S.L. Dearing's Blog, page 13

Vindicated by Scott Harper (Book Review)

The third book in the Wendy Markland Series is Vindicated by Scott Harper.

The third book has us picking up directly after Wendy’s encounter with the walking dead and other nefarious creatures.  She has left an opportunity to find happiness with survivalist Garland Potash and is on her way to Florida, searching for more vampires and trying to lose someone on her tail.  Enter Colm Pryce, a hunter with a heart of gold.

Scott Harper once again ramps up the adrenaline as Wendy is now the hunted, as a group of mercenary vampires are seeking to destroy her.  This book like the others is well crafted and paced beautifully.   Mr. Harper has taken his readers on a wonderful ride and we have seen Wendy grow and mature on an emotional level.  Just as the books before, Wendy is pinned against a horrible foe, but now she has Mr. Pryce.  And once again, she may be given a chance to be happy and find love… the chance to have a normal life.

I have loved reading this series and I hope that there will be more to come.  I’ve really grown to like Wendy, although I should hate her for all of her beauty, but I can’t help it.  I love her.  Scott Harper has created a wonderful character and world that I enjoy visiting, I hope I get to go back for more.

 

Necromancer by Scott Harper (Book Review)

The second book in the Wendy Markland Series is Necromancer by Scott Harper.  At the end of Predator of Prey, the first book, Wendy is reeling from the knowledge that vampires and werewolves truly exist and is attempting to recover from the death of her younger brother, Glen.  Necromancer picks up two years later and not too much has changed.  Wendy is still trying to track down any vampire she can find and destroy it, but it’s been a pretty arid two years, until she here’s about Pinewick, NJ and the walking dead.

I am quickly becoming a fan of Scott Harper and this series.  I loved the first book and I love this one equally.  I really admire the change up in this book, from vampires to other worldly “villains”.   Scott once again delivers fully fleshed characters and introduces us to a new band of allies that Wendy can ultimately depend on.  Wendy is beautiful and smart with an iron will, but she is flawed and vulnerable and this book definitely shows us those strengths and flaws.  Wendy is someone we the readers are rooting for and can also identify with.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading book 3, Vindicated.

Listening

Some may not appreciate this post, but I felt I needed to say something, just for my peace of mind.  It’s the season of politicians and sound bites, the candidates have been chosen and we the people are being inundated with conventions and platforms.  The candidates are not my issue here, but rather the constant barrage of opinions being thrust at anyone who opposes that individuals stance.  Not one candidate is really what I want.  If I agree with their fiscal plan, I disagree with their social plans.  If I agree with their social agenda, I disagree with their economics.  I don’t trust any of them, although I don’t believe any of them want to harm our country.  They are all planning to do what they think is right for the American people.

My problem is I see people talking and no one listening.  The candidates and their campaigns are there to win, so they go after the other team’s weaknesses.  Something said in a speech that gets taken out of context, etc.  But that’s typical and to be expected, as sad as that is.  Where I have an issue is with the American people themselves.  All of us have to choose (should we decide to vote, and if you don’t, that’s your right and prerogative) what topic of each platform is best for us as individuals.  Yet, that doesn’t give you the right to condemn someone else for selecting the opposing candidate.  We as Americans have the right to choose our leaders and representatives and we all have ideas and beliefs as to what is important to ourselves.  That doesn’t make those who believe the opposite necessarily wrong, just that they have different priorities and although we may feel those priorities are not “right”, those people still have the right to have them.

Some people will choose a candidate based on the economy, some on religious (or lack thereof) preference, some will choose based on some personal issues (abortion, gay rights, etc.) and I’m sure many will disagree, as we tend to do.  But we can all do this in a mature and respectful way.  Take the time to really listen to what people are saying and the context in which they say it.  Sometimes actively listening can be difficult when you’re passionate about something, but other people are passionate too.  This all comes down to tolerance and agreeing to disagree.  To embrace the beauty in our culture.  That is the right to disagree.  To disagree with your government, your family, your friends… the freedom to have your own opinion and express it as you wish.  What we all seem to forget is that with great power comes great responsibility and the freedom to say what we wish when we wish is a luxury many people in the world do not possess.

This is not to say that I want to hear hateful, awful things, I do not, but even hateful, awful people have the right to free speech.  They can say what they want as well.  But I choose to remember something my father once told me while watching the news.  They were reporting that the KKK had one of their speeches on the steps of the town hall.  They preached their hatred and bile and the crowds came to yell and oppose them.  There is something wonderful about watching people oppose hate.  When I turned to look at my dad, he was shaking his head, not because he agreed with the Klan, I knew that.  So I asked him why and he said, “That’s why they do it, because the crowds come and stand there.  What would happen if no one showed up to listen?”  That made me think.  He was right.  Without an audience, would these people show up?  I don’t think so.  The whole reason is to get on the news or appeal to the small minded followers looking to join, but without an audience, you lose power.  This seems contradictory to my previous statement, but sometimes the best way to deal with a hateful issue is to walk away.  Now, I don’t mean to tell people not educate themselves about all the issues and organizations out there, we all should pay more attention to those out there that mean us harm.

There will be many people we speak to about the upcoming election.  Some don’t want to talk about it at all and some do nothing but talk about it.  Some will be small minded and fearful and some will be venomous and intolerant, but we can only make decisions for ourselves and how we deal with those things and people around us.  In some cases listen and in others walk away… all I can do is respectfully ask that we all remember that we can agree to disagree and that our differences are what make us wonderful and unique.

Limbo…

Limbo, a place where we wait, waiting for life, change, stability… there are so many different limbos.  I’m in one right now, in the middle of a life transition, changing a very important relationship.  During the hottest time of the year, we are moving and reorganizing.  This change is not only physically taxing, but emotionally taxing.  The physical aspect of it is hard, exhausting at times and I’m tired and sore, but the emotional aspect of limbo is equally exhausting.  The physical clutter and instability leads to emotional clutter, and we as writers know, clutter can affect us.  Currently, this has put my writing on hold.  I’m sure that many of you can relate.

Lately, it seems like whenever I’m ready to stand up and dust myself off, I get hit again and knocked off balance and then I fall down.  Funny thing is, I’m still ok.  I’m tired, God knows I’m tired, but some days I have energy, only then it’s about direction.  Where do I focus this energy?  Do I want to focus it?  Do I just want to sit and play Sudoku for hours on end (it’s been the later for the last few months… don’t judge me ; )

However, in the last few weeks I’ve started a new writing partnership with a friend (I’m sure I’ll introduce him later), but we both have an issue channeling that energy lately.  He’s been through some rough times, especially in the last year with physical ailments and he’s tired too, but now, we are inspiring each other with our new project.  No, I haven’t put aside my other projects, I’m working on all of them (well, in my head at the moment).  The one thing we are doing… keeping each other accountable.  Sometimes that’s what we need.  If you can’t live up to your own guidelines, then live up to someone else’s.  I personally can’t stand to disappoint people who are depending on me; therefore, I can be held accountable.  Sometimes we need the push or the steady direction until we can find our way out of that limbo.  That disorganized, cluttered space we can end up in, be it in our homes or in our heads.

I would suggest we all look to our friends, family, mentors and peers when we need a hand up and out of the hole.  Stop digging and look for a way out.  More than likely when you reach up, someone will take your hand, funny enough, it may be the person you least expected…  and that could be a wonderful surprise.

Predators or Prey? by Scott Harper (Book Review)

The first book in the Wendy Markland series – Predators or Prey?… WOW, I loved this book!  What a ride!  The main character is Wendy Markland, a young woman who runs a vampire hunter grift with her boyfriend, Jacob, while raising her little brother, Glen, merely nine years old.  The story takes an ugly turn when Wendy and Jacob discover that vampires are real, now they are being hunted.

Scott Harper deftly handles the raw emotion of each situation, taking the reader on a journey of terror and self-discovery.  Wendy is a wonderful hero, flawed, yet likeable and human.  The villains of this book run the gambit from seething, quiet evil to violent bully; and even our anti-hero is beautifully drawn back and forth from like to dislike.   Mr. Harper is a truly talented writer who sets up each scene beautifully, the sights and smells are vivid, without being over drawn.

I read this book in one day and I’m excited to start reading the next installment, Necromancer.  It is my understanding that these novels are being converted into graphic novels and I cannot wait to see them.  This story lends itself beautifully to episodic art; the horror genre always having been my favorite in this particular world.  If you have not yet read this book, you are missing out.

The world of Wendy Markland is a world we should all experience.

Herding Cats by Christopher JF Gibson (Book Review)

I recently finished Herding Cats by Christopher JF Gibson and I loved it. A collection of short stories that either contain or come from the perspective of our feline friends, deftly written and full of depth and emotion.

To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect, but these stories are lovely. Some sweet, some sad, but all of them are definitely written from the heart. Mr. Gibson shares his intimate moments with us. These are beautifully written tales and I found myself looking forward to the next tale when the previous had ended.  I loved that some of the stories were from the perspective of the cat and some from the human.

The story based on the title is about an older cat, with two siblings, who are much younger and make his life quite difficult, but as we read, we realize this “wise-old cat” may not be so wise or so old, engaging in his own “tom-foolery”. It is beautifully written and intriguing.  The Missing Cat was a wonderful story of loss and love, the ending took me completely by surprise.

I haven’t read “animal” tales since I was a little girl, my mom had me reading Albert Payson Terhune (on of her faves – which also became mine), but these aren’t just for children. They are about what we all think about and dream about, just from a different perspective. If you are looking for a series of engaging tales full of emotion and depth, look no further. Herding Cats is simply lovely.

Falling Down…

So, Saturday I head off to Hollywood to meet my girls for lunch as it is a dear friends birthday weekend and her request was lunch at Canter’s (for those who do not know, an amazing deli on Fairfax that has been there for like 70 years plus… my dad used to go there when he was a kid… still DELISH!!!, but I digress…) so we meet there and have a wonderful time.  On our way back to the valley, I ask my Bud (one of my Besties) want to stop for Fro Yo (Frozen yogurt for those not in the know), she says YES!! so we do.  All is going swimmingly. we get our Fro Yo to go have a lovely conversation with the Fro Yo girls) and we are off, happily chatting about our frozen treats, when I realize I have stepped wrong or my ankle has given out and … I am falling… and I do.  Bam!  I’m down.

My Bud comes over and see is I’m ok and begins to gather up the belongings I tossed on my way down (the yogurt was superbly packed and sustained no harm – Kudos to you, Fro Yo Girl), I managed to avoid serious harm, but didn’t twist quickly enough and land on my leg just below my knee, little rash and some numbness, but over all, I’m ok.  But wait, because now is when the real excitement begins… as I was falling, an elderly couple were quietly eating their Fro Yo, and as I began my descent, the woman SCREAMED… not yelled, screamed.  I was actually quite calm, a simple “Oh, shit…” and I was on my way.  So I, and everyone else, hear the scream and as I rolled over, the little old man, quite earnestly concerned hovered over me, trying to assess the situation.  The little old woman ran into the Fro Yo Store and got the Fro Yo girls.  I’m sitting up gathering my self together, explaining to the little old man that I’m fine, when out pops the Fro Yo Girls with phone in hand.  ”Should I call 911?” she asks.  I respond.” Nooooooo, please dont’ call 911… really… I’m fine… I just fell down.  I do it a lot… I’m good.”  After several minutes, I convince all of them that I actually am fine and they disperse and my Bud looks down at me smiling.  I congratulate her for gathering all the spilled items from her “Bud Down” and we laugh, when around the corner comes these two guys… “Oh My God!! What happened are you all right?”  I explain I am fine and they take off… all the while I’m thinking… day late, dollar short, Dudes, but thanks for stopping.  My Bud helps me up and we are off.

Why tell this story?  Well, I was telling some friends a few days ago and although it is humorous, I realized that I have fallen quite a bit in my life.  Granted I’ve been around for a while, but I have probably fallen more than most.  So much so that I’m unusually good at it. I occasionally get bruised, but mostly I don’t.  Then I realized how often we fall in other ways.  Setbacks and procrastination and disappointment and losing and missing and all the ways we fall down.  We all do.  But, the most important thing is we get back up.  Just like falling down physically, we need to get back up and try again.  Move forward and get on with things.

For those of us who write, we may spend time away from the page.  We get distracted or the words won’t come or the characters are silent or the stress of life interferes, but we eventually sit down and get back to work.  We all need to do this with all aspects of our lives.  Getting back on track and pursuing what makes up happy, what makes us fulfilled, despite the “pain” or whatever else we are feeling.  Just make sure you get back up and walk it off and get back to business.  You’ll feel better once you do… and of course, if you encounter the lovely ladies we had, your Fro Yo will be intact to enjoy later that day!!