Sage Nestler's Blog, page 75

Book Discussion #1 – Characters

Hello Everyone[image error]

I just wanted to update everyone on the review process.  Currently I am reading The Calypsis Project by Brittan M. Willows and I am loving it.  It is probably one of the most creative science fiction novels that I have read recently and I highly recommend that you check it out.

That being said, I wanted to start a discussion characters.  I am going to post a couple of questions and I would love for all of you writers and readers to comment on your thoughts.  My first question is:

As authors and readers, do you feel that the characters in your books or the books that you are reading are like your family? 

I have found that the stronger an author feels about a character, the stronger that character is.  If a character is weak and the author doesn’t care for the character, I find it hard to care about them as well. I am just curious to hear your thoughts on this.  I would also like you to consider the next question:

To you, are characters more than figments of the imagination?

Remember, this question is subjective and please don’t discount any else’s response.  Feel free to post any other questions that you have as well!

~Ashley

P. S. Would anyone be interested in participating in a book club that I would host?  We would be reading both indie and mainstream novels.  I would like for the group to analyze books in depth, which would be a great way for us to get to know one another and understand literature on a deeper level.  Let me know!

Writing Tip #2

Hello Everyone,

For Writing Tip #2 I want to talk about one of the most important aspects of a novel that publishers, and readers, look for. This aspect is a solid, interesting novel from beginning to end. I, myself, have struggled with this in the past because I would come up with a story that I thought was great but would always tell people: “It gets better after the first couple of chapters”.

This is one of the biggest mistakes that you, as a writer, can make.

To talk about this issue let me ask you a couple of questions. What is your favorite book? Why is it your favorite book? In the beginning of this book, were you bored?

Most likely your answer to that last question will be no. Usually, bestselling books are solid stories from beginning to end. If you, as a writer, can’t make your story solid enough to be enjoyable to write or read from beginning to end, then you need to redevelop your novel. This doesn’t mean that you are a bad author, it just means that you have further work to do. Plot is everything and if a plot is weak, your reader will notice. Next time you go through your novel to edit it read it as though you are a reader. Are you interested from the first chapter or prologue? If not, then you need to rewrite it. And rewrite it. And rewrite it. I cannot stress this enough. If a writer is bored with their own work – either while reading it or writing it – then so will the reader.

If you are interested in traditional publishing, agents and publishers will only ask you for a couple of chapters to review when you pitch you novel to them. If they aren’t hooked based on those couple of chapters you will most likely be rejected. This has happened to me personally time and time again and I am still constantly trying to remind myself to develop plot in terms of making sure that it is solid from the beginning and doesn’t fade out towards the end. The best way to do this is to outline your novel as you go back through it and fill in any holes that you find. It is also best to do this as you are planning your novel before you actually write it.

If your novel is currently at this status, do not throw it away or feel defeated. Take a break if you need to then get back to it. Don’t edit your novel just in terms of grammar. Use the outline technique and change parts that you would like to reimagine or fill in the holes. Writing, after all, is rewriting, and no story is every truly finished.

I hope this tip helps those of you editing your novels or even those who are just starting out. If you would like me to expand on this topic feel free to contact me personally at peachykeenreviews@gmail.com or post in the comments. I can provide you with an outline structure that you can fill out if that is something that you would like. I am here to help.

~Ashley

*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free.  Please help me to keep my blog going!  All donations will receive a gift.*

The Unseen Face by Joannes Rhino Review -4/5 Stars

Title: The Unseen Face

Author: Joannes Rhino

Rating: 4/5

Purchase: The Unseen Face on Amazon

“The Unseen Face” is one of those rare books that forces you to turn the page.  I was enthralled from beginning to end.  The official synopsis of the book is as follows:

“James Maddox must face the demons of his past and question everything he thought was real; even his own memory.

James was used to living without emotion after losing his Emilia unexpectedly; he gave up on happiness the day she died. His plans for their future, of marriage and kids, died right along with her. He preferred feeling numb, rather than feeling the pain of losing his dreams. That all changed the day he received an anonymous letter in the mail with just three words: I am innocent.

James began dreaming of Emilia that same night. However, his dream quickly becomes his nightmare as she haunts his sleep, demanding he knows the truth, that he faces the unseen. And what is hidden threatens to change James’ life forever.”

I found the writing in this novel to be virtually flawless.  Not only was it perfectly edited, but Joannes Rhino’s characters were like faceted jewels.  Not only were there many different sides to them, but he fully developed every different side.  He also added an edge of horror to his novel by incorporating the death of Emilia into the novel.  This edge was just enough to keep the reader haunted and curious.

The main character, James Maddox, is a deeply disturbed character.  However, despite his depressing attitude and frustrating demeanor, I wanted to keep reading so that I could be with him and go through all of his emotions as well.  The sadness he experienced throughout the novel was so beautiful and almost endearing.  It was like a drug and I kept craving more.

However, I found the way that Maddox holds Emilia on a pedestal to be perplexing.  Despite being dead, she still haunts his dreams and doesn’t allow him to develop any other romantic relationships.  He seems to let the memory of her control him and many times I wanted to shake him out of what he was going through.  He can’t even seem to handle work or friendships very well because of how obsessed he is with Emilia.  I found this most interesting because I don’t think that when Emilia was alive he would have held her in such a big spotlight.  It was like he was addicted to her memory and the sorrow that came with her death.  Since reading about the beautiful sadness was a drug for me, I can see how it was a drug for him.  Since she was gone she was out of reach and therefore angelic.  He seemed to only remember the pain she went through and treated her as though she were flawless, likeable to an angel.  He was using her as an excuse to fall into his illusions which slowly turned into madness.

I gave this novel 4/5 stars instead of 5/5 because of how repetitive the character of James Maddox could be at times.  For the most part he was well developed, but I thought that there was too much emphasis on how highly he felt about Emilia.  I found this to make his character desperate and unlikable in some parts of the book.  However, I do understand why this was an important aspect to portray to the reader in terms of story.  I just think that this depressing, two dimensional side to James could turn some readers off.  It would have been better if there weren’t so many long passages that dwelled on his lost love.

But there were also some parts of the book that used foul language in a demeaning way towards women.  This was meant to represent an aspect of the character that was using the foul language, but I do think that readers should be aware of this aspect if they are sensitive to this kind of language.

Overall, I couldn’t stop reading this book.  I keep finding myself thinking about James and Emilia and the haunting mental torture that he was put through.  This novel was full of mystery and intrigue and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened.  The tragedy of Emilia’s death was bittersweet and carried this novel out in a unique way.  I have never read a novel that was so disturbing or enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

Into The Fog – My 2nd Novel – UPDATE!

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to share some very exciting news.  My second novel, “Into The Fog”, is going to be re-released in a few months with many story updates and I today I had the pleasure of obtaining and releasing the new cover!

I am very, very excited about this cover which is from the website selfpubbookcovers.com.  Once you pay for a cover on this site it cannot be sold again, but you can change it and edit it if you need to do that.  I was referred to this site by the beautiful and talented Marie Silk, author of the book Davenport House of which I recently wrote a review for: Davenport House by Marie Silk Review

Please keep an eye out for the new version of “Into The Fog” which will be releasing soon.  I will add updates until then.  This is a novel that I have worked on and changed over the course of seven years and I am now getting ready to release the permanent, final version.  A sequel will also be in the works soon.  Below is the synopsis for “Into The Fog”:

 

“A murder, a choice, and an eternal destiny. Welcome to the untold story of sixteenth century England.

Darielle couldn’t be happier and more in love with her fiancé, Prince Tarum, until the eve of their wedding announcement when Tarum is murdered.  Following the tragedy, Darielle is thrown into a life filled with despair as strangers enter the Tower and change her way of life.  However, she begins to find herself drawn to Harlisisle, the new guard for Queen Estelle.  Something about him makes her feel as though she has known him before. This attraction ends up unraveling past events in her life that she had long forgotten, and she soon discovers the true circumstances surrounding Tarum’s murder.  The truth makes her question the love that she once had for people that she thought she knew.

‘Into The Fog’ is a roller coaster ride of historical romance and fantasy elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat and asking only one question:

‘What if death isn’t an ending, but a beginning?'”

Please keep checking the blog for updates on my novels and book reviews.

~Ashley

 

 

 

 

Free and Bargain Book Event IS TODAY!

Hello Lovelies[image error]

I just wanted to remind all of you that the Support Indie Authors Free and Bargain Book Events is today, April 1st, 2016.  No, this is not an April Fool’s joke!  I have already visited the site and have collected many books that I will be a reviewing here on Peachy Keen Reviews.  Please visit the site and support the indie authors who have bravely put their work out there.  Nothing is better for indie authors than to have readers and reviews and that is the main goal of the events.  Below is the link to the site:

Free Book Event

Thank you everyone,

Ashley

Writing Tip #1

Hello everyone,

Today I wanted to focus on a writing tip that has really helped me to mature my writing, and might be able to help all of you authors out there.  This is a tip that I learned in Stephen King’s book “On Writing”.  If you have not that book yet, I recommend it.  In the book he provides some extraordinary insights on his life as a writer and insights for all of the aspiring writers out there, as well as seasoned writers.  I believe that you are never done learning or changing as an author and must continue to write, write, and rewrite in order to succeed.  But that being said, let us continue.

                Adverbs, as I am sure you all know, are the words used to describe different things, such as actions.  These words usually end in “ly” and the following are some examples: quickly, desperately, prettily, etc.  I am sure that for most of your life you have used these words in your writing to describe the actions of your different characters.  That being said, what I am about to tell you may change everything that you have thought about writing.

STOP USING ADVERBS

                When I first read this in “On Writing” I was stunned.  Adverbs had always been one of my favorite tactics to use in my writing and not using them seemed impossible.  I thought that without them I wouldn’t be able to develop my characters enough in order to have the reader understand them.  But once I went back through the novel that I was working on at the time and deleted all of the adverbs, I couldn’t believe how clean the writing was.  Not only did it sound more mature, but it took away all of the words that I had used to describe character actions.  Doing so gave the reader more freedom in picturing the characters, and their actions, for themselves.  Don’t believe me?  Well, don’t worry.  I am going to show you an example and let you decide for yourself.

The following paragraph represents a standard paragraph using common adverbs:

“Darla looked at herself eerily in the mirror.  Her hair was curled just right and her lips were painted softly with red lipstick.  However, she couldn’t look herself in her beautifully blue eyes.  She had just committed a dastardly crime and she was filled with guilt.  Instead, she shakily put a mascara brush to her eyelashes.  That was all she could do.”

Now I am going to write the same paragraph, but take out all of the adverbs:

“Darla looked at herself in the mirror.  Her hair was curled just right and her lips were painted with red lipstick.  However, she couldn’t look herself in her blue eyes.  She had just committed a crime and she was filled with guilt.  Instead, she put a mascara brush to her eyelashes.  That was all she could do.”

Doesn’t that second paragraph sound cleaner?  Removing the adverbs is like cleaning away the unnecessary dirt.  By removing them you allow the reader to make their own assumptions about why characters are doing something and how they are doing it.  You know how you see your own story, you don’t need to force your reader to see what you are seeing.  Your readers are smarter than you may give them credit for, and by removing your adverbs you are respecting the reader.

I hope that you consider limiting your use of adverbs in your writing.  It has changed my writing and my life and I am positive it will change yours.

~Ashley

Upcoming Book Reviews 5

Hello Everyone!

Here is round five of my upcoming book reviews.  Thank you to everyone who has reached out for me and shared your book.  I have been inspired by everyone’s passion and it has fueled by own writing as well!

Please check out all of the books that are posted and help support the authors!

~Ashley

* . * . *

Title: Pork

Author: R. S. Anthony

Purchase: Not yet released

* . * . *

Title: Call Her Sabine

Author: A.R. Simmons

Purchase: Call Her Sabine on Amazon

Deputy Richard Carter returns in the sixth novel of AR Simmons’ tales of obsession. Call Her Sabine is a contemporary crime mystery pitting a persistent “everyman” against a cunning abductor with an odd mania.

How did coed Charlie Fouts get here? Does anyone even know that she is gone? And what does “the freak” want of her?

Two young women are found drowned within the space of two weeks. Carter has a policeman’s distrust of coincidence, but it appears one the first woman’s death was an accident, while the second was a suicide. Then a college athlete goes missing during an early-morning jog, causing him to suspect that a local killer has claimed his third victim.

As Carter tries to reconstruct the last day she was seen, Charlie is held by an unknown abductor who only communicates with her via computer screen. Can she do what is necessary to survive? Can Carter find her in time?

Davenport House by Marie Silk Review

Title: Davenport House

Author: Marie Silk

Rating: 4/5

Purchase: Davenport House on Amazon

Davenport house is a historical fiction filled with mystery and intrigue.  The synopsis of the novel is as follows:

“The wealthy family upstairs and lowly servants downstairs have more in common than they ever imagined.

Emotions are running high in the midst of a family scandal at Davenport House, where social classes collide and discretion is the secret to survival.

Mary Davenport is a 22-year-old idealist who worries that the world in the Progressive Era is leaving her behind. She lives isolated in the Pennsylvania countryside with her affluent and secretive family. When her father dies suddenly, Mary becomes pained with grief and increasingly suspicious of those around her.

A humble servant girl has the chance of a lifetime to become a lady’s companion. Costly dresses, exquisite rooms, and fine dinners are pleasant distractions from what is really happening in the house.”

I am quite a sucker for any historical fiction.  I am a history buff and Marie Silk’s novel did not disappoint.  The novel follows Mary, the daughter of the house who seems to be understood by only her father.  Her mother and brother are constantly shaming her and making her feel as though she is as lowly as the servants.  I felt for Mary through these challenges and when she discovers that her father has died.  I will not reveal much about the circumstances of the death of Mary’s father, but I will say that her losing him left her in a bit of a Cinderella position.

I loved the mix of the wealthy with the servants in this novel.  It reminded me of The Luxe Series by Anna Godberson in this way.  Silk had a full understanding of the time period that she was writing about and her knowledge showed.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading her novel because of the way it transported me back in time.  It was also clear to me that Silk has a strong awareness of people and what hardships they go through.  One of my favorite quotes from the book proves this:

“’You are like me, Mary.  We can read and understand people like reading pages in a book.  But we only wish to focus on the good pages.  Sometimes it is important to see the bad pages for what they are.  I have been fooled many times by skipping over the bad, and I have paid dearly for it.  I hope you can forgive me and not the mistakes that I have.”

The only critique that I have about the novel is that it provided lengthy detail that was too much in some circumstances.  I know that it is important to provide detailing in historical fiction, but sometimes it works best to have the reader fill in the blanks with their imagination.

Overall, I highly recommend this fast paced, beautifully worded novel by Marie Silk.  The cover will lure you in and the writing will make you stay.  It takes you on a beautiful journey to the past.

Upcoming Book Reviews Round 4

Hello Everyone!

Here is round 4 of my upcoming indie book reviews!  Please look over these books and support these beautiful authors.

Thanks,

Ashley

Title: Journey to Glory

Author: Carrie Rachelle Johnson

Purchase: Journey to Glory on Amazon

The world has become a dark place in need of light. Evil runs rampant and people are in need of hope. On Mount Glory, the Ancient One waits to provide that hope to those who are willing to seek Him. By following the Bright Morning Star, some travelers embark on a journey that would change their lives forever. Yet the evil dragon Diablo has no intention of allowing anyone to accept the love of the Ancient One and join His service. The travelers must be swayed from their journey or if not, destroyed before they reached the mountain. What chance could these travelers have against such a heartless, cruel creature and the evil minions that serve him? What obstacles will they have to endure? Will any survive their journey to Glory?

* . * . *

Title: Guardians of the Grove

Author: J. W. Davis

Purchase: Guardians of the Grove on Amazon

Fifteen-year-old Meeka has trained her entire life for the ranks of the Sacred Grove. When her plans go awry, she flees her home and joins the Bow Maidens, a band of lethal women warriors. As she struggles to find herself, Meeka discovers her hidden gift—an ancient magic of her ancestors.

Meanwhile, the assassination of the king leaves Adrik, a young monk, next in line for the throne. To save the kingdom from the ruthless Duke, Adrik must join forces with an orphaned cutpurse, an over-sized monk, and bumbling aristocrat. Adrik’s survival—and that of the kingdom—depend on the alliances and friendships he forges.

In this fast-paced, epic fantasy, J. W. Davis weaves a tale where two young people come of age in a world of friendship, magic, and destiny.

Upcoming Book Reviews Round 3

Hello Everyone!

I have decided to start having my “upcoming book reviews” posts be in sets of eight books at a time so that they are more manageable.  Here are eight more books added to my list for reviews!  Please check them out and support these beautiful authors.

Thanks,

Ashley

Title: Against the Reign

Author: Dove Winters

Purchase: Against the Reign on Amazon

Ginny doesn’t want to be queen. Known as the mead-loving, trouble-making princess of Newrock, all she wants is for her beloved younger brother to marry, so he can assume the throne and she can disappear. But when tragedy befalls her kingdom and pushes the crown into her hands, she’s forced to face her worst nightmare. Surrounded by betrayal and the threat of death, her only thought is to save her brother–even if it means giving herself over to the enemy.

* . * . *

Title: Southbound

Author: Joseph Ferguson

Purchase: Southbound on Amazon

A short story collection about Basement Man ; moody drunk, sometime rock climber, absurdist philosopher, raconteur of the ridiculous, rogue, and not-so-merry prankster from the North End of Yonkers (aka Junkies Paradise). An every-man for nobodies, he is ever adrift between the carrot of sobriety and the reality of carpe diem. Bowing only to the laws of Murphy, he can never decide whether the lucky ones are the survivors or those who died years ago.

* . * . *

Title: Making Monsters 

Author: Joe Turk

Purchase: Making Monsters on Amazon

Making Monsters is an apocalyptic horse race. Man-made earthquake swarms, genetically engineered sterility, contagious insomnia, expanding sinkholes, scorned militants, and ancient, writhing, subterranean nightmares compete to bring the era of man to an unmerciful conclusion.

* . * . *

Title: Miriamne the Magdala

Author: J B Richards

Purchase: Miriamne the Magdala on Amazon

“Miriamne the Magdala-The First Chapter in the Yeshua and Miri Novel Series” takes place during the first part of the so-called “missing years” of Yeshua’s life. The novel explores the deeply personal relationship between twelve year old Miriamne and her cousin Yeshua bar Joseph. When a family tragedy strikes, and Yeshua and Miriamne are placed in a dangerous situation, heavenly forces intervene and a divine legacy that must be kept secret to all but their closest family members is revealed.

* . * . *

Title: Warlocks, Angels and Warriors

Author: Luciana Correa

Purchase: Warlocks, Angels and Warriors on Amazon

Read and follow the story told by the angel faithful to the Creator.

Meet the Knaasts. They are gorgeous and dangerous; rich and powerful. They are the cream of the cream of the international society.

Their goal is simple. They want to take up the world.

Witchcraft, violence, macabre rites and submission of will.

What is gonna weigh heavier on the scales? Darkness or light, life or death, right or wrong? They all get mixed and hard to sort out.

The human beings dragged by the battling forces for power over the Earth need to make their choices.

Can love justify any mistake? Any action?

Would you side with a demon for power?

You will take sides because you won’t help it.

* . * . *

Title: Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother

Author: Segilola Salami

Purchase: Yetunde on Amazon

Death is wicked . . .

Follow Yetunde as she narrates her mother’s ode to her grandmother. It is the Yoruba praise poetry for a mother known as Oriki Iya

This is a short story dedicated to past, present and future mothers.

A perfect mother’s day present

The book is mostly in English and any Yoruba words are translated, so everyone can enjoy the book fully

* . * . *

Title: Dancing With The Dead

Author: Charles Freedom Long

Purchase: Dancing With The Dead on Amazon

“For me, to live is to die,” Fahd al-Sharfa said. “I want to destroy Luna City and the space stations and become a martyr for truth.” Bit Fahd, a brilliant astrophysicist, never counted on falling in love with Doctor Quenby, his Antal coworker, whom he was now about to kill. Nor had he realized the tenacity of Vice-Marshal Natil’s Eagle Legion, determined to stop him. And especially Aidan Good…who dances with the dead.

A boy genius is taken from his family and trained for a suicide mission on the moon. But he falls in love with just the wrong person. This powerful and gripping novel explores questions of redemption, truth, love, and life beyond death. Richly detailed, imaginative and evocative, DANCING WITH THE DEAD blends science and spiritual fiction. Filled with vivid and convincingly drawn characters, this gripping tale is at once a poignant human/alien love story and a foray into the realms beyond.

* . * . *

Title: The Woman in the Jimmy Choo Shoes

Author: L. V. Krause

Purchase: The Woman in the Jimmy Choo Shoes on Amazon

What happens when you get in the way of a billionaire-to-be? Audrey Blue, a young attorney at a prestigious Chicago law firm, finds out when she discovers damaging information that could harm her law firm’s biggest clients, who will become billionaires when their financial firm goes public in one short week’s time. Before she knows it, Audrey’s accused of murder, drummed from her firm, and in a race for her life.

To save herself, she must find the real killer, who might be the dangerously charming head of the takeover firm himself. As the debonair financier plans his multi-million-dollar birthday bash, Audrey must infiltrate the world of the wealthy financiers, their trophy wives, and their spoiled kids—who all live in fear of disinheritance—as she spars with the handsome Chicago detective assigned to her case.

* . * . *

Title: The Cheating Wive Club: Women are Dying to Join!

Author: D. J. Jouett

Purchase: The Cheating Wives Club on Amazon

When women in her hometown become the victims of a vicious killer Psychiatrist Lana Reed is pulled into a world of serial killers and cheating wives. As her acquaintances are viciously murdered, she suspects one of her patients. Dr. Reed finds herself struggling with doctor-patient confidentiality. As women continue to die, Lana must decide between her professional ethics and helping the man she loves solve the heinous crimes. Great detective work. A real cliffhanger.

Romance, Love, Suspense, Thriller.