orchideyes2

Writer's Block: Is your goose (or tofu) cooked?

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:57:15 GMT

Are you planning to host Thanksgiving at your place or will you travel to see family and/or friends? Do you prefer a traditional menu or something entirely different?

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Series

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:00:50 GMT

I seldom post but I have been reading two wonderful books with Series in mind!

I think Series are viewed differently between readers and writers. I love series books! I have read Robert B. Parker, for about 30 years. I love Josh's Adrien and Jake series, Victor Banis' Deadly Series etc. Oh, John Sandford.

It is funny, a reader I really am not as interested in the story as I am in the characters. Maybe it is the same thing but I remember this one scene in a John Sandford book that I still laugh about:

Lucas Davenport is the main character. He has been quite the womanizer in the earlier books but now he has chosen to get married. His wife is a surgeon. She had a baby and she was working so Lucas at home watching TV with their baby boy. It was about time for the wife to come home. Next thing Lucas knows, he is awakened by a crash boom. He checks the baby and then runs to the garage. His main thought on his mind, is his car, the Porche, okay? He gets to the door of the garage and quickly looks at his car before he runs to see if his wife is okay. She is kind of a speed demon and tends to race the garage door opening. She ran into the door. When he knows she is okay, he struggles with what to say about the accident. She feels the door was off and thats why she hit it. He feels that she speeds up as the door opens and was sure sooner or later she would hit it. He agrees with her verbally that the door must have been off.

I loved that scene because it showed how all of us are so careful at times in our relationships. It is more important to us that the person we love is okay physically and emotionally. Did this scene have anything to do with the story? No, but it was wonderful and one of my favorite scenes in the Series, al though this character's self honesty is always funny. He knows he's a hound and takes it philosophically when two of his women meet each other and both dump him. He knew he was skating on thin ice and well, sometimes it breaks.

Reading Robert B. Parker and John Sandford's books will be my pleasure until they stop writing because I love their characters.

Whereas, I have an absolutely passion for Josh Lanyon's books. I love his characters. I love how he has developed his series with Adrien and Jake and would continue to read it if he wrote about them in the retirement home. I love all his books and novellas but my favorites are the series or the ones that have the potential for the characters to be in a series.

However, I think writers think each new story has to be very different from the others. It is wonderful if it is, but really, I am reading to find out how the characters are doing. I loved Josh's latest Book, Death of a Pirate King, because I thought it was a wonderful, precious love story. Yes, I loved the mystery and absolutely hated Paul Kane, but the line about being touched, feeling as if he hadn't been touched in years even though he had been. Anyone who has had problems in a relationship, knows this feeling and can identify with it. To me it was a love story about lost love.

Writers want to write new and different stories. That is good and creative, but I like stories about people and how they relate. I also like mysteries because I am into puzzles. Josh's books do all of those things and I feel blessed that I found him!

Blogging

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:10:23 GMT

I started to blog when reading Josh Lanyon's writing blog. Now I am kind of hooked on several blogs. I am hoping to get into a blog about computer animation. Once I find one I like.

Mystery Book Series Characters I really enjoyed and/or Enjoy

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:41:32 GMT

Of course, Adrien and Jake in Josh Lanyon's Adrien English Series: Fatal Shadows, A Dangerous Thing, The Hell You Say.

James Buchanan's Cheating Chance Nick and Brandon.

P.A. Brown's Chris and David in L.A. Heat

Anne Seale's Jo Jacuzzo in Finding Ms. Wright and Packing Mrs. Phipps.

J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas, Roake, Peabody, Feeney, and McNabb in the In Death Series

Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis in the Alex Delaware Series

MOre to come!

More Books

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:59:49 GMT

I just finished Music and Metal by Mike Shade. It was supposed to be about a stalker and how it was resolved. Needless to say, it was about dominance and submission sex scenes. While I appreciate that this is a legitimate lifestyle choice, the book was supposed to be about the mystery involved with the stalking. It was about the sex scenes.  I wish that he had done a little more explanation on why this is so viable a lifestyle to him. He did name a book about it, but it would have been more helpful if he had been able to explain a little more on the perks of dominating and being a submissive. Since I never really wanted to dominate anyone, too much responsibility, and I sure didn't want anyone to dominate me, too much trust required, I would have been helpful to have more information.

Another short story I finished was A Little Trust by James Buchanan. It is a novella that is a sequel to Cheating Chance which I thought was his best book.  ALT was fun and suspenseful.

I just ordered Davinci's Inquest Series 2& 3. I love this series. It is about Vancouver Canada and how innovative they are in their justice system. Well, actually, how they are trying to be innovative. They don't always get the support necessary. The characters are fun and human.

It may seem that I have too much time on my hands to be watching and ordering all these books and DVD's but the truth is, I do this when I am stressed. It has been a rather stressful time lately and so I am distracting myself.

I am supposed to be cleaning up my house right now for company coming, instead I am writing this entry!

New Books and Videos

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:06:51 GMT

Well, this is the first time I have posted on LJ. I usually just go to my favorite authors sites. But I decided to just list some books and DVD's I have read or watched in the last couple of months. I have been doing a lot of caretaking during the days so I usually stay up late and watch DVD's or read books.

DVD's First, they are easier.

PD James Death in Holy Orders with Martin Shaw (Professionals) - I enjoyed it. I never really understand all of the clues etc. of PD James but it was good. It felt funny watching an aging Doyle as the wise and low-key Adam Dalgliesh.

Keith Urban Video hits - He is a beautiful man and this was before he got so successful so that he is really darling in it.

Silent Witness - Series One and Two - with Amanda Burton - I really liked the character of Dr. Sam Ryan. However, I'd really like to see a woman portrayed as having a good time. I know that conflict is necessary in drama but it would be nice to see a woman protrayed as excited about her profession and really enjoying her personal life.

Blue Murder - Series 1-4 with Caroline Quentin - It is refreshing to see a woman who is not a perfect 10 in a lead role.

The Professionals the Entire Series - was recommended by Josh Lanyon. I really enjoyed this series and will watch again.

Lewis - Series 1 & 2 - I love this series. Kevin Whately is a wonderful detective and Laurence Fox is a very, low-key smart ass. I really enjoy mysteries that require lots of concentration and usually have an unusual ending. I didn't know if I would like it as well as Inspector Morse, but I really do. The D.S. Hathaway character(Laurence Fox) makes it a real treat.

Madagascar Skin - John Hannah, Bernard Hill and Mark Anthony - It was labeled "A Love Story with a Subversive Spark". Well it was different, but sweetly enjoyable.

Books:

Josh Lanyon's Adrien English Series: Fatal Shadows, A Dangerous Thing, and The Hell You Say. Of course these are three of my most favorite books. Josh Lanyon is one of my most favorite authors, anything he writes is just wonderful. I also just read his most recent novella, Dangerous Ground which I really enjoyed. And, and, and!!! Josh Lanyon's Man Oh Man! Writing M/M Fiction for Kinks and Cash. Josh's MOM is a great book and he was gracious enough to quote me twice in the book! I was so thrilled!

A New Earth by Eckhart Toelle' - I was very good. There were moments when I could actually feel Divine Presence. However, he wasn't as eloquent on how to apply a lot of his ideas.

LInda Howard's Mackenzie Series - it is great.

L. A. Heat by P. A. Brown - I really liked it and wish another book in the series would come out soon.

Packing Mrs. Phipps and Finding Ms. Wright by Anne Seale. This is a very funny two book series.

I am beginning to wonder if Alyson Publishing has any plans of letting authors finish or continue series. It seems that if I like it, they don't continue the series.

Ebooks:

Secrets and Misdemeanors by G. A Hauser It was good.
Naked Dragon by G A Hauser. It was good.
Love You, Loveday by G A Hauser. It was good.

Cheating Chance by James Buchanan - In my opinion, it is his best book! It really was a fun and interesting read.
The Good Thief by James Buchanan - It was good but I was distressed by the ending because I thought the cops who beat up the thief should have been disciplined and could have used less sex. I did love the dog.

Murder Most Gay by John Simpson - It was fun, more adventure and police procedural than mystery.

Miss Me by Mel Spencer - It was a mysterious thriller. It was good and kept you interested to the end.

Recent Really Good Books I have Read

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:37:11 GMT

e-book - James Buchanan - Cheating Chance
This is my favorite book of his, the story and the mystery are great! I liked both of the characters.

Paperback books:

Hostage - Laura Baumbach, Sarah Black, Josh Lanyon
I have Josh Lanyon's Dangerous Games in e-book format as well as paper. I really enjoyed all of the stories in this book. Josh's writing is my favorite but I supposed that is because I like everything he writes. In this book two Federal Agents play hide and seek with some bad guys. Both characters are interesting and sometimes funny.

Laura Baumback's Burn Card is very good also, I had a really good time with the story and trying to figure out who the bad guy was.

Sarah Black's The Second Indian Wars was really fun about how important it is to make certain choices.

L.A. Heat - P.A. Brown I reread this book because she doesn't seem to be getting published very quickly for the new one. I really enjoyed it.