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/

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

Happy reading,
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 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

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Review: PRETTY PAPER by Willie Nelson: I reviewed Pretty Paper: A Christmas Tale (Blue Rider Press) by Willie Nelson for Lone Star Literary Life . Check out the seasonal seren...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: End of the Road: Ambrea's 2016 Read Harder Challe...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: End of the Road: Ambrea's 2016 Read Harder Challe...:  Reported by Ambrea This week, I’m just barely eking by with my Read Harder Challenge.  After reading these last three books, I hav...

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
Elly Griffiths 
http://www.ellygriffiths.co.uk/ 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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...

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...

Home

Things went as well as they could have have for doing this deal. Sick and sleeping now.

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.

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."
 


The Non-Gamer's Gamer's Blog: Pixels

The Non-Gamer's Gamer's Blog: Pixels: Pixels ~ Right out of the box, this movie had more than a few things against it, first and foremost is that it stars Adam Sandler . Now...

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

WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: George Michael 1963-2016: Wow, 2016, you suck. George Michael, the singer-songwriter-producer born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, has passed away peacefully on Chr...

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

Mystery Fanfare: Boxing Day Crime Fiction: December 26 is Boxing Day . I've put together a list of over 1700 mysteries that take place at Christmas , and I'm sure there...

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.

Merry Christmas One and All

Merry Christmas from all us Tipples.......




Saturday, December 24, 2016

Mystery Fanfare: Winter Solstice Crime Fiction

Mystery Fanfare: Winter Solstice Crime Fiction: I love the Winter Solstice. So glad the days will begin to lengthen. I'm big on light. I put together a huge list of Christmas Myst...

Mystery Fanfare: Chanukah Crime Fiction

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Bitter Tea and Mystery: Kill Now, Pay Later: Robert Kyle

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Kill Now, Pay Later: Robert Kyle: The book opens with this paragraph: The bride wore a bouffant gown of off-white silk taffeta with a fitted bodice of Alençon lace. The gro...

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.

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:

BEAUTY by Bruce Harris
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
Happy holidays,
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/

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?

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 ...

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Review: THE MAGNOLIA STORY by Chip & Joanna Gaines...

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Review: THE MAGNOLIA STORY by Chip & Joanna Gaines...: I reviewed The Magnolia Story (W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson ) by Chip and Joanna Gaines for Lone Star Literary Life ! This ...

WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Real Steel

WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Real Steel: Real Steel ~ I had seen parts of this one on television a few times and had never gotten to the theaters or had the time to see it all t...

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.

WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Zsa Zsa Gabor 1917-2016

WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Zsa Zsa Gabor 1917-2016: The 99 year old Hungarian born actress passed away earlier today after a heart attack. Zsa Zsa was noted for her numerous marriages, nin...

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: TEXAS LITERARY CALENDAR 12/19-25

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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:

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

Gravetapping: "The Santa Claus Murders" by Ed Gorman

Gravetapping: "The Santa Claus Murders" by Ed Gorman: I was intending to review a few Christmas stories on the blog this year, but time and other commitments got the better of me so I decided...

A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: NEW RELEASE, MURDOCH'S BRIDE

A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: NEW RELEASE, MURDOCH'S BRIDE: Giveaway at end of post. Dashing through the snow…. Thursday was the release of MURDOCH’S BRIDE , which is set in Montana in February...

Mystery Fanfare: Four Seasons in Havana: Cuban Noir on Netflix

Mystery Fanfare: Four Seasons in Havana: Cuban Noir on Netflix: So many great shows to watch this season--and in so many different ways. Four Seasons in Havana based on Leonardo Padura's Havana nove...

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


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