Please remember, this is for fun and to help get that writing mojo of yours flowing. Thursday is only a part of the title, not a deadline.
Here are the following rules:
Word count? Who needs word counts? Maybe you’re using the prompts because you just love writing OR maybe you need help to get through those pesky roadblocks. Either way, just let your fingers write the story and when you’re done, you’re done! (Of course, if you like flash fiction, let’s put a limit of no more than, say…500.)
Using the prompt of the photo below, WRITE. What is the bird doing? What is he looking at? What strikes your attention about this photo? (REQUIRED)Image Courtesy: Angela Kay
In the past few months I’ve discovered an author that’s been around awhile, but that I’ve only just discovered. Since then, I’ve read multiple books by this middle grade author and can honestly say that he is my new favorite author.
Chris Grabenstein is a funny, interesting, and intelligent author from Buffalo, New York. He co-writes the I FUNNY, HOUSE OF ROBOTS, TREASURE HUNTERS, and JACKY HA-HA books with James Patterson, as well as writing many of his own, fabulous, works. My current favorite is a three way tie between Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics, and Dr. Libris Library. You can find Mr. Grabenstein at Goodreads and at chrisgrabenstein.com.
I caught up with Chris this past week and he very kindly answered a few questions for me to pass along to you. So, without further ado, here is Author Chris Grabensteins Interview.
So my question is this: what makes you, as a lover of mystery, scared when it comes to villains? What makes you so afraid, that you can’t sleep at night, yet it’s hard putting the book down? Is it their method of crime? Their personality? Whatever it is, write it down in the comments. Explain what frightens you.
Mysteries are one of the most popular of genres. Particularly murder mysteries. It’s odd, isn’t it, how in real life, we hate the way the world works? We hate when we turn on the news and find out someone committed a senseless murder. Yet we turn to shows like CSI and Law and Order, read books, watch movies, anything to do with murder. It excites us in some strange, twisted way. A lot of us love the idea of being scared, getting into the mind of a killer, solving a crime.
Hello everyone! I thought that I would do a quick post today and give you some short reviews on Picture Books that we’ve been reading lately. I hope you enjoy them!
One of the first things we noticed was that there are no illustrations on the end pages (my daughter is keen on them!) However, the book was beautiful enough that she now forgives them. Though this book is an older picture book, both in publication date (1980) and intended audience (probably k-2) we had a lot of fun looking at the illustrations and reading the story together. The story line is a bit of nonsense, but very well written and beautifully dreamlike. I definitely suggest this to anyone Moonflute
Written by Audrey Wood and Illustrates by Don Wood
One of the first things we noticed was that there are no illustrations on the end pages (my daughter is…
Curse by Steven James
(Blur Trilogy #3)
Published by: Skyscape
Publication date: May 24th 2016
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Don’t miss this intriguing and climactic conclusion to the Blur Trilogy.
As Daniel Byers prepares to attend a basketball camp before his senior year of high school, the terrifying blurs that’ve plagued him for the last nine months return.Dark images begin to haunt him—creatures crawling from the deepest pits of his nightmares, glimmers of chilling memories from his early childhood. But before he can unearth the meaning behind his mysterious hallucinations, Daniel must team up with two other extraordinary teens to save a young woman who has been abducted by a scientist obsessed with enacting his own warped form of justice.This atmospheric mystery picks up where Fury left off and takes readers into the uncharted regions where reality and madness intertwine.
Do you like random facts? Do you enjoy animal artwork? Do you love tiny little books that can conveniently be carried with you virtually anywhere???
THEN I HAVE JUST THE BOOK FOR YOU!!
*Slightly smaller than actual size*
Maja Safstrom is an architect and illustrator from Stockholm who has worked with Ten Speed Press to bring us a small book with a big impact. Coming at a mere 6.3×0.7×7.8 inches in dimension, The illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts combines pen and ink/black and white drawings with facts about several different animals, all seemingly hand lettered. This book gives us not only peek aat nature, but look at the author’s nature journal (of sorts).
The book is very well made, the cover binding feels nice and fits very well into a hand, the interior pages have the look and feel of thicker art paper, and the entire piece feels like…
Click‘Like’ for our Facebook page and get all our latest. It’s easy. Click the image below, or look to the left on the sidebar and click like there. That’s right, you don’t even have to go to facebook to do it!
Equipped with a professional writing degree from Augusta State University, Angela Kay is a southern lady who spends her days and nights dreaming up new ways to solve dark murders of normal people.
Angela Kay is one of 23 across the United States to win a 2009 playwright contest for her one-act play entitled “Digging Deeper.” Because of this, she was able to spend a week in Atlanta at Horizon Theater. In addition to this, Angela is featured in the poetry Anthology, “Under the Sun,” for her poem “A Little Hope.”
Now you know her Bio, here’s why she’s here. While her novel is in editing and she’s working on the sequel, she’ll be doing Book Reviews here on LWI as well as sharing her adventures in becoming a published author.
Also, Angela offers proofreading and editing services, which you can read about on her blog Service Page HERE.
Book Reviewing is one of the main things we do here on LitWorldInterviews. So much so, that at one time or other most of us write about them. We write about the importance of them, how to do them, where to find people to do them, and the list goes on.
Most of the time the idea of Book Reviews is looking at it from the point of the author or how to relay helpful information for the author. Today I want to change it up a little.
Today we’ll talk about the Amazon Book Review, or the B&N Book Review. Sites that sell books, not sites that are for people digging for in depth analysis of a book, not that you get that from me.
My belief is regardless of which type of review you do, there is a golden rule to follow; don’t give spoilers. I don’t even care if you mention ahead of time that a spoiler is coming up, I don’t believe it needs to be out there. I do believe in trigger warnings. That’s fine. If you have a book advertising itself as a humorous cozy mystery and you find some type of assault against a woman or children, I say trigger alert away.
Now for the Book Seller Site Reviews. What is the normal person surfing through Amazon looking for? What are the first two things that catch their eye about a book?
That’s right: the Book Title, and Book Cover.
I know when I see a title I then see the cover and if still interested I go to the description or price next. Then I go to the reviews. If you want to know the truth, if the book has a lot of reviews and I see the percentage of 5 and 4 star reviews are high, I may not even read the reviews, unless the price is pushing my thrifty nature a bit.
Now I’m at the reviews. What do I want to know?
Enjoyment Factor is what I want to know.
Did they enjoy reading the book overall?
Was there anything in the book that took away from the enjoyment?
Did it deliver what it said it would?
Notice I didn’t mention unfavorable comparisons to other authors, long diatribes of things hoped for, or saying the author is the worst ever. There was mention of showing of a literature degree.
So what’s the difference in the writing of a review site review and an Amazon review?
If I came across a book I didn’t like, and the author asked me to post the review regardless of my score, I would keep in mind what needs said for the book buyer to make a decision. The more detailed version, if an unfavorable review, would go directly to the author in an email. On the site here, I would put detail as well, but still keep in mind not to rip the author apart. There might be several paragraphs explaining why I didn’t like the book.
Here is what I might say about a book I didn’t like on Amazon, if I dared put such a review on there. I doubt I would even if the author asked me to put it on there.
2 Stars
“The books idea seemed to be a good one from the description, but for me, it just didn’t come through in the actual story itself. I liked the main character most of the time, but there were inconsistencies that didn’t make sense to me within the given storyline, maybe in a sequel? What seemed to be important subplots never played out or ended up later contradicted with other plots. I’m not sure if this was intentional or oversight. It felt to me as though the author was so excited to get the book into our hands, they raced to the finish line when a little more time would have made a much better finished product. I’m not sure I would read it a second time in its current edition.”
What the review means.
“The author’s story does not match the excitement or intrigue of book description given. The main character is not well developed. In addition, the main character is like reading a confused jumble of ideas that never comes together for any reason. Maybe the author kept changing their mind during the writing and didn’t go back to edit for character continuity. Important subplots are left behind and ignored, as if the author completely forgets he ever wrote about them, and that makes for irritating points later that didn’t match up. It feels to me the book was rushed to market without being properly proofread and edited, which is what a customer is paying for. I would not recommend this book to anyone.”
Why do I not say the second review in an Amazon review?
There are a number of people involved in getting a manuscript to book form. It’s not only the author or authors. You also have proofreaders, editors, and publishers. An author cannot wholly depend on their own judgement about their baby. With my book, co-authored with PS Bartlett, we had each other to look to for any problems that came up and to push each other forward. That did not stop us from going to beta-readers, to test the story out. Then we took suggestions and made some edits. Then PS Bartlett sent it to her editor she’s worked with on some of her previous books.
Does all of that make for a perfect book? No. There is no such thing as a perfect book, but through that time taken, you can end up with a very enjoyable read.
What an author does is realize a book will never be good enough in his or her own eyes, and must trust others to help push them forward. Books I’ve written, that haven’t seen the light of a Kindle screen yet, are those I haven’t trusted to the eyes of beta-readers because I am not happy with them. In other words, I need someone to push me forward, but I don’t have a person on premises that does that, that encourages and nudges me forward. With the reviews coming out for Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling, I’m getting the confidence I need to move ahead with the more than a dozen books I’ve written.
Now do you see how important a properly written review is? The first review tells a reader that they may not want to read this, warns them there are problems. At the same time, it doesn’t destroy confidence in the writer because they realize they have something there, but they need to work on it longer and take time. They need help getting it in a polished state.
Everything we write has an effect somewhere along the way. We may think we are being funny at times when we hit publish or submit, but the truth is, we could be doing more damage than good. Be honest, but be professional at the same time, even in an Amazon review. Help, not hinder.
As a Reader or as an Author, what do you want in an Amazon Review? Share for others to know. Maybe I’ll compile the results in a future article.
Many authors view marketing their books as a necessary evil to be endured rather than enjoyed. This can be true if our entire focus is on simply finding people—any people—to buy our books, and sharing our book blurbs, book links, and other book related things every day, generally in the same places and with the same people. Marketing doesn’t only have to be this way though. You can find new readers without doing so to the exclusion of all else, and enjoy yourself in the process too.
Us scribblers naturally gravitate to each other, and there is a lot of fun to be had socializing with our own kind. It’s great chatting with like-minded people who are knowledgeable in our ways. Our families and “normal” friends are not going to want to talk about formatting and cover design, and are most unlikely to instigate any conversations about grammar. Authors, whether Indie or traditionally published all need the support of our tribe, whether to cheer us on when we hit walls, celebrate our successes, or generally to inspire us with their own stories and knowledge. As well as having fun with our online writer buddies, we should also find out what our “thing” is, and move around in places where we’ll find people interested in that in order to increase our readership.
So, what is your “thing”? Yes—writing is your thing, but unless you write about writing then you’re going to have something else that you’re an expert at. Do you write historical fiction? Detective thrillers? Science-fiction? All of these things also have other things within them that could be your “thing”. Are you fascinated with England’s royalty, American politics, serial killers or faster than light travel? All of these topics and thousands more have thousands of fans who are not also writers. They gather online in groups on Linkedin, G+, Facebook, or specific websites and forums.
Do you actively participate in groups that are interested in aspects of your expertise related to your fiction or non-fiction? If not, you should consider joining a few. Finding these places is easy using the search engines on each site, or even just using Google search. Don’t join in your capacity as an author and try and sell your book. Rather enjoy the fellowship of those who share your passions and let others be keen enough to seek out your books because you yourself have interested them. Obviously, don’t hide the fact that you write westerns or whatever subject it is that the group is about—just don’t talk about your books all the time. Have fun interacting as simply another person, and you could find a whole group of new readers while you’re at it.
Follow non-writing blogs, join groups, and interact in places where people share your passions as who you are and without the obvious end result being to sell your books. If you haven’t considered what your “thing” is before, then set aside a few moments to think about it. Don’t be self-deprecating with this. What are you knowledgeable about? What are you passionate about? Find your “thing” and use it to find new readers.
1. How old were you when you had the urge to become a writer?
I think I was 13-14 years old when I started with fanfiction, bad fanfiction to boot. The only reason I can remember is because of what grade I was in at the time. Thank goodness I’ve gotten better since then.
2. It’s taken you 10 years to finish your debut novel. What gave you the inspiration for the story?
It’s going to sound corny but it was due to a dream I had. I was lost in a forest until I was attacked by monster brown bugs. I was saved by an elf in green, who looks very much like the male protagonist in my debut novel By The Light of a Darkened Forest. He hid me from the monsters and went out to take care of them, telling me to stay hidden and that he would come back. I woke up before he could but he did manage by giving me a brilliant idea for a story.
3. Is any or part of the story autobiographical?
No. Though the main female protagonist Evelyn has some of my characteristics, none of events mimic my life.
4. Your novel is a paranormal fantasy adventure for young adults. Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
It would be awesome if I could say yes but unfortunately no. Unless of course having very imaginative dreams counts. The feelings I get from my grandparents’ farm brought the story to life. It feels so different there compared to other places I’ve been. Magical is a good word for it.
5. Do you find that writing your debut novel has helped with your slight dyslexia?
Definitely. I’m more confident with my writing than even the spoken word. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and the years I’ve spent practicing have helped immensely.
6. Were your schoolteachers sympathetic regarding your dyslexia?
Not really. I don’t think it was in my student file so I doubt they knew. It always took me longer to read through books but I’d get it done eventually. If I could get away with not reading the material I would. It saved me time to do other things, like writing the reports and essays they wanted. Also the reason I believe I have/had dyslexia is because I would be pulled from classes grades 1-3 to learn the differences between letters and directions. It didn’t change until I was in high school, something clicked then and it became easier.
7. Why did you change from a French school to an English language school?
Verbs. That is the only reason why I changed schools. The French language has so many verbs and so many different variations of said verbs with special rules that I couldn’t wrap my head around them. I could get away with speaking in slang but writing was a different story. Without writing I couldn’t get decent grades not matter how hard I tried. So my parents switched me.
8. Do you think in French or English? Which one is your first language?
I think in English since it’s easier and I’m much better at it, though sometimes if I don’t remember a word I usually know the French one. Pencil sharpener was one I got hung up on way too often, I’m lucky I live in a bilingual community or else trying to ask for one would be a task in itself.
For my first language I’m not sure. I learned both at the same time though my first words were French.
9. Have you written other stories or poetry?
I have lots of poetry though none of it is published. I like to write them to express a mood or an idea or they just come to me. For stories I have so many beginnings but no ends. This is the first one I finished and it was all thanks to a good friend who was reading them as I was writing. If it wasn’t for her this one wouldn’t get finished either.
10. What in your experience is the best book you’ve ever read?
That’s a loaded question. Honestly it keeps changing with each book I read. It started with The Three Investigators series by Robert Arthur Jr. then progressed to Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, now it’s a tie between Graceling by Kristin Cashore and The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black. As I grow older I get to read more novels and with that new flavors to taste. So it’s really hard to say what the best book is.
11. Which social media do you think helps the most in building up an author platform?
I can’t really answer since I’m still trying to figure it all out. Being so shy it’s hard for me to put myself out there. Doing this interview is going way beyond my comfort zone. One thing that’s helping my confidence is finding an author group with supportive peers like I’ve found with Creativia. I feel bad that I barely post on there but it’s so stressing to even think about it let alone what I’m going to say. Having a group where you can ask the more tenured authors for advice (I think, I haven’t yet because, again, I’m too shy to) would help and if you’ve found the right group they will help you grow.
12. Living in Northern Ontario, do you prefer the cold winters or the boiling summers?
I like the transition periods best where you don’t have to wear 10 pounds of clothes because it’s so cold or want to tear your skin off because it’s so hot. So I guess you can call it the few weeks of spring and fall. If I had to choose between the two though it would be the winters. I have a saying that you can always put more clothes on to stay warm but you can only take off so much to get cool.
13. My fascination is with the Mennonite lifestyle when I found out about them on a visit to the area around Kincardine on a Canadian holiday in 2013. Does the slower pace of their lifestyle with its lack of modern amenities appeal to you?
Definitely! Though I’d miss my computer since it makes writing so much easier for me. It’s a reason why I moved back to my hometown from the city. Much slower pace and so much quieter. Gives a person time to think. Also you’d spend more time talking with people face to face, and I don’t mean facetime on the phone, which is very important. Today it looks like what happened to people in Disney’s Wall-E is happening now. Makes me sad really.
14. What is it about forests that you find fascinating?
It’s the feeling I get from them. It’s so quiet and peaceful but if those trees could talk they could go on forever. Whenever I’m with nature there’s something magical that comes over me. It’s perfectly imperfect within the canopy. Everything has its place in the mismatch of things. It’s hard to describe but it’s one place that’s left untouched by people. You never know what you can find in there.
15. Do you think that playing video games is a good pastime for teenagers?
Depending on the video games yes. One’s that are just for going around and killing stuff, what they call hack n’ slash, no. If it includes a story, puzzles/tactics and even morals then I do think it’s good. My favorites to play are ones with a story, my favorite of those by far is The Legend of Zelda series. It does have to be balanced with other things though, like exploring outside or having a hobby off screen.
16. Are you adept at orienteering using only a map and compass?
I know how to use them but that’s about it. When I go out I usually go with my dad. He’s the expert. If we go off on foot he can find our way back. On my own I’d get too nervous and stick close to an obvious trail.
17. Have you ever been lost in a forest?
No. Though I love exploring I always make sure I know where I am. If I get disoriented I retrace my steps until I can remember. Going on drives with my dad, however, is a different story. Though he says we’re not lost I’ve had moments where I’ve doubted him. He finds a way out though.
18. Who is your favourite band?
Another loaded question. I’ve got so many. If it was based on concerts I’ve attended and grew up with then it would be Rush. For newer music I love Daughtry for the sound but I can say that about Gowan’s older music and some others. I just love music in general.
19. What is your most prized possession?
Though it’s a bit embarrassing I have to say it’s my Barney. I’ve had him since I was 2-3 years old and he’s been with me everywhere. I’m very protective of him and don’t let many touch him. To this day he still fights off nightmares and keeps me company though he has more friends than he used to. There’s a group of dogs and wolves he hangs out with now, even a polar bear that I got at the Cochrane polar bear habitat. They all have their own stories, the stuffed animals that I’ve gotten attached to, so what normal people think about Barney is not how mine is.
20. Which one thing would you like with you on a desert island?
A sailboat filled with supplies so I can get back home? I bet that’s not what you’re getting at though. If not then a pencil and a pencil sharpener with sketchbook if a set counts. I’d spend my days drawing and writing for a vacation. I guess I’m lucky that my favorite things to do can be brought with my anywhere. I thank God for that. If not I’d be quite the miserable person as there would be no outlet for a very overactive imagination.
Thanks J.W for your answers. Rush is also one of my favourite bands!
To find out more about J.W, please click on the links below:
*The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which follows.*
From the Future…
Enjoying the day in Tel Aviv, Kat, a known Mossad assassin, and her two young daughters are brutally killed by a car bomb placed there by an unknown assassin. Kat’s husband, Pantera, identifies the bodies of his wife and daughters. Vowing revenge on the killers, Pantera takes you on a journey back in time to when he first met Kat in 1989. Hang on to your hat! It’s about to get good!
…And Into the Past
This story tells the tale of a tragic romance between Kat and Pantera that is filled with necessary lies wrapped in half-truths and subterfuge. At the first meeting, Pantera and Kat do not know the shadowy truth of each other’s employers. Kat pretends to be a model while Pantera’s cover is that of a medic in the Special UN Forces. Nothing could be further from the truth.
JD. Wallace, the author says,
“Deadly Dance is based on the life of the youngest Kidon Katsa agent in the history of Mossad and her husband, the fabled Chief Black Site Interrogator, who worked under such special access programs as the Operation Copper Green (created under Donald Rumsfeld), the United Nations Security Council – Special Operations Group (UN-SOG), and Task Forces 88 and 121.”
Recommendation:
This is the perfect book for men and women! It offers a deep relationship type romance for the ladies and enough mystery and suspense to satisfy the men in your life. I was hooked from the first chapter! It was a longer read than my usual fare which I am glad to say transported me into a world of which I had no true knowledge of. Talk about exciting! Wait until you read it!
The characters are written with such a depth of understanding and knowledge that you simply realize the author had to be involved in military special forces himself or served with one of our own spy agencies. This background knowledge propels the story along taking the reader on a rollercoaster of events, romantic interludes, torture, combat, and death. Some of these scenes will boggle your mind. Some will make you question your own core beliefs.
It is worth mentioning that there are sexual and violent scenes. In other words, this is not a book for children or teenagers.
I really loved the idea that neither character really knew what the other was doing as their true profession but accepted their love for each for what it was – a gift. Rarely, do you read about the lives of those serving in the capacity of assassins or interrogators where they seem like real human beings with wants and needs just like everyone else. The fact that this story is based on real-life events and people heightened my enjoyment even more.
However, Kat is a genius, the product of a genetic program in Israel while Pantera is a sociopath who says he cannot feel empathy for his fellow man. His flaws make him a skillful interrogator. It was striking then that he held such a deep love for Kat and their children. I liked the fact that he wasn’t perfect, it made him seem more lifelike and real.
J. D. Wallace employs a unique storytelling technique in this tale. He takes the time for the characters to speak to one another but allows them to share their feelings and emotional reactions to the other character’s words. The reader gets to see and feel first hand with the characters.
For a debut novel, I would say J. D. Wallace has the makings for an excellent series. If you are looking for excitement on a dull evening at home, step into the world of Kat and Pantera. I know I can hardly wait to find out what happens next since this first book seems to be in large part dedicated to Kat and her life with Pantera. From what I now know of Pantera, his revenge should know no bounds!
My rating:
Character Believability: 5 Flow and Pace: 4 Reader Engagement: 5 Reader Enrichment: 5 Reader Enjoyment: 5 Overall Rate: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Author, J. D. Wallace
About J. D. Wallace:
After spending the first ten years of his career with a US-based intelligence agency, Mr. Wallace went on to work for foreign intelligence agencies, law firms, political figures, royals, sovereigns and private corporations for the next twenty years.
He is considered one of the top corporate infiltrators in the world.
Between various spy contracts, JD became a student of Robert McKee (Story) and has spent nearly a decade working as a subject matter expert (SME) and technical advisor (TA) for several large movie and TV production companies (several Oscar and Emmy winners). He has also had the pleasure of functioning as a Script Reader, Script Synopsis Writer (aka, Coverage) and Consulting Writer under a number of aliases.
Mr. Wallace holds bachelor’s degrees in Mammalian Physiology and Environmental Chemistry, a master’s degree in Physiology/Biochemical Nutrition and an MBA in Finance. Currently, the widower and his Welsh Border Collie, Kelly, split time between San Diego, California, and Montreux, Switzerland.
SILENT CATS: Deadly Dance is his first novel of a possible six book series. Book two is currently under construction. Stay tuned.
I created a new facebook group recently. The purpose is to share book reviews that you honestly believe in, as in you would guarantee to your friends and family.
Anyone can join. Book Reviewers can join. Readers can join. You can even add people to the group and approve requests to join.
Post only one review per day. If you’ve been reviewing a long time, you have a lot of books. Keep in mind the more reviews posted, the fewer seen. You will not be doing yourself, or the author you reviewed service flooding the group.
Keep it classy. People of all ages will be viewing this group at one time or other. That means you need to keep what you say on your post family friendly. Your review may not be family friendly, but you can make note of that on your update in the group.
A suggested courtesy is to share any reviews you see in the group with your own friends and followers. The more you share, the more you get shared. Be THAT member.
This is not a group to promote your own published work. If someone else posts a review of your book, that’s fine, but don’t post about your own work.
Much Respect
Ronovan
“Now, I want to warn you… this is not your typical pirate tale! It’s BETTER!” – Review
Did you ever wonder what it was like to write about other people’s writing? That is the job of a book reviewer. I always wanted to be a freelance writer, and for me reviewing books is a perfect example of what a freelance writer does. I write book reviews as a public service to readers and authors alike, sharing my opinions of what I read.
Book reviewers are a valuable asset to all writers. I believe all serious writers should write reviews on other author’s books. The lessons learned are invaluable and will benefit your own writing. This process works for me. I see a marked improvement in my own writing skills since I began reading and sharing other writer’s work.
I follow a format designed to bring out the best aspects of any author’s work. The idea is to express my thoughts about a book in as honest a way, as possible. This is not as easy as you think. I want to be fair to the author and the reader. Sometimes book reviewing is a real balancing act of words and emotions. Bottom line, I always follow my gut, and say what I think. The author needs to know how their writing affects readers. I accept that task.
There are certain things I look for in the review process when I first begin reading a book. First impressions are always something I take seriously. Typo’s, or misspelled words, sentences missing words, are the kinds of things that detract from a book’s meaning, which all cause confusion to the reader. I believe the more mistakes a reader spots, the less confidence a reader has in your ability as a writer.
How a book makes me feel is another aspect that is an integral part of the reading/reviewing experience. I like to employ the Ethos, Logos, and Pathos rules to my reviewing. Is the story believable? Do the series of events make sense to the reader? Can I understand the terminology the author uses? Does the story flow?
So what is a good book? To me, a good book allows me to see a series of events and descriptions through the author’s eyes. Good books are those where I can feel the internal conflicts of the characters, which gives me an emotional connection. If you form that bond with me as a reader, I have a favorable memory of the story. I will remember the way you made me feel with your words.
One thing, I believe a book reviewer should never do is to impose their own personal belief system on an author. If you are reading a book that upsets your take on the world that much, keep your thoughts to yourself. Send an apology email to the author explaining why you have decided not to review their book. Do not destroy the author’s hard work because you do not hold the same values.
I prefer to be open minded to the possibilities of literature. I like the journey and the review process is part of it. Book reviewing can be one of the most daunting tasks you will ever undertake if you let it. Instead, I find it to be one of the most fulfilling writing tasks I have ever experienced because it lets me share in the joy of writing and reading.
Indie Authors depend on us to share their work. Read a book, and write a review! It’s the best way to thank an author for their hard work.
Just created this week is a new Book Review facebook group!
If you are sharing honest reviews, join this one. I know, we all share honest reviews, right? What I mean here are those reviews you would recommend to your closest friends and stake your reputation on.
Two rules only to this group:
Post only one review per day. If you’ve been reviewing a long time, you have a lot of books. Keep in mind the more reviews posted, the fewer seen. You will not be doing yourself, or the author you reviewed service flooding the group.
Keep it classy. People of all ages will be viewing this group at one time or other. That means you need to keep what you say on your post family friendly. Your review may not be family friendly, but you can make note of that on your update in the group.
Add reviewers you know to the group, tell people about it, and turn it into something worthwhile and not another personal book promotion page. I won’t be sharing any reviews about my own current or future books in the group.
Much Respect
Ronovan
“Now, I want to warn you… this is not your typical pirate tale! It’s BETTER!” – Review
An author emailed me recently and said that he couldn’t understand why CreateSpace was telling him that the images in his book did not meet their requirements. He had made sure that they were all 300dpi and they were all large resolution files. He’d made sure to insert them into his Word manuscript rather than using copy and paste, so as far as he was concerned all should have been well when he loaded his PDF file. He hit the ignore button and went ahead with publishing his book as it was. When he received his proofs though, he realised that something had gone wrong with image quality after all.
One thing that a lot of new to paper publishing scribblers don’t know is that Microsoft Word will always try to automatically compress any images in your document to 220ppi. Often we’ll just assume that CreateSpace is mistaken as we are quite confident that our carefully edited and sized images are just hunky dory, and then we click on ignore and publish away. Unfortunately CreateSpace is highly unlikely to be mistaken with this, so we are actually publishing low definition images after all. The thing to do is to get rid of the automated compression in your manuscript before saving as a PDF file, and double check again before doing that too. Here’s what to do.
(Click on images to enlarge)
Insert your image into your document.
When your Picture Tools menu appears, click on Compress Pictures.
Select Options.
Uncheck the Automatically perform basic compression on save box and click OK.
Once you’ve made sure that this box is unchecked for all the images in your manuscript, it’s time to save the whole thing, whereupon Word could once again try and compress your pictures. To be sure that it won’t we’ll do a bit more unchecking of boxes.
Rather than just simply saving the document, use the Save As feature from the Microsoft icon in the top left hand corner.
Click on Tools below, and select Compress Pictures.
Here once again, uncheck the Automatically perform basic compression box on save and click OK before saving.
Once you’ve saved your manuscript this way, you can then save it as a PDF file and it should load up to CreateSpace with no image resolution problems.
When Grandma Stella shares an old journal with Cynthia, her granddaughter, and her boyfriend Alex, the family’s history is laid bare. Grandma Stella explains that she was named after her Great-grandmother, Stella Mae, whose real first name was Hadassahyah, which in Hebrew means ‘myrtle tree.’ Many of the old names were taken from the Slave Ships.
The year is 1864 in Louisiana and the story slips back in time introducing Grandma Stella’s Great grandmother, Stella Mae, age nineteen years. Stella Mae begins her story with a memory of how as a child she was forced to use the facilities designated for “niggras only.” Young Stella Mae tries to reason out why her Mama can’t walk into the front door of the general store and why they can’t use the restroom everyone else uses. Even at a young age, Stella Mae could sense the inequality in her existence.
Stella Mae’s journey is that of trying to find her place in a world where she is only considered to be a piece of property. When her childhood friend, Miss Carla, the daughter of Marse Saddler, and her husband coerce her into following them to their new home; Stella Mae does so trusting that Miss Carla will be her friend just as when they were children. Carla dupes the naïve Stella who now becomes a slave to them. Freedom is just a fleeting image in Stella Mae’s mind. Traded like a farm animal, Stella learns that she is indeed a slave, not a free woman in any way.
Recommendation:
This story retells the history of many African American families alive today. It is a heritage rich with strife and suffering but also filled with a hope and a desire to finally grasp the freedom that has been so elusive and out of reach for so many. At times, I was forced to accept some uncomfortable truths about our American past. There is nothing wrong with that. This story makes you think about freedom and what it really means to you as a person, and as an American.
I loved this story because it is through the learning of other’s journeys that we begin to learn much about ourselves. Their pain becomes our pain and we begin to see through their eyes. Stella Mae will touch your soul with such a sweet simplicity you won’t even know it.
Character Believability: 5 Flow and Pace: 5 Reader Engagement: 5 Reader Enrichment: 5 Reader Enjoyment: 5 Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars
The final book in the series is Joseph’s story, where Stella’s grandson reconciles the feelings he has about his heritage. It is the story of a young man moved by the eloquent words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who yearns to be part of the white middle class and part of the movement to revolutionize the world all at the same time. A man, both white and black, hoping to evoke change in the world of 1960’s America.
The Jim Crow laws had come to an end in 1954 when the segregation of public (state-sponsored) schools was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States in Brown v. Board of Education. However, the lasting effects of these laws were felt all over the United States, not just in the southern states.
Joseph along with a group of his friends, both black and white, embark on a journey of self-discovery. Naïve but believing that they could make a difference, the young people set out to become part of the SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) conference in Georgia. This book chronicles the trials and tribulations of their journey.
My favorite quote from the book is when Joseph recounts: “In the beginning it was not about Civil Rights, it was about freedom and freedom is what it has all been about.”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary currently defines freedom as:
“noun free·dom \ˈfrē-dəm\
Definition of freedom
1: the quality or state of being free: as a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b:liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another :independence c: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous <freedom from care> d: ease, facility <spoke the language with freedom> e: the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken <answered with freedom> f: improper familiarity g: boldness of conception or execution h: unrestricted use <gave him the freedom of their home>
In 1960’s America, African Americans did not even have the ability to vote because of strict registration laws. Many African Americans lived in poverty and were born in their homes. There were few hospital births. The end result was a lack of birth certificates, the very documentation needed to prove American citizenship. Of the African Americans that did register to vote many lost their jobs, their homes, and their lives. This was happening when I was a young girl. It is not fiction.
What did I learn from Joseph’s story AND the entire Stella series? Flash forward into the future to the headlines that exist today. Unfortunately, racism still exists in our society. My hope is that the more we read and understand the plight of all Americans we will learn what freedom really means. We can all learn to be free by knowing who we are as a people. I was humbled by Joseph’s story. This was another emotional read for me, as are all of Yecheilyah’s books.
If you like provocative reads that make you think about life and your own values you will enjoy Joseph’s Story – The Road to Freedom. In fact, I suggest reading the entire series. It is well worth the visit back into the past.
Character Believability: 5 Flow and Pace: 5 Reader Engagement: 5 Reader Enrichment: 5 Reader Enjoyment: 5 Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars
Here is more about Author, Yecheilyah Ysrayl:
Born in 1987 on the south side of Chicago, Yecheilyah Ysrayl (“EC”) is an author and Spoken Word Artist.
Yecheilyah started writing short stories and poetry at the age of twelve. She attended Harper High School (International Language Career Academy) Robert Morris College (Computer Basics/Administration), Chicago State University (Professional and Technical Writing), and Everest College (Medical Assistant/Phlebotomy).
As an artist, Yecheilyah Ysrayl is an incorporation of spiritual critique, honesty and an authentic analysis of African American identity. She seeks to create work that promotes healthy research and investigation into the cultural identity, laws, customs and traditions of the African American for self-revolution and advancement. Furthermore, “EC” seeks to advance the promotion of truth and identity by way of Spoken Word.
“EC” currently lives in Shreveport, LA with her husband where she writes full time.
Meet YA Fantasy author Michaelbrent Collings and watch as he reads from The Sword Chronicles: Child of the Empire. Then get to know him as he poses a fun trivia question. Be sure to leave a comment to enter the giveaway for one of two ebook copies of the same. https://youtu.be/ynk3Pn6IPVk
Summary: She is a Dog – one of the many children and teens across the empire of Ansborn who have been sentenced to fight in the arenas. There they fight in battle after battle until they die for the sport of the people of Ansborn – an empire built atop the peaks of five mountains.
But one day she picks up a knife… and everything changes.
She discovers she is a Greater Gift – one of a handful of magic users with powers so great they have only two choices: to join the Empire as one of its premier assassins, or die as a threat to the Empire itself.
She is no longer a Dog. Now, she is Sword. And she will soon realize that in this Empire, not all is what it seems. Good and evil collide, and she can never be sure whom to trust – not even herself.
She holds life in her hands for some. Brings death by her blade to others.
Title: When Breath Becomes Air Author: Paul Kalanithi ISBN13: 978-0812988406 ASIN: B0165X8WN2 Published: Vintage Digital Pages: 258 Genre: Non-fiction, Medical Books: neurosurgery, Ailments and diseases: cancer
Description:
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • For readers of Atul Gawande, Andrew Solomon, and Anne Lamott, a profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir by a young neurosurgeon faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis who attempts to answer the question What makes a life worth living?
At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live. And just like that, the future he and his wife had imagined evaporated. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life” into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality.
What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir.
Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while working on this book, yet his words live on as a guide and a gift to us all. “I began to realize that coming face to face with my own mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything,” he wrote. “Seven words from Samuel Beckett began to repeat in my head: ‘I can’t go on. I’ll go on.’” When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both.
Praise for When Breath Becomes Air
“I guarantee that finishing this book and then forgetting about it is simply not an option. . . . Part of this book’s tremendous impact comes from the obvious fact that its author was such a brilliant polymath. And part comes from the way he conveys what happened to him—passionately working and striving, deferring gratification, waiting to live, learning to die—so well. None of it is maudlin. Nothing is exaggerated. As he wrote to a friend: ‘It’s just tragic enough and just imaginable enough.’ And just important enough to be unmissable.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
“An emotional investment well worth making: a moving and thoughtful memoir of family, medicine and literature. It is, despite its grim undertone, accidentally inspiring.”—The Washington Post
“Possesses the gravity and wisdom of an ancient Greek tragedy . . . [Kalanithi] delivers his chronicle in austere, beautiful prose. The book brims with insightful reflections on mortality that are especially poignant coming from a trained physician familiar with what lies ahead.”—The Boston Globe
“Devastating and spectacular . . . [Kalanithi] is so likeable, so relatable, and so humble, that you become immersed in his world and forget where it’s all heading.”—USA Today
“It’s [Kalanithi’s] unsentimental approach that makes When Breath Becomes Air so original—and so devastating. . . . Its only fault is that the book, like his life, ends much too early.”—Entertainment Weekly
“[When Breath Becomes Air] split my head open with its beauty.”—Cheryl Strayed
Body of review: As this is a non-fiction book the usual format does not work well but I thought it was well-worth sharing.
Here it is:
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi A singular and professional look at death
Thanks to Net Galley and to Vintage Digital for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I read this book with conflicting emotions. When it came to my attention and saw some of the comments I wondered if I was ready to read it. (My father died 14 months ago of cancer, in his case prostate, with bone metastases, stage IV at the time of diagnosis, after a year of fighting the illness.) In some ways I guess I was challenging myself to see if I’d manage and perhaps hoping that it would give me some answers, although I’m not sure what to. I will try to make this review as objective as possible, but by the nature of the book and its subject this is more difficult than usual (no two people read the same book and that’s the beauty of it, of course).
In my effort to try and make my mind up as to what to say I’ve read a few of the reviews. Some of the negative ones state that the book is little more than a couple of essays, a foreword and an epilogue. That’s a fair comment. We know that Paul Kalanithi died before he finished the book, and we don’t know how much editing went into it, or what else he might have written if his life hadn’t been cut short. The foreword works as an introduction of the book and a sum up of the author’s career and perhaps helps tie up the unfinished nature of it. It is nicely written, although the fact that Abraham Verghese had only met the writer once hints at how professionally packaged the book is. Yes, this is not just another account by a totally anonymous individual fighting cancer.
Other reviewers note that Kalanithi’s circumstances are so unique (well-educated, professional family, bright and driven, studying at the best universities, training in neurosurgery at one of the best hospitals, and also treated in one of the best units with access to all the treatments, surrounded and supported by his family) that perhaps his reflections and his experiences are not applicable to most of the population. I can’t argue with that. I’m not sure we can claim to a universality of experience and say that death or impending death affects everybody the same. There’s no doubt that the end result is the same but the process and the way it is felt is quite different. All lives start and end the same but that does not mean they are the same.
Some reviewers take issue with the decisions the author and his family made, for instance his insistence on going back to work as a neurosurgeon after the diagnosis and whilst he was being treated, wondering how safe that was, and accusing him of selfishness. Sometimes in harrowing circumstances we do what we have to do to keep going and to see another day, although that is no justification to put others at risk. In his case it is clear from the write up that there was a strong plan in place to ensure safety and that he was no operating by himself (we’re talking about neurosurgery, a highly complex field and a team endeavour). Perhaps the way the author focuses on his own efforts and how he managed to overcome the symptoms of the illness to keep working leaves too much of what was going on around him in the shadows, but then, he was writing about his experience and how he saw it at the time. Other readers appear upset at the family’s decision to have a child knowing he wouldn’t be alive to see her grow. That’s a matter of personal opinion and I can’t see how that has any bearing on our thoughts about the quality of the book.
After this long preamble (my review is becoming an essay in its own right), what did I think? I am a doctor (a psychiatrist, and although I remember with fondness my placement in general surgery and I attended in some operations for other specialties, like paediatrics, breast or chest, I can’t claim to any hands-on experience in neuro-surgery) and I identified with early parts of the book when Kalanithi describes medical school, and also his love of literature. I haven’t worked in the US although I’ve read (and we’ve all watched movies and TV series) about the gruelling schedules and training process medical students and trainees face there. There is a great deal of emphasis on his career and not much on his other experiences. Although there are more details about his relationship with his wife later on, we don’t know much about how they met or what they shared, other than their interest in Medicine and plans for their professional future. Some reviewers noted that we don’t get to know the man. I can imagine that to get to the professional peak he had achieved one needs to be focused on one’s career to the detriment of other things, and there are some reflections about that in the book: about delayed gratification, about working hard and putting other parts of our life on hold, for whenever we’ve reached that next goal, that next step. Often that moment never arrives, because we find other goals or other objectives. Living the now and for it is a lesson that not many people learn. I also felt I did not get to know Kalanithi well. He writes compellingly about his work, his efforts to find meaning and to offer meaning to others through his vocation, he mentions religion and how he turned to literature too to try and understand death. There are glimpses of him, mostly towards the end of the book, and truly heart-wrenching moments, like the birth of his daughter. I agree with everybody that his wife’s epilogue is more touching and heart-felt, less analytical and rationalised than the parts he wrote and I felt more connection to her than to her husband. I wish her and her daughter well and I have the feeling she is more than equal to the task of bringing up her girl and carrying on with her career.
This is an interesting book, a book that will make the reader think about his or her own mortality, and it will touch many. It does have a fair amount of medical terminology (I’m a doctor so it’s not easy for me to judge how complex it might be for somebody with no medical knowledge, although I saw some comments about it) and it’s not a touchy-feely open-my-heart type of confession about the final days of somebody. It’s a fairly intellectualised look at matters of life and death, but it ultimately provides no answers. Why that should be a surprise to anybody, I’m not sure. It is not a book on spirituality (although there are some reflections about it) or a moral guide to live your death. If bearing all that in mind you’re still interested, I found it well-worth a read.
LitWorldInterviews.com Friend and Supporter, as well as Bestselling Author, Radio Show Host, and so much More, Annette Rochelle Aben has something for you!
I have to tell you, this lady took time off from writing for a number of years as she focused on other aspects of her career. The past few months has show a volcano of creativity erupt from the mind of this lady. Take a look. All quotes are reviews of her books.
A collection of Haiku poems she was inspired to begin writing while being involved with a Weekly Haiku Challenge I host on my personal blog. The book has been loved by all ages.
“I love this sweetly inspired poetry, filled with soul, nature and love!”
“A wonderful book for all ages to read! My 4 year old loves this book and now wants to write her own little book! “
“Her words trickle off the tongue, matching photographs of tranquility to soothe any reader’s soul. This is a book that never leaves my desk. When I am troubled or stressed, it’s the first thing I reach for to quiet my mind.”
“For someone who can be a bit wordy, I find creating a story in such a narrow format hugely challenging; Annette Rochelle Aben has this mastered.”
“Of all the books Annette has written this by far is my favorite. I don’t think I can say enough about this book or how proud of Annette I am for putting it together. All of her books are a labor of love and worth having.”
“Inspirational messages are always a hit with me. In a world where you could be anything, be inspirational. That’s what Annette Rochelle Aben has done with this book. Open your heart and allow yourself to be inspired too!”
Click each image for the individual Amazon page, or click HERE for her Amazon Author Page and even more selections. Search for the Titles on Amazon and they should be available on Kindle by the time this article goes live!!!
Image Courtesy: Angela Kay
So my question is this: what makes you, as a lover of mystery, scared when it comes to villains? What makes you so afraid, that you can’t sleep at night, yet it’s hard putting the book down? Is it their method of crime? Their personality? Whatever it is, write it down in the comments. Explain what frightens you.
*Slightly smaller than actual size*
Lit World Interviews 