David M. Brown's Blog, page 98
July 14, 2012
What I Learned From My First Read-a-Long #sundayshorts
As I posted earlier in the week, this week I had decided to take part in a read-a-long with Cabin Goddess, Alchemy of Scrawl and several members of The Indie Exchange. Right now, I’m still digesting my thoughts on the book itself but here are some things I learned from the experience.
Five plus points to taking part in a read-a-long
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
You can clarify your own thoughtsI already knew this from chatting with people in the past but how often do you get to sit down with 5-10 people and all share your viewpoints on the highs and lows? This was a really enjoyable part of the experience for me, especially when I first finished the book and was trying to get my thoughts in order.
Talking about a book can help you feel less of a flakeIf there’s a part of a book you love for a very fickle reason, it can be very reassuring to hear that people love it for the same reasons!
Talking about a book can help you feel less of a bitchHung up on something tiny? Feel like you’re being incredible picky? Hearing 3-4 people are getting caught on exactly the same point can help reassure you that you’re not being unnecessarily nasty.
Being part of a read-a-long can spur you on or give you a sense of reliefIf you know 10 other people are reading a book and you suddenly realise you’re 5-6 chapters behind, it can be a real incentive to catch up and stay focused. Alternatively, if you suddenly realise you’re 5-6 chapters ahead, you can go and have a glass of wine and a bath and enjoy some peace!
You can really get to know a person’s reading sideI took part in a read-a-long with a very eclectic group of readers. It’s rare that we’re ever reading the same books at the same time, so it’s hard to pin down common ground. When it came to the read-a-long, however, I was stunned to find that we were very very similar in both our praise and criticisms. As a result, I believe that despite our differences, I’ll pay a little more heed to recommendations in future!
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What I Learned From My First Read-a-Long #sundayshorts | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Photo a Day July – Day Fourteen: Building #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity to take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Fourteen: Building
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I had intended to actually go out and take a photo of a building today but the weather was against me and and I opted to stay indoors and comfortable, wimp that I am. In truth, I’ve now had a terrible throat for almost two weeks and have been undertaking a read-a-long with several members of The Indie Exchange, so I decided these were excuses enough for burying myself in cosy clothes and snuggling up in a chair with the duvet. “It’s July!” I hear you shout… Well, it may be. It’s also the UK!
I digress! In the end, I opted for this take on ‘building’: building a blog post.
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Photo a Day July – Day Fourteen: Building #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 13, 2012
Book Review: Bitten – Dan O’Brien
Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreadsReview: Bitten
Werewolves are one of the popular ingredients for horror stories and films but there is always the challenge to do something different with them rather than rehashing what has gone before. Dan O’Brien’s Bitten explores the myth of werewolves but from a slightly different angle.
In the cold Minnesotan town of Locke some gruesome murders have begun out in the woods. Suggestions of bear attacks and wolves on two legs have the local Sheriff, Montgomery, left scratching his head. However, he has assistance in the form of FBI agent Lauren who is in town to investigate the murders and her suspicions lean towards the supernatural which Montgomery and his peers find both amusing and ludicrous. The question is can Westlake and Montgomery put aside their differences and catch the killer before it’s too late?
Lauren arrives in Locke at the outset and encounters a woman who is talking little sense. This same woman is later ambushed and killed in the woods after Lauren has left her. Bodies are severely mutilated with parts of them missing but where is the killer? Lauren has her suspicions but she has to tread carefully around Sheriff Montgomery who is initially resentful of her presence in town. Try as they might though, Westlake and Montgomery are powerless as the body count begins to rise in Locke. Add to this Lauren’s meeting with a local, Dominic, and a spot of romance being in the air and there are one or two complications.
Bitten approaches the werewolf myth in a very interesting way. It would be at the risk of ruining the plot to reveal this but let’s just say at one point Lauren meets the mysterious Hecate out in the woods and she offers both insight and riddles for Lauren to solve about who the killer is and how his reign of terror started. We get snippets from the perspective of our killer, referred to as the creature, and revealing what he does with body parts which will leave some people a little squeamish.
Although Bitten was a decent horror story I had issues with aspects of it. Lauren enters a bar at the start and sees off a challenge from a local woman, revealing our FBI agent is one tough lady. She later sees off a disgruntled husband of a murder victim in a similar tough fashion. However, she soon meets Dominic and goes from tough talking agent to giggly school girl, which I felt diminished her character. I’ve nothing against the romance in the book but this sudden change didn’t work for me. The horror itself is very gruesome and there is an interesting plot and myth about werewolves and the danger they can pose which is worth reading.
Bitten is a decent horror story but I did find issues with the main character. Tough people can be vulnerable, there’s no denying that, but I felt it was too easy for Lauren to melt once she had met Dominic. A more gradual development of their romance would have been better. The gory aspects of the novel won’t suit everyone but the horror element did work well for me.
Verdict: 3/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Book Review: Bitten – Dan O’Brien | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Photo a Day July – Day Thirteen: Open #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity to take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Thirteen: Open
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I really struggled for inspiration today but eventually something struck me – at almost exactly the same moment as inspiration struck Mr B: open book! How ridiculous that in a house with an author and a book reviewer and hundreds of books, we should struggle to think of something so obvious. Oh well!
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Photo a Day July – Day Thirteen: Open #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 12, 2012
Photo a Day July – Day Twelve: Texture #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity to take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Twelve: TextureI took a walk with Mr B today as – hooray! – the rain had stopped. We were able to walk by the canal and enjoy a little sunshine. We stopped for a few minutes and I spotted a tree and a perfect photo opportunity. I took this ‘texture’ shot because I thought it was a lovely example of how nature can produce things more beautiful than anything we can reproduce.
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Photo a Day July – Day Twelve: Texture #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Book Excerpt and Read-a-long: Life in Death Harlow Drake
I’m very excited to be taking part in my first read-a-long, in association with The Indie Exchange and Cabin Goddess. I’ll be adding some updates over the weekend. I hope you can join in too! Here are the details, as set out by Coral Russell of Alchemy of Scrawl:
Excerpt: Life is DeathPROLOGUE
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1) Read-a-long – Since I’ve had so many people ask what a read-a-long is, I’m going to make up a definition. We have a book called Life in Death by Harlow Drake. Over the weekend everyone is welcome to grab a copy (email alchemyofscrawl at yahoo dot com with the format you want) and read over the weekend and use #sundayshorts in Tweetchat.com and the Life in Death thread on The Indie Exchange group on Facebook to talk about it as we read. There will be a drawing for prizes to win!Can’t read it over the weekend but still want to join in the fun..?
2) Enter the Rafflecopter below during the week to win prizes and copies of the book.
3) #sundayshorts is a linky at Cabin Goddess so if you are a blogger, be sure to add your linky for points to win. You can earn more points by leaving a review on Amazon/Goodreads.
I remember everything.
“Bitch.” Jefferson Winton stared at the letter in his hand. Last month, he had announced his intention to run for mayor. Today, he got this letter.
Kari Marchant. She’d tell everything if he ran.
He’d heard her name mentioned over the years in various circles and had been surprised they knew some of the same people. Still, she’d never attempted to contact him directly before.
He pushed the button for the elevator and paced. He hadn’t expected to see anyone at 2 a.m. The elevator opened to an empty cab. He breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the second floor button.
He didn’t want to worry about that bitch again. He smiled. His henchmen, Ren and Stimpy, could handle this.
He pulled out his phone and placed the call.
“I have some work for you boys. Kari Marchant at 2612 Osceola Street. Get rid of her, but make it look random.” He hung up as the elevator door opened again.
Jefferson waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the parking deck before he scanned the lot for his car and strode toward it. A shuffling sound startled him from behind as he opened his car door A sharp pain stabbed at the back of his head before he could turn around.
***
A douse of cold water jolted Jefferson back to consciousness. His head throbbed like a heartbeat and the rusty taste of blood filled his mouth. He squinted his eyes and tried to focus through the stickiness that plastered his eyes together. He stared at the person in front of him; dull recognition seeped into his brain. He couldn’t believe who’d done this. He lunged forward but couldn’t move. Twine bit into this forearms, stomach, and ankles as he fought to free himself from the chair.
“What the hell is this?” he yelled and struggled wildly.
“There is always a reckoning for one’s misdeeds, in this life or the next. For you, today’s that day.”
The glint of the shiny steel scapel caught his attention. “Shall we begin?”
About Life in Death (2012)
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When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?
When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?
Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreadsAbout Harlow Drake
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Author Harlow Drake was born in Kansas City, MO, but grew up in Denver, CO. She relocated to North Carolina five years ago with her husband, two dogs, and 16-year old twins.
She shares a birthday with the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. In keeping with his legacy, she is currently working on taking over the world. Harlow’s positive attitude and fresh take on life are her tools and conquest is certain.
She spends her free time writing, dancing, traveling and defending mailboxes from her 16-year-old twins’ driving.
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Book Excerpt and Read-a-long: Life in Death Harlow Drake | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 11, 2012
Photo a Day July – Day Eleven: Letter #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity to take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Eleven: Letter
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“This is not a circular.” Actually, I had no idea what that means, so today’s post prompted a little research.
This was easier said than done, though. First, I got distracted by ‘7 Reasons That This Is Not A Circular‘. After I’d stopped laughing at the idea that someone would photoshop Milton Keynes (although maybe they should!) and then subscribed, I almost forgot my mission. Luckily (!), I remembered in the nick of time. I scanned through several Google pages, staunchly refusing to read The Daily Mail’s entry on ‘junk mail’. Finally, Wikipedia gave me the answer. Despite knowing that Wikipedia should never be your last stop on the research train, I was too tired to care and so here I present the definition I will use from here on in:
Add your ‘Photo a Day July 2012′ links!Related articlesCircular letter is a written document that is addressed to a closed group of people.
Instagram, ma’am!
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Photo a Day July – Day Eleven: Letter #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 10, 2012
Guest Post: Why Writers Are Cat People – Grace Elliot
I’m so delighted to welcome Grace Elliot back to the blog! Grace visited previously when I was still running Book Bags and Cat Naps and allowed me to review her lovely title Cat Pies and also allowed me to interview her.
Why Writers Are Cat People – Grace ElliotI’m thrilled to be here at Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave – since just like this blog, my most favourite things are books and cats! I am a veterinarian by day and write historical romance by night – and one of my key writing tools is a cat, Widget.
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Widget sits beside me whilst I write, and encourages me to keep writing because if I get up for a comfort break she will pinch the warm spot where I was sitting. Then when I come back those big eyes of hers look so hurt, that I just know if she could she’d have the RSPCA on speed dial if she could. There’s something so comforting about the quiet, none-intrusive companionship of a cat that really focuses my mind.
I love cats; I’m addicted to them and am owned by five. There is a saying that dog-people like to be in control and have little imagination, whereas cat-people are sensitive and creative – and I have a pet theory that most writers are actually cat people at heart!
Cats and writers have so many characteristics in common. Both cats and writers observe the world, quietly watch and note what goes on around them, and whereas cats sleep on the information, writers use it to fuel their work. It is the feline sensitivity of a writer that makes them notice the little details, the individual ticks that bring a character to life, in the same way that a hunting cat notices the tell-tale movement in the grass that could indicate a mouse on the move.
Another similarity is that both cats and writers need their own space, and get twitched if other people intrude. A writer needs quiet and concentration for their work, as do cats – it just so happens that a cats work is sleeping, and take this very seriously, honing naps into an art form that we mere humans can only dream of.
Cats are agile of body – and so are writers – but in mind. They create worlds where the hero or villain can climb to impossible heights, jump deadly gaps and find love in the most unlikely companions, whereas cats can do it all for real.
In my latest book, “Hope’s Betrayal” – the hero Captain George Huntley does indeed find love in the unlikely form of the smuggler he is pursuing, Miss Hope Tyler. Widget helped me write the book, by sitting by my side and keeping me at the keyboard when I might have gotten up for a cup of tea! The result of what a cat’s dedication can achieve is revealed in “Hope’s Betrayal.”
About Hope’s Betrayal (2012)
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One wild, winter’s night two worlds collide.
Known for his ruthless efficiency, Captain George Huntley is sent to stamp out smuggling on the south coast ofEngland. On a night raid, the Captain captures a smuggler, but finds his troubles are just beginning when the lad turns out to be a lass, Hope Tyler.
With Hope as bait, the Captain sets a trap to catch the rest of the gang. But in a battle of wills, with his reputation at stake, George Huntley starts to respect feisty, independent Hope. Challenged by her sea-green eyes and stubborn loyalty Huntley now faces a new threat – his growing attraction to a sworn enemy. But a love where either Hope betrays her own kind, or Captain Huntley is court-marshaled, is not an easy destiny to follow.
Amazon USAmazon UKKoboSmashwordsAbout Grace Elliot
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Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and author of historical romance by night. Grace believes intelligent people need to read romance as an antidote to the modern world. As an avid reader of historicals she turned to writing as a release from the emotionally draining side of veterinary work.
Grace lives nearLondonand is addicted to cats. The Elliot household consists of five cats, two teenage sons, one husband, a guinea pig – and the latest addition – a bearded dragon!
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Guest Post: Why Writers Are Cat People – Grace Elliot | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Photo a Day July – Day Ten: Favourite Colour #photoadayjuly
The “Photo A Day July” challenge is an opportunity to take snapshots of 31 seemingly straightforward aspects of your life in a fun/interesting/unique way. You can see my other posts here.
I have set up a Pinterest board and you can also follow me on Instagram. If you’re doing the challenge, please leave your Pinterest board or Instagram feed (or wherever you’ll be posting your pictures!) in the linky below.
Day Ten: Favourite Colour
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Green. So it would have been a beautiful summer snap to capture some lovely cut grass. Unfortunately, as it is raining incessantly, that isn’t going to happen. Instead, I took a picture of some extremely bizarre sweets that Mr B was eating.
I can only take the viewpoint that something that colour can’t possibly be good for you – but it makes for a pretty picture!
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Photo a Day July – Day Ten: Favourite Colour #photoadayjuly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 9, 2012
Guest Post: Self-Publishing vs. Publishing – Ellen Cardona
I’m very pleased to welcome Ellen Cardona to the blog today, as part of her tour with CLP Blog Tours. I have reviewed Brownie Fix and Ellen has also been kind enough to share an excerpt.
Self-Publishing vs. Publishing – Ellen CardonaWriters are often faced with the decision now to self-publish or land an agent, who finds a publisher, or just find a publisher on their own. For my book, Brownie Fix, I landed a publisher, which turned into a complete nightmare.
You know those red flags that you hear about when divorced people talk about their former spouses, well think of the relationship between a writer and a publisher as a marriage. Oh boy, did I have red flags. Oh yeah, I ignored them.
I’m pretty loyal, and I tried to stay loyal and in the writer/publisher relationship even when the publisher started to take over the book and insert her voice in every single page. I remember she told that my book was her baby. Red Flag.
What she didn’t know was that when she took over my book and when I basically became her copy editor, correcting her grammar mistakes, I finally got pushed to the point of developing a backbone. I took back my voice and deleted the majority of her stuff. Out of complete rage, I was driven to make my book better. I noticed that I had dropped some strings and connected them, and I changed some scenes to bring the book into focus. Out of complete rage, I became a better writer.
She backed off, and I thought all would be well. It was the calm before the storm.
What I didn’t know was that she didn’t have a clue on how to publish a book, soft copy and ebook. She was basically using the same tools as any self-published writer would use. I remained loyal and tried to send her articles after articles on how to format the soft copy and how to format ebooks, but in the process, I started learning how to publish, and she didn’t.
The end result was that I let her go and self-published Brownie Fix. The first draft that was released had typographical errors, which completely shocked me. It was because two people had been writing Brownie Fix, and I had spent most of my time trying to get rid of the publisher’s voice that I did not see the errors. I finally found a very good copy editor.
The hardest part of self-publishing is the marketing. I had to learn marketing. I established a blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts, website, but that was not enough. That’s only the tip of iceberg. As a writer, you have to sell yourself and get out there. You have to put yourself out there for appearances with book clubs, social clubs, and anywhere you can sell your book. It’s been a learning process, a huge learning process.
For my next book, Raven’s Return, I’m on the shelf on whether I want to self-publish again. I already have a cover artist, a copy editor, and publishing tools, plus I have an online presence and an audience. What’s putting me on the shelf is the marketing.
If I do decide to go the traditional route with an agent and a publisher, then I won’t ignore the red flags because I won’t be desperate for a publisher. I know that I’ll be all right self-publishing, too.
Raven’s Return is due out in the fall, which means December for me because I’m always two months behind me deadline. I’ll be finishing up my edits by the end of July and forwarding the manuscript to my copy editor and test readers, while the artwork is being completed.
I guess I’ll have to make a decision at that time what route to choose. Whatever way I go, I’m wiser with all the lessons I’ve learned. That’s good. I’ll take it.
About Brownie Fix (2011) [image error] Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression.Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it’s little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity.
Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.
Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreadsAbout Ellen Cardona[image error]Ellen Cardona wrote Brownie Fix to help deal with the postpartum depression she experienced after one of her pregnancies. Through her writing, she found that postpartum depression was real but conquerable, especially when one has the help of some dark chocolate and even darker humor. When Ellen is not writing, she teaches literature to college freshmen and attempts to help them understand the writing process, though they think she’s crazy because of her love for literature and writing.
Ellen graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a PhD in Humanities with a specialization in Literature. Even though she has published several academic works on Ezra Pound, she could not ignore her true passion as a fiction writer. Ellen lives in Richardson, Texas and continues to learn daily from her husband and two children. In good times and bad, she still enjoys her brownies.
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Guest Post: Self-Publishing vs. Publishing – Ellen Cardona | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
