This is a review of COVER OF SNOW by author Jenny Milchman.
This novel starts off with the most intersting of premises, which I've learned from the author herself, doesn't want given away, even though the reader learns of it in the first chapter. So, with respect to the author, I won't speak of it. I will say this event drives the protagonist, as well as the novel, into dangerous, spine-tingling situations in this snowy small town that Stephen King would be proud of.
But, this isn't King, or James Bond, or Patterson where unbelievable events are participated in by the psychotic or super-smart. These characters are part of a small town where each connection is believable and she show respect to the reader in not holding thier hand through events that make sense when dealing with corruption, cover-ups, and just the inherent evil some people possess.
As with most novels, there are some directions the author took that I question. It would be hard to say without giving away that first chapter, but I'll just say after reading the entire book, Nora's husband had other choices, but in making a different choice, it wouldn't be the same book. And the ending is very satisfying in the same tone as the entire book, however, I think the climax could have been drawn out a little longer. (Yes, this coming from an author who has been criticized for the same thing in my own book UNHINGED.)
All in all, I give Cover of Snow 4 out of 5 stars. It was an entirely enjoyable read and kept me returning to it in my spare time where many novels are simply forgotten in my busy schedule. Be warned, once you enter the pages of this small town, you may find it hard to escape!!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Value of Flawed Characters
Unhinged recently received a couple of reviews that mentioned how much they liked the flawed characters, and not just the main character, but all of them. Those flaws, those subtle quirks draw the reader into your character's world. Hell, give the mailman walking by a limp and he becames three dimensional even though he appears in one sentence.
No matter how perfect someone seems, you can believe there is a deep, dark secret...politicians, religious leaders, soldiers, and even stay-at-home moms. Everyone wants something and in literary terms, it drives the novel. Once you develop and embrace your character's flaws, you have to make damn sure their actions follow suit.
I find that most protagonists in thrillers and mysteries are good looking, strong, smart, inquisitive - all the things that make a hero, but in real life, would this person not be a wise-ass? Would this person not be selfish? Would this person not be cynical? Would this person not be eternally optimistic from a fear of not being liked? I'm not suggesting you change your character, just add another layer to them and you might find their choices and actions write themselves.
I always thought James Bond 007 was a series of movies about stunts, explosions and chases until the most recent movies when they gave him a little depth and suddenly he became interesting. As I think about it, Ignatious from Confederacy of Dunces is as unnattractive a main character as you can get and yet, he is so...warped and out there that you can't help be carried along in his comedic drama.
Anyway, those two reviews I mentioned are:
http://abookandareview.blogspot.com/2013/02/unhinged-by-ej-finorff.html
and
http://thereviewhutch.blogspot.com/2013/02/unhinged-by-ej-findorff-review.html
Thanks to everyone who downloaded the free versions of Unhinged, which runs until the end of February. Get it NOW!
No matter how perfect someone seems, you can believe there is a deep, dark secret...politicians, religious leaders, soldiers, and even stay-at-home moms. Everyone wants something and in literary terms, it drives the novel. Once you develop and embrace your character's flaws, you have to make damn sure their actions follow suit.
I find that most protagonists in thrillers and mysteries are good looking, strong, smart, inquisitive - all the things that make a hero, but in real life, would this person not be a wise-ass? Would this person not be selfish? Would this person not be cynical? Would this person not be eternally optimistic from a fear of not being liked? I'm not suggesting you change your character, just add another layer to them and you might find their choices and actions write themselves.
I always thought James Bond 007 was a series of movies about stunts, explosions and chases until the most recent movies when they gave him a little depth and suddenly he became interesting. As I think about it, Ignatious from Confederacy of Dunces is as unnattractive a main character as you can get and yet, he is so...warped and out there that you can't help be carried along in his comedic drama.
Anyway, those two reviews I mentioned are:
http://abookandareview.blogspot.com/2013/02/unhinged-by-ej-finorff.html
and
http://thereviewhutch.blogspot.com/2013/02/unhinged-by-ej-findorff-review.html
Thanks to everyone who downloaded the free versions of Unhinged, which runs until the end of February. Get it NOW!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
UNHINGED for free
First, let me inform my tens of fans that my novel UNHINGED will be available for a free download starting February 15 for two weeks. At least, that is my publisher's plan. There is a chance that it may be delayed or not happen at all if there is a problem with the distributor, but I'm planning on it all working out. So, be on the lookout at your favorite ebook stores. I must warn you that Unhinged is graphic in some places and has much adult content, but you can't go wrong if you like thrillers.
Well, so much for me to consistantly write my blog using Confederacy of Dunces words. There are just too many irons in the fire; too much on the plate; being pulled in too many directions; in other words, too much life...
One day when I'm writing for a living, things should open up to let me write more interesting stuff in a blog. I saw one of these country singers the other day going on about his workout routine he does about two hours a day. Who the hell has two hours a day to work out? It's hard enough for working class people to take a crap ten minutes out of their day, not to mention the temptation of cheap, fast, fatty food on every corner. Once I'm writing full time, I'm sure my six pack abs will become a priority.
So, my agent informs me the new year will start with a fresh barrage to new publishers for Bloodwater. It is a fantastic book that follows a paramedic's true accounts of the days during the flooding of Hurricane Katrina, but is also involved in a fictitious murder. We've gotten many flattering rejections from the Big-6, so I'm one of the next tier publishers should take it, right.
Look out for a free copy of Unhinged and I look forward to your reviews (but only if you like it).
Well, so much for me to consistantly write my blog using Confederacy of Dunces words. There are just too many irons in the fire; too much on the plate; being pulled in too many directions; in other words, too much life...
One day when I'm writing for a living, things should open up to let me write more interesting stuff in a blog. I saw one of these country singers the other day going on about his workout routine he does about two hours a day. Who the hell has two hours a day to work out? It's hard enough for working class people to take a crap ten minutes out of their day, not to mention the temptation of cheap, fast, fatty food on every corner. Once I'm writing full time, I'm sure my six pack abs will become a priority.
So, my agent informs me the new year will start with a fresh barrage to new publishers for Bloodwater. It is a fantastic book that follows a paramedic's true accounts of the days during the flooding of Hurricane Katrina, but is also involved in a fictitious murder. We've gotten many flattering rejections from the Big-6, so I'm one of the next tier publishers should take it, right.
Look out for a free copy of Unhinged and I look forward to your reviews (but only if you like it).
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Your Chapter One
Okay, I'm going to take a break from my Confederacy of Dunces word project to help out some aspiring writers; not with the actual writing which could be impeccable, but with plot stategy.
After being a judge for a fiction manuscript contest, I found a method soon developed. The ten page, fifty page and hundred page method. I would assume this would be a generous method of rejection for most agents and editors. I learned pretty quick that if the novel doesn't start off good, it generally won't get better.
Let's just focus on thrillers, mysteries and suspense. You may have heard this but bare with me, please.
DO NOT...
....start with a backstory. Read the start of your manuscript up to the part where something exciting happens and then start there. Plus, it's beneficial to have that total character development to refer to.
DO NOT...
...start with a dream. You ever hear someone tell you their dream from the night before? An agent told me it's worse for them read it...at least as a chapter one.
DO NOT...
...start with a mundane activity believing the reader will get to know the character. No one wants to read about grocery shopping.
DO NOT...
....start with a love scene.
DO...
....start with a murder
....start with a conflict
....start with a chase, a mugging, a fight, an operation, a verdict, a bank robbery, a prognosis.
Get it? An agent or editor is going to throw your manuscript in the slush pile, no wait, this is the digital age, they will delete your manuscript into oblivion after two pages if you do not grab them. If you're smart enough to write a novel that you believe will sell, then read the start of your novel with fresh eyes and judge it honestly. HONESTLY. If nothing is happening, nothing is going to happen.
You may say, but why do some published novels start off slow? I can't comment on how each individual author's manuscript's journey ended. I'm just commenting about those manuscripts searching for an agent.
For those who decide to self publish, these rules still apply. Word of mouth will not spread if no one is talking about it.
After being a judge for a fiction manuscript contest, I found a method soon developed. The ten page, fifty page and hundred page method. I would assume this would be a generous method of rejection for most agents and editors. I learned pretty quick that if the novel doesn't start off good, it generally won't get better.
Let's just focus on thrillers, mysteries and suspense. You may have heard this but bare with me, please.
DO NOT...
....start with a backstory. Read the start of your manuscript up to the part where something exciting happens and then start there. Plus, it's beneficial to have that total character development to refer to.
DO NOT...
...start with a dream. You ever hear someone tell you their dream from the night before? An agent told me it's worse for them read it...at least as a chapter one.
DO NOT...
...start with a mundane activity believing the reader will get to know the character. No one wants to read about grocery shopping.
DO NOT...
....start with a love scene.
DO...
....start with a murder
....start with a conflict
....start with a chase, a mugging, a fight, an operation, a verdict, a bank robbery, a prognosis.
Get it? An agent or editor is going to throw your manuscript in the slush pile, no wait, this is the digital age, they will delete your manuscript into oblivion after two pages if you do not grab them. If you're smart enough to write a novel that you believe will sell, then read the start of your novel with fresh eyes and judge it honestly. HONESTLY. If nothing is happening, nothing is going to happen.
You may say, but why do some published novels start off slow? I can't comment on how each individual author's manuscript's journey ended. I'm just commenting about those manuscripts searching for an agent.
For those who decide to self publish, these rules still apply. Word of mouth will not spread if no one is talking about it.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Phantasmagoria
In Ignatious' personal notes to himself, or his "Manifesto" (so to speak) he uses the word PHANTASMAGORIA, which first conjures an image of Micky Mouse on a mountain waving his magic wand wearing that space-robe or maybe Pink Floyd's The Wall.
www.dictionary.com says:
phan·tas·ma·go·ri·a
1. a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
2. a changing scene made up of many elements.
3. an optical illusion produced by a magic lantern or the like in which figures increase or diminish in size, pass into each other, dissolve, etc.
In writing one's manuscript, there would be many instances where this would be applicable and yet, I believe this is first time noting this word. Of course, I know of 'phantasm' but not with the 'magoria.' It seems like a lot of effort to describe an LSD trip.
Looking at definition number 2, could the changing landscape of publishing be called a phantasmagoria? You know, with ebooks, self-pubbing, Amazon, etc. It would probably never be considered a phantasmagoria as the emmergence of ebooks and the ereaders is not an illusion.
www.dictionary.com says:
phan·tas·ma·go·ri·a
1. a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
2. a changing scene made up of many elements.
3. an optical illusion produced by a magic lantern or the like in which figures increase or diminish in size, pass into each other, dissolve, etc.
In writing one's manuscript, there would be many instances where this would be applicable and yet, I believe this is first time noting this word. Of course, I know of 'phantasm' but not with the 'magoria.' It seems like a lot of effort to describe an LSD trip.
Looking at definition number 2, could the changing landscape of publishing be called a phantasmagoria? You know, with ebooks, self-pubbing, Amazon, etc. It would probably never be considered a phantasmagoria as the emmergence of ebooks and the ereaders is not an illusion.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
An exemplum
The next word up on our journey through A Confederacy of Dunces is EXEMPLUM. On page 42 of "Dunces," Ignatious talks about an exemplum for the youth of America, furthering the cause of Clearasil.
From www.thefreedictionary.com
ex·em·plum
1. An example.
2. A brief story used to make a point in an argument or to illustrate a moral truth.
I didn't even know they had Clearasil back then, but it had been created in 1950. My acne was so bad in the early 80's, I wish I would have known about it. There was one girl in high school that was my ultimate crush. Of course, I had no chance. My senior year, my dermatologist cured my pizza face with a prescribed cream, pills and sun lamp treatments over the course of a year. Yeah, it was bad, but it got cleared up.
I ran into this girl years later and miracle of miracles, she was interested in me and my smooth tan skin from Spring Break. Too bad. Let that be an exemplum to her. Ha ha. That word just doesn't sound right.
So, exemplum. Yes, sounds close to example so maybe I didn't need to add it to the blog, but I did not know about the moral truth part. So, it's an anecdote with a message. And how often have you used this word or seen it in a written passage?
Unless you're Latin.
From www.thefreedictionary.com
ex·em·plum
1. An example.
2. A brief story used to make a point in an argument or to illustrate a moral truth.
I didn't even know they had Clearasil back then, but it had been created in 1950. My acne was so bad in the early 80's, I wish I would have known about it. There was one girl in high school that was my ultimate crush. Of course, I had no chance. My senior year, my dermatologist cured my pizza face with a prescribed cream, pills and sun lamp treatments over the course of a year. Yeah, it was bad, but it got cleared up.
I ran into this girl years later and miracle of miracles, she was interested in me and my smooth tan skin from Spring Break. Too bad. Let that be an exemplum to her. Ha ha. That word just doesn't sound right.
So, exemplum. Yes, sounds close to example so maybe I didn't need to add it to the blog, but I did not know about the moral truth part. So, it's an anecdote with a message. And how often have you used this word or seen it in a written passage?
Unless you're Latin.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
The Pyloric Valve
I'll admit that I read all of Confederacy of Dunces before looking this up. Ignatious often referred to his pyloric valve closing or having serious problems whenever he was stressed (and that was often). I figured it had something to do with his stomach or having gas build up.
Here is a definition I found:
The pyloric sphincter, or valve, is a strong ring of smooth muscle at the end of the pyloric canal which lets food pass from the stomach to the duodenum. It receives sympathetic innervation from the celiac ganglion.
He used this condition on par with Fred Sanford clutching his chest and yelling for Elisabeth. One of the things I liked about this book is how others reacted to this fool, which was basically not to challenge him (except maybe for his mother). This cast of characters truly fit the title.
I doubt if I'll ever use this conversation, but I'll certainly remember if I hear someone on Grey's Anatomy say it (if I ever watch it, I mean). And if anyone reads this and then reads one of my future novels that has pyloric in it, then you will certainly get the private joke and tribute to Ignatious.
Here is a definition I found:
The pyloric sphincter, or valve, is a strong ring of smooth muscle at the end of the pyloric canal which lets food pass from the stomach to the duodenum. It receives sympathetic innervation from the celiac ganglion.
He used this condition on par with Fred Sanford clutching his chest and yelling for Elisabeth. One of the things I liked about this book is how others reacted to this fool, which was basically not to challenge him (except maybe for his mother). This cast of characters truly fit the title.
I doubt if I'll ever use this conversation, but I'll certainly remember if I hear someone on Grey's Anatomy say it (if I ever watch it, I mean). And if anyone reads this and then reads one of my future novels that has pyloric in it, then you will certainly get the private joke and tribute to Ignatious.
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