Laurel Richards's Blog - Posts Tagged "laurel-richards"
Guest Blogging at Allie Ritch's
I'm participating with a one-liner from my werewolf romance, Wild Side, in Allie Ritch's multi-author post at http://allieritch.wordpress.com/2014/...
I Like My Colon (and Semicolon)
Why is certain punctuation no longer popular? When it comes to writing, everyone recognizes that there are trends. The language and description that went into a book in the 1800s is considered too much detail for today’s reading audience. This year one genre might hit it big, while another year some other type of novel will be popular. What I find interesting is that even punctuation goes in and out of style.
I happen to like the semicolon. It’s not only a legitimate mark of punctuation; it serves a useful purpose. Don’t believe me? See the previous sentence. Yet today, the semicolon and its cousin, the colon, are considered the black sheep of the grammar family. They’re not as flashy as the Em dash or as slick as the comma.
I have one theory on why the semicolon has lost favor: In today’s fast-paced society with all the texting and e-mailing, abbreviations and acronyms have taken over. Everyone wants to make things shorter and easier. The semicolon and colon are two-part marks. The semicolon is basically a comma with a period over it, and the colon requires a pair of dots. Maybe that’s just too much. People don’t want the clutter or the time-consumption of two marks in one.
Whatever has caused the decline of the semicolon, I’m sorry to see it go. I’m sure if I wait long enough, though, I might see it come back into fashion. What changes in writing craft have you noticed over the years?
I happen to like the semicolon. It’s not only a legitimate mark of punctuation; it serves a useful purpose. Don’t believe me? See the previous sentence. Yet today, the semicolon and its cousin, the colon, are considered the black sheep of the grammar family. They’re not as flashy as the Em dash or as slick as the comma.
I have one theory on why the semicolon has lost favor: In today’s fast-paced society with all the texting and e-mailing, abbreviations and acronyms have taken over. Everyone wants to make things shorter and easier. The semicolon and colon are two-part marks. The semicolon is basically a comma with a period over it, and the colon requires a pair of dots. Maybe that’s just too much. People don’t want the clutter or the time-consumption of two marks in one.
Whatever has caused the decline of the semicolon, I’m sorry to see it go. I’m sure if I wait long enough, though, I might see it come back into fashion. What changes in writing craft have you noticed over the years?
Wild Side is a Top Pick
My werewolf romance, Wild Side, is a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick! https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
Out Now! Vanquished
My new fantasy novel, Vanquished, is available now!Three strangers brought together by war.
The Ulanesh—vicious soldiers from the underrealm—are invading the forest and destroying everything in their path. Standing against the enemy, Evrenor is a captain in the Quennin army and has been tasked by his king to find allies. He enlists the aid of the ancient sea sorceress Valkaria, whom he wakes from a curse that has entombed her at the bottom of a lake for a thousand years. She must regain her powers after a millennium of disuse or else watch everyone around her die.
Evrenor finds another ally in Damir, a woodsman whose people are so reclusive that outsiders consider them myths. The tree-talking woodsmen can blend perfectly with the forest, and they are deadly with their daggers. Damir is ready to take down the enemy, but he has to strike before the vision he’s had of his own death comes to pass.
An awakened sorceress, a mysterious woodsman, and a cunning army captain—will their combined forces be enough to vanquish the enemy?
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C32UEI0
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vanquished-La...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vanqu...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/300052958...
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id10...
Out Now! The Clam Festival Murders
Looking for humor? Mystery? Romance? Try The Clam Festival Murders.Nothing ever happens in a small clamming town like Fatmire, FL. At least, that’s what Mitch Chase thinks until he teams up with eccentric mystery writer Cassie Wynn to solve a murder. Vicki Cash is found facedown in her seafood dinner after someone at the Clam Festival slipped her a deadly ingredient. Now Mitch and Cassie have to eliminate suspects, but that’s easier said than done. Vicki wasn’t exactly well liked. She took her ex-husband for everything he was worth, evicted the town’s most successful clam farmer, feuded with her sister, and bad-mouthed the mayor’s wife. As they investigate, Mitch discovers this small town isn’t what it seems, and he’s attracted to more than Cassie’s powers of observation. With his quirky and intriguing partner by his side, he’s sure to lose his heart while he catches a killer.
E-book:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Clam-Festival-M...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clam-Festival...
Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Clam-Festival-Mu...
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Cla...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-c...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
Kobo UK: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-...
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/311167445...
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id11...
Print:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Clam-Festival-M...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clam-Festiva...
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Clam-Festival-M...
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1530761557/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-c...
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Clam-F...
Naughty and Nice Romance
Today (5/7/16), I'm guest blogging at Naughty and Nice Romance about my humorous romantic mystery, The Clam Festival Murders. Come check it out at https://naughtyandniceromance.com/201...
Meet Cassie Wynn
Don't miss the interview with Cassie Wynn--heroine of my new humorous romantic mystery, The Clam Festival Murders--on Romance Lives Forever: http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.c...
Interview with Mitch and Cassie from The Clam Festival Murders
Read an interview with Mitch and Cassie from my humorous romantic mystery, The Clam Festival Murders. I'm on Annette Mardis's blog at http://www.annettemardis.com/blog/the...
Cover Reveals: The Clam Festival Murders
I'm on Cover Reveals today with my humorous romantic mystery, The Clam Festival Murders. Come check it out at http://coverreveals.blogspot.com/2016...
New Release: The Fish Fry Fiasco
The Fish Fry Fiasco (A Cassie Wynn Mystery, Book 2) is out now and available from Amazon, ARe, Omnilit, and other booksellers. Get it in print or e-book.Cassie and Mitch are back, and their new PI firm, Chase Investigations, has its first big case. Roman Ricardo, owner of Roman Tackle and the sponsor of one of the biggest fishing tournaments in town, has been murdered. Someone slipped a lethal amoeba into Roman’s nasal spray. Now Mitch and Cassie have to figure out who did it, and their list of suspects grows as they investigate the people who last came into contact with the victim. With Mitch’s dad in town, they have some extra help, but father and son don’t exactly see eye to eye. Will Chase Investigations be able to catch the killer?
E-book
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Fiasco-Ca...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fish-Fiasco-...
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Fish-Fiasco-Cas...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/314668071...
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id11...
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Fish-Fiasco-Cas...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fish-Fry-Fia...
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Fish-Fry-Fiasco...
