Saturday, December 2, 2017
A Very Mysterious Christmas
My short story, "An 80 Degree Christmas" is a part of the Very Mysterious Christmas short story bundle available for $2.99 at BundleRabbit.
Check it out at https://bundlerabbit.com/b/very-mysterious-christmas
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Origin, by Dan Brown
Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I generally like Dan Brown's writing, even when I profoundly disagree with the views espoused in his work. I have found his books to be page-turners that I race through to the end.
Origin was not up to that standard. After reading the blurb for it, I was concerned that I wouldn't like this particular outing, so I checked it out of my library. It took me up til the time came to return it to finish - for the most part, I lacked the urgency to get to the end that I had with his other novels.
I do like Robert Langdon and he's back in this one, which explores our beginnings as humans. One of Langdon's former students is brutally murdered just before he gives what he claims is the answer to the question of how life began. Langdon gets caught up in trying to find out what his student discovered and reveal it to the world before he himself is the killer's next victim.
As a Christian, I feared I would once again be dealing with bad theology. The book has a strong anti-religious thread through it - Langdon's murdered student is an atheist - and if you're looking for a last minute conversion from him, you will be disappointed.
One big disappointment I found with the book was the big reveal of what Langdon's student discovered. It was built up to be something world-altering, exciting, profound - and it was BORING. Nor was it anything that I felt would destroy people's religious faith. The whole thing was anticlimactic for me - I found certain subplots that were threaded through the novel far more interesting.
The book is okay. But unlike Brown's other novels, I'm probably not buying this one.
View all my reviews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I generally like Dan Brown's writing, even when I profoundly disagree with the views espoused in his work. I have found his books to be page-turners that I race through to the end.
Origin was not up to that standard. After reading the blurb for it, I was concerned that I wouldn't like this particular outing, so I checked it out of my library. It took me up til the time came to return it to finish - for the most part, I lacked the urgency to get to the end that I had with his other novels.
I do like Robert Langdon and he's back in this one, which explores our beginnings as humans. One of Langdon's former students is brutally murdered just before he gives what he claims is the answer to the question of how life began. Langdon gets caught up in trying to find out what his student discovered and reveal it to the world before he himself is the killer's next victim.
As a Christian, I feared I would once again be dealing with bad theology. The book has a strong anti-religious thread through it - Langdon's murdered student is an atheist - and if you're looking for a last minute conversion from him, you will be disappointed.
One big disappointment I found with the book was the big reveal of what Langdon's student discovered. It was built up to be something world-altering, exciting, profound - and it was BORING. Nor was it anything that I felt would destroy people's religious faith. The whole thing was anticlimactic for me - I found certain subplots that were threaded through the novel far more interesting.
The book is okay. But unlike Brown's other novels, I'm probably not buying this one.
View all my reviews
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
The Whistler, by John Grisham
The Whistler by John Grisham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fast read. Grisham makes you care about the characters he writes about. In fact, I cared so much that (view spoiler)[ when Hugo is killed off I got upset. (hide spoiler)] As a Floridian I recognized some of the setting and the history was interesting.
My one gripe is that the ending felt rushed. As if he realized he had to wrap things up and fell into "And this happened, and this happened, and this happened..." Would have liked to have had some things fleshed out more. But all in all, an entertaining novel.
View all my reviews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fast read. Grisham makes you care about the characters he writes about. In fact, I cared so much that (view spoiler)[ when Hugo is killed off I got upset. (hide spoiler)] As a Floridian I recognized some of the setting and the history was interesting.
My one gripe is that the ending felt rushed. As if he realized he had to wrap things up and fell into "And this happened, and this happened, and this happened..." Would have liked to have had some things fleshed out more. But all in all, an entertaining novel.
View all my reviews
Feel the Fear and Nanowrimo
I am going to blame Hurricane Irma for the current lapse in blogging. The storm (I live in Florida) messed up September and some of it carried over into October.
But I want to share good news. My story, "High Places," is a part of Fiction River's Feel the Fear anthology, which came out last month. If you like to be scared, it's a great anthology. My story deals with a woman afraid of heights, and as one who has this fear in spades, it was great therapy to write. Hopefully you will "feel the fear" when you read it.
You can buy the anthology at the usual sites, and I will post an Amazon link in the Bibliography section of this blog.
And if you're interested, I am doing Nanowrimo again this year. Unfortunately, my word count is currently abysmal as I work on things. But hopefully it will grow as the month progresses. If you are doing Nano and want to friend me, I'm Bookwormlady there.
Hope you are all having a wonderful month of reading!
Sunday, September 10, 2017
I'm in a Book Bundle!
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
New Short Story Published!
My short story, "Choices," is now published and available where ebooks are sold (check my ebooks link on this page for links to Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and other versions).
This story was originally published in "Fiction River: Past Crimes (Special Kobo Edition)." It was my first sale to Fiction River, but not my last.
Hope you get a chance to check it out!
This story was originally published in "Fiction River: Past Crimes (Special Kobo Edition)." It was my first sale to Fiction River, but not my last.
Hope you get a chance to check it out!
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Not one, but TWO short stories out...
Lots of news from yesterday. My short story, "No Farther," is included in Fiction River: Editor's Choice. It came out yesterday and is available as an ebook and paperback.
While I don't really have a favorite story that I've written (that's like asking which child is your favorite) this is a story I am glad is getting out there. There are some people I hope it touches in a special way. Anyway, it's one I hope you check out.
And then I got a surprise in my email box. My story, "The Flare," was selected to be included in Fiction River: Reader's Choice. This particular volume has stories that readers voted for.
I admit when I got the email my first thought was, "this is a mistake." I had to read the Table of Contents to be convinced. And I am thrilled.
My thanks to readers who voted for the story. And I hope you check THAT volume out as well.
While I don't really have a favorite story that I've written (that's like asking which child is your favorite) this is a story I am glad is getting out there. There are some people I hope it touches in a special way. Anyway, it's one I hope you check out.
And then I got a surprise in my email box. My story, "The Flare," was selected to be included in Fiction River: Reader's Choice. This particular volume has stories that readers voted for.
I admit when I got the email my first thought was, "this is a mistake." I had to read the Table of Contents to be convinced. And I am thrilled.
My thanks to readers who voted for the story. And I hope you check THAT volume out as well.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Hitting a wall
I hadn't realized how long it's been since I blogged. December? Really?
2017 has been...interesting.
So far this year I've sold a couple of short stories, done a little publishing, written a little (not enough).
But in May of this year I hit a wall.
A little bit of explanation. I am primary caregiver for my mother-in-law. A family member is going through some serious issues. Another one hasn't spoken to me in over a year (long story).
At some point in May this all ganged up on me and I found myself physically, mentally, and emotionally worn out.
I am fortunate in that I DO have a support system. My husband believes in me and my writing, sometimes more than I do and is working with me to find solutions to my stress. I have brothers and sisters in Christ willing to lend a helping hand or pray for me. A best friend who listens when I have to vent to SOMEONE.
But I am looking around now as June closes and wondering if things will improve. I pray that they will, and that I'm through with walls for the year.
And that my NEXT blog post is sooner than 6 months from now.
2017 has been...interesting.
So far this year I've sold a couple of short stories, done a little publishing, written a little (not enough).
But in May of this year I hit a wall.
A little bit of explanation. I am primary caregiver for my mother-in-law. A family member is going through some serious issues. Another one hasn't spoken to me in over a year (long story).
At some point in May this all ganged up on me and I found myself physically, mentally, and emotionally worn out.
I am fortunate in that I DO have a support system. My husband believes in me and my writing, sometimes more than I do and is working with me to find solutions to my stress. I have brothers and sisters in Christ willing to lend a helping hand or pray for me. A best friend who listens when I have to vent to SOMEONE.
But I am looking around now as June closes and wondering if things will improve. I pray that they will, and that I'm through with walls for the year.
And that my NEXT blog post is sooner than 6 months from now.
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