The Southwest Armchair Traveler: #Free Romantic Suspense in the Southwest: Whispers in the Dark is romantic suspense with archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. Reviewers give it a 4.3 star...
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Guest Post: "It’s Not Where You Start (It’s Where You Finish)" by Debra H. Goldstein
Last
week author Debra H. Goldstein
addressed the issue of orphaned
books when the publisher shuts down. This week she considers the long term picture of a writing career.
Recently, I listened to Barbara
Cook’s rendition of Cy Coleman and Dorthy Field’s signature song “It’s Not
Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish” from 1973’s Broadway show, Seesaw. Forty-three years after the song
debuted, the words remain true.
Whether one is writing a novel, short story, or poem, the process is the same. “It’s not how you go, it’s how you land.” Writing requires coming up with an idea, getting it down on paper, rewriting, possibly tossing out one’s original thoughts, and writing the piece again and again until the words flow. It often is a solitary process, but writers have the ability to inspire and help each other.
The reality is “If you’re going to last, you can’t make it fast,…Nobody starts a winner, give me a slow beginner.” At my second Malice Domestic conference in 2013, I had the privilege of riding an elevator with Carolyn Hart. I’m a pretty confident person, but as the elevator went up, I stumbled over my words telling “Ms. Hart” how much I enjoy her books. During the conference, where she was honored with the Amelia Award, I heard how her writing career wasn’t meteoric. Her first few books either were not published or failed to sell well, but she kept writing. When she became an overnight success, it had been a long night.
Our paths crossed a number of times during the conference and at the Sisters in Crime breakfast. Ironically, we were in the elevator together again leaving the conference. This time, I congratulated “Carolyn” on her award and we actually laughed about spending the conference in the elevator.
Thinking back on the difference in my behavior during our elevator rides, I realize that the change in my attitude came from being impressed with her writing abilities and with her persistence and willingness to help other writers. Even during the hour interview tied to her award, she took the time to give a new writer a shout-out. She was the only one to do so. It takes a big person to share one’s limelight with others. Her work ethic and her generosity illustrate the premise that “Your final return will not diminish/And you can be the cream of the crop/It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish/And you’re gonna finish on top.”
Debra H. Goldstein ©2016
Judge (ret.) Debra H. Goldstein is the author of ShouldHave Played Poker: a Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery (Five Star Publishing - April 2016) and the 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue, a mystery set on the University of Michigan’s campus. She also writes short stories and non-fiction. Debra serves on the national Sisters in Crime, Guppy Chapter and Alabama Writers Conclave boards and is a MWA member. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, Joel, whose blood runs crimson.
It’s Not Where You Start (It’s Where You
Finish) by
Debra H. Goldstein
Whether one is writing a novel, short story, or poem, the process is the same. “It’s not how you go, it’s how you land.” Writing requires coming up with an idea, getting it down on paper, rewriting, possibly tossing out one’s original thoughts, and writing the piece again and again until the words flow. It often is a solitary process, but writers have the ability to inspire and help each other.
The reality is “If you’re going to last, you can’t make it fast,…Nobody starts a winner, give me a slow beginner.” At my second Malice Domestic conference in 2013, I had the privilege of riding an elevator with Carolyn Hart. I’m a pretty confident person, but as the elevator went up, I stumbled over my words telling “Ms. Hart” how much I enjoy her books. During the conference, where she was honored with the Amelia Award, I heard how her writing career wasn’t meteoric. Her first few books either were not published or failed to sell well, but she kept writing. When she became an overnight success, it had been a long night.
Our paths crossed a number of times during the conference and at the Sisters in Crime breakfast. Ironically, we were in the elevator together again leaving the conference. This time, I congratulated “Carolyn” on her award and we actually laughed about spending the conference in the elevator.
Thinking back on the difference in my behavior during our elevator rides, I realize that the change in my attitude came from being impressed with her writing abilities and with her persistence and willingness to help other writers. Even during the hour interview tied to her award, she took the time to give a new writer a shout-out. She was the only one to do so. It takes a big person to share one’s limelight with others. Her work ethic and her generosity illustrate the premise that “Your final return will not diminish/And you can be the cream of the crop/It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish/And you’re gonna finish on top.”
Debra H. Goldstein ©2016
Judge (ret.) Debra H. Goldstein is the author of ShouldHave Played Poker: a Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery (Five Star Publishing - April 2016) and the 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue, a mystery set on the University of Michigan’s campus. She also writes short stories and non-fiction. Debra serves on the national Sisters in Crime, Guppy Chapter and Alabama Writers Conclave boards and is a MWA member. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, Joel, whose blood runs crimson.
Monday, March 21, 2016
March 19 2016 Issue of RTE
The March 19 2016 issue of RTE is out and includes fifteen new reviews
as well as a new interview:
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com
Tawni O'Dell in the 'Sixty seconds with . . .' interview hot seat:
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/interviews.html?id=219
Reviews this week:
WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND Gail Bowen Reviewed by Yvonne Klein
Whether jealousy, politics, or some other motive that accounts for the shocking murder of a young woman is only revealed at the end of this, the 16th in the Joanne Kilbourn series
NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE Charles Todd Reviewed by PJ Coldren
Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent to Cornwall to investigate a case of "he said, she said" concerning the death of a young man by drowning.
JANE AND THE WATERLOO MAP Stephanie Barron Reviewed by PJ Coldren
Jane Austen finds a man dying in the library at Carlton House, and realizes he was murdered because of a map he had hidden there.
THE LAST CONFESSION OF THOMAS HAWKINS Antonia Hodgson Reviewed by Yvonne Klein
Only recently freed from the Marshalsea, Thomas Hawkins finds himself en route to the gallows and pens his last confession detailing the events that have led him to this sorry circumstance.
DEATH WEARS A MASK Ashley Weaver Reviewed by Meredith Frazier
Set in London of the 1930s, this is the second in the Amory Ames Mystery series, and here, Amory struggles to solve both her marital woes and another society murder.
BLACK RABBIT HALL Eve Chase Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
Two women, decades apart, are connected through events at a rural Cornish manor
DEADLY JEWELS Jeannette de Beauvoir Reviewed by Diana Borse
Martine LeDuc, city of Montreal publicity director, joins forces with a McGill University doctoral candidate who has set out to prove that the British Crown Jewels were secretly stored in Montreal during WWII and that not all of them were returned afterwards
A BED OF SCORPIONS Judith Flanders Reviewed by Deb Schoss
Samantha Clair, London book editor, makes her second appearance to help investigate the death of an art gallery proprietor who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend's business partner.
THE SINGING BONE Beth Hahn Reviewed by Anne Corey
As a professor of folklore researches the many versions of a murder song, we discover it mirrors her own horrific youthful experiences as a member of a Manson-like cult.
ORCHARD GROVE Vincent Zandri Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
Ethan is obsessed with the serial killer who moves in next door and finds himself enmeshed in her evil plot.
ANGELS BURNING Tawni O'Dell Reviewed by Cathy Downs
Dove Carnahan, Chief of Police in Buchanan, Pennsylvania, confronts family members who are filled with murderous hatred when her department must investigate the death of a teenaged girl.
SOUTH OF NOWHERE Minerva Koenig Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
Julia Kalas escapes to Mexico in the hopes of disappearing, but ends up embroiled in a cross-border murder case
INTO OBLIVION Arnaldur Indridason Reviewed by Barbara Fister
In 1979, a man's battered body is found in a geothermal pool, with clues leading toward a secretive American military installation
THE KILLING FOREST Sara Blaedel Reviewed by Christine Zibas
When a young boy goes missing in the forest, there are bigger forces at work, and Detective Louise Rick finds some answers to questions about issues closer to home.
PERFECT DAYS Raphael Montes Reviewed by Christine Zibas
Brazilian medical student Teo is a loner, who studies hard and attends to his paraplegic mother. In a chance meeting, he encounters Clarice, a young screenwriter, at a barbeque, and from there, his obsession
takes root.
We post more than 900 new reviews a year -- all of them are archived on the site -- as well as a new interview with a top author every issue.
Yvonne Klein
Editor: ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com
Tawni O'Dell in the 'Sixty seconds with . . .' interview hot seat:
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/interviews.html?id=219
Reviews this week:
WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND Gail Bowen Reviewed by Yvonne Klein
Whether jealousy, politics, or some other motive that accounts for the shocking murder of a young woman is only revealed at the end of this, the 16th in the Joanne Kilbourn series
NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE Charles Todd Reviewed by PJ Coldren
Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent to Cornwall to investigate a case of "he said, she said" concerning the death of a young man by drowning.
JANE AND THE WATERLOO MAP Stephanie Barron Reviewed by PJ Coldren
Jane Austen finds a man dying in the library at Carlton House, and realizes he was murdered because of a map he had hidden there.
THE LAST CONFESSION OF THOMAS HAWKINS Antonia Hodgson Reviewed by Yvonne Klein
Only recently freed from the Marshalsea, Thomas Hawkins finds himself en route to the gallows and pens his last confession detailing the events that have led him to this sorry circumstance.
DEATH WEARS A MASK Ashley Weaver Reviewed by Meredith Frazier
Set in London of the 1930s, this is the second in the Amory Ames Mystery series, and here, Amory struggles to solve both her marital woes and another society murder.
BLACK RABBIT HALL Eve Chase Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
Two women, decades apart, are connected through events at a rural Cornish manor
DEADLY JEWELS Jeannette de Beauvoir Reviewed by Diana Borse
Martine LeDuc, city of Montreal publicity director, joins forces with a McGill University doctoral candidate who has set out to prove that the British Crown Jewels were secretly stored in Montreal during WWII and that not all of them were returned afterwards
A BED OF SCORPIONS Judith Flanders Reviewed by Deb Schoss
Samantha Clair, London book editor, makes her second appearance to help investigate the death of an art gallery proprietor who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend's business partner.
THE SINGING BONE Beth Hahn Reviewed by Anne Corey
As a professor of folklore researches the many versions of a murder song, we discover it mirrors her own horrific youthful experiences as a member of a Manson-like cult.
ORCHARD GROVE Vincent Zandri Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
Ethan is obsessed with the serial killer who moves in next door and finds himself enmeshed in her evil plot.
ANGELS BURNING Tawni O'Dell Reviewed by Cathy Downs
Dove Carnahan, Chief of Police in Buchanan, Pennsylvania, confronts family members who are filled with murderous hatred when her department must investigate the death of a teenaged girl.
SOUTH OF NOWHERE Minerva Koenig Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
Julia Kalas escapes to Mexico in the hopes of disappearing, but ends up embroiled in a cross-border murder case
INTO OBLIVION Arnaldur Indridason Reviewed by Barbara Fister
In 1979, a man's battered body is found in a geothermal pool, with clues leading toward a secretive American military installation
THE KILLING FOREST Sara Blaedel Reviewed by Christine Zibas
When a young boy goes missing in the forest, there are bigger forces at work, and Detective Louise Rick finds some answers to questions about issues closer to home.
PERFECT DAYS Raphael Montes Reviewed by Christine Zibas
Brazilian medical student Teo is a loner, who studies hard and attends to his paraplegic mother. In a chance meeting, he encounters Clarice, a young screenwriter, at a barbeque, and from there, his obsession
takes root.
We post more than 900 new reviews a year -- all of them are archived on the site -- as well as a new interview with a top author every issue.
Yvonne Klein
Editor: ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com
SleuthSayers: Blood Dreams (Guest Post by Bill Crider)
SleuthSayers: Blood Dreams: Jan Grape here: Bill agreed to help me out today as I couldn't manage with this bad sinus headache. I don't care what he says, he...
Little Big Crimes: The Perfesser and the Kid, by Roberta Rogow
Little Big Crimes: The Perfesser and the Kid, by Roberta Rogow: "The Perfesser and the Kid," by Roberta Rogow, in Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, issue 19, 2016. This story takes place on...
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: MONDAY ROUNDUP: Texas Literary Calendar March 21 -...
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: MONDAY ROUNDUP: Texas Literary Calendar March 21 -...: Bookish events in Texas for the week of March 21 - 27, 2016: Special Events: Wildcatter Exchange , Fort Worth, March 25 - 26 Ongoin...
Monday With Kaye: "The Heart of a Killer" by Jaci Burton (Reviewed by Kaye George)
First published in 2011 by
Harlequin/MIRA, The Heart of a Killer by
Jaci Burton appears to be a standalone from a very prolific award winning romance
author with over sixty books who has done a number of series.
The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton
I fell into this story at the prologue,
which sets up everything that occurs twelve years later when the story starts.
A group of Italian teenagers in St.
Louis were best friends. Anna Pallino, daughter of a cop, worked in the
ice-cream store. She was in love with Dante Renaldi, the handsomest of a
quartet of boys who lived in foster care with George and Ellen Clemons. For
Dante, Gabe, Roman, and Jeff, it was the only normal, happy home life they'd
ever had. One night, when the guys were in for some free ice cream after hours,
Anna was attacked taking the trash out to the dumpster in the dark alley behind
the shop. She is nearly raped before Dante and the rest come to her rescue.
Dante loses control and attacks the pervert, but not before the baddie has
carved a heart in Anna's chest. After severely beating the guy, the teens see
to Anna, carry her into the shop and discuss whether or not to call the cops.
Since they all have juvie records, they decide not to. But when they return to
the alley, they find the attacker dead. Now they are definitely not calling the
cops.
Twelve years later, Dante, who
disappeared abruptly after that incident, returns at the invitation of the
Clemons, to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. He has a feeling
he shouldn't return, and, sure enough, trouble dogs him as soon as he hits
town. George is missing and the guys go searching. Dante finds his body behind
the same Dumpster where Anna's attack took place. George also has a heart
carved into his chest.
The five former friends are now grown
up, but those who thought they knew each others' every thought find they don't
know each other any more. And they sure can't trust each other. Burton
take us to hot summer nights in St. Louis, through a steamy love story, to
discover how a dead man who carves hearts in his victims, someone who was
killed twelve years ago, is again--impossibly--haunting the five.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
We Need Help
Pure and simple--we need help. After doing the taxes which is depressing and frustrating as all get out, I looked at the money situation and that is worse. We are past due on the phone and power bills. Sandi and I both need medication refills. There are other issues. So, we are in a big time bind.
If you can donate via the PayPal widget here on the blog that would be great and hugely appreciated.
If you can donate via the PayPal widget here on the blog that would be great and hugely appreciated.
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Free WESTERN for Kindle for a Limited Time
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Free for Kindle for a Limited Time: The Nations - Kindle edition by Ken Farmer, Buck Stienke. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. THE NATIONS also known as &...
How to Beat Writer’s Block By Maria Konnikova (The New Yorker)
I have long thought that my issues were caused by stress/anxiety. I have not had a normal dream in years. Mine, when I can remember them, are always nightmares.
How to Beat Writer’s Block By Maria Konnikova (The New Yorker)
How to Beat Writer’s Block By Maria Konnikova (The New Yorker)
Lesa's Latest Contest-- Giving away 1st in cozy mystery series
This week, in support of cozy mystery series, I'm giving away the first in
2 series, Peg Cochran's Berried Secrets and Kathleen Bridge's Better Homes
& Corpses. Details on my blog, http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com.
Entries from the U.S. only, please.
Lesa Holstine
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Pulp Hack Confessions: Appalachian Darkness with a Heartbreaking Noir Twi...
Pulp Hack Confessions: Appalachian Darkness with a Heartbreaking Noir Twi...: Route 12 By Marietta Miles 178 pages (All Due Respect books; February 15, 2016) Ebook distribution by Amazon for Kindle ...
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Society Members' News
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Society Members' News: The following members sent in publication news this month: Gail Farrelly, "NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade Will Star Snakes" ,...
Crime Time : THE HOMICIDAL SAINT – Axel Brand
Crime Time : THE HOMICIDAL SAINT – Axel Brand: Axel Brand is the nom de plume of award-winning historical-fiction novelist Richard S. Wheeler. He uses Brand for his crime/mystery ser...
KRL This Week Update
Up this morning in KRL a review & giveaway of "Mrs.Jeffries
Wins the Prize" by Emily
Brightwell along with a fun interview with Emily
http://kingsriverlife.com/03/19/mrs-jeffries-wins-the-prize-by-emily-brightwell/
And a review & giveaway of "Death of Sunken
Treasure" by Kait
Carson
http://kingsriverlife.com/03/19/death-by-sunken-treasure-by-kait-carson/
Also a review & giveaway of "Between a Book and a
Hard" place by Denise
Swanson http://kingsriverlife.com/03/19/between-a-book-and-a-hard-place-by-denise-swanson/
And a review & giveaway of "Ripe For Murder"
by Carlene O'Neil along with an interesting interview with Carlene
http://kingsriverlife.com/03/19/ripe-for-murder-by-carlene-oneil/
We also have an Easter mystery short story by Jane Finnis
http://kingsriverlife.com/03/19/my-easter-holiday-an-easter-mystery-short-story/
Also a look at some of the new shows premiering this spring,
including a couple of mystery ones
http://kingsriverlife.com/03/19/spring-forward-tv-viewers/
Over on KRL Lite a review & giveaway of "Digging Up
Dead" by Jill Amadio http://kingsriverlife.blogspot.com/2016/03/digging-up-dead-tosca-trevant-mystery.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
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Book Case
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Book Case: " But in any case, after another crime, we shall know infinitely more. Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as y...
SleuthSayers: Let's Hear It for MMs
SleuthSayers: Let's Hear It for MMs: by John M. Floyd No, not mss (the plural of "manuscript"). MMs (the plural of "mystery magazine"). In fact, let...
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