Deliah Lawrence's Blog, page 2

A Review of Revenge by Emily Josephine

This is thefirst contemporary short story I’ve read by Emily Josephine and I found her writingstyle engaging. The storyline revolves around Rachel and her two kids who arestaying at her cousin Joe’s house for the past month while waiting on herhusband to return and pick them up. 

She’s enjoyingMarilyn’s (Joe’s wife) mid-summer pool party when she’s approached by some snootyand condescending country club woman who immediately start judging her appearance—hersloppy ponytail, lack of makeup, no nail polish, and unshaved armpits. Theyeven question whether her kids are adopted based on their skin tone and theirnames (Natalia and Diego). 

Theirmean-girl vibes are enough for Rachel to want to roll her eyes, but she squeezes theminstead during the awkward conversations. However, when a song by pop starJulio Estrella plays on the radio and the women start swooning over how hot heis, she can’t help but smile inwardly—because she knows something they don’t.She patiently waits for the perfect moment to deliver her revenge when herhusband arrives. 

Overall,this was a quick and enjoyable read that scores one for women who are judged fortheir looks rather than who they truly are. I loved the ending, and withoutgiving anything away–the revenge was absolutely perfect! Two thumbs up!

Rating: 4 stars

 

Some of my favorite lines:

 

Feigning ignorance of Danielle’s insinuations,I ask, “So, describe your perfect man.”

 

Danielle turns to lean back against the loungechair back, nearly pressing her feet against Melanie’s backside. “Drop-deadgorgeous, for one.” She looks at her fake red fingernails and flicks animaginary piece of dirt out of one of them. “Muscular. Commands respectwherever he goes. Has a stable career that pays him good money.” She lifts herhead and meets my gaze. “Has eyes only for me.”

 

Her own eyes fill with pain, communicating ina couple of seconds a lot more than she would ever voice to me, then she breakseye contact. A pang of sympathy twinges in my gut. Hurting people hurtpeople, I once heard. 

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Linda Murphy Marshall, author of Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir

Author’s Bio: Linda Murphy Marshallhas a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literature and an MFA in CreativeWriting. She was a multi-linguist for the government for 30 years, working withmore than a dozen languages, going on dangerous work assignments to Africa. Sheworked as a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Maryland’s Centerfor Advanced Study of Language/CASL, a language think tank, specializing inAfrican languages. 

Her 2022 memoir,Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery received a starred review from Kirkus. Her second memoir, Immersion: A Linguist’sMemoir, was published in 2024. She is an Associate for theNational Museum of Language and a docent at the Library of Congress inWashington, D.C. Her essays have appeared in more than two dozen publications,including the Los Angeles Review, Dorothy Parker’s Ashes, The CatamaranLiterary Reader, Maryland Literary Review, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, andelsewhere.

 

Deliah Lawrence: Who orwhat inspired you to become an author?

Linda Murphy Marshall: I’ve always been obsessed with languages, with words: FirstEnglish, then — believe it or not — Pig Latin, then foreign languages, sowriting came as a natural outgrowth of my love of language. And I’m an avidreader, so I’d read a favorite book and think, “Maybe I could do that! Write abook!”

 

DL: How do you overcomethe challenges of writer’s block?

LMM: I have two timers: one that counts up, and a Pomodoro timer thatI can set to an hour, for example, to count down. It helps me to have somethingconcrete or I can become undisciplined. I also manage writer’s block by joiningwriters’ groups, particularly ones that are generative in nature, where theygive you a prompt to get your creative juices flowing.

 

DL: What is yourwriting process like?

LMM: I write my first draft — of a book or an essay — fairly quickly,and then I review it multiple times, tweaking it here and there, writingmultiple drafts before the final work. I also read it out loud when I -think- I’mfinished, and that uncovers a multitude of “sins.” In addition, I’ll use theCONTROL and FIND function on my computer to ensure that I’m not repeating wordslike “and,” “very” “so,” etc.

 

DL: Is there a specificauthor or book that influenced you significantly, either growing up or as anadult?

LMM: When I was still “just” an avid reader and not yet a writer, Iread Anna Quindlen’s books Living Out Loud (1988) and Thinking OutLoud (1993), both books a series of essays. These books inspired me becausethey showed me that, even if you’re writing nonfiction, it can be interesting,beautifully-written, and not boring or dry.

 

DL: What is the mostvaluable piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

LMM: The most valuable advice I’ve ever received is to not give up: don’tgive up if your work is not accepted by journals or publishers. Don’t give upwhen you get that isolated bad review for your book. Don’t give up when you/rehaving a bad day and can’t seem to write a decent sentence. Just keep onkeeping on: ignore the naysayers and your own lack of self-confidence, and keepwriting.

 

DL: If you were hostinga dinner party which three authors, past or present, who would be your dreamguests and why?

LMM: Anna Quindlen, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler! All derivatives of “Anne!”  I love their writing: beautiful andintelligent, and have read most everything they’ve each written. It woulddefinitely be an interesting dinner party.

 

DL: What strategies doyou use to successfully market your book(s)?

LMM: I pay attention to what other authors are doing, and I read aboutstrategies: book signings, library talks, interviews, book festivals. Itrequires you to pay attention to what’s going on, yet to see where you feelcomfortable. If you’re not comfortable in large groups, don’t put that on yourto-do list. And I have to prepare myself for the inevitable rejection; notevery bookstore, library, university, etc. will want you to give a talk/do areading. It’s okay. Don’t take it personally.

 

DL: What tips orresources would you recommend for aspiring writers?

LMM: I’d recommend, first and foremost, that writers read as much asthey can, especially in the genre in which they plan to write, but notexclusively. I’d also recommend that they develop a network of fellow writersto give each other feedback and ideas for being in this always-challengingfield. Writing can be a lonely business so it’s good to have a cadre of kindredsouls to bond with or — depending on the case — to commiserate with. 

I wouldalso recommend being in a small group of fellow writers (people you trust), toshare your work with. I’m in a group with two other women, and we share ourwork every month. Their feedback is invaluable, especially since sometimes you’retoo close to what you’re writing to see mistakes or things that don’t work.

 

DL: What is yourfavorite quote or passage from a book?

LMM: My favorite quote is by Calvin Coolidge, about persistence: “Nothingin the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing ismore common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewardedgenius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educatedderelicts. Persistence and dedication alone are omnipotent.”

 

DL:  Would you like to sharean excerpt from Immersion?

LMM: Sure, here's an excerpt from Immersion: A Linguist’s Memoir:

 

“At some point, my newcolleagues vanished…. I remained alone in the decimated embassy. I didn’t heara sound.

 

I needed to get out ofthis bombed-out building or I’d collapse in a pile of tears; they’d have tocarry me out. I needed to stop looking at orphaned shoes, singed working aids,beat-up dictionaries identical to ones I used back in the States, the same drabgray metal desks and chairs, the same metal coat racks, lamps, the samegovernment-issue wall clocks…. Except that here everything lay in pieces or hadbeen twisted, uprooted, bent out of shape or stood at an odd angle, evenunrecognizable in some cases.

 

The sun peeked throughopen chinks in the wall as though intent on offering some measure of optimismin an otherwise depressing building…..I wanted to sit down on the floor next toone of these twisted desks and cry: for the Kenyans and Americans who’d diedhere, but also for my father, whom I’d never see again. My emotions were allmixed together in a heaping pot of self-pity and hopelessness.”

 

Note: Readers can get more information here:

Website: https://lindamurphymarshall.com Instagram: @LindaMurphyMarshallBook Buy Links: Barnes& Noble; Amazon; Bethany Beach Books; Ivy Bookshop 

DL: Thank you so much for joining me today. I’m sure my readers willenjoy learning more about you and your work.

 

LMM: Thanks so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Moxie Gardiner, author of Virgin Snow

Author’s Bio:“Moxie Gardiner” is the pen name of a writer, blogger, and traveler. The name“Moxie” was first bestowed upon her during a rare visit long ago to an upscalebar in her native Buffalo, where posh regulars attempted to describe her ratherrough West Side edges. She does have a soft side, however. She loves the smellof warm wood, the sound of insects in the evening, and the flashing underbelliesof airplanes flying above the setting sun. 

After graduating from Buffalo StateUniversity, she moved to Washington to pursue a career in journalism thatresulted in countless magazine articles. She later became a speechwriter andeventually a policy “wonk.” To date she has visited 46 countries and all 50states, and still has a lengthy bucket list of places to see and things to do,including books to write. Virgin Snow is the first novel in her plannedtrilogy. 

DeliahLawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

MoxieGardiner:  From the time I was inhigh school, I knew I wanted to write fiction. I loved to read from an earlyage and enjoyed making up stories for my seven younger brothers and sisters. Itwas not until I left Buffalo to come to work in D.C. that I realized what aunique place my hometown is, so when I sat down to write my first book, Iwanted it to be a story that captured my love for Buffalo and its people. 

DL: What is yourwriting process?

MG: I hadto be very organized and disciplined in my career, and I approach creativewriting the same way. Don’t waste time hoping the muse might catch you – seizethe moment and chase it. So, I sit each day for four hours and write. SometimesI know I’ve come close enough to creative nirvana, and sometimes not, but eitherway I am in my chair, letting the thoughts come and the words flow. Noteverything produced through this process is brilliant, or even worth saving,but from time to time, something appears that I believe to be “inspired.” Thoseoccasional nuggets make all the hard work (and sore butt) worthwhile. 

DL: What obstaclesdid you encounter while writing this book?

MG:  In the early stages of the novel’sdevelopment, I asked about 15 people to read what I had created and offerconstructive advice. Unfortunately, the 16th person I asked to take a lookreacted negatively to the manuscript. I was devastated and quit the project fortwo years. It was not until a published author I respected read it and gave metremendous encouragement, that I regained my “moxie” and never looked back. 

Ilearned two things from that experience. First, not everyone is going to loveyour book – ignore them and know that others will enjoy and appreciate whatyou’ve given them. Second, unless you’re the type who thinks playing thelottery is a strategy for financial success or are confident that worldwidesales of your story will be in the millions, don’t waste your time pursuing thetraditional publishing route. Working directly with an independent or hybridpublisher, or even self-publishing, is a much more rewarding experience bothpsychologically and financially. 

DL: Is therea specific author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up oras an adult?

MG: WhenI was in high school, I devoured every book written by Louisa May Alcott, J.D.Salinger, Herman Hesse, D.H. Lawrence, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Irving, and F.Scott Fitzgerald. These were books that originally informed my earliest worldview, so was it any wonder that I would write a coming-of-age book about a girlwho reads and tries to understand the confusing adult world around her? 

DL: What wasthe most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

MG: Beforeyou even begin writing your book you should know two things: why you arewriting this book and who you are writing it for. It sounds simple, butyou would be surprised how many people begin writing before they have figuredthis out. I wrote my book to be read, not to make money, which meansthat the number of books I sell is not my top criterion for success. Thenumber of people who read and enjoy it is. I also knew the audience I waswriting for, although I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of peopleoutside of my target audience who have read it and given me very positivefeedback. 

DL: If youcould choose a superpower, what would it be and why?

MG: Ithink it would be the ability to read and absorb every book ever written at aspeed faster than the fastest artificial intelligence algorithm, using my ownhuman brain. Imagine what you could learn, know, and vicariously experience ifyou were able to do that! 

DL: What strategiesdo you use to successfully market your book?

MG: Ihave my own author website which admittedly is a bit wonky, but I update it regularly.I have an author page on Amazon and Goodreads. I blog every month and share myblogposts with all my Facebook and Instagram friends and followers. I regularlycomment on any Facebook group with a Buffalo focus, just to keep my name outthere. I make myself available to talk to book clubs (I love them!) andregularly appear at bookstores, book festivals, author showcases, etc. I’vealso spoken to large gatherings at the Chautauqua Institution, the BuffaloHistory Museum, and the Italian Cultural Center in Buffalo. In sum, I neverpass up an opportunity to talk about my book!  

DL: What arethree books you’ll never part with?

MG: That’sso hard! I currently have about 800 books in my library (I’m not exaggerating).I have that many because they are all dear friends and I cannot part with anyof them! But if I had to move to a desert island and could only bring threebooks, I’d bring the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I could read those booksover and over again. 

DL: What arethree fun facts about yourself?

MG: Hmm,let’s see. 1. I love insects, and as both a certified Master Gardener andMaster Naturalist I try to teach young people why they should love and not fearthese important little creatures. 2. I enjoy traveling to exotic places andtrying unusual foods—Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand are next on my destinationlist. And, 3. I love to dance and practice my moves almost every evening!   

DL: Wherecan readers learn more about you and purchase your books?

MG: Gladyou asked!

Website: https://moxiegardiner.com/Amazon AuthorPage: https://us.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CDSX6DRNFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/moxiegardiner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moxiegardiner/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195293550-virgin-snowBlog: https://moxiegardiner.com/2024/12/31/my-big-rocks-for-the-new-year/Book Buy Links:Virgin Snow by Moxie Gardiner, Paperback |Barnes & Noble®, https://us.amazon.com/Virgin-Snow-Moxie-Gardiner/,https://bookshop.org/p/books/virgin-snow-moxie-gardiner/20303224?ean=9781953610881 

Note: I’mworking on the second book in the trilogy about the life of Cosi McCarthy, theprotagonist in Virgin Snow. My readers all want to know what happens to hernext! 

DL: Thanksso much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting toknow you and your work.

MG: Thankyou! 

A Review of Christmas Hostage (FBI Christmas Trilogy Book One) by Jane Blythe

 

Let’smeet Hannah Buffy, a divorced jeweler trying to rebuild her life after atraumatic event that shattered her marriage to FBI Agent Tom Drake. Three yearsago, they both endured immense pain and decided to go their separate ways. 

Fastforward to just a few days before Christmas, when Hannah’s jewelry store isrobbed at gunpoint. Overwhelmed by her fear of guns, she fails to give therobbers the safe’s code, resulting in oner of her employees being shot. The FBIis called in to investigate a string of jewelry store robberies across thecity, and to Hannah’s shock, the agent assigned to the case is none other thanher ex-husband, Tom. Their reunion is fraught with tension, as Tom’s instinctto protect Hannah clashes with her fierce independence. Yet, neither can denythe lingering love between them. 

Despiterepeatedly insisting she doesn’t need Tom’s help; Hannah finds herself gratefulfor his presence during terrifying moments. Someone breaks into her home,leaving a heart-shaped red box and a bouquet on her kitchen table. Later, astalker holds her hostage at gunpoint in her own home. In each instance, Tom isthere to save her, despite her protests. 

Theauthor skillfully weaves a web of suspense, planting enough red herrings tokeep readers guessing about the culprit behind the robbery—and whether it’stied to Hannah personally, as the other citywide robberies are solved. Suspectsinclude Garry Smith, her ex-boyfriend; Dr. Bryce McCracken, a therapist withunconventional methods for treating trauma; Vincent Zimmerman, the neighbor’sson who works part-time at the jewelry store; and Jeff Shields, a longtimeemployee who previously worked for the store’s former owner. 

Overall,this was a fast-paced, enjoyable read about a second chance at love. While therepeated emphasis on Hannah’s resistance to Tom’s help was hammered a bit much,the story’s twists and turns kept me engaged, as did the gradual unraveling ofher traumatic past. Thankfully, Hannah and Tom got their happily-ever-after, butit took some work to get there. A great introduction to the series. Two thumbsup! 

Rating: 4 Stars

 

Some of my favorite lines:

 

With time, she had learned to manage all thosethings. The fear was still there, like a distant shadow hovering in the recessesof her mind. The compulsion to vigilantly study her surroundings and to checkand recheck her home each night was always there. Hannah knew those thingswould never leave her, but so long as she could manage them, then she felt likeshe had overcome what had happened to her.

She just wished that Tom had seen it the sameway.

He had wanted to fix everything for her, andwhat had happened couldn’t be fixed. It could only be treated.

He had been supportive of her seeing atherapist and comforted her more nights than she could count when nightmareshad plagued her. But he couldn’t shake the need to save her. She hadn’t neededa savior; all she’d needed was her husband.

  

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Sharon J. Burton, author of Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations and Inspiration for Creativity at Midlife

Author’s Bio:  S​haron J. Burton has activelyserved as a visual artist, art curator, poet, podcaster, teaching artist andcreativity coach for 20 years in the DC, Maryland and Virginia areas.  She is the founder of Spark YourCreative Coaching,where she works with artists, authors, writers and other creatives to unblockand reach their creative potential. She also serves as the host of the SparkYour Creative podcast (SoundCloud) focusing on midlife artists, writers and creatives.

 

She received her certification in creativity coaching fromthe Creativity Coaching Association. She completed requirements forthe professional certificate in Art Business from New York University. Sharonis also a certified Meditation Instructor and as a Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra Guide.

 

Sharon has a visual art studio, writing and creativitycoaching practice based in Southern, Maryland where she has lived for over 20years. 

 

Deliah Lawrence:What inspired you to write your book?

Sharon J. Burton: I wasinspired by my own personal journey to revitalize my creative passion in mylate 30s.  I had to overcome a lot ofself-doubt and criticism to move forward to become a visual artist.  It wasn’t easy but having met and worked witha variety of artists and other creatives who are moving through a similarjourney, I saw the need to have something for people who are at mid-life andwant to embark on a long overdue creative life.

 

DL: Whatis your writing process?

SJB: My writing process was simple. I worked on severaloutlines before finalizing my Table of Contents.  Much of the content for each chapter werefrom blogs I wrote during the last few years on a variety of subjects. Thatmade the writing process much simpler than writing from scratch.  I did some research on some topics and theuse of affirmations to provide a theoretical basis for the book.  I worked on editing them to make them morebook friendly.  I used the content of thebook to survey the artists and creatives I interviewed so that they couldprovide the best responses and advice to support the topic.

 

DL: Whatobstacles did you encounter while writing this book?

SJB: COVID-19 was one obstacle that was achallenge.  Even though I had more timeto write, the uncertainty of the situation threw me off a bit.  Also, the balance of running a coachingbusiness and a full-time job had its own demands.  When I felt overwhelmed, I tabled the bookproject until I felt the inspiration to write again.

 

DL: Ifyou were hosting a dinner party which three authors, past or present, would beyour dream guests and why?

SJB: My dream guests would be: 

Julia Cameron:  Her approach to unblocking creativity hasalways been effective for me. Iyanla Vanzant: I find much of herwork healing and affirming from a spiritual point of view.Toni Morrison: Her unique way oftelling complicated but intriguing stories based on family dynamics has alwaysfascinated me since I was thirteen.

 

DL: Whattips would you give to aspiring writers?

SJB: I would give them the followingtips:

KnowYour Why: Understand why you want to write and what you want to achieve.

Read Other Books: Read books in yourgenre and beyond to understand styles, techniques, and trends. Analyze howauthors structure their work and engage readers.

Start Small and Build: Begin withshort pieces or manageable goals. Over time, expand to larger projects likenovels or nonfiction books.

Develop a Writing Routine:  Set aside dedicated time for writing every dayor week. Consistency builds discipline and momentum. Create a comfortable andinspiring writing space to help focus.

Embrace Imperfection: Your firstdraft doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to exist. Revision is where themagic happens.

Build a Support System: Join writing groups orcommunities for feedback, encouragement, and accountability. Consider finding amentor or coach to guide you.

Learn About the Publishing Industryand Process:  Research the pros and consof traditional publishing versus self-publishing. Build a basic understandingof querying agents, writing proposals, or formatting for self-publishingplatforms.

Prioritize Self-Care: Writing can beemotionally taxing. Take breaks, practice mindfulness, and balance yourcreative life with rest and play.

 

DL: Whatare three books you’ll never part with?

SJB: I’ll never part with these three books:

TheArtist’s Way by Julia CameronWhenChicken-Heads Come Home to Roost by Joan MorganHowGeorgia Became O’Keeffe: Lessons on the Art of Living by Karen Karbo 

DL: Whatare three fun facts about yourself?

SJB: 1) I have a twin sisterand a younger brother, and we all share the same birthday. 2) I am an avid hikerand love being in nature on the trail. 3) I am a budding wine connoisseur andlove learning about the wine making process.

 

DL: Wouldyou like to share an excerpt from Creative Sparks?

SJB: Sure, here you go:

Areyou seeking a way to express yourself creatively? In your search for yourcreative spark, you may discover talents you didn’t realize you possessed, newactivities that bring fun and excitement into your life, and new ways to relaxand rejuvenate.  There is no right orwrong creative outlet, only the one that fits you and your personality.  Finding what you want to do to expressyourself doesn’t have a deadline either. It just takes time to explore and follow your personal whims andinterests.  (From Chapter 3:Affirmation 3- I Am Open to Exploring My Self-Expression, P. 38)

 

DL: Whatnew projects are you currently working on?

SJB: I am working on a fewprojects including:

A 6-Week virtual Book Club based onCreative Sparks for people who want to explore or build on their creativepassions, that will feature readings, journal exercises, and a self-containedcreative community which is scheduled to begin in late February.

 

A new podcast series entitledCreative Sparks Unleashed, which will feature book readings and interviews withartists and creatives that I interviewed for the book.  That will be featured in the Spark YourCreative Podcast which is hosted on SoundCloud and the video portion will behosted on the Spark Your Creative Coaching YouTube page.

 

DL: Wherecan readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

SJB: Readers can get more information here:

Website:https://www.sparkyourcreative.com/book.htmlAmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D3Z29K75/aboutFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/SparkYourCreative/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SparkYourCreativeBlog: https://www.sparkyourcreative.com/blogBook BuyLinks/Signed Copy: https://www.sparkyourcreative.com/store/p19/Creative_Sparks%3A_21_Affirmations_and_Inspiration_for_Creativity_at_Midlife.htmlAmazon https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sparks-Affirmations-Inspiration-Creativity/dp/B0D22J7D45 

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know myreaders will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

SJB: I appreciate the opportunity to be spotlighted. Thank you.

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with S. R. Webster, author of A Girl Named Ghost

Author’s Bio: S. R. Webster has previously published works underthe name Sandra R. Campbell, including paranormal thrillers ButterflyHarvest, Dark Migration, and The Dead Days Journal. Severalof her short stories have appeared in Suspense magazine and various horroranthologies. Notably, Chilling Entertainment produced her short story Abandonedfor the Simply Scary podcast.

 

After a brief hiatus, S. R. Websteris back, ready to unleash a new wave of monsters and genre-bending mayhem. AGirl Named Ghost is her debut publication as S. R. Webster. She is a memberof the Horror Writers Association, the Maryland Writers’ Association, and thedirector of an M.W.A. critique group.

 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired youto write your book?

S. R. Webster: A GirlNamed Ghost was not conceived in the typical manner. Most of my storiescome to me by disturbing news reports or nightmarish dreams (of which I havemany). But this one all started with the title. I was lounging on the couch,engrossed in some forgettable TV show, when the title popped into my head. Thebook itself came much later.

 

DL: How do you overcome thechallenges of writer’s block?

SRW: I like to refer to thewriter's block as the “Slump Hump”. It's those moments when writers feel stuck ndunable to scale the towering mountain of their writing goals. Their well ofinspiration has dried up and their motivation can’t be found. But there areways to push through this obstacle, and it’s no trade secret.

 

The key is simple: distract yourmind. Go for a walk, immerse yourself in nature, and leave your phone and musicbehind. Connect with fellow writers, sharing ideas and challenges with someonewho understands can be helpful and therapeutic. And never underestimate thepower of sleep! I often read over the troublesome piece of my manuscript beforebed and wake up with a solution in mind. Let your subconscious do the work!There are countless methods for overcoming these hurdles; you just have to findthe ones that work best for you.

 

DL: What obstacles did youencounter while writing this book?

SRW: All of them! Iencountered a variety of obstacles, including time constraints due to my dayjob and family commitments, as well as issues with motivation and self-doubt.Even the most experienced writers can struggle with confidence at times.However, it's not the obstacles themselves that matter, but rather how weovercome them.

 

DL: If you could choose a superpower,what would it be and why?

SRW: Personally, I would loveto have the ability to fly. It's something I often dream about and it's afeeling of freedom and movement that I never want to end. There's justsomething about being able to soar above everything else without anylimitations that appeals to me.

 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiringwriters?

SRW: Become a part of thewriting community. Contrary to popular belief, writing doesn't have to be asolitary activity. In fact, engaging with others in the writing community canlead to unexpected breakthroughs and opportunities. By fostering genuineconnections within this community, I have gained valuable insights and beenpresented with unexpected opportunities that have propelled me forward on mywriting journey. It's incredible how working together and supporting oneanother can open doors we never thought possible.

 

DL: What are three books you’llnever part with?  

SRW: Peter Rabbit wasmy constant companion as a child; I used to sleep with the book instead of astuffed animal. Dracula sparked my love for dark literature, along withPoe's works. And of course, any of Clive Barker's books, but I especiallytreasure The Thief of Always, Imajica, and The Abarat Trilogy.Okay, that's technically more than three, but I think it's impossible for anyauthor to narrow it down to just three books.

 

DL: What are three fun factsabout yourself?

SRW: I'm not sure if you'llfind the last fact to be fun, but it is interesting. So here are three facts aboutme: My husband and I got married on a lighthouse, specifically the BaltimoreHarbor Light in the Chesapeake Bay, off the coast of Gibson Island. To myknowledge, we are still the first and only couple to do so. Secondly, I used tohave a pet crow named Big Fellow when I was a child. We didn't know she was agirl for years, but she could talk! Her favorite words were "Hello,""Shut Up," and "Carol."

 

Surprisingly, my older sister wasthe one who caused more trouble back then. Now for an interesting butnot-so-fun fact: When I was a kid, playing outside after a thunderstorm, I wasbitten by a bat. I was rushed to the hospital and over the following weeks hadto undergo several rounds of rabies shots. Needless to say, I was afraid ofbats for quite some time, but now I have no problem exploring dark caves withsleeping bats hanging overhead. However, after only one spelunking trip myhusband is neither a fan of bats nor caves.

 

DL: Would you like to share anexcerpt from A Girl Named Ghost?

SRW: Sure, here you go:

“Time for somekinship care!” Grandma June announced as she approached the kitchen table witha steaming cup of tea.

The kinship carereferences started about ten years ago. My grandmother had sat me down onemorning and read aloud an article from the National Institute of Health. Aresearch study was conducted on the increasing number of grandparents caringfor children. At the time, about two percent of US children were being raisedby a grandparent.

They had evencoined a term for it.

I will never forgetthe belly laugh that exploded from Grandma June the first time she said thewords kinship care. Or how she nearly spat her coffee across the kitchentable.

“What a ridiculousname for such a wholesome, selfless act! Kinship care sounds so sterileand unfeeling. No matter who does the raising, family is love. And love is alla family ever needs!”

She was stillchuckling under her breath, but as she continued to read, her laughter stopped.The research said that children raised by their grandparents were more prone tobehavioral and emotional disturbances. When she got to the part about how thosechildren were also more likely to be diagnosed with a psychological disorder,she balled the paper up and tossed it in the garbage.

We never discussedthe article’s implications because we did not need another odd stacked againstus…

 

DL: What new projects are youcurrently working on?

SRW: Right now, I am jugglingseveral projects. One is a short story titled The Uncanny Chronicles—AKiller Family. I am also working on a companion novella for my book AGirl Named Ghost, called The Letters, which delves into the never-readletters written by Ghost's institutionalized mother. And finally, I’m returningto work on a novel I outlined years ago: The Weeping House, a tragicstory about a woman held captive and forced to give birth to a child she neverwanted.

 

DL: Where can readers learn more aboutyou and purchase your book(s)?

SRW: Readers can find moreinformation here:

Website: https://srwebsterauthor.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/srwebsterwritesBook Buy Links: https://books2read.com/u/mg8PR7

DL: Thanks so much for beinghere with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and yourwork.

SRW: Thanks again for theblog interview!

 

A Review of Pursuit of Justice (Sam Spencer Legal Thriller Series Book 1) by Freya Atwood

This is thefirst legal thriller I’ve read by Freya Atwood, and I found her stylecaptivating. The story revolves around a deranged killer, a determined lawyerfighting to save her client from prison, and a key witness who lives off thegrid. 

Meet SamSpencer, a lawyer who has recently inherited her father’s law firm after hispassing. Longing to return to her early days of tackling criminal cases, Samcomes across an intriguing newspaper article titled Reluctant Murderer.It details the Golden Lake killer case, where Angie Rose, a 25-year-old woman,was discovered dead on the lake's shore. Though her left wrist was cut open,her actual cause of death was a broken neck. 

The primesuspect, Mark Mason, has a violent past and is alleged to have confessed.However, his brother Brett insists that someone else committed the crime.Brett’s certainty comes from a witness, Eve Bryant, who places anotherindividual at the scene. But Eve is threatened with a chilling note, warningher to leave town and avoid testifying to protect her family. When she fails toappear in court, Sam tracks her down at her parents’ home and convinces her totestify, offering her safety in return. After Eve’s testimony, Sam receives anominous letter containing a list of locations and a warning to keep her phoneon—because another murder is imminent. 

Overall, thiswas a fast-paced and engaging read. I appreciated the legal intricacies woveninto the storyline, as well as the realistic characters and dialogue. Althoughthe book ends on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for part two in the series,I’m completely hooked and eager to uncover the killer’s identity. Sam’srelentless pursuit of justice and her dedication to her client’s defense wereespecially compelling. A strong start to the series—two thumbs up!

Rating: 4 stars

 

Some of my favorite lines:

 

Other people would sit and wait for results, but I prefer headingout and making things happen. The waiting would kill me. I need to be a part ofthe action.

 

That’s why I’m meeting Josh at the gas station not far from thecabin, so that we could go check it out together.

 

     “You would’ve made a good cop,” Josh says as we search the cabin.

 

     “Me? What makes you say that?” I ask.

 

     “You have a good eye for leads or places that can hold leads,” hereplies.

 

I shake my head. “I hate guns and combat. So, no thank you. Whatdo you see?”

 

     “She made a dash for it all right. Seems like it might have beensudden, although it doesn’t look like she was taken. She went out on her own.The question is, what triggered her exit?” Josh poses.

 

 

A Review of Love You Wrong by Julia Kent

This is thefirst contemporary romance I’ve read by New York Times and USA Today bestsellingauthor Julia Kent, and I found her style to be engaging. This story is aprequel to her new Love You, Maine series.

Let’s meet Kellan "Kell" Luview,an environmental policy fellow with an international NGO, the EEC, inWashington, D.C. Kell hails from a quirky small town in Maine called "LoveYou," where every day feels like Valentine's Day. He's romanticallyinvolved with Alissa, his confident and driven supervisor, who is also the headfellow. Recently, though, Alissa has been distant, ignoring his calls andskipping their dates. 

Things unravel further when Kell’s friendRachel—who has a bit of a crush on him—reveals that Alissa has accepted aposition with MonDex, a big oil company she refers to as the "EvilEmpire." Kell feels blindsided, wondering if Alissa was only dating him toconnect with his Uncle Ted, Maine’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Forestry, andConservation, to help her new MonDex contacts with the Canada-Maine pipelineproject. 

Kell’s trust is further tested when helearns Rachel once did research for Alissa on the pipeline months ago, whicheventually led Alissa to his uncle. Betrayed and frustrated, Kell considersleaving the NGO, especially after discovering that two fellows from EEC triedto sabotage a job offer he received in L.A. Rachel tries to convince him tostay and complete the fellowship, but he’s determined to return to hishometown, where trust and integrity still mean something. 

Overall, this was a fast, enjoyable read. Ienjoyed the storyline. The characters and dialogue felt realistic, capturingthe vibrant, ambitious energy of young professionals in D.C. The story offersthoughtful insights into how personal backgrounds shape professionalambitions—especially for Kell, who, despite his grounded, family-centeredupbringing, wasn’t prepared for the ruthless job market. An excellentintroduction to the series. Two thumbs up! 

Rating: 4 stars

 

Some of myfavorite lines:

 

“I don’thave to understand anything. What I have to do is get the hell out of here andgo back home, where your friends don’t lie to your face and smile at you whilethey stab you in the back. At least in Luview, I know who to avoid and who totrust.”

Tearsspilled over, Rachel’s emotions a tornado, yet she fought. She had to fight.

Had tomake sure Kell knew what he was giving up.

“Whywouldn't you trust me? Please believe me. I care about you. We’re friends. Yougot the job offer in L.A. and I’ll be in Palo Alto. I was hoping maybe,someday, we’d be more than friends. That can't happen if you won't even give mea chance to explain.”

  

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Jeff Elkins, author of wild and weird Baltimore stories

Author’sBio: Jeff Elkins is the author of 12 novels, 4 books on the craft of writing,and over 100 short stories. He prides himself in writing engaging stories withdynamic and interesting characters. Almost all of his stories take place inBaltimore. He podcasts and coaches writers as “The Dialogue Doctor.” Currently,he lives north of Baltimore with his wife and 5 children.

 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you towrite your books?

Jeff Elkins: All of mybooks have started with a scene. I’ll see in my imagination characters having aconversation or experiencing something emotional. Sometimes these scenes comein a dream, other times they come when I’m wide awake and working. They alwayscarry big emotions. These scenes tend to stick in my brain for days and I can’tlet go of them. First, I’ll write them as a short story. Then, if I think thereis more to uncover, I’ll turn the short story into a novel.

 

For example, my most recent novelNRDS: National Recently Deceased Services started while I was on a walk with mydog. We passed an old cemetery near my house and the image of a social workergoing to meet with ghosts to help them solve their problems so they can move onpopped into my head. As I played the scene out in my imagination, I saw thesocial worker sitting on a bench with a line of ghosts waiting to talk to him.The scene became powerful when I noticed there was a child in the line. In theinitial short story, I had the older ghosts usher the child to the front of theline because their hearts hurt for him, and they wanted him to move on.

 

When I read the story a few weekslater, it made me cry. I know if I feel something from a story I wrote, thereis something there to explore, so I shared the story with my writing partner,JP. and He read it and said, “This is so sad. Can we make it more fun? What if,in addition to dealing with death, the social workers also had to deal with thenonsense of bureaucracy and being an underfunded government agency? Like inBrooklyn 99?” We ran with that idea and the comedy-thriller full of heart aboutsocial workers who want to help ghosts solve their issues and move on, NRDS,was born.

All of my books have similar originstories.

 

DL: What elements do you think make a compellingstory?

JE: Great characters with unique voicesare critical. If the cast isn’t any good, it doesn’t matter what happens in theplot, no one will stick with it. On the other hand, if the characters aregreat, the plot can be total nonsense, and people will still love it.

 

The main characters in the cast haveto grow. There has to be an internal barrier or stigma or immaturity they mustovercome through the course of the story. We want to see characters change.Characters that don’t grow are boring.

 

And finally, every scene needs tocenter on these characters interacting. My books are 90%+ characterinteraction. Sometimes that interaction is nonverbal, but they are alwaysinteracting. It creates a lot of energy in the story-telling and helps readersfeel like they are present in the story.

 

DL: What obstacles did you encounterwhile writing this book?

JE: I’ve had to overcome two majorobstacles. First, I’m dyslexic. English was my least favorite class as a kidand I hated writing most of all. My form of dyslexia caused me to write lettersand words as mirror images. Because of my aversion to writing, I didn’tdiscover how much I love writing fiction until I was in my mid-thirties.

 

Second, because I struggle withanxiety and I grew up deeply religious, I carried a massive amount ofself-doubt into my work. I felt everything I wrote and published was garbage.Even books that only received five-star ratings I thought were terrible, so Irefused to market them. I would work hard to write them, publish them, and thenjust let them sit on the shelf and not tell anyone about them because I was sofilled with self-hatred, I couldn’t imagine something good coming from me. Itold myself the lie that, “I’m not as good as everyone else and my books areweird.” It took seven years of writing and publishing, and hearing from peoplethat found my books that they loved them for me to finally begin to acceptmyself and my craft.

 

DL: Is there a specific author or bookthat influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

JE: As a teenager, I was a huge JohnGrisham, Tom Clancey, and Michael Crichton reader. I think that’s why my workbends into thriller. In college, I read primarily nonfiction. The only fictionI digested was assigned by teachers. During that time, I found surprisingconnections with Flannery O’Connor; but the majority of my reading wastheological in nature. I spent a lot of time with Barth, Bonhoeffer, Lewis, andMoltmann. 

 

As an adult, I started exploring fictionmore. In my thirties I fell in love with master writers like Toni Morrison andFredrik Backman. For entertainment, I bend into magical and supernatural themeswith things like Lev Grossman’s The Magicians and anything/everythingwritten by TJ Klune. I’m also a big David Sedaris fan and I adore the work ofTa-Nehisi Coates. When I write, I can feel all the stories from every era of mylife in my head, influencing what’s on the page. It’s like they say, we arewhat we eat.

 

DL: What was the most valuable pieceof writing advice you’ve ever been given?

JE: There was a period of my adulthood inwhich my family was living well below the poverty line. Because of my naiveteabout how money and the world worked, I’d taken jobs after college that “didgood” in the world but didn’t pay enough for us to live on. After a surpriselay-off, with four young kids and a baby on the way, I turned to writing to tryand financially save the day. I got as much free advice as I could by stalkingexperts online and went to work. I was sure writing novels was going to save myfamily from poverty.

 

Unfortunately, as I learned over thenext three years, I was not built to be a “write-fast-publish-repeat” genrewriter (which was how all the experts said to make money). Part of the problemwas, I had so little confidence in my work, I couldn’t market it. I would writesomething and immediately be ashamed of it. In desperation to make money, I’dput it in the world, but then I wouldn’t follow the advice the experts gaveabout marketing it (which was 9/10s the battle when it came to making moneyfrom fiction at that time). Additionally, I didn’t like writing to formulas.

 

The advice from the experts was tolearn the genre troupes and write to them. I would read the top books in agenre, plot out all my troupes, and assure myself that this time it was goingto work; but as I wrote, I’d spin out into weird directions that brought mejoy, but took me far afield from the genre. For example, I set out to write an“urban fantasy.” What I produced was a story about a reporter hunting a serialkiller and instead of discovering a network of homeless superheroes who inviteinvisible monsters (this is my novel Mencken and the Monsters). I lovedthat it pushed questions around what reality was and led the reader to question“who is the monster.”

 

Unfortunately for me, what was sellingin urban fantasy at the time were stories of twenty-something female FBI agentswho had magical powers. And the tragedy is, I knew that as I was writingMencken, but I convinced myself that readers who loved glowing-and-hot-FBI-agentswould also love my dumpster-diving-frustrated-dirty-maybe crazy-homeless-superheroes.

 

After publishing ten books over fouryears, and finding nothing but continued financial failure, I reached out toone of the experts I’d stalked (J Thorn) and cried on the phone to him abouthow fiction was supposed to save my family, but it was just taking my nightsaway. His advice was beautiful.

After listening to me vent, he toldme, “Sometimes the best thing you can do is be yourself.”

To which I responded, “But what if Ihate what I write. I hate what comes out of me.”   

   

He replied, “It sounds like that’swhat you really need to work on.”

Then he spent the next three monthscoaching me. He helped me build a business around other skills that I havewhich allowed me to take the financial pressure off my fiction.

It took me three more years to acceptwho I am and what comes out of me. I realize now that I’ll never be able to“write to market,” but I love what I create. It’s dark and funny andvulnerable. It never takes itself too seriously but isn’t afraid to exploredeeper themes. It’s me.

Without J Thorn’s advice, I’d probablystill be weeping at nights, fighting self-hatred, as I anxiously panicked abouthow I was going to feed my kids. Best advice ever.

 

DL: If you could choose a superpower,what would it be and why?

JE: I would love to be able to showpeople how the world sees them. I think for many this would be a power tool forencouragement. We often see the worst in ourselves. We need to hear that we arefantastic and fantastically loved, that we are not broken, that we all havebeautiful things to give the world.

 

DL: What strategies do you use tosuccessfully market your book(s)?

JE: Ask me again after I’ve successfullymarketed a book.

 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiringwriters?

JE: The market is weird right now. Thewrite-fast-publish-repeat style of publishing has (as Becca Syme and othershave explained) led supply to outpace demand. Increasingly, it is harder fornew authors to win at the algorithm game. The addition of AI speeding up manyauthors’ production has only complicated this problem. Know that if you plan togo the indie publishing route like I did, you will need a war-chest of money tolaunch a book now. Post launch (at the time of writing this), it still seemspossible to gain genre readers and find a footing in sales, but it is muchharder than it was five years ago.

 

The increased difficulty in the indiechannels of publishing has sent many authors back to more traditional means ofseeking representation for a manuscript through agents and working with smallpublishers. There is an overflow back into traditional publishing that may slowprocesses there as well.

 

My advice if you are starting off istwofold. First, keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel when it comes tothe market. Don’t take what experts tell you at face value. Verify strategiesand information through research. If it sounds too good to be true, it probablyis. I’ve found that people in the author-world are generally well-meaning andauthentic. At the same time, in moments of change like we are in right now,what worked for someone a year ago may already be outdated.

 

Second, have realistic expectationsfor your work. We would all love to be household names like James Patterson orHarper Lee, but striving for that kind of fame in our media saturated worldmight not be realistic. McDonald’s has served over a billion people, and thetaco shop down the street from me makes an awesome street taco. The billionpeople who know about McDonald’s don’t know anything about my local taco shop,but my community loves that spot. As an author, I think many of us are going tohave to give up the dream of being a McDonald’s and find joy and satisfactionin being a local taco shop, loved by a smaller community of people who areexcited every time they get a taco.

 

DL: What are three books you’ll neverpart with?

JE: Here you go:

Beloved by ToniMorrison – a masterclass in characterization and dialogue. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJKlune – a genius-level example of how to handle a large cast of characters in afun and enchanting way. A Man Called Ove byFredrik Backman – a beautiful example of how to build an unlikeable character,make us fall in love with him, and then take us on a journey of change. 

DL: What new projects are youcurrently working on?

JE: In my fiction world, I’m writingSeason 2 of NRDS. In this season, the NRDS split in two. One group stays in thesmall town of New Richmond to continue to try and keep a lid on the increasedparanormal activity, while a small group heads to NRDS HQ in DC to try anddiscover the source of the mystery. I’m also preparing to rewrite my first fournovels with the hope of finally finishing the series I started nine years agoand then abandoned. That will be my 2025 project. 

 

For my non-fiction work (TheDialogue Doctor), I’m currently building a Character Voice Encyclopedia andtrying to figure out what to do with a spiritual memoir about my life in andoutside of the evangelical church that I wrote in 2024.

 

Readers can get more information here:

Website: https://jeffelkinswriter.com/Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jeff-Elkins/author/B00IXPW1XIFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffElkinsWriter

DL: Thanks so much for being here with ustoday. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

JE: Thank you! 

A Review of Work Wife by C.L. Donley

Meet Anita Parker, a 38-year-old personalassistant to eccentric CEO Jonathan Jantzen. After six years of navigating hisdemanding personality and efficiently managing his business, Anita is surprisedwhen, just as she's offered her dream job as a forensic investigator, Jonathancounters with a marriage proposal. The catch? It’s a six-month arrangement.

Anita throws herself into planning a “bigass” wedding, complete with all the bells and whistles—venue, dress, cake, andmore. She and Jonathan begin their staged romance, practicing affection inpublic while only a select few of Jonathan’s friends know the truth. However,things shift when a date and a candid discussion about their past relationshipsreveal the emotional baggage, they both carry. They’re afraid to be vulnerable,and neither is sure if they’re ready to embrace real love.

Overall, this wasa quick and enjoyable read. There were a few slow and occasionally confusingmoments, but I found it entertaining. While Jonathan's motives for the marriagefelt a bit selfish, I couldn’t blame Anita for going along—who wouldn’t be temptedto marry a millionaire? In the end, it all worked out, and they got theirhappily ever after. A good read.

 

Rating: 3.5 stars

 

Some of my favorite lines:

 

He shifted in his chair a bit, letting out along huff. “Look, I know my strategy might look… desperate. Drastic. But Ivalue you, Anita. And value and love are the same.”

My heartbeat lunged. Was he saying he lovedme? Even platonically speaking it was enough to floor me.

“I haven’t asked you once how you feel aboutme,” he continued. “And it’s not because I already know, because I don’t.”

I licked my lips, suddenly shy. Suddenlyrealizing we were holding hands.