Kathleen Heady's Blog, page 5
September 10, 2012
Writing Honest Book Reviews
There is a lot of criticism these days about biased book reviews and writers reviewing each others books in order to post glowing reviews. I write reviews for Suspense Magazine, and I also occasionally read a book by a fellow writer and post the review on Amazon and GoodReads. I never write a negative review. And I have read some books that I did not enjoy at all.
Even if I don't like a book, there is probably someone out there who will. There is no reason to trash someone hard work. I describe the plot and characters in the novel, and try to place to story in a category. If it is a story of zombie aliens rampaging the countryside, I make that clear. It's not a story that appeals to me, but it appeals to some readers.
If I really believe some parts of the book are badly written, I may just question those aspects and try to put it in perspective. If a writer uses an expression that is regional, but doesn't fit the character, I will mention it. If a writer makes a small error, as in a recent example when I reviewed a book in which the "French press was whistling in the kitchen," my antenna for errors goes up, but I won't mention it. Everyone makes mistakes.
I have seen reviews that criticized the use of swear words in a novel, and either too many sex scenes or too few. As a reviewer, I want to be as honest as possible without dwelling on the weaknesses of the book or the author.
As a reader, I want to read reviews that tell me what to expect, but I always take extremely negative reviews (of anything, not just books) with a grain of salt. Long, negative rants just sound like the reviewer had a bad day, or dislikes the book or author for some other reason.
Check out some of my reviews on Amazon or GoodReads and tell me what you think. See if you can tell if I liked or dislike the books.
Even if I don't like a book, there is probably someone out there who will. There is no reason to trash someone hard work. I describe the plot and characters in the novel, and try to place to story in a category. If it is a story of zombie aliens rampaging the countryside, I make that clear. It's not a story that appeals to me, but it appeals to some readers.
If I really believe some parts of the book are badly written, I may just question those aspects and try to put it in perspective. If a writer uses an expression that is regional, but doesn't fit the character, I will mention it. If a writer makes a small error, as in a recent example when I reviewed a book in which the "French press was whistling in the kitchen," my antenna for errors goes up, but I won't mention it. Everyone makes mistakes.
I have seen reviews that criticized the use of swear words in a novel, and either too many sex scenes or too few. As a reviewer, I want to be as honest as possible without dwelling on the weaknesses of the book or the author.
As a reader, I want to read reviews that tell me what to expect, but I always take extremely negative reviews (of anything, not just books) with a grain of salt. Long, negative rants just sound like the reviewer had a bad day, or dislikes the book or author for some other reason.
Check out some of my reviews on Amazon or GoodReads and tell me what you think. See if you can tell if I liked or dislike the books.
September 1, 2012
Too Many Ideas
Writers are often asked, "Where do you get your ideas?"
I believe most writers would answer the same as I do -- it's not a matter of coming up with ideas, it's a matter of weeding out the ideas and deciding which ones I really want to develop in a short story, a novel, or maybe even a series.
My first two novels both center around the main character Nara Blake, who is loosely based on the daughter-in-law of a friend of mine. Once I had the character, I took her from a Caribbean island to England, and after solving the mystery of a ring of art thieves in The Gate House, she moved on to discovering her great-grandmother's secrets in Lydia's Story.
Along the way, I have considered writing a mystery series set in Monteverde, Costa Rica. I am still toying around with something historical, and maybe involving magic, centering around the treasure King John supposedly lost in the Wash on the coast of England. Since I am a teacher, I have come up with many unused plots involving teachers. And after talking with a friend who is starting a business staging houses for sale, I think that might make a good base for a story. And then there are my mother's letters from World War II. I would like to do something with those.
I am not the kind of writer who can sit down and write for eight hours every day. I am too restless. I need breaks. So most of my ideas will never be more than ideas. But it's great to have this mine of inspiration. When it's time to start something new, I just need to pull out one of the plots or characters and start developing a story.
What kinds of stories do you prefer to read? Something close to home? In a different geographical or historical setting? Do you choose a book for the plot or the characters?
Whatever the reader's choice, at some time a writer has dreamed up an idea, and carried it through.
I believe most writers would answer the same as I do -- it's not a matter of coming up with ideas, it's a matter of weeding out the ideas and deciding which ones I really want to develop in a short story, a novel, or maybe even a series.
My first two novels both center around the main character Nara Blake, who is loosely based on the daughter-in-law of a friend of mine. Once I had the character, I took her from a Caribbean island to England, and after solving the mystery of a ring of art thieves in The Gate House, she moved on to discovering her great-grandmother's secrets in Lydia's Story.
Along the way, I have considered writing a mystery series set in Monteverde, Costa Rica. I am still toying around with something historical, and maybe involving magic, centering around the treasure King John supposedly lost in the Wash on the coast of England. Since I am a teacher, I have come up with many unused plots involving teachers. And after talking with a friend who is starting a business staging houses for sale, I think that might make a good base for a story. And then there are my mother's letters from World War II. I would like to do something with those.
I am not the kind of writer who can sit down and write for eight hours every day. I am too restless. I need breaks. So most of my ideas will never be more than ideas. But it's great to have this mine of inspiration. When it's time to start something new, I just need to pull out one of the plots or characters and start developing a story.
What kinds of stories do you prefer to read? Something close to home? In a different geographical or historical setting? Do you choose a book for the plot or the characters?
Whatever the reader's choice, at some time a writer has dreamed up an idea, and carried it through.
August 14, 2012
My Dream Headlines
Just for fun, and to give my creativity a little boost, I decided to create some "dream" headlines. I dislike reading the newspaper or watching TV news because almost every story is bad news or a negative take on an event or some new study.
Here are a few of the headlines I would like to see:
Presidential candidates agree to limit their campaign budgets to $1,000,000 each and use any additional donations to pay off student loans.
Auto companies to sell solar powered cars; price within reach for most of us.
Citizens in small Pennsylvania town spontaneously begin to pick up litter; practice spreading throughout the country.
Run on library! Children flock for more reading, allowing teachers to give less homework.
Militants in -- Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran (pick one or all of them) -- agree that killing is not the best way to solve problems and lay down their arms to talk honestly to each other.
OK. I am a bit of a dreamer, but it was a fun exercise. And I do feel more optimistic just have written my headlines.
Try it! You might come up with an idea for a story or a project, but I guarantee you will feel better.
Here are a few of the headlines I would like to see:
Presidential candidates agree to limit their campaign budgets to $1,000,000 each and use any additional donations to pay off student loans.
Auto companies to sell solar powered cars; price within reach for most of us.
Citizens in small Pennsylvania town spontaneously begin to pick up litter; practice spreading throughout the country.
Run on library! Children flock for more reading, allowing teachers to give less homework.
Militants in -- Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran (pick one or all of them) -- agree that killing is not the best way to solve problems and lay down their arms to talk honestly to each other.
OK. I am a bit of a dreamer, but it was a fun exercise. And I do feel more optimistic just have written my headlines.
Try it! You might come up with an idea for a story or a project, but I guarantee you will feel better.
August 2, 2012
Conversations with Readers
One of the parts of being a writer that I like most is conversations with readers about my books, especially when they have questions about the characters, or want to know what is going to happen in the next book!
Their comments motivate me as a writer, because I want to keep my readers entertained and coming back for more.
Recently a couple of readers commented about a minor character in The Gate House. It is a character that I have especially enjoyed writing about, and I was happy that other people saw in "Elaine" what I did. It also encourages me to write more about her, and I hope to give her a bigger part in a future book.
Another reader has been questioning me about the future of the romance between Nara and Alex, which begins in The Gate House. No way will I give away my secrets! But I was very pleased that my readers care about my characters. It means that they are real to them as they are real to me.
I think it is important as a writer to pay attention to what my readers ask for and comment on. And their feedback motivates me when I sit down to write.
Readers -- do you ever write to an author with comments or questions?
Writers -- do you listen to your readers' feedback and take it into account when you write?
Their comments motivate me as a writer, because I want to keep my readers entertained and coming back for more.
Recently a couple of readers commented about a minor character in The Gate House. It is a character that I have especially enjoyed writing about, and I was happy that other people saw in "Elaine" what I did. It also encourages me to write more about her, and I hope to give her a bigger part in a future book.
Another reader has been questioning me about the future of the romance between Nara and Alex, which begins in The Gate House. No way will I give away my secrets! But I was very pleased that my readers care about my characters. It means that they are real to them as they are real to me.
I think it is important as a writer to pay attention to what my readers ask for and comment on. And their feedback motivates me when I sit down to write.
Readers -- do you ever write to an author with comments or questions?
Writers -- do you listen to your readers' feedback and take it into account when you write?
July 17, 2012
It's Always in the Details
Someone said that "life is in the details." I take that to mean that we really only see the big picture of life when we look at the past or the future. In the present moment, we only see the details. I see the computer screen, I feel my fingers typing, I see my orange cat sleeping on the desk. I know I am hungry for lunch and need to take a shower and go out and run some errands this afternoon. I live in the details.
It is the same with writing. A novelist wants her readers to appreciate and enjoy the totality of her novel, but she writes it chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, word by word. And an error can trip up the reader and cause her to lose the flow of the story. A reader can be caught by a detail that makes her stop and think --" I've noticed a mistake in this writer's work. What other mistakes has she made that I have not noticed?"
In a novel I read recently, the author described the French press in the kitchen whistling away to tell them the coffee was ready. Anyone familiar with a French press knows that it doesn't whistle at all -- it simply sits there until someone pushes the plunger and pours the coffee. This small error caught me up short. Another error of language that I noticed recently in a novel was simply a mistake in terminology in different parts of the country. I know that in southern California, people use "the" before the number of a highway, as in "the 5." I drive up and down I-95 between Pennsylvania and North Carolina quite often, and I can assure you it is never referred to as "the 95," as this author did.
While these are small errors, they always make me pause and wonder if the author just didn't do his or her research, or was in a hurry, or thought it just didn't matter. Of course, it also speaks to the importance of an editor.
I also do some freelance editing, and I am always on the lookout for small mistakes that can hurt the credibility of an author.
How important do you think these small errors are, either as a writer or as a reader? As a reader, do they catch you up short and interrupt the flow of the story?
It is the same with writing. A novelist wants her readers to appreciate and enjoy the totality of her novel, but she writes it chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, word by word. And an error can trip up the reader and cause her to lose the flow of the story. A reader can be caught by a detail that makes her stop and think --" I've noticed a mistake in this writer's work. What other mistakes has she made that I have not noticed?"
In a novel I read recently, the author described the French press in the kitchen whistling away to tell them the coffee was ready. Anyone familiar with a French press knows that it doesn't whistle at all -- it simply sits there until someone pushes the plunger and pours the coffee. This small error caught me up short. Another error of language that I noticed recently in a novel was simply a mistake in terminology in different parts of the country. I know that in southern California, people use "the" before the number of a highway, as in "the 5." I drive up and down I-95 between Pennsylvania and North Carolina quite often, and I can assure you it is never referred to as "the 95," as this author did.
While these are small errors, they always make me pause and wonder if the author just didn't do his or her research, or was in a hurry, or thought it just didn't matter. Of course, it also speaks to the importance of an editor.
I also do some freelance editing, and I am always on the lookout for small mistakes that can hurt the credibility of an author.
How important do you think these small errors are, either as a writer or as a reader? As a reader, do they catch you up short and interrupt the flow of the story?
July 6, 2012
Life Is in the Strangeness and the Details
I spent a "girls day out" yesterday with my cousin Linda, and we ventured out of Pennsylvania down to Delaware to visit Winterthur, the historic estate that was once the home of the DuPont family.
The house, all 175 rooms of it, is now a museum, primarily devoted to American furniture and household art. We found the whole experience to be a bit overwhelming. I am not a collector -- I like to travel light in life -- and it amazed me that someone would devote so much energy (not to mention money) to amassing pieces of furniture, china, silver and even woodwork to display in one place. And it was, after all, a home.
It is wonderful that all these items are preserved and appreciated, but I think as a writer, I like to know about how people lived, what they thought, how they felt. I want to know what Mrs. DuPont thought about when she drank tea from a cup that was used by George Washington. I want to know about the mix-ups and accidents. Did anyone drop and break any of these pieces? What happened if they did? I suppose it made a difference if itwere a servant or a guest.
With all the beauty and perfection on display, I was looking for a flaw that would show the humanity of the people who lived there. At one point in our tour, I pointed to some yellow roses and quietly asked my cousin if she thought they were real. We examined them more closely -- we weren't supposed to touch anything -- and she found a small tear in one petal, so yes, they were real.
If you have enough money, power and influence, can you create perfection in your life? And does that create a good life? Aren't we all more interesting with our flaws and messes? That is certainly what makes a good character in a story.
The house, all 175 rooms of it, is now a museum, primarily devoted to American furniture and household art. We found the whole experience to be a bit overwhelming. I am not a collector -- I like to travel light in life -- and it amazed me that someone would devote so much energy (not to mention money) to amassing pieces of furniture, china, silver and even woodwork to display in one place. And it was, after all, a home.
It is wonderful that all these items are preserved and appreciated, but I think as a writer, I like to know about how people lived, what they thought, how they felt. I want to know what Mrs. DuPont thought about when she drank tea from a cup that was used by George Washington. I want to know about the mix-ups and accidents. Did anyone drop and break any of these pieces? What happened if they did? I suppose it made a difference if itwere a servant or a guest.
With all the beauty and perfection on display, I was looking for a flaw that would show the humanity of the people who lived there. At one point in our tour, I pointed to some yellow roses and quietly asked my cousin if she thought they were real. We examined them more closely -- we weren't supposed to touch anything -- and she found a small tear in one petal, so yes, they were real.
If you have enough money, power and influence, can you create perfection in your life? And does that create a good life? Aren't we all more interesting with our flaws and messes? That is certainly what makes a good character in a story.
July 3, 2012
This Is Not a Book Review
I am currently caught up in reading The Lost Ones, a new novel by Ace Atkins. It was not a book I picked up by choice; I am reading it to review for Suspense Magazine. After the first couple of pages I was sure I wouldn’t like it. It’s set in rural Mississippi. The main characters are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The first scene deals with a possible sale of guns headed for Mexico. Not my kind of book.
But I got caught up in it. The characters are human, compassionate people. They have their baggage, like everyone does, and even more so because of their combat experience. The story is well-written, with a balance of strong female as well as male characters. Atkins shows what “character driven” means. Even while I am thinking how happy I am to not live in the rural South, I admire the people who have come to life in this novel.
This book is just another reason why I enjoy reviewing novels. I am often sent books that I would not have picked up on my own. I gravitate toward British or historical mysteries and prefer female protagonists. But it is always good to step out of the familiar comfort zone and try something new. I had the same experience with Jaden Terrell‘s mysteries, another author I recommend.
Do you tend to read the same types of books? Have you been surprised by one that was not your usual choice?
But I got caught up in it. The characters are human, compassionate people. They have their baggage, like everyone does, and even more so because of their combat experience. The story is well-written, with a balance of strong female as well as male characters. Atkins shows what “character driven” means. Even while I am thinking how happy I am to not live in the rural South, I admire the people who have come to life in this novel.
This book is just another reason why I enjoy reviewing novels. I am often sent books that I would not have picked up on my own. I gravitate toward British or historical mysteries and prefer female protagonists. But it is always good to step out of the familiar comfort zone and try something new. I had the same experience with Jaden Terrell‘s mysteries, another author I recommend.
Do you tend to read the same types of books? Have you been surprised by one that was not your usual choice?
June 26, 2012
What Makes a Good Book?
Besides writing and editing, I spend a lot of time reading.
I review novels for Suspense Magazine, and just finished judging books for a contest put on by Oklahoma Romance Writers. I also try to read books that I choose myself, just for enjoyment.
What makes a good book? For me, a good book is one with heart. Many of the books I review are not ones that I would pick up on my own. I recently reviewed Purgatory Chasm by Steve Ulfelder. A theme in this book is auto racing, not anything I know or care about. But the book has heart. It is well-written with enough complexity to keep a reader totally involved.
Another one I read was The Comet by Miriam Newman. Set in England at the time of the Norman Conquest, this is one I would have grabbed off the shelf, since I love British history. I was not disappointed. Newman tells a romantic story filled with enough historical details to keep the most dedicated history buff happy. And the story has heart. It is not just the romance between the Norman knight and the Saxon woman, but the story pulls you into the heart of a suffering land, and the suffering of a people who have been conquered by invaders.
What do you think makes a good book? What are some authors or titles that have drawn you in?
I review novels for Suspense Magazine, and just finished judging books for a contest put on by Oklahoma Romance Writers. I also try to read books that I choose myself, just for enjoyment.
What makes a good book? For me, a good book is one with heart. Many of the books I review are not ones that I would pick up on my own. I recently reviewed Purgatory Chasm by Steve Ulfelder. A theme in this book is auto racing, not anything I know or care about. But the book has heart. It is well-written with enough complexity to keep a reader totally involved.
Another one I read was The Comet by Miriam Newman. Set in England at the time of the Norman Conquest, this is one I would have grabbed off the shelf, since I love British history. I was not disappointed. Newman tells a romantic story filled with enough historical details to keep the most dedicated history buff happy. And the story has heart. It is not just the romance between the Norman knight and the Saxon woman, but the story pulls you into the heart of a suffering land, and the suffering of a people who have been conquered by invaders.
What do you think makes a good book? What are some authors or titles that have drawn you in?
June 23, 2012
Sequel on the Way!
I just got the news today that I will be offered a contract for publication of the sequel to "The Gate House," tentatively titled "Lydia's Story."
Nara Blake, the main character from "The Gate House," moves on to new adventures in the next book, when she is given the diaries that belonged to her great-grandmother Lydia Roberts. Lydia kept the diaries during the early years of World War II, when she was in London and her two children were with their grandparents in Wales.
I am very excited about the release of the second book, and will keep everyone posted on its progress.
Nara Blake, the main character from "The Gate House," moves on to new adventures in the next book, when she is given the diaries that belonged to her great-grandmother Lydia Roberts. Lydia kept the diaries during the early years of World War II, when she was in London and her two children were with their grandparents in Wales.
I am very excited about the release of the second book, and will keep everyone posted on its progress.
June 11, 2012
My Boring Neighborhood
My neighborhood is boring. I live in a suburb of a major east coast city. We have an excellent school system, low crime, residential streets with nicely manicured lawns, and it's boring. Our homeowner's association requires certain standards to keep the appearances uniform -- and it's boring.
I didn't know the area when we moved here, didn't realize I would feel frustrated and out of place, but we are stuck here until my husband finds a job in a state about seven hours south of here, where we want to live.
But I am a writer, and I live for creativity and imagination. I have always been very good at pretending. I make it a priority to look for the unusual when I am out. Today when I was out walking I found tiger lilies in bloom, which reminded me of rural southern Illinois where I grew up. We often found tiger lilies in bloom along the roadside where an old farmhouse had once stood. The house was long gone, but the tiger lilies came up year after year in a riot of orange color. I may write a story about tiger lilies.
Anyone can bring creativity and color into their life with a little effort and awareness. I have a friend who is an artist at baking cookies, and makes them for any occasion with her own special touch. Another friend is a librarian and brings her sense of humor and imagination to her job. A third friend was forced to quit her government job for health reasons, and has just created a web site for the new business she is launching.
One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams. He tells he students, "Make your lives extraordinary." I challenge other writers, readers and myself to do just that. Don't settle for a boring neighborhood.
I didn't know the area when we moved here, didn't realize I would feel frustrated and out of place, but we are stuck here until my husband finds a job in a state about seven hours south of here, where we want to live.
But I am a writer, and I live for creativity and imagination. I have always been very good at pretending. I make it a priority to look for the unusual when I am out. Today when I was out walking I found tiger lilies in bloom, which reminded me of rural southern Illinois where I grew up. We often found tiger lilies in bloom along the roadside where an old farmhouse had once stood. The house was long gone, but the tiger lilies came up year after year in a riot of orange color. I may write a story about tiger lilies.
Anyone can bring creativity and color into their life with a little effort and awareness. I have a friend who is an artist at baking cookies, and makes them for any occasion with her own special touch. Another friend is a librarian and brings her sense of humor and imagination to her job. A third friend was forced to quit her government job for health reasons, and has just created a web site for the new business she is launching.
One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams. He tells he students, "Make your lives extraordinary." I challenge other writers, readers and myself to do just that. Don't settle for a boring neighborhood.
