Practical Advice for New and Experienced Writers

 

The title ways it all. This is a book for writers at all levels. If you’re just starting he provides good advice on how to begin. If you’re already a writer who wants to get to the next level, he has advice for you too.

Straczynski has a varied career writing for films, comics, television and, of course, books. These unique experiences led him to develop a series of proven methodologies that will help you at whatever writing stage you find yourself. He always wanted to be a writer and over his thirty years of experience he’s had many challenges. One of my favorite parts of the books is the stories he tells about his career.

His advice is helpful. There are no magic formulas. He embraces the idea that writing is hard work and takes tenacity to succeed. In some ways, this is the most useful advice. I highly recommend this book to all writers and wannabe writers. I think you’ll be glad you gave it a look.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Paranormal Romance, and Suspense

 

Stella Harrison is trying to rebuild her life. She has purchased a beautiful resort on Sunrise Lake. With many friends in the community, she thinks she’s finally beaten the problem that haunted her childhood, but the nightmares have started again. Stella has a unique ability to see future murders taking place, but only with people she’s close to.

Sam, the handyman at the resort, is Stella’s protector and a major source of her support. Sam’s background is mysterious. He appears to have military training, but he doesn’t want to talk about the past. He’s comfortable being off the grid.

When the nightmares start again, Stella is driven to tell Sam. Together they try to decipher Stella’s dreams to discover which of her friends are in danger.

This is a reasonably fast paced romantic thriller with a large dollop of paranormal. However, it paranormal isn’t your thing, it’s not overpowering and the mystery is quite satisfying. I loved the descriptions of the lake both the scenery and the resort accommodations. I felt like I was there in a very special place.

Stella is a strong character. She is bedeviled by premonitions of murder, but she doesn’t run from it. She wants to find the killer before he or she can strike again. Sam is the perfect partner. He strong, quiet, and very attracted to Stella, but he’s not overbearing. I also loved Stella’s large dog, another protester. I recommend this book if you enjoy romantic suspense.

I received this book from Berkley Publishing for this review.

The Strains and Rewards in a Long Term Friendship

 

When Jules and her single mother moved to the small Alabama town where Michelle’s family had lived for generations, the two third graders became instant best friends. The closeness lased until after high school graduation. For college, Jules went to New York City where she hoped to pursue a career in publishing while Michelle stayed home and became the consummate sorority girl.

Now Michelle is getting married to the man of her dreams. Jules is chagrined to learn about the engagement first from Instagram, but when Michelle asks her to be the maid of honor, she agrees. This is the beginning of a year the will test their friendship and bring individual challenges that help them grow.

This is a sensitive and well written book. Anyone who has a best friend from childhood will enjoy this book. Both Michelle and Jules are well defined characters. Their problems are real and the way they deal with them, while not always perfect, reminds us of their own trials as a twenty somethings.

The story is quite emotional. This is not a sugar coated friendship, but you’ll remember the characters, and their struggles, and probably think of your own best friend.

I received this book from Dutton for this review

A Dracula Festival Weekend Turns Deadly

 

Whitby in the far north of Yorkshire hosts a Dracula Festival because this is where Dracula enters England in the shape of a large black dog. People flock to the festival for fun and to be slightly frightened. Louise, daughter of DCI Jim Oldroyd, and her friends are no exception. They’re dressed as Goths and are headed to an “escape room” where they solve clues and try to escape.

The group is congenial but Andrea and Dominic, who have been partners for awhile, are taunting each other and fighting. They group doesn’t attach importance to this behavior, they often do this, but tonight the bickering has tragic consequences. In the escape room, Dominic stabs Andrea to death and vanishes. The friends are horrified, but as Louise replays the scene in her mind something seems off. Her instinct is to tell her father.

I enjoy the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries. This is the sixth book, but can be read as a standalone. The Yorkshire scenery is beautifully describes and Jim’s cases are always complex and interesting. This one is no exception.

The pace is not fast, but it fits the area and the nature of the crime. I enjoyed the inclusion of Louise in a major role in this novel. She’s an intelligent character with some of her father’s instinct for crime.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Maggie Again Solves a Trans-National Case Between the US and Ireland

 

Suffolk County, Long Island Detective Maggie D’arcy is taking her daughter Lily to Ireland for a much anticipated reunion with Conor, her boyfriend. She’s ready to leave until a body unexpectedly turns up near the marina in Bay Shore. The body is rapidly identified as an Irish international aid worker. Maggie hopes for a rapid conclusion to the case so she and Lily can be on the plane to Ireland.

Clues seem to point to the victim’s background in Ireland. Reluctantly, her supervisor, Marty, decides that looking for evidence in Ireland will be beneficial. Maggie is torn between her desire to solve the case and an equally strong desire to see Conor and find out whether their mutual attraction has a future.

This is the second book in the series. I loved the first book and wondered how Conor and Maggie would manage to get back together. This book is the perfect solution. The case is complex, clues are spread throughout the book, so you keep reading to find out what really happened and why. The story is told primarily in the first person from Maggie’s point-of-view. However, sections from the victim are cleverly slipped in at intervals. I thought they were are great addition to the novel.

Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend reading the first book before you tackle this one. Maggie and Conor are wonderful characters and getting to know them from the beginning is a treat. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A Mild Retelling of the Heroines of the Trojan War

 

Sisters Helen and Klytemnestra, daughters of Lord Tyndaroes, King of Sparta, are famous in Greek mythology and tragedy for their roles in the Trojan War. Klytemnestra, married to Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, was wed first. Helen, supposedly the most beautiful woman in the world, was married to his brother Menelaos. In the book Helen thinks this will be a wonderful idea because as sister-in-laws she and Klymnestra may be able to see each other. As the narrative unfolds this turns out to be a vain hope.

The girls were raised in luxury, but little was expected of them aside from spinning, weaving and giving birth to an heir. This was a boring existence and Helen eventually escaped with Paris to a hopefully more fulfilling life. It led to the tragedy of the Torjan War.

The plot of the book is well known. The portrayal of the characters is at the core of this book. The author tries to make them examples of Bronze Age women. They come across as placid and accepting of the fate they have been dealt. This was not the way myth portrayed the sisters. Helen was a temptress and Klyemnestra was the raging mother set on revenging the death of her daughter Ipigenia, sacrificed by Agamemnon.

The book was well written and not difficult to read, but I was disappointed by the characters. Both sisters came across as so mild as to be non-existent, not at all they way they are portrayed in tragedy. The moving back and forth between the sisters giving their thoughts on whatever was happening was tedious. I had high hopes for this book, but they weren’t fulfilled.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

A Psychic Communicates with Animals

 

Ruby Heartwood has been running for most of her life. She was left at a Catholic orphanage by her mother as an infant. Growing up, she felt could know things about a person by touching them. When she tells a nun what her life holds, the Mother Superior calls her evil and puts her in solitary confinement. Ruby escapes and hits the road as a fourteen-year-old.

Ruby’s had a difficult life. She earns her living going from carnival to medieval fair and on to another carnival, but her powers seem to be waning. One night during a wild rainstorm, she falls asleep in her van. In the morning she opens the door to a King Charles spaniel. She calls him Hitchhiker and they team up. She seems to be able to know what he’s thinking.

The town where she’s landed is Harmony Farms. She signs up for the Farmers’ Market and Makers Faire to use her psychic talents. She now adds the ability to communicate with animals. Although she usually moves on, Ruby finds she wants to stay in Harmony Farms. Perhaps she will find why she has been running away from everything for so long.

This is a wonderful story, particularly if you love animals. The story is about friendship, struggle and overcoming obstacles. I loved the animals not just Hitchhiker, but the other animals Rudy worked with. I thought Rudy’s character was great. Her life was a struggle, but she didn’t give up. If you enjoy a well written story, with a good ending, you’ll enjoy this one.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.