Rebecca A. Demarest's Blog, page 13

Writing Prompt!

Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of this day’s namesake, write a story about someone helping out a persecuted minority, as Saint Valentine helped the Christians of his time. Yeah, yeah, roses and tulips and all that crap, but really, what’s more awesome than a man put to death for performing secret marriages?

Breaking News!

So, a couple months ago, I submitted Undeliverable to Kirkus Indie for a review, and, today, I just got that review back. This is the first time an independent source has reviewed my writing and…drum roll please…they loved it! Everything that I wanted to accomplish with the novel made it through, and the reviewers seems to have genuinely enjoyed the book. I cannot begin to tell you all how relieved I am.

“Engaging, inventive and full of feeling, Demarest’s debut engagingly addresses what we lose when we lose someone we love.” ~ Kirkus Review

You can read the full text here.

Writing Prompt!

Following in the footsteps of Terry Border‘s art, animate an inanimate object and have it share its secret desires and ambitions with us.

Books as Actors

The artist Terry Border created an intriguing series of pieces wherein the pulp fiction versions of famous books were acting out bits of their own plot.

 

Flash Gordon was probably my favorite, but there is a whole set of them, and they raised an interesting string of thoughts. Here, the books finally got to be what they were written as, their potential being brought to actual fruition. Are our books happy sitting on shelves unending for those few brief moments that they are taken down, read, abused, enjoyed and then tossed haphazardly back onto the shelf? How do we treat these wonderful portals to new worlds? Not well, in most cases. And will that ever come back to haunt us?

Anyway, shaking off the maudlin thoughts, enjoy a few more of the book art pieces, and check out the rest of his site for entertaining and unique pieces.

 

 

 

Writing Prompt!

Evanovich’s problem is that her characters never learn from their mistakes. Go back to your writing and make sure that your characters actually move forward and develop in a realistic fashion–for the better OR the worse.

Anyone like a Plum?

Janet Evanovich has done it again. Takedown Twenty is a thoroughly entertaining and brilliantly funny slap-dash adventure featuring Stephanie Plum. In this installment of this comedy of errors, Stephanie is tasked with bringing down a popular figure in Trenton, even though everyone knows he’s a wet work guy. They all still view him as the lovable old man.

 

Evanovich had a bit of a slump a few books ago where they felt rushed and tired, but she’s back to full form with this book and if you’re looking for a slapstick comedy with an engaging plot, this is definitely your kind of read. My only complaint with her novels, as I stated in my last post, is that her characters never grow or change. Stephanie is in her same poorly decorated apartment, she still can’t decide between two gorgeous men, and she is still making a hash out of both her work and social life. This book is only for those who would like a bit of fun without anything heavy getting in the way.

Undeliverable Update

Most if not all of my supporters should have received their copies of Undeliverable by now, as evidenced by this wonderful picture one of said supporters posted of them reading my book.

See, see, that’s my book she is reading! How exciting…

If you haven’t gotten your book yet or are having trouble downloading your digital copy, please let me know! I will be getting the digital copy of Thea of Oz ready for distribution early next month, so watch out for that as well.

Speaking of Thea, I have a lot of copies left if anyone wants to snag one! $10 will get you a signed copy shipped right to your front door.

Undeliverable will be going on sale the first week of March, so if you like it, spread the word! I’ll let you guys know when its profile is active on Amazon and Goodreads so you guys can all go post reviews! You’re the best.