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Blogs from the month of June 2011. Continual ExcitmentLast week my husband and I were in New York City. This was probably evident by the lousy posts. We had never been to NYC before and I had wanted to go since I was in high school. We purchased the airplane tickets back in February and found an inexpensive sublet and methodically planned what we wanted to see while we were there. We both have lived in relatively small towns for the majority of our lives and while we have both visited large cities, none were quite as impressive as NYC. We ran around NYC taking in all of the sites and in general feeling overwhelmed with the people, noise, smell, and activities. Going from a city where the majority of the restaurants close at 10 we were stunned by Times Square. We walked around the city amazed that it never stopped. Granted where we were staying grew quieter but still at one a clock in the morning we could hear the sirens and noises of the city. We went to the museums, saw performances, toured the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, ate exotic food, and in a week only rode in an automobile to and from the airport. After eight days, we were more than happy to return to our mountains and green valley. I will be happy to have evenings when ten things aren't going on at once so I will have an opportunity to read my book. I don't need the continual excitement from the city but I am glad that we went. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime for us.
Book Review Blind Justice
BLIND JUSTICE is told from the perspective of a boy named Jeremy Proctor in 18th century London. Jeremy works as an assistant for Sir John Fielding, who is a blind magistrate. Between the two of them, they investigate the apparent suicide of Lord Goodhope. During this time, magistrates worked as detective and judge in the court system. This novel covers both the detective work and the proceeding court case. Sir John Fielding was a real blind magistrate who made a name for himself. Not only did he help his brother to form the first professional police force, but he was said to be able to recognize roughly three thousand criminals by their voices. BLIND JUSTICE, and the other books in the series, aren't completely historically accurate but they are filled with interesting information. If you are looking for a new mystery series to start, this one is fascinating and entertaining. All of the books are good and I would recommend reading them in the order they were published because the characters grow, age, and change as the series progresses.
Writing Tip Sentence LengthI have heard a myriad of reasons for using long sentences and short sentences. My belief is that there should be a good mixture in your regular prose. For more technical pieces of information, such as world building, magic or technology, it is best to use short sentences, especially if there are multiple new words. This is from my experience as a technical writer. You can always show off your amazing writing skill later in the story, but if your reader doesn't understand the important facts from the beginning, the likelihood of them finishing the story is small. At a conference I went to recently, one of the panels talked about reading levels. The longer the sentence is, the higher the reading level. The same goes with syllables in a word. Generally speaking, if a word has multiple syllables, it is on a higher reading level. Most of the time when we think of writing books for an older audience, we think of making sure we have a higher reading level. This means longer sentences and more complex words. While having a higher reading level can be scholarly, that doesn't necessarily mean that is what the readers want. Most people read books to escape and if they have to look up every one in ten words, they could get discourage. Ernest Hemingway is known for his short succinct sentences. While we don't have to be quite as succinct as he was, maybe we can learn from the fact that his story Old Man and the Sea is technically at a 4.3 grade level. There is nothing wrong with having short sentences so long as it fits with the story and flows well.
Dark YA LiteratureRecently the Wall Street Journal had an article about contemporary young adult literature. I read through the article and found myself torn on some of the aspects but what I really took from the article is the fact that this particular author didn't mention all of the other great pieces of young adult literature coming out. They just mentioned the ones that really push the boundaries. Just like every other aspect of media there is a light side and a dark side. While I wouldn't read or recommend some of the books mentioned in the article, I have a long list of recent young adult books (not to mention some classics) I would love to give anyone who wants something for their teen to read that doesn't have all of the darkness. As with everything else in this world, there is something for everyone. (Just don't always expect to find it on the shelf. Most book stores nowadays only carry what is trending and if you want something other than that you will have better luck looking online then in a brick and mortar store.)
Book Review I am Number Four
The plot line of the book is actually intriguing. Nine children are sent away from a dying world. They are to be the legacy of the planet and hopefully someday will stop the Mogadorians. The children are given numbers (1-9) and they are protected by a ward that they can only be killed in order of their number. It doesn't sound like much protection but it is something. Four and his "Father" move around the United States trying to stay ahead of the Mogadorians and then Four meets a girl named Sarah. With so many new books being around a dystopic society or a paranormal horror I was pleased that I AM NUMBER FOUR falls into the science fiction category and deals with aliens. There seems to be a shortage of science fiction in YA and this one is a great way to break a new generation into a world with aliens and space travel. This book was a fun read. I like the idea behind the characters and I am curious to see where this will go in the sequel, which comes out in August.
Writing Tip Writing ActionThis is one of the few times where I would specify sentence length. Even when we are reading silently we notice punctuation in the way we breathe. Having sentences that are short will get the reader to breath more rapidly. This can simulate an accelerated heart-rate and give your actions sequences more of a punch. Knowing that you need to write short sentences is not the only thing to keep in mind when writing action. The other trouble with writing action is making it sound realistic, and not that it is a play-by-play of a video game arena battle. It is really easy to focus on the people involved in the fight and the technical details of the attacks which turns into: Jerry attacked with a right hook. John dodged out of the way and did a roundhouse kick. Jerry rolled to the right. He kicked with his right foot, connecting with John's knee. John fell to the floor gasping in pain. Instead you can focus on character's emotions, or even objects to help smooth out the fight. (I don't normally write one on one fight scenes.) Jerry lifted his hands, watching John closely. He knew it would be difficult to win. His first punch went wide. John attacked. Jerry rolled to the right. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He wanted to wipe it away but instead kicked. He wasn't a fighter. But, he needed to keep the other man away. It connected with John's knee. The man fell to the floor. Jerry looked down at the figure gasping in pain. He didn't want it to end this way.
ChairpersonA couple of months ago I accepted a leadership position with the admonishment of "Don't screw this up or they will never trust us again." I have volunteered for various positions before but never one that has been so important in that I have to keep track of documents, money, and sound educated at the same time. I am a fairly organized person and this was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. This last week I realized I had been making a consistent mistake from the beginning of it all. A kind of mistake that isn't earth shattering but enough that if I played my cards wrong I could fall into the "Don't trust again" category. My first response was panic (which is how I respond to a lot of things). I had several plans running through my mind, all of them bad. I called a friend and presented my problem. He explained that it wasn't really a mistake and that all I needed to do was ask people for the needed information. Still feeling foolish and panicked, I emailed people asking for the information I should have noticed was missing. All of the emails I have received in reply have been people saying thank you for giving them a chance to give me the information and not disqualifying them for one reason or another. Not only have I gained an appreciate for the people in charge, but I have a better understanding of how to be a better participant and follower. I will never ever complain about rules again, at least not in the presence of those who set the rules and I will not be afraid to ask questions.
17 June 2011 Book Review Robert MunschRobert Munsch is a Canadian children's book author. Though he is probably best known for the book LOVE YOU FOREVER, I have a few other books of his I love which maybe aren't as well known. I highly recommend going to his website (http://robertmunsch.com) because he explains the inspiration behind each of his books which are just as interesting as the stories themselves.
Writing Tip Police SketchesA physical description of characters is important, and as authors we only get a few chances to reminder the readers how they look. What you don't want to do is give a police sketch of your characters. While that gets all of the important information out, it is rather dry and not memorable. Instead try including the description within the flow of the story. Give the description through another character and not as an omniscient narrator. Each character will see the world differently and, therefore, the other characters differently. Using this technique will give you the opportunity to give multiple, fresh, and memorable descriptions. For the example I am going to use one of my characters named Samson. Police Sketch: Samson was six-foot-one with light brown hair that he kept short. He sported a well trimmed goatee. He was quite muscular with calloused, scarred hands. Yvette's Perspective: Yvette liked to feel tall, so she often sported high heels. But, standing next to Samson she saw she was still an inch shorter even though she wore the shoes that made her an even six feet. He wore a stocking cap, which covered all of his hair, but if his goatee was any judge it would be a light brown color. Grease stains covered his clothes and his calloused hands reminded her that he was a mechanic. She nodded to him and continued walking without comment. William's Perspective: William leaned against the bulkhead and watched as Samson worked. It amazed him that someone of Samson's build could fit in the available space next to the generator. Tools littered the ground. William nudged one over to a waiting, calloused hand and Samson murmured his thanks. Samson pulled himself up wiping his hands on his trousers and scratching his jaw. When William last saw Samson he hadn't sported a goatee but it was one more thing that suited them both. William ran his hands through his own shaggy hair, wishing to cut it short but then it would be too much like Samson's. These are probably really cheesy examples but hopefully it shows the difference. By presenting the information through a character and not just as a narration you can learn about both characters and have multiple views.
Stuck in the MiddleMy husband and I are in the middle of a relocation. The only problem is we don't know how long this middle is going to last. The reason behind this is my husband got a new job, it was unexpected but wanted. The problem is that from our current location he would have a 2.5 hour commute, one way. This is just not feasible. I am just glad he had relatives that would let him sleep at their house for a week while we organize things. While we sell our house, we are going to be living at a half-way apartment. Once the house sells, we will start looking for a new permanent residence. The most exciting part of this move is the fact that the contest I am over ended last week. At least with the majority of the furniture out of the house I have space to organize all of the entries. Not really that much of a plus, I know. I will be glad when we have a new place to live that I can actually call my own and decorate the way I want.
24 June 2011 Book Review John Cleaver Books
The story follows a young many by the name John Wayne Cleaver. His mother and aunt are the town's morticians. He helps them prepare the bodies when they are brought in and has a fascination with bodies and death. He knows that he exhibits all of the signs of a serial killer and does his best not to become a serial killer himself. He has rules that help keep him almost normal, except for the fact that he is lacking in empathetic emotions. When a real serial killer shows up in his town he has to decide whether to break his own rules or let more people die. Though John doesn't have the same emotions that most people feel, I was always surprised at the emotions I felt. Not only did I like John, I wanted to support him, which is kind of creepy. This book kept me guessing and what was going to happen up until the end and though I don't normally read horror, I thoroughly enjoyed reading I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER. (I actually have a pin on my purse that says "I am not a serial killer" on it and no one seemed to even notice it for the first six months I owned it, and now it seems like every other day someone mentions it. I always smile and say "Don't you feel reassured?")
With the initial serial killer dead John is feeling pretty good about his situation in life. The only problem is that by letting his barriers down to kill the monster, he is letting out his own monster. He doesn't have the same control over his desires that he did before. If that isn't enough, another killer comes to town and John is thrown into the middle of everything. He is forced to choose between his own humanity and the lives of those around him. As I mentioned earlier, this book is definitely the one that creeped me out the most. Though most of the violence isn't shown, my imagination works wonders and just the vague descriptions were enough for me to get the idea. The problem with sequels is the author rehashing the same story line, but that is not the case with MR. MONSTER. This story was well written and I couldn't put it down.
This story starts off close to where the last one left. John is trying to determine if the new demon, Nobody, has accepted his challenge. Strange murders start happening and there are also a few suicides mixed in. His family life is still rough but there is a little more of an understanding between them all. That is when everything goes horribly right, and then understandably wrong. I didn't even know if John was going to succeed in this book and since I have heard Dan Wells speak on several occasions and I wouldn't put it past him to end it in a way I didn't like. This one is my favorite, by leaps and bounds. Not only do we still see the dark side, although not nearly as much as in MR MONSTER, we see another side of John that is a nice blend of his two halves. Dan Wells does a perfect job of keeping me guessing what is going to happen up until the very end. I had no idea which twist and turn the book was going to take. And while I bawled, yes, bawled through the last portion, it was perfect and I couldn't argue with anything that happened.
Writing Tip Writer's BlockWriter's block, for me, is when I don't want to write on a story anymore. It isn't that I can't write, because there is always something for me to write. This happens for two reasons. It could be that I am just bored with the project or it could be that I have no idea where I want the story to go. Either way, I just find myself easily distracted or not even trying to work on it. I learned that if this happens, to keep writing anyway. If I am bored with the project it is probably because I'm writing boring information, not action or exciting but more of background information. I just continue to push through until it gets exciting again. Then in the editing process I can get rid of the excess boriness. If I don't know where the story is going, I just continue to write. Normally my original plan was dumb anyway and the result turns out better than I anticipated. While it is frustrating when you sit down and you don't know what you want your characters to accomplish in the next chapter, it will come eventually and you can always go back through and add the appropriate foreshadowing and groundwork. The whole fact of the matter is that if you feel stuck, the worst thing you can do is to stop writing.
Age and the Art (Tactfulness) of EstimatingThis last weekend my husband and I went to a family reunion. This was for my paternal grandfather's family. There isn't an overabundance of us and I can recognize some of them on sight, though I still have a hard time with names. I just normally say "I'm so-and-so's daughter" and they reply in kind. My husband often gets questions as to who he belongs to. I normally answer that he is my husband. One relative looked at him and said "You're married? I thought you were — (Half his age.)" This isn't the first time someone has guessed his age wrong. He was very polite about it and though he laughs, I know it does kind of bother him that he looks a lot younger than he is. A lot of people tell him to be grateful he looks young, but they are probably thinking it isn't a bad thing for people to guess a couple of years younger. People are wrong about my husband's age by more than a decade. Image it this way, you are thirty and people still don't think you are old enough to vote. This is what it is like for my husband. This much of a difference isn't cool or flattering. When the situation arises that people ask for me to guess their age I always politely decline. I have been doing this for years. The main reason that I don't want to guess their age is because I am horrible at it. That is the other reason why I don't guess their age. Age is a very touchy subject for a lot of people. When I guess wrong I am either, offending them because I thought they looked older than they actually are, or offending them because they look younger than they actually are. I don't think there is a way to tactfully guess someone's age. But I guess if they ask you to, they should expect a wrong answer.
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It wasn't until I was in college that I really came to enjoy reading mysteries. It's not that I didn't like mysteries but that I had read one too many that weren't written as well as they could be. BLIND JUSTICE is in a class of its own. Bruce Alexander presents all of the information to the reader and doesn't hold back any crucial piece of evidence. Part of the reason that I enjoyed it so much was because of the characters, especially Sir John Fielding.
I had no idea that I AM NUMBER FOUR actually existed as a book until my work got tickets for the opening night of the movie. I wasn't able to go but I looked up the trailer and along the way learned that the movie was actually based on a novel. Since I am a firm believer of "Don't judge a book by its movie" I requested it at the library. While my friends didn't have raving reports on the trailer, I was pleased with the book. 
This is one of the all time best books to read to anyone, but especially little girls. THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS is a children's story that not only has a endearing plotline but fun illustrations as well. The story is fairly straightforward. A dragon attacks a castle and kidnaps the Princess Elizabeth's fiancé. Everything was destroyed in the fire, save for a single paper bag. Elizabeth dresses in the paper bag and heads off to rescue the prince from the evil dragon. Not only does this book take stereotypes and flip them on their heads, but it just leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling when you finish reading it. Children will love the witty and intelligent princess as she tries to rescue the man of her dreams.
This story is a cute one about being original and dealing with taunted. STEPHANIE'S PONYTAIL follows the story of Stephanie who decides to go to school with a ponytail. Everyone makes fun of her but she doesn't let it bother her. The next day, all of the girls have ponytails. Stephanie is irked by this but decides to do something about it. As the story goes on the situation gets more extreme but Stephanie remains calm and copes well. The illustrations just add to the quirky story and make it a fun read.
I convinced my husband that I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER would be a great anniversary present when it came out. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect all I knew was that I enjoyed listening to Dan Wells on the podcast Writing Excuses. I don't necessarily think that this book is appropriate for a young adult audience, though for me the most graphic scene was when they described how a body is prepared for burial. 
MR. MONSTER is the second book in the trilogy by Dan Wells. This one is the most gruesome of the three. As the title suggests in this book John Cleaver, the young protagonist, is not only fighting with a demon but his own internal monster as well. There comes a point in the book where there is a shift in his character and when I read it, I just wanted to cry. I really like John, which says a lot for Dan Wells if I can relate to a potential serial killer with violent desires.
I was really nervous about reading I DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU. I really enjoyed reading the first two and I knew this was going to be the last one. (Although I probably wouldn't complain if we got one more, though I am happy with the trilogy.) I was worried that it was going to end in such a manner that the main character John, didn't have any hope for the future. Despite knowing the dark side of this character, I still wanted him to have his own happy ending.