Christine Amsden's Blog: Christine Amsden Author Blog, page 39
July 26, 2012
Bringing Worlds to Life this September
Bringing New Worlds to Life in Science Fiction and Fantasy
Instructor: Christine Amsden. Whether subtly or dramatically different from reality, science fiction and fantasy stories take place in a world all their own. We'll start with world building, and then work on ways to bring those worlds to life through story and character. There will be weekly writing assignments and peer review is expected. This workshop was designed with beginner and intermediate writers in mind.
WHEN:
Sep 10, 2012 – Oct 7, 2012
July 23, 2012
The Immortality Virus Sequel
This morning, I had a wonderful new review go up at Mommy Reads Too Much. In the review, a question came up regarding possible sequels, and since it isn’t the first such question I’ve received, I wrote up a response. I wanted to repeat my response here on my own blog, because it’s the first time I’ve gotten specific, and I wanted all my loyal followers to know.
Since you brought it up, I will say this about a possible sequel: I have notes and ideas, but I have not begun work on a sequel. I am actually hard at work on the last book in a 4-part urban fantasy series right now. It will be coming out starting in February 2013 (and then come out pretty much back to back). It has stolen my time and attention right now, and if I’m being honest — my heart.
BUT I still have the notes and ideas, and the project I’m working on now won’t last forever. If I do write a sequel, you may be surprised by my approach. I consider Grace Harper’s story to be over at the end of The Immortality Virus, but the world itself was very open-ended. The sequel I envision would take place many years in the future, and the world will have changed such that a small, godlike elite hold the power of eternal youth, while the masses age and die normally. If I can work it right, the sequel should even stand alone (so that the two books could be read in either order).
I hope it isn’t too disappointing that I haven’t started yet, or even have firm plans to start. On the reader’s side, I get the frustration, but on the author’s side, I know I have to write the story that’s in my heart right now, or it won’t be worth reading.
July 19, 2012
If it’s not worth knowing now…
If you read my writing tips at all, then you know how I feel about withheld information. Yes, it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine, one I sometimes overlook but never condone. But recently, I’ve run across an interesting trend: In the end, the great mystery (which was no mystery at all since the point of view character knew it all along) was utterly and completely lame. The great secret that has been keeping the hero and heroine apart for the entire book is….seriously?
I have to assume that the author knew the information was lame, and believed that if she revealed it up front we would no longer be interested in reading. That’s probably true, but at least I would have dropped the book from sheer boredom long before I lost hours of my life I couldn’t get back.
Here’s a thought: If you find yourself withholding information because the “mystery” of it is more interesting than the information itself, come up with more interesting information.
July 18, 2012
One Perfect Rose
Intense. But in a good way. This was an amazingly romantic story, honest and heartbreaking, and it kept me riveted from page one.
Stephen, the Duke of Ashburton, has three months to live, six on the outside. After receiving the news, he fills two saddle bags with supplies and takes off alone to come to terms with his mortality. He might only have been gone a week, but when he saves the life of a boy who might have drowned into the river, he becomes a part of the boy’s family — a traveling theater troupe. He particularly stays for Rosalind, a foundling child rescued by Thomas and Maria Fitzgerald when she was 3 years old, roaming the streets of London. Now she’s 28, longs for a home of her own (as much as she loves her family, she is really no actress), and here is Stephen — clearly a nobleman, but hiding from something.
I did guess part of the ending — though I was pleasantly surprised to learn the why of it. But even if I had guessed at the whole thing, Stephen’s pain was real….both physical and emotional. He was dying, and he didn’t know how to deal with that. Neither did Rosalind, when she learned the truth.
I thought this was an utterly amazing romance novel. Don’t read it if you’re in the mood for something light and fluffy, but do read it if you’re looking for raw emotion and powerful themes — life, death, love, and forgiveness.
Rating: 5/5
Title: One Perfect Rose
Author: Mary Jo Putney
ISBN: 0449000184
Published June 1, 1998
July 17, 2012
My Reading Addiction Book Tour
August 6 - Crossroads Reviews - Review/Excerpt
August 7 - Book-A-Holic- Review
August 8 - Bookishly Devoted - Review/Guest Post
August 9 - My Cozie Corner - Review/Guest Post
August 10 - Deborah’s Books - Review/Excerpt
August 11 - The Bookshelf - Review/Excerpt/Guest Post
August 12 - Kimmie’s Bookshelf - Review/Excerpt
August 13 -Tien’s Blurb - Review/Guest Post
August 16 - Andi’s Book Reviews - Review/Excerpt/Guest Post
August 17 - Beth Art From the Heart - Review/Guest Post
August 19 - Whoopeeyoo! - Review/Excerpt
August 20 - Black Hippie Chick - Review/Guest Post
August 22 - FireStar Books - Review/Excerpt
August 24 - One Page at a Time - Review/Excerpt
August 25 - Musings of a Bookworm - Review/Excerpt
August 26 - The Story Factory - Review/Guest Post
August 27 - Workaday Reads - Guest Post
August 28 - Rea’s Reading and Review’s Review/Excerpt/Guest Post
August 29 - Froze8′s Blog - Review/Excerpt
August 30 - Book Lover’s Hideaway - Review/ Excerpt
July 10, 2012
Virtual Book Tour Kick-Off
The Immortality Virus Virtual Book Tour kicks off today with an introduction from my host:
The ebook version of The Immortality Virus will be $0.99 in honor of the tour. (At Barnes and Noble and Amazon.)
July 9, 2012
Cassie Scot Edits Are In!
The first round of edits for my upcoming urban fantasy novel, Cassie Scot: Normal Detective, are in!
What this means for you: Not much, to be honest, although it looks more likely that February 2013 will be the publication date. I expect the cover art reveal to be more exciting.
What this means for me: I get to spend the next week or so doing another thorough read-through of my novel. The comments don’t look extensive, at a glance, so it shouldn’t be difficult, but it does need to be done.
Truthfully, I didn’t expect the editorial remarks to be extensive — I’ve rewritten this book more times than some people think is wise. And those people may have a point, because that spark of energy fades over time, but ultimately I feel that every change I made to this novel was for the better. Compared to my earlier drafts, Cassie is a more dynamic character, Evan (the love interest) is a more dynamic character, the ending makes more sense, and there are lots of little tidbits that won’t mean anything to you until you’ve read the rest of the series, but which should, upon reflection, reassure you that I had a plan all along. (I really do!) 
FTR, I’m working on the last book in the series now, and am on a roll. My only concern is how putting it down to go back to the beginning will affect that roll. I’ve put down current drafts to work on edits in the past, of course, but never a draft that is part of the same series. Things have changed so much for Cassie… I wonder what it will be like to go back to the beginning from the turmoil of the end.
July 6, 2012
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Q: Jumping Genres: Ever pick up a book from a genre you usually don’t like and LOVE it? Tell us about it and why you picked it up in the first place.
Absolutely! I normally stay away from literary fiction. To be honest, I am aware that some of it can be amazing, but even when it is (or maybe especially when it is), it is not an easy read. I don’t find it relaxing in the way I want reading to be. But I also like to try new things, which was why I joined a book club for a while.
Middlesex was one of those books that made trudging through all the rest worth it. It is an amazing, worldview-changing story. Here’s a link to my goodreads review, since I don’t think I put it up here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This was one of those books that made me think the typical 1-5 rating scale is too one-dimensional. It doesn’t matter what you call your five things, they are only one thing. Middlesex is 5 somethings, but it really just doesn’t feel like the same 5 somethings as most of my romance or fantasy favorites.
Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by, and I’ll be sure to visit you back!
July 5, 2012
The Temptress by Jude Deveraux
Christiana is a newspaper reporter in the late 1800′s, at a time when women didn’t have careers, least of all careers putting them in so much danger. Tyman is the man hired by her wealthy father to guide her through the rainforests of Washington State and back hope, Along the way, she’s supposed to fall in love with Asher Prescott, a man of her own class who is after her father’s money.
Well, of course, she’s going to fall for the handsome Tyman. Who wouldn’t? He’s dark, handsome, capable, and he has secrets. If nothing else, the reporter in her wants to uncover those secrets. Her observation skills are put to the test early on, when she notices things about him that make her believe — correctly — that he was in prison. Her father paid to get him out, and will give him his full pardon if he returns Christiana unmolested.
Christian believes in Tyman almost from the start, and quickly falls in love with him. When they pass through the town where Tyman had been accused of murder, she stands up for him, and even pretends an engagement with him. She’s at a picnic, defending him to a group of women, when she hears a gunshot, and a man who had been bullying Tyman is shot in the shoulder.
And this is where the book lost me. Christiana stalks off without getting any details, without learning any facts, and without looking back at Tyman, who she assumes is guilty of SOMETHING. He embarrassed her in front of the town, after she’d defended him.
The problem with all of that isn’t that it made me dislike her, although it might have if I had believed it. The bigger problem is just that — the Chrsitiana introduced to me prior to chapter 10 (which is when this happened) wouldn’t have done that. She’s a reporter, for goodness sakes! She should at least want to know exactly what happened.
After that, it was hard to stay with the book, because everything that came after pivoted on Christiana’s unconvincing judgment and betrayal. I mean, the rest was fine. She did some reporting, got herself in trouble, struggled to win a man who didn’t think he was worthy of her…it was fine. Everything before and after that moment was good, but this is an example of how, sometimes, one moment can break a book.
If you like Jude Deveraux, and/or historical romances, and can get over moments of disbelief, this may be for you.
Rating: 3/5
Title: The Temptress
Author: Jude Deveraux
ISBN: 0671743848
Published in 1996
July 2, 2012
The Raider by Jude Deveraux
Alexander Montgomery returns to the colonies from travels abroad, only to discover the his hometown of Warbrooke, Maine has been tainted by the increasing British threat — people are losing their property and their livelihood to lies and greed. Eager to do something, Alexander dresses himself as “The Raider” at night, but then, so he won’t get caught and hanged, disguises himself as a far peacock during the day.
Jessica Taggert, who knew Alexander from their youths, makes a fool of him when he arrives, ridiculing the man who had hoped his family and neighbors would see through his ridiculous disguise. Despite this, she gradually becomes friends with Alexande, but it is The Raider she truly desires.
This book was a fun read, bringing in nice historical details that brought the story to life.
The book did stretch by credulity a bit too far, though. When Jessica hugged Alexander, I didn’t understand how she couldn’t have noticed he was stuffed, and not fat. I was also never quite sure what Alexander wanted from her when he grew angry that she liked one or the other of his personas.
But if you’re looking for an exciting historical romance, you may enjoy this.
Rating: 3/5
Title: The Raider
Author: Jude Deveraux
ISBN: 0671743813
Published in 1987
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