Sheila Deeth's Blog, page 78

Seven Stars Shining

I've reviewed quite a few Seventh Star Press books now and I'm always delighted to get another one. Fantasy, science fiction, horror, great illustrations... whether it's an adult short story like R. J. Sullivan's Haunting Obsession, young adult fantasy like Jackie Gamber's Redheart, complex fantasy worlds like D. A. Adams' Brotherhood of Dwarves or Steven Shrewsbury's Thrall, or sci-fi/horror/mystic blends like David Blalock's Angelkiller, I've really enjoyed them all (as you'll see by follow...

A line between fantasy and reality

My older brother, aged ten at the time, informed me in superior tones that telling stories was the same as telling lies. It's true, I suppose. When I tell a story I'm telling about something that never happened to people who never existed. But I don't expect anyone to believe me--I want to make it sound real, not be real--I'm after that willing suspension of disbelief that lets the reader enjoy the experience. Maybe "willing" is the word that makes it not really "lying."

Of course, I challenge...

Two very different books with a common theme

I just read and enjoyed two books that touch on Easter and Lent, Christianity, history, research and the facts behind the stories. The writers are very different people; their traditions and beliefs probably differ too; but their rigorous investigation, combined with honest faith, tie these books together for me and make me thoroughly glad I got to read read them both. (Click on the pictures to find the books on Amazon)

John's Gospel, the Way It Happened, by Lee Harmon, combines two fictionali...

Does genre really matter?

I got in trouble with a reviewer once for describing a new adult book as young adult. (Don't miss Alexandra Lanc's visit to my blog next month where she explains the difference.) Another time I reviewed a children's adventure that was really young adult. Then there are mysteries that are actually horror, romances that read more like drama, Christian fiction with more of a vaguely spiritual fantasy feel. (Don't forget edgy Christian fiction too). A friend wanted to write a query letter and ask...

What can you do in five minutes?

What can you do in five minutes?
Answer five emails if well-caffeinated and undistracted. Otherwise it might take fifty-five.Read a very short story, unless you end up looking for other books by the same author and meandering the internet instead.Plan the day's schedule, unless planning involves getting started on the schedule, in which case you'll never end.Make coffee. That helps with the well-caffeinated bit.Drink coffee. That counts as distraction.Make tea, though deciding between coffee a...

When even time won't take you seriously - with Andy Gavin

There's a young adult book I'm really looking forward to reading soon called Untimed--isn't that a perfect title? The cover's pretty intriguing too. And author Andy Gavin's previous book, the Darkening Dream, was very enjoyable (read my review here.)

I'm delighted to welcome author Andy Gavin to my blog today to tell us a little about where the story and characters came from, whether our time, another time or none, but read on and find out. Over to you Andy.


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Simplifying History with Kathleen Flanagan Rollins

Looking for a really intriguing read today? Then I have just the thing for you--Simplifying History, by Kathleen Flanagan Rollins, author of the wonderful Misfits and and Heroes (click here for my review) and the new volume Past the Last Island. I loved Misfits and Heroes and can hardly wait to read Past the Last Island too.


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Reading by numbers...

I wonder what the numbers mean.

I'm an Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer! It sounds great, but I'm really not sure how I got there or how long I'll stay--or even how to stay. Rumors abound about reviews by authors disappearing.  If my reviews vanish willI stop being in the Top 1000? Or does being a Top 1000 Reviewer help my reviews stay where they are?
Of course, being a reviewer of any sort on Amazon involves numbers. I can't just post a review on its own without adding some kind of rating, and I...

Crazy Sevens in an Infinite Sum

It's a chain, and I really ought to find someone to tag. But, having been tagged by Anne Maro Slalina, I shouldn't forget to post my own crazy seven, so here goes... and if you've not been sevenly tagged before, please consider it done.

Anne is the author of The Adventures of Annie Mouse picture books, www.anniemousebooks.com
And I'm the author of Divide by Zero, Five-Minute Bible Stories, Flower Child and more... 

Go to page 7 or 77 of your book or manuscript: I'm working on the seco...

Delighting in book reviews

Psalm Stories has two book reviews now, and I'm so thrilled to read both of them:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3SSKIKDI7YXJD/
http://www.amazon.com/review/RH5BSR14QTM21/

Thank you so much, Candace and Eileen. And here's hoping my stories might garner some more reviews as those readers who downloaded them start reading bedtime stories to their kids, or teaching Sunday School.

Meanwhile I've been reading and drinking coffee. Yes, I did find time for both during the promotion, but only because my M...