Normally I’m not one to read celebrity memoirs. Most come off as fluff pieces written by a PR person. REARVIEW MIRROR by Alana Stewart does not fall into that group.
Stewart has written a detailed look at her life without whitewashing the
bad parts. And there are bad parts. While she has seemingly lived a charmed life, she’s also had her share of troubles and heartache.
The book begins with the harrowing experience that lead Stewart to leave Texas for New York where she eventually into modeling - she was raped in her own apartment by a stranger and left for dead. The authorities seemed to think she had known the person and let them in. The rapist was never caught.
Stewart talks candidly about her childhood growing up without indoor plumbing, her mother’s drug addiction and later death, and the highs and lows of modeling. She also discusses how she came to marry and divorce actor George Hamilton and rock star Rod Stewart. She and Hamilton have remained close friends, while she and Stewart have had a rockier road to friendship after their divorce.
Her three children and their struggles are a large part of the story. She shares their highs and lows and how she dealt with them mostly as a single mother (even when she was married). She also talks briefly about her friendship with actress Farrah Fawcett and how her battle with cancer (and death) has inspired her.
While she has not divulged every secret in her life or her family’s, she has been open enough that readers can feel her pain despite having seen only glitz and glamour before. Her story is inspiring and goes to show that while life may look rosy to the world, inside there are thorns.
REARVIEW MIRROR is a compelling story that pulls readers in. The story flows smoothly at a steady pace making it hard to put down once you begin. It is filled with laughter and tears, sorrow and hope, glamour and solid foundations. In addition, Stewart has included a number of photographs from her youth, modeling career, her two marriages and her life in general.
This story may tell secrets, but it’s not a Hollywood tell-all book. It’s a story of one woman’s life from a small Texas town beginning to a life among the rich and famous, her love of her children, her growth as a person, and her desire to give back to others.
Author Alana Stewart’s website is http://www.alanastewart.com/Alana/Home.html
Rearview Mirror: A Memoir by Alana Stewart, Vanguard Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-159315074, Hardcover, 288 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Do you often see only the glitz and glamour of a celebrity’s life and forget they can have problems too? Thanks so much for stopping by today.
I’m always delighted to meet new authors, discover their books and find out more about their writing. I’d like to introduce you to author Jeffrey Stone and his latest release, PLAY HIM AGAIN, a historical mystery.
I must admit it was the cover and then synopsis of PLAY HIM AGAIN that quickly drew me in. It has such a feel to it. Here’s a brief synopsis so you can see:
It's the Roaring Twenties but silence remains golden for Hollywood. Sound is expensive. Only two studios have installed sound equipment. Matt Hudson, the preferred bootlegger of the film industry, wants to produce a talking picture but neither sound studio will lease him their facilities.
After Hud's oldest friend, con man Danny Kincaid, dupes a gangster who controls a small movie studio into buying a bogus sound device, the gangster gets wise and Danny ends up dead. To settle the score, Hud runs another con to play the gangster again. A con that will either avenge Danny and land Hud a studio, or get him killed.
While Jeffrey may be a bit new to the writing game, he has come across his share of good and bad advice related to art. I asked him to share some of that advice with us today.
The best piece of writing advice I've come across is to write the type of book you would like to read. That may seem obvious or even trite but it runs deeper than it sounds.
The obvious part is if you read predominantly in the mystery/crime/thriller genre, don't attempt to write a paranormal romance or a vampire novel or whatever genre appears to be hot right now. Stick to the genre you know best for your first book. You've absorbed a lot more about structure, plotting, craft etc. than you realize by having read all of those mystery/crime/thriller books.
The key part of the advice, for me, is to write the type of book YOU would like to read. How many times while reading a novel have you asked yourself "Why would he/she do that?" after some illogical action by a character.
Story twists and turns are intriguing and keep the reader engaged but how many times has a twist out of left field or an implausible plot development stretched your suspension of disbelief to the breaking point and diminished your enjoyment of the story? Whatever your particular peeves are, here's your chance to write a story where characters and plot and everything else develops and proceeds in a manner that YOU believe constitutes good story telling.
Anyone who reads a lot has over time, formed conceptions of what does and doesn't work for them in a story. As a writer, take great pains to leave out the things that don't work for you as a reader. Be true to your own convictions of what constitutes good story telling.
This isn't always easy. There will be times when you've set a character on a course that follows logically from the previous story events and the plot requires that character to take a certain action. Then you realize that there's some other element in your story that would keep that character from doing what you need him to do. When that happens, go back and fix it. It may be a simple fix or it may mean days of replotting and rewriting but don't ever allow yourself to take an expedient shortcut. Don't give readers cause to ask themselves "Why would he do that?"
The worst piece of advice I've read is don't expect to get constructive criticism of your writing from friends and family. Go to a third party for objective criticism. I couldn't disagree with this more.
I don't take writing classes or belong to a writers group. I don't even personally know another writer. My only source of feedback is friends and family and in my opinion, they are the ideal source. You feel very vulnerable the first time you show your writing to someone else. That alone is a good enough reason to show your work to someone you trust. Someone who cares about you for who you are and is not going to judge you on your writing ability.
Of course your friends and family want to be supportive. They want to like your writing because it's important to you. But if you can't tell their honest opinion from them just trying to be nice, you're in trouble as a writer because you have to be able to read and understand people to write believable characters.
I asked the two people I'm closest to, my best friend and my sister, to read my book. Overall, they both liked it. Neither of them liked everything about the story and they each disliked different things in the story but they both gave me their honest opinion.
I considered their feedback and made some changes but I didn't change everything they disliked because I didn't always agree with their reasoning. Their telling me they liked my book buoyed my confidence in myself as a writer and their constructive criticism made my book better.
Jeffrey, thanks for joining us today. You made some very helpful points with both good and bad advice. I like the fact that while you considered the advice of your first readers, you didn’t change everything they disliked.
PLAY HIM AGAIN is the first book in Jeffrey’s new Matt Hudson Series so hopefully we will be seeing much more of both in the near future.
What advice would you give to a new writer just starting out? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be sure to keep out an eye out for my review of PLAY HIM AGAIN on Nov. 4th.
Author/singer Sonia Korn-Grimani is making stops throughout blogdom
on her WOW Blog Tour with her haunting memoir, SONIA’S SONG. I had the pleasure of welcoming two of her editors here last week to talk about Sonia’s memorable story.
I also had the pleasure of reading SONIA’S SONG and listening to the music from her beautiful album, Chansons de ma Vie: Songs of Love from Around the World. SONIA’S SONG is her story of triumph over the devastation of her life during World War II as an seven-year-old "enemy of the state." Sonia lived through the ordeal and went on to become a singer on both radio and television, as well as French tutor to the Queen of Malaysia.
Thanks to Sonia and the good folks at WOW, I have a downloadable gift bag to giveaway to one lucky visitor. The gift bag will include: an eBook copy of SONIA’S SONG (winner’s choice of either e-pub, mobi, or .pdf) and an iTunes download of Sonia’s music CD “Chansons de ma Vie: Songs of Love from Around the World.” The giveaway is open internationally. Please see the end of the post for the guidelines.
Sonia was born just as Hitler began his rise to power in 1931. By the time she was seven years old, she was declared an enemy of the German State. Being from a Jewish family, Sonia and her family were given a grim option - they could disappear or be rounded up and sent to certain death.
They escaped and had to live in hiding from persecution until she was placed in an orphanage three years later. There Sonia and more than 20 other Jewish children were disguised as Catholic orphans and kept near starvation by the corrupt proprietress of the orphanage. One saving grace for Sonia during these hardships was her ability to sing. Following the war Sonia immigrated to Australia and became an international sensation of radio and television.
SONIA’S SONG is a complex story following a young girl’s tragedy and sadness in the wake of a devastating war, how she survived, and used her singing to spread hope and love. It’s a story of never giving up and a family love and dedication. It’s a story of overcoming adversity and living life with a passion.
The story flows smoothly and pulls the reader in, holding them captive till the end. It is filled with moments of laughter, tears, joy, sadness, rage (for me as a reader at what she endured) and hope. It depicts the determination of a young girl and the horrors she (and so many others) had to face just to survive.
This is also a reminder that war effects more than just those fighting. Despite that the author focuses on moving forward and not dwelling on the sadness. It’s an amazing and inspiring story that will touch your heart and remain with you long after the last paragraph is read.
Sonia’s companion album, Chansons de ma Vie: Songs of Love from Around the World, is a collection of beautifully haunting melodies. These are tender and uplifting melodies are rare recordings from Sonia’s radio and television programs, as well as her out-of-print vinyl recordings, spanning her long and celebrated career.
Author Sonia Korn-Grimani’s website is http://soniassong.claygrouse.com/.
Sonia’s Song by Sonia Korn-Grimai, Clay Grouse Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-0984555833, Paperback, 204 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book and downloadable album were sent to me as part of the author’s blog tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Sonia‘s Song Gift Bag.” Your message should include your name. The contest is open internationally. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win the downloadable gift bag will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Oct. 25. Remember the gift bag will include: an eBook copy of SONIA’S SONG (winner’s choice of either e-pub, mobi, or .pdf) and an iTunes download of Sonia’s music CD “Chansons de ma Vie: Songs of Love from Around the World.”
Do you enjoy reading memoirs? What about true stories set during war-torn times? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you have a great day.
I wasn’t sure what to expect listening to a book reportedly written by a T.V. character. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the action and suspense that ended with me looking forward to the next installment.
Narrator Johnny Heller does a wonderful job bringing the characters to
life. He gives each their own distinct voice making it easy to keep up with the characters’ exchanges. His cadence will make you laugh at the humor and hold your breath when the suspense takes over.
NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat is being shadowed by reporter Jameson Rook, who she is also romantically involved with. When an unidentified woman is found stabbed and frozen in a deliver truck, Heat gets the case. But when she discovers the woman is stuffed into her own dead mother’s suitcase, Heat’s investigation takes a drastic turn.
With Rook’s help, Heat begins to reinvestigate her mother’s murder, as well as the frozen woman’s. Learning the frozen woman was best friends with her mother leads Heat and Rook on a journey to Paris and back. Battling an incompetent captain, missing key pieces of evidence, and several attempts on her life, Heat is determined to find the killer of both women no matter the cost to herself.
The action is fast-paced filled with tension, suspense, a bit of romance, a touch of humor, and some surprising turns. The twist at the end brings the story to a close, but opens a lead for Heat and Rook’s next adventure.
The story is a good take-off from Castle. Many of the characters could be based on the characters of the show. If you’re a fan of the T.V. show Castle, then FROZEN HEAT is a must read (or listen). This is the four installment in the Nikki Heat series, but is a stand alone story.
Whoever author Richard Castle is, he’s done a terrific job with FROZEN HEAT.
Author Richard Castle’s website is www.richardcastle.net
Frozen Heat by Richard Castle, A Nikki Heat Novel, Read by Johnny Heller, Hyperion Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1401326302, Unabridged, 9 Discs, Listening Time: 11 Hours
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Are you a fan of the show Castle? If so, what elements draws you back each week? Has anyone else read any of the Nikki Heat series? Thanks so much for stopping by today.
I am delighted to welcome author Pamela King Cable here today as partof her WOW Blog Tour for her latest release, TELEVENGE - a novel filled with drama, excitement, secrets, love, hate and of course, televangelism.
Here’s a brief synopsis of it:
TELEVENGE is a detailed, expertly plotted mystery/suspense/romance novel; the gripping tale of a young woman, Andie Oliver, trying to keep faith in her handsome husband, Joe, and their marriage. As Joe spends more time with a local Televangelist, the Godfather in a Mafia of holy men, her faith is shaken and her suspicion of the Reverend Calvin Autry deepens. As this brilliantly paced novel unfolds, Andie is tested in every way a woman can be, until she decides to fight back! Evading ruthless adversaries who will go to any lengths to protect Reverend Artury, Andie confronts the very definition of sin, shaking the Christian evangelical world to its core.
Thanks to Pamela and Jodi at WOW, I have one copy of TELEVENGE to giveaway to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for the guidelines.
Pamela joins us to tell what was the inspiration behind her creating this intriguing novel.
TELEVENGE was inspired by my spirituality and my own story. My mother says I cut my teeth on the back of a church pew. I grew up first as a Baptist and then as a Pentecostal—a fundamentalist, attending revivals in tents, tabernacles, and clapboard churches. Eventually, I became an evangelical, joining a church where I experienced a world that encompassed both the sublime and the bizarre.
For twenty-five years, I was a member of a mega-church operated by a TV evangelist. As part of its inner circle, I was married to a ministry team member for seventeen of those years. My husband traveled with this televangelist who held mammoth faith-healing crusades all over the world. Under much distress, I left the church in 1988 losing everything in the wake of my rebellion, including my husband in a bitter divorce.
Although TELEVENGE is a novel about the dark side of televangelism, it is also about the light of unconditional love. I write about my passions, what moves me, what shoots out of me like a rocket. I wrote TELEVENGE to help myself heal; to show that “pastors are human”; and to encourage others struggling in dogmatic churches to share their stories.
Having interviewed over 100 people who left their churches for many of the same reasons I did, I was inspired by their incredible courage, their unbearable losses, and for many, their tug-of-war with their former pastor for a family member.
For me, it is within sanctuaries of brick and mortar; places of clapboard and canvas that characters hang ripe for picking. From the primitive church services of the mountain clans to the baptisms and sacraments in cathedrals and synagogues all over the world. From the hardworking men and women who testify in every run-down house of God in America to the charismatic high-dollar high-tech evangelicals televised in today’s mega-churches, therein lie stories of unspeakable conflict, the forbidden, and often, the unexplained.
Pamela, thank you for joining us today and giving us an inside look at the world of televangelism. It’s an intriguing story.
Here’s what others are saying about TELEVENGE:
“A captivating, beautifully rendered, and unforgettable look at a world so few of us understand. Ms. Cable has courageously opened the door...and my eyes.” - Lesley Kagen, NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author of Good Graces.
“Pamela King Cable has written a masterpiece with Televenge! Intricately woven, extremely well plotted, and saturated with details
that bring it to life, the story touched me on an emotional level unparalleled in my 35-year career as a journalist! Worthy of the big screen, Televenge is simply the best novel I've ever read!” - Penny Shreve, award-winning journalist, Wayne County Press, Illinois.
“Pamela King Cable's first novel, Televenge, tugs at your heartstrings as you experience Andie's life journey. Ms. Cable masterfully weaves a tale about the dark side of an evangelist's soul and the unending love of a young woman. You will not want to stop reading! It has you hooked from the beginning to very last page.” - Tammie Merrill, blogger/author, Carolina Heartstrings.
Pamela was born a coal miner’s granddaughter and raised by a tribe of wild Pentecostals and storytellers. She is an award-winning, multi-published author who loves to write about religion and spirituality with paranormal twists she unearths from her family’s history.
Pamela studied creative writing at The University of Akron and Kent State University. She has taught at many writing conferences, and speaks to book clubs, women’s groups, national and local civic organizations, and at churches across the country.
Nearly a decade in the writing, TELEVENGE is her debut novel. She lives in Ohio with her husband, Michael, and is currently working on her next novel.
For more on Pamela and her writing, visit her website at http://www.pamelakingcable.com/index.html. You can also find TELEVENGE on Twitter with the hash tag #televenge.
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter this giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win TELEVENGE.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance at a copy of TELEVENGE will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Here’s a book trailer for TELEVENGE that I hope will spark your interest in this enthralling read.
Have you ever had any dealing with a televangelist and/or a mega-church? Thanks so much for stopping by.
The U.S. edition of author D.J. McIntosh’s acclaimed debut novel,
THE WITCH OF BABYLON (a Forge Hardcover), is slated for release tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 16) and I’m delighted to welcome her here today.
THE WITCH OF BABYLON is an international treasure-hunting adventure of lost relics, ancient sorcery, and alchemy. The enthralling novel has an extremely successful track record. While still unpublished, it was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award in 2007 and awarded the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished Crime Novel the following year. After its release by Penguin Canada in 2011, THE WITCH OF BABYLON was named a Top Five Mystery/Thriller for 2011 by Amazon Canada, and the mass market edition was recently included in a list of summer recommendations on the site. It has since been sold in nineteen countries, and the mass market held a top five spot on The Globe and Mail bestseller list.
Thanks to D.J. and Alexis at Tor/Forge, I have a copy of THE WITCH OF BABYLON to giveaway today. Be sure to see the end of the post for the guidelines.
Here’s a brief description of the book:
John Madison is a Turkish-American art dealer raised by his much older brother, Samuel, a mover and shaker in New York’s art world. Caught between his brother’s obsession with saving a priceless relic looted from Iraq’s National Museum and a deadly game of revenge staged by his childhood friend, John must solve a puzzle to find the link between a modern-day witch and an ancient one. Kidnapped by villainous fortune hunters, John is returned to Iraq where a fabulous treasure trove awaits discovery—if he can stay alive long enough to find it.
Gripping and thought-provoking, THE WITCH OF BABYLON is a fascinating tale rooted in little-known ancient Assyrian lore and its profound significance for the world
D.J. joins us today and has graciously answered some questions for me about her book and her writing.
Mason - I understand you first got hooked on mysteries by reading Earle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason series. Why not write about courtroom drama instead of ancient Assyrians and Babylonians of Mesopotamia?
D.J. - The Perry Mason series was one of my first introductions to crime and mystery novels; reading them made me a lifelong convert to suspense fiction. That, however, was quite long ago. More recently I’ve found I especially love reading historical novels, antiquity thrillers like those written by Umberto Eco (Name of the Rose) or Kate Mosse (Labyrinth). I like reading novels that are suspenseful and have a great story line but also offer us an opportunity to learn about some aspect of history or a new culture. When the opportunity opened up for me to begin my own novel, I naturally gravitated to what I like to read.
Mason - Have you been inspired by other authors?
D.J. - So many there isn’t space to list them all! In the crime and mystery genre I love and admire the work of Michael Koryta, James Rollins, Ellis Peters, Daphne Du Maurier and Louis Bayard. I just finished Thomas H Cook’s “The Quest for Anna Klein” and thought it was amazing!
Mason - What is the best advice you've been given about writing that you pass on to writers just beginning?
D.J. - Guess I’d pass along some advice that was given to me from a highly esteemed literary agent who said very well written manuscripts often cross his desk but it’s the ones with a unique premise that really get his attention. For example, serial killer novels seem a dime a dozen now but add a unique premise – like a novel I’ve read recently called the Bloodman, that is set in the midst of the worst hurricane to hit the eastern coast in decades, and you have brought something unique to the genre.
Mason - What was research like for this book (THE WITCH OF BABYLON)?
D.J. - Very long (it took years) and intensive. I became captivated by the subject matter – alchemy and ancient Mesopotamia – but knew very little about either. In short, I was a complete neophyte. Scholarly books and especially the wealth of material available through the web were my main sources . The more I got to know and respect the subject matter, the more pressure I felt to accurately reflect those fascinating times, cultures and beliefs.
Mason - What can readers expect in Book Two of your Mesopotamian trilogy and when will it be available?
D.J. - Book Two is well underway, titled: THE BOOK OF STOLEN TALES. In it, John Madison searches for a rare 17th century book – the first anthology of European fairy tales. As his quest deepens, he finds the dark origins of these tales come alarmingly to life. He’s eventually led to one famous tale in particular with links to the Mesopotamian location of Hades, a real archaeological site.
It will be out first from Penguin Canada in late May 2013.
D.J., thanks so much for joining us today and answering these questions for me. Learning background on a book is always interesting to me. The research you did sounds intriguing.
Now a little background on D.J. She is the former co-editor of the Crime Writers of Canada's newsletter, Fingerprints, and is a Toronto-based writer of novels and short mystery fiction. Her short story "The Hounds of Winter", published in Blood on the Holly by Baskerville Books (Toronto, 2007), was nominated for the 2008 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story. "A View to Die For" appeared in Bloody Words: The Anthology, also published by Baskerville Books (Toronto, 2003). D.J. graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Toronto. She is a member of the Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies. In addition, she is a strong supporter of Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Nowadays, when not staring at the proverbial computer screen, or walking her golden retriever, D.J. indulges in the great venues that a big metropolis has to offer: films, galleries and museums and a special affection for any live music that features rock/blues guitar. In the summer, she swings to the polar opposite of this and spend four or so months enjoying the famous sunsets and wild beauty of Lake Huron shores at her cottage.
THE WITCH OF BABYLON was named one of ‘Six Historical Adventures to Get You Hooked’ by CNN. Here’s what others are saying about this fascinating story:
“McIntosh combines stellar research with superb writing skills.” — The Globe and Mail
“…a book so good, everyone should buy it twice.” — National Post
“Mysterious. Exotic. And even contentious. Meet The Witch of Babylon’s author D.J. McIntosh.” — Michael F. Steward, The Big Thrill
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win THE WITCH OF BABYLON.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of THE WITCH OF BABYLON (ISBN: 978-0765333667), a 416-page hardcover, will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Oct. 22.
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Sunday Salon brings visions of a quiet day relaxing, curled up with a cup of hot coffee and a good book taking a break from the busy day-to-day activities.
As we know, books come in all shapes, sizes, colors and formats nowadays. I still enjoy the feel of a book in my hands, turning the pages eager to find what awaits on the next page. But, as many of you know, I also enjoy audio books.
Listening to an audio book allows me the pleasure of ‘reading’ a book while I do things that must be done - driving, cooking, cleaning, etc. It’s kind of like being a kid again and having someone read you a bedtime story without you having to go to sleep.
Audio books also remind me of what it might have been like before TV when families gathered around the radio to listen to the latest airing of their favorite program. The action played out in their minds, not on the screen in front of them.
I recently came across a wonderful new collection of audio books that can transport listeners back to that golden era of radio with a taste of pulp fiction. The leading source of entertainment in the 1930s and 1940s was pulp fiction, thousands of short stories that have influenced today’s writers in so many ways.
Galaxy Press has assembled the largest collection of these stories from the most prolific writer of the pulp fiction era, L. Ron Hubbard. The collection, “Stories from the Golden Age,” includes over 150 audio books spanning virtually every genre including sci-fi, fantasy, western, mystery, adventure and more.
The audios run an average of two hours each and are performed by an all-star Hollywood cast. Each audios also features music and sound effects placing the listener in the middle of the action with the characters. The audio covers are vibrant and rich in nostalgic history depicting an era long gone.
Among the Mystery collection is DEAD MEN KILL, which was originally published in the July 1934 issue of Thrilling Detective.
Detective Terry Lane has his hands full when several of the city’s most respected citizens are killed. To make matters worse, it appears they were killed by zombies. Lane has few leads to follows and almost no evidence except the blue-gray glove from an undertaker.
A beautiful nightclub singer comes forward to help in the investigation. Lane, however, isn’t sure if she’s on the up-and-up. When he checks out her lead, he finds himself sealed in a coffin. Will he become a zombie as well?
The cast of characters do an excellent job bringing the action to life. The sound effects add another layer to the story making it all seem so real listeners are lost into the fantasy world of crocks and zombies for a time. The story is action-packed and moves at a steady pace keeping you guessing till the end.
Dead Men Kill by L. Ron Hubbard, A Multicast Performance, Galaxy Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-1592123506, Unabridged, 2 Discs, Listening Time: 2 Hours
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Here are brief descriptions of several other audios in this amazing collection.
Among the Sea Adventure collection is FALSE CARGO, which was originally published in the May 1935 issue of Five Novels.
Hired by Lloyd’s insurance company to ensure the safe voyage of the vessel Barclay from Hawaii to San Diego, skipper Brent Calloway finds himself caught in an illegal scheme to scuttle the ship in order to collect money. At the center of the plot is none other than Spike O’Brien, known throughout the Pacific as a ruthless killer.
Compounding Calloway’s troubles on deck, he sees that O’Brien also has lecherous claws for Dorothy, a passenger and the sister of one of Brent’s best friends. When the Barclay heads for the rocks and threatens to run aground, Brent makes a discovery which turns everything upside down.
This audio also includes the adventure story, GROUNDED.
False Cargo by L. Ron Hubbard, A Multicast Performance, Galaxy Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-1592122809, Unabridged, 2 Discs, Listening Time: 2 Hours
Among the Tales from the Orient collection is SPY KILLER, which was originally published in the April 1936 issue of Five-Novels Monthly.
Kurt Reid may be innocent of the murder he’s charged with (and of grand larceny, for that matter), but he’s got no time to be thrown in jail and defend himself. Instead, Reid flees to pre-Communist China and Shanghai, the exotic city of mystery and death.
Reid takes refuge in a tea house where he meets White Russian Varinka Savischna, whom he manages to rescue from certain death. As beautiful as she is smart, she recruits him in her crusade against Chinese intelligence services. Unfortunately, Reid manages to get himself captured by the Chinese and blackmailed into pursuing and assassinating a Japanese spy. Now Reid must enter the cloak-and-dagger world of espionage and intrigue, where everything and everyone is not who or what they appear to be.
Spy Killer by L. Ron Hubbard, A Multicast Performance, Galaxy Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-1592121663, Unabridged, 2 Discs, Listening Time: 2 Hours
Among the Mystery collection is THE CARNIVAL OF DEATH, which was originally published in the July 1934 issue of Popular Detective.
Working deep undercover to break up a purported drug ring operating at Shreve’s Mammoth Carnival, US narcotics agent Bob Clark discovers first one and then another headless body.
Others believe the gruesome murders are solved after four tribal headhunters working for the show suddenly disappear, but Clark suspects someone else is the real killer. When he finds himself seized by the very same headhunters, Clark sincerely hopes his hunch is right, since the point of a very sharp knife is aimed at his neck.
This audio also includes the mystery story, THE DEATH FLYER.
The Carnival of Death by L. Ron Hubbard, A Multicast Performance, Galaxy Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-1592122684, Unabridged, 2 Discs, Listening Time: 2 Hours
Do you enjoy listening or reading stories from the ‘Golden Era’ of the 30's and 40's? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a wonderful Sunday.
When books and television cross paths, I’m always amazed at how for some the characters and storyline remain very similar, while others are almost unrecognizable.
I understand there are times that some changes have to be made and
that for action to play out on the screen, it must be done differently. It’s when characters are completely different (physically and emotionally), or they are left out or the setting is different that I have problems with it. It’s as if the concept is the only remaining factor from the book used in the show.
There is one show, however, where the author used the characteristics of the actor playing his lead character when he decided to write a prequel to the show. I must admit having not watched any of the show, I’m unfamiliar with the character. However, with this spotlight on the new novel I’m intrigued to watch now.
For crime drama fans of the acclaimed BBC America series LUTHER, there is now a brilliant standalone novel and prequel to the show. Written by the show’s creator and sole writer Neil Cross, LUTHER: THE CALLING is a dark and gritty thriller.
With this novel, readers who are meeting Detective Chief Inspector John Luther for the first time will be shocked and enthralled. For fans of the award-winning show, Cross lets them see how it all began with the case that pushed Luther over the edge.
Here’s a brief description of LUTHER: He’s a murder detective with an extraordinary case-clearance rate. He’s obsessive, instinctive, and intense. Nobody who ever stood at his side has a bad word to say about him. And yet there are rumors that Luther is bad—not corrupt, not on the take, but tormented. After years of chasing the most depraved criminals in London’s gritty underworld, he seethes with a hidden fury that at times he can barely control. Sometimes it sends him to the brink of madness, making him do things any other detective wouldn’t and shouldn’t do.
LUTHER: THE CALLING, the first in a new series of novels featuring DCI John Luther, takes us into Luther’s past and into his mind. It is the story of the serial killer case that tore his personal and professional relationships apart and propelled him over the precipice—beyond fury, beyond vengeance, all the way to the other side of the law. Is Luther a force for good or a man hell-bent on self-destruction?
Cross has a way of pulling readers in with the first paragraph and transfixing them as his compelling protagonist Luther gets under their skin. He’s a likeable character, well-developed with strength and determination, but vulnerable.
In LUTHER: THE CALLING, a husband and wife have been brutally murdered in their home. The scene is horrible in itself, but to make matters worse, the wife was 8 ½ months pregnant at the time of her death. The killer took the unborn child. Now Luther is on a mission to find the baby and stop the killer no matter the cost.
The story moves at a steady pace with adrenaline-driven segments. There are twists and turns that will have you holding your breath. While Luther is a law enforcement officer, he may not always follow the law to the letter. A part of you can’t help but cheer when he steps over that fine line.
This is an action-packed thriller you won’t be able to put down.
Award-winning writer Neil Cross’ website is http://www.neil-cross.com/
Luther: The Calling by Neil Cross, Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, @2012, ISBN: 9781451673098, Hardcover, 336 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Stories that could have some facts based in truth pull me in quickly as
realistic actions and fantasy characters play out in an intriguing tale of murder and suspense that is plausible. Author Hank Phillippi Ryan puts these elements together in her latest thriller, THE OTHER WOMAN, with great results.
Narrator Ilyana Kadushin does an excellent job bring the characters to life providing each with their own distinct voice. She has a flare for expressing the emotional ups and downs throughout the story causing you to feel the excitement as the tension mounts.
Protecting one’s source is extremely important to rising T.V. star Jane Ryland. It’s so important she loses her job when she refuses to reveal a source involving charges against a prominent businessman. Landing a job as a newspaper reporter working for a former rival, she’s assigned puff pieces. However, as Jane goes about her job she discovers a candidate for Senate may be hiding a secret mistress just days before a pivotal election and it seems his wife thinks so too.
Meanwhile, Boston Detective Jake Brogan is busy investigating a possible serial killer and trying to keep the media from dubbing the suspect as ‘the bridge killer.’ Two bodies of unidentified women have been found by bridges and Jake isn’t making much progress.
When the body count rises, the third victim turns out to be someone connected to the case involving Jane’s dismissal from T.V. Jane and Jake begin to realize their cases may be related. As they battle their attraction for one another, they each set out to find a ruthless killer bent on silencing a scandal or making a name for himself.
The action is fast-pace and filled with highs and lows true to reporting. Ryan’s detailed descriptions of the Boston area places you in the heart of the action with the characters making the setting a major part of the story. There are twists and turns and just when you have it figured out, another turn takes you in a different direction as dirty politics, revenge, betrayal and seduction lead to murder.
Ryan’s journalism background shines through in THE OTHER WOMAN. She has created a dedicated journalist in Jane as she deals with high standards for reporting and her desire to have a forbidden relationship. Jane has strength and determination, but also a vulnerable side. Jake is a dedicated cop trying to do the right thing as he battles his feelings for Jane.
While at times there appears to be not one but several other women, in the end there is truly only one that is THE OTHER WOMAN. Will it be who you think it is? This is a adrenaline-driven story that will hold you captive from opening paragraph to the last line. Jane and Jake, a crime-fighting duo to rival Lois and Clark.
Author Hank Phillippi Ryan’s website is http://www.hankphillippiryan.com/
The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan, Read by Ilyana Kadushin, MacMillan Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1427226808, Unabridged, 11 Discs, Listening Time: 13 Hours 30 Minutes
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
*Side Note: Author Kate McGuinness was scheduled to visit today to talk about her latest release, TERMINAL AMBITION, but was unable to due to unforeseen circumstance. Hopefully we can reschedule her visit for a later date.
It’s always fun when I find a ‘new-to-me’ author that has a bit of Southern flare to her and author Duffy Brown is just such a lady.
Duffy’s latest release is ICED CHIFFON, the first installment in her new Consignment Shop Mystery series set in Savannah, GA. Her protagonist is Reagan Summerside, owner and founder of The Prissy Fox consignment shop.
Duffy joins us today to ask a number questions, make some comparisons and giveaway a few prizes. Here’s Duffy.
Southern Belle or Northern Deb? Which are you?
Granola or Grits…Big hair or Flat…Pearls or Beads
One of the reasons I wrote ICED CHIFFON was that I wanted to set a book in the South, the real South as it really is. But the problem is I live in Cincinnati, right on the border of granola and grits. The Ohio River is not very wide, I mean people swim across the thing. Yet on the south side sushi is and always will be bait and granola is squirrel food. I don’t have big hair but I use hairspray, I love sweet tea and pork is the food of the gods but it has to be free-range pork where they treat the piggies nice.
So, am I North or South? What part goes into ICED CHIFFON and what gets ditched? I made a check list to find out want part of me was Belle and what part was Deb.
So my question today is... Who are you? Are you a Deb or a Belle?
* Do you never wear white after Labor Day or before Easter or do you go by the weather?
* Do you own a strand of real pearls and wear them with pride or are you into beads?
* Do you drink sweet tea and love it when they have it on the menu or do order Coke Zero?
* A part of you truly believes in damn Yankees or are the Yankees the baseball team in NYC?
* Civil War? What Civil War? That there was the Northern Aggression!
* Do you have Lee as part of your name or your children’s name or is it Kaitlin?
* Is GWTW and Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes, Something to Talk About your favorite movies and you recognize
all the places or are you a Sex and the City girl and watch The Wire?
* Do you have a tiara hidden in your panty drawer and know how to twirl a baton or do you have a hockey stick in the closet beside your down coat?
* Do you have a dad or a daddy?
* Do you have an umbrella that looks a bit like a parasol or a North Face rain jacket?
* Does the term red-eye go with gravy or taking a picture?
* Biscuits from the bakery or from you grandma’s cookbook?
* Prime real estate is NYC or the mall, country club and the beauty salon?
* White gloves or black leather?
* Southern Living or Martha Stewart?
* Shorts or sundresses?
* Pineapple doorknocker or lion’s head?
* Mind your business or mind your manner?
* Follow NFL or NASCR?
* Drives a hard bargain, drives an SUV?
So, how do you measure up? Is a part of you a Southern Belle? Part of you Northern Deb? All of one or the other? Do you know someone who is?
I am definitely a closet Southern Belle! I do make fried chicken and bathtub gravy. That’s what my kids call my cream gravy because they could eat a bathtub full of it. I do make my own pies, have white gloves, crab at my kids if they don’t mind their manners, buy extra-hold hair spray, subscribe to Southern Living, have a fancy umbrella that I’ve been known to twirl from time to time and I do know how to twirl a baton for real. I even took lessons and still have the baton!
On the Southern Belle scale I’m about a 7. Well, maybe an 8. Guess that’s why I wanted to write ICED CHIFFON and set it in Savannah. What is your Southern Belle Score? Your Deb score?
I’ll give away three ICED CHIFFON totes from the replies.
Ya’ll have a good day now, ya’ hear. Hugs, Duffy.
Oh Duffy, thanks so much for visiting today and giving us a look at the difference between a Belle and a Deb. I’m a Belle all the way with a couple of Deb tendencies. Always happy to meet another Belle.
Just so you know though Duffy also goes by Dianne Castell, where as a USA Today bestselling author, she wrote for Kensington and Harlequin, won Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, HOLT-Medallion Award, been on the cover of Romantic Times Magazine and included in Rhapsody Book Club, Doubleday Book Club and made the Waldenbooks Bestseller list.
For more on Duffy and her writing, check out her website at http://www.duffybrown.com.
ICED CHIFFON is set in Savannah, GA, where the gossip if plentiful and Reagan Summerside finds herself in the middle of. But with the help of her high-spirited Auntie Kiki, she can muddle through it.
Left high and dry after a messy divorce, Reagan decides to put what she has left to use - a Victorian and more designer clothes than one person needs. She turns the first floor of the run-down home into a consignment shop filling it with remnants of her former life.
Then Janelle Claiborne, better known as the blond cupcake, is found dead in the trunk of her ex’s Lexus. While Reagan is still fuming over Hollis Beaumont’s mid-life crisis and their divorce, she knows he’s not the killer. She sets out to prove his innocence and one-up his cunning lawyer, Walker Boone, who does have his own charming ways.
Brown has created a group of characters that are zany, charming and ever-so realistic. They could be neighbors, people you know, family or friends you wish you had, especially if you live in the South. She has given her protagonist strengths, but also flaws that are worrisome to a lot of people. And who wouldn’t want an aunt like Kiki?
The story flows smoothly and at a steady pace. There are twists, turns and red herrings along the way to keep you guessing till the end. Brown sets the stage for a delightful cozy murder mystery by her beautiful descriptions of Savannah and her tantalizing dialog. There is mystery, murder, intrigue, a touch of romance and laughter throughout the story.
ICED CHIFFON is a wonderful introduction to a group of new characters that will be fun to visit again and again. You may never look at a consignment shop quite the same again. I’m looking forward to KILLER IN CRINOLINES, the next installment in the series, coming in May 2013.
Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown, A Consignment Shop Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2012, ISBN: 978-0425251607, Paperback, 304 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Now are you a Belle or a Deb, or maybe a little of both?
