A friend gave me a book, saying it reminded her of my vintage mystery, LOSING DAVID. She also said that the plot goes off in another direction, but she enjoyed it. I read the blurb and it sounded so much like my story that I immediately read it.
THE IMPERSONATOR by Mary Miley did indeed have a lot of similarities to my book. An heir/heiress goes missing and is presumed dead. Years later, an actor/actress who looks remarkably like the missing person is approached to play the part. The time frame is the past, the mid-twenties/ early sixties.
But there are differences, too. Miley's actor is the heroine and mine is the hero (kind of).
And Miley writes in first person while I--though my first draft was in first person, I switched to third, then switched back to first, then back to third (rewriting every time, I might add!)--finally ended up using third person with different viewpoints. (I won't go into the reasons, but I'm happy with the result.)
My story is a stand-alone; there'll be no sequels. Miley's is the first of a mystery series.
My story has a definite romance while Miley's has a tiny bit.
Miley keeps the murderer's identity secret till the last (though most mystery readers won't be too surprised, I suspect) while I lay out the murderer's identity in the prologue.
Since Miley is writing a series, she leaves a few loose ends. Mine leaves a question, too, but not one that will lead to another story; I just didn't know the answer.
And of course, the twenties are a lot different from the sixties. Miley does a good job of evoking that era; I'm not sure how I did with the sixties but...
Anyway, I enjoyed the story. If anyone's read both LOSING DAVID and THE IMPERSONATOR, I'd love to hear your opinion. I'm really curious as to how others feel they compare
On second thoughts: this sounds like a blatant plug so... Never mind. I won't ask you to go out and read them just to assuage my curiosity!
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Monday, June 23, 2014
CHEAP BOOKS
I was looking at some books Amazon suggested I buy since I'd bought another one similar. I'm sure we all get these reminders from time to time, and I'm always willing to check them out. I did buy one for $1.99. I looked at a couple more, but they were $8.59 and $9.99 so I passed. After all, I could buy nine $1.99 books, with the money saved by not buying the higher priced ones. And I will.
Author David Gaughran had an interesting blog on this subject the other day in his post: Who's Afraid of Very Cheap Books?
He gives the reasons that he isn't at all afraid of them, and I agree. Totally.
Before ereaders, we had used book stores where I bet most of us spent a lot of our book budgets. At least, I did. Those and libraries, along with occasional purchases at the grocery store or an actual bookstore, helped me get most of the books I wanted. If I'd had to rely on bookstores, I would have read maybe twelve books a year versus that many a month. I simply couldn't afford the high costs.
Today, I subscribe to several bargain/free ebooks sites where I get listings each day that I can scan. If a book catches my eye, I read a sample. If it's interesting (and appears to be edited!), I buy it. Prices range from free to at most $5.99. And the higher priced books tend to be by authors I know.
Strangely enough, I've found the self-pubbed/small press pubbed books have about the same ratio of good/bad reads as the "big" publishers put out. And the lower prices mean I can buy more of those authors' books.
So...I'm in favor of cheap books. Probably most readers are, too. I wonder about other authors.
Author David Gaughran had an interesting blog on this subject the other day in his post: Who's Afraid of Very Cheap Books?
He gives the reasons that he isn't at all afraid of them, and I agree. Totally.
Before ereaders, we had used book stores where I bet most of us spent a lot of our book budgets. At least, I did. Those and libraries, along with occasional purchases at the grocery store or an actual bookstore, helped me get most of the books I wanted. If I'd had to rely on bookstores, I would have read maybe twelve books a year versus that many a month. I simply couldn't afford the high costs.
Today, I subscribe to several bargain/free ebooks sites where I get listings each day that I can scan. If a book catches my eye, I read a sample. If it's interesting (and appears to be edited!), I buy it. Prices range from free to at most $5.99. And the higher priced books tend to be by authors I know.
Strangely enough, I've found the self-pubbed/small press pubbed books have about the same ratio of good/bad reads as the "big" publishers put out. And the lower prices mean I can buy more of those authors' books.
So...I'm in favor of cheap books. Probably most readers are, too. I wonder about other authors.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
DREAMS
Yesterday about six a.m., my girl cat meowed. One of those Get-up-and-feed-me-before-I-starve-to-death! yowls that make you think someone is murdering her. Just one yowl but enough to wake me in the middle of a dream.
I danced in the back of the chorus line while Barbra Streisand sang "Hello Dolly" in the front. I never saw her--backs of period costumes and hats of the dancers around me blocked my view--but I heard her very plainly. Seems I was actually a part of the dream. Don't know why I dreamed about her. She's okay, but I was never a big fan.
Usually, I don't participate in my dreams. They normally work like movies or books. Movies flow as if on screen. For books, I see the pages.
My most unusual dream was a television show. With commercials. It was a period (Hmmm. Could I be onto something here? Maybe I should be concentrating on writing more historicals?) drama. The only scenes I remember were men in black suits and string ties carrying a coffin up--or down--a narrow staircase; and women in Victorian mourning dresses sitting around a table, wiping their eyes.
The commercial came in the middle, naturally. A merry little jingle accompanied an actress flinging open the trunk of her car to reveal a beautifully wrapped large box with one of those big, puffy bows. I think it was advertising some department store I'd never heard of. Then back to the drama.
Strangely enough, I could sing the commercial's ditty the next day. I have no idea where that came from. Neither tune nor lyrics were familiar.
Anyway, this morning my cat didn't yowl till seven o'clock. Guess I was past the dream stage because I just woke up annoyed.
Not that she cares.
I danced in the back of the chorus line while Barbra Streisand sang "Hello Dolly" in the front. I never saw her--backs of period costumes and hats of the dancers around me blocked my view--but I heard her very plainly. Seems I was actually a part of the dream. Don't know why I dreamed about her. She's okay, but I was never a big fan.
Usually, I don't participate in my dreams. They normally work like movies or books. Movies flow as if on screen. For books, I see the pages.
My most unusual dream was a television show. With commercials. It was a period (Hmmm. Could I be onto something here? Maybe I should be concentrating on writing more historicals?) drama. The only scenes I remember were men in black suits and string ties carrying a coffin up--or down--a narrow staircase; and women in Victorian mourning dresses sitting around a table, wiping their eyes.
The commercial came in the middle, naturally. A merry little jingle accompanied an actress flinging open the trunk of her car to reveal a beautifully wrapped large box with one of those big, puffy bows. I think it was advertising some department store I'd never heard of. Then back to the drama.
Strangely enough, I could sing the commercial's ditty the next day. I have no idea where that came from. Neither tune nor lyrics were familiar.
Anyway, this morning my cat didn't yowl till seven o'clock. Guess I was past the dream stage because I just woke up annoyed.
Not that she cares.
Monday, September 9, 2013
AGATHA CHRISTIE RETURNS!
Uh, not exactly.
It seems her grandson and the company responsible for her book rights have decided to bring in a ringer. Sophie Hannah, who writes mysteries under her own name, will pen the new Hercule Poirot mystery. This despite the fact Agatha Christie finished her Miss Marple and Poirot (actually killing him off) series so no one could do this very thing.
Christie isn't the only one being exploited this way. Gone With the Wind had a sequel by a romance writer, Alexandra Ripley. Eric Van Lustbader is singlehandedly keeping Ludlum's Bourne series going. The James Bond series has had several writers since Ian Fleming's death. One of these trying-to-be Flemings is Sebastian Faulkes, who is also -- da da dum!!! -- penning a new Jeeves book!
Say what? How do you reconcile Fleming's voice with Wodehouse's?
As an author, I detest the idea that some other writer would take characters I dreamed up -- sweated over, brought to life -- and do whatever they like with them. And I hate it for these other dead authors. Especially when one of those characters is the beloved Poirot.
I didn't buy Scarlet O'Hara's imitation and I won't buy Poirot's. In fact, I try not to buy anyone's work who exploits that of another writer.
So take that, HarperCollins!
It seems her grandson and the company responsible for her book rights have decided to bring in a ringer. Sophie Hannah, who writes mysteries under her own name, will pen the new Hercule Poirot mystery. This despite the fact Agatha Christie finished her Miss Marple and Poirot (actually killing him off) series so no one could do this very thing.
Christie isn't the only one being exploited this way. Gone With the Wind had a sequel by a romance writer, Alexandra Ripley. Eric Van Lustbader is singlehandedly keeping Ludlum's Bourne series going. The James Bond series has had several writers since Ian Fleming's death. One of these trying-to-be Flemings is Sebastian Faulkes, who is also -- da da dum!!! -- penning a new Jeeves book!
Say what? How do you reconcile Fleming's voice with Wodehouse's?
As an author, I detest the idea that some other writer would take characters I dreamed up -- sweated over, brought to life -- and do whatever they like with them. And I hate it for these other dead authors. Especially when one of those characters is the beloved Poirot.
I didn't buy Scarlet O'Hara's imitation and I won't buy Poirot's. In fact, I try not to buy anyone's work who exploits that of another writer.
So take that, HarperCollins!
Monday, January 16, 2012
IS AMAZON SPYING ON ME?
I can't believe it! Amazon just emailed me a link to these books!
DIETING FOR DUMMIES
DETOX DIETS FOR DUMMIES
EXERCISE BALLS FOR DUMMIES
EATING CLEAN FOR DUMMIES
RESHAPING IT ALL
THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR: HOW TO STOP CONFUSING WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE WITH WHO YOU ARE
Huh?
And those are just some of the dieting, exercise, spiritual books they think I might "want to know about."
Well, I don't think my mind and my body are any of their business! If I want to do something about them, I will!
Not going to let my guy see this. He's been after me to eat less butter.
DIETING FOR DUMMIES
DETOX DIETS FOR DUMMIES
EXERCISE BALLS FOR DUMMIES
EATING CLEAN FOR DUMMIES
RESHAPING IT ALL
THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR: HOW TO STOP CONFUSING WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE WITH WHO YOU ARE
Huh?
And those are just some of the dieting, exercise, spiritual books they think I might "want to know about."
Well, I don't think my mind and my body are any of their business! If I want to do something about them, I will!
Not going to let my guy see this. He's been after me to eat less butter.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
UNWANTED PAST
When my best friend and I were young, we haunted the library even though Mrs. Brown, the librarian, was one grumpy old lady. To be fair, she had thousands of books she manually checked out and in, then had to shelve them all by herself. But we were kids. She scared us to death.
We read practically everything in the children's section (this was a small town library in years long gone) and asked Mrs. Brown if she would pick out some adult books we could read (no middle grade/young adult categories then). Yes, we were currying favor with her. But children weren't allowed in the adult section back then. We had no choice.
Anyway, the first things she gave us to read were the gentle romances of Grace Livingston Hill. Maybe you know her. Christian romances. Heroine didn't smoke, drink or -- heaven forbid -- wear makeup. This last was pretty radical even in our day. But we went through them fast, and she started us on some more authors like Emily Loring and others I can't remember. But she kept giving us Grace's books again. And again. And again. When she was finally too busy one day to pick some out for us, she told us to look for our own books. I think it was the happiest day of our lives. Never again, I told myself, will I hear about Grace Livingston Hill.
Well, years later, a friend was recommending books to me. Guess who was at the top of her list? Yep. Old Grace herself.
And today, I look at Kindle's free selections and guess who has a book there. You know it.
Will this woman dog my footsteps forever?
We read practically everything in the children's section (this was a small town library in years long gone) and asked Mrs. Brown if she would pick out some adult books we could read (no middle grade/young adult categories then). Yes, we were currying favor with her. But children weren't allowed in the adult section back then. We had no choice.
Anyway, the first things she gave us to read were the gentle romances of Grace Livingston Hill. Maybe you know her. Christian romances. Heroine didn't smoke, drink or -- heaven forbid -- wear makeup. This last was pretty radical even in our day. But we went through them fast, and she started us on some more authors like Emily Loring and others I can't remember. But she kept giving us Grace's books again. And again. And again. When she was finally too busy one day to pick some out for us, she told us to look for our own books. I think it was the happiest day of our lives. Never again, I told myself, will I hear about Grace Livingston Hill.
Well, years later, a friend was recommending books to me. Guess who was at the top of her list? Yep. Old Grace herself.
And today, I look at Kindle's free selections and guess who has a book there. You know it.
Will this woman dog my footsteps forever?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
50 CENT BOOKS AT BIG LOTS
Sure, the books were 2-3 years old. But they were hardbacks. By Janet Evanovich, Brad Meltzer, Patricia Cornwell, and even some Frank Herbert Dune books.
What's more, the shelf above them had $3.00 hardbacks by similar best selling authors.
This is what happens when the big publishers send out a hundred thousand books and they don't all sell right away for twenty-five dollars. Out of all the money poured into making a print book, it gets down to three dollars and then finally fifty cents.
There's something wrong with this picture. Three dollars, much less fifty cents, won't pay the costs of shipping. No wonder the traditional publishers are quaking. No wonder ebooks are paying their bills (partly because the royalties traditional publishers assign authors for ebooks are pitiful).
The publishing model used for years and years and years is sadly out of whack. Though some people say it's cheaper to print fifty thousand or so books the regular way (even if they get scads of returns) than it is to print a thousand or so POD books (on demand books that won't be returned).
I can't see it. I'm wondering whether, when the publishers get through scrambling, they can't find a better way to print and distribute their books. I hope so.
Not that I'll turn down a book for fifty cents. If it's one I want to read.
What's more, the shelf above them had $3.00 hardbacks by similar best selling authors.
This is what happens when the big publishers send out a hundred thousand books and they don't all sell right away for twenty-five dollars. Out of all the money poured into making a print book, it gets down to three dollars and then finally fifty cents.
There's something wrong with this picture. Three dollars, much less fifty cents, won't pay the costs of shipping. No wonder the traditional publishers are quaking. No wonder ebooks are paying their bills (partly because the royalties traditional publishers assign authors for ebooks are pitiful).
The publishing model used for years and years and years is sadly out of whack. Though some people say it's cheaper to print fifty thousand or so books the regular way (even if they get scads of returns) than it is to print a thousand or so POD books (on demand books that won't be returned).
I can't see it. I'm wondering whether, when the publishers get through scrambling, they can't find a better way to print and distribute their books. I hope so.
Not that I'll turn down a book for fifty cents. If it's one I want to read.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
DOGS OF ROME
Just finished The Dogs of Rome, a suspense/mystery by Conor Fitzgerald. Really enjoyed it.
The protagonist is an American who's been in Italy since he was a teenager. His parents were killed there, and the police were kind to him so now, at thirty-eight, he's a police commissioner himself in Rome.
The story deals with a political murder -- the dead man was an animal rights activist and the husband of an important politician -- that turns out not to be so political after all. But the higher ups want it solved and press Blume to go after the most likely suspect, a dog ring manager.
Blume is likeable and not on the take. He can't decide what to do when a friend and fellow policeman who specializes in getting information off the streets, gets too involved with his criminal informants. He's convinced he knows who the murderer is but is frustrated in his attempts to bring him to justice. Along the way, another policeman gets killed and Blume ends up with a broken arm and concussion. Still, he drags himself around to wrap up the case.
Nice guy with faults. One I can root for.
This is a very good read.
The protagonist is an American who's been in Italy since he was a teenager. His parents were killed there, and the police were kind to him so now, at thirty-eight, he's a police commissioner himself in Rome.
The story deals with a political murder -- the dead man was an animal rights activist and the husband of an important politician -- that turns out not to be so political after all. But the higher ups want it solved and press Blume to go after the most likely suspect, a dog ring manager.
Blume is likeable and not on the take. He can't decide what to do when a friend and fellow policeman who specializes in getting information off the streets, gets too involved with his criminal informants. He's convinced he knows who the murderer is but is frustrated in his attempts to bring him to justice. Along the way, another policeman gets killed and Blume ends up with a broken arm and concussion. Still, he drags himself around to wrap up the case.
Nice guy with faults. One I can root for.
This is a very good read.
Friday, June 4, 2010
PD James Book
Prowling through the Village Bookstore the other day, I found an old PD James I hadn't read. I am almost through with it.
Though I like her, it seems to me she's gotten wordy over the years. I'm wondering if this happens when writers become big names. I noticed it with others like Elizabeth George and Anne Rivers Siddons. Their first few books were easy reads but gradually, the books got bigger and bigger. Not plotwise. Wordwise.
It's so hard to find a new author I really like, I hate to give up on the ones I do find but sometimes that's the case.
Maybe it's not the authors. Maybe the editors are overwhelmed and can't edit like they used to. Or maybe the author's allowed more leeway once s/he gets a following. Or maybe there's a demand for that kind of writing.
Though I like her, it seems to me she's gotten wordy over the years. I'm wondering if this happens when writers become big names. I noticed it with others like Elizabeth George and Anne Rivers Siddons. Their first few books were easy reads but gradually, the books got bigger and bigger. Not plotwise. Wordwise.
It's so hard to find a new author I really like, I hate to give up on the ones I do find but sometimes that's the case.
Maybe it's not the authors. Maybe the editors are overwhelmed and can't edit like they used to. Or maybe the author's allowed more leeway once s/he gets a following. Or maybe there's a demand for that kind of writing.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Good Book
I picked up three books at the library last week. I read part of one and won't finish it. I started a murder mystery and read it through. In Their Blood by Sharon Potts.
Now I'm in the process of starting the third. The beginning is kind of slow but I read her first book - Mary Alice Monroe is the author - and liked it so I'll keep reading.
I wonder if learning so much about craft for my own writing is hurting my reading for pleasure. Seems like I'm pickier than I used to be. Or maybe I've matured?
Lord, I hope that's it. It's about time I grew up.
Now I'm in the process of starting the third. The beginning is kind of slow but I read her first book - Mary Alice Monroe is the author - and liked it so I'll keep reading.
I wonder if learning so much about craft for my own writing is hurting my reading for pleasure. Seems like I'm pickier than I used to be. Or maybe I've matured?
Lord, I hope that's it. It's about time I grew up.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Reading Books
I used to read every word of every book I started. If I wasn't enjoying it, I still struggled on to the bitter end.
Then, a couple of years ago, it dawned on me I was wasting time reading books I didn't want to read when I could be spending time reading books I did want to read or doing other stuff I wanted to do.
So now, if I get a third of the way through a book and it still doesn't resonate with me, I put it aside and look for another.
I must add, I'm a reader for pleasure. Don't give me depressing fiction as so much literary fiction seems to be. Give me a story. Give me a plot. Throw in a mystery. Throw in a romance. And if you can get humor in there, too -- real humor and not the sophomoric kind of stuff that passes for humor -- I'm hooked no matter the genre.
Wonder how much time I've wasted in my life plowing through books I couldn't bring myself to put down because of the attitude: Gosh darn it! I started it and I'll finish it if it kills me!
Then, a couple of years ago, it dawned on me I was wasting time reading books I didn't want to read when I could be spending time reading books I did want to read or doing other stuff I wanted to do.
So now, if I get a third of the way through a book and it still doesn't resonate with me, I put it aside and look for another.
I must add, I'm a reader for pleasure. Don't give me depressing fiction as so much literary fiction seems to be. Give me a story. Give me a plot. Throw in a mystery. Throw in a romance. And if you can get humor in there, too -- real humor and not the sophomoric kind of stuff that passes for humor -- I'm hooked no matter the genre.
Wonder how much time I've wasted in my life plowing through books I couldn't bring myself to put down because of the attitude: Gosh darn it! I started it and I'll finish it if it kills me!
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