Quick Review: Sultry Quagmire

 This book, if nothing else, provides a tretise on the importance of finding a good title. Which is odd, I find that good novel titles are everywhere! Behind Locked Doors, Sunset Perfection, Oasis Club. That's just off the top of my head! Sultry Quagmire? Needs work. Sounds like a slow, mad, racing horse name to me. 

The book itself is  . . . well to be nice, it's trying very hard. Sadly, I don't think its achieving much despite all that effort. The author has an earnestness to his writing, which is simple, and surprisingly refreshing. 

One thing this novel has going for it, along with the writing style, is the era that the author picked. I am a sucker for war novels and for depression era novels. The life, the troubles and challenges, the simplicity of the life with the coming complexity of the war. For me, this is a wonderful era to read about which was enjoyable to find in this work. 

This is 4 stars. Would have been 5 with a better title, and a little bit more elegance and panache to the writing style. 

More On Old Friends

The other day I wrote about my friend Betsy and how much she changed (see HERE). I find it funny how much she changed over time, not just in the small day-to-day things, but in the major things. 

Like I said, she changed over time, but what I found amazing is that she changed so fundamentally. I remember the first time we met, on a run, I looked over at her and said, "What are you doing?" She looked like she was trying to race me. "I'm just a mom trying to keep up."

That's what I liked most. She would always try to keep up. She was not a quitter. She was a fighter. I like fighters. 

This is what changed though. She stopped being a fighter. She turned into a quitter by the end. Before she would take on the world and never quit. By the end, she wouldn't even try and take on the world. And if coaxed into it she'd quit within a few steps. 

Had I met the Betsy at the end on that run, and I said to her, "What are you doing?" She wouldn't have even been there, and the probably would have said, "quitting" or "hitting pause". It was infuriating to lose the fighter that I liked so much. 

Last Tango for Publishing

I read with much verve and enthusiasm the article in today's WSJ about "late in life" publishing (see here). If it's behind a paywall, I apologize, but try to get it, it's worth the time.

I don't necessarily consider myself "late in life" just yet, although there are those who would argue that I should. Still, I do try to publish writing, and I am past 40, so I think I qualify. So for those reasons the article was intriguing. 

I wrote a few months back about Gillian Flynn (see here) and her writing routines. This one is more about the success of publishing in later years and how just being older shouldn't mean that you have no hope of publishing. 

I am in no way intrigued by Miss Boulley's premise, although she might be a fantastic writer, I'm not into Nancy Drew style YA mysteries, nor am I a huge fan of native american heros in my writing. I've dallied in it some, sure, but I don't have a penchant for it. 

I was intrigued by this line and if I had the time I'd probably go read this novel:

Nancy Pearl was 72 for the arrival of “George and Lizzie,” which includes a teenage character who sleeps with the whole high-school football team. Anne Youngson was 70 for “Meet Me at the Museum,” an epistolary love story between elderly strangers—and a left turn after her career running new vehicle development projects at Land Rover.

Two things struck me. First, I'd love to read Anne Younson's novel, Meet me at the Museum. That sounds like such a fun book, so similar to the show Last Tango in Halifax which I adored. 

Secondly, I was struck by the fact that she was just a new vehicle PM for Land Rover. I was expecting more connections. So often people who publish late in life have oodles of conncections that they rely on for getting their work noticed. PM for Land Rover hardly seems like it would yield many publishing connections. Wonder what her husband does . . . (my cynical side screams)

Friends

The other day I wrote about remarkable people (see here) and those amazing people that we interact with on a less than regular basis, . . . how atypical truly remarkable people are . . . how we should take advantage of those moments. 

I ran into an old friend the other day and we were immediately right back where we have always been. I love friendships like that. Those friends who no matter what, they are there, they are the same people. 

There are those friends who's friendships get stale. They get old, and things get out of step. The friends who you used to dance with so perfectly and easily, . . . you start stepping on one another's toes, or worse, the dance stops. Sometimes abruptly. Maybe they don't even get off the chairs that line the middle school gym, . . . or don't come to the dance at all. 

Then there are those friends who you don't see for weeks, months maybe . . . sometimes years. Then when you see them, you dance and it's perfect. Finding those dance partners who are naturally perfect with you is really the end goal and best goal in life. When you find those folks, those perfect friends, hold onto them and keep dancing as long as you can, cause finding them is such a rare thing.

More Reviews

I got another couple of reviews (see here) and I just can't help but share them.

Who doesn't love that there's nothing NOT to like about their work? 

Now, all of this should be tempered with the fact that two folks found copy editing issues. This STUNS me if only cause I re-read that entire sucker last year and ran the whole book through Grammerly. I'd love to see what they found. Still, for story, character, plot, I'm still batting 1000!

I've sent out twenty-three of my books to folks who have requested them via this little sales drive (see here). I'm still open to sending other copies. Right now I've gotten 54 reviews! I love getting them!

Sadie is (Always) there

  Been thinking more and more about trust and character. It’s been in the news lately so maybe it’s trickling through my subconscious to my thoughts.

I’m surprised by how few people I can truly count on anymore. So many people say “I promise” but mean "maybe" . . . or “always” and mean "sometimes" . . . worse . . . they say this then completely blow off that thing they said "I promise" or "always" about within mere days. I remember I had this difficulty when I first got out of the military. In our unit if you were ordered to do something or if you said you would do something you had to do it. It was not even a question. It got done.

Cutting Edge

 I used to read for fun often and compiled this great list of first lines (here) and last (see here). Somewhere in that list (probably here) is a post on the importance of first lines. 

Regardless, thanks to these classes I've been involved in, there isn't as much time to focus on novels or first lines in novels. Who wants to read the first line in APA's 7th edition of their Style Manual? Right! No one. 

I did get a chance to start a novel last month, and I'm working through it slowly. Here is the first line:

The second time he died was more difficult than the first. More difficult because he saw it coming. 

He stirred to consciousness between the two events, twin sources of light above him seeming like a pair of struggling midday suns behind thick layers of cloud. He was flat on his back, that much he knew, and beneath him were sheets that had been washed too many times and stretched tight over a thin mattress. 

The voices were every bit as opaque as the light, a man and a woman, neither familiar. He could make out most of their words, a disjointed back-and-forth that seemed to arrive through a soup can. 

How long had he been awake? A minute? Two? Long enough. 

A shadow blocked out the suns, and again he willed his eyes to open. There was no response. All voluntary movement had ceased. Then a brush of warm breath came across his face, moist and without scent.

Larsen, Ward - Cutting Edge 

It's not bad. It's intriguing and a bit so out of the norm that it leaves the reader wondering what the hell the author is talking about. 

I Warned Ya

I said I wasn't going to stop posting these. Here's another couple. This one though I want to show how so many different people can see different things in the same book. 

The first is from Botkin. 

I love the fact that she said the ending would be a surprise. This more than any of the other novels I've written I wanted to be a break in form and completely stun the reader at the end. I think hearing that Botkin was surprised is a great thing to read from a review. 

Then we get Alex's review.

First, I'd like to think that 4 stars aint bad, and being called a typical conspiracy theory writer, isn't that bad a thing to hear. There are some really good typical conspiracy theory books out there. I think it's interesting that Alex thought the story was predictable, but Botkin thought the ending of the story was a complete surprise. 

Finally, there is Samantha, and I can't get enough of this one. "Created a depth that many books are missing" and "really makes you think" . . . Can't think of higher praise.

Again, if you'd like to read one of my novels for free (see here) just let me know and I'll send it to you. Already, I've sent out three since the last time I made this offer (see here). Also, if you'd like to see any or all of my reviews, take a look! (see here).

When They Stop Making Me Feel So Good . . . I'll Stop Posting These Reviews

For some reason my book has had a spate of reviews (see here) lately and thankfully a spate of great ones. I got another two last night and I love what they've said.

"It's always good to find a book by an author who shows real talent through their writing" and "I felt enthralled by this book by the amazing narrator voice and realistic portrayals of danger" are two phrases that any author would love to hear. 

The only thing that would be better? Well, if someone yells at your book. "I actually screamed at my book a few times. It was nail-biting suspense from beginning to end!"

Can't think of a better way to wake up! 

If you haven't read and reviewed Vapor Trail (see here) and want to. I would love to send whoever writes to me a free copy in exchange for that review. Go ahead and email me using the contact form below to get in touch with me!

Not Just Knowledgeable but Compelling to Read as Well

 I waded into Rex Bonds Shredded Secrets: 7 Cutting Edge Nutrition Secrets You Need Even If You Are Over 50 with some degree of trepidation, but I was happy to see that not only was it well written, deep, and well organized, but is in line with what I've read so many times over the years.

I have a deep history of diets both with and without success. As child I was over weight. I have been working out in gyms since 4th grade. my first fun run was in 5th grade. In high school I was able to lose 80 lbs in one year by diet alone. When I got too skinny, protein and supplements helped me get into shape enough to be an athlete in college. Years in the Army as a SpecOps warrior also helped me learn how to workout, lift weights, and diet. For years after my time in the military I worked out with a Navy Seal PT bootcamp and helped others workout and counseled them on how to stay in shape. I've bulked up, slimmed down, run, jogged, lifted, and cross fitted all through the years. Now that I'm approaching 50, I was drawn to this book due to the tag line " . . . even over 50."

Unlike many fad diet books I've read over the years, Shredded Secrets is down to earth, solid, firm, and terrific advice. It's not easy, it's not fast, it's not even guaranteed for everyone, . . . getting shredded. But as someone who may never achieve it but always tries, I can say that if I followed all the advice in this book, as diligently as Rex Bonds advocates, I would be successful. 

A great book for anyone taking dieting seriously.