On Your Pages
What I have or am reading, discovering, rediscovering or enjoying in print books or around the web.What I've
Recently Read...
Writing page-turning fiction
depends on your ability to create rock-solid,
believable scenes. Scenes act as dynamic
structures that thrust both your characters and
readers forward through conflict, baiting them
with goals that may--or may not--be obtained.
Writing good scenes makes the difference between a
tale that crackles with energy and momentum and a
story that falls flat. In Novelist's Essential
Guide to Crafting Scenes, Raymond Obstfeld leads
you through the creative process, examining all
the elements that go into making scenes
successful, cohesive and compelling.
I attended a writer's conference where Raymond Obstfeld
spoke and he has such a humorous down to earth manner
about him. His family sat and listened proudly as he
shared his advice for how to become effective writers
and shared the commonality of the fears that all
writers face. This from a man who has been published
over 40 times and he still feels like his stuff gets
crappy. After, I felt compelled to support him in some
way, I had gained so much. I purchased a copy of
Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes
and then promptly shelved it as I stopped reading for
time. I picked it up again a week ago. Already my scene
structures and plot are showing marked improvements.
The man is awesome. I am LOVING this Book.
I THOUGHT: This book has so much great advice and
examples to grasp concepts. There are exercises to do
that instantly help you to get the concepts even
faster. Best of all it makes sense and works. I can see
the difference not just in the scenes I'm writing but
how I approach them. I love the accessible examples
listed and the the writing voice of the author. The
book works and for me I saw improvement after a very
short time (though still improving)
In The End: Yet another for my "within reach" shelf,
practical advice shared.
What I'm
Reading Now...
Gruesome slasher murders are
spreading terror in San Francisco. The pressure is
on the police force to track down the killer
before another young woman is found, throat cut,
body abandoned. Homicide Inspector Kate Gillespie
is picked to lead the search with her partner,
old-timer Sam Scolari. This is the case that could
make Kate's career. But the next victim stops her
in her tracks--Sam's ex-wife. All evidence points
to him. He goes underground, leaving Kate alone to
prove his innocence, or his guilt. Kate has to
find the killer before the cops find Sam.
Complicating matters is Mike "Torrid" Torrance,
the sexiest Internal Affairs officer ever to carry
a badge. He's watching Kate, an assignment that
brings them far closer than they expected. Without
a partner she can trust . . . with a killer and a
cop watching her every move . . . can Kate find
the truth before it's too late?"
I had the EXCELLENT fortune to meet Robin Burcell at a writer's
conference in the summer of 2007. Besides being very
smart, lovely, down to earth, witty and a talented
writer, she is also an amazingly cool person too
(Fan-girl much, me? Nooooo!). After the conference,
I started reading Every Move She Makes and
loved it. Sadly, the timing of my reading coincided
with a tragic event in my life - and I simply lost
my heart to read anything for a while. So I never
finished this book or some others from that time. It
hasn't been until the new year that I've felt moved
to start reading books (or anything really) for my
pleasure again. This book is a joyful rediscovery
for me:
STATUS: READING IN PROGRESS
Damali Richards is a rising star of
Warriors of Light Records--but her fans would
never guess that she is also the most important
vampire hunter in a millennium. However,
unfortunately for the inexperienced young
huntress, the vampires and demons have both
discovered her existence. An age-old war escalates
to unprecedented heights of violence as the dark
forces strive to slay Damali before she comes of
age and gains her full powers.
As an omnivorous reader I've found overall I like urban
fantasy genre. I resisted reading L.A. Banks' Vampire Huntress Series
for a long time because it had been likened to
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (I am a
big Buffy fan). Why would I want to read a "knock
off"? So far it isn't persay. This first in the
series (which is apparently only a few books from
it's end but is a pretty darn long series) likens to
Buffy in that the character's development is a mix.
Its soemwhere between the first ill-fated movie's
concept of learning how to deal with some new
abilities and the first TV season of BTVS, where the
new slayer has more than a clue but not enough and
is making connections and learning the ropes. Ms
Banks does show a different take on the vampire
slayer mythos and there is a really nice
interpretation of vampires as far as I have read. So
far, the first part of the book has a lot of well
stated set up and though entertained, I wasn't
pulled in completely. Then we hit the center and a
bit more crucial reveal and now things are cooking.
I want to know what's next. This is a very good
sign.
STATUS: READING IN PROGRESS
Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes - Raymond Obstfeld (Feb)
IN THE END: Yet another for my "within reach" shelf, practical advice shared.
Writing Down The Bones - Natalie Goldberg (Feb)
IN THE END: This will always be a book on my "within reach" bookshelf.
The Unnatural Inquirer - Simon R. Green (Jan)
IN THE END: Good read and examination of the deepening bonds between John and Shotgun Suzie. I feel like this is a set up book for the next story arc. In the end, I'm still addicted. :D
An Ice Cold Grave - Charlaine Harris (Jan)
IN THE END: This was a hit. From her writing schedule looks like it will be a while for the next one. I'll be waiting.
