Maureen Lang's Blog, page 27
November 4, 2010
Bonus Fiction
So without further ado, here's some info about Marilyn and her new book:
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by Marilyn Brant
Kensington Books
Each Friday morning at the Indigo Moon Café, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara meet to swap stories about marriage, kids and work. But one day, spurred by recent e-mails from her college ex, Jennifer poses questions they've never faced before. What if they all married the wrong man? What if they're living the wrong life? And what would happen if, just once, they gave in to temptation...?
Soon each woman is second-guessing the choices she's made -- and the ones she can unmake -- as she becomes aware of new opportunities around every corner, from attentive colleagues and sexy neighbors to flirtatious past lovers. And as fantasies blur with real life, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara begin to realize how little they know about each other, their marriages and themselves, and how much there is to gain -- and lose -- when you step outside the rules.
**A Doubleday Book Club & Book-of-the-Month Club Featured Alternate Selection for October 2010**
"Friday Mornings at Nine is the perfect example of a book by an author whose writing just gets better and better. In her second book, Marilyn Brant's prose is superb…" ~Pamela Kramer, Chicago Books Examiner
"Emotionally packed… A highly recommended women's fiction read." ~Kelly Moran, award-winning author and book reviewer
"Marilyn Brant's sophomore effort...is a brilliant character study of three very different women each asking the question we all wonder about sooner or later: did we make the right choices during our journey and if not, what steps do we need to take in order to live our best life?" ~Leah Eggleston Krygowski, Manchester Books Examiner
Bio: Marilyn Brant has been a classroom teacher, a library staff member, a freelance writer and a national book reviewer. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and son, surrounded by towers of books that often threaten to topple over and crush her. A proud member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Marilyn's debut novel featuring "Jane" won the Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart® Award. When not working on her next book, she enjoys traveling, listening to music and finding new desserts to taste test.
Links:
website: www.marilynbrant.com
blog: http://marilynbrant.blogspot.com
B&N page: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Frid...
November 3, 2010
New Fiction Wednesday!
Now that Halloween is behind us, it's time to look toward the holiday season! Get in the mood with this book from Deb Raney and other favorite storytellers:A Prairie Christmas Collection
from Barbour Books
by Tracie Peterson, Deborah Raney, Tracey Bateman
and other favorite Christian authors
Settling the vast open prairies, weathering winter storms, and finding joy to celebrate during Christmas epitomizes the pioneer experience. In a unique collection of nine Christmas romances, Barbour Publishing brings readers A Prairie Christmas Collection where they can relive a prairie Christmas with all its challenge and delights as penned by multi-published authors, including Tracie Peterson and Deborah Raney. Featuring deckled-edge pages and a foil-stamped cover with fold-under flaps, the collection makes an ideal gift for the romance reader.
In this holiday romance collection, the warmth of Christmas will radiate new love from the high plains of Minnesota and Dakota Territory, across the rolling hills of Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois, and down into the flats of Kansas. Filled with inspiration and faith, each story will become a treasure to be enjoyed again each year. 
Along with Peterson and Raney, other contributing authors include Tracey Bateman, Pamela Griffin, JoAnn A. Grote, Maryn Langer, Darlene Mindrup, Janet Spaeth and Jill Stengl.
For more information see Deborah Raney's website at www.deborahraney.com.
Available in bookstores everywhere, or order online at CBD.com, amazon.com or other bookstores online.
November 1, 2010
Reading Lesson
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This week I've been reading two books, as usual: one fiction and one non-fiction. I finished the fiction, a re-release of a novel by Anne Rivers Siddons called The House Next Door. My book club chose to read this in honor of Halloween but honestly, it wasn't all that scary despite its horror classification—and I'm an honest-to-goodness wimp. It is, in fact, so tame that I read it at night, just before going to sleep, even when my husband was out of town and I normally hear all kinds of unprecedented noises.
Since this book was originally published in 1978 it has an authentically 70s feel—an era I recall with probably as much detail as any average person who lived through that time. The story is set in the south, in a neighborhood full of comfortably wealthy people who know the meaning of community. The two main characters have a wonderful marriage, are in their mid-thirties and intentionally without children. When the empty lot next to them is sold and a gorgeous house goes up designed by a friendly, brilliant architect, the horror begins. All kinds of terrible things happen to the families unlucky enough to live there, and the neighbors get caught in the evil as well.
I've said before that my rule for finishing a book is that if it isn't entirely entertaining me, it must at least teach me something. This book had a great blend of engaging characters and a plot that moved right along. No sagging middle, and any boring segments were brief—more a sign of the time it was written than of poor writing or editing. Even though the horror part fell short for me, (I'm actually relieved about that) and the ending was a disappointment, the writing itself was for the most part well done, which went a long way in inspiring me to turn those pages.
After some mulling about it, I learned it was the point of view that I found troublesome. It was first person through the eyes of someone who never lived in the house. This point of view was of course an intentional choice in order to bring basically three short stories together – three families that move in to the "haunted" house, each in relatively short succession. Actually the house isn't exactly haunted, at least not in the classic sense of the word; rather it has evil in it that tries destroying the best inside anyone unlucky enough to live in it – or nearby.
But because it was told through this neighbor's eyes, it was often at least one step removed from much of the horror that transpired. Sometimes the action even came through another neighbor, simply recounted to the point of view character. This is why it was so tame for me—why it simultaneously allowed me to read the book all the way through because I don't like horror while at the same time disappointing me as a student of the writing craft. The author tried to justify the choice of point of view (as I said, necessary in order to tell three stories rather than one) by an ending that was supposed to shock and tie in the point of view choice, but it seemed to fall short as a device rather than a natural progression of the story.
In any case, it certainly reminded me how important point of view is in a story! The reader wants to see and feel everything on stage, through the eyes of the character they basically become while reading an engaging story. Perhaps if this book were written today it would not only be more violently horrific (in which case I most likely wouldn't have finished it) but the writer might not have been allowed to use such a device to justify story structure.
Note to self: remember that.
October 27, 2010
New Fiction Wednesday!
Here's the latest from my friend and colleague, Jill Elizabeth Nelson!Secrets Buried Deep!
Evidence from a decades-old murder is the last thing Nicole Keller-Mattson expected to find in her grandmother's back yard, but the finger-pointing and accusations leveled at her family came as no surprise. Everyone in Ellington is eager to blame the Kellers—but after an attack leaves Nicole's grandmother in a coma, only Nicole can clear the family name. With the assistance of police chief Rich Hendricks, she stands a chance of solving the mystery . . . if she's willing to accept Rich's help. Nicole lost her policeman husband in the line of duty—getting close to another cop is too painful. But keeping her distance could be deadly.
WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR ABOUT LEGACY OF LIES:
I've always been fascinated by social dynamics in a small town. Having lived in rural communities all my life, I'm intimately familiar with the unique politics involved. Crafting a story about the shadow cast over a town by its founding family came readily to me. I was particularly interested to explore the affect past sins and secrets can have on a tight-knit community and how the illusion of power is always trumped by the immutable laws of God. We do reap what we sow, no matter how grand and invincible we imagine ourselves to be.
The scripture I used at the front of the book was Psalm 37: 10 – 11 from the NIV version of the Bible: A little while and the wicked will be no more; Though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. I comfort myself with these words quite often when I see the injustices in the world.
CLICK on the following link TO BUY THE BOOK NOW!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0373444087/jillelizabeth-20
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jill Elizabeth Nelson writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith, earning her the tagline: Endless Adventure, Timeless Truth. She was delightfully astonished this year to receive the prestigious Carol Award in the Short Contemporary Suspense category for her 2009 release, Evidence of Murder. Jill speaks regularly at conferences, writer's groups, library associations, and civic and church groups. When teaching classes for writers, she thrills to bring the Ahah! moment to her students as they make a new skill their own. Jill and her husband live in rural Minnesota where they raised four children and are currently enjoying their first grandchild. Visit Jill on the web at http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com for book giveaways, excerpts, and information.
October 25, 2010
Rainy Days and Mondays
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Do you remember the old Carpenter's tune lamenting such days? I used to like that song but over the years—especially since gaining the privilege to write every day—I'm a living contradiction to those sad lyrics.
The fact is, I love Mondays! I try toning it down as I send off hubby and kids (even though my husband loves his job too, and is probably just as eager to get back to the weekly routine of it). But I do try hiding my happy dance until after the bus driver has taken away my boys for the day. I don't want to lose my mother-of-the-year chances, after all. (Just kidding…I was never in the running.)
I don't even mind rainy days, especially when I don't have to venture outside. Weekends find me busy, and I do love being with my family, but the fact is I'm out of my routine. I eat differently, I sleep differently. Sometimes I feel restless—which almost never hits me during the week when I'm working on or researching a book. Those are things I can only do in quiet solitude. So I guess it's true about writers being in danger of turning into hermits if they let themselves—or if they don't have a family or close friends pulling them back to real life.
Which, as the book I'm reading right now tells me, is such an irony. Here's a quote from The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner (a wonderful book recommended by my agent, Rachelle Gardner, to anyone who wants to write).
The writer labors in isolation, yet all that intensive, lonely work is in the service of communicating, is an attempt to reach another person.
Isn't that what fiction is about? Not just to entertain—that's the obvious goal—but the reason behind the entertainment is that the words touch something in us that we can relate to. We connect with characters in a book because they react in a way we think we would react. Therein lies the attempt to reach another person. Writers succeed when the reader is touched by that attempt.
So here I am, living in a contradiction. Again. Such is life, and I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.
October 21, 2010
New Fiction!
As promised, here is this week's second installment of New Fiction - it's so nice to have such prolific friends!FACELIFT
ISBN: 0805449892
B&H Publishing
A 'can do' kind of woman runs her own business, raises her teenage daughter, and takes care of her ex-mother-in-law after a botched facelift. But Kaye learns a facelift is more than skin deep. Joy is more than tacking on a happy face. It's relying on her sovereign God who has a plan for her life.
About the author:
Winner of the National Readers Choice Award, Leanna Ellis writes women's fiction and is known for her quirky characters and wacky plots as in her current novel, FACELIFT. But don't let the quirkiness fool you, Ellis probes the heart and plucks at the heartstrings. In 2011 FORSAKEN, the first of an Amish/vampire series, will debut. Now that is wacky!Amazon Purchase Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Facelift-Novel-Leanna-Ellis/dp/0805449892/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287421547&sr=8-4
Excerpt Link:
http://leannaellis.com/facelift.html
Author website and blog:
www.leannaellis.com
www.leannaellis.com/news/
October 19, 2010
New Fiction!
This week I'm doing things just a little bit differently, since I have two books to share with you. So tonight I'll tell you about Sandra Byrd's @font-face { font-family: "Verdana"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }@font-face { font-family: "Georgia"; }@font-face { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }London Confidential Series and on Thursday I'll have a new book to share!
I'm always excited to share with you new books by friends of mine, so here's a little about Sandra's new book Don't Kiss Him Good-bye:
Byrd's ability to provide a fun story that incorporates biblical truth will help teens relate to this new series. Readers will identify with the struggle to fit in while staying true to one's convictions.
Romantic Times, 4 star review
Book Three, Don't Kiss Him Goodbye, finds Savvy, now established in her quirky British village, working hard to get an article with her own byline published. When an attractive and mysterious boy asks her for help with his school work, Savvy is slowly pulled into his circle and soon finds out that the wrong set of friends—boys and girls—can influence her own behavior. Following her own advice to cut ties with a charming bad boy would mean abandoning her dearest wishes, and it just doesn't seem as wrong as it feels. Is it? Read on for surprise twists throughout the book!
In a shocking turn of events, all writers for the Wexburg Academy Times will cast their votes for next year's editor—and it looks like Savvy's vote will be the tie breaker! In Book Four, Flirting With Disaster, Savvy must choose between a nasty-girl-turned-nice, with a sudden interest in letting Savvy get what she wants, and the prickly Hazelle, who promises nothing at all. Savvy then finds herself wrapped up in a new, seemingly innocent but potentially dangerous activity. It's all at risk in this book: her position on the paper, the boy she likes, the ministry she wants to go well. At a critical moment, Savvy must figure out how to rely on God rather than luck and to overcome temptation before it is too late.
London Confidential is a new series for tweens and teens where British fashion, friendships, and guys collide as an all-American teen girl learns to love life and live out her faith.
Please visit Sandra online at http://www.sandrabyrd.com/ The books can be purchased at amazon.com through her website or at other fine online or local bookstores near you. If they're not stocked, just ask!
London Confidential Books 1 and 2 were featured in Focus on the Family's Thriving Family Magazine ... click here:
October 18, 2010
Those "other" characters
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How often do you get to read a book where you're entirely charmed by all of the characters, including the minor ones? Have you been amazed by how they all fit together to propel the story forward? Or, on the other end of the spectrum, where you wonder why a certain character was even included? Secondary characters can certainly enhance a book—or help sink it if they're not well used.
These days, while I'm putting together a new story idea, there are a few things I'm reminding myself about one element of storytelling: those "other" characters, the secondary ones.
Here are a few questions I'm asking myself:
Is every character necessary? Do they play a part in the plot or do they sufficiently impact one of the major characters? Is the secondary character more than just a sounding board for the main character to reveal to the reader his/her thoughts, goals, intentions, etc.? Does more than one secondary character play the same role, performing the same element in the overall story? Is there something unique about the secondary character/s, something to help the reader imagine them in their head, to make them memorable? Many characters come on and off the pages, but the ones who are assigned names usually play more than just cameo roles. My job is to make sure they earn their name.
So I'm replaying all of this in my head as I put together ideas for my next project. I usually find myself spending most of my time and energy on my main characters, at least initially. Being a seat-of-the-pants writer (one who doesn't do a lot of advance outlining) I'm sometimes surprised by the appearance of a secondary characters, which is probably not the best time to ask all of the above questions. A more organized writer might have much of this figured out in advance. But no matter when questions like these are asked, they should be addressed.
Recently I found myself wondering with more detail about one of the minor characters I have in mind for my new story. This actually surprised me, since the story idea is so very new and I haven't officially "worked with" this character yet. I usually have a vague idea of secondary characters at this point, but for this story, there will be two men vying for my heroine's attention and so this secondary character will almost be like a hero. Almost is the key word here, because of course only one of them can be the real hero. One must lose at love, and I find myself feeling sorry for this character already, especially since I don't plan to give him a book of his own in which to let him find his happy ending. Worrying about him is a good sign, though, because that's the first thing I look for in a story and the characters filling it: am I emotionally involved?
So how can I present a character interesting enough to catch the eye of my very special heroine, create a viable sense of competition in my equally special hero, without totally fooling my readers? If this secondary hero is too charming half the audience will want him to win, and that's exactly what I don't want to do—alienate half of my audience!
It's one more balancing act, one of many to make the story come alive to please a picky reader like myself.
October 11, 2010
Some Word of Mouth Advertising
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Recently I put together a presentation for local authors that opened my eyes to some staggering statistics. Did you know there are over one million books currently in print? Whew! No wonder when I go into a bookstore I can never imagine how one book — specifically one of mine — can possibly get noticed by the reading public. The number doesn't even count the used, some print-on-demand or old books available online.
If it's marketing that makes the difference, even the most enthusiastic marketer admits it's word of mouth that sells books. Women purchase the bulk of most books today, and when asked what makes them choose a certain book to buy, the majority say a friend's recommendation influenced their decision.
I know that's how I am. If someone I trust tells me about a book they enjoyed (perhaps my daughter, who is the most avid reader I know!) I either make an effort to buy a copy for myself or at the very least remember the author's name so if an opportunity comes up to read one of their books, I take it. Recommendations are the best form of marketing, and it's the kind that no one can pay for. It just happens.
So, what have I been reading lately that I've really enjoyed? Right now I'm reading a couple of books for endorsement that I'm thoroughly enjoying, but they won't be out for a while so this is a very early recommendation. One is by debut author Anne Mateer, Wings of a Dream, and another is the third book in Jill Eileen Smith's Wives of David series, Bathsheba. Both are wonderfully written books that I can't wait to feature on my New Fiction Wednesdays when the time comes!
But here are a few other titles of books I read over the summer that I thoroughly enjoyed—books that are on the store shelves now:
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay)
These are technically Young Adult books, although I thought they were a bit dark for some young readers. But the writing is so compelling I have to recommend them to all my readers – at least those who are in 7th or 8th grade and up!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
This book is wonderfully told through a series of letters. Don't despair if you don't know who's who in the first few pages, it all becomes clear and it's definitely worth figuring out. Although the one Christian character was handled with PC ineptitude, the story charmed me nonetheless.
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
If you're a fan of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green stories, you'll love the way this author captured Anne's voice and gave her an early history that'll make you laugh—and of course cry. I suspect the reason Montgomery didn't start at the beginning of Anne's life was the necessary series of traumas that would have led to the beginning of her life with the Cuthberts. Today's audience, though, is a bit less sheltered than they were when these books were first released in 1908. Even though some of it was terribly sad this author did a great job at building the eternal optimism Anne shows in her later adventures.
Those are the ones that come to mind first, so I'll leave my personal "word-of-mouth list" at that for now. So until next week, Happy Reading!
October 6, 2010
New Fiction Wednesday!
A little about The Perfect Blend:
Steph Vandergrift left everything to elope with Middleburg attorney Rick Manfred, who then stood her up at the altar. Too embarrassed to return home, Steph hopes to earn enough to get by until she can decide what to do next. Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel hires her and appreciates the extra help at the tea shop.
Also appreciative of Steph is Kendall James, one of the kindest, most eligible bachelors in the area. But by the time Steph feels able to consider dating again, her run-away fiancé returns and tries to win her back. Steph is wary, but she and Rick always blended so well.
Christie Burnham, the frank-talking equestrian from whom Steph rents a room, and her frillier sister Liz become fast friends and confidantes to Steph. Between the two sisters, there isn't much any man is going to pull over on Middleburg's newest bachelorette and tea shop employee.
Award-winning novelist Trish Perry has written The Perfect Blend (2010), Sunset Beach (2009), Beach Dreams (2008), Too Good to Be True (2007), and The Guy I'm Not Dating (2006), all for Harvest House Publishers. Her monthly column, "Real Life is Stranger," appeared in Christian Fiction Online Magazine during its inaugural year. She was editor of Ink and the Spirit, the newsletter of Washington D.C. 's Capital Christian Writers organization (CCW), for seven years. Before her novels, Perry published numerous short stories, essays, devotionals, and poetry in Christian and general market media. She will release several new books in 2011.
Perry holds a B.A. in Psychology, was a 1980s stockbroker, and held positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission and in several Washington law firms. She serves on the Board of Directors of CCW and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She invites you to visit her at www.trishperry.com
