Book Review

The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Connelly's latest book features Lincoln lawyer Mickey Haller, so named because he conducts business from the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car. Connelly is a master at complex plotting and courtroom procedure, and the reader will get plenty in this book. Mickey is asked to defend a man accused of killing a prostitute. Mickey at one time had tried to help the prostitute leave the life, and thought he had succeeded, until her death and knowledge about her recent past told him otherwise. The accused swears he is innocent, although he knew the victim and had had an argument with her shortly before she died. The evidence points to him and the police are sure they have the right man. Mickey's not so sure, and as he delves into the past of several people associated with the victim, he is convinced the accused is being set up. This knowledge puts Mickey in danger, and before all is wrapped up, there are many twists and turns to keep you turning pages. The "Gods of Guilt" in this case are the jury who will sit in judgment, but at the end, Mickey learns there are many "Gods of Guilt" to deal with in his lifetime. Connelly at his best.

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How Do You Write?

I love fiction. There's nothing like a good story to keep me turning pages into the night. Non-fiction can also be told in a story format, but for purposes of this blog, I'll be addressing fiction only. Writers love words, so I'll assume, if you write, that you have a great vocabulary. Please refrain from using it! When you write your book, you're telling the reader a story. You want your reader to be lost in it and not be distracted by poor grammar, poor editing, or too many "big" impressive words. So obviously, a clean and polished manuscript should be at the beginning of any good novel. But, back to your great vocabulary, use only those words that are descriptive and add to the scene you're writing. I rarely quit reading a book once I've started it, hoping that it will get better after a slow start. Recently though I gave up on a book early on. Why? Because the author spent three pages describing the flowers and trees in a garden the protagonist was walking through. I was very impressed with the author's knowledge of all this flora and fauna, but it didn't advance the story and bored me to death. The author had done this in earlier parts of the book as well, describing every piece of furniture in a living room. I really didn't need to know the difference between an ottoman and a settee, but the author knew it and she darn well was going to tell us about it. She lost me, and probably a few others as well. Readers select a book because they want to be transported to a different time and place, not to wade through extraneous verbiage that slows down their journey. Mary Higgins Clark, a very intelligent and successful writer, is an excellent example of a story teller who doesn't waste a word as she keeps you reading, page after page. Don't be afraid to edit. A tip I read recently, regarding descriptions, went - three words are OK, two words are better, one word is best. Keep it interesting, but keep it simple. Your readers will be glad.

Book Review - "Surfing the Seconds"

Surfing the Seconds by Vincent Lowry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some people write memoirs. Vincent Lowry is a bit young for that, but his beautifully written poetry gives us a glimpse into his life and the kind of man he is. Each poem chronicles a little slice of life, with a twist. His sensitivity to everyday things, which are so easy to overlook in our busy lives, makes us want to stop and rethink the way we go through our day. "The Unvisited Past" hints of happier times and lost love. "Among Champions" celebrates the miracle of birth. Interspersed throughout the book are anecdotes about Vincent's son Conner, that show the great love he has for him. A lovely book and a wonderful book for Conner to have when he's older.

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Free Kindle for "No Good Deed"

My southern California mystery novel, NO GOOD DEED, will be free on Kindle from Friday March 14 through Monday March 17. You can access it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009CA6SYQ

Promotional Website

I recently came across an excellent website for promoting books. There are many on the internet, but they usually focus on one or two aspects of promotion, then refer you elsewhere. My recent discovery covers everything on one post. It is not only comprehensive, but very well organized. I'm anxious to share it with you. Visit: http://florenceosmund.com/promoting_and_marketing_your_book

Book Giveaway Coming Soon

NO GOOD DEED will soon be available free on Kindle. I will let you know once it is set up.

Best Wishes for the New Year

As another year comes to a close I hope that all of you have been able to accomplish your writing and/or reading goals, or at least are on the road to doing so. The years seem to fly by so much faster as we get older and I often feel a sense of urgency in whatever I'm doing. I'm not big into making new year's resolutions, but I do plan to be more aware of when I feel rushed, and take a moment to stop, relax, and let what is to be happen. I hope your new year will be a time of new beginnings. If you are writing anything, or about to be published, please let me know and I'll be glad to promote it.