Tag Archives: Books

Jan27

Started a New Story

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I started a new story today- I have like 208 words so far and have no idea what it’s going to be about or where it’s going. A scene came to me as I drove this morning so I jotted part of it when I got to where I was going. I think the first line is a doozy and I can’t wait to see where my mind takes me with this one. I’ve had this first line in my head for a while so I’m sure the old subconscious has been mulling it over and is ready to feed me the story since it fed me the scene today.

I love, love the joy of the journey of discovery on first drafts.

Jul15

Book Review- Murder DeJa Vu- Polly Iyer

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Murder Deja Vu by Polly Iyer was an enjoyable read. It started a little slow for me. The hero in the story spent fifteen years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit and once he’s out and an investigator for his lawyer is trying to uncover the truth, another murder occurs. This murder is of a local woman and is carried out in the same manner. This is when the action picked up considerably in the story.

The villains in this story were very evil, especially the former husband of the heroine. He’s the local prosecutor and has an agenda of his own and while I enjoyed the story, the only part that I didn’t like is that we didn’t get to see him get his comeuppance. It was almost an aside at the end of the book. I really, really would have liked a scene where we, as the readers, could watch as he went down.

I recommend this one. The writing is clean and clear and the author will take you on an adventure.

Jun1

Dilemma

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It’s a dilemma when you read a book by someone you like and want to do a review for but there was actually more you didn’t like in the story than you did. I’ve recently had this experience again and I did leave the review but it’s very short and incomplete since i didn’t want to hurt this person’s feelings. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that not all books will appeal to every person and I also know that there are probably some of my stories that people don’t like but I still don’t want to say things that would cause someone angst about their work.

This book I read had a great story premise but I didn’t like the heroine. She was one of those that did some really dumb things and seemed weak. I have a real hang-up about heroines like that. I actually think it’s because I’m strong myself and have zero patience for reading about someone who isn’t.

One of the other issues with the story, I blame on the editor. One of the big reasons for editors is for them to find repetitive words and/or phrases that the writer uses. I always, always have what I call a crutch word in each of my stories (and they are usually different for each one). I try to catch them myself but sometimes I don’t. This book I just read had a crutch phrase and it was used 25 times in a story that was less than 200 pages long. It started to feel like I was being bopped in the head with it. I even at one time said out loud, “Okay, I get it.”

So, what do you do if asked to do a review and there’s not much to say?

Apr9

Young Adult Novel

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I’ve now written a young adult novel and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I’ve already edited it and sent it out to a couple of agents. It’s a story about magic and is a bit of an adventure. I like a lot of stuff going on in the books I read and so I tend to load up the ones I write, too.

This story is kind of a mashup of Mean Girls and The Craft with a side dose of a teen crush.

I’m hoping that others whom I’ve shared this one with like it. It was a departure for me to go back to the first person writing I did when I started and it was also a new age group for the protagonists so I hope that the young adult voice is acceptable. One other writer I know who does children’s stories told me she thought I had a great YA voice. Let’s hope she’s right.

The inspiration for this story was something that happened to me a bit over a year ago and this was my way of working out in my head that the events that occurred weren’t all on me. LOL

Mar1

Working on a Young Adult Novel

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I’ve bitten the bullet and started a young adult novel. I’m only about 1600 words in and so far, I’m loving it. I’m not entirely sure what the plot is or how it will pan out but it’s been a wonderful couple of days of a bit of writing here and there on it.

I sometimes use my writing to work thorough angst I’ve had in my life and this little story started as one of those kinds of excercises. It has now taken on a life of its own as my stories are prone to do. I love it.

My working title is Here There be Witches. It cracks me up and I guess that’s a good thing, right?

Feb22

Book Review- Blood Money

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thI love James Grippando and his Jack Swytek series of novels. If you haven’t read any of these, you’re really missing out. The latest installment, Blood Money, is clearly inspired by the Casey Anthony trial. There are too many similarities to miss. This is clearly a fiction tale and it’s cool how he used this trial to build a thrilling story around some of the facts. I love how Mr. Grippando even made a word play on the horrific Nancy Grace by naming his media shark Faith Corso. That cracked me up. First of all, because the character was clearly based on that odious woman and the last name of Corso made me think of coarse which she is. (Remember, all this is my opinion only-if you like this woman, that’s your prerogative. I don’t).

This book is a fast read and very exciting. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I won’t say much about the plot but this one is packed with lots of angles and turns. I was a little disappointed in a couple of things that never seemed to get resolved and I would’ve liked to know the answers to those questions. It was nothing that took away from the final solution to the whodunit but there were threads left hanging that didn’t please me. There was also the matter of something that niggled at me about Swyteck’s client, Sydney. She acted in a way that didn’t make sense to me. After learning what kind of person she was, I had a hard time reconciling her willingness to do a certain thing with what we learn about her on the journey, but all in all, this was a fun read with enough twists and turns to satisfy the toughest critic.

The story has Mr. Grippando’s usual wit with his main protagonist, Jack and his best friend, Theo. These two characters are larger than life and I adore how they play off each other and the way the zingers keep coming even when they are inthe midst of trouble. I recommend this one. Highly.

Sep2

Naming Characters

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My friend Jillian is blogging today here about naming characters. One of the hardest things can be getting that character name just right. Sometimes the writer has to change that name mid-book if the character just isn’t responding. How many times have you had to do that as a writer?

Feb20

Check out Lavada’s Blog

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Jillian is first blogging at Lavada Dee’s blog and talking about Sebastian’s Salvation. http://ldee2010.wordpress.com/

Feb10

Guest Liberty Blake

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Today’s guest is Liberty Blake. She’s a super writer and an awesome friend. She’s in this great anthology from Still Moments publishing. I hope you’ll check out her story. It’s a really fun read! Enjoy!

The Dark Side of Valentine’s Day

Hi, Jillian. Thank you for sharing your space with me. I love your stories and am honored to be in Valentine Delights Be Mine with you.

A few years ago I worked as a cocktail waitress in a country bar (in the Boston area) and a bartender in a small hotel. They were both fun places, but you wouldn’t choose either place for a romantic dinner.

There were two nights a year I refused to work. One was New Years Eve. The other was Valentine’s night. That is the night when all the women who don’t have a Valentine get together at the local watering hole and try to drown their sorrows. It is also the night when they are easy prey for the “Smooth Move Lounge Creeper”. SMLC for short. The SMLC is a cross between an octopus, an ape, and a snake. They slither in when a woman is at her most vulnerable. The after effect of an encounter with a SMLC is worse than a hangover.

Then there are the couples who come in. The woman might have a date, but he didn’t spring for a nice meal in a good restaurant, instead he brought her for the all-you-can-eat free nibbles. It is always a special moment when he asks hopefully if it is “ladies night”.

Florist Melody Roberts, the heroine of Change of Heart always told her friends she hated Valentine’s Day, but the truth was her no good boyfriend never took her out. In seven years he never gave her so much as a card. She is finally dating a dreamboat and is eagerly looking forward to Valentine’s Day. That is until he didn’t ask her out.

Meet Melody and her friends in Change of Heart.

Change of Heart by Liberty Blake
After the night they spent in the hot tub, Melody believed her new man wanted a relationship, but now it was Valentine’s Day and not even a phone call. Did he have a Change of Heart?

Change of Heart, The Coroner’s Heart, and Latte Love are together in Valentine Delights the Be Mine Anthology from Still Moments Publishing.

Still Moments Publishing:
http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/p/ebook-store.html

Valentine Delights Be Mine on Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/130214
(Please remove adult filter, there is adult content in one story)

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Feb8

Jillian is Guest Blogging.

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Two books released in the same week is tough. Both babies are dear to a writer’s heart. Jillian is blogging two places today. http://dandwh.wordpress.com/ and http://benjaminwallacebooks.wordpress.com/

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