M.L. LeGette's Blog, page 38

Recycle a Post // An Artist’s Rendition

Because some days we just don’t feel original. And because it fits so well with this post: I’m currently doing a giveaway for The Unicorn Girl over on my Facebook page. Just click the link and like the post to get entered for a chance to win a kindle copy. Sharing the post puts your name in THREE times. Now that’s good odds. Giveaway closes September 17, so you still have time.

Now … on with the recycling:

Rawnak Lerman of France drew this version of Ileana Hunter’s cover of my book The Unicorn Girl. I think it’s beautiful.

Magic Mirror Features Big, Yellow, Fluffy Cats (Because They’re Awesome)

The feature where I share a glimpse into my fiction — welcome to Magic Mirror! I pin all my Magic Mirror entries on Pinterest. Feel free to browse my collections. They are sorted by book title.

Magic Mirror Presents: Marlo // The Tale of Mally Biddle

Photographer: JR Nelson

The inspiration for a large, yellow, fluffy cat who is always fleeing the scene at top speed and who always has an agenda of his own, came from my brother’s cat, Agnes. Agnes isn’t nearly as fluffy or large as Marlo, but possess the same desire to scamper as far and as quickly from people as possible. (It isn’t that she doesn’t like people. It’s that we might do something terrible, like pick her up). Matching this cat with a woman who dots on her pet obsessively gave me a laugh. I was always rooting for Marlo. He’s the sort of cat who longs for adventure and the outdoors, and to be constantly held, fussed over and carried about is torture. I loved when he entered the book as he was sure to create chaos and mayhem.

Agnes, Marlo’s inspiration.

Excerpt from the book: Chapter 25 // Ringing Bell, Darkened Stairwell

Marlo, Hebitha Bones’s cat, was pampered, spoiled, and sneaky. He was with her nearly everywhere she went—though not by his own choice. His yellow eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, ever vigilant for a timely escape from his doting mistress. Mally was impressed by the number of times Marlo had snuck away from his mistress’s clutches. And she knew just how many times he had escaped, because the whole castle was called to a screeching halt if Madam Bones realized her precious ‘fluffy poo’ was missing. All servants were put on alert and had to stop any and all activities until Marlo was safely returned. Even the knights weren’t left out of the fun. Mally thought she would crack a rib from stifling her laughter when she saw Madam Bones informing Sir Alexander Vinsus not to leave any stone unturned in his search for her cat. Vinsus looked torn between the desire to slap the woman and incredulous disbelief, but she simply patted his elbow and shuffled off for tea. Molick looked sick anytime he saw Madam Bones. But Sir Brian and a handful of other knights put on a delightful show, trying to track down Marlo. And the servants all found Madam Bones highly entertaining, especially when they spotted a cursing Gibbs on his hands and knees, peering under couches.

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

My Rank: 3.5 Stars

Synopsis:

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you’ve never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you’ve never seen them under an investigation like this.

 

My Thoughts:

Let me start off by saying that the Robin/Strike relationship is WONDERFUL. When the two of them were together, the book sang. They were by far the two characters that I cared for and worried about.

The Cuckoo’s Calling is not a thriller. It’s a mystery. The only action that happens lasts for one page, so if that’s not your cup of tea, I suggest you pass it on. The cast is a slew of highly unlikeable characters (I can count the number of characters I liked on one hand). All of them are hell-bent on keeping the supposedly suicide case closed. But that doesn’t stop Strike, a giant bear of a man, from asking his questions and getting to the very dangerous heart of the murder.

There were a few nagging bits:

The smoking. This is irrational of me and I know it stems from the fact that I’m a nonsmoker, but when 90% of the characters smoke, it began to grow tiresome. In fact, I couldn’t stop from figuratively rolling my eyes when a new character ‘lit up’. Perhaps most wealthy people smoke? I don’t know. But it would have been nice to have had one or two more of them not wave a cigarette around the place. But that’s just me.

The narrative. I haven’t read much crime fiction or murder mysteries, so I’m really heading out on a limb here: I felt out of the loop. It’s hard for me to explain, exactly. It felt like I wasn’t involved … that I was seeing everything through a window.

Overall, I thought the book was well done. There were stunning moments in it: Guy Some’s interview and Strike’s drunken episode were particularly wonderful. Strike and Robin have the makings of a fabulous team. I hope there are more books written.

Favorite Lines:

The dead could only speak through the mouths of those left behind, and through the signs they left scattered behind them.

~~**~~

In the inverted food chain of fame, it was the big beasts who were stalked and hunted

~~**~~

Like other inveterate womanizers Strike had encountered, Duffield’s voice and mannerisms were slightly camp. Perhaps such men became feminized by prolonged immersion in women’s company, or perhaps it was a way of disarming their quarry.

~~**~~

Strike noticed that, in spite of Duffield’s air of disorientation and distress, he had made a good job of applying his eyeliner.

Note: For Adults

 

 

 

Books on Parade ~ Initiate (The Unfinished Song) by Tara Maya

Featuring books that have caught my eye — welcome to Books On Parade! If you are an author and would like your novel featured in Books On Parade, click here to find out how.

Initiate is free everywhere except on Barnes and Noble (where it’s $0.99). You can download a free .epub version via Smashwords.

The Unfinished Song: Initiate by Tara Maya

DEADLY INITIATION

A DETERMINED GIRL…

Dindi can’t do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi’s clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.

AN EXILED WARRIOR…

Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn’t commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don’t kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father’s wars and his mother’s curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her … assuming she would even accept the help of an exile.

Excerpt

Blue-skinned rusalki grappled Dindi under the churning surface of the river. She could feel their claws dig into her arms. Their riverweed-like hair entangled her legs when she tried to kick back to the surface. She only managed to gulp a few breaths of air before they pulled her under again.

She hadn’t appreciated how fast and deep the river was. On her second gasp for air, she saw that the current was already dragging her out of sight of the screaming girls on the bank. A whirlpool of froth and fae roiled between two large rocks in the middle of the river. The rusalka and her sisters tugged Dindi toward it. Other water fae joined the rusalki. Long snouted pookas, turtle-like kappas and hairy-armed gwyllions all swam around her, leading her to the whirlpool, where even more fae swirled in the whitewater.

“Join our circle, Dindi!” the fae voices gurgled under the water. “Dance with us forever!”

“No!” She kicked and swam and stole another gasp for air before they snagged her again. There were so many of them now, all pulling her down, all singing to the tune of the rushing river. She tried to shout, “Dispel!” but swallowed water instead. Her head hit a rock, disorienting her. She sank, this time sure she wouldn’t be coming up again.

“Dispel!” It was a man’s voice.

Strong arms encircled her and lifted her until her arms and head broke the surface. Her rescuer swam with her toward the shore. He overpowered the current, he shrugged aside the hands of the water faeries stroking his hair and arms. When he reached the shallows, he scooped Dindi into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the grassy bank. He set her down gently.

She coughed out some water while he supported her back.

“Better?” he asked.

She nodded. He was young — only a few years older than she. The aura of confidence and competence he radiated made him seem older. Without knowing quite why, she was certain he was a Tavaedi.

“Good.” He had a gorgeous smile. A wisp of his dark bangs dangled over one eye. He brushed his dripping hair back over his head.

Dindi’s hand touched skin — he was not wearing any shirt. Both of them were sopping wet. On him, that meant trickles of water coursed over a bedrock of muscle. As for her, the thin white wrap clung transparently to her body like a wet leaf. She blushed.

“It might have been easier to swim if you had let go of that,” he teased. He touched her hand, which was closed around something. “What were you holding onto so tightly that it mattered more than drowning?”

Where to Purchase
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords

 

Follow Tara
Twitter~ Blog ~ Facebook

 

Interviewed by Peace from Pieces

This interview took place during my Mally Biddle Blog Tour. I’d like to thank the runners of Peace from Pieces again for having me. You’ll notice in the interview that I hadn’t changed the title of my upcoming novel yet. It’s now The Orphan and the Thief.

Tell us a bit about your family.

My big brother started a sustainable vegetable farm a few years ago and I’m one of the workers there. My mom and dad also help tons at the farm. My older sister lives an hour away and is an English Professor.

What is your least favorite quality about yourself?

I fret. I worry over the silliest most pathetic things.

What is your favorite food?

Indian followed by Italian followed by Mexican followed by anything fried followed by…

When and why did you begin writing?

I think people who love to write just find themselves doing it. I remember playing at writing when I was really young. The same is probably true for artists and musicians. If it’s in your blood, you’ll do it. Simple as that.

When did you first know you could be a writer?

Oddly enough it was my mom who suggested the profession. I was busily penning my first novel and telling her all about it when she asked, “Melissa what do you want to do when you grow up?” (I was probably 15 at the time.) I said, “I don’t know.” (And I really didn’t.) She then said, “Why don’t you be a writer?” The question rather blew me away. It had never dawned on me that I could be a writer. But it was so obvious. I haven’t looked back since.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Fantasy. It’s always been my favorite genre to read as well as write. It’s my safety blanket.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I wasn’t doing much of anything. I was sitting outside in my backyard, thinking of nothing in particular, when I suddenly wanted to write a story. The main character of the novel popped into my head and it flowed from there. My first book in particular was heavily inspired by the movie adaptation of Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn. My early childhood WAS that movie.

Who designed the cover?

Ileana Hunter did the artwork. The reference photo was done by Sergiu Cioban.

Can we expect any more books from you in the future?

I hope I’ll always be writing. My third is getting closer to publication and I’ve got a handful of stories that are clamoring to be told. If you visit my blog, I post little glimpses into my future projects.

What are your current writing projects now?

I just finished the first draft of Quest for Milo. It’s now in the hands of my test readers. My editor is going to be getting it this summer. I haven’t yet decided which project (I’ve got a lot of them) will be the next one I’ll focus on, but right now I’m leaning toward one that’s set in a maze. I’m pretty energized about it. It’s going to be … twisted.

Book Humor of the Day [4]

Keep the Giggles Coming:

Book Humor of the Day [3]

Book Humor of the Day [2]

Book Humor of the Day [1]

Simply Wonderful // Snakes in Green

The feature where I share my obsessions, my interests, and the little things that make me giggle — welcome to Simply Wonderful! I pin all my Simply Wonderful entries on Pinterest. Feel free to browse my collections.

Simply Wonderful Presents: Snakes in Green

Want more Simply Wonderful? Here you go:

Children Pie

Food Photography

Anne Taintor // Male Refrigerator Blindness

 

News: Revise, Revise, Revise, and Shelfari

Good morning. Not a huge amount is happening over here, but enough to chat about.

~Thank you to every one who shared my birthday giveaway on Kindle for The Unicorn Girl. There was a great slew of downloads. Always thrilling and downright shocking.

~The Orphan and the Thief is still in Revise Mode. I am a notoriously slow worker, but I am feeling positive about the progress made and the new material. This week I’ve been working on Chapter 10 which has been going through massive reconstruction. There are only a few chapters like this one that will be seeing serious work.

(On facebook and twitter, I recently complained about the lack of revising cookies which led to a spur of the moment baking fest.)

~I’m rather slow on the uptake when it comes to social networks. I am curious: How many of you use Shelfari? Do you prefer it over Goodreads? I’m on both, and to be honest, have grown fond of Goodreads because I’ve just now gotten the hang of it. Yesterday I started putting some of my reviews on Shelfari as there was activity on one of my books (it’s been over a year since I last paid a visit). I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on the two book sharing platforms. Readers, which do you prefer and why? Authors, do you find it tedious repeating information on two book sharing sites? Do you think it’s worth it?

~Don’t forget, you can get a taste of The Orphan and the Thief through pictures on Pinterest. I just added another picture onto the board. And just to be utterly wicked: The photo is of the insides of a cave (I believe one located in China) and the revising cookie photo above is alluding to the cave scene.

~Other than Pinterest, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Shelfari. You can also sign up for an email alert through Amazon when The Orphan and the Thief is finally published.

Cheers!

Melissa

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My Rank: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn’t stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an “excitement addict.” Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town—and the family—Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents’ betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

My Thoughts:

The Glass Castle is disturbing, horrifying, unbelievable, enraging, and empowering all at once. That is what makes it stunning. It is a memoir told through the eyes of Jeannette Walls. It details her life from her first memory (being seriously burned at 3 years of age) to her determined and brave departure from home. This is the sort of book that causes feverish discussions. It is a book that (I repeat) will enrage you and alarm you and horrify you. And it will keep you flipping the pages. The writing is beautiful. The voice is amazingly nonjudgmental. The story is so shocking that it is almost impossible to believe it to be true. It’s books like The Glass Castle that makes you realize nothing fictional can begin to compete with the insanity of real life.

My Favorite Lines:

“Things usually work out in the end.”

“What if they don’t?”

“That just means you haven’t come to the end yet.”

~~**~~

….he said it was interesting. He used the word ‘textured’. He said ‘smooth’ is boring but ‘textured’ was interesting, and the scar meant that I was stronger than whatever had tried to hurt me.

~~**~~

I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.

~~**~~

“No one expected you to amount to much,” she told me. “Lori was the smart one, Maureen the pretty one, and Brian the brave one. You never had much going for you except that you always worked hard.”

~~**~~

“Why spend the afternoon making a meal that will be gone in an hour,” she’d ask us, “when in the same amount of time, I can do a painting that will last forever?”

~~**~~

Mom always said people worried too much about their children. Suffering when you’re young is good for you, she said. It immunized your body and your soul, and that was why she ignored us kids when we cried. Fussing over children who cry only encouraged them, she told us. That’s positive reinforcement for negative behavior.

~~**~~

[Mom] said she didn’t want her youngest daughter dressed in the thrift-store clothes the rest of us wore. Mom told us we would have to go shoplifting. “Isn’t that a sin?” I asked Mom. “Not exactly,” Mom said. “God doesn’t mind you bending the rules a little if you have good reason. It’s sort of like justifiable homicide. This is justifiable pilfering.”

~~**~~

“I hate Erma,” I told Mom…

“You have to show compassion for her…” She added that you should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. “Everyone has something good about them,” she said. “You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.”

“Oh yeah?” I said. “How about Hitler? What was his redeeming quality?”

“Hitler loved dogs,” Mom said without hesitation.

~~**~~

“It’s really not that hard to put food on the table if that’s what you decide to do.”

~~**~~

Books on Parade ~ The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

Featuring books that have caught my eye — welcome to Books On Parade! If you are an author and would like your novel featured in Books On Parade, click here to find out how.

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel’s suicide.



After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you’ve never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you’ve never seen them under an investigation like this.

Why I’m Interested

Truth time. I’m positive I never would have picked up this book — at least not for a good long while and only after being recommended by a close friend or family member repeatedly. The reason why is that I don’t usually read crime fiction. I love watching it. Give me an exciting crime show or movie and I’m in popcorn heaven. But when it comes to crime books, I need an extra incentive to open the cover.

The incentive with Cuckoo’s Calling is one that isn’t a mystery to anyone: the author is J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. I love J.K.’s work so much that the moment I heard she’d written a new book, I added it to my mental ‘must read as soon as possible’ list.

My sister was recently in England over my birthday, and for my present, she bought me a hardback copy. As I was in the middle of Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle at the time, the book got snapped up by my brother, who was glued to it for four days. He was very positive about it, said that he thought I’d like it and was very impressed with J.K.’s skill, as he wouldn’t have picked out it was her. Even if her cover had not been blown, Ben stated that he would be eagerly awaiting Galbraith’s next book.

As I’m still in the trenches of Glass Castle, Cuckoo’s Calling has now been grabbed by my father, but he’s a speed reader that would put the road-runner in the dust, so I’m not worried. By the time I finish Glass Castle, Cuckoo’s Calling will be all mine. And let me tell you, I’m in need of some fiction.