Tracey Cramer-Kelly's Blog, page 20

Book Versus Movie: “One Day” – Friendship Turns to More

I recently came across the movie “One Day,” which is about a male and female character who don’t-quite-get-together at college graduation. The story then follows this friendship (and leaning toward more…) for 18 years.

My first thought was “Same Time Next Year” (remember that movie?). And it’s true that “One Day” has a similar theme, although perhaps a little more gritty and realistic (based in England).

The problem is that the storyline was hard to follow, jumping from one year to the next. The scenes often felt like they weren’t complete – that the director or writer had to rush it to meet time constraints.

But I was intrigued enough that I decided to read the book and see how it compared.

My first comment is this: out of all the millions of books that could become decent films, why try to force this one into a movie format? The passage of time and the incomplete scenes (the reader has to fill in the blanks) make this movie extremely difficult to pull off. It was an admirable effort (the actors in particular had much challenge and I have to hand it to them), but didn’t quite make it, in my opinion. Had I not gone on to read the book, this movie would not have been worth the time to write this blog post.

The book was SO much more, SO much better.

If you like stories about best friends falling in love (a theme in my book Last Chance Rescue), you’d like One Day. Although it sure takes a while! There was one point where I got a little impatient (“can’t they see it?!”) but for the most part, the twists and turns each characters’ lives took kept me in it for the long haul.

These are twists and turns and personal growth/development that you feel in your gut are honest, that could happen in real life. And the final twist…well, I didn’t see that coming (and I won’t give it away here). It’s not a happy ending, but not a thorough tear-jerker Nicholas Sparks-type ending either.

In fact, the story of Dexter and Emma was so good, I even overlooked my biggest pet peeve. Namely, that the point-of-view could switch at a moment’s notice. (Yep, even from paragraph to paragraph, which normally drives me batty). It could even swing to the point of view of a tiny bit player – for example, a waitress at a bar, a forgettable character. But at least that character made observations that added to their story (which was, actually, a bit necessary, since the above-mentioned “shorting” of scenes was in fact part of the written novel).

At any rate, the novel was a pleasant surprise. I think I subconsciously expected not to finish it based on the movie! I loved the characters (well, I didn’t LOVE Dexter for part of the book, but that was the point).

“Take Two” Free Novel Excerpt: To the Hospital

Welcome to Installment #5 of my upcoming novel, Take Two: a Hollywood Romance with a Twist (see previous blog posts for excerpts 1-4). I am sharing Take Two for FREE every week, so click here for details on how to follow the story of Zac and Gina!

 

                Zac sighed; he hadn’t the energy for this. “I woke last night with terrible stomach cramps. I puked up a lung a couple times.”

                “That’s it.” Gina stood and moved toward the desk. “We’re taking you to the hospital.”

                “Ourselves?” Dale said. “No medic transport?”

                “In my car.” She tossed him the keys. “You drive.”

                “Sylvester won’t like it,” Dale said.

                “Screw him,” Gina said. “We should have taken him when this first happened. You know how to get there?”

                “Affirmative.”

                “Bring the car as close to the trailer as you can. If we’re quiet about it maybe I won’t have to deal with Syl until after we find out what’s wrong.”

                Gina picked up Zac’s backpack and slid it onto her shoulders. Then she slipped her own purse over her head so that it hung across her chest.

                “You really don’t have to go to all this trouble.” Zac struggled to a sitting position, eyeing his backpack. “I’m sure if I got a couple days rest…”

                “Come on.” Gina sat down next to him. “I’ll help you. Just go slow.”

                Zac put his feet on the ground and his hands in Gina’s. Slowly he got to his feet. He stood there, swaying slightly as the room swirled around him.

                Gina’s arm came around his waist. “I’m not strong enough to catch you if you fall,” she said. “So you’ve got to let me help you.”

                He let his arm come down around her shoulder somewhat timidly.

                “Better,” she said. “Now I think we’ll make it.”

********************

                The moment the car started moving, Zac was sick again. And he didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. And damn it all, he was spread across his boss’s lap with a bucket in his face.

                You’re a real professional, Davies.

                And then it was difficult to care where he was; as dry heaves wracked his body and blackness buzzed at the edges of his vision, he could only pray that the hospital was close and the movement would stop.

                I am in hell.

                And then, somehow, he was on a gurney in a hospital room, still curled up and clutching the bucket. Gina’s voice floated somewhere overhead. He tried to concentrate on the doctor’s words: Food poisoning. Stomach pumped. The prick of a needle in his arm. “Sedative…relax…”

                And now this doctor’s face hovered over his, saying “relax, Zac, relax.”

                Who was he kidding? He wasn’t the one with a tube being shoved down his throat!

                I am in hell.

©2013 Tracey Cramer-Kelly

 

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Counting my Blessings on Easter Sunday

Here I am on Easter Sunday, having just returned from my annual family ski vacation to Big Sky, Montana, and I’m thinking about all the things I am grateful for. I’d like to take one “blog post worth” of space here to thank several people and organizations for their support!

Thanks to Cheryl Yeko for hosting me on her site. Cheryl is a fellow “Northerner” (she’s from WI, I’m from MN) who specializes in fast-paced romantic suspense with protective Alpha men and strong heroines. She keeps busy with her writing groups and as an acquisitions editor for Soul Mate Publishing. Check out Cheryl’s newest novel, Abducting Casey, which will be released in June!

I was interviewed by Taylor Reynolds, whom I met through a Romance Writers group for military veterans. She spent five years in the Army as an Arabic linguist, which has afforded her scads of plot and scene ideas (much as my five years as an Army paramedic have for me). She enjoys delicious food, sarcasm and learning, happily combining them into “vacations” around the globe. She is currently hard at work in a NanoWriMo “Camp” to finishe the novel she started in November.

Norm at East Coast Biker has been on the cutting edge of digital magazines for as long as I’ve known him (which I think is about five years). In his March issue, he put together a full-page spread about the Cool Rider music video AND the Cool Rider Project including the free novel excerpts for Take Two. Check it out on page 30!

Julie Kenner writes a range in a range of genres, including sexy and quirky romances, young adult novels, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit, so it was especially fun to be the focus of her blog for a day. Her foray into “mommy lit,” Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom, is even in development as a feature film! Check out her most recent release, Release Me (pun intended)!

Thanks to Zoe Dawson for hosting me on her site this month. Zoe is the alter ego of multi-published, bestselling author Karen Anders.​​  ​​Zoe writes romance with no formulas and no rules.  It’s all about the happily ever afters.  Even with numerous books under her belt, she can’t wait for that next idea, that next exquisite sentence and, of course, the next hero and heroine who fall in love.

When her alter ego is not creating CG Art for film and TV, Kara Ashley writes SciFi, Fantasy and Paranormal romances, her two plump kitties (aka critics) purring at her side. Kara finds mornings “a bit stiff” but in the evenings her creative veins pump wicked sap that fuels her thoughts and stories, especially when accompanied by a full moon and couple of Red Bull chasers. Kara had some unusual, fun questions for me (see ‘em here).

Happy Easter!

 

Free “Take Two” Novel Excerpt (#4): Zac Comes To

Welcome to Installment #4 of my upcoming novel, Take Two: a Hollywood Romance with a Twist – coming to you from Big Sky, MT, where I am enjoyed our annual family ski trip. I am sharing Take Two for FREE every week, so click here for details on how to follow the story of Zac and Gina!

 

                Zac was dimly aware of a wet pressure on his forehead.

                “Zachariah.”

                His full name…Aunt Trudy?

                He inhaled a careful breath, licked his lips, swallowed.

                “He’s coming around.” The same voice. Not Aunt Trudy.

                “How long has he been out?” Another voice. Male this time. The squeak of a chair hinge.

                “About fifteen minutes, I think.” The wet pressure retreated.

                “Still running a fever?”

                A lighter touch on his forehead. “Still.”

                He opened his eyes and tried to make sense of the woman who perched on the edge of the cot next to him.

                Holy shit!

                His left hand pressed against the cot in an attempt to raise himself.

                “Take it easy, Zac.” Gina’s hand went to his other wrist, which lay across his abdomen. He let himself fall back as a sudden pain sliced into his temples.

                His eyes left Gina and wandered the trailer—yes, he was in the director’s trailer—then went to Dale (who stood next to the chair) and back to Gina. This doesn’t look good.  “What happened?”

                “You fainted in the middle of the scene,” Gina said.

                He groaned and ran a hand behind his head. That meant the entire crew had seen it. And Sylvester…

                “Do you want me to get the medic”? Dale asked.

                “No,” Gina said. “I want to hear from Zac first. How do you feel?”

                It felt like a woodpecker had taken up residence inside his skull. “I have a raging headache,” he muttered. “I need Vicoden.”

                “Vicoden?” Gina said.

                Damn. What was he thinking, telling her that? But it was hard to think clearly…

                “Nothing else was working.” He rubbed his temples. “It was from a back injury I had last year.”

                “Zac, you should have told me you were feeling that badly.”

                “I didn’t think that was a good idea,” he said. “Not given our conversation…”

                Gina’s face took on a stricken look.         

                “Besides,” he continued. “I thought it was just the flu.”

                A wave of nausea washed over him. Oh, no. This could not be happening…

                He moaned softly. “Not again!” He waved toward the small garbage basket that sat by the chair.

                Gina swiped up the basket and handed it to him just in time. He leaned away from her as his stomach twisted in on itself and he heaved into the basket.

                “Sorry,” he rasped when he could catch his breath. “This headache makes me nauseous.”

                He was surprised to find she hadn’t left her perch next to him. Her face was a mask of concern as she asked, “What do you mean by ‘not again’?”

                She noticed Zac’s hesitation. “No acting, Zac. Please. Just the straight-up truth.”

©2013 Tracey Cramer-Kelly

 

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“American Sniper” Author: Reactions to a Navy SEAL’s Memoir After his Death

I already had Navy SEAL Chris Kyle’s memoir (American Sniper) reserved at the library when the news broke that he’d been killed by a fellow veteran (article). Given that I write about wounded veterans, I was fascinated by the circumstances of his death, and especially interested in what he had to say in life.

Kyle’s writing style is casual; he may be biased but it’s not in-your-face. Even if you don’t feel the same, you don’t mind because he seems like such a decent guy. He tells it like it is without political BS. I liked that he was unapologetic about being a Christian. There’s a lot of swearing etc in the military, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be a Christian. That’s real. And it’s interesting that he brought his wife’s voice/thoughts into it from time to time.

I confess that in my time crunch, I skipped over some of the military stuff in favor of the personal struggles. He’s pretty matter-of-fact about them, and I found myself wishing he’d go more in-depth on the personal struggles.

In one chapter he talks about falling into a pit and drinking all the time. He mentions a car crash (totaled his truck but he walked away without a scratch) being his wake-up call. I wanted to know more… what those demons were like “up close” and how he faced them down and crawled back out of that pit (and I’m sure he wouldn’t have done it in a “poor me” style either). I suppose no one wants to relive periods like that (I sure don’t) but that’s what I really wanted to know, and that’s what I think makes a memoir stand out. This one is OK but not a stand-out.

But I do have to wonder about the “demons” his fellow veteran was battling that would make him take such an extreme action…

Free Novel Excerpt #3: “Take Two” Hollywood Romance

Welcome to Installment #3 of my upcoming novel, Take Two: a Hollywood Romance with a Twist – which I am sharing for FREE every week! Click here for details on how to follow the story of Zac and Gina!

 

Gina placed one hand behind Zac’s neck. “Zac, can you hear me?” She heard Dale, her assistant director and close friend, on the radio requesting the set medic.

                She placed her other hand flat against Zac’s chest. To her relief, his breathing was regular and his heartbeat strong. She brought her hand up to his forehead; she couldn’t tell if he was running a fever or just overly warm from the sun and exertion. “Zac, if you can hear me, I need you to open your eyes.”

                No response.

                “Oh man…” Lydia took one of Zac’s hands in her own.

                Now Dale was asking the camera operators to review the footage they’d just shot. It was a good idea; perhaps one of the camera angles would show if he’d hit his head.

                The medic knelt next to Gina. “What happened?” she said.

                “I think he fainted,” Gina said. “But he may have also hit his head.”

                The medic performed an assessment, taking extra time to feel around on Zac’s head. She flashed a small light in his eyes. “Pupils look good,” she said. “That’s usually a sign there’s no head trauma.”

                Sylvester’s voice cut over the murmurs of the crew. “He was obviously out last night partying too hard.” When Gina looked up she was surprised to find that the producer stood less than ten feet away.

                “I don’t know about that,” Gina said. Of course, Sylvester didn’t know what Zac had told her. “I think we should have him checked out.”

                “Gina, he fainted.” Sylvester glared at her. “A hospital visit would bring the tabloids right to our door.”

                “Then bring a doctor in to look at him,” she said.

                “The medic can keep an eye on him, and you can work on a scene that doesn’t require him,” Sylvester said.

                Gina looked at the medic; she just shrugged.

                Sylvester narrowed his eyes at the cast and crew. “And not a word of this to anyone outside the set.”

                “No.” Gina stood, hands on her hips. “I let you push me into pushing him. If you want him looked after here, I’m going to personally make sure he’s all right.” She addressed the crew and cast in a firm voice: “That’s a wrap for today, folks.”

                She turned to Dale and the medic. “Can you help get him to my trailer?”

                Dale nodded and motioned to one of the production assistants.

                “Gina—” Sylvester started.

                “Damn it, Syl,” She cut him off with a murderous glare. “Get off my set.”

©2013 Tracey Cramer-Kelly

 

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Erotica Review: Ruined Hearts and Fifty Shades of Grey

As a reader, it is hard to know what, exactly, you are getting when you purchase a novel or story billed as “erotica.” I have seen everything from soft porn (“He did this. She did that.”) to fully satisfying plots and characters who happen to have a lot of sex.

Personally, I read novels to get to know the characters. Reading about sex itself…well, it gets old unless I get invested in the characters: what drives them, what’s at stake, and what they desire (if all they desire is sex, their character has no depth and to me, that’s soft porn).

I recently read two book that make me think about that character development issue in erotica.

Seems everyone has heard of Fifty Shades of Grey, so I’ll start there. I enjoyed Shades, but not for the sex. Considering the BDSM angle, I expected the sex to be hot. I can’t put my finger on why exactly, but it just wasn’t. And certain phrases (“It was a heady combination” for example) were overused so that eventually they didn’t have much impact.

But from the standpoint of character development – did the character change because of the events of the book? – Shades delivers.

The character of Christian Grey is fascinating, and not just because he has a kinky side. His need for control and power… the hints of his childhood… all great stuff. My only complaint: he’s relentlessly good at everything he does. If we use my evaluation of “did he change through the course of the story?” the answer is a resounding YES (“Another first, Ms. Steele”).

Anastasia (sometimes accused of being too “simple”) is young and naïve at the start. But she’s got a quick mind and quick wit that makes her easy to like. Does she change? Certainly – especially at the very end. I don’t want to give it away, but eventually Anastasia finds the courage to make a difficult decision. I found myself admiring her and cheering her on.

Now for Ruined Hearts by Natasha Perry, which also has a BDSM angle. Melissa escapes her life as a concubine and is determined never to submit to a man again. But right away her righteous indignation lands her in a compromising situation with Ethan Trent, who (naturally) has an immediate desire to spank her.

These two characters come together, and the sex IS hot (there’s one scene when the tables are turned and she is the dominant, and another involving cherries…). Then the evil antagonist (Melissa’s former “owner”) shows up. Melissa betrays Ethan’s trust and, in typical male-pride fashion, he tosses her out. She moves forward with her own business plans (with the help of his mother, which was a great subplot related to his childhood). But when the evil ex-master kidnaps her, Ethan (and his mother) come to her rescue.

You’d think that’s where the story ends. Certain erotica readers will probably think it should have ended there. But I – being the type that likes to see how a character transforms because of their experiences/situations – enjoyed the rest of the story (which I won’t give away here). The sex wasn’t as hot, but the character changes got me.

In sum, it I think it depends on what you value more in your reading (or what you’re in the mood for): just plain sex, or a deeper plot and characterization.

“Take Two” Hollywood Romance Novel – “the Big Share” #2

Welcome to Installment #2 of my upcoming novel, Take Two: a Hollywood Romance with a Twist – which I am sharing for FREE every week! Click here for details on how to follow the story of Zac and Gina!

 

                Gina stood behind Camera Two, squinting at the actors.  She had serious doubts they’d get any usable footage this day, and it was becoming harder to keep her frustration in check. If they didn’t get it this time, she was calling it a day regardless of Sylvester’s opinion. “Action!” she called for the fifth time.

                Had she been wrong about Zac’s ability? Wrong in thinking that she’d be able to bring out the best in him? Maybe those first weeks were just too good to be true?

                She watched him closely. She may have been the only one to notice the slight slur on his first lines. Then he sharpened. He took his co-star, Lydia Grant, by the hand as he spun off his lines.

                Damn, we just might get this.

                Lydia took over with her lines as they moved between the trees as scripted. The cameras followed, and so did Gina.

                The script called for Lydia to stumble and Zac to catch her, but it didn’t go as planned.

                Instead, Zac got dragged down with Lydia.

                Gina didn’t call a stop to the action; rather, she waited to see what they would do. She knew her camera people would follow her lead, and so would the actors. If it wasn’t good, they wouldn’t use it; that’s what post-production was for. But experience had taught her that every now and then, while deep in character, the camera could catch something in the actors’ performance that just…worked. Better than the script.

                Zac stayed down as Lydia got to her knees. She produced a demure chuckle and offered him her hand. Gina was focused on the small movements of the hand, the face, the eye as Zac got to his feet. So she was probably the first to notice Zac’s face go pale.

                Then, as if in slow motion, his eyes rolled back into his head. His body seemed to crumple and he toppled backward.

©2013 Tracey Cramer-Kelly

 

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Military Veteran Shares Another Account of Osama bin Laden’s Demise

I recently shared what I thought about the book No Easy Day by one of the SEALs who was on the mission to kill Osama Bin Laden. Then I found this article in Esquire, which states:

For the first time, the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden tells his story — speaking not just about the raid and the three shots that changed history, but about the personal aftermath for himself and his family. And the startling failure of the United States government to help its most experienced and skilled warriors carry on with their lives.

In this article, the SEAL who killed OBL is not Mark Owens (author of No Easy Day). This article implies that Owens lied about who actually shot the famous terrorist (the “real” shooter is quoted as saying “I don’t know why he would do that”).

Then there’s the movie “Zero Dark Thirty,” which I really must see now, since the “real” shooter indicated it was actually fairly accurate (I assumed it was a Hollywood “bigger than the truth” production). Besides, I am now curious about this female CIA agent who tracked OBL down, and would like to read her memoir!

I also just watched the film “Argo,” which is based on actual events: how a CIA operative was able to get six Americans out of the Canadian Ambassador’s residence in Iran during the hostage crisis in 1979-80. At the end the film credits noted that the events were declassified by Bill Clinton in 1997. So, presumably, we now know the truth.

It makes me wonder… will the events of OBL’s death be declassified twenty years after the fact? Will anyone care by then? Will anyone (besides my son and I) talk about history just seems to repeat itself? And, just maybe, some things in life should remain mysterious.

Take Two Hollywood Romance: the “Big Share” (#1)

Welcome to Installment  #1 of my upcoming novel, Take Two: a Hollywood Romance with a Twist – which I am sharing for FREE every week! Click here for details on how to follow the story of Zac and Gina!

 

                Zac Davies peered at his co-star through a haze of dancing spots that reminded him of times as a kid when his parents’ old TV went to static. He still managed his lines, but they were flat, even to his own ears. He took a step toward Lydia and stumbled.

                “Cut!” The director called.

                Damn it.

                Zac ducked his head, raking his hand through his hair. The Vicoden had held the headache at bay—so far—but these dizzy spells were another matter…

                He looked up in time to see Gina reach his side. “Zac, I want to see you in my tent,” she said. “Everyone else, take five.”

                Great.

                Being summoned to the director’s tent was like being sent to the principal’s office. Yet in the three-plus weeks they’d been shooting, Gina Devereaux had shown herself true to her reputation: tough but fair. Not to mention damn good at what she did; with her guidance, he’d done some of his best work yet.

                This is what it’s like in the big leagues.

                At twenty-nine, the golden window of opportunity was slipping away. This was his big break. He couldn’t afford to blow it. He felt sweat tickle down his back.

                “Take a seat, Zac.” Gina pointed to the cot. She went straight to a cooler at the back of the tent and pulled out two water bottles. She handed one to Zac and he opened it gratefully.

                She pulled a chair and sat so that she faced him.

                “Are you okay?”

                It was not what he’d expected to hear, and he hesitated. Should he tell her? “Um…the heat has been getting to me,” he said. “Maybe I’m just dehydrated.”

                Her eyes narrowed and he braced himself for anger or frustration.

                “You’ve been really solid up until the last couple days,” she said. “Have you been partying with the crew at night? Drinking a lot of alcohol?”

                “No.”

                “Taking drugs?”

                “Of course not!” Zac said. “I don’t do drugs.”

                “Well, then, what’s your explanation?” Irritation was creeping into her voice. She was under as much pressure as he was. Maybe more. “Because you don’t go from giving above-the-cut performance to what I’m getting from you now.”

                “I know,” he said. “I’m sorry. Maybe I’m just coming down with something. A flu bug. I’ll take some cold medicine. I’ve got some in my bag.”

                She leaned back in her chair, studying him doubtfully.

                “Gina!” The voice outside the tent was unmistakeable.

                “Shit,” she muttered. “Sylvester.”

 

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