Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 68
February 21, 2016
Love Triangles?
Love triangles.
They’re everywhere, it seems.
In best-selling books.
In non-best-selling books.
In almost every romance you ever have read.
And I have yet to find one that doesn’t drive me wild.
What is it with these crazy, indecisive girls?
Perfect Guy 1 is obviously a great choice for Stupid Girl . But she doesn’t accept Guy 1 because Perfect Guy 2 is in the way.
And this goes on for a long time before Stupid Girl FINALLY decides that Guy 1 is better.
Something Reader 1 knew from the beginning. And the only reason Reader 1 was reading Book About Stupid Girl was because he/she wanted to see if Stupid Girl could get any stupider.
Great reason to read a book, right?
As if that weren’t enough, enter Reader 2. Reader 2 doesn’t like Guy 1. Guy 1 ain’t Reader 2’s kinda guy. Reader 2 prefers Guy 2.
Reader 2 walks off disgusted, frustrated, and disappointed, not wanting to read anything more by Author 1, not wanting to every read Book About Stupid Girl again, telling all his friends not to read anything by Author 1 or Book About Stupid Girl.
Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a wee bit.
Well, a lot.
But you get my point, right? Love triangles are a waaaaay overused device by authors to keep a reader’s attention and to get more readers. Because if the reader doesn’t like one hero, he’s sure to like the other. But, unless your main character lives in a polygamous society, someone’s bound to be disappointed.
Unless Guy 2 is positively hateful and neither Reader 1 or Reader 2 can bear him.
But, in that case, why is Stupid Girl into him in the first place? Why do we like Stupid Girl if she’s blind enough not to see Guy 2’s faults?
There are probably some well-done love triangles … I just have yet to see one that didn’t cause me to lower my opinion of the book.
So, if you’re going to put romance in a book, be merciful to your readers! Don’t use the cliché-est of clichés! Keep the love triangles away!
~Kellyn Roth
*Love triangle image from here.
February 19, 2016
Sleep Deprivation Hillarities
I know. There are a lot of big words in the title. ;) Essentially, today I will be sharing you some things I wrote in my novel, Ivy Inquisitive, during NaNoWriMo 2015 that aren’t quite … right.
~ A few of my favorite typos ~
Miss Selle greeted him at the girl.
Yep. At Miss Selle’s Boarding School for Girls, they have a girl instead of a door. You see, this “girl” hangs in the doorway – er, girlway – and blocks out the wind and unwanted intruders. Then, when you want to let someone in, you open the girl.
Think about that for a minute. It’s a pretty weird mental image.
She began telling him about Posy’s process since his last visit
At first glance, this may look pretty normal. However, one little word is off. That’s right, you guessed it! “Process” instead of “progress.”
Process: a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.
Progress: forward or onward movement toward a destination.
So, though “process” and “progress” are similar (and perhaps this was more of a me-being-stupid than a typo), they aren’t the same and during NaNoWriMo, I didn’t know that.
They went to the store to buy some money.
“Here’s a bottle of milk! Can I have a couple bucks?”
“There you go. Here’s your money, just give me a second while I get your change … about a half a cup, right? … hey, wait a second! This is counterfeit dairy! Stop thief!”
… ordering that every hound possessing the slightest sense of felt should be found and set to the task of locating his daughter.
Because, when you’re hunting a lost little girl, a hound’s sense of feeling is the most important.
“Come on, Rover! If you feel around long enough, you’re sure to find her!”
Riley stood up and walked away, running his hands through his head until it stood on end.
He ran his fingers through his head. He must be a ghost. Which would make sense, considering the fact that he was born in 1853, 163 years ago.
And … I think that’s enough embarrassment for one day. ;) Did you enjoy my mistakes? Have a favorite? Have you ever made any similar typos in your writing?
And, to balance out the negativity, my favorite paragraph from Ivy Inquisitive (draft 1) that I’ve found so far:
Mr. Knight says: “Mrs. Manning, those of the lower class often use that word as if it were some terrible plague that they fear will come upon them if they accept a little help from a Christian brother. They probably got the idea of the nonexistent Charity Plague from their own personal demon who insists that they’re not quite low enough to humble themselves.”
Oh, and one more thing (this is the last one, I swear). I’ve been reading over the first draft of Ivy Inquisitive (as you can tell) … and mixed in with the bad is a little bit of good! It’s not as hopeless as I thought! So perhaps I’ll be doing a little more editing – and a little less rewriting – than I thought, God be praised! :)
~Kellyn Roth
Nothing More From Life by Kellyn Roth
It’s been raining pretty hard for a couple days now. Our yard is pretty drenched. You can’t see the raindrops in this picture, though they were falling pretty thick to the naked eye.
But you know what? I like the rain! And that inspired the following poem:
Nothing More From Life
I ask nothing more from life
Than to stand out in the rain
And smell the air so crispy fresh
And feel myself grow sane.
I ask nothing more of life
Than to in the puddles leap
And walk through the freezing air
And wade through cold stream deep.
I ask nothing more from life
Than a crackling fire
A book, hot cocoa, and a blanket
That is my heart’s desire!
To be fair, this ^ was taken the day before yesterday … before the rain began … as evidenced by the sunlight … but I had to share this adorableness with the world. ;) She has her teddy! Well, technically, my old doll’s teddy. It’s so cute!
Well? What do you think (of the poem, not the cat)? Constructive criticism is welcome! :)
~Kellyn Roth
February 16, 2016
Review: The Painter’s Daughter
Title:
The Painter’s Daughter
Author:
Julie Klassen
Genre:
Historical fiction
Subgenres/Keywords:
Historical romance, romance, Regency era, Regency romance, adult fiction, England, Regency England.
Age-Range:
Adult (young adult if you’re as smart as me ;) )
Summary
Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It’s where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she’s beautiful.
Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother’s neglected duties. Home on leave, he’s sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter’s daughter. He’s startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him–one of Wesley’s discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.
Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she’ll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.
Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family’s estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?
Plot
[May contain some little spoilers]
Very good. Well-woven, if a little confusing at times. :) I was absolutely in love with it from beginning to end!
The main plot wasn’t a mystery like most of Julie Klassen’s books … it was a heartbreaking romance. :D
Wesley Overtree, the man Sophie Dupont loves and was seduced by, runs off, leaving a heartbroken Sophie all by herself … and with child. Captain Stephen, Wesley’s young, steady, considerate younger brother, offers to marry her and erase all the potential scandal from her good name.
Of course, Stephen and Sophie didn’t expect Wesley to come back (and after Stephen had already gone off to war!), insisting that he and Sophie are meant to be together, he shouldn’t be deprived of fathering his child, etc.
So. Annoyingly. Persistent.
Can’t he just give it up and let them be happy together!!!??? Is Sophie going to forget her feelings for Stephen entirely?!? Or is she going to go back to Wesley, that snake????
I was rooting for Stephen from the start. I hated Wesley. Sophie was a little bit blinded to his faults … but I saw through that smooth exterior to a filthy insides! ;)
One last thing: It seems like the plot kinda died about 3/4 of the way through the novel. It just was kinda … hanging on. I pretty much knew how it was going to end, but it kept going on and on and on ….
Kinda like The Dressmaker’s Secret … no, I won’t think like that!
Characters
Stephen was the most amazing Prince Charming ever! I absolutely adored him! :)
Sophie was sweet and innocent and fallible. I liked her a lot. At times, her modesty about her painting annoyed me.
Humble people always annoy me.
Of course, so do proud people … you’ve got to have a balance between self-hatred and self-adoration to be a good person. Ok, that sounded better in my head.
I absolutely hated Wesley. Oooooooh, he was such a … a … there is not a decent word that describes him properly!!!
The minor characters, such as Wesley’s misguided, drunkard, crippled war-veteran friend (who went through a wonderful transformation), Stephen and Wesley’s little sister (so spunky and innocent!), Mr. and Mrs. Overtree (a little bit stuffy and legalistic, but very kind after you get to know them), etc. were all well-developed and interesting, most with interesting little back stories of their own, even if it could be a little confusing at times.
But I, personally, like the challenge of keeping track of all the different characters and their backstories.
Writing
The writing was wonderful. As always, the romance annoyed me by being a little.
But most contemporary-written romance drives me crazy.
I can stand Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Gene Stratton Porter, Maud Hart Lovelace, etc., but for some reason people now just don’t know when to stop.
Can we stop describing everyone’s emotions and get on the with the plot???!!!
And yes. I am overreacting. It wasn’t that corny. Not as bad as some stuff I’ve read.
But I’m a clone in a human world and I can’t stand much touchy-feely stuff. :P
Content Rating
It’s advertised as “clean regency romance,” and it is for the most part.
No swearing, some violence (a description of a battle which might be disturbing to some readers, but not terribly graphic), and then, obviously, the main character was pregnant out of wedlock. It was made clear that it was wrong and immoral, but it had happened (and the main character was currently in the process of bearing with the consequences of her mistakes).
There is some romance, but nothing too bad. Overall, it wasn’t too bad. It was an adult book, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under 13 unless you get your parent’s permission. :)
Overall Opinion
5/5 stars! :) An excellent Regency romance book that kept my attention from page one to the end.
Where can you find out more about the book, the author, and her other works?
Julie Klassen’s Official Author Website
The Painter’s Daughter on Goodreads
The Painter’s Daughter on Amazon
~Kellyn Roth
February 14, 2016
Wow … that was a coincidence!
In every book you’ve ever read, there will be quite a few random coincidences. In fact, most plots are made of a bunch of things that happened just so … things that might not have happened in real life. That probably wouldn’t have.
And it kind of bothers me when people criticize that.
Ok, Kell, where did this random statement come from?
It came from reading a review of Julie Klassen’s A Girl at the Gatehouse on Amazon. It was helpful and the reviewer* made an interesting point. In A Girl at the Gatehouse, there are quite a few things that happened that “made the plot feel really forced,” such as, “The lover who jilted her JUST HAPPENS to be the betrothed of the woman the sea Captain wants to marry. What a small world.”
I realize that what he/she said was probably true. That is a stretch. But are stretches OK?
Frankly, my dear, I’m not 100% sure myself! It just recently started thinking about it myself. Is it all right for characters to meet by chance? Is it all right for everything to fall into place as it probably wouldn’t (but perhaps might) in real life?
In my opinion, it is.
To quote Albert Einstein, coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. :D
And that’s all I’ve got to say, other than:
And also:
Yeah. That’s what you get when you Google image “coincidence.” ;) :P
Hope y’all had a Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s not exactly my favorite holiday … because I’m lame at giving gifts … and even lamer at receiving them … and we actually celebrated it on Thursday and Friday because those are the days we meet with our homeschool co-op. :D
“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in him will not parish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
~Kellyn Roth
*I am not in any way criticizing said Amazon user’s review. Please don’t take it like that. The review just made me think … which is a good thing! :)
February 12, 2016
You can now find Kellyn Roth on Goodreads!
Hi, y’all! Today I’d like to announce that you can find Kellyn Roth (me!) on Goodreads!
I’d love to meet you there and hear your questions/comments/opinions!
Thanks for visiting my blog! :)
~Kellyn Roth
February 11, 2016
A Sad Story and Another Reason to Self-Publish
The world has once again made good evil and visa-versa!
Here’s a link to a blog post by Nick Cole. I haven’t read any of his books, so I’m not sure about how appropriate they are, but this author should be commended for the way he stood for his writing.
This post shows the liberal lean of book publishers. It’s unfortunate not only for the writer, but also for the publisher, as well as the nation at-large.
Basically, it’s a private-sector attack on the First Amendment guaranteeing free speech. Without which, our country will become a totalitarian regime.
At least authors these days have another option, self-publishing, a way to get books out to the general public without having to get censored by publishers and editors.
Have a great Thursday, everyone and keep on writing for His glory!
February 9, 2016
Infinity Dreams Award
I was tagged by Alyssa at writinganyone! Thanks, Alyssa!
~The 11 Questions of Doom~
What is your favorite book?:
Cruel, indeed. How could you, Alyssa, a fellow author and book lover, ask such a question?
*chuckles evilly*
But I, for one, know the answer!
The answer: (drumroll, please!)
A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter
Do you like snow or rain better? Why?
Now, that is an impossible question. Even harder than the first one.
*gasp* Do the questions get progressively harder!? *shrieks* Oh, noooo! Oh, noooo! Oh, nooooo!
*slaps self*
I prefer neither better.
I love the rain. Because I love getting wet. And splashing in puddles. And the cool, delicious-smelling air. Air I could breathe in forever. *sighs* I can’t wait until it rains again.
And snow … well, duh! Snow is beautiful and fun and … just awesome. Plus it almost NEVER snows here … making it doubly precious. I live in the one snowless section of the Northwest.
I know. It’s sad.
What’s your favorite thing about reading?
Ok. I have no idea how to answer this one.
Um … the part where I open the book … and read the words inside ….
When you read, do you use a bookmark?
Yeah. Generally my library receipt. ;) :) Though I do have a pretty bookmark in my Bible.
It helps me feel guilty about not reading it.
I don’t read the Bible as much as I should …. *sighs* I’m sorry, and I hope you don’t think less of me for it, but I don’t enjoy the Bible!
Other than Genesis.
And Ruth (because everyone loves a good love story).
And parts of Job (at least the parts about the horse).
Does anyone else think the parts I like of the Bible are, like, identical to Jane Eyre’s?
What is your favorite board game?
Clue.
Everyone (anyone sane person….) loves a good whodunit, and I’m no exception! :)
If you could ride any animal, what would it be?
A. Horse.
Please don’t give me that weird look!
I know what you’re thinking: She had other options, such as dragon, unicorn, or whatever else her twisted little mind could come up with … and she chose HORSE!?!?!?
I’m not crazy. Well, I am. Horse-crazy.
I’m sorry. It was a big deal when I was six and I, of all my friends, hung onto the obsession. Now, they’re all like, “Horses? Oh. I don’t really want one in my backyard anymore. I want I car.”
I want a car, too. A mustang. A red mustang. A fast red mustang. (And not because I admire the name, but because I admire the car.)
But I also want a horse. Badly.
Yep. I also like cows. And, if you’re still reading the blog, I’ll admit that I like the cow smell. Especially when it rains.
I hate the smell of chickens, though. *shivers*
How do you feel about bananas?
We have a love/hate relationship. It’s like Pride and Prejudice all over again.
What is your favorite state (assuming you’re all Americanos, and ignoring your home state)?
Montana. Or Texas. Though I’ve never been to either place, so I’m not a very good judge.
Least favorite letter?
Q. WHY DOES Q EXIST????!!!!
What birthday has been your favorite so far?
My 15th (yeah, I know that’s optimistic).
And lastly, which question has been your favorite?
The rain/snow one! :) (Because of the subtle Psych reference.) (Someone tell me they got that!)
~Guidelines~
Use the Infinity Dreams Award picture
Thank the blogger who tagged you (that’s me!! :P )
Tell us 11 facts about yourself
Answer the 11 questions
Tag 11 bloggers
~Tagging~
1: Lana
3: Kate
4: Rose Lawson
5: Abigail
6: Danielle
8: Lainey
9: Maddy
10: Bae Rae
11: Sarah Briel
Soooooo sorry if you’ve already been tagged by someone! In that case, ignore it! :)
And yes. I realize the last two people aren’t really bloggers …. ;)
~The Questions~
If you were to choose one place in the world to vacation, where would that be? What would you do there?
Say you’re trapped in one of your favorite books as the main character. What would you do differently than what he/she did?
What’s your least favorite thing about your favorite book?
If you had a choice between being trapped in a frozen wasteland or a barren desert, what would you choose?
If you were able to take three books with you on vacation, what three would those be? (And, no, you can’t just bring your Kindle….)
If you had a time machine, where (and when!) would be the first place you went?
What’s your motto?
What would you hate to see someone throw away?
Say you take up a new hobby (something you’ve never tried before). What would that be?
To be or not to be? That is the question!
What’s the #1 item on your bucket list?
Enjoy! :)
~Kellyn Roth
February 5, 2016
Review: The Secret of Pembrooke Park
~Summary~
Abigail Foster is the practical daughter. She fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry, and the one man she thought might marry her seems to have fallen for her younger, prettier sister.
Facing financial ruin, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll’s house left mid-play…
The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor’s past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumors that Pembrooke Park contains a secret room filled with treasure.
This catches Abigail’s attention. Hoping to restore her family’s finances–and her dowry–Abigail looks for this supposed treasure. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn’t the only one secretly searching the house.
Then Abigail begins receiving anonymous letters, containing clues about the hidden room and startling discoveries about the past.
As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks … or very real danger?
~Plot~
I can’t even begin! Plotwise, this was definitely Julie Klassen’s best! I was constantly left spinning (though not too confused) by all the twists and turns in this great story! I couldn’t stop reading it and was miserable when it ended … though it definitely wrapped up nicely, leaving nothing to be wanted.
The romance was a little bit annoying. Throughout the book, the main character was confused by her childhood friend’s apparent lack of interest in her and by the mixed signals the handsome young curate is sending her. It wasn’t as aggravating as some love triangles, but it was still annoying.
I hate love triangles. Please don’t put them in your books! I’m begging you!
Honestly, throughout the book I was thinking, “Come on, Abigail! Get over the past! You and Gilbert used to have this great thing, but he’s over you and you totally need to get over him and marry William!”
[Spoiler]
He actually wasn’t over Abigail, though he certainly wasn’t making that clear for a while.
[End of Spoiler]
It was very suspenseful and (at times) almost scary (in a good way). I was actually kinda scared to go to the bathroom one night due to it. Walking through dark halls on a cold, rainy night was a little too much after reading about a similar night in the book.
~Characters~
(An overview of a few of my favorites! :) )
Abigail (main character) was everything I love in a character: serious, practical, doesn’t do anything stupid that you’re begging her not to do. :) I really liked her, related with her, wanted to make sure she accomplished all her goals.
William (curate, Abigail’s potential love interest) was a fun guy! I really liked him, though occasionally he (like everyone in this book …) seemed a little too cautious.
Gilbert (architect, Abigail’s childhood friend and potential love interest) was a wonderful guy, if a little obsessed with his work.
Kitty (William’s little sister) was definitely one of my favorite characters! An enthusiastic twelve-year-old, extraverted and oftentimes clueless to the rest of the world.
Leah (William’s older sister) … can you say “super-cautious”? This girl was not gonna let anyone get to know her for the longest time! Honestly, it was kinda hard to like Leah at first, but when I got to know her (and her wonderful, dramatic, miserably sad back story) I loved her.
~Setting~
Again, not a big fan of the Regency era in general, but it worked well in this book. I fell in love with Pembrooke Park … I need to go live there! :) Actually, any English mansion would work.
~Writing~
Very good for the most part! A couple times there were confusing sentences.
~My favorite quote~
“Where had that thought come from? Abigail shook her head at the fanciful notion. Very unlike her usual pragmatic nature. It was time to organize the larder, or sort her belongings, or … something.” ~Chapter Eight, Page 122.
~Content~
No swearing that I remember, no sexual content (all the further it got was a couple kisses), a little violence (though nothing graphic or anything). It was a little scary/adventurous at some points.
~Age Range~
Young adult/adult. :)
~Overall Rating~
5/5 stars!
~How to find out more about the author~
You can find the author at http://julieklassen.com/.
~Kellyn Roth
Half-Spring by Kellyn Roth
Today I wrote a poem to describe our weather here. :) Enjoy!
Half-Spring by Kellyn Roth (2/5/16)
So many things
That remind us of springs
That have already passed
Are here.
Like robins and flowers
And half-sunny hours
And prancing of baby
Deer.
Yet the air is so crisp
The wind is so brisk
And the sky keeps on pouring down
Rain.
When will spring come?
It arrives some by some
And soon we see things aren’t the
Same.
What do you think? I’d love to have constructive criticism! :)
~Kellyn Roth
p.s. I’m pretty proud of my photography, but the credit really goes to my new camera. ;) (And yes, I realize the photos aren’t that great. But I had limited subject matter!)
Kellyn Roth, Author
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