Beating Expectations... Hooray!

I was looking back at my February post on resolutions quite happily in some cases, as I have made some excellent progress.

For example, today I fulfilled my new state goal, landing in New Mexico at noon local time. I definitely got married, and am working towards an October 17 release of Naliyah.

And I've read 21 out of my 22 book goal, so I am upping it to 36 for the year. And since I've been reading so much, I thought I would recount a few of my favorites from the year, staring with a biggie!

Finally! City of Heavenly Fire released in May, and I devoured it in 3 days. I've gushed about my love of the Mortal Instruments series before and this, the final book, did not fail to disappoint. Well... Ok, I was disappointed when I finished because it meant no more Jace Wayland in my life!

Which is why I was also thrilled to discover The Infernal Devices Series. If you (like me) typically swear of prequels, make an exception in this case. Cassandra Clare will not let you down.


I've got at least 5 others that I loved up my sleeve... stay tuned.

Kicking off some awesome summer reading...

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to review Chasing Memories a really great YA book by Tia Bach, writer, mother, and friend extraordinaire.

Today, I am thrilled that she has launched the follow up to this... Chasing Shadows.

In Chasing Memories, we meet Reagan. In many ways, Reagan is just your typical teenager, worrying about Homecoming court, cheering for her football-star boyfriend, and pouring over the latest paranormal YA novel. Yep, pretty normal... oh, except for that whole she-might-be-a-werewolf thing. 

The first book follows Reagan through a lot of confusion and angst and she figures out exactly how a mysterious wolf-attack at Yellowstone is really going to change her life. This second installment picks up where the first left off. Reagan has a bit more knowledge about what is happening to her, and a lot more questions. With an all new cast of characters, she soon understands what is behind all of these changes and secrets that plagued her in the first book... and what is truly at stake. 

One thing that is true of both books: I loved them. Bach writes teenagers in a way that should make Stephanie Meyers jealous: with a good mixture of attitude and humor and a big side of reality. Reagan's voice is the true strength of both novels, carrying you through the story and helping you build a true emotional investment to in what happens to her. She has teenage snark down, but never put me in a "Bella-Swan-oh-come-on-you-are-so-irritating" mood. 

If I am being vague about the story line, here's why: you should read both. I can't divulge much of Chasing Shadows without blowing the end of Chasing Memories. But here is the good news... Chasing Memories is free on Kindle today!

So head on over to Amazon and download Chasing Memories for free. Then, grab Chasing Shadows, too, because you aren't going to want to wait to start reading as soon as you finish the first.

Is staying with you the same as being good?

Recently, I happened upon a copy of The Prince of Tides. This is one of those books that I had always intended to read, and so was glad to finally crack the spine.

In this Pat Conroy novel, Tom, our good-Southern-boy protagonist, discovers that his wife is cheating on him the same day as his troubled sister attempts suicide...again. We don't quite know if Tom is running away from his problems or to his sister's aid, but either way he leaves the coastal Carolina region and heads to New York to rescue his twin. While there, he begins conversations with a psychiatrist intent on helping his sister. Through their discussions, he outlines a troubled childhood and makes his way towards redemption.

While this book held my interest well and I got through it pretty quickly, I am surprised to find that I still don't know how I feel about it. Specifically, I can't decide if I would call this a good book or not. I finished it weeks ago, and it is still on my mind.

There are elements of the book that I loved. Conroy's writing has a delightful cadence and beauty that bring the story to life. There are elements I hated, like the fact that an accomplished novelist resorted to telling me that the South is a very distinct place (on nearly every page) rather than showing me. I also fundamentally don't buy the entire construct of why a psychiatrist needs a schizophrenic patient's life story (told through a very biased lens) to help her patient.

But I'm still thinking about it.

So I think whether or not this is a successful book is an interesting question.

As a writer, I hope my work stays with people. I fear writing the kind of novels that people read and then never think of again. But, is simply staying with people sufficient to make my books successful?

Is staying with someone the same as a novel being really good?

I am curious as to your thoughts.

The disappointing trilogy

Recently, I seem to have been stumbling on lots and lots of YA series and trilogies. In December alone, I read all of the Mortal Instruments books (and am not so patiently awaiting the publication of the final one in May), and the entire Divergent series. Last year, I also finished out Kiersten White's Paranormalcy series, and happily returned to Suzanne Collins' world for the second Hunger Games movie.

In January, I was happy to finish James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy by reading the final installment, The Death Cure. What has struck me is that, with the exception of The Mortal Instruments, all of the trilogies I have just mentioned had disappointing final books for me. Though Mockingjay held my interest and Endlessly was very entertaining, I barely pushed my way through Allegiant and The Death Cure. They reminded me of television series that just went on one or two episodes too long.

Since I am currently writing a YA trilogy, I am now a bit concerned. Clearly, failure is not inevitable. There have been lots of successful trilogies, just look at The Lord of the Rings, which got progressively better with each book. But still, with current YA, finding a series that stayed strong all the way through has been the exception and not the rule for me.

So what is it about the trilogy that makes for soft endings? Anyone have examples of those that do it really well? Any thoughts on what the difference between a strong finish and a disappointing close really is?

Discovering new writers- Falling in love with Kingsolver

I often find bookstores daunting. When you set foot inside, you find more books than you could ever read in a lifetime, and a myriad of authors just waiting for your attention. Bookstores fill me with both anxiety over how little I will be able to read in my lifetime, and exhilaration over all of the books I know I am will fall in love with.

Recently, I happened upon The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver in a used bookstore. Having heard the name many times, I picked it up and thought I would give her writing a try. This, as it turns out, was one of the happiest impulse buys of my life.

The novel is the story of a Baptist missionary who takes his wife and three daughters on an excursion to the Congo right as the country is struggling for independence from Belgium. The wife and daughters narrate their adventures, revealing both the cruelty and ignorance of the family patriarch and, in stunning contrast, the beauty and charity of the Congolese people. Ignoring sign after sign that his family is not needed, wanted, or safe, the Reverend refuses to leave and ends up forever changing the course of many lives.

I didn't read this book... I devoured this book. Told with quiet passion and nearly limitless eloquence, Kingsolver created five characters that I wanted to fly to 1950's Congo and rescue. As I finished the last pages, all I could think to myself was "why have I never read Kingsolver before?" However, now that I have almost her entire library waiting on my Kindle, I am sure I will quickly resolve this.

Anyone had some recent new author discoveries that excited you? Once I finish with Kingsolver, I am contemplating where to go next...

My Favorite Books to Give: Thrillers

My fiancé and I have had the following conversation more times than I can count:

• Him: Let’s watch XX movie.
• Me: That’s a war movie. I don’t like war movies.
• Him: It’s not REALLY about war, it just takes place during a war.
• Me: Still a war movie, dear.

I’m not big on war movies, which would typically (and rightfully) imply that I also don’t read a lot of books about war. And yet, this is a book I’ve read several times and love, despite the war as a backdrop.

The Wolf’s Hour is about a Russian national turned British spy during WWII… who happens to be a werewolf. Michael/Mikhail is enlisted by the Brits and the Americans to track down some troubling news out of Paris regarding a new weapon that threatens the fate of D-Day. He meets some amazing fellow spies and truly ruthless Nazi’s along the way.

And yet, what I love about this book isn’t the super exciting WWII thriller stuff… it’s the secondary story of how Mikhail was made a werewolf. After seeing his family executed during the Russian Revolution, he flees into the woods and is bitten by a wolf. As he changes, he is taken in by the wolf pack, headed up by Wiktor. Wiktor teaches him Latin, the classics, and how to be a wolf.

The author is truly gifted in crafting a simultaneously lilting and brutal narrative. This is a great book for history buffs, thrill seekers, and horror-lovers. It is not, however, a good gift for anyone with a weak stomach due to some very, very gory moments.

My favorite books to give... for parents who want an occupied teen over the holiday break?

When my mom was sick, I discovered the Harry Potter series. One of the reasons those books will always have such a special place in my heart is because they took me away from a very bad time in my life. I might have been sitting in the hospital, watching my mother fight to live, but I could open the pages and instantly be in Hogwarts. They let me shut out the world for a while.

I recently discovered another series with that power, one that I have devoured throughout the last few weeks. Admittedly, life is good right now. In fact, I had many, many more important things on my to-do list than reading 5 books in 10 days, but once I opened the first one, there was no stopping until I was done.

And so, for you parents of YA readers that are looking for a quiet winter break, buy them the Mortal Instruments books.

The series stars Clary (short for Clarissa), who discovers just before her 16^th birthday that she is not a normal human (or mundane… think muggle), but is actually a Shadowhunter. Shadowhunters are a race of humans with some angel blood that hunt demons throughout a world that the rest of us just can’t see. While Clary would love to confront her mother about hiding this powerful secret for so long, she can’t… her mother has been kidnapped.

And what YA series would be complete without a love interest? Enter Jace Wayland, golden blond, sarcastic, and the sexy as heck.

This series, quite literally, made me feel like a teenager again—sleep deprived and irritable if I was interrupted while my face was buried in the Kindle. As an adult, there are so many things I love about the idea of YAs reading this. Clary, though truly a 16-year-old, complete with some annoying whining and stupid, impetuous behavior, is a strong, independent character. She has none of the obnoxious, weak characteristics that made me so loathe Bella Swan.

And the author intersperses some mature scenes throughout, but also with some important lessons for young readers, like “yes, you love your boyfriend, but you are still very young and need to think about this decision. If that doesn't stop you, you still need this condom.” 

My Favorite Books to Give: Modern Classics

 Some might argue that this title is just a classic. Period. I wouldn’t argue back.

Though he is known as one of the founding fathers of magical realism, Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote one of my favorite romance novels of all time. Put away thoughts of Harlequin books with torn-shirted men on the cover and think of real, true, passionate, timeless love.

And there you have Love in the Time of Cholera. If you know someone who reads too much Danielle Steele or believes Nicholas Spark to be the ultimate expert on love, I strongly suggest giving her (or him, I suppose) this book.

Here is the Amazon description, which is pretty spot on:

In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again.

Seriously… it’s a bit slow to get into, but it will make women everywhere swoon in a far more genuine way than Ryan Gosling rowing a boat in a lake of swans (for real, Nicholas Sparks, for real?).

My Favorite Books to Give: Young Adult Fiction

When I got the news that Lucky Press would be publishing my first novel, Max and Menna, I was overjoyed… and confused. The publisher indicated that she intended to market this novel, full of sex, violence and other “adult themes” as YA. At the time, I knew YA as Judy Blume and Sweet Valley High and had no idea how my novel would fit into that world.

My quest to learn more about YA led me to Libba Bray. I’ve now read almost everything by her, and had the delightful opportunity to meet her in person once (read about it here). The book that sucked me in was Going Bovine.

I guess this could be called fantasy, depending on your point of view. I just call it brilliant. The School Library Journal review sums this one up rather perfectly:

In this ambitious novel, Cameron, a 16-year-old slacker whose somewhat dysfunctional family has just about given up on him, as perhaps he himself has, when his diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob, "mad cow" disease, reunites them, if too late. The heart of the story, though, is a hallucinatory—or is it?—quest with many parallels to the hopeless but inspirational efforts of Don Quixote, about whom Cameron had been reading before his illness. Just like the crazy—or was he?—Spaniard, Cam is motivated to go on a journey by a sort of Dulcinea.

This book made me realize that YA today is made of much tougher stuff than Nancy Drew (though I still love me some Nancy). It is a great book for any YA reader on your list, though I recommend reserving it for age 13 and above.

My Favorite Books to Give: Women’s Fiction

Women’s fiction is such a tricky genre to classify. I’ve found that this term tends to make people think more Sex and the City instead of The Handmaid’s Tale. I use it to describe the latter—strong literary fiction written by a strong woman, and often (but not always) containing themes related to feminism. Based on my personal definition, women’s fiction is one of my very favorite genres.

And this is one of my new-found favorite books in this genre.

The Hours by Michael Cunningham has something in common with The Keep (from my last entry): I saw the movie first. I enjoyed the film, especially Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Virginia Woolf. Again, like The Keep, I later saw the book at Goodwill and picked it up for later.

Later, as it turns out, was over Thanksgiving. I ripped through this novel in three days. Or, I should say, this book ripped through me. As good as the film was at showing the superficial action of the book in the form of the intertwining stories of three women, it did little to capture the subtle and riveting undertones of love, mortality, and despair that permeate this novel.

If you have any Margaret Atwood fans in your life, I strongly suggest The Hours as a holiday gift. It is a book that grabs you, holds you, and then stays with you long after you close the cover.

My Favorite Books to Give: Adult Paranormal

And my December series on the best books to give marches on.

I originally started this post with “I don’t read a lot of horror…” and then began listing the exceptions. As I moved rapidly through that list, I actually realized that I do, in fact, read a lot of horror. However, I must clarify that my initial assertion against the genre should actually be “I don’t read a lot of books that scare me.”

This one is an exception.

My first exposure to F. Paul Wilson’s The Keep was in high school. I randomly stumbled on the direct-to-VHS movie version of this book, which is rich with now-famous faces (including Jurgen Prachnow, Scott Glenn, and a fairly young Ian McKellan) as well as an awesomely bad soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. My lifelong love of bad horror movies meant that this rather awful film had be at the first weird synthesizer note.

A few years later, I came across the novel at a yard sale and instantly purchased it. I was immediately drawn into the story of a garrison of German soldiers staying at a remote keep in Romania during World War II. The keep is something of a mystery, as its walls are lined with nickel crosses and the structure appears as if it was built to keep something in instead of out.

In this keep, the soldiers learn to fear the dark as they are murdered by an unseen force one by one. The Reich sends in back up in the form of the SS, and a Jewish history professor with a special knowledge of the keep.

Beyond a simple scare, this book has a rich story full of moral questions, and lessons on how life is so seldom black and white.

My Favorite Books to Give: YA Science Fiction

I am continuing on the December series all about my favorite books to give. This second installment in my favorite books to give series should be no surprise to anyone who has stopped in before.

Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card, has been, perhaps, the most impactful book of my life.
I am sure this one is high on everyone’s list because of the recent movie (and you can read my review here), but the film failed to capture something very central to the novel, which is the moral turmoil within the character of Ender Wiggin.

If you have a young reader, whether they love science fiction or not, this is a great book to give them, and one they will likely cherish as they grow up (I know I did).

As a note, Card a Mormon and is fairly vocal about opposing gay marriage. While I am respectful of all religions, I am not respectful of discrimination. Thus, I buy his books used whenever I can, but do not purchase them new to ensure that my money isn’t funneling into lobbying against tolerance. There are many used copies of Ender’s Game on Amazon if you feel the same way.

My Favorite Books to Give: Paranormal YA

When I was 10, I gave everyone in my family books for Christmas. At that age, Christmas is still something magical and nebulous. To me, the holiday extended beyond the gifts under the tree and Amy Grant’s Christmas album playing on repeat in the background. Christmas was a feeling, an excitement that was almost tangible. As such, books represented the perfect gift to me—something that could also create that infinite feeling.

I’m older now, with somewhat more practical concerns. Nonetheless, I am still a frequent book-giver, and still hope that my gifts will impart a little of that infinite feeling to the receivers.

Thus, what better way to blog through December than a list of my favorite books to give? Today’s edition… for your paranormal YA lover.

Have you seen a YA reader in your life reading Twilight… and grimaced? I admit to devouring Meyer’s whole series when in my 20’s (and secretly loving it), but I hate the idea of young girls reading Bella Swan. Young women should have strong female characters in their life! And so, I am happy to recommend Chasing Memories by my good friend Tia Bach.

Take a break from vampires and zombies and check out this novel with a hint of Lycan and a whole bunch of girl power. Bach’s main character Reagan is OK with saying no to her sex-starved boyfriend, and much more worried about the changes she is facing after a strange animal attack than about what the hottest trend is.

For the 13 and over in your life, Chasing Memories is an engrossing read, and a delightful gift!

Write by Wednesday... an Interview with the Wonderful Tia Bach!

Last Wednesday, I talked about my fear and shame surrounding the NaNO idea. This week, I thought the only good way to follow that up is to feature an author that seems to have being an excellent NaNO writer down pat. Thus, the below is an interview with my friend Tia Bach, co-author of the award-winning novel Depression Cookies and author of the paranormal YA novel Chasing Memories.

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Was Chasing Memories your first NANO project?

Yes. I let fear keep me from doing NaNo in years past. Now, I need to commit to not only November but June’s CampNaNo. June terrifies me on a whole other level because my three kids would be home. Talk about a challenge.

What did you start with (i.e. a detailed outline, an idea, etc.)?

I had the idea for almost a year before committing to it last November. A month before NaNo, I filled a small notebook with a bunch of scribbles. Story ideas and character traits bombarded me, and I tried to capture all of them—to the point that I slept with a notebook and pen by my bed. But once November 1 came around, I just wrote as the story came to me.

What was your attack plan for getting it written? Did you write for X hours every morning, or grab a few minutes when you could? How many words did you average?

For me, the key is to write first. I get distracted so easily. I’m the mom who walks into a room, spins around a few times, and says (out loud even if I’m alone), “Why did I come in here?” So, my goal each day was to write before looking at anything else. Of course, life doesn’t always work that way, so there were many nights I was up until the wee hours of the morning. But some days the words flowed better than others. When they did, I thanked my muse and allowed myself some breathing room to not push as hard the next day.

What did the "immersion approach" to novel writing mean for the rest of your life?

When I was done, I was on a writer’s high. I knew I could write 50,000 words in a month. But I’m so motivated by the public declaration of committing to a challenge. Book two has been in my head since Chasing Memories was published, and I’m writing it in NaNo again. I am determined to stay on that high this time and finish book three shortly after book two. Wish me luck!

Once you finished, how much editing, writing, and rework did you have to do?

Before I sent it to my editor in early March, I did several rounds of self-edits. I was scared to read it at first, because I truly did shut down my inner editor while I was writing—something that is very hard for me. But I was thrilled that I liked most of it on my first read-through.

Now that it’s November again and you're writing the sequel, is this the first project you've tackled since the book launched? Or have you written other things non-NANO style?

*hangs head in shame* I don’t even know what happened between NaNos. Were there really 11 months in between? I had every intention of writing book two right after publishing book one, but marketing and other commitments sidelined me. I’m stoked to finally be focusing on it.

Clearly, as the mom of three, you do not have the luxury of just writing whenever and as long as you want. What is your advice for people like me that fear the NANO and think they could never make the time to do this?

There’s nothing to fear! I truly believe that armed with a good idea anyone can write 50,000 words in a month. Once you do it, you’ll know you can. And that’s half the battle. It’s all about making the time. I’d read anything you wrote, my friend!

Thanks so much for hosting me today. I would love to have you visit my blog once my NaNo brain clears.

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To read more from Tia and follow her progress on this year's NaNO project, visit her blog at http://depressioncookies.blogspot.com/.



Write by Wednesday- Unusual Inspiration

Recently, a co-worker handed me a thick paperback with an almost apologetic smile. "It's not literature," he explained, "but this is a "stay-up-all-night book." At this point, I was grappling with illness and so the description sounded a bit like a challenge. In fact, it had been so long since I made it past 9 p.m. before I passed out cold that I saw no way this book could rope me in.

The book was The Passage by Justin Cronin and not only did the book rope me in, it increased the itch to write in me.

Now, there was little way that the book could not rope me in. The Passage tells the story of Amy, the girl from Nowhere, and her abduction by a military bio-weapons facility. Amy, like the 12 death-row inmates she shares the facility with, are injected with varying strains of a new virus aimed at building, of course, super soldiers. If this sounds a bit trite, I will give you that, but the cliche ends there. The virals escape and humankind unfortunately learns that the virus is contagious. Bitten humans turn into a different kind of viral- they drink blood and hang out in the trees, but also lose all sense of self and personality. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this book is about zombie vampires. And yes, it came out long before True Blood teased us with the idea of the same in the coming season.

But back to the story-- Amy is different. Not blood-thirsty, but eternally young, Amy survives the death of the United States under the force of viral plague. When, more than 100 years later, we join Peter Jaxon on a critical quest to save some of the few remaining humans, Amy is ready to jump into the fray.

Nope, The Passage is not "literature." However, it is well-written, and more importantly, unique. The concepts and ideas Cronin outlines so easily got the wheels-a-turning in my head. For the first time in a long time, I was torn between reading 10 more pages or shutting the cover and diving into my laptop to start writing.

The Passage is on Amazon for Kindle or in print, this one is well worth the read.

Back from hiatus to review a truly awesome YA book!

So since my last post, which was WAY too long ago, I've discovered two things while teaching my first college course:

1. I love teaching. 
2. Teaching takes a lot of time!

I was hoping to return to the world of regular blogging this summer, but a summer course has popped up so I can only hope. Nonetheless, I had to interrupt my hiatus to review a fantastic book I just finished.

Meet Reagan. In many ways, Reagan is just your typical teenager, worrying about Homecoming court, cheering for her football-star boyfriend, and pouring over the latest paranormal YA novel. Yep, pretty normal... oh, except for that whole she-might-be-a-werewolf thing.

Chasing Memories begins as Reagan is camping in Yellowstone with her family. She wakes up one night to her brother screaming. Suddenly, he is gone and something massive rakes at her back before her father scares it away. Literally overnight, everything in Reagan's life changes. The tragic loss of her brother is followed by the unearthing of family secrets and some tough realizations about who the people in her life really are. Additionally, Reagan is craving meat and having some wild dreams about a creature with wolf's eyes.

When Rafe, the new kid, rolls into town, weird gets weirder. Rafe seems to understand all too well what is happening to her, more than Reagan does herself. But she can't be sure if he truly wants to help her, or if there is some darker drive behind his enigmatic smile.

Chasing Memories had me from the first word. Tia Bach has woven a mystery and given her readers a perfect, snarky, and oh-so accurate teenage voice to help us navigate through. Reagan doesn't so much come to life as she vaults off the page in your face. Nonetheless, where other "typical teen" narrators might annoy (hello, Bella Swan), the muted desperation to understand what is happening that lies beneath her teenage 'tude makes Reagan unquestionably sympathetic. I felt for her, I wanted to hug her, and I wanted to know what in the heck was happening to her.

Ultimately, the genius of Bach's story is in its ambiguity. There were many, many moments where I found myself wondering if Reagan was joining the ranks of the paranormal teens she so loved to read about, or if grief and imagination were actually driving her experience. Either way, I devoured every word, and as with Bach's first book, Depression Cookies, I found myself falling off the last page and wanting more.

I hope there will be a sequel-- and soon-- but for now, this one is highly recommended!

IWSG- Short a Few Stars

I'll admit it: I'm jealous... of writers who seem nonplussed by poor reviews. I am anything but. I fret three stars, and am almost thankful that I have not yet earned enough attention to be wary of the random 2 and 1 star review on Amazon!

But others seem to take it in stride. Ms. Jessica Bell recently laughed... LAUGHED... at a one star review, and assured me that three stars is still good.

And thus, we get to the heart of insecurity: what I know in my head and the knots in my stomach are fighting it out for control of my reactions, and my stomach usually wins.

I know that my latest book has an audience. It may be limited, and it may be niche, but those that have read it thus far have liked it. I know that it is well-edited (because I paid to have it edited) and I know that it flows well (because my hired editor told me so, and he was ruthless on other points so I trust him on this one), and I know that I am proud of it.

I also know that reading is subjective, which I have learned by being the one person that seems to not enjoy the latest big thing (I actually really did not like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo).

Normally, the first Wednesday of the month is where I write out my insecurities and find some great lesson that carries me through. I promise I am arbitrating the debate happening in my anatomy, but I also really welcome feedback on how YOU handle poor reviews of your work out there for posterity!

Write by Wednesday-- The Stories that Stay With You

A couple of weeks ago, I had the delightful opportunity to meet a fellow writer that, shockingly, lives in the same tiny, middle-of-nowhere town I inhabit. She had read Max and Menna and gave me some incredible feedback on the book, saying that it had stayed with her.

As a writer, I think that is the best feedback I could possibly hope for from a reader, fellow writer, or anyone else. It took me over a decade to write Max and Menna. I actually do not consider the genre or tone of the book to be in line with my typical style as a writer, but I stuck with it and had to write it because it was a story that I could not shake. The idea that I was able to convey a story that haunted me for a decade in such a way that it stays with people beyond the last page is... well, I love it. That more than any royalty check or sales rank proves to me that I need to keep sitting here and banging away at my laptop weekend after weekend.

I have to give props, though, to so many writers who created books that stayed with me and propelled me forward with my writing, and there are too many to name. However, I have selected the following list, which interests me because of its variety. Some of these books stayed with me because of their beauty, and others because of their depravity. For some, the words linger with me because of the skill of the prose, while some just tell stories too enticing to forget. In no particular order, here is my very abridged hit list of books that took days to leave me:

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (I've written about this one and why a whole lot)
• The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
• The Color of Night by Madison Smartt Bell 
• World War Z by Max Brooks
• IT by Stephen King
• Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
• Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• Flight by Sherman Alexie
• Going Bovine by Libba Bray

What are your lingering books? You know, the ones that just seem to grab on to your soul?

Friday Fun: RIpper My Love for the Weekend!

I love a book that makes me rethink something I consider to be hard fast fact. For this reason, I am eternally grateful to Glynis Smy, who helped me reconsider my previous dislike of historical fiction.


This dislike is a little bit odd, as I love history, but I just think that historical fiction is hard to do well. It is usually written by history buffs that fall easily into the trap of continually reminding you that this is THE PAST and THIS IS THE COOL STUFF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE PAST. The reminders break the flow and aggravate me, and so I usually avoid the genre.

I am glad I made an exception for Smy’s novel Ripper My Love. I read it because my interactions with her on the blogosphere convinced me that she is a kind, bright, and creative person and I wanted to see what she had up her sleeve, despite the genre.

Ripper My Love is the story of Kitty, an energetic and independent woman living near White Chapel in London during the reign of Jack the Ripper. Kitty dreams of owning her own sewing shop and works to care for her father, completely oblivious that she is deeply imbued in the life of the Ripper.

There is an awesome, and totally unexpected twist, but I won’t ruin it.

Smy’s novel is thoughtful, engaging, and really exciting. She masterfully used history to create a backdrop, instead of letting it linger in the forefront like so many historical fiction writers do. Before I realized how she had done it, she transported me into the London slums, and had me wholly invested what happened to our protagonist.

Full of intrigue and action, you will find this a quick read and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Available in both print and Kindle, you will find the investment well worth it. Find it on Amazon here..