Margo Kelly's Blog, page 3
July 7, 2021
IWSG: Quit Writing?!
The purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group is to "share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!"
For more information visit: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/
This Month's Question: What would make you quit writing?
My Answer: I've thought about this topic often during my time as a published author. Interestingly, the question never occurred to me before I was published. Before then, I was determined and confident and tenacious. Once published, my perspective changed. I saw behind the curtain of the publishing world and was surprised by how it all works . . . and doesn't work. Now, I'm more of a realist, and I know the publishing world won't always work in my favor, won't always greet me with open arms, won't always pave the road before me. And yet, I still want to create stories, imagine worlds, and develop characters. I've decided I will never quit writing, because I am a writer.
How about you? Is there anything that would make you quit writing?
July 6, 2021
Book Review: Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon
Oh, boy. When I first saw this cover and read the title, I KNEW I needed to read this one! Scroll down for my complete review.
Did I Say You Could Go
by Melanie Gideon
Published by Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-1982142124
Description from the Publisher:
A suspenseful, gripping novel about families and friendships torn apart at the seams by obsession, secrets, and betrayal with relentless twists and turns that hurtle forward to a shocking confrontation.
When Ruth, a wealthy divorcée, offers to host the Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet, she hopes this will be a fresh start for her and her introverted daughter, Marley. Finally, they’ll be accepted into a tribe. Marley will make friends and Ruth will be welcomed by the mothers. Instead, the parents are turned off by Ruth’s ostentatious wealth and before kindergarten even begins, Ruth and Marley are outcasts.
The last guest to arrive at the meet-and-greet is Gemma, a widow and a single mother to her daughter, Bee. Ruth sets her sights on the mother-daughter duo, and soon the two families are inseparable. Ruth takes Gemma and Bee on Aspen vacations, offers VIP passes to Cirque du Soleil, and pays for dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants. For Gemma, who lives paycheck to paycheck, Ruth’s largesse is seductive, but as the years go by, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s accruing an increasingly unpayable debt. When Ruth’s affair with a married Hillside dad is exposed, and she’s publicly shunned, Gemma uses it to sever ties with Ruth.
Six years later, when Gemma finds herself embroiled in a scandal of her own—Ruth comes to her defense. Their renewed friendship rehabilitates their reputations, but once again, Gemma starts to feel trapped as Ruth grows more and more obsessed with their relationship.
A relentless page-turner, Did I Say You Could Go is the story of friendships steeped in lies and duplicity. It’s about two families who, when pushed to extremes, cross the line with devastating results.
About the Author:
Melanie Gideon is the NYT bestselling author of the memoir, The Slippery Year: A Meditation on Happily Ever After, as well as the novels Wife 22, Valley of the Moon, and Did I Say You Could Go. Her books have been translated into thirty languages. She lives in the Bay Area.
My Review:
Without even reading the description, I knew this was a book for me. That cover. That title. SO CREEPY! This was the first book by Melanie Gideon that I’ve read, and she exceeded my expectations.
Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon grabbed my attention on page one and kept me reading faster and faster to find out what was going to happen next.
As an avid thriller reader, many of the twists and turns did not surprise me, but I never felt disappointed with any of the reveals. Gideon masterfully weaved the web, trapped my attention, and slowly unwound the various plot elements. Before I knew it, the story was over, and I was satisfied with all of the revelations and conclusions of the mysteries and character arcs.
I expected the story to be told from the two adult women’s points-of-view, but I was taken by surprise when the narrative switched to the teenage daughters’ points-of-view also. As a frequent reader of young adult literature, the teenage POVs felt forced with lines like, “All of them have pubes, one of them has been fingered, and most of them have their periods.” Yikes. So, needless to say, it was weird, but the teenage POVs settled into their own grooves and felt less forced as the story progressed.
Additionally, there were several elements that pulled me from the world of the story. First, while it was told in a linear fashion, there were a lot of awkward flashbacks that felt forced. Second, I found it extremely hard to believe that Gemma would just let Ruth buy her a new car. Third, there were so many trendy pop culture references, such as: "'I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in Lulu,' says Madison. Actually, Ruth’s in Stella McCartney, but she isn’t about to reveal that to Madison. Labels are nothing to brag about – that’s what her mother always said."
Nonetheless, Did I Say You Could Go was loaded with excellent twists and jaw-dropping moments.
I won't spoil any of them for you, but trust me, there are some good ones.
Some favorite lines from the story:
“Gemma’s face looks melted, like candle wax just before it hardens.”
“She is so endlessly interesting to him – it makes her heart hurt. She is endlessly interesting to her mother, too, but in a completely different way. Her father’s love is a hummingbird. Her mother’s is a hawk.”
May 26, 2021
Off to My Happy Place
Well, if you need me . . . feel free to knock on my tent door:
I'm off in the boonies for a while, loving life and loving the peace only found in nature.
May 19, 2021
Book Review: WHERE DO YOU HANG YOUR HAMMOCK? by Bella Mahaya Carter
It's been a while since I read a nonfiction book, so when I was offered this new one, I jumped at the opportunity. Scroll down for my complete review.
Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?
by Bella Mahaya Carter
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Publisher: She Writes Press
ISBN: 9781647420659
Description from the Publisher:
In Where Do You Hang Your Hammock? seasoned coach and author Bella Mahaya Carter shows writers how to use their present circumstances as stepping-stones to a successful and meaningful writing life, navigated from the inside out. It encourages writers and authors to rethink their ambitions (which may be fueled by the tyrannical demands of the ego) and trust in their heartfelt purpose and values in the journey to becoming, or continuing on, as authors.
Many writers believe their self-sabotaging thoughts are trustworthy and true. They take rejection personally. They surmise that if they don’t achieve their goals they have failed, and lose sight of who they are and what matters most.
This book is for writers looking for inspiration and for authors daunted by the publishing process, who might lack the requisite author platform to get published the way they dreamed, or whose careers may not be unfolding as expected. It aims to be the friend and trusted expert writers turn to when hijacked by their own thinking. Ultimately, it reminds authors that they are infinite creators.
About the Author:
Bella Mahaya Carter is a creative writing teacher, empowerment coach, speaker, and author of an award-winning memoir, Raw: My Journey from Anxiety to Joy, and a collection of narrative poems. She has worked with hundreds of writers since 2008 and has degrees in literature, film, and spiritual psychology. Her poetry, essays, fiction, and interviews have appeared in Mind, Body, Green; The Sun; Lilith; Fearless Soul; Writer’s Bone; Women Writers, Women’s Books; Chic Vegan; Bad Yogi Magazine; Jane Friedman’s blog; Pick The Brain; the Spiritual Medial Blog; Literary Mama, several anthologies' and elsewhere.
My Review:
Where Do You Hang Your Hammock? by Bella Mahaya Carter is an excellent resource for writers.
At first, I was confused by the title. What does a hammock have to do with writing? At the very beginning of the book, Carter explains the concept with a personal story, which serves as a perfect analogy for the publishing industry. Not only did she have me hooked with that single story, but I also bought myself a hammock swing as a result. Now I just have to decide where to hang it.
Whenever I read a nonfiction book, the first thing I do is read the author's bio. What qualifies this person as an "expert" in the field, and why should I trust what she has to say? Well, Carter's bio is impressive (shown above), and it made me curious what I exciting things I'd be able to learn from her writing.
The next thing I do is flip to the table of contents, which should be easy to navigate and give an overview of the book. Carter's table of contents is clear and concise, giving a detailed roadmap of the book. This enables the reader to pick and choose topics to read in short spurts or to read the whole from beginning to end.
Then, before actually reading anything, I flip through the book and scan the pages. Sometimes a nonfiction book can feel overwhelming to me, and if there are charts, quotes boxes, divided sections--these elements help break up the narrative, making the book easier for me to digest. Carter's book is mostly narrative, but the chapters are short and the sections are divided, which helps break up the prose. Also, at the end of each chapter is a journal prompt that allows the reader to ponder the concepts presented.
The journal prompts would blend well with the "Morning Pages" concept from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. I intend to use the two books together to help me explore my creative confidence.
As I read the book, I was surprised more primary sources were not cited for stated facts. For example, in the chapter on traditional publishing Carter states, "...royalties--generally a small percentage (about, 7.5%)..." No sources cited. In the same chapter, she quotes Brooke Warner, writing, "...sobering fact: Only 2 percent of authors make their living from their writing alone." This is not a primary source. A primary source would be the study or research paper that gathered these statistics. Giving information in this manner can be misleading or worse yet, offer misinformation. I'm a big believer in seeking out primary sources rather than taking second-hand information as gospel truth. I wish Carter had cited actual primary sources so readers could read additional information for themselves, if wanted. This is my only criticism of the book.
This book makes a great companion book for Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way and Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic. If you haven't yet read either of those - I highly recommend them.
Where Do You Hang Your Hammock? by Bella Mahaya Carter is thought-provoking and insightful, helping readers explore their dreams about writing with interesting concepts to nourish their creativity.
[I was offered an early copy from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]
May 5, 2021
IWSG: Surprising Reactions from Readers
"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling." For complete details, visit the website: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
This Month's Question: "Has a reader ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you?"
My Answer: Yes! One of my all-time favorite responses was from a teacher who'd been reading Who R U Really? aloud to her class. She had previously read the book herself, and she knew the big reveal of the bad guy was coming up for her class. So, she recorded the class as she read the scene aloud, and then she sent the video to me. It was so awesome to watch the students' varied reactions as the bad guy made himself known to the main character. (I love teachers so much!)
How about you? If you're a writer, has a reader ever surprised you with a response? If you're a reader, have you ever contacted an author about their writing?
May 4, 2021
Book Review: HURRICANE SUMMER by Asha Bromfield
Oh, this was a great book! AND that cover - GORGEOUS! Scroll on down for my complete review.
Hurricane Summer
by Asha Bromfield
Date Published: May 4, 2021
Publisher: Wednesday Books
ISBN: 978-1250622235
Description from the Publisher:
In this sweeping debut, Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane. Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica. When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him. In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise―all in the midst of an impending hurricane. Hurricane Summer is a powerful coming of age story that deals with colorism, classism, young love, the father-daughter dynamic―and what it means to discover your own voice in the center of complete destruction.
About the Author:
Asha Bromfield is an actress and writer of Afro-Jamaican descent. She is known for her role as Melody Jones, drummer of “Josie and the Pussycats” in CW’s Riverdale. She also stars as Zadie Wells in Netflix’s hit show, Locke and Key. She currently lives in Toronto, and her name translates to "Life" in Swahili. In her spare time, she loves studying astrology, wearing crystals, burning sage, baking vegan desserts, and taking walks to the park with her dogs Luka and Kyra. Hurricane Summer is her debut novel.
My Review:
"Everyone has that one summer. The summer that changes your life."
Oh, I loved this book, and I'm so glad I read it, but I must admit that I almost put it down after reading the opening pages. Why? Two reasons. One: in the opening, the author warns that this story contains sexual assault. That is a topic I don't like to read about, and I'll avoid it whenever possible. But I chose to read the story, because I appreciated the author's warning, and I hoped that once I got to that part of the story I'd be able to skim over it and not internalize it. Thankfully, the scene was short, but it was still heart wrenching. All sexual assault is heart wrenching. Two: also in the beginning of the book is a glossary of Patois words. I've never been strong with other languages, and the idea of needing to learn another language in order to read this book felt daunting. I chose to ignore the glossary and read the story as if there was none. Heavy dialect and Patois words within the book's dialogue made it a challenge to read, but it became easier as I got into the rhythm of it. "Yuh haffi go learn how fi chat Patois if yuh wan keep up. Mi ah nuh Rosetta stone." Other than these two elements, I absolutely loved the story. So good!
As a kid with divorced parents who spent summers with my father, I could relate on so many levels with this story. Kids want to be loved and valued and protected by their parents, and Asha Bromfield does an excellent job exploring this facet of life. "This time it is me searching for the right words that will make him stay. The right words to convince him that we are his daughters and he should want to stick around. That we are fun enough. Interesting enough. Good enough."
Bromfield also does an excellent job of immersing the reader in the setting of Jamaica. Her descriptions provide great imagery of the country, and since the main character grew up in Canada, she's able to compare and contrast the two countries and cultures.
The characters of this story have a wide range of emotional flaws, habits, and traits. Their images and personalities stuck with me long after the story was over.
Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield is a story of a young woman surviving her own personal hurricane, sustaining injuries, healing, and growing. The writing is beautiful and captivating.
Some of my favorite lines from the story:
"The air is moist and dewy from the rainfall last night, and birds sing to each other as they fly over our heads. It becomes clear that nothing compares to the birth of a new day on a crisp Jamaican morning."
"I have wanted my father's love for too long. But now, I am weary. Now, I am done. It's a strange pursuit--chasing the love of your father. When the first man who was supposed to want you, doesn't."
"We celebrate the way that the island is coming alive in a way like never before for its own destruction. We watch in reverence as it is being forced to destroy itself, to re-create itself again."
"When they ask how I weathered the storm, I will tell them I did not. I was uprooted like the palm trees and shot down like the birds form the stormy skies. I was ravished like the zinc houses and devoured like the soil as it swallowed itself whole. I was ruined. I was disaster. I was dancing in the eye of God's will."
[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]
April 6, 2021
Book Review: TELL NO LIES by Allison Brennan
Yes! I was super excited to see that Brennan wrote a sequel to THIRD TO DIE! Scroll down to read my complete review.
Tell No Lies by Allison BrennanDate Published: March 30, 2021Publisher: MIRAISBN: 9780778331469
Description from the Publisher:
Something mysterious is killing the wildlife in the mountains just south of Tucson. When a college intern turned activist sets out to collect her own evidence, she, too, ends up dead. Local law enforcement is slow to get involved. That’s when the mobile FBI unit goes undercover to infiltrate the town and its copper refinery in search of possible leads.
Quinn and Costa find themselves scouring the desolate landscape, which keeps revealing clues to something much darker—greed, child trafficking and more death. As the body count adds up, it’s clear they have stumbled onto much more than they bargained for. Now they must figure out who is at the heart of this mayhem and stop them before more innocent lives are lost.
About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year.
40 books and numerous short stories later, Allison relocated in 2019 from Northern California to Arizona with her husband and two youngest children.
She currently writes the Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan thriller series, and launched the Quinn & Costa thrillers this year with THE THIRD TO DIE. Catherine Coulter called it an "amazing new series" and Kirkus Reviews says Kara Quinn is "A strong and damaged protagonist as compelling as Lisbeth Salander."
My Review:
I loved this book!
I love the team of characters that Brennan has created. I love her writing skills. I love the complicated plot of this story.
Allison Brennan has assembled a diverse and intriguing cast of characters that work together to solve a complicated mystery in her latest book, Tell No Lies.
At first, I was concerned with the number of characters being introduced. How in the world would I keep track of them all? But I trusted that Brennan would help me keep them straight, and she did. With gentle reminders, Brennan made it clear who the various characters were as they came back on scene. The beginning of the story was filled with a lot of telling and information overload, but once the story got going, I was sucked in and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I also realized that some of my frustration with the beginning was actually because it took a while for Kara Quinn to appear in the story. She was my favorite character from the first book in the series, Third to Die. Once Kara was a part of this story, I felt at home with the team of characters.
If you didn't read the first book in the series, no worries. This is a stand alone novel that you can pick up and read. However, I do highly recommend you start with Third to Die just so you can get to know the main characters better.
My favorite series to read are the ones where each book contains a complete and finished plot -- all loose ends are tied up, and then following books continue to develop the main characters and their relationships. The characters (and writing) are what keep me coming back for more. So, I 'm thrilled that this series by Brennan will be following (I'm assuming) these lines.
A couple of my favorite lines from the book:
"Papa said that the stars were God's glitter to make the dark not as scary."
"She detested anything that slithered--criminals or reptiles."
Bottom line:
Tell No Lies by Allison Brennan is a fascinating mystery, where readers can try to solve the crimes right along with the FBI team in the vast Arizona landscape.
[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]
March 29, 2021
Book Review: DANGER IN NUMBERS by Heather Graham
There's a reason Heather Graham is a best-selling and award-winning author, and that reason is: she's a terrific writer! Scroll on down for my complete review of her latest novel.
Danger in Numbersby Heather GrahamDate Published: March 23, 2021Publisher: MIRAISBN: 978-0778331452
Description from the Publisher:
On the edge of the Everglades, an eerie crime scene sets off an investigation that sends two agents deep into a world of corrupted faith, greed and deadly secrets.
A ritualistic murder on the side of a remote road brings in the Florida state police. Special Agent Amy Larson has never seen worse, and there are indications that this killing could be just the beginning. The crime draws the attention of the FBI in the form of Special Agent Hunter Forrest, a man with insider knowledge of how violent cults operate, and a man who might never be able to escape his own past.
The rural community is devastated by the death in their midst, but people know more than they are saying. As Amy and Hunter join forces, every lead takes them further into the twisted beliefs of a dangerous group that will stop at nothing to see their will done.
Doomsday preppers and small-town secrets collide in this sultry, twisty page-turning thriller.
About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels. She's a winner of the RWA's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers' Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. For more information, check out her websites: TheOriginalHeatherGraham.com, eHeatherGraham.com, and HeatherGraham.tv.
My Review:
Oh, I love a good thriller! Technically, though, I would classify this novel more as a mystery than a thriller, but I suppose that's a debatable topic.
Heather Graham delivers a spine-tingling tale of murder and mystery in her latest novel, Danger in Numbers.
Graham's writing is easy to read and the storyline was simple to follow. While many plot elements were anticipated and predictable, there were also plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. Plus, I love a strong female lead character, and Graham gives us a good one who can fight her own battles and still know when to accept help from others.
The only element of the book that I found a bit cheesy were some of the characters' names. There were a lot of trees and plants involved: Hunter Forrest, Detective Mulberry, Aidan Cypress, Karyl Vine, and maybe others that I missed!
And a fair warning: if you're squeamish at all, you should know there are a lot of gruesome death scenes in this story.
Bottom line:
Danger in Numbers is another well-written murder mystery by highly-acclaimed author Heather Graham.
[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]
March 3, 2021
IWSG: Reading Choices
If you're a writer, you'll want to check out the Insecure Writers' Support Group. On the first Wednesday of the month, we post on a related topic.
This Month's Question: "Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?"
My Answer: I read broadly. I often find techniques and styles outside my typical writing genre that I can utilize to improve and enhance my own writing skills. I love to read nonfiction, memoirs (sometimes), thrillers, horrors, mysteries, historical romance (sometimes), and contemporary novels. The biggest motivators in my reading choices are: author, publisher, recommendation from friend, description (in that order).
What about you? What motivates your reading choices?
February 22, 2021
Book Review: THE INITIAL INSULT by Mindy McGinnis
The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnisMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mindy McGinnis is an "auto-buy" author for me --- meaning: I will read anything she writes because I am a huge fan of her talented writing and a masterful storytelling.
This story, THE INITIAL INSULT, is one that left me shaking my head at the end.
Did I like it? Did I love it? Did I hate it? I had to take a few weeks just to process what I'd digested.
It's a complicated story (which I love). It's a weird/unique story (which I love). It was exceptionally written (love). The timeline was nonlinear (which I personally struggle with oftentimes). This is the first of two books, and plotlines are not yet resolved (which is hard for me, because I'm an impatient person). I listened to an early audio edition that was read by a non-human voice (which I disliked). Side note: I've noticed a lot of other reviews give Mindy less stars on the review because of the awful synthetic audio, but that is NOT Mindy's fault, for heaven's sake! So that in no way influences this review. And rest assured, the finished audio book for sale to the general public is recorded by a professional narrator.
However, I do think that this is the type of story that is better served by a visual copy of the book because of the timeline jumps, point-of-view shifts, and unusual name pronunciations.
Overall, I loved this complicated and unusual story of teenage revenge, and I look forward to the next book!
Thanks, Mindy, for another great rollercoaster of a story.
[I received an early audio copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. This is no way influenced my opinion.]
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