Julia Madeleine's Blog, page 9
April 14, 2011
Friday's Forgotten Books: Jana by David Veronese
Publisher: Serpent's Tail, 1993
Jana (A Tale of Decadence) is indeed just that, decadent. Eddie Verlaine is a young American male hanging out in Amterdam when he meets Jana, a mysterious feme-fatale character that he becomes completely captivated by. So much so that when she asks him for a large sum of money, he gives it to her without hesitation. When Jana introduces him to her friends, he's soon involved with drug smuggling.
Eddie is a bit of a reckless character, somewhat aimless, and cont...
April 5, 2011
Let The Shadows Fall Behind You
Let The Shadows Fall Behind You
By Kathy-Diane Leveille
iUniverse 2009
Reviewed by Julia Madeleine (originally published in The Streetsville Village Times, Evening Out Magazine, & Port Credit Village Times - April, 2011)
Brannagh Maloney is working in Northern Ontario with a crew of wilderness preservationists tracking birds, when her boyfriend Nikki goes missing. Heartbroken over his disappearance, Brannagh travels back to her childhood home in Saint John's, New Brunswick, where she reconnects ...
The Midwife Of Venice by Roberta Rich
The Midwife Of Venice by Roberta RichDoubleday Canada, 2011
Reviewed by Julia Madeleine (originally published in The Streetsville Village Times, Evening Out Magazine, & Port Credit Village Times - April, 2011)
Had I seen this book on a shelf in Chapters my eyes would certainly have drifted over it, I wouldn't have even given it a second glance. Historical fiction isn't something I've ever sought out. The title especially wouldn't have interested me. But I have to say, I'm so glad I had the oppo...
April 2, 2011
Jeff Bennington's New Thriller REUNION
Thriller writer Jeff Bennington's new novel REUNION is coming out officially on April 15th and it promises to be quite the spine-chilling suspense. Jeff has stopped by today on his blog tour to tell us about his book and the inspiration behind it. Also, some lucky people are going to win a Kindle! Jeff is going to tell us all about it. First I'd like to give a big welcome to Jeff and let him know how honoured I am to have him here as a guest. Jeff, I wish you a ton of success with your new bo...
March 26, 2011
Flash Fiction Challenge: The Portrait
Another crazy flash fiction challenge brought to you by Chuck Wendig. The mission: write a story in 1000 words or less based on the strange picture of the beastly looking boy in the portrait. Visit Chuck's blog for more awesome stories: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/03/25/flash-fiction-challenge-the-portrait/
Morty
To say Morty was an odd child would be a vast understatement. We knew right from the moment he twisted himself free from the birth canal and the midwife took a step backward, ...
March 24, 2011
Friday's Forgotten Books: Coma by Robin Cook
Coma by Robin Cook Signet 1977
This book was huge when it first came out. I read it when I was in my teens and loved it. It was probably the first medical thriller I've ever read. I saw the movie when it was released staring Michael Douglas (love those books to movies), and back then it was pretty scary. Probably that was due in large part to my youth. Everything is scarier when you're a kid.
The premise of this book is wicked; going into the hospital for routine surgery and never waking up fro...
March 22, 2011
Interview With Thriller Writer Brenda Chapman
Canadian thriller/mystery writer Brenda Chapman's latest novel, The Second Wife, by Orca Publishers has just been released March 1st. Brenda is author of the Jennifer Bannon mystery series for young adults and In Winter's Grip, an adult murder mystery. Brenda is a former teacher and currently works as a senior communications advisor in Ottawa. I'm so please to have Brenda join us today for a chat about her book:
Your latest novel, The Second Wife, was just released March 1st. How would you...
March 21, 2011
Chuck Wendig's Flash Fiction Challenge
Another fun flash fiction challenge brought to you by Chuck Wendig. The theme of this one is noir fiction based around babies. I think Chuck might have even invented a new genre: Baby Noir. Before I forget, let me just apologize in advance for this story to Chuck and his wife who are having a baby. But Chuck, you started this! Read more great enteries over at his blog http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/03/18/flash-fiction-challenge-baby-pulp/
Jesse's Baby
At seven months pregnant, Jesse's blu...
Jesse's Baby
At seven months pregnant, Jesse's blu...
March 12, 2011
Flash Fiction Challenge: The Hotel
This is my contribution to Chuck Wendig's flash fiction challenge for "The Hotel". The objective is to write a short story under 1000 words, within one week, based on the creepy picture of a hotel posted on his blog (the picture here is a different one). More information about Chuck's fiction challenge can be found here: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/03/11/flash-fiction-challenge-the-hotel/
The Hotel
Room 3327. I knew something was wrong as soon as I stepped inside. It was in the very st...
The Hotel
Room 3327. I knew something was wrong as soon as I stepped inside. It was in the very st...
March 10, 2011
Friday's Forgotten Books
Shella by Andrew Vachss
Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Edition
1994
I recently discovered Andrew Vachss's noir thriller Shella and started reading it with really no expectations other than that it sounded like my kind of read. By the time I closed the book I was half way through it. I finished it in the next sit. And wow...this book is the bomb! The writing style got it's hooks into me immediately. It's lean. It's mean. It's dirty.
Shella is the story of John Smith aptly nicknamed Ghost, a depraved ...
