L.J. Smith's Blog, page 2
November 28, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving
I hope this special day finds you surrounded by warmth, joy, and maybe a slice of pumpkin pie (or two). Love that pie! Whether you’re feasting on turkey or munching on celery, I really hope that you can all come together in the spirit of sanity and harmony—turkey eaters and non-turkey eaters alike!
This Thanksgiving, I’m really excited to share a little something special with you: an excerpt from my upcoming book, STRANGE FATE; Book One: Mystic. This marks the beginning of the two-book finale of...
January 7, 2022
December 5, 2015
Snarky Reviews of Good, Bad, and Great Books
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett
Okay, first of all, what is this review series? I’ll try to keep it simple, partially because right now I only have a moiety of my marbles and simple is all I can handle (but that is one loooong story that I will post on my website for anyone who is wondering if something has been going on with me in 2015. For now, suffice it to say that I almost died. Yeah, for real!).
Just before I get started, though, there’s one thing I simply have to say, and that is thank you. Thank you to all of my friends on Goodreads, to all of you who have signed up to read my reviews. You don’t know how much I appreciate each of you, and what a thrill it is every day to get emails saying that so-and-so is now following me. I read every message and it keeps me going, especially when life gets rough. So, straight from my heart: thank you. Thank you so very, very much.
Now. This review series is not just about whether I think a book is worth reading or not. Well, I tell a lie, because it is really, but that’s because my brain seems to work differently than most other reviewers’ brains. I like books, movies, music videos, even—gasp—some commercials for two distinctly different reasons. One is based on the things most other people look for, like spiky original writing, cool plot twists, characterization, cinematography, and so on. The second is based on their treatment of women, and by this I do not mean was some scantily-clad young babe an enemy martial artist who fought the only female “hero” on the good guys’ team and yanked out some hair. And yes, I deliberately said “guys” there, which is a sin in my book.
The thing is that I am constantly gobsmacked by reviews that rave about books and movies but seem to have been written by people who don’t see what I see. The reviewers never mention the fact that, say, females in one incredibly popular book are 99 percent more likely than males to squeal when they speak—and do squeal, a lot, in the face of danger or excitement—while males are 100 percent more likely to bellow. (And if you’re going to argue with me that squealing doesn’t somehow imply more immaturity and/or lack of courage than bellowing you might as well stop reading this review right now cos I’m not even going there.)
The reviewers overlook it when words that imply male gender are used for groups that contain both sexes: good guys, Man, mankind, policeman, chairman, this man, that man, every example’s a man man. Even when the infamous “a person . . . his” sin is committed nobody seems to care or notice.
Ah, but those are just word choices, although I will expound in a little discussion on my webpage upon why even seemingly harmless words influence thinking and are desperately important. What about actual characterization: How are girls and women treated in the story? Surely, when the guys in the adventure are all given heroic roles and the females, who are sometimes the actual “heroines,” are sexually or romantically objectified, made into weak, lifeless, undeveloped cardboard cutouts, surely then most reviewers notice, right? Surely the reviewers care whether or not girls and women have a career or passion outside of being good little wives, surely some of them note when strong women are invariably classified as bitches or witches, surely somebody is keeping tally of how much females contribute to the meat of the tale being told, yes?
No. Not that I’ve seen. If you’ve seen it, I’m ecstatic and incidentally I’d love it if you’d email the review to me. Now, granted, I’m not talking about reviews by periodicals for women’s studies or anything, I’m talking about mainstream reviews. And I’m talking about mainstream books and movies here. And I’m not talking about Goodreads reviews, because the people on Goodreads are way more smart and savvy than the average bear. But I’d still love to see some nice reviews that focus on whether or not girls and women are treated in a way that would make us proud. You can send me the link to the review right here on Goodreads.
(Hey, right after writing this I saw a review of Crimson Peak in Time magazine which focused on the fact that Guillermo del Toro had turned out a movie with a female hero who rescued herself. I was impressed, although the article did use the word “damsel” in the title, which is a no no as far as I’m concerned. It makes me want to see the movie. It also makes me want to count the number of sins in the movie.)
And, by the way, yes, I do realize that I am radical in the way I think about the stories I read and see. I am On Beyond Zebra, way out beyond the Oort cloud of our solar system radical about them. I am so radical that I actually want to be able to change a character’s sex in a pivotal scene (people have sex; words have gender . . . sorry, but that’s the way it is) and I want it not to make a difference. I want females to be completely equal to males. I want them to be exactly as competent, as complex, as integral to the plot, as numerous, as humorous, as courageous, as canny, as revered when aged, as gallant when young.
Okay, I can already see the hands up out there asking The Question. I will answer. Yes, I too write books. Are my books without sin against women and girls?
Hell, no. If you think so, reread the motto of this review series. No book is without this kind of sin. Mine sure aren’t. The older I get the better I see such problems and the more I learn about why they must be avoided. I’ll say right now that there are many instances when I fell into the trap of doing what was easy instead of what was right. In my own defense I will only add that from the beginning of my writing career I had a nebulous idea that girls were getting a raw deal out of most of the literature they were being fed, both at school and at home, and I had an equally vague sense that I ought to somehow fight against it. Some of my books hold up better than others to the kind of close scrutiny I hope you’ll now start giving them. As for the sins: I apologize most sincerely. I can’t promise that future books will be perfect, either, but I can try not to make a complete fool out of my female characters and myself.
So, all right, I think the best way to go on explaining what these reviews are about is to go ahead and review a book, and my first choice has to be one written by my favorite author of all time: Sir Terry Pratchett. First I’m going to review it for the things all reviewers look at, then I’m going into snarky mode. And don’t worry, don’t worry, although there are going to be spoilers aplenty I will give clear and prominent warning when they are coming, so your reading experience won’t be ruined. Without more ado . . .
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween!
April 24, 2014
Recent Articles
The Wall Street Journal:
'Vampire Diaries' Writer Bites Back
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/S...
Cosmopolitan:
The Vampire Diaries Writer Got Fired, so Now She Writes Fan Fiction of Her Own Series.
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity...
March 1, 2014
Free Kindle Reading Apps
I've heard from several readers who were disappointed about my Vampire Diaries fanfics only being available as Kindle books because they didn't own a Kindle. I want to let everyone know about the free Kindle reading apps available. They allow you to read Kindle books on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Follow this link and download the app for the device that you have.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE READING APPS >>
~ Lisa
February 14, 2014
January 15, 2014
L. J. Smith’s new Vampires Diaries series
The Evensong arc will pick up more or less where Midnight left off and takes place in an alternate world from the official books that follow Midnight. The three books in this arc are Paradise Lost, The War of Roses, and Into the Wood. The first novel, Paradise Lost, and the first part of the second novel, The War of Roses, will be available
January 23, 2014.
See the countdown clock on the home page of my website for how long until the books are launched!
Also available on January 23, 2014 is my new bibliography/booklist, which is much easier to I understand (I think; most of the actual work was done by the invaluable Christina Crowley) than the old versions.
I’m dedicating these new Kindle Worlds books to my readers, worldwide. Thank you, friends, for your many messages of kindness and appreciation. I would also like to thank Amazon for all its enthusiasm and consideration in publicizing this new series. Amazon, you rock!
Before anyone asks the burning question, I’ll answer it: no, this is not the end of The Vampire Diaries series, but if all goes well and my readers wish it, I will continue writing fan fiction books in this series to the endgame. That’s what I have planned.
Look for the new pages on Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Update:
The Fanfics are now available!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Diaries...
http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Diaries...
L. J. Smith���s new Vampires Diaries series
I���m very pleased to finally be able to make this announcement. I apologize for having kept all of you waiting so long, but getting everything finalized took longer than I initially thought it would. As some of you probably know, Amazon has launched a new area called Kindle Worlds. This is a place where people can write fan fictions based on certain books, movies, shows, games, and music. The Vampire Diaries is one of the series that Amazon has obtained the license to include in their Worlds. This means that I can continue to write my version of The Vampire Diaries. (Remember, these books are written as fan fiction and are not part of the official series.
See below for the book ���covers��� and descriptions of the novels.
The Evensong arc will pick up more or less where Midnight left off and takes place in an alternate world from the official books that follow Midnight. The three books in this arc are Paradise Lost, The War of Roses, and Into the Wood. The first novel, Paradise Lost, and the first part of the second novel, The War of Roses, will be available
January 23, 2014.
See the countdown clock on the home page of my website for how long until the books are launched!
Also available on January 23, 2014 is my new bibliography/booklist, which is much easier to I understand (I think; most of the actual work was done by the invaluable Christina Crowley) than the old versions.
I���m dedicating these new Kindle Worlds books to my readers, worldwide. Thank you, friends, for your many messages of kindness and appreciation. I would also like to thank Amazon for all its enthusiasm and consideration in publicizing this new series. Amazon, you rock!
Before anyone asks the burning question, I���ll answer it: no, this is not the end of The Vampire Diaries series, but if all goes well and my readers wish it, I will continue writing fan fiction books in this series to the endgame. That���s what I have planned.
Please do let me know what you think of this new fan fiction trilogy!
Email | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Evensong: Paradise Lost
This fanfic is based on The Vampire Diaries book series and takes place after the volume Midnight.
Damon is back and enjoying his vampire existence to its fullest. Elena, Bonnie and their friends are in their third week at Dalcrest College, ordinary students aware of an extraordinary world that verges on their own campus.
Stefan is scarcely aware that he is living in a fragile paradise with Elena as his devoted girl . . . until one night it all shatters. He wakes from a dream to find Elena limp and white in his arms and rushes her to the hospital for a massive transfusion,
Elena survives, but Stefan decides that there is only way that she will ever truly be safe is without him. To make his exit complete, Stefan removes himself from the memories of Elena, her friends, and all of Fell���s Church.
Can true love ever really be forgotten? Will Damon finally have Elena by his side as his Princess of Darkness? The story begins in Evensong: Paradise Lost.
Evensong: The War of Roses: Part 1
Elena and her friends now have no conscious memories of Stefan���but each is having a difficult time adapting to a world without him. Damon can scarcely put out fires fast enough.
Bonnie feels as if she���s going insane. Her latest oddity is sleepwalking across the Dalcrest campus with only a golden-eyed white ���dog��� as a companion. This behavior terrifies the others, especially given the recent attacks in neighboring towns that leave girls drained of blood.
More, Bonnie finds herself caught up in her own love triangle with Matt���s shy new roommate, Bastian, and Damon. She realizes that Damon should be completely off limits, but she can���t help feeling there is someone else who is Elena���s perfect partner somewhere.
No one knows much about Bastian, who has white-blond hair and golden eyes, but he doesn���t seem to like Damon. Is Bastian just jealous of Damon���s affection for Bonnie or does he have some darker secret?
Meanwhile, both red roses and black are mysteriously appearing for Bonnie and Elena. Who are they from, and why do they seem so important? The War of Roses has just begun. . . .
Look for L. J. Smith���s new Vampire Diaries books!
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