A terrific short story from David H. Schleicher
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Before the Darkness: Thoughts on Earlier Writing
A good read from author David H. Schleicher
What Draws You In, Character or Plot?
Today, we’re discussing a question posed by one of our readers. She asked which did we think drew readers into a book–the plot, or the characters. Here are some of our thoughts on the subject.
Bruce Robert Coffin: Great question! I have always felt the need for a one to one mix of those two ingredients. A great plot will always intrigue me, but characters I care about tend to keep me coming back for more, muy importante if one is seeking a sustainable series.
Lea Wait: I agree with Bruce: both are important. (Setting, and it’s influence on both plot and character, is also very important.) But I also believe the degree of importance of each element depends on the book itself. For a stand-alone, plot is essential. Suspense? Absolutely. Readers need to anticipate — or at minimum be curious about — what will come next. Characters? Victims…
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Writers and Public Speaking Jitters
Good article from author Joseph Souza on being an author and public speaking.
Public speaking is a necessary evil for many authors. Although there are authors who love being in front of audiences, and who are good at it, I’m betting there are many more who absolutely dread it. Whose stomachs churn and turn, worrying about becoming tongue-tied in front of all those people eager to hear about their new book.
I’m an author who falls somewhere in the middle. Yes, I get nervous butterflies leading up to the event., but once I get talking, I realize I’m not doing too bad. In some ways it’s like jogging: the best part of public speaking is when it’s over and your signing books and thanking people for coming. Knowing you survived.
The reason I chose this topic to blog about is that my new book, PRAY FOR THE GIRL, came out in April and I’ve been doing a lot of talking about it. The…
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Birds of Brooker Creek
A few birds photographed a couple of weeks back at the Brooker Creek Preserve.
Pileated-Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
The Beauty of Life Stories, Well Told
Interesting post from author Brenda Buchanan.
I love a well-written obit.
In fact, the obituary section may be why I still subscribe to several newsprint papers, which, unlike their digital cousins, invite me to really read, rather than skim. That’s important when we’re talking mini life stories. Friends, mere acquaintances, total strangers—it doesn’t matter. I want to know what they invented, who they loved, how they made a difference in the world.
As a journalism student I worked at the Boston Globe, initially as a newsroom clerk (we all were called copyboys, even though by the late 1970s some of us were female).
We wrote on these back in the day.
One of my duties was to write basic obits. When person died who was moderately famous (or infamous), at least locally, the city editor would assign whichever copyboy wasn’t otherwise occupied to gather information and write it up.
I wasn’t a reporter yet, but…
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Bitter Ends Now Available as a Paperback
Bitter Ends is now available as a paperback on Amazon!
or
You can buy the ebook here at Amazon or here at Barnes and Noble.
“Bitter Ends” on Amazon
The eBook version of my new collection of short stories is now available on Amazon. 20 short stories of murder and mayhem along with a couple of more charming tales tossed in – all with a twist.
Bitter Ends – The eBook
The eBook version of Bitter Ends will be available on Amazon within the next few days. Meanwhile I thought I would share the titles of the twenty short stories. A paperback version will follow soon.
Good for Nothing
Benny and Slaughter 
Killer Smile
Izzy
The Arrangement
About to Die
The Promotion
Ellie’s Cats
No One’s to Blame
Never Look Back
Brotherly Love
The Neighbors
The Best Sex Ever
We All Got What We Wanted
Assisted Living
The Confession
Your Perfect Match
Divorce Not an Option
Anything for Art
A Marriage to Die For
Cats and Bookstores
Cats of the Gotham Book Mart
There is a certain aura that overwhelms you when you enter a bookstore, I’m not talking about your chain type Barnes and Noble store but those small independent stores that have been under a financial siege for years now. Browsing a bookstore is an adventure. It’s a place to meet old friends and discover new ones, authors of all kinds will jump out at you. Bookstores are a piece of heaven here on earth. And any bookstore worth its salt has a resident cat.
Hodge (Chicago)
Yes, cats and bookstores go together like salt and pepper or peanut butter and jelly; neither are complete without the other. When you walk into a bookstore and lying down, resting his head on a small stack of books is a feline who takes a quick glance up at you, then makes the split decision to judge if you are worth his energy to greet or should he just lower his head and go back to sleep, you know you are in bookstore utopia.
Cats, like bookstores, are above the fray of the outside world. That’s why they are perfect for a bookstore where customers are all hoping to find the next book that will pull them out of their mundane daily life and for a time escape from the real world.
When you find your next perfect book to read there is nothing like taking it home, sitting in your favorite chair and having your own feline buddy snuggle up right next to you. Cats carry themselves with a certain dignity and manner that demands the reader hold the book in one hand and pet them with the other.
Cats in bookstores most likely began with the owners attempting to cut down on the mice/rats population in their store. These days the furry feline is way too regal to be strictly a mouser! Anyone who owns a cat knows it’s their house and you only live there to serve their needs. It’s the same with bookstore cats. It’s their store, their only job is to make your stay more inviting, cozy and pay attention to them.
John Greco Author/Photographer 