Book Review: A Grave Tattoo by Val McDermid

I have so many things to discuss today... I'm not sure if I should save some for tomorrow... yup, I think I'll save some for tomorrow. First off, a book review.

Genre: Mystery Thriller
How I read it: I own it.

What attracted me to the book: I love reading all Val McDermid books. She's one of my favorite authors.

Who should read this book: Mystery lovers, Val McDermid lovers, history lovers, breathers of air. Note of caution: there are some disturbing scenes and some foul language in this book. Almost all Val's books are this way - if you've read any, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Summary (from amazon): An intriguing, 200-year-old mystery propels this multilayered stand-alone from British author McDermid set in England's Lake District. Scholar Jane Gresham pursues her theory that HMS Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian returned secretly from exile to his homeland in the late 18th century. A shriveled body found in a bog seems to bear resemblance to this dashing hero, right down to the South Sea tattoos that blacken his buttocks.

Jane searches relentlessly for a lost manuscript by the poet Wordsworth that relates Christian's tale in tantalizing excerpts between chapters. Various subplots complicate her quest, including a fraught friendship with precocious 13-year-old Tenille, a lonely, mixed-race girl who also loves Romantic poetry. With a feminist, socially conscious spin, McDermid (The Distant Echo) vividly contrasts marginal subsistence in London's dismal Marshpool neighborhood with the Lake District's bucolic lifestyle. - Publisher Weekly.

My thoughts: In all honesty, I started reading this book three times and couldn't get into it before this last time. I don't know if I wasn't in the right frame of mind the first few times but this time I was determined to finish it and I did.

What should this tell you? I'm an IDIOT!

Although the book started with the weather (a pet peeve of mine), the weather was vital to the plot. I loved the characters in this stand alone book (book without a sequel) and liked the combo of Tenille and Jane. The plot, which discusses whether a man named Fletcher Christian (responsible for the Mutiny) ever came back to England from Pitcairn and gave his story to Wordsworth was so enthralling.

Once the story starts, it doesn't stop and the story starts pretty quickly. I must have always gave up on the novel just pages before it started. I'm a real fan of reading sequels - especially Tony Hill and Carol Jordon - and that's probably why my brain couldn't get into this one.

Only one thing I didn't enjoy much in the novel. In between chapters, Val put excerpts of Fletcher's story and I can't say I read them all.

If you want to read more about Fletcher Christian and The Mutiny on the Bounty. Click on the links.

Bottom Line: I was stupid and waited too long to finish a great novel.

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Now, I've received a generous Sugar Doll award from Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere. If you haven't read and followed her blog yet, what's the matter with you?

Now, I plan to pass the award along but I'll do that tomorrow.

Joseph Addison's Essays: Sir Roger and the Witches

I wasn't sure I'd like this essay before I read it but it had a really good message. In the village where Sir Roger lived also lived a woman named Moll White. According to the essay, she looked like this:

In a close lane, as I pursued my journey, 
I spied a wrinkled hag, with age grown double, 
Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself. 
Her eyes with scalding rheum were galled and red ; 
Cold palsy shook her head : her hands seemed withered ; 
And on her crooked shoulders had she wrapped 
The tattered remnants of an old stripped hanging. 
Which served to keep her carcass from the cold. 
So there was nothing of a piece about her, 
Her lower weeds were all o'er coarsely patched 
With different coloured rags, black, red, white, yellow, 
And seemed to speak variety of wretchedness. 

 In other words, everyone viewed her as a witch. They spread rumors about her: she carried her broom with her; if she stumbled, it was over a cross;  she said her prayers backward at church. They would bring her to Sir Roger on many occasions because they believed she was behind many of the bad things that happened in the village.

So, Addison begs Sir Roger to visit the woman and when they do, what do they find? Behind a door they find a broom. Crap, that must mean I'm a witch because I have more than one broom in my house.

Later we find out that she's not really a witch at all. She a woman grown old and senile. I thought it a good essay for both humanity and writers.  How often have we as humans judged a person to be this way or that and in the end, been completely mistaken? I know I've done it many times.

For a writer, we can use this situation to our advantage. It's common for people to suspect others of wrong motives purely by how they act or dress or look. We as writers should use that in our story telling. Create characters with stereotypical habits or dress and have them in reality turn out to be the opposite in character.

What do you think?


Also, I've also posted another chapter of The Sholes Key and anyone who's interested can click on the photo below.

Writers and Suicide

What do these writers have in common?

Virginia Woolf

Sylvia Plath

Ernest Hemingway

David Foster Wallace

Ann Sexton

Sigmund Freud

Emily Bronte*
and more than 200 other popular writers...

They all took their own lives.

Why am I discussing this very "cheery" subject today? Well, I've noticed that many writers who blog complain about depressions and moods - sometimes they even discuss suicide.

I just wanted to add: This is not me seeking help. I am not feeling depressed at this moment. In fact, I would say I'm more manic than depressive at this moment. However, in the past, I have suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. I even ended up in the hospital, on meds and under the guidance of a psychiatrist. (Also, I'm not saying I'm manic-depressive or bi-polar.)

Anyway, I did research into the correlation between writers and suicide. I found out there is something called The Sylvia Plath effect which is a term coined by psychologist James C. Kaufman in 2001 to refer to the phenomenon that creative writers are more susceptible to mental illness. Kaufman's work demonstrated that female poets were more likely to suffer from mental illness than any other class of writers. The effect is named after the American poet Sylvia Plath, who committed suicide when she was thirty.

It is not surprising that these mood disorders seem most at home in the artistic mind. "The cognitive style of manic-depression overlaps with the creative temperament," Ms. Jamison said. Researchers have found that in a mildly manic state, subjects think more quickly, fluidly and originally. In a depressed state, subjects are self-critical and obsessive, an ideal frame of mind for revision and editing. "When we think of creative writers," Ms. Jamison said, "we think of boldness, sensitivity, restlessness, discontent; this is the manic-depressive temperament."

Perhaps more than other artists, writers can be seduced by the attractiveness of suicide as a means of controlling their life story. Several speakers pointed out the tendency of suicide to become a powerful image or metaphor, one that takes root in the mind and flourishes. - From The NY Times

There are other reason that writers tend to be depressed. Look at how we work: we sit alone all day, we don't get much exercise or sun, we keep irregular hours and when we have a great idea for a novel, story or poem, we cant seem to shut our brain off. And the worst thing is: writers don't make much money. We have the added worry that, even though we have the strong urge to write (voices yelling at us), we know we wont make millions for all our hard work. Hell, we might not make hundreds.

I know I live a manic/depressive life... When I have a story and I'm writing, I'm at a constant go-go-go. My brain wont shut off, I don't sleep much or eat much. I live my character's world.

After I finish my story, I feel a loss, a sadness. I don't know what to do with myself. This novel and its characters have been a part of my life for many months. Even though I'm happy to finish my book, I feel anxiety and lack of a goal or purpose.

Symptoms of Pre or Post-Novel Depression in a Blogger:

• persistent sadness or unhappiness (blogging about sadness)
• loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities (like blogging or reading)
• irritability (snarky comments or complaining attitude towards other blogs or people)
• disruption of normal sleep pattern (bloggers complain of exhaustion or tiredness)
• difficulty thinking or concentrating
• if they blog of suicide or death

Help for the Blogger with Post-Novel Depression:

• go outside, meet people (real people, not those in your head)
• forget writing for awhile, take a break, take a vacation
• ask for help from other bloggers or your family
• go to a doctor
  
• get exercise and eat well

*Though Emily's death was not viewed as a suicide, she refused medical help.

Sources:
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Correlation-Between-Writers-And-Depression&id=485786
http://www.ehow.com/how_2167207_fight-writers-depression.html
http://www.elizabethmoon.com/writer-depression.htm
http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/livetowrite.html
http://wolves.typepad.com/wolves/2004/02/writers_and_dep.html
http://writing-novels.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_postnovel_blues

Picture source: here

Novel Outlining for Motivation

For writers, outlining can be extremely helpful. Not only for PLOT but for MOTIVATION. Outlining doesn't only occur before the story starts but everyday as I work through the novel.

In the beginning of June, I start a 50,000 word novel for BuNoWriMo and have 30 days to write it. And, if my math is correct, that's 1700 words per day. That's a lot. It's tough to motivate yourself to write that many words if you're only used to writing up to 1000.

That's where outlining comes in.

Now, I've already got my novel outlining done but when writing a novel, I like to do a daily outline. What's a daily outline? Well, here's what I do.

1) I take my novel notebook and break a page or two into 17 sections and number it 1-17. (That's 1700 divided by 100.) Why? Because in my mind 100 words is about a paragraph. And, in my mind, writing 17 paragraphs is easier to swallow than writing 1700 words. Below is what a 100 words looks like.

‘Not going to happen, Sport,’ Moses replied. The phone rang and he went to answer it in the hall. ‘This stomach is as strong as iron.’ He punched his paunch and watched his round belly wiggle up and down in front of him. Who was he kidding? In the ten years since he got married, he went from the healthy weight of a naïve, doughnut-eating student working on his doctorate in history to a pastry-loving Detective Constable who went from home to car to desk and back again. Sadly, now at forty-one, climbing stairs left him out of breath.

2) Think about the scene you will write for that day. It may be two scenes or part of the scene from the day before. Just think of the scene and what goals you want to accomplish from writing that scene.

For example, if you're planing a scene from the POV of the murderer, you may have the goal of explaining the killer's motives or feelings. You have the goal of describing the murder and reaction of the victim.

3) Break those goals into 17 parts. You don't have to do it in the order you write the scene, just in the order you think of them.

For instance, in the example above, the first 100 could be - the murderer catching sight of the victim and describing how the victim looked. The second 100 could be, what does the murderer say to the victim before he kills him. The third, describe the weapon. The fourth, description of the murderer's feelings of guilt or hate. And so on...

4) When you begin your writing for the day, use these points to write your words for the day. If you end up with extra points after your 1700 words for the day are complete, either move the points forward to finish the scene the next day or if the scene is done, discard them.

When you break your writing task up into bits like this, it seems less daunting, does it not?

Picture source: here

BuNoWriMo and I'm on Facebook!

So, I've decided to take Rayna up on her offer and join BuNoWriMo. Which also means I've had to join Facebook again to take part. You can follow me or friend me. The link is on my side bar --->

The reason I've decided to take part is because I do well under pressure and I really want to get the project I'm working on done. So... I hope I don't collapse in exhaustion and write myself to the 50,000 work mark.

It's the story of a woman dealing with the aftermath of marital rape. It's one of the more complex pieces of writing I've done because I don't want the work to be too serious and depressing. Nor do I want it to be filled with gory details. I think I'm going to find a balance between relating the experiences of many women who suffer from this horrible situation and moving on and dealing with the consequences after you escape from it. The book is not based on one person's true story, it's a combination of many life experiences. When edited, I don't know what I'll do with it. I may just post the story online.

Also, I've also posted another chapter of The Sholes Key and anyone who's interested can click on the photo below.

It's not always what you expect...

Recently I've started a project that's out of my normal comfort zone. I normally write mysteries but I've taken on a touchy and complex subject. Well, the first chapter was easy, I started the novel with a bang, not a literal one but it's attention grabbing.

Anyway, chapter two is calmer. A go-between chapter that explains how the character gets from chapter one to chapter three. I needed to write the chapter but wasn't looking forward to doing it.

Why?

Because in my mind, it's not too exciting. What's written needed to be but I was worried my readers wouldn't like it. I did my best with it. I showed, I didn't tell. I used interesting ways to describe things, I think the character had a good voice and realistic dialog. And after a quick read-through edit, put it out there for my critique group hoping they could give me suggestions as to how I could improve what I thought was a mess.

Well, the results returned. And, to say the least, they were unexpected. Instead of comment such as 'I didn't like it' or 'the plot was weak' or 'I wish I could have seen more of ____ '(fill in the blank), I got this:

Very well-written, powerful piece. It definitely works for me. I can feel what it's like to be in her skin, free of him but still caged and controlled by her guilt and fear.

...great job with this. I could feel the guilt that the wife felt. You really pulled off the conflict in her mind very well.

This was brilliantly done... I think you did a wonderful job capturing the wife and the string of brutality and ice cold vehemence that must run through the late husband's family (I didn't expect her to rifle through the underwear). WOW! what this woman must have put up with, and for sixteen years, yet. Incredible . . .I would have killed the guy myself. Great writing...

Sometimes we put too much pressure to create the perfect chapter. Everything should be exciting all the time. We worry our writing is never good enough, never interesting enough but I found out that if you try hard, putting into practice all the writing skills you know, a chapter that may, in your mind, be not up to par, could end up a winner.

Write well. Don't doubt. Rinse and repeat.

Picture Source: here

I have a favor to ask...

I have spent the last few hours surfing the blogisphere and have read some amazing blogs. No wonder no one has been on my site. Anyway, I want to share some of the thoughts I've learned on writing and life today.

First off, Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere is doing charity work and I want to help out and as a favor, I would love it if you helped out as well. It's easy. Leave a comment, name a book. What!? Where? Well, here's what you do:

1) Go to this site: BlogHer

2) Sign in or register (it's easy, only username and email, takes no time at all)

3) Try to remember what book has changed your life.

3) Leave a comment on this page.

Justine Dell had guest editor Candice from Live Raw. She has some great manuscript editing advice. I'm in the process of editing my manuscript so I guess these blogs stand out.

Next, I've won another book! How do I do it? Well, more material for me to review. YAH! The writer Cricket McRae who writes the Sophie Mae Reynolds homecrafting mystery series is sending me the book, Something Borrow, Something Bleu. 

Elspeth from It's a Mystery has been doing some amazing blogs lately. They are so funny. Today, she'd done Ten Signs You're Almost Finished.

KarenG from Coming Down the Mountain is having a wonderful contest.  She's offering to buy your book and do a review or a three-chapter edit if you're not done your manuscript yet. I think that's a great prize.

Also, I've posted another chapter of my book, you can check it out here(or click the photo below). One reason I'm posting it online is after I published my last manuscript I felt such an end to that story I felt if I wanted to make changes, and I did, I couldn't because it was in print. Well, I don't like that feeling. I hate endings. So, I'm going to try this book online. That way, I can make little changes here and there when I have the notion. If I feel that it's finished for good, I may take and publish the book or not. Perhaps I'll leave it for people to read for free. Perhaps I'll prepare it so people can download it for free on their Kindle. AH, the freedom!

If you notice any mistakes in the manuscript, please feel free to make a comment. I haven't edited this book umpteen times so there could be something I missed. ENJOY! And good day!

Book Review: The Cipher Garden by Martin Edwards

Genre: Mystery
How I read it: I own it.

What attracted me to the book: I read the author's blog and mainly because books of this genre are my favorite.

Who should read this book: If you love mysteries... it's for you!

Beatrix Potter's Hilltop House talked about in the book

Summary (from amazon): When the body of Warren Howe, master landscaper and equally masterful ladies' man, is found hacked apart with a scythe in a garden in Old Sawrey, England, suspicion falls on his wife, Tina, in Edwards's engaging second Lake District mystery (after 2004's The Coffin Trail). But Tina has an alibi, and the case remains open. Years later, the police receive an anonymous note about Howe's murder, and DCI Hannah Scarlett determines to solve the crime. Is a spurned ex-lover responsible for the brutal killing—or Howe's business partner, eager to have both the landscaping firm and Howe's wife to himself? Or maybe Tina's alibi isn't so unshakeable after all. In her search for answers, Hannah uncovers suicide, incest and illicit affairs. Indeed, Hannah finds her own eye wandering toward Daniel Kind, a noted historian who enjoys sleuthing in his spare time—and Daniel, though ostensibly happily partnered with a charming reporter, returns the affection. Nearly every page yields new revelations in this delectable village caper.

Kendal Castle - Daniel and family visit it in the book

My thoughts: Ah, it's so good to read a good old-fashioned British mystery. And I wasn't disappointed with this one. I felt myself attracted to Hannah as a character. Daniel and his sister Louise also made a great combination in this novel. I could feel the chemistry between Hannah and Daniel like I can between McDermid's Jordon and Hill. However, I hope Edwards stretches out the relationship between the two because it always worries me when the characters get together too soon. 

Dove Cottage, also visited

It reads like your average Caroline Graham Inspector Barnaby novel with the murder as opening scene and the detectives interviewing many suspects but I believe that's what I like about these types of novels to begin with. But, there were a few surprise scenes (one at a skydiving show) and a situation happens with the main character that, for me, gave it depth. (Although, I wish that scene with Hannah had played a little differently and I wish I could have seen more emotions from her regarding it.)


Weather played a roll in this novel and the author always alluded to it being hot and humid which at this moment, here in Mexico, it's something I related to and it really put me in the scene. (It's around +36-41 degrees here everyday.) 

Oxenholme Station - M.E. gives us some info about it

One of my favorite lines from the book was a comment made by Hannah:

'One thing I did learn a long time ago is that men aren't the same as women. They think differently, behave differently. They compartmentalise their lives in a way that few women do. I'm not sure they even know what they want like we do.'  

As some of you know, codes and cipher are my thing. That's why I chose this book first over his others and I loved how the cipher garden played into the book. It cave it that little extra.

I like his easy style of writing and though he used multiple POVs, I didn't find myself confused.

Bottom Line: Would I read another Edward Martin book? Yes. Oh, and by the way, in the book M.E. asks if the Crier of Claife does exist. That's legend, but you can find more info here. 


Picture sources: Wikipedia and here

Joseph Addison's Essays: Sir Roger at Church

What fascinates me most about the essays is that they teach me so much about life back than. It seems there was a great deal of social rules.

Today's essay is about Church life. Apparently Sir Roger valued the church. So much in fact that he made sure his whole town attended the sermons every Sunday. The essays says he:

'...sometimes stands up when everybody else is upon their knees, to count the congregation, or see if any of his tenants are missing.'

The point of the essay, in my opinion, is that if the squire and parson do not get on, church life suffers. He compares the church life in the parish of Sir Roger and the parish the next town over where the pastor and the squire hate each other. The 'squire never goes to church. The essay relates:

'The 'squire has made all his tenants atheists and tithe-stealers; while the parson instructs them every Sunday in the dignity of his order, and insinuates to them, almost in every sermon, that he is a better man than his patron.'

Oh, how much power one man can have.

Book Review: A Stitch in Crime by Betty Hechtman

Two days ago, I received the book I won (The Moon Looked Down by Dorthy Garlock) from a blog contest at Renee's Reads. I can't wait to read it and review it. Mondays are my normal review day so I will get back to that next week. I was just trying to post some of the challenge posts from my other blog. This Monday: The Cipher Garden by Martin Edwards.

Also, I posted another chapter from my novel on my other site. If you would like to read my novel for free, go and become a follower. I post a chapter or two a week. Click on the button below and it will open the site in a new page.

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Genre: Cozy Mystery
How I read it: Kindle for PC

What attracted me to the book: The genre and the free crochet pattern.

Who should read this book: If you look around and you're sitting in a nice cozy arm chair, listening to Mozart, a book with a fancy crocheted bookmark in it is sitting next you as you crochet - this is the book for you and your crochet bookmark!

Summary (from amazon): Molly's been handed the reins for this year's creative retreat-an exhilarating weekend out on the Monterey Peninsula, complete with crochet classes. Unfortunately for one teacher, though, the breathtaking scenery is where she'll take her last breath. Now Molly will have to find a new instructor, and, if she can squeeze it in, solve this murder-with the help of her pals from the Tarzana Hookers.

My thoughts: In all fairness, I've gotten used to more intense reads like those of Caroline Graham and Val McDermid, so in comparison, I found the book timid. I also had issues in that I haven't read the first three books in the series and I found references to situations I didn't know about.

The book is written in first person and while I got close to the main character, it didn't make me feel for any of the others. When the victim died, I felt no sadness or shock, to me, she deserved what she received. The author is funny and there are some funny and crazy scenes in the book. I haven't had the time to create the purse with the pattern given but I did create the flower, you can see it on the right.

Bottom Line: This book is what it is, a cozy who-dunnit. If that's what you're wanting to read, you'll find it in this book. A fast, easy read.

I have a billion things to say and only one blog!

Where do I start? Well, I've received another award. *bow* Thank you, everyone. So, I'll talk about that. Also, I have some great links to post. And, last night was the season finale of one of my favorite series, The Mentalist. I'm gonna talk about that a bit too.

Let's start with the award. Alexandra from Friends and Crocodiles gave me the coveted Prolific Blogger Award. Thank you. Now, I don't think you should just visit her site because it's wonderful and entertaining but because right now she has a contest going on. All you need to do is follow her blog (click of a button) and leave a comment. How easy is that.

Now, to pass on the award.

This is so difficult for me because there are so many worthy people.
1) First of all, the award goes to Writing on the Wall. A fellow Calgarian. (Hope that's how you spell it... how sad is that - can't spell to save my life.)
2) The Daring Novelist
3) Tired by Writing
4) Words Have Meaning - a writer in my critique group.
5) Review, Rewrite, and Rewind
Now, the rules are this: There aren't really any written ones. Someone should write a book. But, if you would like, show off the award on your blog and advertise and nominate a few other bloggers. That's it.

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Next, I'd like to discuss The Mentalist. Anyone who watches that show know the MC Jane's obsession is with a Serial Killer called Red John. Well, of course the SK's in the last episode of the season. As exciting as the episode was, that's not what interested me the most.

At the end of the episode, Red John whispers into Jane's ear,

TYGER, tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

It's a quote from the poem The Tyger by William Blake. Me, being the stupid nut that I am, had to look up information on what it could me. I have to get a jump on next season, you see. Here's what I found out:

This poem has been his most analyzed poem. Notice he spelled Tyger the old way. Does that have a meaning? A metaphor?

The poem is asking the creator of the tyger, why? Why create such a beast if the tyger is so fearsome? Some believe that the tyger is representing an evil. Then the writer questions, why would the creator create it? Most created things reflect the creator, so is the creator vicious? The opposite poem is called The Lamb. The opposite of the tyger. What creator could create a world of lambs and a world of tygers?

Now, as interesting as this poem is, what does it have to do with SK Red John?
Good question. Is RJ saying he's Satan? He's evil? Is he asking how he could be what his is?

I have no idea who RJ is. I doubt we'll know until he's revealed. But, I thought the poem intriguing.

On an interesting note, I don't think we've seen RJ yet.

This is a shot from season 2 episode 8 when Bosco's secretary shoots him, we catch a glimpse of RJ after he poisons her. Notice the blue color on the uniform? Only one type of officer wore that blue color on the show. See the photo below.

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Now some lovely links.

• I've been really following this writer: Leigh Russell. She's from the UK and her first book took off like a rocket. Now her second book is coming out and I can't wait to read both. Check out her site.
• Journaling Woman wrote a wonderful blog about how to find time during the day to write. You only need 15 minutes.
• Megan from The Write Stuff wrote a great blog about placing too much information on the cover and ruining the surprise. Interesting topic.

Book Review: Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie

Genre: Agatha Christie Mystery
How I read it: I own the book.

What attracted me to the book: It's an Agatha Christie and I've read all her books. Doesn't the title just make you want to find out what it means?
Who should read this book: Everyone!

Summary (from amazon): Was it a misstep that sent the handsome stranger plummeting to his death from a cliff? Or something more sinister? Fun-loving adventurers Bobby Jones and Francis Derwit's suspicions are certainly aroused-especially since the man's dying words were so peculiar: Why didn't they ask Evans? Bobby and Francis would love to know. Unfortunately, asking it of the wrong people have sent the amateur sleuths running for their lives-on a wild and deadly pursuit to discover who Evans is, what it was he wasn't asked, and why the mysterious inquiry has put their own lives in mortal danger...

My thoughts: I love all of AC's mysteries, she has created some of the greatest plot lines in all of history. But, what made me love this book was not the mystery as much as the chemistry between the two MCs. Francis, the female MC is witty, adventurous and rich. I bonded with her immediately. Some of the things she did in the book were outrageous and funny.

However, AC doesn't leave the mystery lover hanging. This book has: a chase for an unknown murderer, a near-death poisoning for Bobby, multiple disguises for Bobby and Frankie, a plot to do with mistaken identity, a subplot of a mental hospital and a lunatic patient, a scheme of faking a will, a murder in a locked room, a scheme with impersonations, and a thriving drug business.

Bottom Line: If you haven't read Agatha Christie yet, why not? Get started already!

Book Review: Pretty Is As Pretty Dies by Elizabeth Spann Craig

I'm trying to stay upbeat. And for the most part I have what I need. I write everyday, I blog everyday (which is something I look forward to), and I'm able to read everyday. Perhaps it's the weather. (35+ Celsius / 90+ Fahrenheit) out everyday - it's draining. Also, it seems I have to choose, clean house or write. I should do what my husband says and hire a housekeeper. So, this week, I'm going to bring some more book reviews over from my other blog.

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Genre: Cozy Mystery
How I read it: Kindle for PC

What attracted me to the book: The title and the awesome cover! Love the gnomes. Maybe because I love the TV show Amazing Race.

Who should read this book: If you love cozy mysteries set in small American towns with great characters and witty banter... it's for you!

Summary (from amazon): No one in Bradley, North Carolina, is exactly crying into their sweet tea over the murder of Parke Stockard. Certainly not retired schoolteacher Myrtle Clover. Upon discovering the corpse, Myrtle is struck-not with grief, but a brilliant idea! Solving the crime would prove to everyone (especially her son Red, the police chief) that this eighty-something-year-old is not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.

The victim, a pretty but pushy town developer, had deep pockets and few friends. Myrtle can't throw one of her gaudy garden gnomes without hitting a potential suspect. Even when another murder takes place, proud Myrtle forges on, armed only with a heavy cane, a venomous tongue, and a widower sidekick.

My thoughts: This was my second cozy in a row and I wasn't too enthused to read another after not liking the first, but I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the characters in the small town and some bits were extremely funny. The sleuth in this series is an old lady, Miss Marple-ish but with attitude.

Also, what I liked is that the author never took the situations to extreme. I never said while reading, 'that would never happen.' I think that realism is important when you have as a main character a sleuth not normally involved in crime.

My editing work sometimes takes the enjoyment out of reading and the multiple POVs in each chapter threw me, but once I got used to it (and the mult POV provided humor) I dove right in. However, the author has an amazing way of describing things, I felt the small-town life and the small-town personality.

Bottom Line:If you enjoy cozy mysteries with interesting characters, you won't be disappointed with this book.

Author's blog: Mystery Writing is Murder
Website: www.elizabethspanncraig.com
Elizabeth has a new book coming out called Delicious and Suspicious. I plan to read and review it after it comes out July 6, 2010.

My book - it's free. Also, my thoughts on Poe.

So lately, I've been giving a lot of thought to the question: Why do I write? I write because I have to, but why? What do I get out of all the hours and hours of hard work? Why does anyone want to write?

Some write because they feel they'll make truckloads of money. Usually these writers don't last long. Very few of the novels written every year sell more than a few hundred copies so why do we keep going? Because, in my humble opinion, we have a story to tell. I know I do. I have stories knocking around in my brain just waiting to be written.

And for my hard work, I want someone to read them. So, I've decided to put my first mystery on line. You can click the picture above to be taken to the website. It's a 90,000 word mystery with ciphers to crack. So far, no one I know has cracked the cipher without reading the novel all the way through however if someone makes a comment wishing to attempt it, I will give hints. And, if someone does actually crack the code before the character does in the book, I will consider giving the person a prize.

So far only the first two chapters are posted and I will post a chapter or two a week there. (The novel is complete, don't worry.) I may go back and make a few tweeks here and there but I hope you enjoy my hard work.

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Now, I read on Sunday a short story by Edgar Allen Poe called The Gold Bug and I loved it. Except for one thing: Poe decided to write the dialog of one character, a man named Jupiter, exactly the way he speaks. And he ain't speak no good!

Here are some of Jupiter's lines:

"Dey aint no tin in him, Massa Will, I keep a tellin' on you," here interrupted Jupiter; "de bug is a goole-bug, solid, ebery bit of him, inside and all, sep him wing -- meber feel half so hebby a bug in my life."

"Keeps a syphon wid de figgurs on de slate -- de queerest figgurs I ebber did see. Ise gittin' to be skeered, I tell you. Hab for to keep mighty tight eye 'pon him 'noovers. Todder day he gib me slip 'fore de sun up and was gone de whole ob de blessed day. I had a big stick ready cut for to gib him deuced good beating when he did come -- but Ise sich a fool dat I hadn't de heart arter all -- he looked so berry poorly."

What!? The short story was about ciphers and I spent more time trying to decipher Jupiter's lines than the code itself. That aside, the story was interesting and about finding Captain Kidd's treasure. You can read the story here.

Source: here

Book Review: The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham

*This is a book review from my other site - I'm posting it here from the 2010 challenges. Next week, a brand new review of Edward Martin's The Cipher Garden.*

Genre: Cozyish mystery - I say this because there are some gruesome scenes.
How I read it: I own the book.

What attracted me to the book: I love watching the series on TV.
Who should read this book: Everyone who loves a clever whodunit.

Summary (from amazon): The British author makes her debut here in an uncommonly appealing mystery, set in a tranquil village, Badger's Drift. Learned Chief Inspector Barnaby and callow Sergeant Troy go to work when importunate, elderly Miss Bellringer insists that her friend, Emily Simpson, did not die of a heart attack as her doctor claimed, but was murdered. An autopsy proves Miss Bellringer right; Emily had imbibed a Socratic mix of wine and hemlock. Spreading alarm throughout the community, an unseen murderer strikes again, leaving sly Mrs. Rainbird's bloody corpse to be found by her son, the local undertaker. As Barnaby and Troy investigate, they turn up evidence of another crime years earlier, and several suspects. Among them are the doctor's promiscuous wife, a young woman whose brother objects to her marriage to a rich widower and a Lady Chatterley-type gamekeeper. Diligent detecting brings the chief and his bumbling assistant to a sensational expose. Graham makes the characters humanly believable in her witty and tragic novel, a real winner.


My thoughts: I read this book a long time ago and wanted to re-read it because of the 2010 challenge. I'm glad I did. I own quite a few of Graham's books, some with Inspector Barnaby as the main character, some not.

Perhaps because this is her first book, she doesn't fill it with massive amounts of description. She keeps the book to the point and only adds the exciting bits. I loved all the off-the-wall characters. I actually like to read first books from authors, before the publishing world really sinks their claws into the writers and demands word count and formula. I felt the way about Elizabeth George's first book as well. Since then, both authors have produced longer books with more filler.

I think once you read this book, you will not forget the premise. I give a warning however...some of the themes in his cozy mystery are not suitable for younger adults.

Graham writes wonderful books. She's an easy read. A great series to start and start here.

Joseph Addison's Essays: Sir Roger and Will. Wimble

May-Fly

I really liked this essay.

In this one, Sir Roger has the company of a man named William Wimble, the younger brother to a baronet. This Will is adept at making devices used for hunting, fishing and trapping (May-Flys and Angle Rods) and could be an amazing business man except for one thing - he is a 'younger brother of a great family who had rather see their children starve like gentlemen, than thrive in a trade or profession that is beneath their quality.'

At the time Addison wrote this essay, elder sons of a gentleman inherited the estate while the younger were meant either for 'divinity, law, or physic' (medicine). If the younger son could not make it in these fields, he became reliant on his family. And for some reason, that was more acceptable than trade. Will Wimble, took care of his brother's game (hunting and trapping).

Addison wrote on the ridiculousness of this proud tradition when he wrote: "It is the happiness of a trading nation, like ours, that the younger sons though incapable of any liberal art or profession, may be placed in such a way of life, as may perhaps enable them to vie with best of their family: accordingly, we find several citizens that were launched into the world with narrow fortunes, rising by an honest industry to greater estates than those of their elder brothers.

We've seen it in many of the works by Austen and Bronte. Take for example, Pride and Prejudice, where the Bennetts, who were born into fortune, struggle while Mrs. Bennett's brother - Mr. Gardner, made a fortune in trade, perhaps surpassing his brother-in-law's income.

Food for thought.

The Gold Bug by Edgar Allen Poe

Queen of the Desert Plant

Currently, I'm reading Applied Cryptanalysis and one of the question in the textbook asks: Edgar Allan Poe’s 1843 short story. “The Gold Bug,” features a cryptanalytic
attack. What type of cipher is broken and how?

What!? I didn't know the book existed and that Poe was so into cryptography. Amazing. So I went to Google to find his short story. I found it here.

I haven't read it yet but I saw the code he wants his readers to crack. Oh boy, can't wait to read and get cracking.

I will do a review of it when I'm done.

Grapes soon to ripen

Queen of the Desert Closeup

Also, here are some pics from my garden and around where I live.

How Do You Read?

BTW, this is not my book...I found the pic on the internet

Most bloggers I know are avid readers, whether we read books, ebooks or blogs. Currently I'm reading Edward Martin's book The Cipher Garden (which I'm enjoying) but I'm having a really hard time remembering the names. I don't think this is a problem with Martin's writing because I'm like this with every book. I'm much better with numbers... perhaps I should give all my characters numbers instead of names.

The woman held out her hand to the man and said, "Hi, my name's 79341." I think it could work.

Anyway, it got me thinking: do other people have the same problems I do when reading? My novels look like notebooks when I'm through. I highlight names, underline funny lines, write notes in the margins, I've even edited spelling or grammatical errors. A couple of months ago, I found a letter I wrote when I was twelve to a high school textbook printing company informing them of an error in their book.

Yeah, I sound pathetic really. The sad thing is, my memory's so bad that I still have problems remembering the book a few months after reading. That's why I love my blog and my book reviews. It gives me a chance to record my thoughts and opinions. Someday, I can look back at all the books I've read and feel proud of myself.

Tautology - keep it out of writing!

Tautology is the use of words that duplicate the meaning of a word or words already used, as in:

basic principles
hollow tube
mutual cooperation
personal opinion
exactly equal
still continues
past memories
various differences
each individual
true facts
important essentials
future plans
terrible tragedy
end result
final outcome
free gift
past history
unexpected surprise
sudden crisis

over exagerate

An expression that's not redundant as much as it is illogical is "very unique." Since unique means "one of a kind," adding any modifier of degree -- very, so, especially, somewhat, extremely, etc. -- is illogical.

A Riddle for Writers (say that ten times fast) and an answer. What more could you want?

 The Riddle:

What do all of us have but rarely doesn't anyone else want?

What do beginner writers often slip in an out of without thought? (no, nothing kinky)

How can we play God and then next moment a shriveled homeless man?

What's black and white and...(oh, wait, that's a different one - never mind)

Any guesses? 

Well, if you guessed BUTTER TART, you, for some strange reason, knew what I'm hankering for but got the riddle wrong. If you guessed POV(Point of View), you're right!

Point of view is one of the most difficult things as an author to keep right. Often, we start out a chapter in one POV and end in another. Sometimes we change throughout.

What is POV? What are the different types?

Most intimate is first person POV. 

The reader gets into the mind and feelings of the character but at a loss of wider knowledge. We see through one person's eyes only - we know what the character knows and that's it.

In contrast, omniscient is least intimate POV but lends the widest overall understanding. 

And third person POV is somewhere in the middle.

Now let’s have a look at the pros and cons of each.

First Person POV

In first person we are the character. What he or she sees, we see. What he or she feels, we know about. We can't know what the neighbor thinks of our character or what is happening the next street over if our character can't know those things. It's like real life. 


Pros: 

• It's an intimate POV - we become close with the character. We go through the story with them.

Cons: 

• Well, because we only see the story from the eyes of one, maybe the plot, the story isn't completely clear. We only have one person's opinion. 
• It's easy, for the sake of clarity, to start adding information our character can not see - this is a POV no-no.

What can be done if you want first person POV but want more options? 
You could try first person unlimited. One character’s views and prejudices are evened out by another’s opposing opinions. 

Omniscient POV

Omniscient point of view is the least intimate but lends itself to an excellent overall understanding. In fact, from an intimacy standpoint, it is the opposite of first person. It is like watching the proceedings through a TV camera-- the reader can hear the voices and see the actions but not read the thoughts. 

Pros: 

• We can see everything that is happening. 
• More plot lines can be added because you're not limited.

Cons:

• The story is less intimate. We can't get into our character's heads. We don't know what they're feeling or thinking. 

Third Person POV

Third person is the balance between intimacy and perspective. Most novels are written in third person simply because it offers the greatest versatility and appeals. I use this POV in all my mystery stories. 

Pros:

• It keeps the mystery longer. The reader walks in a single character’s shoes but may know things that the character does not. 
• It still enables you to get to know your character better. 

Cons:

• With multiple lead characters comes more confusion. The writer has to make it clear whose POV the scene is in.  
• Less intimacy with this POV but it can work well with mysteries. 

However, a word of caution for every POV: Make sure your characters are different in personality. If all your character's POV sound the same, the reader will be confused. You could make each chapter a different character's POV or you could place the name of the character at the top of each chapter in their POV.

Source: What POV?

Really cool links and Author's Spotlight: Val McDermid

Yesterday, I did a review on a book set in 1940s London. Well, I found a really interesting blog that chronicles the diary entries (I believe real diary entries) from someone who lived it. You should check it out, it's really interesting. The site is called: Blitz Diary

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I won an award earlier this week and said I'd post the next recipients later. Well, now is later. Here are my five winners: (these are new, old and interesting bloggers - but not my regular readers)
1) Diane at Tales from Baggins Bottom
2) Cathy from My New Notebook
3) Leigh Russell from Crime Fiction
4) Madeleine from A Book A Day Bookworm

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Author Spotlight: Val McDermid

Picture: Val McDermid with Robson Green from the TV series Wire in the Blood.

Val McDermid is one of my favorite writers. I first started reading her Tony Hill series a few years back and became hooked. I love psychological mysteries and hers are a in-depth look at psychopaths and serial killers. (Nice bedtime reading...if you like nightmares, hugging your kids, and that sort of thing.)

Val McDermid was born in 1955 in Scotland. She best known for her Tony Hill novels. (I love the TV series too.)

McDermid's notable characters are a lesbian journalist, Lindsay Gordon; a private investigator, Kate Brannigan; and a psychologist, Tony Hill, who suffers from sexual dysfunction. Her books mainly fall into three series: Lindsay Gordon, Kate Brannigan, and, beginning in 1995, the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, the first entry in which, The Mermaids Singing, won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year. The Hill/Jordan series has been adapted for television under the name Wire in the Blood, starring Robson Green.

McDermid considers her work to be Tartan Noir.
McDermid is a lesbian and currently lives in Manchester and Northumberland with her girlfriend, son, and 17 cats.

Here's a list of her books. Which ones have you read? Check out her website.

Lindsay Gordon series

* Report for Murder (1987)
* Common Murder (1989)
* Final Edition (1991)
* Union Jack (1993)
* Booked for Murder (1996)
* Hostage to Murder (2003)

Kate Brannigan series

* Dead Beat (1992)
* Kick Back (1993)
* Crack Down (1994)
* Clean Break (1995)
* Blue Genes (1996)
* Star Struck (1998)

Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series (I've read all of these)

* The Mermaids Singing (1995)
* The Wire in the Blood (1997)
* The Last Temptation (2002)
* The Torment of Others (2004)
* Beneath the Bleeding (2007)[5]
* The Fever of the Bone (2009)

Other books

* A Suitable Job for a Woman (1994); non-fiction
* The Writing on the Wall (1997)
* A Place of Execution (1999)(Read)
* Killing the Shadows (2000)
* The Distant Echo (2003)
* Stranded (2005); short stories
* The Grave Tattoo (2006)(Own and plan to read for my 2010 challenge)
* A Darker Domain (2008)

Source: Wikipedia

Book Review: The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

I have a dentist appointment today so I thought I would do the post now before I'm groggy and incoherent. Although, you may like my writing better when I'm on painkillers.

Genre: Literary Fiction
How I read it: I own the book.


What attracted me to the book: I actually thought it was a mystery set in 1940s London so I bought it. But, it's not, it's not even close to a mystery...in the mystery sense of the word.


Who should read this book: Anyone who loves good writing but doesn't mind some really STRONG (suicide, gay relations, abortion, war...) subjects being discussed.

Summary (From Amazon): From Publishers Weekly
Waters begins Night Watch at the end of her tale in 1947 and works her way backwards to 1941. Since she ensures that characters don't spoil the freshness of earlier events by leaking important information, the first part includes a series of conversations that coyly allude to the characters' pasts and make the narrative slightly difficult to comprehend. The feat of entering this tale aurally is compounded by having to follow three separate narrative lines, which Waters later connects with clever Dickensian precision. Juanita McMahon performs the work persuasively. What she lacks in vocal range, she makes up by endowing characters with accents and speech patterns to reflect distinctions of social class. She gives the character Kay's voice such deep Dietrich-like sexual innuendo that one wonders why her lovers abandon her. Despite the initial challenge, Night Watch is a skillfully written historical account of love of all persuasions trying to survive the dark prospects of London during the blitz.

My opinion: Well, my initial disappointment was that it wasn't a mystery. But, that's my fault. Not all dark covered books are mysterious and haunting (although this one is a bit haunting).

Let's start with the good: The WRITING... it's, well, BRILLIANT. She manages to tell a story that you'll remember for years even though you might not want to. Also, she did a lot of research into the 1940s war-time London. She describes the blackouts and what life was like back then when you couldn't see after the sun went down. Also, the terror that people felt when the bombs fell on London and the life afterward. Really well done.

Now, some things I didn't like so much: The novel goes BACK IN TIME. It starts in 1947 then moves to 1943 then to 1941. I found it somewhat frustrating because I had forgot where some of the characters left off in the 'future' and so when reading their past, I got confused. Also, I wanted to know how they ended up. I wanted past 1947... some readers may find that frustrating.

Next, the THEMES. I don't mind if a writer takes up discussing one or two subjects considered by many as strong or questionable. But, this writers writes about many in great detail. One character has an abortion and I actually found myself getting nauseated. This novel is, at times, for the strong of stomach.

TOO MANY CHARACTERS - this novel follows three groups of people. At times, I became confused. If you read this book, make sure you have time to read it without breaks in between. I sometimes left the book for a day or two and when I came back, I had to remember who each character was, especially the females.

All in all, if you're looking for a well-written, modern book that takes risks, you may like this one.

Joseph Addison's Essays: Sir Roger at Home

First, if you want to read the story, you can here: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4. It's a short, short story probably around 500-1000 words long.

Modern Day Soho Square (click to enlarge)

Who is Sir Roger?

Joseph introduces us to Sir Roger de Coverley in this essay, a beginning of many regarding this baronet. Not much is written about this character but what is known is that his grandfather invented a dance called, "Sir Roger de Coverley" otherwise known as the Virginia Reel. You can watch the dance on YouTube. They've danced this way many times in Jane Austen films.

Modern Day Soho Square (click to enlarge)

When in London, Sir Roger lived in Soho Square. He kept himself a bachelor because he was crossed in love by a widow in the next county over.

Notes from the Essay:

Addison comments on Roger's treatment of his servants. Commenting that all his servants have been with him for years, growing old with them. When Sir Roger comes home from London or elsewhere, the servants will go as far as crying over his return and disappointment over not being able to help him around the house.

Next, Addison talks about a companion of Sir Roger, a clergyman who is considered more of a "relation than a dependent" and who has lived with Sir Roger for over thirty years. The clergyman is a dispute settler and because of his wisdom, has kept peace among Sir Roger and his tenant. Sir Roger gave his clergyman and friend all the sermons he could find in English and so instead of the clergyman having to make his own, he could work on perfecting the delivery of them.

Addison remarks that he wished all clergymen would employ their time likewise. "This would not only be more easy to themselves, but more edifying to the people."

Picture Source: here

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I've received the Awesomesause Award from Nicole at One Significant Moment at a Time. Go visit her blog. Her layout is amazing. She's a writer, a reader, and an amazing blogger.

I will be giving this award out tomorrow.

Keep it Simple Stupid! and some updates...

Below is a simple post on writing but I want to explain some things first:

1) I've recently changed my blog to avoid some problems I've had a home, but I'm still the same person listening to the same voices. I still use my original pen name because I have some books and short stories published under that name but I will be publishing some of my new books under Clarissa. (I don't use my really name for any of my writing...)

2) Also, I started some reading challenges this year and I still want to complete them so I will move the challenges to this site.

3) The goal of this site is to post my writing notes. I will post blogs on grammar, writing and things that interest me. I love to hear from you and love reading your comments. I read each and every one. Also, if you follow me, I will follow your blog also. I try to read and comment on most of the blogs I read but can't make any promises.

4) Currently I am reading: (I will be doing a book review of The Night Watch on Monday. Don't worry, I won't bore you with a book review of the first... although, it's extremely interesting.)

5) I will be reading this next: (That book review will be in a couple of weeks.)

6) Okay, now some great ways to pump-up your sentences.

C - Cut clichés

L - Leave out the adjectives and adverbs

E - Evoke the senses

A - Active voice not passive

R - Reveal don't report