Carrie Green

This is a guest post by Beth Elisa Harris.

Can we pause for a moment from our hectic, over-booked, fatigued, maxed-out, lives and remember what is really important?

We lost one of our own this month – an author of many books, our friend Howard. I didn’t know him outside our literary circle. Aside from social media and mutual support, Howard was one of many online writer pals who exemplified why we all gather here – community.

Death is hardest on those who are left behind. We take comfort in the legacy left behind, the memories we share, the essence of the energy that continues to surround us despite absence of physical body.

When someone passes without warning, without pre-illness, it’s that much tougher. We can grieve illness when someone is still living, and while we mourn the loss we had time to prepare. There is time to process, to tie up loose ends, and to say farewell. Sudden passing is without warning. It doesn’t come with a set of instructions. It’s inconceivable that someone would be there one minute, and simply not the next.

It is because of the finite life line we all share, the No Guarantee brand on every life that does not promise you a single breath past tomorrow, or the next hour, or the next minute, or second - that every breath must be a cause for celebration. What are you doing right now to celebrate that breath you just took?

Because we continue to have the privilege of breathing, let us honor Howard’s LIFE by honoring his work. This year, let’s each commit to read something Howard wrote (if you haven’t already) and post a review. And please help RT the Thursday Teaser Train tweets Feb. 9, dedicated exclusively to our talented friend.

We are all extremely busy and that will not change. But let’s keep Howard in our thoughts this year, and not allow life to get in the way of remembering our ultimate purpose: To revere each second ticking by as a gift not to be squandered.

Howard, you will be missed.

Visit Howard’s author page on Amazon to read more and view his works.

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Hopkins/e/B002BM64IW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

_When Stephen King was struck by a van, out of the stark realization of his mortality, I started looking for new horror authors. King won't live forever. Long live the King. Alex Laybourne is one of the few authors that I've discovered, who can sate me, when I'm having a King craving.

The premise of Highway to Hell is extremely clever. How does an author convince readers to care about people who are being tortured in Hell? If most of us think of Hell, at all, it is with the quiet conviction that we won't be going there. Hitler, people who commit heinous acts such as abusing, or murdering children--they all belong in Hell and we hope that it's uncomfortable, for a long, long time. Well, Laybourne takes these expectations and he turns them on their ear.

_He presents the tortures of Hell (extremely graphic, equal in impact to Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of Christ') but, in a twist, his characters have been sent to Hell by some cosmic error. They didn't earn Hell, but they are unaware of this fact, for the majority of the novel. Laybourne's readers are forced to ponder the characters' assorted transgressions. Most will probably find at least one sin with which they also have in common. For me, it was probably the most innocent of the group, a woman who couldn't quite manage to like her in-laws. Really, I thought, this sends you to Hell? It's a brilliant plot devise and Laybourne milks it well.

I warn you to strap on your seatbelt because Highway to Hell is bumpy ride, and whatever you do, don't stick your hand out the window, or God forbid, your head. Hell is not for sissies, but this novel kept me totally engrossed for a full week. It provided well developed characters, compelling situations, and the type of horror that will leave you metaphorically weaving from lane to lane, hoping for a nearby exit. You're going to get car-sick reading this sincerely frightening masterpiece. I can't wait for part two of the series! 

_
Click Here to check out a Teaser from Highway to Hell.

Click Here to purchase the book on Amazon.  For a limited time, Prime members can read this book for free. 

When I read Stephen King's 11/22/63, it was both as a reader and a writer.  I read for enjoyment, but I also looked for lessons on how to write.  I found a great one in a relatively minor scene in the beginning of the novel. 

The lead character, Jake Epping, a high school English teacher, takes on an adult GED class.  He assigns an essay--the standard 'Day That Changed My Life.'  If his students could string together a proper sentence, Jake would generally give them a B, without much thought.

He is shaken out of his complacency, however, when he receives one exceptional tale.  It comes from a lowly janitor, a Mr. Harry Dunning, known as Hoptoad Harry.  Jake shares the actual essay, word for word.  It is filled with spelling and grammar errors, but it earns an A+ because, in Jake's words, it "evoked an emotional response."

Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  Stephen King is commenting on something that I wish was addressed more often by other authors/teachers/workshops.  It is not enough to write a well constructed sentence and run spell check.  Writing should emotionally involve the reader.  A story is not only about formatting, grammar, or even spelling.  It really isn't and Stephen King agrees with me.

I'm not claiming that he's advocating that we shouldn't edit our writing, but he is saying to keep our priorities straight.  We need to aim to be great, not just average.   Too many authors (and reviewers, for that point) think that editing is the only metric by which to judge a book. 

There seems to be this misconception that editing is what makes a book successful.  There are tons of blog articles out there on the importance of editing.  Plus, we've all heard the often repeated lament that eBooks would be better, if only indie authors could afford editors, like traditional authors.

I firmly believe that people have focused upon editing only because it can be taught, where writing a great story that touches a reader's emotions is instinctual, involving a sort of elusive 'it' factor.  You can break every grammar rule and still have a great story, while you can follow every grammar rule and have a story that sucks eggs. 

As I have dived into this new digital world of indie authors, I have discovered authors that I love to read and they are often far from perfect.  Invariably they have typos, formatting errors, crappy book covers, poor product descriptions and, in one case, even lacked an author photo.  These are cardinal marketing sins that can earn them bad reviews, which is sincerely unfortunate. 

People are trying to separate the wheat from the chaff, but they are using the wrong metric.  Ignore all this relatively unimportant editing stuff (it can all be fixed, easily), focus, instead, on how the writing made you feel.  That's the true foundation of great writing.  Did you love or hate the main characters?  Did you want more?  This is the measurement that everyone should cite. 

This is why we read Stephen King, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and other authors who have experienced immense popularity with the general public over the centuries.  Yes, there is a history lesson in 11/22/63, but I found the writing lesson much more relevant to my life!

_ I've recently become involved in a program that allows authors to donate eBooks for soldiers.  It's a small gesture that I'm making, just a way that I can say 'Thank you' to all the men and women in our military.  They serve, so that I can live the American dream.

I have fond memories of the Bob Hope USO shows (it was a long time ago, but it seemed to me that those shows were televised during the holiday season).  I also applaud Pamela Anderson and Kathy Griffin who went over to Iraq at the height of the hostilities.  I've always thought, if I were a celebrity, I would go and entertain the troops.  It's not about politics, but about showing my appreciation. 

I'm lucky that no one in my immediate family is currently serving, but I do have many veterans in my family.  My father, an uncle, a great-uncle, both my grandfathers, and even my grandmother (she served in the Women's Army Corps, WAC, stateside in an administrative position--although she did wear a uniform and she had to style her hair so that it did not fall past her collar).  I can clearly recall Grandpa Jack talking about World War II. 

He did not share 'war stories,' after all, we were children, but he did talk about the songs that were sung (he taught me the words to 'It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary') and he raved about his favorite cartoonist from Stars and Stripes, Bill Mauldin.  Grandpa Jack actually gave me a copy of Bill's memoir, The Brass Ring.  What stuck with me was the value of entertainment for soldiers. 

That's my goal.  I wish to provide a few minutes of escapism, perhaps inspire a chuckle, or deliver a thrill.  I want to give a happy memory and show my gratitude.  That's why I'm donating my books.  It's the least that I can do.

Would you like to more about the authors involved in this project?  If so, please visit http://authorssupportourtroops.blogspot.com/.

Are you someone serving in the military, or the friend or family of someone serving?  If so, please visit http://www.ebooksforsoldiers.com/
Note there is a contact form to sign up and share your information.  Are you an author that would like to become involved?  This site also has an author's page with information on how to join our group.

_ Douglas Dorow's The Ninth District is a thriller about an attempt to rob the Federal Reserve, specifically, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota which serves the Ninth District (hence the title).  It is the first book in a three-part series that will feature FBI Special Agent Jack Miller.  Followers of Michael Connelly, John Sanford and Lee Child will especially enjoy this book. 

CELEBRATING MINNESOTA, THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES

A long-time resident of Minneapolis, himself, Dorow has exploited this Midwest setting, to its fullest.  The action takes place in the summer, a season that offers rain, thunderstorms, and heat.  "Weather is always part of the conversation, here," Dorow explains, "since we have all four seasons and experience sharp extremes in temperature, from short hot summers to long cold winters."  Given the brief summers, most people try to fully enjoy the great outdoors, taking advantage of biking and running trails (Dorow is an avid runner, he has completed three marathons) as well as boating and fishing on the state's numerous lakes. 

_ In his novel, readers travel from downtown Minneapolis to scenic Lake Minnetonka, a large lake west of the city.  Dorow also featured the underground sewers and tunnels that run under Minneapolis—their existence is not well known, but using them for criminal activity is not without precedence.  "There are old limestone caves in St. Paul that were rumored to have been used as illegal Speakeasies during prohibition," he shared. 

SEEING THE FBI AS HEROIC

Also unique is Dorow's decision to have an FBI agent be the hero.  "Too often, especially in film, the FBI is portrayed as bumbling idiots as they work with local law enforcement." Dorow wanted to show them as dedicated professionals.  He was inspired by an old grad school roommate of his who changed careers, going from accounting to becoming an FBI Special Agent.  Dorow was able to pick his brain on how agents interact as well as visit an FBI field office.  He may have also been influenced by fond memories of watching the TV series The F.B.I., starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., as a child with his father.

To contrast his hero, Dorow created an utterly vicious thug known as the Governor.  In his opinion, a good villain is extremely important in a thriller.  "The villain needs to be your hero's equal, or even better, so that your hero has a daunting challenge.  There should be some doubt about whether the hero will prevail."  He believes that the best villains are human, rather than one dimensional cartoons.  Although Dorow establishes in the first scene that the Governor is fully capable of evil, he still strove to give this character some redeeming qualities, a few positive attributes that a reader could relate to or even admire, later in the story arc.

Dorow is especially suited to crafting the intricate plotlines expected of thriller/mystery genre given his engineering background and his current IT Manager position.  He has a deeply analytical nature that is revealed when he was just casually discussing eBook technology, marketing and the future of publishing. 

WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR eBOOKS?

In his own personal experience, Dorow had always been a big reader, but he preferred paperbacks to hard cover editions, since they were easier to lug around.  He was initially doubtful that he'd like to read eBooks, but his wife bought him a Kindle in the spring of 2010 and he quickly became a convert.  He actually now prefers eBooks to paperbacks.  He loves the portability, the fact that the single lightweight Kindle holds numerous books as well as the ease of purchasing new books.  He's also a fan of the syncing ability of mobile devices.  He can read a book on his Kindle in the evening and the next day, say at his son's hockey practice, he can continue reading, where he left off, on his iphone.  He also uses his Kindle to look up words, highlight, and to make notes for a future book review.

He sees a future that will be a mixture of traditional and indie publishing.  People are used to going into a bookstore and picking up a book from the new release shelf.  "Now, with eBooks, the shelf that they're browsing has grown a lot bigger."  Sampling has replaced picking up a book and reading a few pages.  Dorow regretfully has given up on some of his favorite traditional authors when their eBooks cost more than the paperback versions, but he also has discovered so many new indie authors that he can't read fast enough to keep up.

Dorow says that eReader sales started with people who were already comfortable with technology and looking for the increased convenience of eBooks.  Dorow thinks that the demographic age of the eReader owner is moving both older and younger from the original adopters.  "The older reader is looking to consolidate their libraries and save room as they downsize their housing.  They also enjoy the ability to change the font selection and size to make it easier to read.  Younger readers will be attracted to the color and touch screen options as authors discover ways to incorporate those eReader features into books that make reading more game-like for that audience."

The biggest challenge for both traditional and indie authors will be how to present themselves so that new readers can discover them, according to Dorow.  He's sees tools that help readers find the type of books that interest them continuing to rise in popularity such as Goodreads, and similar forums/sites.  There is also a lot of experimentation going on right now with authors trying Social Media, partnering with other authors, online promotions, virtual book tours on blogger sites and trying different pricing strategies.  Dorow stresses that authors need to remain open to trying new marketing techniques in order to find the ones that work.  Overall, he remains optimistic that this new medium of eBooks ultimately will benefit both authors and readers.

Douglas Dorow is one of nine authors being featured in the WoMen's Literary Cafe's Mystery Book Launch Event.  Be sure to visit Tuesday, December 13th - Thursday, December 15th and load your Kindle!

Dorow's Links:
Twitter @DougDorow
Douglas Dorow Facebook Author Page
Author Website
Blog: Thrillers 4 U
Goodreads Author Page
Independent Author Network Page
The Ninth District : Kindle
The Ninth District : Nook

I discovered the talented Angela Kulig after I was interviewed on T.M. Souders' blog regarding 'No More Vampires, Werewolves or Wizards.'  This was my plea for authors to please craft original characters rather than tired tributes to Twilight or Harry Potter.  This led to some lively comments and Twitter discussions, during which Angela was mentioned as having written a truly unique paranormal romance, one that features a skeleton as a love interest.  I was hooked on the first book in the Skeleton Lake series and I'm sure that you will be, too.  Check out Angela's teaser: 

_ In a world where everyone was good or evil, and everything was cut and dry, decisions would be so much easier.  In my new world of beautiful bones, and false flesh everything lay in shades of grey.  Not really good or evil, but bits of both.

Sara had never hurt any of us, and judging by her lost doe eyes, I doubt she ever would.

"Fine," Raiden said.
He did not sound bitter or annoyed as he stood up straighter, but I had to admit that I was.  My time with him was always being interrupted.

For once I just wanted to finish a moment with him, and for that I would go through almost anything.

I had already died once.  Nothing but the thought of losing Raiden was worse than that.

Skeleton Lake can be purchased in many online bookstores and at Amazon.

Coming Soon (Scheduled for Release in January)

_ Carolyn Arnold is the charismatic mystery writer behind the Madison Knight series that will appeal to any readers that enjoy a female character with grit.  Ties That Bind is Madison's first appearance, when she's facing the task of investigating a serial killer.  Madison is tough, yet still caring, not only for the victims of crime, but for the families that are left behind. 

This apple did not fall too far from the tree.  Carolyn is also a strong woman, who's not afraid to speak her mind, especially when it comes to writing and publishing.  She shared the story about her own path to publication.  It started approximately four years ago.  "I hadn't written anything for thirteen years—yes, you heard that correctly."

_ Carolyn explained that like most of us, she was busy living life.  She graduated, married, and moved across the country.  Writing, after leaving school, was just an occasional wishful thought, "Wouldn't it be neat to write a full-length novel?"  The reason for her to start writing again was a drastic life change.  Her department at work was facing a lay-off.

No one was feeling motivated, to say the least.  "One day, a fellow employee emailed me and asked me to tell her a story."  Carolyn typed up a few paragraphs, on a lark, and sent them back.  Her friend loved what she had written and demanded more.  They exchanged more emails and then Carolyn's friend insisted that she had to finish it.  That story became Carolyn's first full-length novel.

She had no idea how her life would transform.  "I have not gone one day since without writing, reading about the craft, or sharing what I've learned with other writers.  Writing has truly become interwoven with who I am."

She connected with an online writing forum where she made some great friends.  Their feedback and constructive criticism helped her mature as a writer.  She had been timid, at first, about jumping into a thread with strangers, but eventually she became less shy about reaching out to other writers.  A blog and a Twitter account soon followed with even more peers for her to discuss writing.

"When I started out, I had been determined to publish traditionally—land an agent and so forth.  I learned how to craft a query letter, a synopsis, and I sent out two of my books to agents."  Carolyn went through the rejections, the requests for additional materials, and, finally, was invited to submit a full manuscript for review. 

Hearing back from this agent regarding the full manuscript was a pivotal moment.  The agent had loved the novel, but had provided some vague response about how the storyline could be developed further.  Carolyn decided that she didn't want to continue seeking an agent.  "I LOVED it, the way that it was written.  This was when I made a huge decision—self-publication."

Carolyn is one of nine mystery authors participating in the WoMen's Literary Cafe's Mystery Book Launch Event.  Be sure to visit Tuesday, December 13th - Thursday, December 15th and load up your Kindle!

Carolyn's Links:

Amazon Author Page
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook page 
Goodreads
Email

_ As a writer, there are many people that I'd like to say thanks—readers, of course, are first and foremost.  Thank you for buying my books and for taking the time to post reviews.  Next, like any good acceptance speech, I'd acknowledge family, friends, teachers, and lastly, a shout out to the super supportive community of authors & bloggers that I have discovered online. 

My deepest debt of gratitude, however, actually goes to the horror maestro, Stephen King. 

King was the author, beyond all others, who showcased the versatility of the horror genre to me, which forever shaped my path as a writer.  At an early stage in every writer's career, it becomes necessary to select a genre.  This is the decision which will define you, as an author, and your books, as a product, from that point forward, as you strive to build an audience.

Throughout my childhood, starting around third grade, I was a voracious reader and I devoured my books, en masse by genre.  I went through periods where I read every book that I could find in a specific genre and nothing else, until I grew bored with repetitive themes, characters and plots.  I would then switch to a new genre. 

In this fashion, I went from reading westerns to spy adventures, mysteries, celebrity bios, science fiction, detective, romance and horror novels.  I'd bravely walk pass the main librarian's desk, so that I could enter the Adult section (there was one dour old librarian who'd bark that I should stay in the children's area, if she saw me), passionate on my crusade to explore of all these different genres.

There were certainly some great books that I encountered—the hard-boiled detective novels of the 1940's were one particular stand-out, but when I finally embraced the Stephen King collection, it was like a shining beacon went on.  I had avoided King, due to reading Carrie at the tender age of eight (since it kept coming up during recess).  That novel was the bane of my adolescence. 

Whenever a prom or school dance was scheduled, some smart mouth would ask if I was intending to run for prom queen and wouldn't it be funny to toss pig's blood at me.  Ha. Ha.  I recall while reading that book my dismay at finding out that Carrie was such a total social outcast.  She had no redeeming traits—no charm, no good looks, no intellect and she hurt the very people who tried to help her. 

I couldn't appreciate, at the time, the tragedy and horror that was being depicted in this tale of bullies, victims, and the not-so-innocent bystanders who allowed this cycle of abuse to continue.  My main take-away was that it would be fool-hardy for me to ever run for prom queen.  I knew that it would be too tempting for my peers.  After reading Carrie, I hated Stephen King.

Only when I was in college, during a writing workshop where other people kept comparing my writing to King's, did I become curious enough to try his books, again.  It was a revelation.  Once I was no longer reading about characters named Carrie, I found him vastly entertaining! 

King showcased for me the endless possibilities, flexibility, and originality of the horror genre.  A villain can be a serial killer (Firestarter), a loving father and husband (The Shining and Pet Sematary), a classic car (Christine) or a clown (It).  Heroes can be just as unexpected—children, an average joe, or even a prisoner on death row as in The Green Mile series. 

One of my favorites from his more recent works has to be the untrustworthy narrator of Blaze, a petty criminal who kidnaps a baby, who is both the hero and the villain in the novel.  It's an elegant exercise on the duality of human nature.  I also adore Misery.  It is both a great horror novel and a wonderful stand-alone romance (in the chapters that resurrect the character of Misery).  I could not imagine a more unlikely genre coupling, but King appeared to pull it off with ease.

I must sincerely thank King for teaching me, through his published works, that the horror genre, above all others, can be any genre.  It offers the greatest flexibility, since horror can be found in any situation and seen through the eyes of any character.  It offers infinite freedom.  I am only limited by my own imagination!

Note--this blog was actually a guest posting on Depression Cookies, but it was so perfect for Thanksgiving that I had to post it again on my own blog to celebrate the holiday.  Be sure to visit the original posting to read the more than 40 comments that it received.  You'll also want to check out Tia Bach's warm and witty blog entries!

Photo credit: Shane Leonard

I've been interested in the Titanic since I was a child.  I've seen numerous movies, documentaries, and devoured tons of books on this subject.  I even posed with my understanding hubby in front of a backdrop of the famous Titanic staircase. 

As a horror writer, I'm fascinated with this tragic event, since horror is often about what you should do, or not do, in order to survive.  I've often wondered how I would have reacted, if aboard.  Would I have panicked, running from side to side of the ship, until it sank and I froze to death in the ocean water?  Or, would I have come up with the idea to use a cabin door as a floating device, like one clever male passenger? 

Recently, I was excited to discover 'The One That Got Away' by Kellianne Sweeney.  Kellianne has created a realistic Titanic tale with added original elements such as reincarnation and questions about whether there is an after-life.  It's a compelling work that is respectful to the history, but takes it somewhere fresh and new.  Enjoy this teaser!

My mind seemed to turn off and my body moved by its’ own accord to open the door and walk inside. I stood in the middle of the foyer and tried to collect my thoughts. I knew I had been instructed on where to meet in the event of the ship’s sinking. I had not been paying particular attention to this information because I had believed the Titanic to be unsinkable. Quick action was required, but I needed to figure out where to dash off to and stop standing motionless in the middle of the foyer like a simpleton. I could feel panic burbling from the tips of my toes, thrashing in my guts and squeezing my chest. I was very aware of my heart beating rapidly. Panic was a foreign emotion to me. It hit me like a brick wall and seemed to immobilize my limbs. Then, I thought of Jackson. I needed to be sure of Jackson’s safety. Oh, dear God, protect my child! If anything were to happen to him…I couldn’t even let my mind go there. My mind and body seemed suddenly connected with purpose and I bolted to the stairwell.

As I clambered down the narrow stairwell I was greeted by a deluge of third class passengers trying to come up. By the time I made it to the foot of the stairs the corridor before me was filling quickly with a glut of milling and frightened families. The sleepy, crying children wrenched jaggedly at my heart. I could see Jackson in every face. As I rounded each corner I hoped against hope that I would see his crazy, curly head bob into view. Surely Jane would get the children up and out right away? What if they were all still asleep? I pressed on with my mission to locate their room, but I was getting confused coming from this direction. It became apparent to me that I was not going to be able to navigate my way to Jane’s room due to the budding chaos in the hallways and my unfamiliarity with this end of the ship. I decided that it might be better for me to go up and come back down using the route that I was familiar with. I spun on my heel and joined the rapidly increasing exodus up the stairs. I was so grateful to finally reach the top. The stale air down there was giving me a headache. The foyer area was starting to fill with people now as well. On every face I saw varying degrees of panic. I vaguely wondered what my own face looked like. My thoughts were scattered again. I was fervently trying to figure the most efficient way to get to Jane’s berth in order to scoop up my son. My arms ached to hold him and bring him to safety. I struggled to think clearly. I would have gladly slapped myself upside the head if I thought that would juggle my thoughts back together. Even at the best of times I was not good with directions.

“Please,” a timid voice cut through the increasing din surrounding me, “are we to go to the lifeboats?” I turned to my left and found a pale and fragile looking young woman holding the hands of what appeared to be her daughters. The younger girl was sobbing so hard that she was hiccupping, while the older one looked as though her face would burst with the effort of holding back her tears. The woman’s face was strained and tight and her voice trembled as she spoke politely to me. “Would you please tell us where to go? Please, miss?”

“Yes,” I answered immediately and matter-of-factly. “Follow me.” I offered my hand to the older girl. She took it gratefully. My small gesture seemed to send a cascade of relief over her pinched face. She even smiled a little. I grabbed her hand with purpose and the four of us began to wind our way through the thickening throng up to the deck. After I saw this trio safely to a lifeboat I would cross over to the other side of the ship to where I would be more able to get my bearings. I thought of Violet. Of course she would be doing exactly what she needed to be doing in this situation. Violet was always able to take care of herself and others with poise and aplomb. I could even imagine her managing a lifeboat herself. As we entered the deck area the cold once again slapped me hard, but this time I had no time or concern for it. Up ahead I saw a lifeboat being readied to lower. I squeezed the girl’s hand tighter and guided the family firmly through the confusion. A sudden, thunder-like bang stopped me dead in my tracks for a moment as I searched for its’ source. I soon discovered that a distress rocket had been fired. It was fascinatingly lovely in the star sparkled sky. There was a collective pause as everyone on deck stared at the brilliant spectacle that meant disaster.


The One That Got Away by Kellianne Sweeney is available for purchase at many online bookstores including Amazon.