Sheila Deeth's Blog, page 23

What do you know?

Today I'm delighted to welcome author Leonora Meriel to my blog. I've just started reading her novels, Woman Behind the Waterfall and The Unity Game, and I find myself wondering, if we're supposed to write what we know and use our imaginations, how does what the author knows feed into imagining the stories she tells? Since she's here as a guest on my blog, I get to ask:


To what extent do you draw on your own life in her writing, and to what extent does what you "know" feed into what you i...

Does dark matter matter?

With the world growing darker (politically and in season), fires burning, waters flooding... I ought to look for something light to read, but I end up haunted by dark matter and enjoying the sense that perhaps we can learn, if not directly from the past then possibly from its fictional recreation. So here I am enjoying Alice in Sinland, Killing the Devil, following Stainer through a collegetown summer of drugs, watching Ruined Wings try to fly, Missing Presumed and Accountable to None. Dark m...

What makes it literary?

What makes a novel literary? I know when I was sending those eager submissions to less than eager publishers, I was advised not to call my writing literary - let the publisher decide if they think that's what it is, or so they said.

I decided one publisher, for whom I was reviewing lots of books, was definitely a publisher of literary fiction, only to be told by someone else that they specialized in mysteries. A case of letting the reviewer decide perhaps? Or the reader?

But what would make a m...

If you write a book and nobody reads it...?

If a tree falls down and nobody hears it, does it make a sound?
If you write a book and nobody reads it, are you still an author?

One friend loaned me her copy of The Story of With by Allen Arnold. It's a Christian allegory (an annotated allegory perhaps) which reminds creative weirdos like me that it's the creation that counts--the act of creating "with" others and with God--not the marketing and selling and human success.

Another loaned me To Sell is Human by Daniel H Pink, borrowed from the l...

What's in a genre?

The speaker at our local writers' group writes historical fiction, but his characters have traveled in time so it's science fiction, and there's lots of action, maybe even war, so military fiction perhaps, aimed at adults, but some of the characters are teens so adult and young adult, but...

But what's in a genre?

I'm so behind with posting book reviews I'm wondering if I'll ever succeed in collecting them together by genre. Perhaps I should just post and click and post and click again. But let...

Still love the classics?

Today I'm delighted to host author Aniesha Brahma as she tours the internet with her Children's Classic Story book. I was one of those weird kids who didn't like fairytales when I was small, but I love them now, and this looks like the sort of collection I might have wished I could read - I can well imagine I would have longed to collect the set.

About the Book:
This gorgeous treasury of ten classic stories is guaranteed to delight and entertain young children, bringing the magic of traditional...

What's In A Name?

Today I'm delighted to welcome author John Mugglebee to my blog. I have to confess, I misread the author's name when I first saw it, as I know people in England with the surname Muggleton, related to a historical sect, the Muggletonians. But that's not John's name, so I'm delighted to welcome him here where he can clarify, just What is in a Name?

What’s in a Name?By John Mugglebee, author of Neespaugot
Neespaugot is a historical novel recounting over several centuries the trials (in some cases,...

Ever been to Monsterland?

Today I'm delighted to welcome Monsterland author Michael Okon to my blog. He's touring the internet with Pump Up Your Book, and his monsters... well... there's more to them than most of us will know. Over to you Michael (except I may not be able to resist interrupting), and thank you for visiting my blog.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About MonsterlandBy Michael Okon
10. I came up with idea of Monsterland while watching an 80s & 90s movie marathon one weekend with my son. (Ah, those movie mara...

Why Did Solomon Write This Song?

Today I'm delighted to welcome author Owen Sypher to my blog to talk about his book, The Song of Solomon Revealed. If you've read any of my Five Minute Bible Story books, you'll know why I wanted to meet him. He's touring the internet with Pump Up Your Books, and you're welcome to join the conversation by leaving a comment or question below.
I asked Owen what was the inspiration behind his book, so please read on and find out. Welcome Owen and thank you for visiting here:
Inspiration Behind The...

Can Those With Disabilities Still Be Successful In Business?

Today I'm delighted to welcome Swiyah Woodard to my blog, author of Don't Call Me Crazy! I'm Just In Love With God. She's been touring the internet for a while, so you've probably seen that cool purple cover in many places already. But why would anyone call her crazy?

Swiyah lives with and takes medication for her own diagnosis. In this book, inspired by a true story, she invites all who struggle with mental illness or the consequences of mistreatment to see a true way forward.

Thank you so muc...