Saturday, December 31, 2016
Mystery Fanfare: Champagne in Mysteries
Mystery Fanfare: Champagne in Mysteries: If you follow this blog or if you know me in real time, you know that I'm a list maker . This week I put together a list of different...
KRL This Week Update for 12/31/16
Up in KRL this morning a review & giveaway of
"Spouse on Haunted Hill" by E.j. Copperman
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/31/spouse-on-haunted-hill-by-e-j-copperman/
Happy reading,
Lorie
KRL is part of Tonya Kappes blog tour for her latest mystery
"Ghostly Reunion." We have a review of the book, an interview with
Tonya, & you can enter her amazing giveaway!
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/31/a-ghostly-reunion-by-tonya-kappes-reviewgiveawayinterview/
And the latest mystery Coming Attractions by Sunny Frazier along with a chance to win
books by Mollie
Cox Bryan & Kathi
Daley
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/31/coming-attractions-after-the-holidays-edition/
We also have a review & giveaway of "Permanent
Dorsey" by C. Michelle Dorsey http://kingsriverlife.com/12/31/permanent-sunset-by-c-michelle-dorsey/
And a review & giveaway of "Buried in the
Country" by Carola Dunn
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/31/buried-in-the-country-by-carola-dunn/
And a review & giveaway of "Something Foul at
Sweetwater" by Sandra
Bretting http://kingsriverlife.com/12/31/something-foul-at-sweetwater-by-sandra-bretting/
And over on KRL Lite we have a review & giveaway of
"American Nights" by Gerrie Ferris-Finger
http://kingsriverlife.blogspot.com/2016/12/american-nights-moriah-drurichard-lake.html
Lorie
Friday, December 30, 2016
Barry Ergang's Favorite Reads Of 2016
My favorite reads of 2016:
The
Tightrope Men by Desmond Bagley
Grifter’s
Game by Lawrence Block
The Girl With the Deep Blue Eyes by Lawrence Block
The Girl With the Deep Blue Eyes by Lawrence Block
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
The
Great Santini by Pat Conroy
Killed
on the Rocks by William DeAndrea
Murder
on the Aisle by Ed Gorman
Blunt
Darts by Jeremiah Healy
Gunshots in Another Room: The Forgotten Life of Dan J. Marlowe by
Charles Kelly
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The
Fiend by Margaret Millar
The
Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini
The
Twisted Ones by Vin Packer
“Rescue”
by Earl Staggs
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Review: PRETTY PAPER by Willie Nelson
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Bookblog of the Bristol Library: End of the Road: Ambrea's 2016 Read Harder Challe...
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A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: THE SECRETS OF MOONLIGHT COVE OFFERS SOMETHING FOR...
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FFB Review: A Room Full of Bones: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths
For my last FFB review of 2016, I offer
my review of the fourth book in the Ruth Galloway Mystery Series. Make sure you
check out the full list of reading suggestions at Patti Abbott’s blog.
Kate is going to be a
year old as of November1, 2009 and her mother, Doctor Ruth Galloway, is keenly aware
that in all likelihood she is failing at motherhood across the board. It is one
thing to be head of Forensic Archelogy at the University of North Norfolk. It
is quite another thing to raise a child as a single parent. In addition to
everything else the overwhelmed mother is doing, she was talked into having a
birthday party for Kate. That means she is desperately racing though the market
trying to find the right stuff for adults and kids in attendance before heading
to another appointment.
Dr. Galloway is glad
the child escaped being born on Halloween. Bad enough she has Pagan godfather,
but at least she was born on All Saints Day. Dr. Galloway needs to get the
shopping done quickly as she has to get over to the local museum for a media
event. With the department chair out of town, Dr. Galloway has to stand in to
represent the University at the Smith Museum for the opening of the coffin believed
to belong to Bishop Augustine Smith.
Discovered at a site
that was once a church destroyed by bombing during WW2 the industrial land had
kept several secrets until now. As the site was being cleared and worked for a new
building, the foundations of a medieval church were discovered. Also found was
most likely the high alter for the ancient church. Underneath that, a coffin was
discovered that dates back to the fourteenth century. The inscriptions on the coffin
and other clues indicate that it holds the remains of Bishop Augustine Smith.
If that is true, it would mean that Bishop Augustine Smith was entombed at a
fairly minor parish church in King’s Lynn and not at Norwich Cathedral as
historians have long believed.
With descendants of Bishop Smith alive and well connected, somebody made a decision to open the coffin in front of the media. The bones have to be examined and carbon dated, but first there has to be media coverage despite the fact that Lord Danforth Smith would prefer otherwise. The Smith Museum and its contents are part of a family legacy tied to the Bishop and numerous other parties so opening the coffin at the museum is going to be a media event. This is history and the opening of the coffin must be recorded and presented for all to see.
That is until Ruth
goes deep into the Smith Museum and finds the curator, Neil Topham, dead on the
floor next to the coffin. She calls for help and before long DCI Henry Nelson
and his team are involved in the case. It is not long after that when a second
body is discovered. History, legends, and the past are all present, but clearly,
there is a very modern day murderer at work in A Room Full of Bones.
The fourth book in
the series that began with The Crossing Places is another good
one. Though it could have been better as a plot point used for one character is
used again here for another one. By doing so, it comes across as a soap opera
contrivance and a cliché and not character development as intended. It also
creates a moment of incredulity for the reader and is jarring due to the
stupidity of it all.
Still the history and
the mystery are strong storytelling elements in A Room Full of Bones as
is the ongoing personal relationship between individuals as well as the
investigative team as a whole. This series is as much about the mystery and the
past as it is about how these characters live their lives away from the job.
Even the minor characters are not superfluous or shallow. These series features
books of depth and complexity and are very much worth your time. They must be
read in order.
The
Crossing Places (Reviewed 12/26/15)
The
Janus Stone (Reviewed 11/18/2016)
The
House at Sea’s End (Reviewed 12/2/2016)
A Room Full of Bones –this
review
A Room Full of Bones: A Ruth Galloway
Mystery
July 2012
ISBN# 978-0-547-27120-0
Hardback (also available in paperback
and eBook formats)
352 Pages
$26.00
Material obtained via the Plano Public
Library System to read and review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2016
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Gravetapping: 2016: The Year in Reading
Gravetapping: 2016: The Year in Reading: 2016 was a great year for reading. I finished 56 titles, which is four short of last year’s mark. The majority of the titles were fiction...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder in Retrospect: The Best and Worst of 2016
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder in Retrospect: The Best and Worst of 2016: " He's making a list, checking it twice Gonna find out who's naughty or nice ." - Santa Claus is Coming to Town ...
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Mystery Fanfare: New Year's Mysteries, Crime Fiction, Thrillers & M...
Mystery Fanfare: New Year's Mysteries, Crime Fiction, Thrillers & M...: New Year's Mysteries! Mysteries, Crime Fiction, Thrillers and Movies that take place at the New Year. I wish you a safe, health...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Lisette's List, Blood on Snow, A Land R...
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Texas Oncology Day
By the time this appears, assuming the creek don't rise and the traffic don't stop us, we will be down at the hospital for Sandi. Today she is to have the IVIG infusion that will take all morning and maybe a piece of the afternoon. After more than thirty of these treatments just over the last couple of years, we have this routine down and pretty much know what to expect not only today, but the next few days.
Still, if you would and have the time, please keep a good thought for her. It isn't chemo, but this stuff hits her pretty hard too.
Still, if you would and have the time, please keep a good thought for her. It isn't chemo, but this stuff hits her pretty hard too.
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: AUDIOBOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY FROM MISS MAE!
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: AUDIOBOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY FROM MISS MAE!: Catch Me If You Can by Miss Mae Genre: Romantic Mystery, Thriller Format: Audiobook You Can Now Hear the Award-Winning "C...
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Damn It!
2016 seriously has sucked and continues to do so.
Carrie Fisher died this morning due to, according to local media reports, complications from her heart attack last week. I had so hoped she was going to survivce this. there had been a little encouragement over the weekend based on reports of family members saying she was stable.
As I just said on Lesa Holstine's FB page, "Between the political crap and the death of icons, one wants to go live in a cave with no access. It is like everything creative and wonderful is dying."
Carrie Fisher died this morning due to, according to local media reports, complications from her heart attack last week. I had so hoped she was going to survivce this. there had been a little encouragement over the weekend based on reports of family members saying she was stable.
As I just said on Lesa Holstine's FB page, "Between the political crap and the death of icons, one wants to go live in a cave with no access. It is like everything creative and wonderful is dying."
The Non-Gamer's Gamer's Blog: Pixels
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Jenny Milchman is on Patreon
I first heard about Patreon a few weeks ago. While it was suggested to me to use it for reviews or my own fiction, I could not figure out a way to do so. With three books out and a fourth on the way, author Jenny Milchman did. Check out what she came up with on her page.
Monday, December 26, 2016
Sweethearts Of The West: A CHILD'S WINTER WONDERLAND
Sweethearts Of The West: A CHILD'S WINTER WONDERLAND: This month on Sweethearts of the West, our members are sharing memories of Christmas past. Since this is after the big event, I’d ...
WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: George Michael 1963-2016
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Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center: Reviewed by Ambrea Helen Carpenter—thirty-two and divorced—has decided it’s high time she get her life together and reinvent herse...
Mystery Fanfare: Boxing Day Crime Fiction
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A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: VELLA MUNN'S NEW MONTANA LASKESIDE RELEASE and CEL...
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: VELLA MUNN'S NEW MONTANA LASKESIDE RELEASE and CEL...: His Montana Rescue by Vella Munn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GENRE : contemporary romance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HIS MONTANA RESCUE Blurb...
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: TEXAS LITERARY CALENDAR 12/26-1/1
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: TEXAS LITERARY CALENDAR 12/26-1/1: Bookish events in Texas for the week of December 26, 2016-January 1, 2017: Special Events: Kwanzaa at The Dock , Fort Worth, Dec 26-Jan ...
Guest Post: Judy Penz Sheluk on "How to Make a Treasontini"
Kicking off this final
week of December is Judy Penz Sheluk with a drink recipe. It ties into her mystery, The Hanged Man’s Noose. Depending on how the holiday weekend was at your place you
may really need this today….
How to Make a
Treasontini
It’s holiday time, and so I thought it would be fun to share
my Treasontini recipe.
You can find the Treasontini on the cover of The Hanged Man's Noose, which also
happens to be the name of a pub in Lount’s Landing, the small town where the
book is set. The Treasontini, a blueberry martini, is the Noose’s signature
drink; the town is named after Samuel Lount, a real-life nineteenth century
traitor who was hanged for treason.
Treasontini
Ingredients:
2 oz. Blueberry Vodka
2 oz. Triple Sec
2 oz. Blueberry Juice
1 dash Club Soda
Fresh or Frozen Blueberries
Ice Cubes
Preparation: Combine blueberry vodka, triple sec and blueberry
juice in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well and strain
into a cocktail glass. Top with club soda, garnish with blueberries, and serve.
The Hanged Man’s
Noose is on sale for $3.99 ebook from Dec. 26th to Jan. 15th on
Amazon/iTunes/Kobo/Nook. It’s also on at 33% off print at the publisher! Here’s
a bit about it:
Journalist Emily Garland lands a plum assignment as the
editor of a niche magazine based in Lount’s Landing, a small town named after a
colorful Canadian traitor. As she interviews the local business owners for the
magazine, Emily quickly learns that many people are unhappy with real estate
mogul Garrett Stonehaven’s plans to convert an old schoolhouse into a mega-box
store. At the top of that list is Arabella Carpenter, the outspoken owner of an
antiques shop, who will do just about anything to preserve the integrity of the
town’s historic Main Street.
But Arabella is not alone in her opposition. Before long, a
vocal dissenter at a town hall meeting about the proposed project dies. A few
days later, another body is discovered, and although both deaths are ruled
accidental, Emily’s journalistic suspicions are aroused.
Putting her reporting skills to the ultimate test, Emily
teams up with Arabella to discover the truth behind Stonehaven’s latest scheme
before the murderer strikes again.
Barking Rain Press,
the publisher of The Hanged Man’s Noose, is offering 33% off all e-books,
whether purchased on their website or directly through our distributors. That
amounts to $3.99. In addition, they are offering 33% off all print books
purchased through their website only. Here's a link to the promo page:
Judy Penz Sheluk ©2016
Find Judy on her website/blog, www.judypenzsheluk.com,
where she writes about her writing journey and interviews other authors.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Good Morning From North Texas
I woke up at 5 and could not get back to sleep so I gave up and got up just before six. Been working on reading a submission for a publisher while the rest of the household continues to sleep. Very warm and windy morning here so I have the back door open as well as the windows. On behalf of all of us I just want to say thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and support this past year. It has been a hard one in so many ways. Some of which I shared, but far more I never said a word about. I don't have much hope about things getting better as we roll forward into the new year, but still here and we are doing our best to hang in.
From our little spot in North Texas we wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a wonderful holiday season.
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Mystery Fanfare: Winter Solstice Crime Fiction
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Bitter Tea and Mystery: Kill Now, Pay Later: Robert Kyle
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Sneak Peek: Flash Bang Mysteries - Winter/January 2017 Issue
BJ Bourg posted the message below to the SMFS list late yesterday evening. The issue will go live around the 1st.
BEAUTY
by Bruce Harris
It's
hard to believe we're already getting set to publish the sixth issue of
Flash Bang Mysteries, but here it is, the awesome lineup for the
Winter/January 2017 Issue:
BUNKER
MENTALITY by Craig Faustus Buck
MEAN
GIRL by Barbara Eliasson
THE
GIFT by C.M. Saunders
THE
GUEST ROOM by John Frain
UNSIGNED,
SEALED, AND DELIVERED by John M. Floyd
As
always, I appreciate every author who submitted work for this issue
(whether accepted or not), and I hope they all know they are the ones
who make this a great little e-zine.
Take care one and all!
bjb
KRL This Week Update for 12/22/16
Just up in KRL a review & giveaway of "The Glow of
Death" by Jane
Cleland
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/23/the-glow-of-death-by-jane-k-cleland/
Also up a review & giveaway of "Crime and
Catnip" by T.C. LoTempio along with an interesting interview with Toni
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/23/crime-and-catnip-by-t-c-lotempio/
As 2016 comes to an end, KRL is playing catch up on
reviews--so check out this great group of reviews & giveaways of mysteries
from Penguin and Kensington authors-"Dangling by a Thread": Mainly
Needlepoint Mystery by Lea Wait, "Hooking for Trouble": A Crochet
Mystery by Betty Hechtman, "Saddle Up for Murder": A Carson Stables
Mystery by Leigh Hearon, "Prose and Cons": A Magical Bookshop Mystery
by Amanda Flower, and "Death at First Sight": Bay Island Psychic
Mystery by Lena Gregory http://kingsriverlife.com/12/23/end-of-the-year-penguinkensington-catch-up/
We also have a review & giveaway of "The Corpse
with Ruby Lips" by Cathy Ace
And a review & giveaway of "Gemini Moon" by Maria Grazia Swan
And for those who also enjoy fantasy, a review & giveaway of "Once Broken Faith" by Seanan McGuire http://kingsriverlife.blogspot.com/2016/12/once-broken-faith-october-daye-series.html
--
KRL is now selling advertising & we have special discounts for
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Check out my own blog at http://mysteryratscloset.blogspot.com/
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Guest Post: Jeanne on "Fun with Series Titles"
Jeanne
of the Bookblog of the
Bristol Public Library recently was here with examples of authors writing
under other names. That blog
post ties well into this one from Jeanne today on series by various
authors.
Fun
with Series Titles
For someone who enjoys word play and books in
series, there are delights to be found in titles. What follows are some random thoughts about
how authors and/or publishers help readers follow their favorite characters.
When an author does a series of books, it often
helps readers if there’s a way to distinguish series from non-series. Some
authors have made this easier on readers by giving them a quick way to spot a
series book by its title. Some authors
make it REALLY simple by using the main character’s name as part of the title,
as did J.K. Rowling with Harry Potter and Nancy Atherton with Aunt
Dimity. Other authors repeat a particular
word:
·
Charlaine
Harris’ Sookie
Stackhouse books all have the word “Dead” in the title, while the Lily Bard books repeat the word
“Shakespeare’s” and Harper Connelly
uses “Grave”.
·
Clea
Simon uses the word “Grey” in the title of all her Dulcie Schwartz novels but uses animal
alliteration for the Pru Marlow (Dogs
Don’t Lie, Cats Can’t Shoot, etc.)
·
Nicci
French uses the days of the week, starting with Monday, to
show series order
·
G.M.
Malliet started her Max
Tudor series with seasons, beginning with Wicked Autumn but ran out
of those fairly quickly. (The 2017 book will be Devil’s Breath.)
·
James
Patterson now uses the word “Cross” in his Alex Cross books, but the early ones
were lines from nursery rhymes or songs (Jack and Jill, Along Came a
Spider, and so on).
·
After the first two books, Mike Lawson uses the word “House” in
all of his Joe DeMarco titles.
·
With her Moonshine Mystery series, Carol
Miller uses “Murder” in the titles but usually with an alcoholic tie in,
i.e. A Nip of Murder.
·
Isis
Crawford’s Mystery
with Recipes series always uses the word “Catered” in the title.
·
John
D. MacDonald’s Travis
McGee books always have a color as some part of the title.
·
Shirley
Rousseau Murphy’s Joe
Grey titles always begin with the
word “Cat”.
·
And, of course, Lilian Jackson Braun’s Cat
Who series books always start with, well, The Cat Who….
Others use naming patterns, such as the birds and
puns for Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow or racing terms for Dick Francis’ books, though some are a
stretch. Kim Harrison likes to use altered versions of titles of Clint
Eastwood movies for her Hollows
novels.
Other authors kick it up a notch by giving series
order in the title, such as James
Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club
series, in which the number of the book is always somewhere in the title as an
ordinal (first, second, third, etc.) Janet
Evanovich also gives the number in her Stephanie
Plum books; Darynda Jones ups the ante by reusing the word “Grave,” giving an
ordinal, AND a direction (First Grave on the Right, Second Grave on
the Left, and so forth). In some
libraries, mine included, this is a bit less successful in getting the books
shelved in numerical order because we shelve alphabetically. This means Fifth Horseman comes before
1st to Die. (As for
those wondering about shelving order, there have been many long discussions
about how to do it with pros and cons for each.
I won’t go into it here, but if anyone is interested, just ask.)
The Queen of Series Naming and Shelving has to go to
Sue Grafton, who not only gave her
books alphabetical titles but who made certain they would be filed correctly by
starting her series with a letter of the alphabet and proceeding
accordingly. The Princess Award goes to Mary Daheim, with her Emma Lord series: all the books begin with “Alpine” and the
second word follows the alphabet, so the list goes from Alpine Advocate
to Alpine Zen. Miss Congeniality
goes to Carol Nelson Douglas and Midnight Louie: for the most part, the
titles have colors in alphabetical order but since those occur at different
places in the title, they aren’t necessarily shelved in series order.
What are some of your favorite series naming
patterns?
Friday, December 23, 2016
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas: Reviewed by Christy American Rafe Bowman has arrived in Queen Victoria’s London just in time for Christmas and his arranged ...
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: CHECK THIS OUT FOR LAST MINUTE GIFTS! #SlingWords
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WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Strait-Jacket
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FFB Review: The Empty Manger by Bill Crider
Over two years ago, I
first heard about The Empty Manger
by Bill Crider when Ben Boulden mentioned his 2008 review of the same over on
his Gravetapping
Blog. It wasn’t available via eBook or at my local library so Bill Crider
sent me a copy from his own personal library. I reviewed it here on the blog
late December 2014. I had planned to read the other novellas in the book and
still have not managed to do that. Life tended to laugh and interefer with my
plans on this and quite a number of other things. So it goes. Though I have not
managed to get the job done, my advice remains the same as it was then—if you can
get your hands on the book do so.
Make sure you head
over to Patti Abbott’s blog for
the rest of the FFB recommendations for this next to last Friday of 2016.
Sheriff Dan Rhodes can’t remember it ever snowing in
Blacklin County on Christmas. It certainly didn’t look like it would happen
this year with daytime temperatures in the upper 60’s and low 40’s at night.
Typical weather for the area residents of the county located in East Texas, but
not conducive to the postcard winter wonderland so many long for at this time
of year.
Like a lot of small Texan towns-- and
elsewhere for that matter-- the downtown area of Clearview has a number of
vacant buildings in various states of disrepair. Some of the vacant buildings
are in very bad shape. Shoppers were drawn away to the nearby Wal-Mart or one
of the big new grocery stores and local businesses closed leaving the buildings
to decay and rot. City council member Jerri Laxton had been pushing plans to
restore the grandeur of the downtown area.
One of her ideas was to get some of the
local high school students to paint a mural on one of the walls of a downtown
building. Some of the local religious leaders convinced all that in the spirit
of the season the mural should be of a manger with a brilliant star hanging
over it. Somebody else came up with the plan to have members of the local
Baptist congregation play the parts of Joseph, Mary, wise men, and the
shepherds with a doll standing in for the baby Jesus. After all, the risk with
a real baby as part of the outside scene would be too high.
It was a very good thing that a doll
was used because, according to Francis Blair, somebody stole baby Jesus. She is
very upset that somebody would do that. She might be more upset if she knew
there was a dead body in the alley behind the building.
While Rhodes never drinks a Dr.
Pepper----though he does talk about it---- and he never eats any crackers, he
does actively work the cases. Any Rhodes story is a good one and this one is no
exception. The novella The Empty Manger by Bill Crider is
well worth the effort to get your hands on the book, Murder, Mayhem, And Mistletoe. Crider’s
story is one of four novellas in the book that also contains works from Terence
Faherty, Aileen Schumacher, and Wendi Lee.
Murder, Mayhem And Mistletoe
Worldwide Library (Harlequin)
November 2001
ISBN# 0-373-26401-1
Paperback
390 Pages
$6.99
Material supplied by the author so that
I could read and review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014, 2016
Thursday, December 22, 2016
DALLAS COWBOYS: NFC EAST CHAMPIONS
With the loss by the Giants seconds ago, the DALLAS COWBOYS are now NFC East Champions and the NUMBER ONE SEED in the NFC Playoffs!
Yes, we are talking about playoffs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, we are talking about playoffs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Little Big Crimes Review: Land of the Blind by Cra...
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WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Real Steel
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Monday, December 19, 2016
Not Fun Times In The ER
Around noon Sandi was trying to give herself her insulin shot and the needle dislodged from the pen as she pulled it away from her body. That meant the inch or so long needle was still in her. Neither one of us could see it and she could not feel it other than a small bump in her skin. After a quick consultation with the staff at the endocrinologist we went to the nearest ER as directed.
Once there they tried to find it by sonogram as well as CT. They couldn't as it is so small it won't show up. Even though Sandi could, on one occasion feel the tip of it, as soon as they touched her it vanished again. We got the impression they did not really believe us that it is still in her. Since they can't do anything they sent us home.
Theoretically it won't go deeper and damage any organs. They think, over time, her body will force it back to to the surface and out.
We just came home here to find water shooting out of one end of our building. Apparently the pipes have burst in the wall of a vacant apartment so now we have no water too. Sandi managed to get a shower before the building was turned off, but I did not. Not to mention the laundry, the dishes, etc that need doing. The only good thing in all this is that the neighbor down below has not been flooded yet so things got stopped before that happened.
Once there they tried to find it by sonogram as well as CT. They couldn't as it is so small it won't show up. Even though Sandi could, on one occasion feel the tip of it, as soon as they touched her it vanished again. We got the impression they did not really believe us that it is still in her. Since they can't do anything they sent us home.
Theoretically it won't go deeper and damage any organs. They think, over time, her body will force it back to to the surface and out.
We just came home here to find water shooting out of one end of our building. Apparently the pipes have burst in the wall of a vacant apartment so now we have no water too. Sandi managed to get a shower before the building was turned off, but I did not. Not to mention the laundry, the dishes, etc that need doing. The only good thing in all this is that the neighbor down below has not been flooded yet so things got stopped before that happened.
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Guest Post: Terry E. Ervin II on "Writing Warfare in Fiction"
Last week Terry
came by to talk about things research
and getting the little things right in his stories. Today he offers his
thoughts about getting the fight scenes right in his stories. The methods he outlines
below are probably better than hands on research at the malls fighting crowds
of people….
Writing
Warfare in Fiction
Epic
combat scenes are a common fare in fantasy and science fiction. Think: Armored
phalanxes armed with spears and catapults, backed by earth wizards and
flame-spewing dragons vs. necromancer-controlled zombie hordes, goblin mobs and
brutish ogres, backed by propeller-driven dive-bombers and mechanized tanks
reminiscent of WW II technology.
Okay,
maybe that combination isn’t ‘common fare’ (unless you’ve happened to stumble
across my First Civilization’s Legacy
Series). The question is: How can an author bring such battles to life for
the reader. Infuse them with excitement and, well, believability?
Personally,
I have absolutely zero military combat experience. I don’t count the several
years of U.S. Civil War reenactment, where I learned 19th Century
drills and military tactics, including the basics wielding a bayonet and saber.
I am competent in firearm safety and basic use, my experience mainly with
shotguns and revolvers. That’s it.
Add
to that, how can I convincingly write about what no author, let alone human,
has experienced? For example, an interstellar taskforce made up of carriers,
cruisers and destroyers encountering a hostile alien fleet, from large
formations down to ship to ship combat using pulse lasers, nuclear tipped
missiles, railguns, ion cannons, fusion beams, and more?
It
can be done, as proven by a multitude of authors. Admittedly, sometimes it’s accomplished
more convincingly than others. In any case, here’s what has worked for me.
The
first thing that I’ve done is a lot of reading, supplemented by watching
various programs and documentaries focusing on wars and conflicts humanity has
engaged in over the centuries. My reading includes a variety of books which, if
listed in detail, would take up several pages. Nevertheless, I’ll share four
examples in several categories:
- Books that provided ideas of overall units, weapons and tactics on a large scale:
- How to Make War by James F. Dunnigan
- The Face of Battle by John Kegan
- 50 Weapons that Changed Warfare by William Wier
- Jane’s Fighting Ships of WW II by Antony Preston
- Books that covered tactics, responses and reasoning, including personal experiences and insight from larger to smaller scale:
- The Battle of Leyte Gulf by Edwin P. Hoyt
- Citizen Soldier by Stephen E. Ambrose
- Iron Coffins by Herbert A. Werner
- Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Warfare Today by Bill Gunston and Mike Spick
- Novels that included depiction/tales of combat at various levels, using a variety of technologies, including magic, and equipment:
- Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy
- The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson
- The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny
- World War Series by Harry Turtledove
There
is also the audiovisual aspect garnered from television and movies that proved
useful in supplementing the various reading material studied:
- Babylon 5
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
- Saving Private Ryan
- Gettysburg
I
can add that playing some strategic war games, mainly during my college years,
such as Star Fleet Battles, Panzer Leader, Kingmaker, Diplomacy, and Global
Supremacy also laid a foundation for depicting fictional strategies and
tactics.
All
of that said, I believe that #3 above is the most important and useful as it’s
directly relevant in exclusively using words to depict and provides specific
and varied ‘how to’ examples for me as an author.
Maybe
as a writer you’re feeling overwhelmed and, as a reader, thankful it’s not your
job. Really, it’s not as bad as it sounds.
Identify
the scope of what’s to be achieved when writing a battle or combat scene. I
remind myself I’m telling a story, not writing an extensive training manual or
doctrine to be studied and employed.
Identify
the POV used and focus on the knowledge and observable aspects from that
perspective. Yes, as the author, I have a wider understanding of the war,
battle or conflict, all the way down to the individual vs. individual level.
Having that allows for depth and consistency, and much of that content won’t
make the pages of the novel because it isn’t necessary to convey the story.
Think world building. An author may create an extensive world, with names and
places, culture and history, but only a fraction of it graces the pages of a
novel.
In
my Crax War Chronicles, the main
character, Security Specialist Keesay, has a far different perspective and
available knowledge than his superiors, whether he’s serving in the trench
line, fending off the advancing Crax air and armored offensive, or attempting
to survive a Crax hit-and-run landing assault, assigned to defend the research
lab deep within the Io colony, until help arrives—if it arrives.
Being
written in first person POV, the only description and events available to the
reader are those available to Specialist Keesay. But, as the writer, I’ve
already determined the Crax objectives, ships, equipment and numbers they have
available, and the tactics and backup plans they’ll use. I also have the
resources, plans and strategies Specialist Keesay’s side will employ.
From
there I just write what happens. What Keesay personally observes, is told or
witnesses through cameras, sensors or other reports. His emotions and
responses, and those of the characters around him. I keep in mind the
effectiveness of grenades, shotguns, magnetic pulse pistols and medium-duty
laser carbines, as well as the caustic pellets, molecular saws and tactics of
the armored and energy shield-protected Crax, and of their Stegmar Mantis
allies, with their CO2 powered firearms sending sprays of
toxin-coated needles.
In
addition to thoughts and actions, I include the senses. Yes, sight and sounds,
but tactile and especially smells are important in relaying the desperate
struggle to the reader.
But
how do you get it to flow? Make it real to the reader?
First,
I remember that I am telling a story, and relay sufficient action, movement,
thoughts and emotion, dialogue, and sensory description to the readers so that
they can create the action in their minds’ eye. No amount of words and
description can match the readers’ imagination.
Then
I work to pace it. Get the wording and description right. The amount of
dialogue and movement and reactions set properly for the reader to make it—the
conflict occurring—theirs.
How
do I know if I’m doing it right? Multiple revisions. I read it orally, and
share with a trusted reader. If I’m stuck or unsure, I go to the work of
another authors (category #3 above), ones who have relevant examples of
combat—similar to what I’m trying to achieve. I read and re-read those
sections, paying attention to wording and pacing and description and more.
Determine what made their scene work for me. Then I apply what I learned (or
re-learned) to my own scene and writing style, making the fictional
combat/struggle as real and believable as possible.
With
my most recent work, Thunder Wells, an apocalyptic alien
invasion novel, I counted on One Second After by William
Forstchen Alien Invasion: How to Defend Earth by Travis S. Taylor and Bob
Boan, and the Discovery Channel’s Alien Invasion: Are You Ready? If you, as a
reader, want additional insight or as a writer, more information, add them to
your list.
Terry W. Ervin II ©2016
Terry W. Ervin II is an English teacher who enjoys writing fantasy
and science fiction. Beyond his new release, Thunder Wells, his Crax War Chronicles (science fiction)
includes Relic Tech and Relic Hunted, and his First Civilization’s Legacy Series
(fantasy) includes Flank Hawk, Blood Sword and Soul Forge. His short
story collection, Genre Shotgun, contains all of his stories previously published
in magazines, ezines and anthologies.
When Terry isn’t
writing or enjoying time with his wife and daughters, he can be found in his
basement raising turtles.
To contact Terry, or to
learn more about his writing endeavors, visit his website at www.ervin-author.com
and his blog, Up Around the Corner,
at uparoundthecorner.blogspot.com.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
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WEATHER
18 degrees this morning. Since it did not get to 15 the city defense
system did not trigger and thus the ball at Reunion Tower did not ignite
heating the area. The gas bill is huge, but the thing can really put
the heat out.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
KRL This Week update (12/17/16)
Up in KRL this morning a review & giveaway of "The
Cat Sitter and the Canary" by Blaize and John Clement, along with an interesting interview with John
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/17/the-cat-sitter-and-the-canary-by-blaize-john-clement/
Also a review & giveaway of
"Curried Away" by Gail Oust
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/17/curried-away-by-gail-oust/
And another Christmas short story with a
bit of a mystery twist, this one by Barbara Schlichting http://kingsriverlife.com/12/17/the-treasured-christmas-ornament-a-christmas-mystery-short-story/
We also have a review & giveaway of
"Shades of Wrath" by Karen Rose Smith
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/17/shades-of-wrath-by-karen-rose-smith/
And in this issue Sharon Tucker shares some Christmas
mystery novels by Lee Harris, G.M. Malliet & Jane Langton for your holiday
reading http://kingsriverlife.com/12/17/the-christmases-of-others/
Mystery author Amy Reade shares about
her less hectic Christmas this year, and shares a fun Christmas cookie recipe
http://kingsriverlife.com/12/17/what-a-difference-a-year-makes/
For those who enjoy a fantasy twist to their mystery, a review & giveaway of
"Shadowed Souls" a fantasy anthology edited by Jim Butcher & Kerrie L Hughes
We also have a review & giveaway of the audio
book version of "Roses in the Tempest", a historical novel by mystery
author Jeri Westerson, along with an interesting
interview with Jeri http://kingsriverlife.com/12/17/roses-in-the-tempest-by-jeri-westerson/
And on KRL Lite a review & giveaway of "Four
Furlongs" by Carol Wright Crigger
http://kingsriverlife.blogspot.com/2016/12/four-furlongs-by-carol-wright-crigger.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
--
KRL is now selling advertising & we have special discounts for
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Check out my own blog at http://mysteryratscloset.blogspot.com/
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
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