Stop Driving Me Dotty With Those Full Stops!

I watched 'Big Brother' yesterday—yes, yes, I know!  I didn't plan to become hooked on the wretched show this year but, as the great quizmaster used to say, "I've started, so I'll finish."  Anyway, this little gripe isn't about the programme per se, but about a tiny, niggling incident in it.

In a task, one of the contestants had to pretend to be a psychologist or an agony aunt (or uncle in this case) and a large sign saying "Dr. Callum" appeared on screen.  And this, I'm afraid, is my little gripe.  I hate the use of stops after Mr, Mrs, Dr and such titular abbreviations—so much so that my fingers itched to reach for the Tippex and apply a dollop to the TV screen.

I've grown used to seeing its use by our dear American friends (and have tried in vain to educate them), but I haven't seen this in British English in very many years (until yesterday).

At school—a long, long time ago—my revered primary school teacher taught me that if the abbreviated word ends with the same letter as the whole word, no stop is necessary.  Thus Doctor becomes Dr, Mister becomes Mr and so on and so forth.  To abbreviate a word like Professor to Prof., however, a stop is permitted because f is not the final letter of the full word.

I only became aware that the stop (or should I say period for our friends over the pond) is used in this way in American English when I found my first American publisher and little dots appeared all over my very first manuscript.

"No, no, no," I said.  "This is quite wrong."

"It's our house style," she explained.

"It's my pet hate—it looks so old-fashioned and wrong.  Please don't do it to me."

"We'll compromise, just this once," she said.  Lovely lady.

When a different publisher—this time Canadian—signed up my next novel, the same thing happened and I took up the cudgel again.  Once more, they let me have my way.  It's a tiny victory, but then I suppose it's a tiny matter.

Does it matter to you?  Do you place full stops after abbreviations?  And does anyone know if 'Big Brother' has an American working on its production team this year?

Readers Writes - Maria Moya from The Kindle Book Review

I haven't yet come across a writer who isn't an avid reader so it's not surprising that most prolific book reviewers are also writers.  This week's guest is Maria Moya, who reviews for The Kindle Book Review, which was how I 'discovered' her and asked her if I could interview her for this post.

Maria is  Austrian born and currently living in beautiful Vienna, making her  first language German.  She says, however, that for the last several decades she has read so much in English, that she now tends to think and write in that language. 

Welcome, Maria, let's get straight on with the 'inquisition'.  Firstly, I'd love to know a little bit about how or why you became a reviewer -  How do your reading commitments fit in with your lifestyle? 

Since I was about six years of age, I’ve always read a lot, to the point where my mother tried to forbid me from going to the library so often. 

For the last thirty years or so I used to be a diplomat. My profession interfered to some extent with my reading time, but I always kept the habit up. It helps that I don’t like watching TV.
Right now I’m taking a year off the job, and doing whatever gives me pleasure. I have started to write myself, and to exchange reviews of our works with other aspiring writers. 

Knowing how hard it is for the self-published writer to garner reviews, some weeks ago I joined the Kindle Book Review Team. We are unpaid volunteers who share a love of reading, and will review E-books on request.

Yes and I'm extremely grateful to you for reading and reviewing one of my titles.  You must receive numerous requests for reviews - how do you choose which books/authors to take on?

If I can find a link to the book, I use the “Look inside” function. Usually it is quite easy to see if a book is likely too bad to qualify for three or more points. I have long ago learned the art of rapid triage – in libraries, bookshops, and now on the net.

However, in several cases I have taken on books that started out very well, convinced I would be able to give at least four stars, only to have the middle sag or the ending fizzle. 

I agree, the 'Look inside' feature on Amazon is invaluable in helping to decide if a book is worth reading.  For me a 5* review means a book is literally 'unputdownable'.  How do you 'measure' a good book?

Indeed, I quite rarely give five stars. There is an objective and an inevitable subjective element involved. A book which is well-written, tight, without mistakes, may yet not enthral me because the voice simply does not speak to me, or the subject matter is not interesting enough. There are some famous authors I never could like – it is mostly a question of style, I believe, and rhythm. If the author’s voice has a rhythm that does not jibe with my own internal voice, I cannot truly love that book. 

At the end of the day, the really great book holds my attention from start to finish. If it does that, some flaws can be overlooked. Having read so much, though, I am now very picky and not easily impressed. 

How do you feel if you really like or thoroughly dislike a book you've agreed to review?

If I really like a book, I’m happy and express this in the review. I try not to agree to review a book I sense I’ll dislike, but sometimes you can’t tell in advance. If my feelings are too negative, I don’t do the review, as I would not do justice to the work.

Do you receive feedback from writers or other readers on your reviews?

I haven’t been doing this very long, but sometimes writers tell me they liked a review. 

I certainly appreciated mine!  Do you know if your reviews influence the success (or otherwise) of a new title?

Not my review specifically, but obviously all reviews together do have an influence, not least because the Amazon algorithm takes them into account and promotes books with more and better reviews. New authors are sometimes desperate to get some, and resort to all kinds of stratagems.

True, and sadly that has resulted in a good deal of bad publicity for many authors.  Now some more general questions about reading: Did you have a favourite book or author as a child?

Too many to mention. I was reading all the time, including adult books. Around thirteen I got

hooked on mysteries, science fiction, and adventure. Before I was sixteen, I had read the entire work of Agatha Christie, John Buchan, John Wyndham, Georgette Heyer, P.G. Wodehouse, and so many others…

Have you kept or sought out a favourite book from childhood to pass to your own children?  If so, what is it?

I tried, but my two daughters developed totally different tastes and preferences, to my regret. 

How significant was reading to you as a child?

It was absolutely essential, my principal pastime. At the time I wanted to become an editor. Maybe I should have.

How important is reading in your life now?

Still essential, though writing has become even more important. It is as though my brain was overflowing from all the stories and impressions it gathered over the years, and now simply needed to find a creative outlet. 

Have you ever revisited books you read in childhood to try to recapture the magic?

Yes. Sometimes it works, though clearly I’m not the same person any longer. But I also like to read well-written new children’s and Young Adult books I didn’t know then. For instance, I love the YA books by Nina Kiriki Hofmann, and I’ve read the Cherub series by Robert Muchamore.

Have you ever wished you could change places with any character from a story?

No need, because while I’m immersed in the story, I do become that character. 

Is there a fictional world you would love to visit or live in?

The late Ian M. Banks’s Culture would be an interesting place to live in. 

Do you think the young of today read enough, and if not, how might you try to encourage them to read more?

What is “enough”? We can’t encourage them by forcing classics on them, for which they are often simply not ready. If reading is taught as a chore, children will naturally hate it. It saddens me how much pleasure they lose out on by that, although interactive games and films seem to satisfy some of our natural craving for stories. The right (easy) book at the right time is the key to developing a love of reading.

Do you have a favourite book or author as an adult?  If so, who/why and have you read it more than once?

Again, many. I am particularly fond of Lois McMaster Bujold, Sharon Shinn, Jasper Fforde, Jane Austen, Christopher Brookmyre, - it could be a long list. Style and characters are the most important elements for me.

Do you prefer print or e-books?

Because my eyes are getting weaker, I was reluctant to read print books with very small fonts; now my Kindle has solved the problem. On balance, I like both, but will probably use the Kindle more and more over time. 

Do you think e-books will ever totally replace print?

I hope not, ideally they should co-exist. 

Would you tell us a little about your own writing?

Despite various attempts over the years, I found it impossible to combine my diplomatic lifestyle (which involved lots of socialising even on weekends) with consistent fiction writing; while writing speeches or reports, essentially non-fiction, was a constant part of my work. 

Even now, I find it easier to complete non-fiction projects, and have self-published several already, under various names, just like the hero of Killing Jenny Crane (if with less immediate success). 
Fiction is much more fun, however, and I plan to shortly publish a collection of genre-bending short stories that combine elements of science fiction, fantasy and fairy tales, to be called “There Are More Things”. Several longer fiction projects are gradually progressing towards publication. 

For more information about Maria, do check out the following links (and *calling all cat lovers everywhere*) do check out Maria's fun book: The Mysterious Cat. 

Maria Moya's Amazon Author Page

The Reviewer Page of Kindle Book Review: 

And here's a  link to an article Maria wrote on Squidoo (as “Viennagirl”) about her time in Hong Kong – She also wrote short articles on a trip to Ireland and her own Tyrol.

Thank you, Maria.  It's been so interesting talking to you and I can't wait to read There Are More Things, which sounds very intriguing.  Good luck with the release.

Released at last - 'Unworkers' by Lynette Sofras

Deciding that a book is finally ready to be unleashed to the reading world is never easy and 'Unworkers' has caused me far more agonies than any of my other books.  I've lived and breathed this story for so long that I've worried at times that my obsession with it might become unhealthy and have therefore taken numerous holidays from it, hoping that distance will be the cure.  I always come back to it, of course, and it welcomes me like the dear old friend it is and settles down for further surgical intervention. Well, enough is enough.  It's time to pronounce the delicate procedure over, discharge it from my care and watch it thrive or fail.

So what is it about?  Well, first and foremost it's women's fiction - concerning women and their relationships with each other, with their families - husbands or partners, past and present - with their children and with Chichester Court, a strange house with a sinister past which is somehow related to each one of them.  So, as you may have gathered, it's also very much a ghost story!

Let me introduce you to the women you see on the cover:

ANNE (centre) – former teacher, currently undergoing an acrimonious divorce, recently moved into Chichester Court with her deeply unhappy, 6 year old son.

GEMMA (right of centre) – ex-nurse, divorced from playboy-husband, two young children, one new lover but a recurring nightmare prevents her from moving forward.

RHIA (left of centre) – Gemma’s friend who enjoys a seemingly perfect marriage to a doctor; a perfect husband, perfect children, perfect house; but repressing the pain of her secret past leads to compulsive and disturbing behaviours.

JOANNA (far right) – Anne’s oldest friend and an ex-resident of the house.  She is a new age therapist, long-divorced, with three older children; the oldest lost to her forever.

PAIGE (far left) – a lonely teenage mum with young baby; left a desperate semi-invalid after a mysterious accident on the staircase, which she insists was no accident.

These five women are drawn together by Chichester Court – a large Georgian mansion now converted into flats for one-parent families.  Despite copious architectural re-planning, it seems the house’s dark and sinister past cannot be destroyed.  Anne is the catalyst who brings these significant lives together and eventually draws out the house’s secret: that five young women in a former age were brutally murdered within its walls.

In the process of discovery, these women’s lives and young families are irrevocably transformed by the escalating forces operating in the house when the past encroaches on the present.  Anne and Joanna track down the former owners of the house, the frail and elderly Chichester sisters, to uncover the dark, ancestral secrets they have guiltily concealed for their entire lives.

'Unworkers' is about poisons and potions; about relationships, past lives and the painful secrets between men and women which spread to permeate the private spaces of their lives and homes.

I hope you will read it.

Readers Writes - All about books by Tara Fox Hall

I've never known a writer who isn't an avid reader and today's guest is no exception.  Not only is she a writer I admire hugely, she's also a prolific reader and reviewer - which makes her doubly interesting as a guest.  She is the hugely talented Tara Fox Hall and I can't wait to put her under the spotlight and discover more about her reading likes and dislikes.

So firstly, Tara, welcome as always to my blog.  I'd love to know a little bit about how or why you became a reviewer and how your reading commitments fit in with your lifestyle.  

Tara:  I became a reviewer because I needed to review other author’s work so they would agree to do mine, when I was first starting out. Reviews are important, and there are a lot of 1 hit wonders…or no hit wonders. It’s difficult as a new author to stand out from the crowd and get picked when a review site is getting hundreds of new books a month and only a small fraction of those can be reviewed. 

Then I began to enjoy reviewing books, and offered to review for Good Book Alert and another fiction site. (The latter was with the understanding that if I reviewed 2-3 books for them, I could get a review of my book. That didn’t happen, and I no longer review for that group). I try to review a new book each month for GBA, but sometimes it’s more than that.  I also joined up as a reviewer at E & K Family Books, so that I could review books I liked for fellow authors and work at getting my paperback pile of mainstream authors winnowed down. EK will let you review any book at their site, as long as some other reviewer has not already reviewed it. 

I know them and they are both excellent sites.  You must receive numerous requests for reviews - how do you choose which books/authors to take on?

Tara: I used to take all books anyone asked me to review, but I quickly became overwhelmed. Right now I still have books I cannot get to in a pile near my bed, plus several dozen more on my Kindle app on my computer. I decided just this month that I am going to stick exclusively to the thriller genre for the foreseeable future. I would like to read more genres, but I just do not have enough time.

Sounds like a good plan.  For me a 5* review means a book is literally 'unputdownable'.  How do you 'measure' a good book?  

Tara: I agree with you, Lyn; 5 means I recommend the book wholeheartedly, because I could not drag myself away, or it moved me to emotive displays, or it was so well crafted that it changed my worldview.

4 would be the book was really good, but I didn’t like something key about it and whatever it was took away from the story so I wasn’t drawn in totally.

3 would be I liked the book, but it had serious problems that made it something I probably would not read again.

I will not publicly review less than a 3, as a general rule. I do give ½ stars also in ratings for books that lie between whole star rankings.

I feel the exactly the same - if you can't find something good to say about a book, it's kinder to say nothing.  How do you feel if you really like or thoroughly dislike a book you've agreed to review?

Tara: If I like it, I’m ecstatic. There is nothing more joyful than going on and on about how wonderful a novel was. If I dislike it, I contact the author and say I can’t review…or if it was a book I didn’t officially agree to review, I just take it off my Goodreads list and delete it off my computer. There is no point putting up a review saying something was terrible.

Do you receive feedback from writers or other readers on your reviews?

Tara: So far, not really. Most authors love getting a 5 star review, so I always get thanks from them. But otherwise, no.

Perhaps in time… Do you know if your reviews influence the success (or otherwise) of a new title?

Tara: I know that several authors have contacted me, saying they doubted their work and that they really wanted to quit…then they got a good review from me and it convinced them to keep going. I’m pleased by that, but it also puts pressure on, because I don’t like to upset people. I know how it feels to get a bad review, which is why if I can’t give a decent review, I decline to review.

An admirable philosophy!  Now some more general questions about reading:

Did you have a favourite book or author as a child? 

I read all of the Big Red and Black Stallion books as a child.

What was the first book you remember reading independently and really enjoying? 

The Horse Tamer by Walter Farley.

How significant was reading to you as a child? 

Very significant. I always had my nose in a book, and would read every night.

How important is reading in your life now? 

Sadly, less important than writing, but both take a back seat usually to daily life. I miss being able to just sit down and spend the day reading. 

Do you have a favourite book or author as an adult?  If so, who/why and have you read it more than once? 

The Hobbit. I like the message; that it’s not who you were or what you can do that influences what you will do, it’s how willing you are to step outside your own boundaries and push for what you think is right.

What are you currently reading and in what format (hardback, paperback, e-book)?

I’m reading Inheritance on PDF, and I’m super late due to a death of a relative. I hope to finish it today and get it sent off. I really hate being late, even if it’s due to circumstances I can’t control.

Do you prefer print or e-books? 

Ebooks are easier to store…but I prefer reading print books. After looking at a screen all day at work, or writing all day on the computer, the last thing I want is to look at another screen.

Do you think e-books will ever totally replace print? 

Yes, but it won’t be for another 50 years or so.  I’ll have time to enjoy print the rest of my life, I hope!

Thanks Tara; I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to chat to me about your reading preferences.  

And since we are speaking of reading, I'd also like to add that one of the best reads of MY year so far is Tara's excellent paranormal/fantasy "Lash".  Definitely 5* and well worth a read.

For more information about Tara, just click on any of the links below:

Tara's website

Tara's blog

Tara's Facebook page

Buy ONE Bargain Beach Read and get TEN - F*R*E*E*

How would you like to buy one beach read for 99 cents and get 10 beach reads as a free gift? If you’re like many people, you’d love to load up your e-reader with beach reads for summer vacation, but don’t have time to spend browsing retail sites clicking on book covers. Every day on Twitter, book lovers tweet pleas such as “Help! I need Kindle suggestions!” That’s the focus of #BeachReadSOS – to help book lovers load their e-readers with quality books so they won’t need to call SOS. SOS also refers to Sink or Swim, the fictional TV game show featured in Stacy Juba’s mystery novel of the same title. The show takes place on a Tall Ship and contestants must walk the plank, including her heroine Cassidy who gets kicked off in chapter one. After she returns to her normal life as a personal trainer, Cassidy needs to call SOS for real when a killer follows her every move.

Anyone who buys Sink or Swim before June 1, 2013 (it’s on sale for 99 cents for a limited time at many retailers) can contact Stacy for 10 free books through her BeachReadSOS promotion. The free books represent a wide range of popular genres including romantic comedy, mystery, suspense, thriller, contemporary romance, and fantasy, and are only available for free through this promotion.

My contemporary romance SHOPPING FOR LOVE  is one of the 10 free reads so it’s a great chance to sample my writing.

Love can find you in the strangest places - but it's never for sale!

Greg and Emma meet - of all places - buying tomatoes in the supermarket and there’s no denying the attraction is mutual.  But Greg, a software developer, is still raw from his painful divorce and Emma, his children’s teacher, is recovering from her own heartache.  Then the reappearance of Emma's career-obsessed ex-boyfriend and Greg's spiteful ex-wife threatens to kill their new love before it has even begun. Added to these complications are the very real needs of the two old people for whom they shop...for love.

Is Emma’s love strong enough to survive Greg’s demanding past and the threats to both their careers?  What will be the cost of falling in love in a world where everything comes with such a high price tag?

Stacy is also highlighting bargain beach reads from the 10 donating authors, so visit her blog for the list of free gifts as well as some fantastic, inexpensive books to keep you entertained this summer and beyond. She will be posting individual spotlights for bargain beach reads throughout May, including my bargain book SHOPPING FOR LOVE about a couple who find romance in a supermarket but quickly discover that love comes with a very high price tag.

Authors participating in the promotion are:  Dianne Venetta, Elaine Raco Chase, Lorraine Bartlett, Evelyn David, Stephanie Queen, Susan R. Hughes, Sydney Jane Baily, Libby Fisher Hellmann, Darcia Helle and myself. Visit BeachReadSOS at http://tinyurl.com/BeachReadFree10 so you can get organized now and relax later!

Wednesday's Writer - Vicki Taylor

I'm very excited to welcome the talented Vicki Taylor - whose latest novel OUT FOR JUSTICE I'm currently reading and enjoying enormously - to my blog today.  

Vicki M. Taylor  is an award-winning author who writes dramatic fiction with strong, unforgettable, real women characters involved in real life situations. 

She attacks the hard issues and brings them to the forefront with a deftness that outshines most other authors. Her ability to sink her teeth into these headline issues and pull the reader into the story makes her one of the best authors of this new century. 

No issue is too controversial for Vicki. Murder, teenage suicide, domestic violence and more, you'll find Vicki M. Taylor's stories not only give you the harsh realities of the character's life but she wraps you up in their private emotional lives as well - daring you to not care, not feel, not read. 

She lives in Florida with her husband, their American Eskimo dog, and Sun Conure parrot.

So without any further ado, welcome to my blog Vicki.

Hello Lynette, thank you for having me as your guest blogger for Wednesday’s Writer. I’m excited to be here and share my novel OUT FOR JUSTICE and a bit about myself.

I like to put my guests under the spotlight with just a few probing questions to help everyone get to know you better so let's start with this one:  What inspired you to write your first novel and did you always know your genre would be romance?

My first novel, FOREVER UNTIL WE MEET, was a romance that had a unique story that I felt needed to be told. I didn’t set out in my head to write a romance, it just ended up that way. Very much like all my novels. The stories tell themselves, in whatever genre it happens to be in. I just love being a conduit for my stories.

Fascinating.  I've noticed that myself.  Sometimes stories seem to evolve independently from the writer - which can be a little scary at times!  I see you describe your work as dramatic and controversial – about real women and real life. Does this reflect what you like to read yourself? Do you find fictional heroines in general to be realistic or over-glamorized?

In general, I love to read. And I read just about every genre and type of story. I enjoy romance, suspense, horror, science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, you name it, I’ve probably read something in that genre. My library is quite extensive.  As far as fictional heroines, I tend to enjoy stories more if the female protagonist is strong willed, confident and realistic. If I find the character to be more of a “Barbie doll” or unrealistic, I probably won’t finish the story.

It's true, stronger heroines are far more readable - and what most female readers demand these days.  From my reading so far, I'd say your latest heroine, Karen, fits that description.  But I wonder if any part of yourself has ever crept into the heroines of any of your novels?

I think my heroines are independent of me. You see, they create themselves. I don’t have much of a part in their evolution. They come to me with their stories and I write them down. 

And I'm sure you do full justice to each one.  What is the most desirable characteristic you’ve bestowed on one of your characters and is this something you would secretly yearn in yourself?

I love that my characters are so self sufficient and confident. I would love to have those abilities. They are extroverts and I’m an introvert. I would love to have more of their qualities.

Hmm, I wonder if they might therefore be described as your alter-egos?  Maybe we can pursue that idea another time, but for now we must move on.  Do you think you’ll always write women’s fiction or do you have desires to experiment and if so, in what way?

As I’ve said earlier, I write whatever story comes my way. And, yes, some of them are outside of the women’s fiction genre. I enjoy spreading my writing wings and challenging myself to write in whatever genre the story ends up. I’ve written paranormal, science fiction/fantasy, mystery, and others. I think I’ll just write the best stories I know how, regardless of genre. 

That's all any reader can possibly ask for :)

Here is the blurb for OUT FOR JUSTICE, which I'm currently reading and loving - but no spoilers from me! 

Rookie Detective Karen Sykes is out to prove she is good at her job, finding justice for a darkness in her past through law enforcement. She gets her first chance to shine with a case that hits a little too close to home. Like her younger sister, a four-year-old boy, has been brutally murdered. The case pairs her with Mike Connelly, an attractive crime scene technician, and sparks fly between the two of them. Mike resists the attraction and only adds more emotional conflict to the case.

PROLOGUE

The boy knew he shouldn’t wander too far away from the campsite, but it was too tempting. Not a baby anymore, but a big boy of four years old, he fought the urge, but in the end, curiosity won out. He followed the large white bird as it ambled and picked its way up the beach. The sleek curved line of its long white neck silhouetted in the sky. 
The voices of his mother and sisters grew fainter in the wind as it whipped along the shore. Small waves crashed into the sandy beach strewn with broken shells and seaweed.
He left his shoes next to the pile of shells he’d collected for his mom. He tried hard to remember to pick them up on his way back because he knew his mom would be upset if he lost them. Never had he seen such a big bird on the ground before; he would follow for a little while longer. 
Careful where he placed his little bare feet, the boy skipped along to keep up with the bird. Ignoring him, it appeared more intent on finding bugs to eat and unconcerned with the antics of one small boy. 
The sun was setting and the shadows were long. Bird and shadow mingled together. 
The boy had no trouble keeping up, until a quick movement in the small brush near the trees caught his eye. Another animal. Smaller. Quick footed. The boy knew the name of this animal. Squirrel. The bird forgotten like an abandoned, used toy, the boy ventured closer to the chattering brown squirrel.
The light from the setting sun didn’t reach far into the trees. The boy’s sun kissed skin shivered in the cooler shade, a small breeze making its way through the tall branches, whistling noises among the tops of the trees. With only his short bib overalls, and no shirt, he wasn’t dressed for a trek through the woods. Branches from the low-lying brush and kudzu vines grabbed at his skin and scratched his arms and back.
A small voice in his head told him he’d better turn back and return to the campsite. At the same time, he heard louder voices just beyond a large rock covered with green vines. The voices sounded interesting. The squirrel forgotten, he moved a little closer. There, he could see who was talking.
He stepped on a stick that broke beneath his foot. The sharp end punctured his tender skin and he cried out in pain. 
The voices stopped.
Suddenly realizing he had gone too far, the boy turned only to find himself tangled and confused in the kudzu vines and low branches. He shivered again. This time not from the coolness of the woods.  
Long forgotten, the big white bird ambled its way down the beach, toward tastier prospects and away from the humans.

And here is just a brief excerpt from Chapter One 

to whet your appetites further:

It had been a slow morning at the Warehouse, the loosely affectionate term the detectives gave to the large county building that housed their offices along with the rest of the Hillsborough County Sheriff department, and they didn’t want to waste any of the good weather that temporarily graced them. 
Throughout her thirty-odd years, she’d led a competitive life. Girls against boys. Karen against everyone else. Karen dribbled the ball, looked up at the basket, then back down to the ball. She set her feet and bent her knees. She held her breath, ready to push off with her arms.
“Sykes, Anderson. Get in here.” 
Karen hissed a sigh. “Damn, I had it too.” She wiped at the sweat rolling down the side of her temple. She didn’t like leaving anything half finished. Even if it was a friendly game of basketball.
Sam walked over and patted her on the shoulder as they headed into the office. “Good game.”
“You too, Sam.”
Lieutenant Santiago waited for them in the main room. “I need you to check out a new case. Over in the Hamilton Davis Park Campground.”
Back inside, the air-conditioned air felt cold and refreshing. “Sure, no problem, Lieutenant.” Karen accepted the folder the lieutenant held out. She grabbed her dark blue blazer from the back of a chair and shrugged into it.
“Hey, wait a minute,” the lieutenant said.
“Yeah?” Sam hesitated then turned around while Karen stood expectantly.
“It’s a kid.”
Eyes widened, Karen’s throat tightened. She swallowed hard to work past the lump that suddenly developed. This was it. She’d waited more than two years for this moment. Her first homicide case. Already, their lightheartedness on the basketball court faded into a distant memory. Real life had a way of crowding in and changing moods.
“Shit.” Sam swore. “All right. Thanks for the heads up, Lieutenant.”
Karen could feel Lieutenant Santiago’s eyes watching her as she headed out the door. He probably thought Sam competent enough to handle the case. But what did he think about her? She was tough. She had to be, growing up with parents that barely recognized her existence. It wasn’t their fault. The blame lay with her and what happened a long time ago. She lived with the guilt for more than twenty-five years. The guilt kept her company and almost felt like a familiar, comfortable sweater on a chilly night.   
Following Sam out of the Warehouse to the parking lot, Karen knew he would help her along with her first homicide case. She couldn’t have a better teacher than Sam. She’d been told that plenty of times from the other detectives. She trusted his judgment. If he figured she was ready then damn it, she’d show everyone how ready she could be.

You can find out more about Vicki by clicking on any of the following links:

Vicki's Website

Your Writing Coach Blog

Vicki M. Taylor's Blog

Facebook Author Page

FACEBOOK PERSONAL PAGE

Amazon Author Page

Linked In

Pinterest

And click here for the following:

Out For Justice Paperback edition

Out For Justice Kindle edition

Readers Writes - Mickey Reed aka 'I'm a Book Shark'

Mickey

I always think people who spend a lot of time reviewing books must quickly become discerning readers or drown in a sea of requests from authors desperately seeking reviews for their titles.  I'm therefore always interested in chatting to reviewers to learn about their reading likes and dislikes.  Today's interviewee is is reviewer Mickey Reed, whose blog is I'm a Book Shark and who kindly agreed to let me put her in the spotlight this week.

Firstly, I'd love to know a little bit about how or why you became a reviewer (and which came first, the reviews or the blog?)  How do your reading commitments fit in with your lifestyle?  

I have posted my reviews for books on Goodreads for as long as I’ve known about Goodreads. My husband asked why I wasn’t trying to get paid for writing reviews for a paper or something, and in Googling that I discovered book blogs.  I read whatever I want and post those reviews to the blog. Lately it’s been a blog for promoting other books as my reading time has decreased dramatically.

You must receive numerous requests for reviews - how do you choose which books/authors to take on?

I do get quite a few review requests, even though I’ve mentioned that I won’t really be able to take any on right now.  Quite honestly I don’t really read too many of the emails either. I don’t have much time to read, but I do skim all of the emails to see if anything catches my eye. And I do keep them all in case I want to go back and accept a request.

For me a 5* review means a book is literally 'unputdownable'.  How do you 'measure' a good book?  

A 5-star book keeps me guessing, makes me laugh/cry, sucks me in, and never lets me forget. It’s memorable and treasured. On my blog, books rarely get a 5-star review. I’m very picky, but when you earn it, I let the world know.

How do you feel if you really like or thoroughly dislike a book you've agreed to review?

I’m so happy when I’m pleasantly surprised by a book I’ve taken on to review. It’s happened a quite a few times. Then there have been those times when I just can’t get through a book. If I’ve agreed to review it but couldn’t stand it, I usually will still review it on Goodreads but not on my blog. Just my policy.

Do you receive feedback from writers or other readers on your reviews?

I get comments about my reviews, sure. But no one has ever told me to change my format or anything. I love having discussion, so if anyone ever has a question about my reviews I’d love to chat!

Do you know if your reviews influence the success (or otherwise) of a new title?

I’m not sure. I’ve had people buy books because of my reviews, and I’ve had people say they won’t pick up a title because of my reviews. But I don’t think my little blog will make or break a novel. :o)

Now some more general questions about reading   Did you have a favourite book or author as a child?

I would always go to the library and pick up Lurlene McDaniel’s books even though she made me cry every single time!

What is your happiest reading memory?

I wish I could truly remember reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time, but I do remember going back to it at different points in my life, rereading passages that made me giggle or get all sappy. 

What was the first book you remember reading independently and really enjoying?

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. However, I recently went back to it and discovered that my tastes had dramatically changed. Haha.

How significant was reading to you as a child?

As a child, I enjoyed reading. I was good at it, so I kept on doing it. I was curious and loved to learn, so it helped me achieve many things.

How important is reading in your life now?

Now, reading is an adventure, an escape, and a journey. It opens me up to new worlds. Plus, I’d love to just be a fly on the wall somewhere, and it really allows me to be that for these characters.

Have you ever wished you could change places with any character from a story?

I don’t think I’ve truly wanted to change places with any character, but I’ve loved books so much that I’d wish to live in their world, be friends with the characters, and fit right in.

What are you currently reading and in what format (hardback, paperback, e-book)?

I’m actually listening to the audio book version of Moby-Dick for my English class.



Do you think the young of today read enough, and if not, how might you try to encourage them to read more?

I think some do, but many don’t. We live in a fast-paced, technologically advanced world. It’s easy to just watch the movie instead. I’d love for them to read more often, and perhaps if they discovered a world they could get lost in, they’d enjoy reading more too.


Do you prefer print or e-books?

Quite honestly I prefer print. I do read e-books, and I don’t mind reading them at all. But nothing beats the brand new book smell. Ahhh. :o)


Do you think e-books will ever totally replace print?

I think they might, which would be incredibly sad. But the newspaper still exists, so there is hope!

Do you think books transfer to films well?  What is your favourite/worst book-to-film transfer?

It all depends, which is a lazy answer, but it’s how I feel. Some books do and some books don’t. My favorite book-to-movie versions are The Help, Shutter Island, True Grit, Shopgirl, The Princess Bride, Water for Elephants, Silver Linings Playbook, and Pride and Prejudice (almost any version). My least favorites are the Hannibal movies (I love them on their own, but not as book-to-movie versions), PS I Love You, Twilight, The Lucky One, and My Sister’s Keeper. I mostly like film versions when they are cast well and agree with the book.

Is there a book you know you'll never read or found impossible to finish?

I’ll probably never read the Fifty Shades of Grey series, but I never say never ;o) Books that are impossible to finish to me are the poorly edited ones.

Do you think there is anything new and exciting in modern fiction, or has it "all been said before"?

I think there can be new and exciting in modern fiction. We just need some writers with great imaginations. I’m sure they’re out there! We just need to discover them.

Thanks Mickey - that was every bit as interesting as I knew it would be.
Why not pop over to Mickey's blog to get to know her better?  Just click on the image below.