Elizabeth Suggs's Blog, page 4
July 27, 2021
Book Review: William Ottoway's Utopia and Other Stories
By Elizabeth Suggs
William Ottoway's Utopia and Other Stories by Christopher Griffith is a short, abstract collection of stories written in a poetic style.
There were five stories in this collection, with a writing style that got progressively better the longer I read. In fact, it was the last two stories that brought my rating up to a 3, as I didn’t enjoy the first three. I felt the earlier stories to be jarring, and “Break out the Bubbly” was a roller coaster of emotions, leaving my head spinning at the end.
But the final two stories (especially “Young Shakespeare”) seem to have fixed these problems. The transitions are much better, the writing is creative, and it shows his potential as a writer. My favorite quotes are:
What acidic precept had the nation’s womenfolk been scorched by on that accord!
...with the fraudulent riding crest of a foul, gluttonous wave whilst the gentle were churned over in its grim, muddy wash beneath.
They were purged by the very selfless and noble actions wrought to aid society.
There were moments I enjoyed this book, but overall, it wasn’t for me.
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
July 22, 2021
Book Review: Deep Level
Deep Level by Richard E. Rock is a horror novella where a small group explores a secret underground Victorian network.
The characters are three-dimensional, and I really enjoyed the insight into Rich’s world, but I didn’t love how much dialogue was throughout the story. It often felt telly or slowed the pacing down a lot. Some of the all-capped words threw me off too. These were meant to portray horror and fear, but they pulled me out. Rock’s strength is description and exploring the characters’ thoughts. I wish there was more of that, rather than all the dialogue and the all-caps sections.
Here’s a good quote:
This was more than just a cavern; it was an underworld, a subterranean kingdom: huge, open, and grand.
The novella wasn’t for me, but you may like this if you love a lot of dialogue.
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
July 20, 2021
Book Review: Frankie Funder
By Elizabeth Suggs
Frankie Funder by Patrick E Douglas is a horror novel that isn’t like any horror novel I’ve ever read.
This book, from cover to story, is a wholly unique. When I was given the book in exchange for an honest review, I was struck with what design went into crafting the book. At first, I thought I wasn’t holding a book; rather, I was holding a slab of meat! It’s clever and my all-time favorite cover. I want this nominated for an award!!
The story itself was intense. Frankie is a disappointment, but her father loves her and does his best, despite her many “misadventures.”
While there are several different points to this story, this is one about a child who grows up and finds a love for working in a meatpacking plant where she kills animals. Frankie is a very interesting character, and I think she was written well. My biggest critique would be the amount of unnecessary dialogue in the story. A lot of the dialogue drew out scenes too long and made me lose interest. But outside of that, I enjoyed this horrific adventure.
Favorite Quotes:
The most traumatic event in a person’s life occurs when the biological clock is set to zero.
The man who walks into a mall and heartlessly shoots women and children without thinking twice was once an innocent child, resting his head on his mother’s bosom.
It was just meat, and it didn’t matter what or who was sacrificed to provide it.
If you’re a weird meat lover, then you may like this book!
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
July 15, 2021
Poetry Review: Pages From the Garden Aisle
Pages From the Garden Aisle by G.B. Cast is a collection of heartfelt and beautifully written love poems.
I really enjoyed how the collection starts with “The Poet’s Prayer.” Right off the bat, we’re exposed to the importance of poetry, why it’s more than just words on paper. Poetry, Cast explains, is a blessing—exposed stars—a light. It is the very thing that repairs the soul, and it’s why I love poetry so much. There’s something real and raw with a poem that can’t always be replicated in a novel.
This book plays with different formatting styles, different types of poetry. Cast explores new ways to explain similar themes, which keeps it fresh and the reader asking for more.
When I read Cast’s book, I see hope and lightness, even within those darker themes, which I really value.
Here’s my favorite poem:
This path was shaped
Not solely on my own
But by the ones I’ve met
Along this winding road. - untitled
My only critique is pretty trivial. There were no page numbers, so that was a little annoying to me, but that’s more a taste thing.
If you like poetry, you may like this!
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
July 13, 2021
Guest Book Review: Ray of Hope Book 1
By Regina Grimm
If you are looking for a sweet and sultry RH (reverse harem), shifter romance with mystical undercurrents, and a fresh modern vibe, you have to check out Ray of Hope.
A camping trip unravels into the most delicious road trip with four gorgeous shifters. In a world of vampires, witches, and werewolves, elemental magic flares whenever one of the deliciously hot wolf shifters gets cozy with our fun and feisty MC. The connection between our pack of muscle-bound alphas and our heroine is deliciously deep and explored from both a romantic and uber-lusty perspective, making their interactions meaningful and teasing.
What I loved about the book? Getting to know each of the characters, watching them battle their emotions, need, lust, and societal norms, while leaning into a reverse harem that suggests that things are just getting started. This book is fun and easy to read, funny in moments, and poignant in others. The supporting characters are vivid and exciting, the writing fresh and modern. I cannot wait for the next book.
What I didn't love so much? As the entire book is written in the first person, I struggled to keep track of who's perspective I was reading from. I had to flip back a few times to keep track of who I was reading. I also struggled to keep the four shifter characters separate. One stood out, and I was able to identify him each time, picturing him clearly. Still, after the original introduction of our four shifter hunks, there is minimal description of the other three, and they kind of blended into one super cutie. I would have liked a little more distinction or even the odd reference to which of the four I might have glimpsed in the mirror while I was reading from their perspective. This book is a little sweet for my taste, a slow burn that left you with unfulfilled lust more often than it satisfied, but then I like my books essentially on fire, so this is truly a simple preference and will certainly not keep me from reading any more books by the delicious K. Mawhood and B. Mabry.
After traveling and living abroad, Regina Grimm fell in love with fairytales and folklore, and how nostalgia can blend with eroticism as we grow into healthy adults. She was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, and currently lives on Vancouver Island.
Regina is the author of Erotic Fairytales. Her first book, Snow White and the Wicked Queen: Chapter 1 is currently available on Amazon Kindle.
Look for Snow White and the Vicious Curse: Chapter 2 coming June 2021
July 8, 2021
Book Review: Imprint
By Elizabeth Suggs
Imprint by Nicholas Adams is a sci-fi novella about a husband, Malcom, and a wife, Cynthiana, seeking a way to bring mobility back to Cynthiana’s body.
Cynthiana suffered a terrible paralysis from “The Scald.” There were no hopes of her ever walking again—that is until Malcom found a way. Using both dedication to help his wife and his knowledge of science, he created a synthetic human, which Cynthiana could use as a means to move around.
I really liked the symbolism that played within this story. For instance, the synthetic version of Cynthiana is first tethered to a machine, similar to an umbilical cord. As Cynthiana becomes more comfortable with movement and desires to move more than what the umbilical cord has to offer, they disconnect it. She becomes confident and learns to live within this new entity, but it comes at a price.
There are a lot of elements to this story and Adams is a very talented writer. My biggest critique is how fast-paced it feels. There’s so much to unpack regarding “The Scald,” and we seem to speed over that to get to Malcolm and Cynthiana, which I get, but I would have loved to understand more. But man oh man, that ending was intense!
Here are my favorite quotes:
The hand folded as if caressing an invisible piece of silk.
Like a toddler in a crib, the limited area fast became a jail cell.
This is a great, quick read, and well worth your time!
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
July 1, 2021
Overcoming Writer's Block
By Christopher Jorgensen
So it's been a hot minute, and really, I can't say that I have much of an excuse for not writing more in the past months. I could blame Covid, I could blame the elections, but the reality is, much of that had nothing to do with my recent spat of writer's block. So what happened? Well, let's get right to the point: I deal with depression. I often try and combat it with writing, but the big issue comes from the fact that when I do write something up, I suddenly hate everything I've written as soon as I finish it. So what do you do to fight back? Well, luckily for me, I finally have the drive back in me to write up an article with a few notes on just the subject. So today, I want to cover:
Photo by Ryan Snaadt on Unsplash
Overcoming the Block
Now, this is by no means an "insert method of fixing everything" sort of article. I am not an expert in, well, anything. But that does not mean that we can't write up an opinion piece to give some people a new frame of perspective, right? So, methods to overcoming writer's block as a result of the world around you.
1. Read
I know—it sounds simple, but hear me out. Read. And don't just read one thing, read everything. Your favorite book, the book you have read seventeen times in the last two years, the new book at the store that caught your eye because the cover was your favorite color, that book by some famous great American author that you were forced to read in high school but never did and only used spark notes to write your book report. Read it now.
Look, it might seem like the easiest answer in the world, and it is, but I promise you nothing will get your creative drive back faster than sitting down and seeing words on a page. There is something extraordinary about it, and really, nothing gets you in the mood more than seeing how someone else portrays a story. From experience, reading is the thing that will drive you to write and create more than ever.
Photo by Igor Miske on Unsplash
2. Admire Other Art Forms
Ever been to a museum? No? Go fix that. Been to a live concert? Fix that too. The arts are not just a singular form in the books you just read to get to this step. You have to expand your creative horizons. Go find new music to listen to at a record store (those totally still exist, right?). And if not, you have the internet at your fingertips. Youtube new music, go listen to something you never thought you would listen to. Try listening to an instrument you never knew existed before. Listen to the music of a foreign place you've always wanted to visit or never heard of. The world is full of dynamic and varied sounds. Explore that.
And go to a museum. Learn some history, or go to an art gallery and just look at things. The best part of being a weaver of tales is observing the way things around you work. The world is full of creative expression, and it is your job as a writer of things to explore everything you can and tell us about it. Or look up illustrations about literature. Find the illustrations of old stories and the myths that grew out of them. Art is the visualization of the words you write, and you should familiarize yourself with how other people are expressing
3. People Watch
Photo by Jake Ingle on Unsplash
But don't do it in that creepy dude in the oversized coat at a park type of people watch. Just go where people go, see what they do, how they act, the things they say when no one else is listening. What do people do with their hands when they are shopping? How do they stand, how do they greet the person at the register of a store? These are all the things you never think about as they happen. The tiny idiosyncrasies that everyone has but no one acknowledges.
Also, go outside, go see people in the real world too. These are all the things you won't get from the internet or movies. You need to actually go out there and discover it as it happens. I'm also going to put meeting new people in this category as well. Meeting someone new will give you a ton of insight into character design. All those tiny details we just talked about, yeah, observe and see what people do. Your characters will thank you for making them more genuine than the usual cookie-cutter character you thought was so unique that it turns out they have zero individuality about them. So go see how people act outside of your own head. They might just surprise you.
Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash
4. Reflect on Your Old Works
Here we get to the hard one. This is the one that gets everyone the worst. You have to go back and see your old works and find the things you could do better. All that stuff you just learned up there? Use it to examine your writing. Look at your characters; what is wrong with them? Why don't they feel real? Read over your descriptions; what do they lack in their environment?
All of these things can be found around you if you take the time to look. But the problem is, and I know this cause I wrote this after a series of blocks, we live in our own heads. When we write, we are so obsessed with looking inward to our ideas and story that we often forget that it's the real world that inspires us in the first place. Don't forget that it's out there, and it is your greatest resource. Utilize that resource and make it yours.
So there we have it, a few things to help you get on when you find yourself staring at a blank screen for too long. Like I said before, none of this is expertise on my end, just things I have noticed and observed when I need to find a new muse to write for. Now go live a bit and see how well it reflects in your works,
Chris Jorgensen has often been described as an amalgamation of too many things for his own good. Writer, musician, academic, book collector, scavenger, builder, drinker, shiny object enthusiast. Horror is the gateway to the truly primal, the unknown void, and the creative outlet that can be explored without fear… huh. Moving on. He has written for online publications, and short story collections for Utah Valley University. Currently, he reads far too much to have a singular favorite author, but is often inspired by: Patrick Rothfuss, Robert Jordan, H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, Brandon Sanderson, and Joe Abercrombie. One day he will be as well read as that list.
June 30, 2021
Book Review: Erotic Snow White
By Elizabeth Suggs
Today I want to talk about two erotic books by Regina Grimm: Snow White and the Wicked Queen Chapter 1 and Snow White and the Vicious Curse: Chapter 2.
The reason I want to bring up both books is that they are closer than sequels. These two books are like their titles: chapter 1 and chapter 2, both quick reads from the same story.
Chapter 1 centers around an evil princess who steals the king’s heart and becomes the new queen. Whereas chapter 2 centers around this wicked queen’s terrible power and Snow White.
You don’t necessarily need to read chapter 1 to understand chapter 2, but reading both will give you a more expansive understanding of the world and the story.
Both chapters are hot and steamy, and very dark. For instance, that mirror scene? Hot! Hot! Hot! But the best part? Grimm is a fantastic writer, and she sucks you in with eroticism and storytelling.
Here are my favorite quotes:
“You are dust,” the Queen shouted, and the heavens split.
Of course. Tiny head, shorter ribbon.
The powerful need to be told she was beautiful broke the shimmering satisfaction that the orgasm promised, replacing it instead with bitter pleasure so bright it cut like glass shards.
Blood wept from a thousand scratches on her arms and legs, and dark bruises were spreading from the impact of her fall.
If you love steamy good stories, read this!
Get Your Copy Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
Check out my live reading of Chapter 2 below!
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
June 24, 2021
Book Review: Beautifully Broken
By Elizabeth Suggs
Beautifully Broken: Good Girl, Bad Girl by E.R. Stowell is a compelling story about one woman’s struggles through life, love, and her own self-worth.
Our protagonist, Sarah Cook, is the ultimate good girl, or at least, that’s what she has made herself believe. There’s a bad side, one in which she has struggled to get away from, and rather than face her demons, she stuffs it away. Throughout the book, we’re led to believe that these are two opposing forces, but in reality, they make up one person.
Stowell tells a beautiful story, including poems, fun formatting techniques (i.e., lips for page breaks), and a compelling love story that keeps the reader guessing. The entire book had me on edge!
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
If you leave; am I broken? Or am I free?
If only it was my heart he awakened. Not the non-negotiable desire of my soul.
My pen becomes the traitor and I its victim.
Stowell is a wonderful writer. I can’t wait for what’s to come, both in her series and the rest of her writing career.
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
June 22, 2021
Book Review: Reflections of an Anxious African American Dad
By Elizabeth Suggs
Reflections of an Anxious African American Dad by Eric L. Heard is a short, insightful read about a dad telling his son his experiences.
It took me a bit to get in, but once I was in, I couldn't pull myself out. This story is a collection of many stories told through a father's eyes. It felt very warm and intimate like I was listening to the author as if I was his child.
I was able to see the world through the father's eyes, why he acts a certain way, and why he feels certain things. This is one of the most important things about a story, and the author really nails it on the head.
More people need to read experiences like this, so if you have a little time, then check out this story.
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
