June 2015 issue of The Book Breeze by The Book Breeze

Reviews, Interviews, New Releases

June 2015

John Darryl Winston

Vol 5 Issue 6

turn the page c

in this issue Articles

The Art of Writing by Barefoot Academy Part 3 - Tools of the Trade ... Page 9

June 2015 On The Cover ...

Debut author John Darryl Winston author of IA: INITIATE

Marketing Tips Part 3 by Donna Keihle ... Page 12

Review Columns Young Adult Shannon’s Space . . . Page 16 Romance Jackie’s Jargon . . . Page 7 Mystery Barefoot Reviews . . . Page 5 Roberta’s Ramblings . . . Page 11

Interview on Page 3

Author Interviews RM Cartmel Wine & Crime Fiction Page 8

Clea Simon Pru Marlowe Pet Noir Mysteries

GLBT Ace Katzenbooks . . . Page 6 Variety Eclectic Express . . . Page 18 Erotica The Playroom . . . Page 19

Page 22

New Releases Page 14 & 15

John Darryl Winston

IA: Initiate is an origin story and the first in a series by debut author John Darryl Winston. A Detroit native and public school educator, Winston created the coming of age hero's journey as part of a creative writing and 'Boys Read' program. He is a graduate of The Recording Institute of Detroit, Wayne State University, The Motion Picture Institute of Michigan and is currently enrolled in the MFA Creative Writing program at Wilkes University. He has written songs with and for Grammy winner David Foster and record mogul Clive Davis. He has been a recording artist on Arista and Polygram records, and has written and/or produced songs for Gerald Levert, Gerald Alston, and many others. Winston currently lives with his daughter Marquette in Michigan.

Your debut novel is IA: INITIATE, a YA hero’s journey. Tell us about it. IA: Initiate is the first in a five part series I started writing for a group of middle school-aged boys I taught. It is the hero’s, coming into his own, origin story of Naz Andersen. He has lost both his parents, and the most important thing in the world to him, the only thing in the world to him, is protecting his little sister from the mean, gang-infested streets of a Chicago/Detroit-like city known as the Exclave. Naz has supernatural abilities that he isn’t aware of, but comes to know them gradually as well as his destiny as the story unfolds. What led you to write this book? I came up with this idea maybe 20-30 years ago, and only 4 years ago decided to follow through on it. I took a 4-day cruise all by my lonesome and when I returned I had gotten through the knife fight scene minus the “In the past” which came later. Let’s go back a bit. Prior to that cruise I had worked with a group of middle school-age boys who were low-level readers. The challenge was finding books that these boys would find interesting. Long story short, my group of low-level readers evolved (bad readers stopped coming, average readers joined) into average readers and the concept of the story that had been in my head for years was rekindled. These boys wanted a real life Harry Pottertype hero that looked like them minus the witchcraft, trolls, and centaurs.

I believed I was the man to create that story, not just for them but for the world. So I met with a group of my smartest friends at a library for a mastermind alliance meeting. Not a big reader or literary person in general, I knew I had my work cut out for me. For the next year I immersed myself in

the literary world (haven’t really come up for air yet). I read any and everything I could get my hands on (Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, I Am Number Four, Artemis Fowl, Legend just to name a few the good and the bad). No one ever sees me without a book in my hand. I studied craft books and took online workshops and webinars on Reader’s digest.com. I had no idea how to begin or if the words would even come out and I was afraid to even write a word at first. That’s when I went on the cruise and locked myself in my cabin and forced myself to write the first page, one of the scariest moments in my life. Surprisingly the words just flowed from me, as if they weren’t my own and were given to me by another entity. It was surreal. “It is the city, a city that never dies.”

Did you have an interesting experience in the research of this book? I would place my students in authentic settings, in the street, in the gym, in the locker room, on the playground etc and record the audio of their conversations. I did this so much they would often forget they were being recorded. It was during these times, when they were not conscious of being taped and I wasn’t around that I got my best material, material I assimilate into the body of the complete IA story. I think that’s part of what gives the story’s dialogue what others call an authentic feel.

The bleakness of the Exclave is the setting of your story. Why is this setting important? The setting is important because it is what I know. It is what Continued on page 4

John Darryl Winston Interview continued

millions of people on this planet know in not just a geographical or physical since, but an emotional and psychological one as well. It is a combination of my home city, Detroit and my adopted city, Chicago: I wanted to place a flawed hero in it’s dismal, hopeless and helpless midst to not just bring about change but inspire and demand others do the same. Smooth seas don’t produce skillful sailors, well there’s nothing smooth about Detroit, Chicago, or the Exclave.

Who designed the cover? A young man just out of high school by the name of Deon Mixon designed the cover. He had read the book and was on his way to Western University for graphic design. He was also one of my son’s friends and I had known him for about 5 years since middle school. I asked him how he felt about designing the cover and he jumped at the chance for no pay (I convinced him to accept a fee in the end). His first design was beautiful, but abstract and I expressed to him that I wanted the cover to represent the words on the pages in a clear and concise way. We put our heads together and what you see on the cover now is the end result. He’s a Junior at Western now and looking forward to designing the next cover and has a few more projects under his belt, including a manuscript of his own. What do you like to do when you're not writing? I have a duo love for sports and music so when I’m not writing, I’m in the gym, out on the golf course or sitting at my piano with my guitar in my hand, and my writing will always be influenced by those two loves in one way or another. What social media do you participate in? I’m a twitter addict I guess you could say. I spend a good amount of time tweeting about what I’m going to read, am reading, or have already read. I’ve met a lot of really good and cool people on twitter. There’s also facebook, which I’ve been on the longest, but do not participate in as much twitter. And then there’s instagram. I do have a good amount of followers, but I don’t do much there at all.

What is your favorite character you ever created and why? I thought this would be an extremely easy question, but it turned out to be the most difficult. It’s so hard to pick one because I craft my characters to be like people we see everyday in the real world who are sometimes flawed in damaging ways, but that’s the beauty of people, our imperfections not our perfections. One of my all-time favorite characters, Clark Kent, eventually became an irritating character to me because he had no flaws. If I had to pick one, it would be Naz simply because he is the chosen one.

What is your inspiration to write? My inspiration to write is the profound belief that I’ve been given an important story to tell, in the IA series, by the universe, and it is my duty, calling, and responsibility to take up that charge relentlessly and to no end.

How do you cope with the negative sides of writing? Such as haters/trolls/bad reviews/writers block. It’s not always easy or even possible, but I ignore all of those as best I can, especially haters, trolls, and bad reviews. I have absolutely no control over those factors. As far as writer’s block is concerned, I ignore it by lowering the bar or expectations for myself. When you I do that, there’s no such thing as writer’s block. Even if I have to write the same word over and over again, I do it and trust that the muse will ultimately return..

What advise would you give to a new author starting out? Read, Read, and READ some more relentlessly, write everyday the kind of stories you like to read, continue to develop your craft, commune with other authors, and build a platform using the internet and social medial. What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you? Do you think diversity and multiculturalism are adequately addressed in main stream literature these days?

There are many diverse books out there white, black, hispanic, asian, etc, to be sure, and I would say they are all over the place (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.), but when I think of the term multiculturalism, I think of cultures and races existing together in the same model, or book if you will, in various and random positions. For example the hero of the story could be black as in IA: Initiate with Naz Andersen and the other characters could be various races which occurs in the real world with startling regularity. In this case truth should not be stranger than fiction and whether it be the IA series or other literary works, powerful publishers need to make it happen. The question is, who will step up to the plate? What’s next for you? I am in the rewriting stages of my second novel, which is the second installment of IA, and I’m extremely excited about it. I’m also piloting what’s called an Adopt an Author program which has as its mission to connect authors with young readers for the purpose of fostering a lifetime of love for literature.

Buy Now John Darryl Winston links”

Website: http://www.johndarrylwinston.com Facebook Author Page Amazon Author Page

Barefoot Book Reviews THE WRONG GIRL (Jane Ryland series) Hank Phillippi Ryan Forge Books Mystery/Thriller

Ryan’s innovative look at adoption and reconnecting with natural parents is a fastpaced, captive read. When the prestigious Brannigan Family and Children’s Services matches a former colleague of journalist, Jane Ryland, with the wrong birth family, Jane smells a story and gets busy to find out why and how this could happen. Ryan’s successful career in journalism plays out on the pages in this fictional look at a hot topic, which she “reports” in crisp narrative and quixotic dialogue. The adoption catastrophe runs parallel to the dramatic death of a young woman with her two toddlers in the house as she is murdered, a case the very sexy Detective Jake Brogan is investigating. Jake and Jane work hard to keep their interest in each other a quickly leaking secret, setting off sparks of a different kind. Kill off a few more, merge the decedents’ backgrounds, and a thoughtful puzzle unfolds.

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COOLER THAN BLOOD (Jake Travis series) Robert Lane Mason Alley Publishing Mystery/Thriller

Robert Lane definitely has a flair for the dramatic in a Phillip Marlowe sort of way: blunt sentences, macho repartee, and good-ole-buddy sequences. A serial-killer plot with variances on a common theme and colorful characters, Lane’s book has enough white space on the pages and enough writing chops that the book will garner a broadbased following. Filled with purple prose that fit the situation and don’t come off as high school boy meets pen and paper, the Jake Travis series is one to watch.

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DYING FOR THE PAST (Gumshoe Ghost Series) TJ O’Connor Midnight Ink Paranormal Mystery

“Dying is not for the faint of heart.” A perfect opening line, which could go in an infinite number of ways, hooked my interest. The fun was just beginning. O’Connor’s choice of

by Mahala Church

character name and personality is spot on with Tuck, the protagonist - can a ghost be a protagonist? The dialogue was at times a bit stifled, but Tuck’s musings and selfnarration make for an intriguing and often laugh-out-loud read. The solid plot and subplot with secrets tucked in every corner and around every bend was a new take on sleuthing. O’Connor provides a provocative historical setting as Tuck time-travels between decades. There are, of course, some downsides to being a ghost, but you will discover those as you journey on the trail of clues.

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BUTTERFLY KILLS (Stonechild and Rouleau Series) Brenda Chapman Dundurn Mystery/Thriller

Chapman’s Butterfly Kills is an intelligent, poignant look into a cavalcade of mysteries that crisscross each other and authenticate the question of coincidence, which enters the lives of the living and the dead. The eclectic staff of a school hotline, which deals with the angst-ridden emotions and fears of students away from home and facing adulthood, initiates this deadly thriller. Clear narrative and timely dialogue from well developed characters among scenic settings all cycle together to bring a thrilling challenge to follow the clues.

Kala Stonechild and Jacques Rouleau are realistic protagonists. Rouleau moved to watch after his aging father and is actively seeking to hire the elusive Stonechild, an investigator, he highly respects. Both carry the natural baggage of lives lived on the edge. Both are multi-faceted characters. Both bring to bold life the plot lines in this worthwhile immersion of fictional drama.

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Mahala Church is a freelance editor and writer and teaches creative writing for teens and adults through her Barefoot Writing Academy. An accomplished workshop leader and award winning author, Pushcart Prize nominee, and published editor, she enjoys all aspects of writing. An avid reader of both literary and commercial fiction as well as biographies and memoirs, she particularly likes books set in Britain, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and the Deep South of the United States. You can follow her at www.lyricalpens.com.

Ace Katzenbooks Reviews THE LONELY WAR by Alan Chin DSP Publications

This novel won 4 well-deserved Rainbow Awards when it was released in 2010. It is the story of Andrew Waters, son of an American oil executive and a Vietnamese woman (Vietnam was then called Indochina) who is educated by Buddhist monks and wishes to join the temple. After Pearl Harbor, he is ordered by his father to join the US Navy – and in Asian tradition, he must obey.

It's hard to express my admiration for what Alan Chin has accomplished without going overboard—pun intentional. There is amazing scholarship in this story – sleeping arrangements aboard American ships in the tropics, survival tricks for turning a stomach-turning source of protein into vital nourishment, simple explanations, shorn of patriotic arrogance, of the balance of powers that led to the war in the Pacific. It all serves as a swirling background tapestry for the story of a soul's journey from a temple to a minor naval ship to a POW camp, through opium addiction in occupied Japan, and finally to peace.

There's a hint of the old TV series Kung Fu in this tale— the basic scenario of a young Buddhist man of mixed racial parentage thrown into conflict, the occasional flashback to give context to a situation. But the similarity ends there. Andrew is no martial arts master, confidently in control. Instead, his soul journey takes him from a still center and into turmoil that tears him apart, never realizing that his one constant virtue, his care for others over his own welfare, never alters. And his life comes full circle when he fulfills a promise to a dead lover, then finds that instead of being the one suffering from unrequited love, he can relieve another man's longing.

I've got nothing to criticize except the proof-reader who left vile for vial and dribble for drivel. The Navajo put an intentional error in every work of art—maybe these were done on purpose.

This is the most beautiful book I've read in a very long time. It is magnificent. Read it.

Five pawprints. Buy Now

WEATHERING THE STORM (Young Adult gay romance) by Caitlin Ricci Harmony Ink Press

It took me awhile to pick this book up because I just didn't care for the look of the model on the cover – not fair, I know, but I do think covers are a factor. And after I started reading, I realized that the model looked nothing like the actual character in the story—we're told on p 43 that Robbie Messana has flaming red hair, and it's his brothers who are brunets. Whoops!

I didn't feel drawn into the universe, either – the obvious bully of a father, and the downtrodden narrator making excuses for his abuser. This, though, was a great bit of characterization. It sets up the primary conflict neatly, and I suspect for many younger readers it mirrors the built-in conflicts of adolescence. At first, the reader can't be sure if Robbie is just having a pity party or his father's a mean jerk.

That's cleared up pretty fast. Robbie's father really is a cruel, resentful man who takes out his anger at his wife on two of their kids. He manages to make what ought to be an ideal life for a horse-loving kid into a regimented drudge. It's all work and no play, and while Robbie's older brother is a carbon copy of his father, the younger boys are constant targets who get no praise and all criticism. Things go from bad to worse very quickly when his wife apologizes to her sons and walks out on Dan Messana. It was difficult to think highly of her, because if she had not realized that her middle son was her husband's favorite object of abuse she wasn't very good at protecting her kids, and she didn't make any attempt to take any of them with her.

After a couple more disasters, Messana Senior loses his job (most likely due to his anger management issues) and takes the three boys (Daniel Jr., Robbie, and Ben, the youngest) to live with his brother-in-law, Caleb, while he looks for another trainer job. For apparently the first time in his life, Robbie gets a look at normal family life, and quickly makes friends with the only other kid his age on his uncle's ranch. This story is a romance, so it's not much of a surprise when Robbie and Sam form a friendship based on their mutual love of horses and the isolated situation. No spoilers here. We get a satisfying HEA, but you have to read it and find out for yourself.

It has the added diversity of being an interracial romance, and I liked the fact that the only person who has any Continued on page 18

Jackie’s Jargon

ROMANCE REVIEWS BY JACKIE MCMURRAY

DANCES OF THE HEART by Andrea Downing Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc. (Yellow Rose) (February 2, 2015) Genre: Contemporary Romance

DEAREST DARLING by Andrea Downing Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (October 8, 2014) Genre: Western Historical Romance Heat: Spicy

I love a good contemporary romance with sympathetic characters and this book did not disappoint.

In DANCES OF THE HEART, author Andrea Downing does a splendid job of weaving the past and present stories of four characters: Carrie Bennett, a divorced romance writer; Paige, Carrie’s daughter who is reeling from the death of her fiancé; Ray Ryder, a hard-drinking Texan rancher; and Jake, Ray’s son, just back from Iraq and keeper of a secret that could ruin his relationship with his dad forever.

The story starts with Carrie and Paige heading to a dude ranch as research for Carrie’s next book. The intertwining of their lives with Ray and Jake begins when the women decide to pick up Jake who is hitchhiking. They meet Ray at the local bar and the stage is set for the characters to interact.

All four characters are driven by significant events in their pasts. Downing masterfully creates tension by slowly revealing these events. The realistic dialogue and narratives from all four points of view creates a well-rounded story of love and loss, trust and forgiveness, making choices and overcoming past hurts.

DANCES OF THE HEART moves along at a pageturning pace; each location described so vividly that I could see each scene as if in a movie. And if the book ever was optioned for a movie, I’d be the first in line!

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Jackie McMurray and her husband live on a macadamia nut farm on the island of Hawai'i where they feed a clowder of cats and a flock of hodgepodge chickens. In a past life, she was an elementary school teacher; currently, she writes contemporary romance from the Hawaiian Islands and beyond under her pen name, Jackie Marilla.

Downing set her historical romance novella in Wyoming and New York City and easily takes the reader back to the late 1800s. From her descriptions of Wyoming ranch land to the societal expectations of New York City, Dearest Darling easily swept me back in time.

Daniel Saunders left New York City to ranch in Wyoming. When loneliness gets the better of him, he decides to seek out a mail-order bride and contacts a woman whose address he has acquired from a man who recommends her. Daniel proposes marriage and scrapes together enough money to buy Edith a ticket west. Little does he know that the tickets are delivered to the wrong address and the woman of that household decides to use the tickets as a means of escape from her brother.

Unmarried Emily Darling is tired of being her brother’s maid. When a sweet love letter arrives in the mail, she knows it’s wrong to use the tickets intended for someone else, and yet, she rationalizes that she can explain her situation to Daniel Saunders when she arrives in Wyoming. The main characters are well developed and endearing. Alternate points of view contributed to my understanding of the frustrations the hero and heroine experienced as well as the growing love between the hero and heroine.

Downing created a plot, which at first glance, felt contrived and then managed to convince me to suspend my disbelief. I was not sorry! The middle of the story had me alternately cheering for Emily and then Edith (the fiancée who did not receive her travel tickets) and the ending did a great job of tying up all the loose ends for a satisfying HEA.

If you love historical romances, give DEAREST DARLING a read.

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RM Cartmel

Wine and Crime Fiction

Born into a military family, R.M. Cartmel was educated at Sherborne School in the South West of England and at Oxford. Cartmel served as a practicing doctor for over three and a half decades. As a novelist Cartmel combines two of his lifelong loves—writing and traveling throughout France’s exquisite Burgundy region.

Tell us about your new release and why you chose this genre. THE CHARLEMAGNE CONNECTION is the second in a series of mystery crime fiction books, featuring a rumpled, quietly spoken French detective called Truchaud. The first three books of the series take place over one wine-making year, and are all set in the vineyards of Burgundy.

What led you to write this book? Quite simply I was looking for a crime fiction book set in the vineyards of Burgundy, and I couldn’t find one, either in English or in French – so I set about writing it, and one book led to another…

Did you have an interesting experience in the research of this book? Any number of interesting experiences, but I guess if I had to single one out it would be becoming part of the wine-making community in this tiny but fabulously special corner of France. Everyone I spoke to in the course of researching the book has been amazingly helpful and welcoming, to the extent that last October found me working at the Domaine de la Vougeraie, being generously inducted into the secrets of making really topquality wine. A real privilege. Do you have a favorite writing place? Sitting under a sunshade outside the Café du Centre in Nuits Saint Georges, ideally with a glass of xxxxx within easy reach.

Is it a series? Yes – after the three set in France, I am taking my detective overseas. Undoubtedly to Oregon. Probably to Australia. Where else? We’ll see.

Tell us about your characters? Commander Truchaud is the central character, and is a figure who arrived fully formed in my mind one day, creased crumpled raincoat included. He is the younger son of a wine-making dynasty, and, as with many younger sons the world around, found that the family business couldn’t quite support him as well as his older brother, so went off to Paris to join the police. He has had a profoundly affecting love affair with a woman whom he failed to marry, and a marriage with a woman with whom he failed to make things work. He is an extremely good policeman, an honourable man, and not entirely happy.

Why is the setting important? All this series of books are wine & crime mysteries, linking the pleasures and processes of wine-making with the puzzles and plots of crime fiction – without the vineyards in which the books are set, the crimes would not have happened, and their stories could not have been told.

What makes the book uniquely yours? They combine three things which I am deeply passionate about – the subtleties of wine-making, the subterfuges of a good mystery novel, and writing. As well as being a doctor for all of my adult life, I have also been a writer whenever I had the chance. Now I have tucked my stethoscope away, and let my writer’s imagination have full rein.

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Barefoot Writing Academy Presents:

Tools of the Trade by Mahala Church

Writers use numerous tools to improve the experience for our readers. Voice is one of the important ones that hook a reader into you story. It’s a key component agents and editors look for on that all important first page. Think about a book you particularly liked, and more than likely, it was the voice of the protagonist that drew you inside.

Voice

Imagine you are sitting at your favorite coffee spot, telling a friend a story. The way you tell the story is quintessentially you. You don’t stop to think about how the story sounds. The visual and verbal cues you get from your friend help you time the rhythm of your story and play up or down certain parts of it. That is exactly what you want to capture in the voices of your characters, especially your protagonist.

Cadence, volume, socio-economics, colloquialisms, country/state, time in history, age, ethnicity, profession, book genre, all contribute to voice and a character’s internal narrative and dialogue. In my creative writing classes, I give each student a teddy bear and send the two away to have a conversation and record what the teddy bear tells them. This gets new writers into the habit of listening to their characters.

DIALOGUE - VALUABLE TOOL

Dialogue keeps readers in the character's head; writers have to know their characters very well or readers will be lost. Dialogue must be:

Spontaneous and lifelike. Think Shrek, Donkey, Spock, James Earl Jones, Chef Julia, Phillip Marlowe, Hercule Poirot, Dirty Harry. Did you hear their voices? I used a blend of Martha Stewart, Minnie Pearl, and Eleanor Roosevelt for a character, and it worked beautifully. Good dialogue uses the words, dialects, and syntax* that fit the character: education, gender, profession, age, history, and area they live to “flesh” them out.

* The arrangement of words in a sentence. Yoda’s syntax is different than yours. “I saw that she a cookie ate.”

Reading your dialogue aloud is a good way to test it. Clichés in narrative are a cheap way to write, but using them in dialogue brings the character to life. • He was as red as a beet. (Can’t you be more creative?) • “You are the color of a pickled beet,” she said.

Use dialogue to express a character’s emotions and attitudes (anger, sarcasm, humor) without wasting paragraph after paragraph to explain with narrative. Usually descriptive tags aren’t necessary, but if the dialogue leading to the sentence doesn’t clarify it, an explanation is needed. Look at the difference in these three:

She sneered. "You're wrong as usual!” She smiled. “As usual, you’re wrong.” She patted the girl on the back. “You’re wrong. Let me show you.”

Dialogue breaks up blocks of narrative and keeps the reader involved. The words, the length of the sentences, the punctuation are all excellent tools to intensify danger and build tension. Continued next page

Barefoot Writing Academy Presents:

Tools of the Trade (cont) by Mahala Church

Senses

Heart jackhammered Head kept a steady, painful beat Pain in my tooth drilled into my jaw Her small, chubby hand reached for me Blood ran from the gash Two boys balancing on one bike made my heart sing Smell of iron led me to what I didn’t want to see Scent of peaches tickled my nose Salty ocean breeze lifted my spirit miles before I saw the beach Her glass shattering voice startled me. Casey’s frantic barking frazzled my nerves. Sirens blared in my head and I saw red right before… Salty and sweet were the tastes of my grandchildren Day-old coffee jangled my nerves Biscuits dripping honey and butter

Show Don’t Tell - Why?

Show, don’t tell is a restrictive guideline that doesn’t fit every situation. Choice gives writers room to stretch their creative muscles. Both telling and narrative summary, like exposition and backstory, have a place in the writer’s toolbox. The Harry Potter series is a good example of telling and then showing. The opening of Chamber of Secrets tells rather than shows and works perfectly to ground readers in the story. Rowling then reverses things and “shows” us what she means by that statement.

"Not for the first time, an argument had broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive."

Rather than tell us that Harry’s summer has been oppressive, Rowling shows readers. Harry’s owl, Hedwig, is locked in her cage, his school things locked in the cupboard. She shows us rather than telling for page after page, letting us see what Harry’s family has done to him and his possessions.

Show your readers through the five senses, and tell them with dialogue, using a voice that is “just right” and introduce them to your character. Then take them on a journey through the life of your book! Mahala Church is a freelance editor and writer for Written Word, her company that focuses on authors and other small business types who clamor to stay ahead of the pack. She pens weekly blog posts for a diversity of clients, and reaches out to writers through Barefoot Writing Academy, a division of Written Word, leading workshops, teaching classes, and providing individual mentoring. A published author of winning short stories, non-fiction, and book reviews, she lives in the crazy world of rescued dogs, kids, and turtles, one of whom prefers strawberries with his grits. www.lyricalpens.com.

Roberta’s Ramblings by Roberta Rogow

Ghosts, literal and figurative, haunt the books I've been reading of late.

KEEPER OF THE CASTLE, by Juliet Blackwell (Obsidian, 2014,$7.99) finds construction contractor and part-time ghostbuster Mel Turner working on the reconstruction of a Scottish castle in San Francisco. Problems arise when not one, but two ghostly manifestation send the workers scurrying. Then the body of a nosy city official turns up, and Mel's construction crew comes under suspicion. Mixed stones from two different sites, a fierce Scottish nationalist, and an archeological expert with his own agenda, all play a part in this solid entry in the Haunted House Renovation Mysteries. Buy Now

Another construction site in California is the scene for THIS OLD HOMICIDE, by Kate Carlisle (Obsidian, 2015, $7.99). Shannon Hammer loves her small town, Lighthouse Cove, and its quirky inhabitants. The quirkiest is Jesse Hennessey, one of Shannon's father's old war buddies, whose tall tales of sunken treasure, have always been taken with several shakers of salt. Then Shannon finds Jesse dead, apparently of natural causes, but strange things are happening in the house next door.. Mysterious midnight visitors tear the place apart, looking for buried treasure. A woman turns up, claiming to be Jesse's fiance. Is the story Jesse told about finding an old Spanish wreck true? And why is Shannon's nemesis, Whitney, trying to take over the management of the annual Valentine's Day festivities? It all comes together in a cosmic, comic confrontation, and Shannon solves not one, but two mysteries. A fun read. Buy Now

Maia Chance's SNOW WHITE RED-HANDED (Berkley, 2014, $7.99) shifts to Germany in 1867. Ophelia Flax is an actress out of work, who finagles herself into a job as lady's maid to the wife of an American millionaire who has just taken over a German castle with a connection to a fairy-tale past. Was Snow White an actual princess? Someone seems to think so; there are tales of buried treasure, and a possible gold mine worked by very short people. Then her boss is found dead, poisoned by an apple! Ophelia must deal with German police, student secret societies, and faded aristocrats before she can uncover the secret of Snow White's tomb

and face down a fiendish killer. There's more to come in this series that crosses Historical with Occult mysteries. Buy Now

In AN EARLY WAKE, by Sheila Connolly (Berkley, 2015, $7.99) the ghosts of the past are heard in the music that used to be played in Sullivan's Pub, the bar Maura Donovan inherited in the small village of Skibbereen. With winter coming on, and the end of the tourist season closing in, Maura is looking for some way to attract visitors to her pub. A chance meeting with a once-famous singer leads to a spontaneous evening of song that ends disastrously when one of the musicians is found dead the morning after. Past sins have long shadows, especially in Ireland, but what does a young music student have against a might-have-been who never quite made the Big Time? Why is Maura's pub being targeted by burglars? And who is the thug who has been menacing anyone near her? Irish charm has a dark side, and the modern world is very much a part of today's Ireland. A visit to Skibbereen is always warming. Buy Now

The past is very much part of the present in G.M. Malliet's PAGAN SPRING (Minotaur, 2014, $15.99), when Max Tudor, ex-MI5 and now Anglican priest in Nether Monkslip, finds himself in the middle of yet another murder. A newcomer to the village, actor Thaddeus Bottle, dies after attending a dinner party, where Max is one of the guests, and Max suspects poison of a particularly rare kind. There are plenty of suspects, starting with Mrs. Bottle, who has been the target of Thaddeus's bile for years. But what does a pair of elaborate earrings have to do with the case? And why does the charming French hairdresser blanch at the sight of striped wallpaper? The truth is stranger than anything Max has known during his career as secret agent, and once again, old sins cast long shadows. The War is never over for some people, and the solution to the mystery is locked in emails sent to someone who can never read them. A jaunt into the English countryside, with dark overtones. Buy Now

Roberta Rogow is a retired librarian who enjoys books with characters that grab you, often set in exotic places or in other times. She reads a lot of historical mysteries, but also enjoys Alternate History, and has been known to indulge in an orgy of“cozy crafty” mysteries, set in small-town America or villages in Great Britain. Her latest release, MAYHEM IN MANATAS is the follow-up to MURDERS IN MANATAS.

Ways to Market Yourself by Donna Keihle

Thus far we’ve covered the importance of advertising and name recognition (April issue) and branding and reader relationships with Tanith Yates (May issue). It’s time to throw out some ways to market you and your book. Notice I included you in the mix because as important as it is to promote your book you also need to promote yourself to establish a relationship with the reader.

Writers can be a bit reclusive and not always comfortable with crowds but one of the best ways to promote your self is in person. There are all kinds of way to do that. Delilah Marvelle writes historical romance and has dressed in costume at conferences. I heard of one author who always wore a button that said, “Ask me about the books I write.” I’m sure that sparked a lot of conversations with potential readers.

is a reviewer for the paper

At the same event I met Kevin O’Brien. OMG, what a delightful person, his energy and humor still delights me to this day. I don't tend to read his genre but I promote him when I can. I’ve interviewed him and like and share his posts on FB. I met Susan Mallery a couple of years ago when she contacted me about an ad. In her inquiry she mentioned she also had some companion pieces, a prepared interview and an article. (Very smart move). As it turned out I had space to fill so I contacted her about the article. *Poof* it was in my inbox and my problem was solved. Susan established herself as a go-to gal.

When the idea for this series came up I turned to the authors I have a relationship with about I went to an author event in Washington and met contributing. I was so impressed with Susan’s Shannon Kennedy. Her face lit up when she preparedness that I asked her if she would talked about her books. She obviously loves contribute a paragraph or two about promotional what she does. I never forgot her and now she packages in exchange for some advertising.

NY Times Bestselling author Susan Mallery’s thoughts on promotional packages:

It’s not enough to write a book and hope that readers will discover it. With the rise in popularity of ebooks, the number of books in the marketplace grows every month, no longer with a limited shelf life, which means each author is competing for attention with an ever greater number of books. Now more than ever, a big part of every author’s job is to promote the book, to let readers know that it exists, and to tantalize them with the promise of an engaging story they’ll love.

But how can you streamline the promotion process, while continuing to write the next book? One of the ways I do this is to prepare in advance a brief promotional package for each book, so that if a last-minute opportunity arises, I have content ready to go. When a reporter on a tight deadline asks about my upcoming book, The Girls of Mischief Bay, I can do a quick turnaround by sending a prewritten Q & A, a book club discussion guide with recipe, and web- and print-quality photos of me and of the book cover. I also include the link to www.MischiefBay.com, where he or she can read all about my new series

Another author I turned to was Paty Jager. I met Paty at RCRW (Rose City Romance Writers) and I’ve been with her at a couple of events and watched her with people. Paty is not naturally a gregarious person but she is genuine and it radiates from her.

Heather Haven has been an advertiser in The Book Breeze for several years now. Our relationship has been strictly through email but I’ve taken quite a shine to this funny, warm woman. I love the little twinkle in her eye in her author pic.

So, how does all this relate to advertising? Networking. Establishing relationships. Anytime you interact as an author be professional. Make sure the impression you leave is how you want them to think about you and your work. Keep that in mind when you set up your website and/or blog. Give it personality. When I interview an author I stress this is their time to shine. I was delighted in this month’s interview with John Darryl Winston that he took my interview questions and really ran with them. He doubled

the length of his interview and brought up a great issue – multiculturalism. I hope you’ve gleaned some ways to traverse the mystical world of advertising. I’d like to leave you with these thoughts:

• Advertising is critical. • Advertising accumulates – be patient and consistent. • There is no easy answer, there is also no single answer. Find what works for you.

Paty Jager author of westerns, action-adventure, romance and mystery novels shares her experiences on marketing: I don’t care to spend a lot of money on advertising. If it’s free, I’m there! ;) I’d have to say this past year my best results for book sales have come from Facebook -- my author FB page, FB groups, and FB parties. I’m sure some new internet phenome will arrive shortly and FB won’t be the way to get seen, just like Twitter has kind of fizzled. I love to blog and will continue to blog but have found it doesn’t get as many sales as it once did.

When I put together marketing materials, mini-booklets, bookmarks, items I can put in people’s hands. A mini booklet is a collection of say the first chapter or first kiss or first fight of one or several books. It's a way to give a taste of your writing and the book(s) to readers in person. They are printed on half pages so you get two booklets per page ( 4.25 inches by 5.5 inches). I have one that is a scene showing how feisty my heroines are in four books of the different genres I write. I currently put one together with the first chapter of the first three mystery books since I'm attending a mystery conference. I use publisher to lay them out. Jessa Slade is the one who put me onto making the booklets. If I only want a few I print them myself. If I need a hundred I send them to Staples. I’ve found the mini-booklets get a better response and are less likely to be thrown in a garbage can than bookmarks. I use the QR code for my website. Sometimes specifically the page on my website to find the books. I can’t say this has made sales but it makes it easy for them to check out me and my books if they use the app. The author co-op I’m a member of is trying video interviews. I’ll be participating in my first interview this month. I’ll let you know at a later date how that works out.

Heather Haven author of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, the Persephone Cole Vintage Mysteries and the awarding winning noir mystery Death of a Clown offers this advice on marketing:

Get your name out there. Once you’ve finished your work – even before – start tweeting and Facebooking. Create a blog. If you don’t have these three internet connections to the world at large, get them. They cost virtually nothing but time, and they are important. You don’t have to do all every single day. One does want to have a life and you need time for writing, but it is the daily drop of water into the bucket you’re going for. Each drop adds up. Seriously. I don’t blog much except sporadically; not a devotee of the daily blog. But some people are and it works for them. However, I tend to FB nearly every day and I tweet about twice a week.

I also try to do book-freebees so people can get acquainted with my work without it costing them anything. New readers, new blood. These freebees come at a cost, because you are using services that have email connections you don’t. The bigger the connection, the higher the cost for you.

When I offered the first of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, Murder is a Family Business, I got OVER 65,000 downloads. Yes, I was giving away my book for free BUT: if only 10% of the 65K downloads read my book I then have created 6,500 new readers. Also, if you are any good at all at your craft, these readers will buy some or all of the rest of your work. Such has been the proven case for me. I made back the money I spent on the advertising emails in around 48-hours. The rest was gravy. The old adage you have to spend money to make money is often true.

New Releases

VIRTUE AND VALOR

New Releases

LOVE FOR SALE

(Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series, Book 2)

By Linda Nightingale

by Collette Cameron

Spicy Sci-fi Romance

Spicy Regency Scottish Historical

Released June 10 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

Released June 24 by Soul Mate Publishing in ebook then print

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S KISS By Stacy Reid, Lily Maxton, Nicola Davidson and Ally Broadfield Spicy Historical Romance Released June 29th in ebook A SCORCHING DILEMMA By Shereen Vedam Spicy Historical Paranormal Romance Released April 21 in print and ebook GHOST OF DEATH By Chrys Fey Mild Fantasy/Mystery Short Story Released as an ebook

PAISLEY’S PATTERN By LoRee Peery Mild Contemporary Inspiration Romance Released May 8 by White Rose Publishing – A Pelican Book Group in ebook

THE DETECTIVE’S DRAGON By Karilyn Bentley

Spicy Fantasy Romance Released June 12 by The Wild Rose Press in ebook and print

BLIND LOVE Kishan Paul Spicy Contemporary Romance Released June 2 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd in print and ebook BAYOU BECKONS By Linda Joyce Spicy Contemporary Romance Released June 3rd by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is world renowned for her “insightful, funny, and poignant” stories (Booklist). With her brand-new Mischief Bay series, she brings vivid color to the story of three friends on the brink of a new life. Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband.

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg became V.P. at her firm, but she wonders whether she made the right choice. Although Pam Eiland adores her husband, she feels restless now that the kids are grown.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, the girls of Mischief Bay will discover that life is richer with friends at your side.

Sequel to HOME IS THE SAILOR

Sizzling New Releases ANCIENT TIES Jane Leopold Quinn Erotic Time Travel Romance’ Released May 28, 2015 by Jane Leopold Quinn in ebook SOUTH SEAS SEDUCTION By Anita Kidesu Sizzling Romantic Erotica Menage Released March 13 by The Wild Rose Press in ebook and print

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THE CHARLEMAGNE CONNECTION By RM Cartmel Crime Fiction/Mystery Released by Crime Scene Books in print and ebook

THE END OF CAMELOT By Diana Rubino Spicy Romantic Murder Mystery Released March 27 by The Wild Rose Press in ebook and print SAVING THE CHILDREN By Fran McNabb Mild Romantic Suspense Released April 29 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

AMETHYST CHRONICLES: CROCEUS POISON By KG Stutts Mild Sci-fi Romance Released May 22 in ebook

Sci-fi

LOVE FOR SALE By Linda Nightingale Spicy Sci-fi Romance Released June 10 by The Wild Rose Press in print and ebook

Time Travel

SAIL AWAY once again with Will Marshall and Davy Archer in this collection of missing moments from their saga. Meet some of the background players from their story as they take center stage in tales of their own. Enjoy a journey through the family album of the Royal Navy series universe.

Mystery Thriller

New Releases

MY MOUNTAIN MAN By DeeDee Lane Spicy Time Travel Western Romance Released Jay 27 by The Wild Rose Press Cactus Rose Line in ebook

The adventures of Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) and Arthur Conan Doyle in late 19th-century. Victorian mysteries with nostalgic fun and spunky characters by speculative fiction author Roberta Rogow

Mystery, history and intrigue collide in this mesmerizing page turner

If Eve’s closely-guarded secret comes to light, it could change the course of history… www.joelfox.com

Love, Hawaiian Style by

Jackie Marilla

Shannon’s Space

YA Reviews by Shannon Kennedy KEEPERS OF RUNES AND THE TOWER OF SHADOWS by Andrew D. Cratsley CreateSpace Independent Publishing ~ May 2014 ~ 3.5 Stars

JESUS JACKSON by James Ryan Daley Poisoned Pen Press ~ October 2014 ~ 4.5 Stars

Blurb: Haunted by his sordid past, Corinth emerges from his solitude within the eternal forest around Enzlintine. Eager to serve, he is sent away under the ruse of a mercenary to quell the troubled region plagued by Khalid, the Lord of Conquest. Unsure of his companions, he discovers a world unlike the one imparted by his vain race. The trail of deadly contracts leads them to a mysterious tower inhabited by an unforeseen evil. It forces them into greater dangers to retrieve an unknown object, under the escort a young girl it claims as his ward. Offering her assistance to flee in exchange for her safety, her charm and peculiar lineage forces the noble soldier of fortune to question his precious ideals while seeking refuge. They race towards a frigid wasteland to find the bane of the evil that stalks them, while battling assassins, ominous creatures, and the forces of Khalid.

Review: Appointed to the Sage Guards, newly knighted Enzlintine elf, Corinth sets off on a quest to discover why people and other creatures disappear on a major trade route. Along the way, he’ll deal with a group of hired swords – mercenaries and his own prejudices. Corinth finds himself battling his cultural indoctrination more than his adversaries. Elves come first and everyone else is not just second class, but actually lower than that, even or perhaps especially his allies.

This book had tremendous potential that unfortunately wasn’t totally realized. The well described setting provided a wonderful backdrop for the ensemble cast of mercenaries. However, they weren’t as well developed and at times it became difficult to connect with them or Corinth. Another problem was the constant use of unnecessary dialogue tags and when the conversation wasn’t linked, it meant regular re-reading to discover who said what and when which slowed the overall pacing.

However, despite the many flaws, this remained an interesting read especially when Corinth discovers the tower and Rieka joins his team to defeat the evil all of them face. Since this story is part of a series, it will be enjoyable to see what happens next. Buy Now

Prior to the opening of the story, Jonathan and his older brother, Ryan agreed there were too many contradictions in the Bible for it to be true. So, they began a quest to find a religion based on truth. While they sought answers, they began a list of the errors in organized religion which unfortunately their extremely devout mother found. She called in the local priest to save the day. That was how Ryan ended up at St. Soren’s and now Jonathan is stuck in the same place.

Freshman, Jonathan Stiles questions everything in his world from life to faith to his brother’s sudden death. The last high school that Jonathan wanted to attend was St. Soren’s Academy since he doesn’t believe in God. However, his mother decided that because his older brother did well there once he stopped questioning God and became a football star, Jonathan will follow the family tradition. This will force him to stop his claims of being an atheist. Reluctantly he goes to the first day of class only to discover what he believed; he will be hammered by religion.

As if things aren’t bad enough, his older brother dies the same day and this only adds to Jonathan’s suspicions that he’s surrounded by evil. A stranger in a white leisure suit who hangs out at the school track, Jesus Jackson, the title character encourages Jonathan to seek out the truth not only of the so-called accident, but also of life. Jesus also promises to help Jonathan rediscover his faith in this coming-of-age story. A fascinating character, Jonathan sets out to solve the mystery that the local police either can’t or won’t. He has an unlikely ally, another boy who thinks there isn’t a scientific basis for religion. The two boys begin hunting for clues and answers to their questions. Meantime, Jonathan finds himself hating the show of grief the other students make. He really doesn’t feel like they even knew his idolized brother, not the way he did. And how could Ryan play the party game? Or had he decided there might be a God after all? If Ryan continued to be an atheist, where is he now? Or could there actually be a Heaven? The teen characters are well drawn and Jonathan’s questions as well as his attempts to deal with his grief feel Continued on next page

Shannon lives on the family farm, a riding stable in the Cascade foothills, where she organizes most of the riding programs and teaches horsemanship around her day-job as a substitute teacher. She writes books in her spare time, mainstream western romance as Josie Malone for SirenBookStrand and young adult novels for Black Opal Books and Fire & Ice YA. She’s a member of RWA, YARWA, the Greater Seattle RWA and Evergreen RWA chapters.

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authentic. However, the adults don’t have as much depth and while one would hope that Jonathan could turn to someone in this situation, there really isn’t anyone who can help including his parents. Jesus Jackson may be a figment of his imagination or could be real, but at times Jesus’ dialogue borders on platitudes voiced by TV preachers. St. Soren’s is a typical high school and the scene where the students build a “rainbow shrine” to Ryan feels like a clichéd response to a tragedy. The fabulous description only adds more pathos to the situation and the reader will want to rage along with Jonathan. The authentic setting, likeable hero and realistic dialogue will entertain most readers. While this is a story about a boy in search of faith, the religious elements don’t overshadow the plot. Like Jonathan, readers will want to know what happened to his brother and Mr. Daley doesn’t leave us with unanswered questions. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with in his next story. Buy Now

Contemporary BDSM Released May 18th

problems with that is Robbie's father.

I have a couple of minor criticisms: One is that the bad guy is very, very bad and the good guys are very, very good. Not much nuance to these characters, though since we see them all through the eyes of a couple of teenagers, that does fit the way kids often see adults. Also, I do wish the author had let Robbie – in first-person narration – describe Sam when they first meet, because the first clue we have that he's African-American is when Robbie meets Sam's mother. Since Messana is racist, it's not likely that Robbie would have had the chance to get to know any kids of other races as friends and I think he would mention that. It's a fairly minor point, except that Messana's racism is what pushes Uncle Caleb's easy-going nature to the point where he has to lay down the law and that precipitates a very satisfying resolution. This is a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for a gift for a gay youngster – or, really, any kid who likes horses. Four pawprints! (in this case, maybe hoofprints…) Buy Now

w e N m o fr

LIGHT A CANDLE by VJ Summers

Ace Katzenbooks continued

SACRATI by Kate Sherwood Action / Historical Released May 4th

PERIPHERAL PEOPLE by Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore

Ylendrian Empire universe

Action/Sci-fi Released May 11th

CLOSING THE LOOP by Jane Davitt Contemporary BDSM Released May 25th

LADY CHATTERLY & FRIENDS

“Sexual intercourse began In nineteen sixty-three (which was rather late for me)Between the end of the Chatterly ban And The Beatles’ first LP.”

From the poem “Annus Mirabilis” by Philip Larkin

For those of you who like to be invited into the bedchamber after the bodice has been ripped, there are three books that took on the obscenity laws to make it possible. Although published years earlier, up until late 1950’s to early 1960’s, the books were banned in many countries, including Great Britain and the United States. The controversial books include Fanny Hill, Tropic of Cancer, as well as Lady Chatterly’s Lover. The objections came from descriptions of the sex act, as well as the language used.

Lady Chatterly’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence was originally published in 1928, privately in Italy. In the United Kingdom, only an abridged, heavily censored version could be published until 1960. At that time, Penguin published an unexpurgated edition, resulting in a trial, which tested the new Obscene Publications Act of 1959, which allowed for publication of material deemed to have literary merit. The “not guilty” verdict was delivered after many notable critics and experts were called as witness, including E.M. Forster, Helen Gardner and Richard Hoggart.

In the United States, the book had been at the center of a debate in 1930 around the proposed Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which was to end the practice of having U.S. Customs censor allegedly obscene imported books. Senator Bronson Cutting had declared the book to be, “most damnable…written by a man with a diseased mind!” Starting in 1959, the bans on Lady Chatterly, together with Fanny Hill and Tropic of Cancer were fought and eventually overturned. These cases established the standard of “redeeming social or literary value” as a defense against obscenity charges.

Of course, the sales of the three books then went through the roof as everyone wanted to know what the fuss was all about. I remember my Aunt Helen had a copy of Tropic of Cancer and my mom could not wait to have a chance to read it. Are any of you Mad Men fans? In the first season, Joan Holloway returns a borrowed copy of Lady Chatterly to to another administrative pool member, with conversations about its raciness and commentary on marriage. I’m sure readers at the time were shocked by some of the language and descriptions of sexual encounters. I will discuss/review the three below. Note that all three of these books were written by men. Henry Miller who wrote Tropic of Cancer, had a lover by the name of Anais Nin. She was a pioneer in the genre of erotica written by a woman. I will devote my next column to her and Anne Rice, who writes the erotic Sleeping Beauty books as A.N. Roquelaure.

LADY CHATTERLY’S LOVER by D.H. Lawrence, 1928

Lady Chatterly immediately became notorious in the United Kingdom, not just because of explicit sex and unprintable words, but because of the physical and emotional relationship between a workingclass man and an upper-class woman. Constance is married to Clifford Chatterly, a Sir handsome, well-built man. However, due to injuries in World War I, he is paralyzed from the waist down. They live an intellectual life, not just in his career as a celebrated author, but in their personal relationship. Connie’s sexual frustration eventually leads her into in the affair with the estate gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors. Prior to Mellors, she is physically and emotionally wasting away. Her sister comes to visit and takes her to the doctor concerned she may have cancer or another illness. A major theme of the book is the integration of mind and body. Lady Chatterly tries live just the life of the mind, but she needs the physical. The first time she and Mellors are together, “the sharp ecstasy of her own passion did not overcome her; she lay with hands inert on his striving body…” However, the next time they were together she felt physical and emotional ecstasy, “it seemed she was like the sea, nothing but dark waves rising and heaving, heaving with great swell…” The affair becomes love, and is further complicated by the fact that Mellors is also married, but living apart from his wife. She eventually returns and drama ensues on all fronts. She returns and we see yet another dysfunctional relationship which needs to be resolved. Lady Chatterly is often privy to the after dinner discussions between her husband and his cronies, while sipping their brandy. The discussions center around the “modern” woman, relationships, sexual needs and marriage. It is fascinating to see into the mind of men in the first part of the 20th century, as well as Lawrence’s take on what a woman needs and is thinking. I was amused by the thought that a woman will waste away without sex. Although somewhat ponderous, Lady Chatterly’s Lover is worth reading, not just for the spice, but for themes regarding relationships, the integration of mind and body and the necessity to have both for a happy relationship. FANNY HILL: MEMOIRS OF A WOMAN OF PLEASURE by John Cleland, 1748 The author wrote Fanny Hill while he was in debtors prison. The book has at times been considered the first English prose pornography, and the first pornography to use the form of a novel. In 1749 Cleland was arrested for “corrupting the King’s subjects.” He renounced the book in court and it was officially

The Playroom continued

publisher was arrested for printing “lewd and obscene” material. He lost on appeal and Justice Holmes wrote that the publisher was “a scandalous and evil disposed person” who had contrived to “debauch and corrupt” the citizens of Massachusetts. On the heels of other decisions, U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1966 that Fanny Hill did not meet the standard for obscenity.

The story of Frances “Fanny” Hill is written as letters to an unknown woman, which seem to be justifying her life. Fanny is orphaned at age fifteen. She leaves her village for London at the encouragement of a girl she had known. However, she is abandoned once in London and begins to look for work as a maid, but innocently ends up working for a madam, who wants to sell her virginity to a wealthy man. Fanny manages to hang on to her virginity, until she meets the love of her life, Charles, but her perils and escapades are not over as he disappears for several years.

Although we are privy to Fanny’s sexual encounters, masturbation, orgies etc., some of the book is her learning about sexual acts by watching others. She is terrified at the idea of sex with a man who has an enormous penis, “…and now, disengaged from the shirt, I saw, with wonder and surprise, what? not the play-thing of a boy, not the weapon of a man, but a maypole of so enormous a standard, that had proportions been observed, it must have belonged to a young giant!” Fanny Hill is a fun book to read, if you enjoy erotica. There is even a happy ending. The book reminds us baby boomers that we did not invent sex.

TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller, 1934

Tropic of Cancer is the semiautobiographical novel of Henry Miller’s life as a struggling writer in Paris during the 1920’s to early 1930’s. As with the other two novels reviewed, this book was banned for its candid but eventually sexuality, declared non-obscene by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964.

Miller’s writing style is somewhat unique. He writes in the first person, fluctuating between past and present. There is a narrative of some kind, but also stream-of-consciousness. More than a linear plot, it follows he and his friends interactions and escapades. He describes what it was like to live in the bohemian community of Paris, where he at various times suffers from hunger, homelessness and despair over the separation from his wife…”One can live in Paris - I discovered that! - on just grief and anguish.” He freely describes his sexual encounters, often in the most debase ways. I’m inclined to say it is self-indulgent, but yet it doesn’t take away from the terrible beauty of the book.

The book is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is an important piece of literature. There is no doubt it had a huge impact on other author’s to express themselves under the protection of free speech. It influenced Beat Generation writers such as Jack Kerouac and William S Burroughs. Erica Jong wrote that “when I was looking for the freedom to write Fear of Flying, I picked up Tropic of Cancer and the sheer exuberance of the prose unlocked something in me.”

Eclectic Express Reviews

Eclectic

Mystery

Urban Fantasy

DUKE CITY DESPERADO By Max Austin Random House Publishing Group-Alibi (June 9, 2015) Mystery/Thriller

Max Austin has done it again! This is the third in the series and I’ve enjoyed every book. Each book stands alone with Albuquerque and crime as the common element.

DUKE CITY DESPERADO starts out with Doc, on a threeday high, and Dylan driving around until Doc decides he’s going to rob a bank through the drive-thru. As you can imagine, it didn’t go well. Doc is captured and Dylan in on the run.

Austin is a master at storytelling. His pacing is flawless as he takes the reader down alleys and over rooftops with

LGBT

Paranormal

Sci-Fi

Young Adult

Dylan as he desperately tries to stay ahead of two FBI Agents and one crazed Mafia prince. In the midst of the mayhem is a Goth girl who becomes Dylan’s fan girl and his ex-girlfriend’s sister who rally’s her girlfriends to deliver a message to the guy who hit her sister.

One of Austin’s strengths are his characters. Dylan is no mastermind, he’s more of a master at bad decisions but the kind-hearted kid has dumb luck on his side and you can’t help but root for him. Doc is self-serving but still you like him just a bit. The Chicano ladies justice league is a hoot. This is a fun, fast read with plenty of surprises. Don’t just read the book – read the series. Buy Now

Continued on next page

Eclectic Express Reviews

Eclectic

Mystery

Urban Fantasy

IA: INITIATE By John Darryl Winston Purple Ash Press (March 17, 2014) Middle School Fantasy

LGBT

Paranormal

Sci-Fi

Young Adult

I had trouble buying the reporter’s personal interest in Eve and the storyline involving the step daughter felt contrived but this is an intriguing read. Buy Now

This is a debut book for Winston and he delivers an intriguing story of Naz Andersen, a foster kid who lives with his sister in a home where the foster parent is disinterested and inattentive in the lives of her charges.

Left to their own devices, Naz struggles against the grim life in the neighborhood called the Exclave as he protects his sister and tries to understand these strange abilities that he demonstrates without control. This book carries many of the elements that J.K. Rowling’s series did with one exception – the setting. Rowling’s world was magical and surprising and captured the attention of young and old alike. The Exclave is predictable with gangs and chess players in the park. I’m not sure this story will grab an adult audience but Winston’s characters have depth and the story complexity and is a must read for the Buy YA market. Now THE MARK ON EVE By Joel Fox Mystery Bronze Circle Press (Jan 2015)

In 1717, Eve pleads with a witch to spare the life of her beloved as his ship attempts to return to harbor during a big storm but instead the ship sinks and Eve is cursed by the witch to walk the earth until she kisses the lips of her love once again.

Eve tries to keep a low profile during her long life so as not to arouse suspicions but when present day Eve takes an assassin’s bullet meant for a presidential candidate, questions arise and she catches the interest of a reporter.

BRONZE FOX (Rifters Book One) by Diana Green CreateSpace Fantasy Romance

I had told myself to turn down every review request until I catch up but this one really caught my eye so I agreed to give it a read. I am glad I did. I could not put this book down.

This is a historical paranormal, steampunk, sci-fi with elements of magic story that keeps you turning the page of this imaginative tale of Tobias, a fox-shifter, and Etty, a street smart cabbie.

Tobias, stolen as a child, works for an organization to stop slave trading amongst worlds and to keep a balance that allows each world to progress on it’s own. There’s a little prime directive and a little Stargate going on here. When Etty stumbles into Tobias’ world, he decides to make her his new partner and the adventure begins. When news that a new technology is out on the black market it is up to Tobias and Etty to get it back.

Green’s writing is vivid and fresh. The pacing is non-stop with well-developed characters. My only complaint is I thought the relationship between the two developed too quickly. I would have preferred a little longer dance. It’s the first in a series and I look forward to the next adventure. Well done, Ms. Green. Buy Now

There is a lot to like about this tale. The pacing is excellent but I did find the constant shifting from one time to another jarring. I think I would have preferred a little long stay in each time period.

There are many storylines in this tale: the witch and her son, the reporter, Eve’s interaction with politically active women through the ages, the treasure hunter seeking Eve’s lover’s sunken ship, the blackmailing of the presidential candidate and of course the reporter who has more questions than answers about Eve.

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Interview with CLEA SIMON author of Pru Marlowe Pet Noir Mysteries Tell us about your new release and why you chose this genre. In my new cozy mystery, “Kittens Can Kill,” Pru Marlowe, the bad-girl animal psychic, answers a call to pick up a kitten … and finds a the body of a prominent lawyer. When the three daughters of the dead lawyer start fighting over who was responsible for his death – even suggesting that the kitten was involved – she has to get involved to sort things out, and to save the kitten. (This is the fifth in my Pru Marlowe pet noir series.) What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work? I hope readers find straight-ahead fun and enjoyment! But beyond that, I hope that they learn a little from Pru about animal behavior. Everything she notes is real – I’ve researched animal behavior. And as she points out, animals don’t act on cruelty, greed, jealousy, or rage. Only humans do that! Do you people watch for character inspiration? I do indeed! My characters may not always be likeable, but I trust that if you take the time, you’ll understand them … you’ll see why they act like they do and maybe you’ll even sympathize a bit with them!

Tell us about your characters. My main characters in this series, the Pru Marlowe pet noir mysteries, are Pru, who is kind of a bad girl. A city girl who came home to her small town, she’s a fish out of water… and she’s not always happy with it. But even if she thinks she’s tough, she’s no match for her even tougher tabby, Wallis. Wallis always comments on Pru’s life – and because Pru is an animal psychic, she can understand what Wallis says – and Wallis always has tons of catitude!

What do you feel is your target audience? Are your books geared for an older generation? My books are geared for readers, pure and simple! And since there is not explicit sex or violence, they’re safe for younger readers, too. Buy Now

Written Word

works with an international group of clients, providing writing and editing services. Specialties: • Editing manuscripts (line, copy, substantive) • Ghostwriting • Developmental coaching for fiction and non-fiction • Business writing and editing, blogging, and web articles • Press releases and marketing tools For more information on specific services, see Written Word pages at www.lyricalpens.com. www.lyricalpens.com www.twitter.com/mahalachurch www.facebook.com/mahalachurch

READ, PONDER, REPEAT We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Book Breeze. Contents of this emag are repeated on our blog throughout the month.

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