasy movies. As well as some other...things...

The Princess Bride

Confession #1: I believe in R.O.U.S's.

Confession #2: I've read the book. I liked the movie better.

The Wizard of Oz

Confession #1: In 5th grade, my class put on a ridiculously amazing presentation of The Wizard of Oz. I played the Tin-Man. I wore an upside-down trash can on my torso, tin cans on my arms and a funnel on my head. I should've won an Oscar that year.

Confession #2: When I ride my bike I inevitably end up singing the music that plays when Miss Gulch (aka The Wicked Witch) appears. You know the one...

Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Confession #1: Every time I watch this movie, I cry when Gandalf "dies".

Confession #2: Orlando Bloom's sub-par line delivery/acting almost ruined this movie for me. Luckily he doesn't have very many lines.

Now you tell me: What is your favorite Fantasy Movie? (Also, feel free to add a confession if you feel so inclined.)

Vampires, Werewolves and Automatons...Oh My!

2010-11-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

SOULLESS (The Parasol Protectorate #1)
Gail Carriger

Jacketflap: Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire--and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia is responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

My Thoughts: Better than expected.

So listen, the cover doesn't really scream humor, right? But, let me tell you a secret--this book is funny. It took me a while to realize that and so for the first 75 pages or so I was confused and not really impressed. Then suddenly I just started laughing and the story became very amusing to me, if at times a little cheeky and ridiculous.

This book probably won't change your life or make you ponder the world's great mysteries, but it's fun and the protagonist is snappy, tough and quite entertaining. I say: a good book for traveling or when you just feel like something fluffy.

A Magical Creatures Pictoral--Which Would You Choose?

2010-11-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

It's difficult to find a fantasy novel with no fantastical creatures. Which is understandable. They're so much fun.

CENTAUR-

DRAGON-

DWARF-

ELF-
(Random side note: I had a very difficult time finding a non-sexy elf picture. What the heck? Apparently all elves have ginormous boobs.)

FAIRY-

FAUN-

GIANT-

GNOME-

GRIFFIN-

LEPRECHAUN-

MERMAID-

PHOENIX-

TROLL-

UNICORN-

VAMPIRE-

WEREWOLF-

(For a more extensive list, check out this website: Magical Creatures and Beings.)

If I could be any magical creature, I would probably be a mermaid. Because I'd like to swim around and play with dolphins all day. Plus, as long as I stayed away from wide nets and sharp hooks, no one would really bother me. So yes, a mermaid. That, or a selkie.

What about you, dear reader? Which creature would you be?

In Which I'm On the Fence

2010-11-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS
John Connolly

Jacketflap: High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother. He is angry and alone, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness, and as he takes refuge in his imagination, he finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a land that is a strange reflection of his own world, populated by heroes and monsters, and ruled over by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book... The Book of Lost Things.

My Thoughts: Reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, Connolly weaves a fantastical and dark tale of a boy's journey from childhood to adulthood.

I loved Connolly's story-telling and the way he twisted well-known fairy tales to something new and terrifying. The book had good pacing and solid writing. However, to me, the characters felt flat. David, the main character was two-dimensional and I never really connected with him. The other characters were even shallower and seemed to be there just to prop up the story. They seemed more like archetypes and caricatures rather than fully-developed beings.

Ultimately, I'm on the fence with this book as far as a recommendation goes. If you like fairy tales and fantasy, then I say give it a try. Otherwise, you might find your time better spent reading something else.

Also, as a side note, though the main character is 12, I wouldn't recommend this book for younger readers. Highschoolers, yes. But it might be a little too violent for anyone younger.

Spooky Fairy Tales

2010-11-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

THERE ONCE LIVED A WOMAN WHO TRIED TO KILL HER NEIGHBOR'S BABY
Ludmilla Petrushevskaya

Jacketflap: A collection of bewitching tales that blend the miraculous with the macabre.

A town succumbs to a disfiguring plague.

A colonel is visited in a dream by his dead wife, warning him not to lift the veil from the face of her corpse.

An orphan accosted by a gang of teenage boys is delivered from violence by a woman who looks suspiciously like her long-lost mother.

An enormously obese woman named Marilena becomes, for two hours every night, the lithe and beautiful dancing twin sisters Maria and Elena.

A woman is followed by a man who claims to be her husband--months after she attends her husband's funeral.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the premise of the stories in this book. They were dark and spooky and great to read by flashlight under the covers. However, I thought the translation was only so-so. Perhaps it is the nature of translating books from Russian to English, because I have noticed this before in other originally Russian books--there is a strangeness about the translated sentence structure that can be distracting. That being said, if you are looking for a collections of stories about things that go bump in the night, or if you like Russian literature, then this might be a good book to check out.

Strange Worlds

2010-11-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Happy November, dear reader! Next month I'm wrapping up the genre series with something a little special, but I do have one major genre left that I haven't read this year. Fantasy!

I don't know that I've ever been a huge Fantasy reader. It seems like an elusive genre to me for some reason. Or maybe I read it all the time and just don't know it. I'm not sure. If you asked me for an example of Fantasy, I would say Lord of The Rings. No other examples leap to mind. At least no other adult examples. I can think of a lot of YA and Middle Grade fantasy books. So, please, help me dear reader... I found this list...Top 100 Fantasy Novels, but you tell me:

What are some really good Fantasy books (adult section please) that you've read or heard about or want to read?

I'll try my best to do some good reviews this month, but we'll see how it goes. As I said...this genre is elusive to me for some reason so I don't even know if the books I picked out count!

(If any of you out there write Fantasy and are interested in doing a guest post explaining the genre or what-have-you, please email me!)

In the meantime enjoy this video:

Memoir Wrap-Up

2010-10-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

So that's that. Another month gone. I'm amazed at how quickly they fly.

Did you read any memoirs this month, dear reader? Please share.

Finally, to wrap it all up, a brief reading by Gordon Pisant from Justin Bieber's memoir. Yes. Justin Bieber wrote a memoir. But don't worry, this video will make you less annoyed about that whole situation.

Kevin Sampsell...On Sharing Your Story

2010-10-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Kevin Sampsell lives, writes and works (at Powell's bookstore!) in Portland, OR. In addition to his recent memoir, A Common Pornography, Kevin is also the author of two short story collections: Creamy Bullets and Beautiful Blemish. He edited Portland Noir and runs Future Tense Books, a small press that specializes in publishing literary fiction. Check out his website for more information or follow him on Twitter.

Kevin graciously answered some questions for me about writing memoir. Read on and enjoy!

***

Why write a memoir?

This book (A Common Pornography) actually started when I wrote a short story that was basically a list of odd childhood memories. I was going to put that initial story into a book of my short fiction but it seemed out of place and I realized it was because it was non-fiction. I wasn't really sure if it was as engaging as my fiction but a lot of people who read these first little stories really liked it, so I kept writing them, all the while trying to stick with that same tone and the same kind of straight-ahead style.

After my dad passed away in early 2008, I decided I'd really try to incorporate stories from other people in my family too. Sort of widen the scope.

In a lot of ways, it was easier to write this book than to write fiction because I didn't have to make stuff up and I didn't really have to do much research.

What are a 3-5 of your favorite memoirs that you might recommend to someone who isn't familiar with the genre?

Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, Stop Time, Things the Grandchildren Should Know, Happy, and Rent Girl.

What is something people sometimes misunderstand about memoirs?

I think people these days expect memoirs to contain a certain amount of exaggeration or suffocating drama. Some of the best memoirs don't include either of those things.

What is your favorite part about writing a memoir?

My favorite part is probably telling stories from my perspective. Maybe making something funny that people didn't expect to be funny.

What is the hardest part?

The hardest part is sometimes knowing if people will lose interest in your details. There's a thin line between sharing a common story with the reader and giving them a fresh way to look at it and telling a cliched story that doesn't have a new angle working in it. With some of the chapters in A Common Pornography I had to ask my editor or a friend: Do you think people will really care about this part or is it just kind of dumb?

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Surround yourself with what you want to do. Read a lot. Go out and meet writers. Go to readings. Shop at bookstores. Start a book group or a writing group. Write a lot and send your writing out to get published. Don't aim big right away. Send some stories to small magazines or websites. Write some book reviews or interview authors. Do as much as you can to learn more about writing and how to tell stories. That can also include going out to movies. I watch a lot of movies and the main thing I focus on is how they tell a story. Movies can inspire me just as much as books.

A Memory Experiment

2010-10-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

A COMMON PORNOGRAPHY
Kevin Sampsell

Jacketflap: Kevin Sampsell always thought he was part of a normal family growing up in the Pacific Northwest. He never wondered why his older siblings had different last names or why one of them was black. But when his estranged father passed away in 2008, his mother revealed to him some of the family's mysterious and unsettling history. A history of betrayal, madness, and incest.

My Thoughts: Written as a collection of connected vignettes, Kevin Sampsell pieces together his childhood and life until now. Every awkward, bumbling, painful moment.

What I loved about this book was the structure--individual memories splashed together to make a complete life. Genius. The writing is stark and raw and oddly detached for how personal Kevin gets with the reader, but it worked. It felt almost like a shrug, like he was saying: these things happened and yeah, it sucked, but I'm okay. We're all okay; this is life and I wouldn't have it any other way.

And yes, there is pornography in this book. The book itself is not pornographic, but there are certain things in here that may not be appropriate for small children or extra-conservative grandmothers. The rest of you should check it out!

Also, in case you're concerned about what other people might say if they see you reading this book... Kevin has some suggestions for you:

Make sure to swing by on Wednesday! Kevin answered some questions for me about writing a memoir and you'll for sure want to read what he has to say!

Burning Down the House

2010-10-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

NOTHING LEFT TO BURN
Jay Varner

Jacketflap: When Jay Varner, fresh out of college, returns home to work for the local newspaper, he knows that he will have to deal with the memories of a childhood haunted by a grandfather who was both menacing and comical and by a father who died too young and who never managed to be the father Jay so desperately needed him to be. In digging into the past, he uncovers layers of secrets, lies, and half-truths. It is only when he finally has the truth in hand that he comes to an understanding of the forces that drove his father, and of the fires that for all his efforts his father could never extinguish.

My Thoughts: A fascinating glimpse into one man's life as he tries to understand his father's decisions and untimely death, as he discovers the truth about his grandfather's destructive past, as he sorts out his own life and decides how to move forward.

Varner writes with tenderness and honesty. He tells his family's story how he remembers it--the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly. This book reads almost like a novel, which is maybe why I enjoyed it so much...The structure is well laid and he peels back the layers slowly, at just the right moments. A very interesting read and a memoir to which I think a lot of readers could relate.

Not Your Typical Summer Camp

2010-10-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

MOOSE: A MEMOIR OF FAT CAMP
Stephanie Klein

Jacketflap: While she is pregnant with twins, one sentence uttered by her doctor sends Stephanie Klein reeling: "You need to gain fifty pounds." Instantly, an adolescence filled with insecurity and embarrassment comes flooding back. Though she is determined to gain the weight for the health of her babies, even if it means she'll "weigh more than a Honda" she can only express her deep fear by telling her doctor simply, "I used to be fat."

Klein was an eighth grader with a weight problem. It was a problem at school, where the boys called her "Moose," and it was a problem at home, where her father reminded her, "No one likes fat girls." After many frustrating sessions with a nutritionist known as the fat doctor of Roslyn Heights, Long Island, Klein's parents enrolled her for a summer at fat camp. Determined to return to school thin and popular, without her "lard arms" and "puckered ham," Stephanie embarked on a memorable journey that would shape more than just her body. It would shape her life.

My Thoughts: Honestly, I thought this book was a bit dull and a tad too long. There were some funny moments and some touching ones as well, but I don't know...I can't put my finger on why I didn't really like it. Maybe because I can't relate to her story or her journey. Maybe because some of the things she wrote about didn't seem related to the main narrative. Or it might just be because by the time I got to this book, I'd already read my fill of memoirs. I can see other readers connecting with this memoir, but for me...it lacked something.

Anyway...give it a try if the topic sounds interesting to you because the writing was fine and the author has a good narrative voice.

Also, here's a little video: Stephanie Klein chatting about her book...

Babies, Diapers, and Postpartum Depression

2010-10-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

IT SUCKED AND THEN I CRIED: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita
Heather B Armstrong

Jacketflap:Heather Armstrong gave up a lot of things when she and her husband, Jon, decided to have a baby: beer, small boobs, free time--and antidepressants. The eighteen months that followed were filled with anxiety, constipation, nacho cheese Doritos, and an unconditional love that threatened to make her heart explode. Still, as a baby Leta grew and her husband, Jon, returned to work, Heather faced lonely days, sleepless nights, and endless screaming that sometimes made her wish she'd never become a mother. Just as she was poised to throw another gallon of milk at her husband's head, she committed herself for a short stay in a mental hospital--the best decision she ever made for her family.

My Thoughts: It was okay. Armstrong's writing style is unique, but also kind of annoying. She likes to write using hyperbole, making everything huge, distorted and blown out of proportion. Hyperbole can be effective, but in this book it was overdone.

Also she LIKES WRITING IN CAPS which might be OKAY FOR BLOG POSTS. No...you know what...it's not okay. Not in books, not in blog posts. Really, it's only okay for book titles (see above) and garage sale signs.

Oh and, yes, I thought this was one of "those" memoirs that was a little too me-me-me-me-look-at-me.

All that being said...there were moments of touching beauty. Especially, the letters she writes to her daughter. Also, she delves into her topics (postpartum depression and motherhood) using such a lovely, conversational voice and enough light-hearted humor, that I think it's a book with which other mothers might connect and find comfort.

Fact v. Fiction

2010-10-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Remember the James Frey/Oprah debacle?

Long story short, James Frey wrote a book and sold it as a memoir. Oprah freaked out and said it was like nothing she'd ever read before and blah blah blah, then picked it for her book club. Rumors started flying that a lot of what Frey wrote wasn't true. Come to find out, most of the book was either ridiculously exaggerated or completely made up.

Then came Mr. Rosenblat.

A Holocaust survivor who "embellished" the story of how he met his wife, saying she tossed apples to him over a concentration camp fence. Turns out...that didn't really happen either.

Acknowledging the ethical issues of writing/labeling/marketing a book as non-fiction when it's really closer to fiction, I have to wonder...would it have been such a horrible thing to write/call these books fiction? Would the power and emotional impact have been lost because readers would think: oh this could never happen in real life? In other words, is Fact better than Fiction?

I say, no. I say Fiction can move a reader as much, sometimes even more than Fact.

I read A Million Little Pieces (pre-Oprah debacle). And I enjoyed it. I thought it was a very powerful book. And I think I would have enjoyed it just as much if it had been marketed as fiction. Sure it might have lost some of its shock value that way, but at least it wouldn't have end up labeled a sham.

So, what say you, dear reader? Fact? Or Fiction?

A Religious Experience

2010-10-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

THE UNLIKELY DISCIPLE: A SINNER'S SEMESTER AT AMERICA'S HOLIEST UNIVERSITY
Kevin Roose

Jacketflap: No drinking. No smoking. No cursing. No dancing. No R-rated moves. Kevin Roose wasn't used to rules like these. As a sophomore at Brown University, he spent his days drinking fair-trade coffee, singing in an a cappella group, and generally fitting right in with Brown's free-spirited, ultra-liberal student body. But when Roose leaves his Ivy League confines to spend a semester at Liberty University, a conservative Baptisit school in Lynchburg, Virgina, obedience is no longer optional.

Hoping to connect with his evangelical peers, Roose decides to enroll at Liberty as a new transfer student, leaping across the God Divide and chronicling his adventures.

My Thoughts: Riveting. I said more than once during my reading: "One more page, just one more page."

Confession time: I grew up learning and practicing Conservative Evangelicalism and I went to a university very similar to Liberty. The rules and punishments were a little more relaxed (thank god), but very similar doctrine and ideals and there were still plenty of no smoking, drinking, sex rules to keep things interesting. So here's the thing, everything Roose writes about is spot on. He doesn't exaggerate. He doesn't make things up. It was all very similar to how I remember my youth as an Evangelical.

Now, you should know, I no longer consider myself an Evangelical Christian, so when I picked this book up I was kind of hoping for an exposé or some kind of tongue-in-cheek satire, but it was nothing like that. It was better. It was sensitive and compassionate and written with a deep wisdom and confidence that surprised me. Roose treads through a lot of holy and unholy sludge, but manages to do it in a way that both believers and non-believers can relate to, in a way that promotes peace and tolerance on both sides. He asks his readers to strive for something better...to become kinder, gentler, and more patient with one another. No matter what our beliefs. And there's just something strikingly beautiful about a book like that.

Snapshots of A Life

2010-10-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

I WAS TOLD THERE'D BE CAKE
Sloane Crosley

Jacketflap: From accidentally despoiling an exhibit at the Museum of Natural History to siccing the cops on the wrong neighbor, Sloane Crosley can do no right, despite the best of intentions--or perhaps because of them. In a sharp, original storytelling style that confounds expectations at every turn, Crosley recounts her victories and catastrophes with an irresistible voice that is all her own, finding genuine insights in the most unpredictable places.

My Thoughts: I've been wanting to read this book for a while. I saw it in a bookstore a few months back and the title stopped me dead in my tracks. I knew I had to make time for it and I am so glad I did!

Sloane's essays are hilarious. No earth-shattering revelations. No moments of wisdom or clarity. She just writes about her life as she knows it with a tone of dry self-reflection and tongue-in-cheek self-mocking.

It was a lot like reading a friend's journal. Like plopping down on the couch beside your sister and saying, "gimme the news." I may have connected with Sloane's essays more than some people would because she and I are about the same age and grew up in the same era, but I think there are enough funny bits in this collection to make even the grouchiest person smile.

Also, I found this inspired video and since it made me laugh so hard I snorted coffee out my nose, I thought I should share:

Writing About Family

2010-10-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

I write fiction. Sometimes snippets from my real life slip into that fiction. Snippets = hair color, annoying mannerisms, tics, weird phrases, funny stories, emotions, maybe a name or two. I have never written an entirely real person (or even a caricature) into any of my (publishable) stories. No matter what my father might think. Why? Because even though I have dreams of one day writing about my family, I do not think they would appreciate everything I have to say.

Memories are fickle beasts. I remember my childhood one way. My sister remembers it another. My father, still another. My grandparents...well, they weren't around very often, so what they remember is probably based on pictures and stories told from my parents' point of view.

The reason I mention all this is because memoirs are essentially soft autobiographies wherein the writer tells his/her life story (or at least bits and pieces of it...hopefully the interesting bits and pieces). So chances are, the writer's family will be coming along for the ride whether they want to or not. (Hopefully, they want to.)

And while my family is interesting (really, whose isn't?), I just can't write about them...

...at least not until they've passed on from this life to a better, happier place where they can't shake their fists and me and say, "You evil, evil child! How dare you defame us in this manner!?" Not that I'd be defaming them. Really. Truly. I would write mostly nice things. But it's the other things...the not-mostly that I'm worried about.

So you tell me: Would you consider/Do you write about your family? If yes (and you're feeling brave), who? If no, why not?

A Memoir in Pictures

2010-10-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

STITCHES
David Small

Jacketflap: One day David Small awoke from a supposedly harmless operation to discover that he had been transformed into a virtual mute. A vocal cord removed, his throat slashed and stitched together like a bloody boot, the fourteen-year-old boy had not been told that he had cancer and was expected to die.

Small, the award-winning children’s illustrator and author, re-creates this terrifying event in a life story that might have been imagined by Kafka. As the images painfully tumble out, one by one, we gain a ringside seat at a gothic family drama where David—a highly anxious yet supremely talented child—all too often became the unwitting object of his parents’ buried frustration and rage.

A silent movie masquerading as a book, Stitches renders a broken world suddenly seamless and beautiful again.

My Thoughts: Ridiculously awesome. I read this book in one afternoon. It's a graphic memoir (graphic in this case meaning pictures, not disturbing content) and it's friggin' genius. It's art. It's raw. It's David Small bleeding his life-ink onto the page.

I was a little disappointed in the ending. Compared to the rest of the book, it felt rushed and too easy, too soft. But that won't stop me from telling everyone I know to read this book. So go. Go now and read this book. It won't take you very long and it's crazy good.

Oh, and here's a small sample:

You're So Vain

2010-10-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a swing at Memoirs this month, dear reader. I should tell you I have a love-hate relationship with Memoirs. Done poorly, they have a tendency to come across very narcissistic and vapid. However, done correctly, they can be powerfully moving and quite beautiful. Obviously, I like reading the ones done correctly.

So to kick us off, here's a great excerpt I found on NPR from William Zinsser's book: How to Write A Memoir.

And, of course, a song:

Mystery Wrap Up

2010-09-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to one of those dinner and a mystery parties? You know...like that one episode of The Office...

I wish I had a good story for you about that one time I went to a murder party...yeah, you know what? Why don't you just tell me if you read any good mysteries this month and we'll call it good.

And don't forget to stop in Friday to help me kick off a new genre!

(Random Side Note For Those Who Care/Are Wondering/Give A Damn: I quit Twitter. Tried it for a while and didn't particularly enjoy it. Though I do understand and respect it's usefulness, for me, it was neither fun nor beneficial. More annoying and distracting. You know what they say...why do something you don't want to do just because everyone else is doing it. I was never much into the whole peer pressure thing anyway. So, if you're wondering why you have 1 less follower today, yep, that's probably me. Valerie, out.)

Part Ghost Story, Part Mystery

2010-09-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF KATHARINA LINDEN
Helen Grant

Jacketflap: It isn’t ten-year-old Pia’s fault that her grandmother dies in a freak accident. But tell that to the citizens of Pia’s little German hometown of Bad Münstereifel, or to the classmates who shun her. The only one who still wants to be her friend is StinkStefan, the most unpopular child in school.

But then something else captures the community’s attention: the vanishing of Katharina Linden. Katharina was last seen on a float in a parade, dressed as Snow White. Then, like a character in a Grimm’s fairy tale, she disappears. But, this being real life, she doesn’t return.

Pia and Stefan suspect that Katharina has been spirited away by the supernatural. Their investigation is inspired by the instructive—and cautionary—local legends told to them by their elderly friend Herr Schiller, tales such as that of Unshockable Hans, visited by witches in the form of cats, or of the knight whose son is doomed to hunt forever.

Then another girl disappears, and Pia is plunged into a new and unnerving place, one far away from fairy tales—and perilously close to adulthood.

My Thoughts: I don't know if this book can be labeled 100% mystery, but I'm reviewing it anyway. Because (1) I found it in the mystery section at the book store and (2) there was a mystery to solve. I think calling it a Gothic mystery works a little better, though.

Things started out well enough with this book. The premise is great and I was enjoying the characters and the story and the setting. There are some really intense ghost-story moments. You know the kind, where your husband walks into the room while you're reading and says: "When's dinner?" And you jump out of your skin. This story had all the potential in the world...

Then I started noticing something...ADVERBS!!!

Listen, I'm a patient reader. I am not of the no-adverbs-ever school of thought. I think there are times when they are useful and, yes, even necessary. But when all I can see on the page are adverbs, when they become a distraction and words I have to stop and think about, then I think some further editing is needed.

In addition, I was disappointed with the ending. Again, no spoilers, but the reveal and explanations were a little shallow. I had one of those "wait...how did?...huh?" moments. So, sadly, for me, this was a case of high expectations and grand disappointments.

The Darker Side of Things

2010-09-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

THE WOLVES IN FAIRMOUNT PARK
Dennis Tafoya

Jacketflap: ...the details of a drive-by shooting of two teenagers in a rough Philadelphia neighborhood are filled in from four perspectives: Brendan Donovan, a cop and the father of the boy shot and left comatose; George Parkman Sr., another father, this one of the boy who was killed; Danny Martinez, a cop whose job it is to investigate the killing; and Orlando Donovan, the junkie uncle of the cop’s kid, who happens to live nearby.

No one knows what the two boys were doing in front of a dope house on Roxborough Avenue in the middle of the night, what business they might have had with gangs like Green Lane or the Tres Nortes. Even though they had a thousand dollars with them, they were good boys. Everyone says, "They were good boys."

Through the fast-paced interweaving of these four distinct voices, Dennis Tafoya, author of the acclaimed Dope Thief, tells the moving story of two kids in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the lengths that the people around them will go to find the truth.

My Thoughts: This is one of those books that runs a thin line between thriller and mystery. It's rough, it's gritty, it's good.

The jacketflap says the book is told from 4 perspectives.... really, there are more than 4. I lost count. There were times the multiple, alternating perspectives were distracting, but for the most part it worked. It allowed for this kind of jerking, dazed and confused sensation--a unique reading experience indeed.

Kyra Davis... On Leaving Enough Clues

2010-09-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Kyra Davis is the author of 6 books including 5 in the Sophie Katz mystery series. She writes full time and lives in Southern California. Visit her website for additional information or follow her on Twitter for all the latest news.

* * *

Why write mysteries?

When I started writing my first book, Sex, Murder And A Double Latte, I was going through a divorce. I was anxious, angry and just generally on edge. I started writing in order to give myself an outlet for my emotions and an escape from what had become a stressful reality. A murder mystery was the perfect venue for all of that. I could tap into everything I was feeling and use it to create suspense and crazy and emotive characters...and perhaps most importantly I found a way to channel my violent impulses in a way that didn't involve actually murdering my ex.

What is something people sometimes misunderstand about mystery novels?

People always assume that authors don't want their readers to figure out who the killer is until the author decides to reveal him/her at the end of the novel. That's not the case. Good mystery authors want SOME of their readers to figure out who the killer is, they just don't want ALL the readers to figure it out. And of course mystery authors want the ones who are able to pinpoint the killer early to have had to work hard to be able to solve the case. But the readers need to be given the opportunity to be able to figure it out. There have to be clues.

You can't tell the readers at the end that the killer is someone they had no reason to suspect, in a way that would be cheating. Instead those who didn't guess the killer should say, "Oh, it was HIM!! Now I get it! I thought it was so-and-so but this totally makes sense!" If they're saying, "It was him? I never would have guessed that in a million years!" the author didn't do his or her job.

What is your favorite part about writing mysteries?

To be honest, my favorite part of writing is developing characters and relationships. I think that would be true regardless of what genre I was writing in. I like getting to know a fictional character, finding his or her voice and setting them loose on all my other already existing characters in order to see what happens. That part's the most fun.

In a lot of ways I think my books are more about the characters than the mysteries themselves.

What is the hardest part?

The hardest part of writing a mystery is making sure that you place enough clues to make it at least conceivable that the reader will be able to figure it out without making anything obvious. There are times when I change my mind about who the killer is midway through my manuscript because one of the red-herrings I've set up seems like a better choice. Then I have to go back and make the person I thought was the killer a red-herring and vice versa. All the clues have to be just right in order for the whole thing to work. It takes very careful strategic planning.

What are a 3-5 of your favorite mysteries that you might recommend to someone who isn't familiar with the genre?

All of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books are fun. For a much darker and serious mystery I strongly recommend Elizabeth George's books. Sue Grafton's alphabet series is also consistently entertaining and suspenseful.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Don't give up.

Seriously, it's the thing that kills most authors' careers and it's the most tempting thing to do. When you're starting out (and maybe even after you've been published a few times) you'll probably get a LOT of rejections and at some point you'll begin to wonder if you're wrong about your talent and all these rejecting publishers or agents are right. Maybe they're right about the work you submitted in the form you submitted it in but that doesn't mean that you won't be able to tweak it or write something else and catch a break. And if you DO end up writing something else and that second book is successful then there's a chance you'll be able to sell that first book that was initially rejected by everyone.

I know what it's like to suffer career-heartbreak and serious discouragement. But I also know what it's like to achieve a success against all odds. You always have to remember the latter is possible even when faced with the former.

Sassy!

2010-09-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

VOWS, VENDETTAS AND A LITTLE BLACK DRESS
Kyra Davis

Jacketflap: Overjoyed at Maryanne's engagement, amateur sleuth Sophie Katz can't wait for the wedding vows and party toasts to begin. But then Dena--best friend, bridesmaid and all-around vixen--is mysteriously shot just after the announcement. Leave this to the authorities? No way. Dena may never walk again, and Sophie vows to marry her fists with the shooter's face.

Problem is, the number of suspects is off the charts--from jaded lovers to anti-free-lovers to just plain old haters. Dena's made plenty of enemies thanks to her popular sex shop--and yes, she's no saint--but really, who deserves to be shot?

With an uberlogical almost boyfriend condemning her vigilante quest, and a wedding planner going vicariously bridezilla over the dream princess wedding, Sophie's barely thinking straight. But if she can keep her cool (and avoid all errant taffeta), she just might nab her man and save the (wedding) day. Big if.

My Thoughts: A light, quick read with many laugh-out-loud moments, plenty of good twists and unexpected surprises. Think Sex in the City meets Murder, She Wrote. It was fun, sexy and full of energy. The dynamic between Sophie and her two best friends as well as all the other people in their lives (men, mostly) kept the story bopping right along. In fact, I enjoyed the characters so much... I've put the other books in the series on my to-be-read list!

There were places where the dialogue felt over-the-top and a little unrealistic, but it didn't detract from the story too much. At times, it even seemed appropriate with what was happening in the scene. So all-in-all, I liked it. Plus, it's got a great hot pink cover!!

Be sure to stop in on Wednesday for an interview with Kyra Davis wherein she discusses writing mysteries!

Insurance Fraud Turned Deadly

2010-09-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

H IS FOR HOMICIDE
Sue Grafton

Jacketflap (the edited version): Parnell Perkins was a claims adjuster for California Fidelity until someone shot him at close range and left him for dead in the parking lot outside his office.To the cops, it looked like a robbery gone sour. To Kinsey Millhone, it looked like the cops weren't looking hard enough.

Bibianna Diaz knew you didn't cross Raymond Maldonado and live to tell the tale. Unfortunately, Bibianna had well and truly crossed him, running out on his crazy wedding plans and hiding in Santa Teresa--light years away from the Los Angeles barrio that was home turf to Raymond and his gang. But to make sure she'd put enough space between them, she needed money. And the quickest way she knew to get money was to work an insurance scam--just like the ones Raymond was running down in L.A. The trouble was, Bibianna picked California Fidelity as her mark. And it wasn't long before her name surfaced in one of Parnell Perkins's open files and Kinsey was on her case.

My Thoughts: Mildly intrigued. I thought this book would be pretty awful... but... it was actually somewhat entertaining.

Half of me hated this book because the plot tangled a little to closely to the stuff I used to deal with in my day job as an insurance adjuster (minus murder, of course). Putting that aside... I liked Kinsey Millhone. She was snappy and tough. But the writing was just so-so. A lot of exposition where action would have worked better... that kind of thing. Anyway, I don't think I'll read any of the other books in this series. I just didn't get excited enough about the characters. But I do know a lot of people enjoy Grafton's books... so... read on, friends. Read on.

Short Story Published Today!!

2010-09-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Published today by The Absent Willow Review, a dark piece of speculative fiction: All That Was Left

Sidenote: This piece was written as a companion story to None Will Remain.

Oh and a piece of music to go along with your reading:

Old Television Mysteries

2010-09-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

When my sister and I were small, our dad came home from work to eat lunch with us. And we watched Perry Mason. Now every time I hear this theme song, I crave a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of milk.

One time, after watching a particularly nail-biting episode of Murder, She Wrote, I couldn't sleep. Something about a gun being rigged to go off when someone opened the closet door. Or maybe Angela Lansbury was giving me nightmares. Who can really say after all this time?

I don't know why I watched Matlock. It was a terrible show.

Oddly enough, I was never allowed to stay up and watch Mystery! I did always manage to catch the opening credits, though, and henceforth became obsessed with and delighted by Edward Gorey's work.

What television mysteries do you enjoy?

A Mystery from Norway

2010-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

THE WATER'S EDGE
Karin Fossum

Jacketflap: Reinhardt and Kristine Ris, a married couple, are out for a Sunday walk when they discover the body of a boy and see the figure of a man limping away. They alert the police, but not before Reinhardt, to Kristine's horror, kneels down and takes photographs of the dead child with his cell phone.

Inspectors Konrad Sejer and Jacob Skarre begin to make inquiries in the little town of Huseby. But then another boy disappears, and an explanation seems more remote than ever. Meanwhile, the Rises' marriage unravels as Reinhardt becomes obsessed with the tragic events and his own part in them.

My Thoughts: Originally written in Norwegian. However, as I don't read (or speak) Norwegian, I read the English translation. And what a mighty-fine translation it was!

Though the set up and delivery of this story is a little different than what we're used to seeing from American writers, it completely worked! Good twists, good turns, good prose. Intriguing characters and thought-provoking scenarios.

I would say this, though: the subject matter--child molestation and murder--might be difficult for some people. So if you are a more sensitive reader, maybe skip this one. Otherwise, give it a go!

Out Walking the Dog

2010-09-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

HEIR OF THE DOG
Judi McCoy

Jacketflap: Professional dog walker Ellie Engleman is more than just a pal to her pooches--she can also read their minds. So when a fellow dog lover turns up dead, Ellie makes no bones about using her talents to track down her friend's killer.

Strolling through Central Park with Rudy, her terrier mix, Ellie is shocked to find the corpse of a troubled but harmless park dweller she often met while walking Rudy. When the police arrive and question Ellie, she stumbles over her story--and finds herself the prime suspect. Fortunately she has onetime fling Detective Sam Ryder in her corner.

But the police investigation is the least of Ellie's worries. Because it turns out that Ellie's pup, Rudy, is the victim's sole beneficiary--and he has inherited a key to a safety-deposit box whose contents just might point to both the motive and the murderer.

My Thoughts: While I was intrigued by the premise and while there were some entertaining moments, mostly this book was a disappointment. The police behaved oddly. Ellie's character was inconsistent and I wished Rudy had played a bigger, more intelligent role in finding the killer. To me, there were a lot of words, but nothing really happened. A lot of normal, everyday activities (like picking up dog poop) that did nothing to move the story forward.

Also, the mystery was easily solved. Part of it was told right away, up front--no ifs, ands, or buts. After that, figuring out the killer was pretty simple. Despite red herrings, I knew who the killer was within the first 1/3 of the book.

If you like dogs and want a quick, non-taxing read, then this book might be for you. Otherwise, you can probably skip it.

Fun, Charming, and Full of Mischief

2010-09-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE
Alan Bradley

Jacketflap: Meet eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison. It is the summer of 1950--and a series of inexplicable events has struck Buckshaw, the decaying English mansion that Flavia's family calls home. A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw.

My Thoughts: Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!! Flavia is simply charming! And I adored this book. When I first started reading it, I wasn't so sure Flavia's extensive vocabulary worked for me. It didn't seem realistic, but as I kept reading, I found myself saying: "Oh my, this is brilliant! Brilliant indeed!"

There is so much about this book that I loved. Flavia's character, yes, but also the mystery and the creative ways Bradley manipulated the genre. I will definitely be reading the rest of the Flavia de Luce mysteries! I can't wait to find out what sort of sneaky mischief she gets into next time!

Here's a fun book trailer. And as a side note... this book would be good for all ages, not just adults! Perhaps as a read-aloud-family-fun-night? Yes, I think so.