Barbara Elsborg's Blog: https://www.barbaraelsborg.com/blog, page 29
July 13, 2011
Chosen - a top pick with Night Owl Reviews!
Online Link : http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Reviews/Laurie-J-reviews-Chosen-by-Barbara-Elsborg.aspx
Score: 4.50 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick
Review: Right from the first this book held me in its thrall. Kate Evans is kidnapped, raped and tortured by a madman who uses her as a sort of game piece in a battle against his domineering father. The pieces finally come together into a complete mosaic that reveals the surprising intricacies of long-remembered, never-forgotten hurts and hatreds.This book is written in a style and with a voice that is unrelenting in its intensity. The author cleverly weaves in past events and episodes, in small chunks, that ensure each character became pinned onto the storyboard in my head and stayed there. Well-written, fast-paced, and genuinely terrifying, with unexpected twists that are guaranteed to make your heart race, this is not a story for the faint of heart. In most cases, I thought Kate did an outstanding job of trying to escape and survive her nightmare, but there were a couple of times I almost felt like reaching into my kindle and shaking her. An unconscious man becomes even less of a threat if you tie him up (duh!), for instance!The author excelled at continuously ratcheting up the tension until finally, at the end, I could suck in a luxurious deep breath and heave a contented sigh. This is a not-to-be-missed thrilling romantic suspense.
July 12, 2011
July 8, 2011
I am not infallible
I am one of the few people in the world who actually doesn't like food. I personally can't wait for the day I just have to take a pill to give me all the energy and vitamins etc that I need. Yes, I know I'm weird. Having said that - family still needs to eat, so I have to cook. Saintly husband shops - which is a mixed blessing. I love that I don't have to go to the supermarket but I have to be prepared to deal with the 'bargains' he brings home. I CAN cook, I just prefer not to. But the other day I thought I'd make some almond macaroons. Recipe was straight forward. What can go wrong?Quite a lot as it happens. They looked NOTHING like the picture though they tasted okay, especially after I'd broken them into bits and added cream. But it was a salutatory lesson in how - no matter how well you plan, how carefully you do what you're supposed to - sometimes life throws you a curve ball. My daughter - who made and decorated this cake - obviously doesn't take after me!
July 7, 2011
July 4, 2011
name that goat!!
Daughter and partner are going to the Royal Ascot Goat races in Uganda and have to name a goat (or two!)
The naming format goes - [name of goat] out of [mother goat] by [father goat]
So Marigold out of Judith by Rufus
But that is boring.....
Better would be
Broke out of Cash by Mid-month
Willy out of Pants by 6pm
Any ideas??
July 1, 2011
Giving authors a second chance
I suspect, like most readers, if you try a new author and don't like their book for whatever reason, you're unlikely to give them another go. I've plenty of authors I've thought that of - but after reading the third book by a particular author and enjoying it, I then bought books one and two. Not a series so no problem there. I read book two first. It was okay, interesting premise about a boyfriend who has a nervous breakdown, though not as good as book three. Then I read book one, her debut story. Oh dear. I didn't like. Bits of it weren't bad but I realise that had I read this book first, I wouldn't have looked for more by her and I'd have missed book three - which is a keeper. So, I've revised my reading strategy and unless the books are in a series, I won't go for book one, on the basis that like any job, the writing will likely get better. I like to think my own writing has improved over the twenty or so books I've written. I know my first paranormal - The Consolation Prize - was a steep learning curve for me and it's the least well written of the Trueblood series. I still grumble about calling it a series because the books all stand alone. Anyway, if any of you have read The Consolation Prize and not wanted to read another of mine - if you comment on this post, I'll send you a copy of Falling for You - FREE!Assuming you want to give me another try!
June 28, 2011
Bouncing back
Daughter and partner had great fun bouncing on the castle hired for her party. I had a go. Boy, is it hard work. I don't know where kids get their energy. Still, I went on several times.Bouncing on that was still easier than bouncing back from bad reviews. I can see now the value in using a different name for different genres. I really thought I didn't need to, that a warning a book was NOT like my others would be enough. Clearly not. Still, I'll try to bounce back - but my bounce will have less spring in it. 
June 22, 2011
Writing the ending first -
Apparently lots of people do that! I suppose I do know how my stories will end - happily ever after - snigger - but it's never occurred to me to actually write the last two paragraphs before I start. I always have a little difficulty with the final few words - partly because I'm sad to finish, partly because I want those words in particular to be perfect.
A few of my endings!
"Home," Matty said.
Turner smiled. "Home and you're ours forever. It was in the small print."
Caspar stared into her eyes and smiled. His star had risen. That star was Ally.
"Don't need to," he said. "My wish has already come true."
Then things went on as though nothing had happened, but inside Piper, the life that had waited for just the right moment began to grow.
"Not as lucky as me." He got to his feet, swept his little bolt of lightning into his arms and stalked toward the coach house. "Life's perfect."
June 16, 2011
How long will I last?
I should stop googling myself. It's a terrible habit but when I need a break from a scene I'm writing, I find my fingers itching to see if anyone has written any reviews about my recent releases. Generally I find the answer is no, so after skipping down a few pages I get trawled into a slow realization that every bleeping word I've ever written is there for all the world to admire, laugh at or ignore.
I am careful about what I say - mostly - but how long are those words going to be there? Forever? Is this my afterlife, my immortality? My pronouncements about TV shows, my son's dog, my ever patient husband, my kids? Why didn't I study astrophysics at university so that I could have at least left some intelligent words for the world. No, instead the world gets an insight into what is clearly a strange mind - one that writes about MM sex and MMF menages and MF sex and murderous psychotic bad guys like Jack in CHOSEN. Oh God, is that how I'm going to be remembered?
June 13, 2011
STOP PRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, finally, the world has chance to read a book that I've had the great fortune to watch come to life. My invaluable, brilliant crit partner, Arlene Webb has published the first book in her series about what happens when light energy splinters. Oh but it's about so much more than that. Arlene has woven a complex tale of fascinating characters who interact with the humans they meet in ways that will make you laugh, cry, and gulp. I can't tell you how much I love this book and the ones that follow. All right - I can. I LOVE THEM!!!!!
In a nutshell, book one is about five, complex and flawed personalities (byproduct of a splintered particle of light) finding themselves grounded. They are suddenly trapped in adult human bodies on Earth and wanting to go home, without memory of where that even is. Splintered Energy concerns their journey to reunite, and survive each other and mankind.
Meet the Primaries.
Aaron kicked off his sandals, threw open the gate, and ran. Near the surf's edge, David struggled to carry what looked like a woman with flowing green hair.
David halted, collapsing to his knees. A dark emerald dress clung to the motionless form. Shallow saltwater ebbed close to her bare, honest to God, green legs.
David gasped, "She's breathing."
"Good Lord, son, can't you find pretty shells like normal people?" Aaron dropped to David's side.
"She's cold. She wasn't completely in the water, but shouldn't her skin be bluish? Why's she green?"
"Maybe she's an actress or something."
Erotica no less, starring Aphrodite dipped in food coloring. The flush on Aaron's face had to match his son's. Her skin wasn't Exorcist-vomit pea soup, nor gingerbread-trim lime, but a soft, immature apple—almost the same shade as the shirt David wore. Delicate emerald lashes curled against her cheekbones. Small breasts, flat stomach, and he could see the outline of her ribs through the silky dress.
* * *
Strawberry ice cream. Yep, that'd be the flavor du jour. Jaylynn pressed her foot down. The sun sparkled and heat reflected off pavement. Good ol' boring I-87, where one could go the entire drive to civilization without seeing a soul. Perfect for DWD—driving while daydreaming. The pressures of an empty fridge had encouraged her to flip the "open" sign on her bookstore door, and head out on a mission for something tasty.
Jaylynn rounded a familiar curve and blinked. A man at the edge of the road? She blinked again. A red man wearing dark shades and no shirt?
Red? Foot eased from the pedal, she took off her sunglasses.
He still looked—he looked damn good.
Bright, unruly crimson hair fell past his shoulders. Over six foot in height. A shade of continuous red, his chest appeared marred by streaks of black soot. Tight jeans surely clad the body of an athlete. He not only looked hot, he sprang with ninja grace.
Brakes slammed, and she swerved off the shoulder. A seatbelt would have been smart.
No frickin' airbag? Her face smashed into the steering wheel.
Spots of bright vermillion faded.
* * *
The policeman blinked hard. A weird burst of light had darted across the sky. Either something screwed up with a satellite, electrical discharge out of whack, or he needed to get his eyes checked. He shrugged and approached the sedan parked on the shoulder, propped by a deflated rear tire. Inside, he found an adult male slumped sideways, and his jaw hit the asphalt.
Heart attack, aneurysm, seizure…or something much worse. The man had short blue hair, baby blue dress shirt and black pants, and his arms and clean-shaven face were a soft blue.
At 9 AM in Cleveland? Maybe a rock star struggling for attention, some idiot drinking colloidal silver.
Screw it. He hadn't survived this long by taking chances. He pulled on his latex gloves and opened the driver door.
"Metro, Adam seven."
"Go ahead Adam seven."
"Yeah, I got a 10-24 here. I-90, southbound, just before exit 27. Appears to be a non-responsive Caucasian—well, sort of Caucasian—male. Some kind of blue skin discoloration. Let the EMTs know about the blue skin. You copy?"
He brushed his fingers over the neck artery—bingo. He swallowed his relief and stepped back. Not that he rated male beauty, but this unconscious guy would certainly cause a flutter from the double X side of the species.
This four book adventure has been a work in progress for close to a decade now. It's very cool to hopefully have book four go live by January, 2012. All the books can be read as stand alone titles. There's no - oh my god, how will they get out of that, at the end!! The only thing I haven't read is the very end and I can hardly wait to see what happens.
www.arlenewebb.com
www.smashwords.com/books/view/66190
www.amazon.com/dp/B0055L2FHU/?tag=kin...
