What are your favorite books?

[Mara]

I'm half tempted to post a little snippet from my old story on my blog, just for the fun of it. I had trees whose seeds had to be planted a human heart and then watered with human blood, and then an entire society went all cannibalistic - it was wonderfully gory. I was really into cannibalism when I was younger; read too many sea stories with island head hunters. And then, after I had massacred practically all but two characters, I couldn't figure out how to end the story. Having recently read Jules Verne, I decided to blow the whole island up with a volcano. ;)

[Hazel]

Haha! oh my goodness, that is gory :P Yeah, mine were still confined to battle scenes. I just finished writing a battle scene...then I had to eat lots of random snack food :P I get so hungry after writing battles scenes!

[Emily :)]

well i am still that age 13 to be exact. i love battle scenes but i am definitely not that gory Mara. i would get sick if i read a book with that much blood and guts in it. :)

[Hazel]

You don't have to add gore to battle scenes. It's all preference ;) I usually go for the more realistic because I write historical fiction, especially in the medieval time period. My Highwayman novel was not nearly as gory as some of my other ones because it was set during the romantic 1600s where they used rapiers instead of broadswords.

[Mara]

I'm not that gory anymore, Emily. ;) My early writing definitely contained too much detail, but I had just recently discovered Iain Lawrence and Michael Cadnum (two very gory writers; they have wonderful stories and they write very well, and they also know their anatomy lessons), and I was fascinated by it. I was a strange child. Now that my writing has matured, I know when gore is unnecessary and when a little bit more detail is required. Like with anything else, too much gore detracts from a story. There are ways to convey violence without describing gray matter and organs. Actually, I would use my early story as an example of "don't write like this unless you want your Reader to lose their lunch!" ;)

[Hazel]

Haha, we should both put up stuff from our old stories and say "Don't do this..." I have an old torture scene that is so cheesy because my baddie was just laughing maniacally through the whole thing. It's really funny to look back on it though :P And then it's back to the eating scenes. Don't feed your characters too much or they will get fat!

[Mara]

We should. Surprisingly, I don't have any old torture scenes. Oh, wait, that's not true; there was that one character that was slowly flayed. That was pretty badly written. The major problem I have with eating scenes is I have too much fun describing the food (especially if the character has just witnessed a torture and there happens to be meat dishes).

[Hazel]

*dying laughing* At least now I know I'm not the only person with a morbid sense of humor :P Several years ago, for some reason, I wrote an alternate history story about Guy Fawkes and it was about 40,000 words, half of that was torture scenes because I had done research into the time period and wanted to put in everything I had learned ;P That was one no one else ever read, haha.

[Emily :)]

eating scenes usually go by fast for me. sometimes i will just say what they have then have a conversation while they are eating. Torture always excited me in movies and stuff and when i daydream (something that actually helps with ideas for my stories) i like torture but i havent written a torture scene in a story. i love battles though and have a lot of fun writing and reading them.

[Hazel]

You should read my blog post "Practical Torture for your Villain" ;) here's the link if you want to: http://hazelwest.blogspot.com/2011/09... Yeah, my villain, Jack Moore from "Freedom Come All Ye" was really nasty and there were several torture scenes in that book. Since then I haven't really written any, but my Victorian novel will probably have some (mwah-ha) Time to hand out the waivers to the characters ;)

[Emily :)]

haha waivers might be a good idea. ;) i will look at your blog soon whenever i can find time.

[Hazel]

;) Most of my articles are written from a funny perspective, but I hope they help people.

[Emily :)]

humor i think will help people remember it better.

[Mara]

My characters don't get waivers; it's a "sign in blood or leave now." ;) But of course, as soon as I try to exercise my "authorly authority" my characters cross their arms, cock their eyebrows, and say, "Uh-huh. You're going to make us do that, are you? See that exit door? Force us to do something and we can all walk out, and you won't have a story left." Sigh. ;)

Dinner scenes can be a great set-up for longs conversations.

[Hazel]

Hehe, I never said they didn't sign the waivers in blood :P Yeah, I find it funny that some characters will just cry on your shoulder all the time because you abuse them or don't do something. Roster from "Ballad" is like that for me. That's why I cast him lead roll in the sequel :P

[Mara]

I have one character that has been crying on my shoulder, and it's everything I can do to resist the temptation to allow him to live. Why does he have to be such a likable character?! I don't want to kill him! And then, of course, there's my little street urchin; he doesn't die, but a lot of bad things happen to him, so I have to give him comfort a lot of times after a particularly vicious scene.

[Hazel]

Aww, yeah I know what you mean. I think I'm going to join the street urchin abuse club pretty soon since I think some of them are going to get the worse end of my villain's evilness.

By the way, I did post another short excerpt of my book on my blog if anyone is interested.

[Mara]

That, unfortunately, is the role of street urchins. They are there is illicit the sympathy and pity of the Reader, and to be the bearers of some important fact that will help the protagonist solve the case. ;)

Yay! I'm going to read it!

[Hazel]

Well I have my main street urchin too who helps Anthony (my protag) find out stuff. I am really loving the cast for this book. I think they're going to be really fun to work with ;)

[Mara]

I hope that that's the next story you work on; I'm excited to hear more about it. It sounds awesome!

[Hazel]

I'm going to have to do a lot of research for it before I can write it. And the plot needs work. I have to figure out why exactly my baddie is so bad. I have some ideas but haven't worked them all out yet.

[Emily :)]

i think it sounds cool. i usually just write and then smooth out the problems afterwards or whenever they come to me. if i wait i lose the idea and it doesnt sound as good to me anymore.

[Mara]

Most of my stories go through a long waiting period. I have an idea, and then I let it sit in my head for a while - sometimes for a very long while - until it's ready to be written. It's a dangerous way of writing (as you pointed out, Emily, you run the risk of losing the idea), but it seems to work.

[Hazel]

Actually, Mara, a lot of times it's better to plan out a story first. Most of the better ones I've written have been the result of months of thinking before hand, waiting for the book to almost write itself. Sometimes when you just start things you don't know where you're going and you end up having to change more later on.

By the way, I started the first chapter of my mystery novel and when I finish it, I'll send it to both of you if you want to read it and see what you think ;)

[Emily :)]

i would love to read it Hazel!

and i guess you are right about the planning my stories go through a long editing and revising stage.

[Hazel]

I'll send you the chapter soon, Emily, I'm just going to edit it first =) I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out thought. I love Anthony as the narrator.

[Emily :)]

thanks. i cant wait to see how it looks. i have no doubt it is good though ;)

[Mara]

Yay! A chapter! I'm excited! *grin* Love the name Anthony, by the way.

[Hazel]

I love that name too, I've been waiting to use it ;) I'll send you the chapter in a minute, Mara =)

[Emily :)]

it was really exciting i think i am going to like Anthony's character a lot and Tobias too. they are both really interesting characters.

[Hazel]

Thanks! Good to know ;)

[Mara]

Oh! On the topic of favorite books; I finally got my very own copy of "Ripper" by Stefan Petrucha yesterday! It's so pretty! :)

[Hazel]

Yay! Yeah, I bought that one a couple months ago. I keep trying to get a copy of Scorpio Races but the bloody bookstore doesn't have it and they had twenty copies not all that long ago!! I guess I'll have to order it.

[Mara]

I was putting off buying "Ripper" because I was hoping that I'd be lucky enough to win the giveaway. Sadly, I have never been lucky with such things, and I didn't win, so I finally decided that I could use part of my B&N gift card (graduation present from library staff) to buy it.

*laughs* That's funny about "The Scorpio Races," because I had a similar thing happen with me when I kept trying to buy it. Walmart for the longest time had about 20 copies in stock, but I wasn't willing to do a faith-buy, so I didn't get it. Then I read it, fell in love, and went to Walmart to get it because they had it for cheaper than B&N. And of course Walmart no longer had any copies, and they haven't gotten any in since. I finally just went to B&N's website and ordered it; I get lovely discounts on their web because I have membership.

[Hazel]

Oddly enough I don't have a membership to B&N. I had one for Borders, but never got around the getting the other one. Mainly because it's 20$ to start up and I never have any extra money with me. And also I usually buy most of my books online anyway.

You know, I used to be really lucky about winning things, but not anymore. I keep entering giveaways and I never win any of them :P

[Mara]

It is irksome that every time you renew your B&N membership, you have to shell out another $25, but the online discount and the free 1-3 day shipping makes it worth it. But my parents are the ones paying for it, so that's easy for me to say. ;)

I think I have three more giveaways I'm waiting to get results on. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll win one of them. But I probably won't. Sigh. ;)

[Hazel]

Well, my dad has an Amazon prime account for business so I get free two-day shipping ordering from his account which is awesome when you pre order things because they usually get here the day before ;)

[Mara]

That's a good deal. :) Yeah, when B&N says "you'll get your package in 1-3 business days!" that means, "you'll get it on the 3rd day, at the latest hour we deliver." ;)

[Hazel]

Yeah, I imagine so, haha ;P

[Emily :)]

i dont normally have books delivered. i would much rather get up and go to the bookstore and pick up the book myself. also it gives me a chance to check out the other books they have. :)

[Hazel]

I would much rather do that too, but a lot of books I want I can't find in the stores. I love to spend hours looking in the bookstore though because then you can actually look at books you might like to read ;)

[Mara]

I absolutely love picking books up in store, too. But B&N cuts their regular prices 40% online - even for people without a membership - and with my only buying hardcovers, I've reverted my shopping to online. Except with Powell's, of course, because I live within driving distance of it. (yay me! ;) When I go into B&N's store, I do scouting because I don't like to browse online.

[Hazel]

Lucky you (grr *jealousy*) :P Amazon is pretty good with hardbacks too, especially with new releases and when they bring out paperback additions. I got several of the Ranger's Apprentice books in hardcover really cheep because they were about to release them in paperback.

[Mara]

I know; I'm quite lucky. *smug grin* No, actually I feel great sympathy for people who've never been to Powell's; it's a pretty amazing bookstore. I don't know how I went so many years without going there myself. I actually haven't done all that much ordering from Amazon; I should. I've never had any complaints about the books I have ordered from them. Alibris.com is a good used book website, too. The only complaint I have about that website is their prices may be outstanding, but they do kill you on shipping.

[Hazel]

Just don't ever order Amazon's "special" used book deals. They do not come as described. But the other sellers are usually pretty good. Yes, even if I didn't want to go to the West Coast anyway, I would go for Powell's ;)

[Emily :)]

i have never been to Powell's but it sounds great. i stopped using the Barnes and Nobles that is close to me because it is soo small and i couldn't find any books that i am looking for.

[Hazel]

Mine is big, the only problem is that it's attached to a mall and there are sooo many people in it, it's never quiet enough. Depends on the day/time you go though.

[Mara]

If you ever make a trip to the West Coast, Hazel, I can draw up a list of lots of really awesome used bookstores not only in Portland, but Seattle as well. There's a little one near the University of Washington that I just love - it looks so tiny from the outside, but inside it's really big, and the proprieter is so nice, and they've just got lots of wonderful books - especially if you're looking for hard-to-find classics.

The B&N I go to is fairly large as well. They recently re-organized everything (which it desperately needed), but I don't shop instore often because most of the books there are paperbacks. I love going on scouting missions there, though, and hanging out in the cafe. There aren't usually too many people there, but I usually manage to time my visits earlier in the day, or later in the evening. And there's a wonderful look nook that's perfect for reading when all of the chairs are taken up (which is always).

[Hazel]

That would be awesome! I have got to get up there eventually. It's my idea of the perfect environment. ;)

My B&N is the place I escape to when my friends and I go out. It's like, okay, I'm done socializing, now it's time to bury myself in books ;)

[Mara]

At risk of sounding like I'm bragging, the West Coast is very beautiful. Between the ocean and the mountains, it's got wonderful countryside for writers to get inspired. But, we also have that wonderful British weather: rain. Practically 24/7 We don't have four seasons over here; we have two. Winter and Spring. ;)

lol Whenever my mom has long town errands or doctor appointments, I'm like, "Drop me off at B&N and don't feel the need to hurry."