Blog - Carmen Fox

August 12, 2014 Books, The Write Path, Urban Fantasy 11 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with Mary Buckham

Mary Buckham

In this series, guest bloggers talk to us about their books. My guest today is author, teacher, head ninja and sometimes personal life coach Mary Buckham, who will be discussing Invisible Fears, part one of her Invisible Recruit series. You can find my review on her book here: Invisible Fears – Review

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Mary’s.

1. What is your book about?

INVISIBLE FEARS is the fourth full-length novel in the Invisible Recruits Urban Fantasy series and the first in that series focusing on Kelly McAllister, a former kindergarten teacher turned covert agent to fight preternaturals. She also has an ability that has always set her apart—she can turn invisible. Which sounds fun, but is everything but, especially in this story.

Kelly’s the nice girl-next-door who always sees the glass half-full and she’s leading her first mission deep into the heart of equatorial Africa. She’s to find a rare item that is the key to understanding and stopping a dangerous threat to humans and preternaturals alike. She’s also looking for answers to how her beloved older sister died in this part of the world while doing relief work, a quest that opens up more questions than answers and puts her official mission at risk almost immediately. Danger is around every corner as Kelly struggles to complete her mission, protect innocent children under her care, and stay alive. Then there’s a hunky wolf Shifter who’s causing her all sorts of other complications.

2. What do you think attracts readers to your main characters?

Kelly is that kind, compassionate, genuinely good person we’d all like to be, or think of ourselves as being, pushed to the brink physically, mentally and emotionally. Some see her optimism as naïve and dangerous, especially in her role as a fighter against preternatural threats. Others see her in ways she’d never see herself. I think what attracts readers to her is her journey of self-discovery that’s as much a part of the story as surviving the external threats she faces.

3. What message do you hope the reader takes away from your book?

My book titles tend to reflect the themes of my stories. So in INVISIBLE FEARS Kelly must face a whole gamut of fears—external and internal. Attacks by a Smere goblin, a kidnapping by a sinister preternatural mercenary leader, slogging through the jungle, as well as learning the truth behind her sister’s death and her own hidden background. Facing the type of hurdles she has to face is not easy and doing so while struggling to remain true to who Kelly thinks she is, adds a whole other layer of complications for her.

4. What is it about your book that made you so determined it should be published?

Writing the first 3 novels and 2 novellas in the series focused on Alex Noziak, a witch/shaman with a wicked attitude and hell-for-leather approach to life. Writing about nice-girl Kelly was a 180% turn around to really get into her skin while seeing her through her fellow IR (Invisible Recruit) teammates and through her own world view. Just because she was a good girl did not mean she didn’t have issues and challenges, and it certainly made it interesting to put her into situations that would have stopped battle-hardened warriors, and see how she approached them. Because so many of my readers enjoyed Alex, switching to a new character, even one they recognized, was a huge risk for me as a writer and for the sake of the series. So far though the feedback has been very positive. Proving good girls don’t finish last!

5. Comparing the ideas you had before writing the book with the finished product, would you change anything if you could travel back in time?

This book was originally written for a major publisher as the 3rd book in a 5 book series they’d contracted with me for a few years back. But the month before it was due for release the publisher stopped publishing these kinds of stories so Kelly’s story was set aside. When I revitalized the series with a preternatural/paranormal element last year I took book 2 in the series and revealed elements of that character and her own challenges in 3 novels and 2 novellas. I’ll be doing the same with Kelly and each of the remaining primary Invisible Recruit characters. So 5 Invisible Recruit operatives, three novels each and as many novellas as I have time to write creates a huge story world and story arc to juggle.

In INVISIBLE FEARS, even though the core story concepts – Kelly, former kindergarten teacher turned operative and set in Africa – remained from the original finished draft, so much of the story was rewritten that it’d be hard to see what remains of that original story. As for traveling back in time I’m very, very glad now that these books were not published by the big NY publishing House because I’m having way too much fun writing and releasing them in a manner that allows readers to get them in their hands sooner rather than later. Which means the next novella about Kelly was released in July and the next novel—INVISIBLE SECRETS—will be in September.

About Mary

USA Today bestselling author Mary Buckham writes non-fiction; the Amazon best selling WRITING ACTIVE SETTING series (in e-format and now in book form); as well as fiction – Urban Fantasy w/attitude. Love romance, danger & kick-ass heroines? Find it in her Invisible Recruits series: www.MaryBuckham.com or www.InvisibleRecruits.com.

Intrigued? Grab your copy of INVISIBLE FEARS here:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1l9LcHe
B&N: http://bit.ly/1lDNIbX
Kobo: http://bit.ly/SV8kkK

August 9, 2014 Interests and hobbies, Reviews Post a Comment

HAVOK AND HIJINKS – Review

New Card Game. Cute, Quick and Quirky.

I’m a Kickstarter addict. And why not? They have fantastic stuff for great prices. Plus, you get to be involved in the development of some awesome products.

The interval between first pledge and final delivery is usually much longer than first indicated. Hey, that’s part of the roller-coaster ride. But when you receive the comic or scarf or game or whatever you pledged for, it’s like Christmas.

Today the mailman brought a neat little card game called Havok and Hijinks. It features these cute dragons that were kicked out of their homes by their parents when they starting eyeing their gold. Now the youngsters head out into the world to gather their own treasure. Even if it means stealing it from their friends.

Havok and hijinks

As soon as I received the game, I talked a friend into playing it. Fifteen minutes later, I’d lost the game, but you wouldn’t know it from my grin. It’s one of those games that makes you go all fuzzy inside, like you just want to hug everyone. Why? No clue. It just does. Perhaps it’s the adorable faces with those huge eyes staring up at you (I’m talking dragons, you understand. NOT opponents.). Or maybe it’s the game play that’s part luck, part strategy, and all fun.

Havok and hijinks

In fact, the game mechanics are quick to learn. You flip over a Havok card. The card will either present you with a certain amount of gold (yay!), or give you an action to perform, also called an “event.” This could involve swapping cards with an opponent, or possibly letting you reorder the next three Havok cards to ensure your opponents get the worst ones. In the next step, you play one of the three Hijinks cards in your hands. This card might allow you to steal a treasure, break your opponents’ treasures,… Many Hijinks cards also give you a defensive function to shield yourself against attack.

Havok and hijinks
Oh, and your dragon has some neat tricks up its sleeves, too. You know, if dragons actually wore sleeves. All of this adds up to a whole lotta fun.

Seriously, this game is an excellent way of spending your lunch break. If you’re into tabletop games and card games at all, get this game at havokandhijinks.com, where it will be available to buy by the end of August 2014.

Havok and Hijinks plays with 2-4 players, takes between 15-30 minutes, and is recommended for children and grown-ups from 13 years.

August 8, 2014 Interests and hobbies Post a Comment

WHATCHAMACALLITS AND DOOHICKEYS

As a writer, or even in non-fiction, aka real life, you constantly come up against terms you end up calling ‘thing,’ like an elastic or rubber band for women’s ponytails is often referred to as a ‘hair thing.’ Spending hours finding the correct expression for this piece or that is such a waste of time. Here a short collection of some of my favorite terms.

What’s the name for…

… the end of a shoelace?

Blog post The small plastic or metal tip that prevents your shoelace from unravelling is called aglet or aiglet. If the piece has a decorative function, for example if it is shaped like an arrow or an angel, it may also be called an aiguillette. Is it a useless word? “The problem with fibs is that unless you conjure a nice little aglet, the lies could end up unravelling around you.”

…the parts of a zipper?

The tab you use to zip or unzip is called the slider. The top stop and bottom stop define how far you can move the slider, and the fabric strip is called the tape. So, next time you write intimacy or find yourself in an intimate situation, why not use the technical terms?

… the area between your nose and your eyes?

The skin separating your nose from the ridge of your eyes (or between your eyebrows) is called the glabella and the bone leading up to the glabella, at the roof of your nose, is the ethmoid bone. There’s a good chance you’ve rubbed either at some point, perhaps in confusion or embarrassment.

…the ridge between your nose and the mouth?

This is called the philtrum. Not the most sensual word, granted. Still better than its alternative term, “medial cleft.”

…the shape of your upper lip?

Most people would call it the cupid’s bow, but officially it’s the tubercle.

…the space behind your knee?

I usually refer to it as the sensitive (or ticklish, but don’t tell anyone!) kink at the back of my knee, but the official term is the popliteal region. Doesn’t really flow smoothly from the tongue, does it?

…the white of the eye?

Sclera. Again, not particularly sensual, but could be useful if describing a network of streams criss-crossing the field like the spidery vessels in the sclera of a drunk.

…rain when the sun is shining?

There’s no official term, but sunshower seems to be quite popular.

…the place in traffic where you drive around a round traffic island and turn off into the correct road?

In Britain, this is generally known as a roundabout, which is also an acceptable term in the US, although ‘traffic circle’ seems to be preferred by many Americans.

…when someone walks with their feet pointed outward?

Pigeon-toed. The opposite of that is ‘bow-legged’ or ‘duck-footed.’

(The references below relate to the results of an American dialect survey, which I found interesting:)

What do you call…

…the end of a loaf of bread?

Nearly 60% of Americans call it the ‘heel,’ with ‘end’ and ‘crust’ in second and third place. However, there appears to be no official term. Incidentally, I always refer to the “crust” as ‘crocodile,’ and have done since I was a child. No reason, as far as I know. I guess I was just an odd child.

…the sale of unwanted items on your porch or in your yard?

The same survey suggests ‘garage sale’ is the favorite term, with ‘rummage sale’ a close second.

…clumps of dust you may find under your sofa?

‘Dust bunnies’ is the most common term, although ‘dust balls’ also has its fans.

… something that is across both streets from you at an intersection (or diagonally across from you in general)?

According to the survey, most called it ‘kitty-corner’ or possibly ‘catty-corner.’ Or you could always go with ‘diagonal.’

… a sweetened carbonated beverage?

50% of Americans like ‘soda,’ while a quarter prefer ‘pop.’

Have you come across any other specific words that aren’t common knowledge? Please share (see “Comments” at the top of this page). We really want to know.

August 6, 2014 The Write Path 1 Comment

THE WRITE PATH with Ruth Andrew

THe Write Path

Ruth Andrew

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is author Ruth Andrew, whose Write Path has been anything but straight.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Ruth’s.

HOPE AND HAPPY ENDINGS

Ruth Andrew

1. What made you want to be a writer?I can’t remember not wanting to write. My first short story, ‘Geometry from the Standpoint of a Spider’ was written when I was in high school. It was the way I worked out problems, but also the way I celebrated joy, and I loved geometry. This story was about a spider named Suzie who wove complicated webs in triangles, arcs and circles. By the time I reached college I knew that writing essays, humor and short fiction came easy for me.

As the years went by (college, marriage, children) I published short stories, essays, humor pieces and interviews in newspapers and magazines with large circulations. Marketing was also easy. I couldn’t imagine not selling anything I ever wrote and had the clippings to prove it. I even had one reprint article under my belt.

But one day life intervened, and I allowed a sad divorce to flatten me. The week I packed up my home office for a move to a small apartment I received two pivotal letters, one from an Avon editor asking me to write a library-edition teen romance, and another from an editor at Good Housekeeping, asking me to edit a short story I’d written. Suddenly editors were coming to me, even sending me Christmas cards that I had pinned to my bulletin board. I’d dreamed of this happening. But who can respond to writing requests when a grenade just blew up in your life? It took years for me to cross paths with those letters again. I abandoned an essential part of myself without even realizing it. Working, remarrying, and keeping my little family together were all I could manage.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?Writing about problems in the past had helped me understand them. Except that now it no longer worked. I decided I needed to write something longer, like a novel, to write myself out of the deep pit of despair into which I’d sunk. After all, every job I’d ever had involved making order out of chaos, and I wanted order back in my life. When my energy returned I drafted out a novel with a knot in the middle, similar to the knot I could not unravel in my own life. I’d asked my protagonist to work out this problem, since I had been unable to myself. What was I thinking? No matter how many craft classes I took on plotting, deep POV, synopsis, character development or dialogue, no matter how many writing conferences I attended, how many critique groups I joined or how many agents asked for my unfinished novel, nothing worked. I stalled, quit writing, and told my writing friends and agents waiting for my novel that plotting was my nemesis. I couldn’t do it. And like we all hear from our mentors, if we think we can’t do something, we can’t.

At this point the short stories and essays I wrote no longer gave me joy, and humor wasn’t even on my radar. Even being newly published in a number of anthologies did little to re-light my writing fire. I wondered what the hell had happened. Writing had let me down. For me, wanting to write again proved to be the most difficult part of writing.

3. Can you share a moment where YOU suddenly saw the light?My aha moment came while reading Time is a River by Mary Alice Monroe. It concerns the main character, Mia, who held my heart throughout this story. Near the end of the novel Mia was helping to unearth long-hidden water colors by a woman fly-fishing journalist. The painting was of a small brook trout caught by an elaborate dry fly with a hook firmly in its mouth. I will never forget the moment I read this line: The fish was rolling to its side, as though relinquishing the long fight. The words pierced my heart like an arrow.

In my mind I pictured the trout thrashing about in the midst of bubbles, being pulled into a net, exhausted, and relieved to give up the long struggle. Tears sprang to my eyes. I wanted that relief for myself and for the character I’d created for my unfinished novel. I’d given her a knot she could not unravel any more than I could unravel the knot in my own life.

It’s OK to give up. Sometimes it’s the only thing to do. Reading this line over and over, I knew that I had just programmed myself to let go of the knot in my own life and rework the knot in my novel as the responsibility of another character to resolve. It seemed so simple. As soon as I did that the words and ideas began to flow again, after far too long a time. Just let go. Friends we trust give us this advice. But it isn’t their knot, and it doesn’t always work. For me this did. And I have saved these words at the cellular level.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?I have admired the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald since college. I’d love to have written this line from Gatsby, where Nick describes Daisy’s friend, Jordan: She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage. Simple words, but I have loved people like this for years. The words rang true for me on many levels. Whenever I read Fitzgerald his descriptions hit a nerve.

5. Describe your ideal reader. I want to write cozy romances with characters who succeed in spite of insurmountable odds. Years ago a writer friend told me that a good book informs, a great book entertains, and a superior book changes you. I keep those words pinned to the bulletin board in my office and read them every day. I want to give readers hope in the midst of chaos. Hope is what I am all about as a writer.

You can read more about Ruth Andrew at her blog, www.beeconcise.com, or her website, http://ruthandrew.com. She is finishing her novel, Benson’s Cove, & hopes it will be a series.

August 4, 2014 The Write Path 3 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with Dorothy Callahan

THe Write Path

Dorothy Callahan

In The Write Path, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is Dorothy Callahan, author of Taming the Stallion, Loving out of Time, Third Eye’s a Charm and her new book, A Decade for Darius.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Dorothy’s.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

I think it’s one of those things that people naturally gravitate to in their childhoods – some ride stunt bikes, some learn slight-of-hand, and those who are driven to do what the voices in our heads tell us to become writers. By middle-school, I was already writing poems and short stories. By fifteen, I wrote my first novel, a fantasy heavily inspired by my idol, Piers Anthony. Personally, no matter where I go or what I do, I identify with being an author. When my first book got published, I had never been prouder to say, “Hi, I’m Dorothy Callahan. I’m an author.”

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

For me, I’m a pantser, and sometimes the hardest thing is getting my characters to play nice and do what I want them to do. For instance, the story I’m working on right now has two characters who HATE each other, but I know they’ll be together by the end. I wanted them to have their first kiss in this chapter. I intended it. They are still antagonistic. She just shoved him away from her. I can’t win.

The weaknesses are definitely trying to self-market. I’m generally shy and reserved, so finding the drive to get gung-ho about selling my stories is a hat I haven’t yet learned to wear.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

I’m sure I’ve had many over the years – each aha moment is a series of steps, always going up, up, until I look back and see how far I’ve come, but the top is still eons away. Writing is a craft, and crafts morph and change. (Look at ebooks from 5 years ago.) I’ve taken wonderful classes, from Deb Dixon to Margie Lawson to Mary Buckham, and each instructor pushes me, makes me focus and grow. I think every author who has followed the traditional steps to publication has experienced this.

The moment I saw the light was the email saying, “I’d like to buy your manuscript.” My husband had just come up to my computer, saw me staring at the screen saying, “Oh, my God, Oh, my God,” about twenty times, then the floodgates opened. I started leaping around, crying like a little girl, jumping into his arms and saying I need to call every single person I knew in the next fifteen minutes. I don’t remember much after that.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I am totally enamored with Deborah Cooke’s Dragonfire series and Mary Buckham’s Invisible Recruit series. Brenda Novak is skilled in this arena, as well. I admire authors who can take a group of people, make them flesh-and-blood real to the reader, and then give each one his/her own story. (I started a dragon series about the same time as Ms. Cooke, but they are totally different stories. Plus, hers are published. Mine are in the perpetual edit phase.)

5. Describe your ideal reader.

My ideal reader is one who likes action mixed in with the romance. Even as a teen, my first novel had a giant battle scene in it. I’m still growing a fan base, so I don’t feel qualified to say “who I write for.” I can say that I am always thrilled to hear how my story has affected someone: what they liked, didn’t like, what I could change. I love feedback. In my twenties, my best friend would call every few days, ready for me to read what I’d written thus far. It was so rewarding to hear her shock, gasps, concern, laughter etc, as the story played out.

I guess one thing that will almost always show up in my books are animals, either real or fantasy. My characters love pets, mostly because I’ve had them my whole life. I have two published books right now that are set in a humane society. I thought it would be fun to write a “shelter series,” with the common setting being an animal shelter, but I’ve only partially explored that one.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to join your blog. Anyone interested in more can find me at www.dorothycallahan.com, Dorothy Callahan Author on Facebook, or Dorothy Callahan @Callahanauthor on Twitter. Want to chat? Email me at dorothycallahanauthor[[@]]gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Why not check out my books?

Taming the Stallion:
www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWWONEA

Loving out of Time:
www.amazon.com/dp/B00CJJVI9M

Third Eye’s a Charm:
www.amazon.com/dp/B00IKVF00Q

A Decade for Darius:
www.amazon.com/dp/B00KETDW16

August 2, 2014 Sci-fi, Urban Fantasy Post a Comment

GRIMM v. SUPERNATURAL

Showdown No. 2

Movie stars have fans. These fans tend to attach themselves to the actor, not the movie. They support their chosen star from joint to joint, regardless of the quality of their work.

Sci-fi or fantasy TV geeks, fans, fangirls, fanboys, superfans or however you want to label yourself buy into the characters of a show. We might have a favorite, but we understand the series is the product of a group effort. Their looks and style are not unimportant, but a pretty face alone will not sway us.

Alas, we do tend to get a little obsessed. As a perfect outlet, I will on a semi-regular basis arrange little head-to-heads between two of my favorite shows.

This week, my guest contestants are Grimm and Supernatural.

Grimm

Grimm is a relative newcomer to our screens, but perhaps also one of the most intriguing ones. Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) is a cop, with a trusted partner and in a committed relationship. One day, he discovers he’s a Grimm. He has the ability to see creatures known only from fairytales and the duty to police them. Being a genuinely nice person, he doesn’t accept that every Wesen (correctly spelled, badly pronounced German word for “being”) is evil, so he only kills when he has to. He even befriends a Wesen, a now vegetarian Blutbad (=blood bath), that can turn into a wolf-like creature. It’s quirky, beautifully shot, and utterly original. And doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Supernatural

Supernatural is an altogether grittier offering, and as it is entering its tenth season, a veteran to the young Grimm. The Winchester brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) were raised to be hunters. Hunting the creatures from lore. They’ve gone up against vampires, wendigos, demons, angels — and they’re still standing. But along the way, the body count has been high. Many friends and associates are gone, and both Sam and Dean have been to Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. Despite the darkness in their lives, there have been plenty of jokes and fun episodes to keep us interested, from the Winchester’s version of Groundhog Day to a suicidal teddy bear.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This has been a fiercely fought battle. Both series are original, with a great blend of humor and suspense. So the winner is — *drum roll* — Supernatural. Why? Supernatural is simply *more*. It’s funnier, darker, quirkier, more tense and still surprises us after nine years. Grimm is still in its infancy, but I’ll be there to watch it grow.
Case closed.

PS: Disagree? Leave your arguments in the comment section, and if the demand is there, I may schedule a rematch. Meanwhile, let me know if you have any suggestions for further head-to-heads.

July 31, 2014 Interests and hobbies, Reviews Post a Comment

ESSEN SPIEL GAME FAIR

International Games Days in Essen/Internationale Spieltage in Essen

Every year, the tabletop gaming world is in a tizzy about the Internationale Spieltage (International Games Days), commonly just referred to as Essen, after the place where the exhibition is held, or also ‘Spiel.’ For four days in October, madness descends onto the smallish city in Germany, with game designers, manufacturers and players crowding the halls of the exhibition center. But it’s just as likely you’ll run into comic book sellers, and even owners of RPGs and live action material, plus you’ll find enough activity to keep the little ones amused.

With Kickstarter’s success in recent years, Essen has become ever more important. I’m ashamed to say that, despite my own ties to Germany, I’ve never attended. As a writer I would love to attend a handful of writing conferences, which are almost all held in the USA, but that’s too far a trek from the UK. Essen, on the other hand, is but a hop and a skip away. So what’s my excuse?

Before Kickstarter, my involvement with games was merely as a player, and peripheral at best. You go to the shop, pick the boardgame that seems popular or has won an award, and off you go to entertain the whole family. Like most of you, I imagine. But times are a-changing. If you’ve only ever played Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, you’re in for quite a surprise. While you weren’t paying attention, the term boardgame has been displaced by tabletop game, to include card games or tile games and all the other games that don’t use a physical board. So what tabletop game should you buy? That depends on what tickles you most. Enter your local games store, and you can pick up party games, social deduction games, role-playing games, card collecting games, adventure games, strategy games, and a myriad of others. Some allow solo play and are suitable for up to four players, while others require a minimum of three players and accommodate as many as 20 players. The choice is mind-blowing.

Since Kickstarter, I’ve been overwhelmed by the variety and ingenuity small games designers and individuals have shown in bringing us totally innovative games. With strong parallels to the book publishing world, even Joe Average can now have his game printed professionally. All you need is an idea. Even I’ve caught the bug and have invented a fair number.

And if you have two or three months of spare time, you may even launch your own game on Kickstarter, hoping to attract a number of pledgers so you may offer better prices through economy of scales. That’s a great thing, because with greater accessibility comes greater choice for the consumer.

Still, what most game designers dream of is their own booth at Essen. You succeed here, you’ve made it. You play with the big boys. But why in the world should a potential player schlepp to Germany? Well, you could take part in one of the many contests, or play tournaments to experience a new game in action. If you’re lucky, you might even pick up a bargain game. The biggest attraction, however, is the international and friendly atmosphere. Tired of traipsing through churches and visiting museums while on vacation? Try Essen. For only €13 ($16), you get a visitor’s daypass.

What are your favorite games? Do many of you actually still play tabletop games? If so, am I invited?

July 30, 2014 Books, Reviews, Urban Fantasy Post a Comment

AGAINST THE DAWN by AMANDA BONILLA – Review

The Shaede Assassin series continues

Amanda Bonilla

Book 4 of the Shaede Assassin series shows no sign of fatigue. After the emotional turmoil in book 3, the first few pages of Against the Dawn act as sort of an intensive care ward for Darian’s wounded soul. She takes stock and reconnects with Xander and Ty. While she’s hesitant to give any sure-fire indication as to which way her heart beats, the Shaede king and the jinn grab the opportunity to prove themselves.

Along the way the author serves up a number of road blocks and surprises. The resulting zigzag is also reflected in the characters’ journeys. Not only do we dig deeper into the people in Darian’s life, Darian herself reveals her true mettle.

And like any good book, this isn’t all about who’s making out with whom. Plenty of action and plot-twisting awaits us, including the appearance of an unwelcome face from Darian’s past. After the introspective start, the pace doesn’t as much gallop as hurtle head-over-feet-over-head to the ending, providing just enough respite to let us catch our breaths.

A word about the ending. I prefer it if the author wraps everything up into a lovely, tidy parcel. Cliffhangers and loose threads get you all hot for the next instalment, then leave you hanging for many months as you wait for the conclusion.

That said, biting into a pillow while grunting your impatience is a lot of fun, too. And this truly is the mother of all cliffhangers. Either way, I will sit by my Kindle app, on the look-out for book 5.

tl;dr
Should you read it? Hell yeah.

Reviews

July 28, 2014 Books, The Write Path 6 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with Laurie Gifford Adams

THe Write Path

Laurie Gifford Adams

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is Laurie Gifford Adams. Her latest book Over The Edge is out now.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Laurie’s.

Laurie Adams

1. What made you want to be a writer?

I don’t think anything made me “want” to be a writer – I just always felt like I was one. I do know that any time I read a really great book when I was a kid, it would inspire me to write. Then, even into adulthood, that has happened. I guess reading the work and words of others encourages me to share my own. I LOVE telling stories.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

Fleshing out the idea is the hardest part of the writing process for me. I tend to be a pantser. I plan what I think the book is going to be about and how I think the plot is going to flow, but every book I’ve written (except for the non-fiction Internet safety book) has taken a curve and gone in a whole different direction than I’d planned. I have to let the story go where it’s meant to go, though. It just feels more natural that way. Often the characters surprise me. They’ll say something so totally unexpected and I just have to sit back and laugh. I want to say, “Hey, I’m creating you. You can’t tell me what to do.” But they do anyway.

Do I have weaknesses? I think all writers do. My weakness is identifying too much with the characters. This definitely has an effect on the first draft. Fortunately, I have critique partners who spot those things that don’t quite ring true, and I have to go in and fix them. I’m sure I have many more weaknesses, but I hope my strengths outnumber the weaknesses.

I’m also not as good at promotion as I should be. I’ve always been a people pleaser personality, so if I think something might annoy people, I avoid it. I do love interacting and engaging with people, though, so social media is a great way to do that.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

I have MANY “a-ha” moments when I’m in the midst of a project. Like most writers, I live the story in my head when I’m doing other things in my life, and as a result, I’m constantly mulling over the characters’ motivations for doing and saying what they do. Like most people, it’s often when I’m lying in bed trying to fall asleep or driving (so I can’t write) that the “a-ha” moments happen.

Also, I read and re-read my manuscript so many times throughout the process. I used to worry on the first draft that I wasn’t “bulking it up” enough, then, especially with Over the Edge, I realized the way my mind works. I always see more that needs to go in when I’m going through the manuscript in a condensed time frame at the end. At that point, those characters and their lives are so ingrained in my mind, that I can suddenly see that I had Dylan respond to his younger brother in a way that isn’t consistent with his character. So, now, I try to set aside several hours after I think I’m done just to read straight through again, looking for inconsistencies, weak areas, confusing dialogue, etc.

Other “a-ha” moments come as a result of reader expectations. When my critique partners or beta readers say, “Well, I thought this – or that – was going to happen,” I always stop and consider if that’s an important idea to explore. Many times I’ve changed or added scenes based on their expectations. This really makes it fun for me.

One more kind of “a-ha” moment was when I finally learned that if I get “blocked,” I needed to just come up and start writing anyway. Even if it takes me ten minutes to write one sentence, and even if that sentence is going to get deleted later, it’s progress. It helps me continue when I feel like I don’t know what to write next.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I absolutely LOVE LaVyrle Spencer’s writing. Her heartwarming stories about regular people, in regular lives with regular struggles, are keepers, and I’ve read most of them multiple (and I mean multiple) times. There’s nothing pompous about her style. I went into mourning when she announced she was retiring. What a loss in my life!
I also really like Diane Chamberlain’s books. Her characters are also very realistic with problems, fortunately, most of us wouldn’t ever have to face. But she deals with these situations beautifully.
For really well-known authors, Sandra Brown is a favorite.
When it comes to YA or middle grade authors, I’m all over the place. I don’t care who wrote it as long as it’s a great story. I’m not a fantasy reader, though, so I never got on the JK Rowling or Suzanne Collins bandwagons. I read some of their books just to see what my students were reading, but I’m more interested in realistic fiction.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

My ideal reader is someone who loves a good story and wants to root for the character and his/her struggles. The reader realizes life isn’t all good, and that to appreciate the good we have to deal with the negative, too. I’ve been writing for the younger teen group because I hope to capture the reluctant readers.

My first book, Finding Atticus, was specifically written for my students because they were always complaining about what they didn’t like about the books we read in school. One of their biggest pet peeves was the characters or animals dying in the books. They like being on the edge of their seats with concern, but they also want everything to work out in the end. Who doesn’t want that? Why wouldn’t we want to feel GOOD when we put a book down? Even if there are tears (which my readers always tell me I’m good at pulling out of them), they’re good tears, not tears of sadness. (Well, okay, I do have to sprinkle in a little of that, too, so the characters’ lives don’t seem unrealistically perfect.)

I think I deliver real characters with real issues. I always hope readers will come away with their own “a-ha” moment when they get the point(s) I’m trying to make. I guess that will always be the teacher side of me. My books entertain, but they also teach a “lesson.”

A little about me. I was born and raised in the Finger Lakes of western New York. After graduating from Keuka College, I moved to Connecticut and married Jim, who is from there. I taught middle school English for 26 years and LOVED it. Those kids were definitely an inspiration for my writing. I got my Masters degree from the University of Connecticut at Storrs (Go, Huskies!) I also freelance write for the Reiman Publications magazines and for Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, a tourism promotion office for Ontario County, NY.

Jim and I have two kids, Carrie Beth and Nick and I LOVE my animals, too, so I always, always have a dog in my life, and right now that’s Mollie. I love to ride horses, so now I have Sasha, a palomino, and Lacey, an appaloosa. I also have a grandkitty named Scooter. Jim and I moved back to the Finger Lakes in 2011 and love living back in this area. Connecticut was good to me, but I love being “home” again.

When I wrote that about Sasha above, it reminded me of this. When I was a kid, I dreamed of having a palomino. Except for a couple of years, I always had horses or ponies, but never a palomino. They seemed out of reach, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming about owning one. I even made up stories as a kid when I’d tell my friends I was sure I was getting a palomino for my birthday or Christmas. The closest I got was a little chestnut pony. In my late forties, I finally made my dream come true when I bought Sasha. My point is, don’t ever give up on your dreams. Make them happen if there’s any way possible. After my horse died in 1997, I waited 13 years before I got Sasha, because I was determined I would own a palomino. I could have bought any number of horses in between, but I had a dream, and I stuck with it.

It’s the same way with my writing. I always dreamed of having people eager to have my books come out, and now that it’s here, it seems pretty surreal. There were lots of times in the past 30 years when I let my writing slide because I was busy with other things, but I never let it go completely because I had this goal I was pursuing, and now I’m enjoying every minute of it! It’s an awesome feeling.

My next goal: to make a best seller’s list. And I’m determined to get there.

I have three books out right now:

Laurie Adams
FINDING ATTICUS – an older middle grades novel that has also found a vast audience among adults, which I think is pretty cool…

Laurie Adams
www.RUinDanger.net – is an Internet and technology safety guide co-written with a former undercover cop (He approached me to co-write the book with him because he saw the need to educate kids and their parents)…

Laurie Adams
…and my newest is the YA novel, OVER THE EDGE. The issues I tackle in this novel are near and dear to my heart, so this story is very special to me. I feel like the story doesn’t only entertain, but it also has the potential to change someone’s life. (Long story with that.)

Where to find me or how to contact me:

My web page is www.lauriegiffordadams.com
Facebook is Laurie Gifford Adams – Author
Twitter: Laurie G Adams
I can be contacted through my website, and I LOVE to hear from people. I respond to everything – and I mean everything. I hope to hear from some (or ALL) of you!

July 27, 2014 Books, Reviews, Urban Fantasy 5 Comments

INVISIBLE ALLIES by Mary Buckham – Review

Invisible Recruits Novella

I’ve talked a lot about Mary Buckham’s ability to put you slap bang in the middle of the scene. Writers have a term for it. Hell, they have many terms for it. Deep Point of View. Show don’t tell. Active settings and descriptions. As a reader, I don’t care. Because I’m right there, letting “the bird songs of a Missouri afternoon” swell around me, standing next to Kelly as she confides in Alex.

In short, Mary Buckham is an expert in 3D writing. Of course, the plot of Invisible Allies is everything you expect it to be, too. It’s fast, tense and twisty. Too many authors neglect the plot, especially a few books into a series. No short-cuts here.

But what stood out most were the characters, notably Alex and Kelly. They might have a lot on their plate tracking down a young witch, but their friendship is so tight, it glues the two together through tough revelations, were attacks and yes, a right old dressing down by their Agency Director.

Interestingly, this didn’t feel like a novella. Sure, it was a quick read, but that’s what happens when you can’t put a book down. This outing by our favorite Invisible Recruits is equal to a book in every respect, from storyline to character development.
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