Interview, Tour, Giveaway: Dianne Greenlay

About Quintspinner:

Blurb: In the year 1717, 16 year old Tess Willoughby witnesses a murder near a London marketplace and becomes the keeper of a legendary Spinner ring. Even so, she never imagines that she will find herself an unwilling passenger on a merchant ship bound for the pirate-infested waters of the West Indies and forcibly betrothed to the murderer. Longing to be with William, a young press-ganged sailor, but unable to escape her dangerous fiancé's clutches, Tess struggles to survive in her new set of circumstances. During a pirate attack, she unravels the legacy of her strange Spinner ring and its power, realizing that her own life and those of everyone she loves, are in jeopardy. As a powerful hurricane overtakes the ship, a slim opportunity for her own escape presents itself, and she is forced to make the most chilling decision of her life.  Having won multiple Book Awards, (ReaderViews, ForeWord Connections, Creative Arts Council, Sask Book Award, Eric Hoffer Award) Quintspinner is a tale of pirates, secrets, betrayal, and romance on the seas of the West Indies, all bound together by a dash of ancient magic.

Today I have Dianne Greenlay visiting The Life and Lies!

Hello Haley, Thank you so much for the opportunity to be interviewed on your blog!

 

1.Why and when did you begin writing?

I have always dabbled in creative writing - diaries, short pieces, letter collections, but never seriously entertained the thought of writing a novel until a couple of years go, when I realized that it was time to start achieving things that had been on my "bucket list" for too long. I wrote and produced a successful one act comedy titled "The Camping Guy" and the public feedback was an introduction for me to the joy of creating a cohesive story.

2. What inspired you to write your book?

When the topic of "women pirates" came up erroneously on a google search, I was intrigued. I read about them and was instantly hooked on the details of their lives. There has already been much written about them, in both non-fiction and fictional accounts, by much more skilled writers than I,so I decided  to make up my own characters, but to use the same time frame and lifestyles. I began to research and found that people behaved so differently 300 years ago, that there were plenty of ideas springing up in my head, for a story line.

3. How did you come up with the title?

"Spinner" refers to spinner rings which are based on ancient Tibetan prayer wheels. The motion of them was thought to enhance prayers and meditations, so that the abilities of healing and prophesy would occur. Spinner rings are commonly available throughout the Caribbean and other tropical locations, and can often be purchased in stores in North America. Since the age of pirates was a time of superstition among sailors and also a time of vast treasures, I thought a piece of jewelry with special powers would be a nice fit. I couldn't decide, however, which power to give the ring, so I decided that there would eventually be five of them. Five has also been a number long associated with mystical powers - there were 5 continents, 5 oceans, 5 senses, 5 directions (with "center" being the fifth), 5 elements, and 5 planets visible to the naked eye. "Quint" had a better resonance than "five".

4. What books or people influenced your writing? Was it positive influence or negative?

Writers are often told to write in a style that interests them. I have very little time to do personal reading so I appreciate books that have short chapters and plots that zip along (think James Patterson or Michael Crichton). These kinds of novels are my favorites as I want to be able to finish a chapter in one sitting. (What is it about those of us who can't stand to put a book down before finishing the chapter?) I fit my reading in, in the 15 minute wait in the dentist's office, in the 20 minutes during lunch, in the 5 minutes before I fall asleep at night - well, you get the picture. Therefore, QUINTSPINNER has short chapters - 4 or 5 pages  each - and each chapter ends on what I hope is a compelling detail or situation for the reader to want to go on to the next chapter. What you won't find are lots of pages describing setting. I'm an impatient person and I would skim over long sections of description if I came to these in my own reading.

5. How do you go about researching for your books?

I had traveled several times to islands in the Caribbean, as well as to Mexico, Hawaii, and London, England and to the Canadian Maritimes. My research was mainly focused on things that I needed to learn that I hadn't already experienced, such as life on a sailing ship, weapons used in the 1700's, and general pirate information. My local library was fantastic at retrieving resource books for me (I was there so often, they had my library card number memorized), and of course writing in the age of the Internet makes research so much easier than it used to be.

I was so fortunate that the summer that I traveled to Nova Scotia, the National Maritime Museum was hosting a huge pirate display. The curators were extremely knowledgeable about the display and about sailing in general, and they were a tremendous source of little known details and gruesome facts with regards to the sailing lifestyle.

I have a medical background, both as an EMT and a sole charge physiotherapist working in a relative remote place, so the wound care and use of medicines did not require quite so much research.

6. Did you base any of your characters on real people?

Mrs. Hanley is based loosely on my own grandmother, who was a very down-to-earth woman, full of folklore. She cooked on a wood stove and had a homemade poultice for everything from a bee sting to a phlegmy cough. 

William had some qualities from a long ago boyfriend. (<blush>Enough said on that!)

7. What is the most exciting part about being a published author? What is the hardest part?

The most exciting part is, initially, to hold one's book in one's hands, and to see it offered online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and the like. Very quickly this feeling is passed by the delight in being recognized as having accomplished the novel, and to be asked to give talks and share the experience with readers.

The hardest part, for me, is to continue on with the next book - to not be just a one hit wonder. Readers have a level of expectation now and it's a bit unnerving to meet that challenge.

8. Do you have any other books, then, planned in the future?

QUINTSPINNER -  A PIRATE'S QUEST  was started as a stand alone. I was only less than halfway through writing it, however, when I realized that I had so much storyline envisioned that it all couldn't be held in one book. I am presently writing the second book as a continuation on from where the first left off. I think that there will eventually be a trilogy- at least I have done an outline for Book Three as well. QUINTSPINNER - A PIRATE'S QUEST has won several awards for Best Historical and Best YA, and readers often contact me to ask when the next book will be available so I know that it is a story that has appeal.

9.Which of your characters is your favorite? Do you dislike any of them?

Tess and William, the two main characters are of course, my favorites. I wanted to imbue traits in them that readers would identify with, both strengths and weaknesses. Mrs. Hanley was the most fun to write. She is courageous in her own way and quite outspoken without being rude. Gerta, the little black goat is also near to my heart!

I disliked Tess's parents. They were difficult to write about, but I wanted their characteristics to represent the attitudes prevalent in the 1700's, especially towards females.

10. What advice can you give to young writers who want to publish their books?

1. Make sure your manuscript is professionally edited. Yes, this is a cost. Do not rely on your aunt who is an English teacher or your best friend who reads a book a day. Professional editors have magic eyes and they see things that neither the author nor ordinary reader picks up. Personally, I did not heed this well enough.

2. Read all you can about the publishing world - it is in upheaval right now. If you are going with a traditional publisher, research the agents for their interests and what genres they represent, and learn how to do a killer query letter. If you screw up at this stage, you don't get a second chance. If you are going the self-publishing route, again research your options like CreateSpace and SmashWords, and pay to have a professional cover done for your book. First impressions (your book's cover) really do count with readers.

3. No matter which way you want to publish, build your author platform. Writers MUST have a presence on the Web - their own web page, blog, and Facebook page at the very least. Start making connections with other authors and follow agents on Twitter long before you need their services.

 

Just for fun:

1. What are your ten most favorite things?

1. Being able to hang out with my grown children ( all 6 of them) although I only get to see them a couple of times in a year. They have grown up to be wonderful adults and I am proud of the young people they have become.

2. Animals - our household has had a variety of pets including hamsters, guinea pigs, koi fish, a white rat, a rabbit, many cats, a miniature goat ( just for one day), a potbellied pig named Pieffer Pig, a Great Dane, (notice how they are getting bigger as we go along?) and a 200 pound Irish Wolfhound. One day my oldest son saw me reading "The Adventures of Dr. Dolittle" to my youngest son, and he quipped," You don't have to read that, Mom, we LIVE that."

3. White Lindor chocolate. This needs no explanation. Everyone will understand.

4. Traveling. Preferably somewhere hot.

5. Music - listening to it, dancing to it, or playing it ( piano, guitar, djembe drum)

6. Live theater. I am the director (and sometimes actress) of a community theatre group.

7. Gardening. I am lucky to live in a place where my yard is like having a private park, complete with a waterfall and a pond.

8. Meeting people and getting to know them. I have made many good friends in my travels, and through email since having had QUINTSPINNER published.

9. Reading. What a wonderful way to de-stress.

10. Having a back yard barbeque or patio party with friends.

 

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

I own and am a sole charge physiotherapist at a physiotherapy clinic. This takes up all of my daytime availability. Being a director of a large dinner theater each fall consumes a lot of my evenings from September to December. I try to exercise each day and sadly, get no time to watch American Idol. Oh yeah, and in between times, my husband and I renovate old houses.

3. What are your favorite and least favorite foods?

I'm a carnivore - I love a tender T-bone steak, barbequed to perfection. And did I mention white chocolate ( or any kind of chocolate for that matter)? Not at the same time of course...

BUT! Don't feed me lima beans or hot seasoned anything. I also don't like the taste of coffee so never drink it.

4. Is there a specific place in the house that you like to write?

I have a small desk in the corner of my living room that is surrounded on three sides by large windows, and flanked on the fourth by a fireplace. The actual area is marked by a small retaining wall made of heaps of books and piles of papers.

5. Do you have a specific snack that you have with you when you write?

Most often it will be a cup of tea and a plate of cut up fruit.

 

6. If you could go anywhere in the whole world, either for a vacation or to live there, where would you go?

I would love to see Ecuador, and as a second choice, perhaps travel down the Amazon river. I also intend to re-visit the Canadian Maritimes to see more of it.

7. What was your favorite and least favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject was art. I loved the creative process of darn near everything. My least favorite was Phys. Ed. I was always the last to be chosen to be on a team.

8. What book are you reading right now?

I multi-task across genres when I read. I'm reading ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins, IRON PIONEERS by Tyler R. Tichelaar, and ARRANGED by Catherine McKenzie.

9. Tell us a random fact about you that we never would have guessed.

I can shingle and drywall with the best of 'em.

 

About Dianne

Saving lives by day (physiotherapist, EMT) and spinning lies by night (writer/author and playwright/director of Community Theatre), I live on the Canadian prairies with my husband in a lovely historical home that we share with a consortium of cats. Having raised a family of 6 kids ( and, amazingly, everyone lived through it!) , I have plenty of their escapades still fresh in my mind, to weave into my fiction. Whenever possible, I travel to exotic locales to research my novels and to seek out new adventures to fuel my already overactive imagination.

Giveaway

Thanks for visiting, Dianne! Dianne will be giving away an Amazon.com giftcard, and a Quintspinner t-shirt. Leave a comment here for a chance to win. You can visit the other tour stops and leave more comments for a better chance to win!

Review: Tiger's Curse

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
Genre: YA Adventure Romance
ISBN: 9781402784033
Published: January 11th 2011 by Splinter

Rating: 4.5

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?
The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.
Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more…

Tiger's Curse was infuriating beyond all reason, but in a good way. Actually most of it made me want to cry. But I couldn't stop reading it.

The pacing was rapid, there was constant tension, and the story never stopped. I read it in two sittings (only because the book store closed at 10 that night, but I never stopped thinking about it).

I really loved all the characters. Kelsey had her times when I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and say "YOU LOVE HIM ACCEPT IT ALREADY!" I also wanted to lecture her. If she was so afraid to give away her heart, she shouldn't have kissed him in the first place. But oops, he's just to sexy. (And really, Ren is seriously something. *adds to drool list* Also: Houck seriously knows how to build up the chemistry. *phew!*). The last chapter made me want to cry. As it were I couldn't just start crying because I was in a book store. The brothers were funny and I liked both of them, but Ren is my favorite, and it's probably going to stay that way (and really, Houck had better not pull a New Moon on me or I'm going to break something, and it'll probably be expensive).

The only thing I didn't like was the excessive descriptions. Sometimes it felt a little too wordy, and I wanted to just skip it (but couldn't because something important might be in there). It reminded me of Sarah Dessen's long passages of "I did this and thought about this, I did that and thought about that." Really? I don't care if you put on jeans and a red t-shirt, braid your hair, and tie a red ribbon around it to match the shirt, then pull on your new boots. Just say "I got ready and went downstairs." Also, I could tell she was trying to put in ancient Indian traditions, foods, bits of their cultures, and their myths, but there were some parts that felt like a cookbook, and others that felt like a textbook. Granted they were only about a paragraph long. Although they were interesting, it could have been cut.

I'm so relieved I have the second one ready and set to go… problem is, I'm not sure if I want to start reading it or not. It's reminding me of The Hunger Games and The Mortal Instruments. Once you start reading, you can't really stop.

Why do I do this to myself?

I should just learn from now on that when a book series is published, I should wait until the last book in the series is already released to start reading. But I don't, because I'm stupid. Or maybe desperate.

Content/Recommendation: No sex, no language. Some romantic scenes but nothing explicit. Ages 16+

Some Knitting Reviews

Knit Socks by Betsy Lee McCarthy: 3 Stars

Nice patterns, but nothing I haven't seen before. I like most of them, but again it's your average sock knitting book. I guess there's only so many socks under the sun? I really like fair isle and there were only a few fair isle and color combo socks. There was a lot of lace and I don't do lace. It really depends on what kind of socks you like.

 

 

 

Knit one, Bead too by Judith Durant: 5 Stars

This book is amazing. Durant takes you through all the different ways of using beads with knitting (I didn't realize there were so many options! and each gives a different look!). There are tons of neat patterns and lots of inspiring pictures and clear instructions. I've got a whole slew of things I want to make now!

 

 

 

 

The Sweater Chop Shop by Chrispina Ffrench: 3 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of the patterns and ideas are really cool, and as an easily inspired person I sort of want to go over to my local goodwill and get a bunch of wool sweaters and make stuff. The patterns and photos and projects are very inspiring. However it was difficult to get past some of the less attractive designs. A few sweaters just looked trashy. Some of the scarves that could have looked artistic were just strange. The little creatures could be really cool, but I didn't like the images she gave.

I would use this book as a launching pad or a starting point for people who are already good at taking scraps and salvaging things to make into new clothes and want some ideas on what to do with sweaters. A possibility I saw with this book is wool roving (using needles to push raw wool into felt to create a pattern). With some design and color work, these could be cool projects. I just don't particularly like all the photos she used.

Review: Spring for Susannah

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond
Genre: Christian Romance
ISBN: 978-1595549242
Published: June 14th 2011 by Thomas Nelson

Rating: 3

With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Underhill agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister's homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn't see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.

In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn't look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father's veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse's ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.

But Susannah's feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can't believe that Jesse's praise-or the tenderness and love he shows-could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie.

Warning: few spoilers

Okay. So. I got this in the mail and read it through completely the same day. That's got to be worth something.

I loved the premise of this book. It sounded so sweet, it sounded like it had a lot of potential. And I loved it: up until the halfway mark.

Halfway through, Susannah, seemingly out of nowhere, storms out of the house and tells her husband she's leaving. One minute she was fine, and she was beginning to love him, and the next minute, that horrible smelly house is just too much for her. It made no sense.

Also, their arguments were like that (what few of them they had.) on minute they were fine and the next minute they have a little bickering or frustration with each other, and he's like "if it's that bad for you, we'll get divorced." (not an exact quote, but it was something like that).

Then he left her. It was tolerable up until that point. But then he just snapped, and he left her. The locusts came back and he wouldn't listen to her, he just left and was like "I'll bring you home money because now I can't support you." He went all Edward Cullen on me just as I was really beginning to like him!

And then she found out she was pregnant.
And then he gets captured by Indians.
And then she thinks he's dead and two other guys say they'll marry her.

A little bit of plot overkill, maybe?

I was really disappointed. It would have been so much better if the conflicts were more realistic, and the plot consisted of less events that were more pointed towards the same thing.

Then there was her salvation. She wasn't really a Christian before, and her faith didn't seem much improved by the end either. I was hoping for a heartbreaking realization or a sacrifice or a change, and all I saw was "huh I guess he's on to something, okay I'll pray too. God please give me back my husband."

Because of all that, near the end I found myself skimming and reading just the dialogue so I could get to the end. And the very end could have had so much more emotion, so much more response, but it just felt very dead.

I really wish I had loved this book because it sounded so adorable. If only it hadn't turned at that halfway point.

Recommended for ages 15+ for one scene in which the doctor gives some advice to the married couple

Review: The Dark Divine

By Bree Despain

3 stars

Little spoilers!

Okay. Let's start with this: I wasn't prepared for werewolves. I thought maybe black magic. I didn't expect werewolves. I was like "What?…you're kidding, right?" but I got over it. still, it disappointed me. All that build up and it was just werewolves? I expected something much more creative.

The pacing was great, there was a lot of tension, and it was compelling enough to keep my reading non-stop. I sat down and read about 150 pages without realizing it and decided to actually check it out of my library (which I don't normally do because I always have so many TBR books.) and finish it at home. Which I did in about an hour and a half.

The characters were great and terrible, which added a lot of depth to them. They weren't those perfect people you read about when you accidentally stumble across a book with happyland syndrome.

The story was about a pastor's daughter, and I expected a little bit of Fictional Preaching (I hate that stuff) but it really wasn't there. There was a tiny bit of the Pastor talking to his Bible study, but it wasn't one of those books that should have been a sermon instead of a fiction novel.

And, the end was sappy. Kind of sweet, very sappy. And it really wasn't even a good ending.

All in all, I liked The Dark Divine, but I'm not in love with it. I will read the sequels, but I probably won't buy them.

Hacked

To any of you who may have received a strange e-mail from me: I'm very sorry. I've been hacked. I changed my password and am about to run a virus check on my computer, but if I sent you an e-mail in the past day, please delete it immediately. Of course I can't send out a mass e-mail to my contacts because Yahoo thinks I'm spamming people, and this is the only place I can really alert anyone.

I'm horrified and embarrassed by this, and I hope it gets cleared up soon. I'm very sorry.

Haley

Send A Letter is getting closer!

Send A Letter is an organization started by two homeschool students (Okay so I know them both) who are trying to make a difference. They write letters and send them to the governers, senators, and the President. Alan Gibson, one of the co-founders, has just updated the blog. Here's his newest assignment for Send A Letter followers:

As many of you know, the original purpose of this organization was to repeal Universal Healthcare in the US.  The organization sees Universal Healthcare as the latest in a series of socialist measures in the US (see our "Socialism" link).  Our first July Fourth Event was centered on the issue.  Now, we've decided to take a further step.

Those of you who attended our event know that the letters we received were "co-signed" by those who agreed with the content and sent to Washington DC.  We have found a site that, if we type in the letter, will post it for us as a petition and send a copy of it to Washington, DC every time someone signs.  This could be a powerful tool in our fight to end socialism in America. 

I request that all members sign by following this link:  http://www.change.org/petitions/repeal-universal-healthcare-in-the-us-2  In the address box, you don't need to put a full address.  For the organization's page, I put "none" and it accepted that.  It does need  your correct zip code and state, however, so it knows which Senators and Representatives should receive your signed copy.  Thank you for helping to make a difference!

I encourage anyone who is serious about the turn our government has made over the past few years or anyone who is dissatisfied with the choices that are being made to check out Send A Letter.

For those of you in the New Bern area, we will be having a Send A Letter event some time in July.

Review: Blood Red Road

Blood Red Road by Moria Young
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Adventure
ISBN: 9781442429987
Published: June 7th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry

Rating: 5

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

Blood Red Road completely took over my life for the few hours I was reading it. I found myself physically excited from reading. It was one of those books where you forget how long you've been reading and you look up to discover it's four hours later than it was five minutes ago, and the book is almost over. Dang. Then someone calls you to do chores and you get upset because you can't stop reading now!

Blood Red Road has everything a book should have: Immediately developed characters, tension the whole time, a multi-layered plot, and conflict around ever turn.

It seemed that one thing just naturally led to another—and that's the way it should be. Things don't always go as planned, people don't always do as you tell them to, and we're not always honest with ourselves about our feelings and motives. There were so many different layers, so many different things that influenced the book, that it felt real.

The writing was interesting. It was written the way the characters spoke. "Aks" instead of "Ask," "Thinkin" instead of "Thinking," "Fer" instead of "for," and a lot of slang like "kinda" and "ain't."  At first it was really annoying, but then I got used to it and it didn't bother me. It slowed down my reading a little, but it didn't interfere with the pacing of the book (just my reading speed). It greatly added to the characters.

People betray us. People change. People fall in love.  They argue with each other, they hate and they love at the same time, they put up with crap and they pitch fits. And that's what happens, so that's the way the characters were. I loved the change in Saba and Emmi's relationship (Emmi is her little sister) and I loved the growth, tearing down, tension, and forgiveness in the relationship between Saba and Jack.

Of course it wouldn't have been complete without a love story. Saba is so totally against outside help, so against Jack's attention (or maybe just terrified of it), that it causes an annoying and infuriating love story that gave me flashbacks to Mortal Instruments. (Only much better, because Jack is much more of a man than Jace. They both flirt about as often, though...)

I liked everything about this book except that it's only 512 pages. I didn't want it to end. I even like the cover. I saw it and thought "Oh I'm going to like that book." Saba looked like a kick-ass heroine. She is. I like her a lot (when she's not being a smart-aleck to Jack, and a jerk to her little sister).

And now I wait. This happened to me when I read The Hunger Games, Birthmarked, and Magic Under Glass, too. I read it first (either the day it was released, or I read the ARC), then had to wait longer than everyone else to get the sequel because I read it before they did. It stinks. Luckily, Blood Red Road doesn't have the horrible cliff hanger endings that Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Claire, and Jaclyn Dolamore have in their books. However, you can bet I will be holding my breath for the next one. Moria Young is going on my "auto-buy" list.

Content: Some violence, but not gore. I don't remember if there was any minor language, but there was so strong language. No sex. Ages 14+

Plot vs. Events

Ever read a book and sat back and thought, "Wow, a lot happened in that book… but what was it about?" or have you tried to describe a book to someone and you just start telling them things that happen, because really there is no summary, there's just stuff that happens?

Plotless books.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Especially because I'm trying to finish one of my novels this summer. It has a plot, and it has events, and I'm trying to make everything flow really well. But I had to actually sit down and construct a plot, because when I started, all I had were events and things that happened.

If you can't summarize the book in one sentence, it doesn't have a plot.

Good:

• Mr. Darcy wins Elizabeth over by showing her love in his actions.
• Saba travels to the most dangerous place in her country to rescue her brother, and ends up learning to love her little sister in the process.
• Katniss survives The Hunger Games and starts a rebellion.
• or mine, The Accidental Girlfriend: Mason accidently asks out the wrong girl over Facebook.

Bad:

Edward and Bella….uh… well… uh… first they fall in love, then a vampire comes to town and tries to eat Bella, then she wants to turn into a vampire, then Edward leaves, then Bella almost dies, then Edward tries to kill himself, then Bella goes to save him, then, then, then,…. uh…

Get it?

So what do you do about plotless books? Well, I am currently trying to figure that out. I have an amazing series that I love to death, and I love the characters, and I love the story, but the first book in the three-book series, Playing Agent Smith Smith, has no plot, only events and things that happen. More than Beautiful is the same way, and yet Playing Agent Smith Smith and More than Beautiful are two of the books that I've gotten people to read for me, and everyone who has read them thus far adores them. (Then again, most of them aren't writers or agents or publishers.)

Do you have this problem? Have you read books with this problem? What's your solution/advice?

Review: The Curse of Captain LaFoote

The Curse of Captain LaFoote by Eddie Jones
Genre: YA, Tweens
ISBN: 9781935600046
Published: October 1st 2010 by Port Yonder Press

Rating: 2

RICKY BRADSHAW has never sailed the Caribbean Sea, searched for buried treasure or battled pirates on the deck of a Spanish Galleon. He's never fallen through the floor of Davy Jones' locker, befriended a witch doctor or watched an old fisherman morph into a porpoise. All Ricky knows is his lonely life with his widowed mom in a tiny apartment overlooking a marina on the Chesapeake Bay.

But all that changes on a snowy Christmas Eve when Ricky's apartment building burns down and he falls into the chilly waters while trying to save Barnacle, a mangy mutt with shrimp breath. Suddenly Ricky finds himself confronted by his neighbor, a young woman in a pink bathrobe who jumped to her death in order to escape the flames. She offers him a choice: go with her to a wonderful afterlife where snowflakes taste like candy or return to the dreary old world he knows. Ricky picks the past and awakes on a raft in the middle of the sea where there is surprising beauty on every island, danger around every corner and great honor and glory ahead of him... if only Ricky can summon the courage to survive the curse of Captain LaFoote

This book was hard to read. It was confusing, and it didn't seem to have a plot. A lot of things happened, but it didn't seem to really have plot.

I felt like there should have been more emotional reactions. Everything was from Ricky's perspective, so I was in his head, but most of the time I didn't know what he was thinking, so I didn't connect with him very well.

The beginning had pretty good pacing. The middle was really exciting. But then things got confusing again, and two thirds of the way through I just got really flustered because there were no answers (and no plot) in sight. I gave up, but then sighed and read one more page, and it got exciting again.

But at the end I was still confused. I was glad I finished it because I was getting annoyed. I found myself reading only the dialogue during the last quarter of the book.

I'm still not quite sure what the plot was. I don't know what the curse was. I don't know what happens at the end. All I know is Ricky and Rebecca survive and sail away on a boat (I think it's stolen) and the dog is gone. Maybe. Actually I'm not sure if the dog is gone or not.

Confusing. See? this is my confused face. o.0

(And while we're at it, this is my pirate face. o.--   )

Content: clean

Kindle Killer

Introducing the best reader out there. Check it out. It made me happy.

Review: The Healing Code

The Healing Code by Alexander Loyd, PhD, ND

DNF, 4

I haven't quite decided if I believe this stuff or not. I feel like if it were true it would be more popular. Then again maybe there are too many dubious people out there and that's why it's not getting popular. Or maybe people are so used to having to work hard for things to change that they don't believe there's an easy fix.

Or maybe it's baloney.

I'm not sure. I read about three quarters of The Healing Codes. It was all very interesting and scientific (at times complicated but I got most of it I think) and I'm keeping it as a reference book to hopefully use it for a science fiction novel I plan on writing in the future. Because that's what it sounds like: Science fiction. Creating positive energy waves to neutralize the negative ones and turn on the immune system? Killing cancer with hand positions? I don't know. It has good testimonies and it's pretty convincing, but then I step back and raise an eyebrow.

I give it four stars for being interesting, insightful, educational, and for providing me content and explanation for my novel I've been writing.

 

Tour: Random Magic

Random Magic by Sarah Soren
Genre: who knows
ISBN: 9780979777417
Published: January 1st 2010 by Beach Books, LLC (first published November 16th 2008)
Rating: DNF

Summary: When absent-minded Professor Random misplaces the main character from Alice in Wonderland, young Henry Witherspoon must book-jump to fetch Alice before chaos theory kicks in and the world vanishes. Along the way he meets Winnie Flapjack, a wit-cracking doodle witch with nothing to her name but a magic feather and a plan. Such as it is. Henry and Winnie brave the Dark Queen, whatwolves, pirates, Struths, and fluttersmoths, Priscilla and Charybdis, obnoxiously cheerful vampires, Baron Samedi, a nine-dimensional cat, and one perpetually inebriated Muse to rescue Alice and save the world by tea time.

Random Magic sounded really interesting and unique. I've actually been curious about it for a while, as I heard about it a while back. I was really excited to be part of this tour. Alas, when my book finally arrived, it smelled so strongly of smoke that I choked upon opening it, and couldn't manage to read more than a page at a time. It will be donated to my local library, therefore removing it from my house. Maybe one day I'll have a chance to read it instead of choke on it. I do hope so.

Check out the Rum and Plunder giveaway and event.

 

Here's your coin for the tour stop:

Review: Build A Sign Canvas Print

I had an opportunity to review a canvas print through Easy Canvas Prints (Build A Sign) and I'm glad I took it. Last month was my baby sister's 18th birthday, and she hosted a formal ball. My brother took a really cool photo of Hannah and Dad dancing together.

You can see it's just a little blurry and strange looking, because my brother took the shot in the reflection of a mirror. But after choosing the Siena setting and putting a black background on the canvas, this is the finished product:

It looks really nice (it looks like it has a glare because of the camera). It's stretched well and feels sturdy, and has a little hook on the back to hang on a wall. It's sitting up on a shelf in my sister's room. My whole family is very happy with it!

It was really easy to do to! The website guided me through step by step, a lot like the build-a-sign process for my car magnets and window decals.

You can get your photo made into a canvas print here.

Review: Blood Magic

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
Genre: YA
ISBN: 9780375867330
Published: May 24th 2011 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Rating: 3, DNF

Books should capture you from the first page, right? They should cause you to want to read more and not be able to put it down. They should also have important interesting things happening in every scene.

This is the problem with Blood Magic. The very first chapter was interesting: beyond interesting. It felt like I'd opened up to the middle. It threw me into the story with no explanation, no development, and no mental preparation. Because I didn't know the character I was reading about, it felt out of place and I just didn't care. The excitement was gone: it could have been dramatic if it was in Chapter 7, but it wasn't, it was in Chapter 1. The pacing felt off.

Same with the romance between the two main characters: It was way too smooth, way to fast, and there was no chemistry. They kissed a lot, but there was no chemistry, because there wasn't enough time for the tension between them to build.

I felt like the story didn't really get started until halfway through the book. I kept wondering "what's the point of all this?" See, stuff was happening, but there was no real plot. A plot is the main point of the story, and events link together to form it. Blood Magic had lots of events, but they didn't start connecting until late, and by that time I was tired of lots of kissing and cutting and looking at each other with go-go eyes.

On the good side, I did like the female protagonist, Silla. Her personality and her character were fun, her responses and reactions were plausible. The blood magic she performs was intriguing, as all magic is to me, and I enjoyed reading about it (however gruesome cutting yourself to use your blood for magic potions is).

However I am terribly disappointed. I expected much more from a Randomhouse book. The concept of Blood Magic had so much potential… but I feel disappointed and annoyed after hitting the halfway point. And the thing about reading is, why read something disappointing when I could read something that will please me? So I'm moving on.

Giveaway and Guest interview: Dr. Laurence B. Brown

Today I have Dr. Laurence B. Brown visiting The Life and Lies. Below is an interview conducted by The Gatekeeper's Post.

Your story is so well-crafted. Did you outline your book beforehand?

Ix-nay to the book outline-ay. I know this sounds odd, but I’ve written three novels now (two still unpublished – DID YOU HEAR THAT, SIMON & SCHUSTER???) and I haven’t made anything but the briefest of outlines for any of them. I start by drafting detailed character profiles but the most sketchy outline you’ve ever seen. Then I turn the characters lose and let the story evolve from their interaction. It sounds crazy, I know, but this is what works for me. The interplay of the characters often creates surprises even I don’t anticipate.

How many drafts did you write until you got to your last draft?

Taking into consideration the developmental and copy edits, let’s see, add the four, carry the one, subtract three to protect my ego and divide by six for the sake of bragging rights . . . I get one-half. Seriously, I think I wrote five drafts in total, but you have to remember this was my first novel. I completed my second novel in three drafts, and my third novel in two. A couple more books from now, and I might really be down to half drafts.

You paint the Vatican as evil. What is your belief about them?

I’d like to answer that question, but first, let me share what a Roman Catholic reviewer said about The Eighth Scroll:

"Dr. Brown has weaved a fabulous story. From the first page to the last you are drawn in. I truly enjoyed this book. One of the best explanations of the different religions of the world I have ever heard is in this book. The intrigue is nail biting. You hope Micheal wins but you just never know. As a Roman Catholic myself and someone who has read the Dead Sea Scrolls, including the gospel of James, I can understand the priest's dilemma. The gospel goes against everything we are taught. I think that Dr. Brown has not only represented that dilemma in a realistic and heartfelt way but has also represented the reasons the Gospel should be exposed. No matter what your beliefs are this book will entertain you and keep you on the edge of your seat." (ritasbookreviews)

Now, for my answer: The Vatican is one of the antagonists in the story, but there is a big difference between the Vatican and its followers. Most Catholics I know are kind, charitable people who recognize and worship God. I attended Catholic mass for two years while I was on my spiritual search. In the end, I moved on. Obviously, I don’t share their belief system, but then again, neither do the majority of Christians. To each be his or her own. There is no reason why we can’t all live together in the spirit of mutual good will, religious tolerance, peace and understanding. You asked, “What is my belief about them?” Well, who cares? My belief isn’t going to impact another person’s salvation. I touch on some key issues in The Eighth Scroll, and if people are interested to read more regarding my theological views, they can start with my book, MisGod’ed.

Where can we get a copy of your book?

You can find The Eighth Scroll for sale on Amazon by clicking HERE.

 

About The Eighth Scroll:

Stirring the flames of age-old controversies, The Eighth Scroll by Laurence B. Brown draws on the three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to create an unbelievably dynamic and powerful story. Set in a world that teeters between orthodoxy and heresy, this thriller is packed with intrigue and adventure. When a Roman Catholic scholar involved in the Dead Sea Scrolls Project hides one of the scrolls because of the heretical message it contains, no one is the wiser until decades later, when a prominent archeologist discovers reference to the scroll in an archeological dig. This discovery spurs the world religions into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, in which all who seek the hidden scroll are mysteriously silenced, leaving the salvation of humankind to a father and son, who must either find the hidden scroll . . . or die trying.

 

Giveaway

Thanks Dr. Brown! Dr. Brown has offered to supply a giveaway signed copy of his book, The Eighth Scroll. To enter, leave your name and e-mail address in the comments before May 28th.

Review: Hourglass

Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Adventure, Sci-fi (time travel)
ISBN: 9781606841440
Published: June 14th 2011 by Egmont USA

Rating: 5

Let me just say right now that I'm glad I didn't judge this book by its cover, because I never would have requested it. The cover doesn't particularly appeal to me; for that matter, the title didn't make me curious either. Even after I read the back cover I wasn't convinced. I like to be intrigued and the cover/summary fooled me. But I saw a good review for it somewhere, so I snatched it up. I'm very happy I did.

Time travel has been done poorly so many times, but Hourglass was fantastic. It was original and creative, and it met every requirement for a perfect book: it had tension, awesome characters, a well thought out and multi-layered plot, and good writing.

There was tension in every sentence of ever paragraph of every chapter. It was nearly impossible to put down. I completely lost track of time while I read it. (haha, lost track of…get it?…. it's a time travel book…never mind.) I was forced to put it down to do things like work and chores and food, but except for things like that, it kept me reading, and there were no empty scenes.

The characters were amazing. Can I just say that I want to marry Michael right now? omigoodness. He's going on my list. Any author who can write a character like that is going on my favorites list right now. Emerson is strong-willed, kick-ass, and has to remind herself that she's short because her personality is the opposite. She was the perfect heroine because she was real and fragile and head over heels in love with someone she wasn't supposed to love. Michael was the brave proud chivalrous attractive protagonist who has a major hero complex, and of course is trying not to be in love with Em (and failing miserably). Both of them together had humorous conversations and explosive chemistry. (like, things short circuit when they touch, and light bulbs break when they kiss.)

The plot kept me guessing all the way to the end, and the last quarter of the book threw so many twists and turns at me that I found myself thinking, "Ok wait, what? are you serious?" But it wasn't overdone, there was no overkill, and it worked perfectly in the end. (I'll keep it spoiler free, but I'll just say don't worry, it does work out. Don't get mad and throw the book against the wall like I did.)

And of course, the writing. I find that many young adult novels have mediocre writing. McEntire is a good writer in the sense that she can keep the tension real and controlling, she has good descriptions and great pacing, and there are no dead words.

Hourglass was fast-paced, exciting, unique, and completely enthralling. I anxiously await more from McEntire hope for more of Michael and Emerson's story in the future.

Content/recommendation: some mild language, no sex. Ages 16+

New inventory, garage sales, and anniversaries

Here are the books I've gotten over the past few weeks:

Whisper (ironically it's close to the title of a book I'm working on too… funny) and Bright Young Things from a contest I won from Elizabeth Scott (the dear that she is)

Stagestruck, Hourglass, and Blood Magic from Vine

The Curse of Captain LaFoote, The Liquid City

 

For those of you in the New Bern NC area, I'm having a garage sale on Saturday the 14th to raise money for college for next semester. I'll be selling a bunch of books for quarters (or maybe two quarters) and I've got some nice clothes and such that don't fit anymore (but are still in great condition.) so if you want the address either look around town for posters, or e-mail me ;)

 

Also, September is my anniversary for book blogging… it'll be… uh… (opens up dashboard to see when her first post was) TWO YEARS!! woot! I'll be having some giveaways and some fun exciting stuff for that. It won't be just books, either. There might be some elemental and handmade journals, handmade dolls, perhaps a handknit, and who knows what else (I'm surprisingly creative). More likely than not there will be an ARC giveaway.

 

Lastly, there are some tours coming up to look forward to:

May 15-16 there will be a tour for Eighth Scroll, an interview, and a giveaway.
May 19th there will be a tour for Random Magic and a review ASAP (I haven't gotten my book yet…)
Soon (date isn't clear yet) a review/tour for To Be sung Underwater.
and some other stuff later in June.

 

 

so hang tight! I'm alive! I just got moved back into my parent's house so I've been super busy. (see my pretty desk?)

Review/Tour: Summer Fit

Genre: children's health
ISBN:9780976280071
Published: April 1st 2011 by Monkey Feather Books

Summer Fit is a new summer workbook series that provides an active and values based approach to summer learning. 

Summer Fit tackles current concerns in education including the physical and social well being of students. Summer Fit is a tool for modern parents and caregivers to use as part of a multi-platform approach to learning that includes traditional workbooks, on-line technology and active play to connect mind and body. Summer Fit reviews basic skills in reading, writing, language arts and math and incorporates parent-child movement activities with daily exercise to create an active and playful learning environment.

Summer Fit engages children and contains meaningful value based lessons that prepare children for the mental, physical and social challenges of the new grade ahead.

Each workbook includes an additional 25 on-line activities and 10 on-line sports themed educational games, a FREE Powerbar offer for children who complete Summer Fit and other exciting resources to help make summer fun and active.

Summer Fit will give the kids the every-day routine they need. There is something for their physical health and their mental health. It'll keep them busy, give them new games to play, and they'll learn valuable lessons by reading the stories of some of our most loved people in history, like Abe Lincoln and Mother Theresa.

Recommendation: There are different workbooks for different age groups, up to fifth grade.