Mollie Cox Bryan's Blog, page 8

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. What a perfect morning. I can not resist a run outside. The sky is blue with wisps of white clouds. Everything is blooming. It cool and sunny. Crisp. Just perfect.

2. Malice Domestic. Heading for it on Friday.

3. SCRAPPILY EVER AFTER is out YAY!

4. The girls having been working hard on Bye-Bye Birdie. Late nights. The show opens on Thursday. I’ll be there opening night and hopefully for closing matinee. Malice in between.

5. Digging in deep to my research on Jefferson Coates with a trip to Gettysburg NEXT week. Aww, yeah!

Susanna Kearsley: Love at First Read

Have you ever just fallen so hard for a writer’s work that all you want to do is read ONLY their books? I admit it’s a rarity for me. There have been a few series that I follow, but eventually, I get bored and move on, or I can see a pattern developing in the writer’s work and it’s the same story, but just a retelling of it. Sometimes, it can be very disappointing as a reader when that happens. So as a writer, I try to keep that in mind while writing my own series.

I’ve been reading a lot of Susanna Kearsley. First, I read THE WINTER SEA, an extraordinary book on all counts.

This is how Susanna describes herself on twitter “NYTimes bestselling writer who can’t choose between Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance & Suspense … so I just blend it all together in my novels.”

Does she ever.

And I really have kind of, um, fallen for her. As a reader and a writer. Writers are told over and over again  to write in one genre. Don’t mix it up. But I think when you have this kind of talent nobody gets to tell you how or what to write. At least that’s what I want to believe. And she gives me hope that one day I might mix it up a bit in my writing.

In THE WINTER SEA, she weaves history, romance, suspense, and a very interesting paranormal  (for the lack of a better word here) thread into this story. Plus, here was a romance arc so skillfully done that it took my breath away. The “paranormal” element was about the way the main character-writer in the story appeared to be channeling memories of an ancestor. I eat up this kind of thing. I can ponder where writers get idea for hours. Sometimes I wonder where I get mine. (But then I ask myself: do I really want to go there? It may be best to NOT look too deeply at it.)

Kearsley’s writing has been compared to both Mary Stewart and Diane Gabaldon. Her obvious love of history, archeology, landscape, romance, with interesting paranormal elements leads me straight to Gabaldon. I just finished another one of Kearsley’s books, which is a time-travel adventure romance—THE ROSE GARDEN, very much in the same vein at Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER series.

But I can also see so much of Mary Stewart in her writing—the atmospheric language, the love of suspense, the sweeping landscapes, and moody skies.

One thing all three writers have in common, no matter where they take their heroines, is that their lead characters are all independent, strong women, not likely to fall in love with the first handsome bloke who looks her way. And they are also not likely to be women who will believe easily that they have fallen through a time-warp, are channeling long-lost ancestors, or in ghosts and psychics. But they are all faced with unexplainable happenings, nonetheless.

I think this is the key to making this kind of fiction work. These women characters are formidable—if they did not have it together, they would not be up for the adventure. These are not the swooning types. (That is not to say, however, that they don’t have wounds.)

In THE SHADOWY HORSES, for example, the main female character is an archeologist, very driven by science and not looking for romance, at all. Of course, she finds it, along with a psychic boy and a ghost haunting the ground she is digging in. This is the kind of material that just sucks me in. It’s when a grounded, normal, every-day, maybe smarter-than-average woman who thinks she’d got parts of life figured out (and she does), confronts things she never imagined existed. Ghosts? Time travel? Channeling an ancestor through your writing? Pshaw.

You know this is part of why OUTLANDER works so well. Claire is nobody’s fool, right? She’s a nurse, very practical, earthy, and outspoken. Gabaldon has written these characters so well and wrapped the story in such detailed history and descriptions that she pulls whatever skeptics there are among us right into the story. We think, “Okay, maybe, Yeah. This COULD happen.” Okay so even if we don’t quite get that far in our thinking, the story is so good that we don’t care. Fall through a standing stone and landing in Jacobite Scotland? Okay. Slip into a trance-like state and channel your ancestor’s story into your book? Yes, because the characters, the setting, everything else is so believable.

Falling in love with a writer can be frustrating. I’ve picked up several other books while I’m waiting to get Kearsley’s next one. I am stopped dead in my tracks. I can’t do it. Nope. I give up. It’s simply a wave I must ride, enjoying every minute of it, of course.  Why fight it, right?

Has this ever happened to you?

 

Civil War Fiction Worth A Read

One of the books I’m writing now has a slight “Civil War” bent. (More about my new crafty-mystery series later!) I always said I’d never write a Civil War book. And I’m really not—even though the book I’m writing is about a Civil War Medal of Honor Awardee (Jefferson Coates.) His story is about what happened to him during the war and his triumph over it. So I need to understand, in depth, the parts of the war he fought in and what exactly happened. More on Jefferson soon. I  promise.

I’ve done a lot of nonfiction reading at his point, but I also read fiction as part of my research. I thought I’d share two novels I read. I think historical fiction readers should check them out. Both are great reads.

Both books featured women who went off to war disguised as soldiers. We all know now that there were many women who did this—for whatever reason. Several made names for themselves. Others are just now being discovered and celebrated. It’s estimated that between 500 and 1,000 women went into the war disguised as men.

In “Neverhome,” by Laird Hunt,  the story begins with a married couple living on a farm. When the War of the Rebellion starts, they feel the farm should be represented—as a matter of pride and honor. The only impediment is the male half of the couple is rather sickly, whereas the woman is strong and vibrant. (How cool is this?) She talks him into allowing her to represent the farm in the war. One of the interesting modern components to this story is that the main female character has a lesbian affair while she is away and lost from her batallion. She does go back to her husband at the end of the book. But she thinks seriously about staying with her lover. The book doesn’t  have a happy ending, necessarily,  and I don’t want to give out spoilers here. But I liked this lesbian-affair device because so often in mainstream historical fiction about things like the Civil War, writers tend to grandize and homogenize. (I always wondered about the gay folks. Is it just me?)

Interestingly enough, the other book that I read recently, “I Shall Be Near to You” by Erin Lindsey McCabe, also has a gay person in it. The story begins with a newly married couple. He goes off to the war and she decides to follow him. She goes into battle with her husband. She curls up with her husband in the tents, under the stars, and so on. They don’t have “alone time” frequently—there are always others around—but every once in awhile they sneak away. (I do love a good sneak.)

I’ve never found romance in the Civil War. I mean after “Gone with the Wind,” where is the romance?  Right? But I love the idea of following your husband into war—very romantic and something I found relatable. The main character (a woman) in this book also spots other women disguised as men along the way. There were so many more than I had realized and there’s plenty of new books out there detailing the heroic women of the Civil War. In the book I’m writing, my main female lead will not follow men in to battle. She will do what most other women did: stay at home and support the soliders in countless ways. (My book is based on a true story, so this part must remain.) But make no mistek the women left behind had their own battles to fight.

My next batch of reading will be fiction about homesteading and the prairie. I think certain truths are only communicated through fiction. After Jefferson spent some time at the Philadelphia Institute for the Blind, he went home to Wisconsin, opened a broom shop, but then married. He and his new wife decided homestead in Nebraska. Can you imagine? Interesting isn’t it?

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. What a gorgeous morning. Perfect for a run. Warm enough for no coat, cool enough to be comfortable.

2. Supernatural. I just love this show. But yesterday I didn’t like the episode I watched. I liked that taking animals. But it was very gross. A real clunker for me. But this are far and few between.

3. Another house is being built down the street. There are so many old houses in my neighborhood for sale–and they have been for a long time–and yet they are building new houses. I guess everybody wants a new house. Go figure.

4. New characters. New stories. New geography. Hmmm.

5. I am very ambitious this morning. Now I remember why I started running at the gym. My hips are taking a pounding on the pavement–with each step, it hurts. So I stopped running about 20 minutes in and walked the rest of the way. The outdoor morning run? Not so good for my hips–but great for my spirit.

 

Circus Acts and Motherhood: Mothering and Writing

Friends, for many years I wrote a parenting column for a local newspaper. I’ve collected these columns and placed them into a book on Amazon,  HONEY I’M SORRY I KILLED YOUR AQUASAURS.  Today is my oldest daughter’s sixteenth birthday. For some reason, I thought of this essay. Enjoy!

 

“What a circus act we women perform every day of our lives. Look at us. We run a tightrope daily, balancing a pile of books on the head. Baby-carriage, parasol, kitchen chair, still under control. Steady now! This is not the life of simplicity but the life of multiplicity that the wise men warn us of. It leads not to unification but to fragmentation. It does not bring us grace; it destroys the soul.”—Ann Morrow Lindbergh

One writer I keep with me always is Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I always have her most famous book “Gift from the Sea” close at hand. I’ve quoted from it on many occasions, and even in my own book. She is now gone at the age of 94.

She inspired many women in her generation to follow their dreams and gave a voice to voiceless emotions and struggles. She herself, struggled to maintain her own identity–both literary and personal, in the immense shadow of her husband, Charles.

She was a mother and a well-respected writer in her day. Her “circus act,” of course, was probably helped by the fact that she had more money than she knew what to do with. So she probably had nannies for her children, maybe a few maids. Most other women that are writers don’t have that option. And for most of us, writing is more than a trade—it is a compulsion and a passion. So, when you don’t have the time to write, because say your children are taking up most of it, it’s not only a professional, but also a deep personal sacrifice. It seems like there is a part of you that has been caged and is longing for escape.

Some women writers decide never to have children, feeling that they could not give up their writing or be a good mother. I admire them for their stance. It is a sacrifice not to have children, as well, because even though they take up much of your time, they bring a rich quality to your life—one that I hope will add to my growth as a writer.

Some women writers have children and never get the knack of doing both. Alice Walker, for example, a brilliant writer and activist used to leave her daughter notes to “take care of yourself,” and then never leave any food in the fridge for her. Her daughter has recently written an autobiography and a friend of mine read and said that she will never think of Alice in the same way again.

I can certainly understand the lure of losing yourself to words and the literary life. There have been points in my own development as a writer in which I have felt like I was on the edge of doing that—especially with poetry. But, alas I am no Alice Walker; the absolute necessity for me to make a living is one the mechanisms that keeps me grounded. The others, of course, are my husband and daughter. And the fact that I made the choice to marry and have children is one that I take seriously. I keep the refrigerator stocked—and hope I always can.

I recently read “A Writer and Her Work,” which is a book full of essays by women writers. The writer I found the most helpful to my own situation is Anne Tyler. She writes about fitting her writing schedule around her children’s lives. For example, she may write a book outline in the spring. When school is out for the summer, she sets it aside and begins to write the book in the fall, when her kids are back in school. She also mentions that she just gave up even trying to write when her children were toddlers.

I think that’s okay—to set aside our own passions for our children for a brief, very important, time in their lives. If we want to have it all, we must strive to balance it all, and someone, usually it is the children, lose out. I keep telling myself that Emma will only be this small and dependent on me for a short period of time and that someday she won’t even want to be seen with me in public, let alone hold my hand walking down the street.

So, it will take a little longer for me to finish my novel or find the time to pen a poem. (And to think I used to write one poem a day!) But I hope that when I have the time to come back to it completely, my writing will have more interesting textures and layers now that I am a parent.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember in a culture that seems places money, fame, and power above everything else, that being a good parent is the most important contribution we can make. And it’s also hard to remember that being a good parent in itself is a fine passion to have.

The Cozy-Sexy Vibe of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries

Have any of you watched the Australian-based series. “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” ? Its second season is now available on Netflix and I’m assuming elsewhere.

The basic premise of the series surrounded Phryne Fisher, a playful, unmarried, gorgeous, Jazz-age “lady detective.” Phryne was apart of all-women ambulance brigade in France during the last year of The Great War, and is decorated for courage. With all her relatives killed during war, Phryne inherits great wealth and is rich but remains beholden to her past. Because of her war experiences, she has a zest of life and love. Along with investigating murders, she sleeps around. A lot. Interesting to note that the only real critcisms of her sexy adventures have comes from conservatives in the U.S.—even though there’s no sex scenes just some very sexy before and after scenes. (I wonder if those folks watch James Bond???? I guess it’s okay that he sleeps around. He is a man, after all.)

One of my favorite day-after-sex scenes is when she spots her stockings on the ceiling fan. How I love that image. Very intriguing and sexy, while leaving MUCH to the imagination. Just my kind of thing, really.

I’ve become quite obsessed with the series. Here’s some reasons why:

The writing. I think this show is one of the smartest murder mystery series I’ve watched. And it could be studied in terms of “how far to push the envelope” with sex and gore. It’s very much a sexy-cozy mystery cousin to the cozy mystery books. It keeps a very light touch, while maintaining a smart and sexy vibe.
The clothes. Okay, so if you are going to have a filthy rich heroine, you may as well dress her to the hilt. And WOW do I love Miss Fisher’s clothes. The 1920s have always been one of my favorites in terms of fashion (and music). But some of these clothes are just extraordinary.
The history. So, not only is it set in a fascinating time, but it also brings to light some other lesser-known bits of historical tidbits. One show had Latvian Jewish immigrants fighting for the Zionist cause. Another was focused on the cocaine trade.
The sex and romance. Okay, I love wondering who she is going to bed next. Usually it’s a good looking guest star, right? But I always wonder, how will they get from A to B…
The gorgeous and talented Essie Davis.

If you love good mysteries imbued with a little romance, check out Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. My daughters and I have been binge-watching the series. I’ve actually read the first book on which the series is based and I loved it. How about you?

Five Reasons CRAFTY CHRISTMAS is my Favorite of all My Books

You know how it is. One shouldn’t really play favorites—or at least admit that you have them. But I confess. A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS is my favorite book in the Cumberland Creek series. So far. Okay, so I’ve probably said that about each one of the books at one time or another. Admittedly. But I can honestly say at this time, in this moment, this book is my favorite.

Here’s my top five reasons:

Sheila’s story. In my first three books, the point of view shifts between Vera, Annie, and Beatrice. In this book, it goes between Beatrice, Annie, and Sheila. Never fear—Vera is still a prominent player in the story, but we don’t get her point of view. Sheila is a woman in her 40s. She’s always put her family first—ahead of her own dreams. In this story, Sheila comes into her own.
Randy, Paige’s long-lost son, joins them on the cruise and we get to know him better. He was a joy to write—as was the relationship between Paige and Randy.
The fantasy element. I’ve never been on a cruise. So, I researched a great deal, of course, and much is grounded in hardcore realities of cruising. But I allowed my imagination to run wild in some of the cruise scrapbook cropping scenes. It was so much fun to fantasize. If I were having a Christmas crop and budget was not a concern, just what would I do? What would I serve? What kinds of giveaways would there be? (Hint: there’s a lot of chocolate, sparklies, and servers dressed in elf suits.)
The holiday theme. This kind of relates back to Sheila’s story, but we get a glimpse into an important shifting perspective with some of the Cumberland Creek characters as they gather to celebrate.
My surprise ending. This has nothing to do with the murder mystery. But if you’re a fan of the series, you will delight in the epilogue. And that is all I’m saying. Grin.

I really love these characters, whether they are scrapbooking, cruising, or eating a slice of pie from Pamela’s Pie Palace. If you’ve not met them yet, I hope you do—and I hope you like them as much as I do.

In the mean time, check out my Christmas crafts gift ideas page on Pinterest. Fair warning–there’s HOURS of fun there!

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Feet on the pavement; music in my ear. Man, I’ve missed this.

2. Such a beautiful morning–blue skies, lovely breeze–could not resist. Even though my hip doesn’t like it at all.

3. The book signing went so well at Angela’s Happy Stamper on Saturday. (I’ll post pics soon!) I love the staff and the customers there–especially Angela, herself, an inspiration, for sure.

4. Sweat trickling down my back.

5. Lovely to get a pie question yesterday. Pie people still love me! And I love them.  Peace. Love. Pie.

Scrapbook Super Station is a Scrapper’s Delight!

I had a lovely time at the Scrapbook Super Station in Butler, Pa. last weekend. Amy and her staff and customers were all so kind and generous. I signed a lot of books, but more importantly, I made some scrapbooking friends. I took some pictures to share with you. The store is huge! I tried to take a couple of shots to show you how big the place is. But I think you still can’t tell–you really have to be there in person. It’s well worth a trip.

In CRAFTY CHRISTMAS, my scrappers are learning to use doilies in their scrapbooks. Check out these fun colors and patterns.

I love the polk-dots on doilies!

Stickers, anyone?

The Scrapbook Super Station helps to create community by offering a fabulous cropping area. They also have classes here.

One of the croppers was working on a Christmas card project that she learned to make at a class at the store. Card making and scrapbooking can be so similar!

Pre-orders waiting to be signed when I arrived!

Nice display of my books.

New Contest! Plus Fabulous Reviews!

How would you like to have a Cumberland Creek character named after you? Just write a review of A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS on Amazon, Goodreads, or B & N, and you’re name will go into a hat. One of my lovely daughters will pull out a name. Good luck!

Just to let you know, yesterday I sent back the copy edits for SCRAPPILY EVER AFTER, the next e-novella in the series. Moving right along!

In the mean time, look at all the lovely things bloggers are saying about A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS!  (I am pinching myself!)

Seriously, it is awesome! I love holiday themed books. As a scrabooker and card maker, this book really appealed to me and I loved reading and experiencing scrapbooking fun with the characters.

~Brooke’s Blogs

I LOVE this series…What I like best about this series is the way Bryan has created a wonderful ensemble of characters. They really fit together as a team.

~Booklady’s Booknotes 

A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS is a great way to start getting into the holiday spirit and I think you should go right out get it and let the season begin! ♥♥♥♥♥

~Rantin’ Ravin’ and Reading

I enjoy Mollie’s writing style and how she puts twists and turns throughout the entire book. She keeps me guessing all the way to the end.

~Griperang’s Bookmarks

The mystery starts right from the get go, with Sheila tripping over the dead body of one of the other crafters….it was quite a fun read.

~A Chick Who Reads

I truly enjoyed this book. The characters continue to be their wonderful, unique, quirky selves. The location of a scrapbooking cruise was great …

~Books Are Life – Vita Libri

Mollie Cox Bryan has done it again, Her characters are likeable and the story keeps you reading until the end. I couldn’t put this book down.

~Shelley’s Book Case

Author Molly Cox Bryan combines the holiday season and a luxury cruise for the perfect setting in the latest installment in her scrapbooking series. She mixes in a murder mystery, suspense and a dose of humor for a fun-filled adventure you can’t resist.

~Thoughts in Progress

This story had a surprise ending for me. It seemed a bit deeper than the usual cozy. The mystery somewhat more twisted.

~fuonlyknew

Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews

Nothing makes me happier than reading a cozy mystery set during the Christmas season at any time of the year. I loved every single minute of this action-packed adventure.

~Mochas, Mysteries and More

This book kept my attention from the time I picked it up till the time that I finished it. And let me tell you, at the end, it had me on the edge of my seat!!

~Melina’s Book Blog