August 23rd, 2010
Author: Aubrie Dionne
This is a beautiful fairytale full of enchantment and magic created by Aubrie Dionne. It is well written, fast paced, and completely believable.
It begins when a young orphan named Emme visits a desolated manor with her best friends, Stella and Jack, on a rainy day. In this abandoned house she finds Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: adults, developers, dreams, enchantment, fairytale, grandfather, grandmother, magic, manor, orphan, pre-teens, teens, witch, ya, young Adult
Posted in Book Reviews, Writing and Literacy | No Comments »
August 16th, 2010
The five things you need to know before you send your manuscript to an agent are:
1- Don’t send all your manuscript at once. Certainly never send your only copy.
2- Make sure you read and follow their guidelines.
3- Make your query letter Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: agent, book publishing, editing, editor, guideline, manuscript, publisher, query letter
Posted in For Writers, Writing and Literacy | No Comments »
August 16th, 2010
At the end of the first book, we left Lin free from slavery and she has discovered that she is Arthur’s daughter that had been believed dead. In the second book Lin is back in Camelot to meet her mother and the kingdom will never be the same. Her first time with the woman who birthed her was not the most pleasant. Soon enough her stubborn nature had her in trouble with the queen. Needles and giggling girls will never do for the young slave so terribly abused by her own half brother, Modred. The queen is cold and shows no emotion toward her, which hurts Lin deeply. Read the rest of this entry »
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August 3rd, 2010
A Jane Eyre Parody by Joan Sowards
This book could be a chapter out of real life for many twenty-seven year-old single LDS girls. The main character, Janie, is a witty, well-rounded woman who grows up with her sister. They live with her aunt who helps everyone else. The aunt is great, but the two girls, who have lost their parents and brother in a car accident, learn to be independent quickly.
Kylee is married and has children while Janie would love to be en her shoes, but her hips are just a touch larger and boys don’t go for her. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: adult book, chocolate, inspiration, LDS romance, roses, single, sisters
Posted in Book Reviews, Relationship's tips, Writing and Literacy | 2 Comments »
July 1st, 2010
This is an audio book based on the feature from Universal Picture, read by Tim Curry
This is a charming audio story that is told in an entertaining way. The voice is pleasant and animated enough to keep the kids’ attention. It is the story of Gru, an unsavory character, who lives in a suburban house in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. Unlike his neighbors, Gru lives in a black house with a dead lawn. He has under his command a million yellow minions who do his every wish. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: audio book, kidnap, loyalty, orphanage, ray gun, super villain, thief
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June 23rd, 2010
I have enjoyed reading Freezing Point this past week. It is an intriguing tale of two different groups of people who find themselves in opposing roles but still connected to each other in the cold Antarctic. The one group collects icebergs to melt into water for the needs of the population in different parts of the world.
The other is a group of scientists that includes the diabetic wife of their leader together with two environmentalists who are not currently activists, yet are very much in tune with the planet.
All seems to be well until the diabetic woman gets pregnant and is keeping it from her husband or she will be shipped back home where she can have the care she needs. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: diabetic, environmentalists, harrowing experience, iceberg, pack of rats, pregnancy, scientists, suspense
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June 9th, 2010
The Wrong Time
by Robby Charters
This is the most interesting tale of a man, Sean, who is transported to a parallel universe by chance. He meets people and goes to places he has never been before to find the way to his home world. And back to his wife Erin.
In some universes he is married to Mimi and he doesn’t like it, so he looks for the universe in which he was happy with Erin. It isn’t easy but after many tries he gets the hang of it. Sean travels to multiple universes and enjoys the freedom it gives him, Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: author, bestselling author, marriage, parallel universe, review, Sci-Fi, universe, universe travel
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June 1st, 2010
Every time an author writes a new book names for all the characters are needed. The meanings of names are very important to the personality of the characters. If you want your character to be a strong giant, don’t name him Mouse. If you want a slow shy character don’t name him/her Brain.
How do many authors get inspiration for their names? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bible names, characters's name, elfs in a conquered realm, Hindu names, Indian names, inspiration, medieval fantasy, names, pronunciation of names, spelled names, The Baby Book of Names, the elf and the princess, the silent warrior trilogy, trouble in the elf city
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May 24th, 2010
Anna: Laurie tell us about your new book.
Laurie: Awakening Avery is contemporary – a nice diversion from my historical work.
Anna: What is the main storyline.
Laurie: Our lead character is an LDS author/wife and mother who gets catapulted from her comfortable support role in the family to the lead after the untimely death of her wonderful husband. Although her husband, Paul, had been slowing fading Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: awakening avery, book giveaway, deseret book, free book, L. C. Lewis, lds book store, recipes
Posted in Book Reviews, For Writers, Writing and Literacy | 1 Comment »
May 17th, 2010
by Robby Charters
Smashwords Edition
This is the most remarkable story I have ever read. It is refreshing and completely new in concept and legend. It is full of details that will capture your imagination to the very end. The details of the worlds created in this story are unique and beautiful. More so the great plot and eloquent way that it is portrayed.
It has so much background on each of the main characters that each could be a story of its own. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: customs, extraterrestrial, galaxy, human, intergalactic chases, middle east, planet, Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi readers, stars, twin, universe
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May 13th, 2010
A writing group is a group of people who all love writing in one form or another. Some write romance, SciFi, life stories, westerns, poetry and anything under the sun. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: critic group, critique, life stories, LUW, poetry, publish, romance, scifi, utah writer's association, westerns, workshop, writer's association, writer's block, writer's workshop, writing group
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April 27th, 2010
I found a site where you can enter a book cover of your published book into a competition. They accept 30 books or 30 trailers of books per month and hold a contest for them. Everyone can enter and/or vote.
It is becoming quite popular Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: book contest, book cover contest, book trailer's contest, promote your book
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April 21st, 2010
Today we have a treat… we interview a new Author in the making. Jaleta Clegg. Her debut book is: Nexus Point, The Fall of the Altairan Empire (http://www.facebook.com/l/fd95c;http//www.nexuspoint.info)
Jaleta tell me something about you.
I’ve been married to the same man for over 24 years. We have eight children. We also have one ancient, toothless cat. I can kill zucchini just by planting it. I love to cook, mostly because I love food and the easiest way to get something really delicious is to make it yourself. Nothing quite satisfies the way serving a loaf of warm, fresh, homemade bread does. I also piece quilts mostly because I love contrasting colors and textures, painting pictures with fabric.
I have the world’s most awesome day job, too. I work at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center introducing hordes of school children to astronomy, physics, science fiction, and the sheer wonder of science. We’re upgrading to a digital planetarium system this summer. And I get to be the one to figure out how it works and how to program shows. I can’t wait!
Have any book(s) changed your life?
Many books have touched my life. One of the first I remember crying over was “A Wrinkle in Time”. That story spoke to me in a way that no other book had before. Andre Norton’s classic science fiction novels are still among my favorites. I loved the whole idea of traveling to other worlds, meeting aliens, Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Andre Norton, astronomy, Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center, Clifford Simak, Heinlein's YA books, Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, Madeline L'Engle, Philip José Farmer, physics, planetarium, planetarium system, science fiction
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April 12th, 2010
A review for IjustFinished.com
Author: R. Garland Gray
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
This is a book full of deceit, rumors of war, and intergalactic problems in a world that holds to a precarious peace. The story starts when handsome Savage, Braemar Keep of Clan Douglas, considers himself not human. In his previous life he died as coward fighting on the wrong side of the war. Now he feels that it is his job to keep the royal family of his new clan safe from the many who are trying to do them in. The problems start when certain crystals are found by the Douglas clan and Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: book for adults, Clan MacKendrick, Darkscape Redemption, deceit, Douglas clan, extermination, intergalactic, intergalactic chases, passion, persecution, pleasurer, precarious peace, R. Garland Gray, romance, royal family, rumors of war, Savage, Sci-Fi readers, Sci-Fi Romance, war, warrior’s enhanced skills
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March 29th, 2010
In the same way you describe people and feelings. You want the place to be seen in the reader’s mind as vividly as if they where there. It also has to do with “show don’t tell” that is so desirable for a good author. You want your readers to feel it, touch it, see it, taste it and smell it. Every time you can use a combination of the senses or all of them in your book, you have the best description ever.
Here are some ideas that will help inspire your own:
The sea of golden waves spread before my eyes while the breeze Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: description, description of nature, descriptive writing, desert, earthquake, forest, night sky, rocks, senses, stormy sea, wheat, writing tips
Posted in For Writers, Writing and Literacy | No Comments »
March 21st, 2010
Author: Betsy Tobin
The year is AD 1000 and the myth and rich history of Iceland is loosely related by Betsy Tobin in her work Ice Land. The beauty of the countryside and its people are represented in a magnificent way in this book.
The book starts when the goddess Freya realizes that Iceland is at the brink of imminent disaster and she must find a necklace that will change the course of history. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: dwarf, family saga, fantasy, giant, ice land, medieval English literature, mount Hekla, norway, tall tale
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March 1st, 2010
As parents many times we disassociate what we tell our children with the message they are receiving. I have seen first hand how a word, a sign, or even the rolling of eyes can influence the future of our children. Many times we believe that our words are just a saying; they know we don’t mean it.
But, do they know that we don’t mean it? Do they know that we are frustrated with the situation and not with them? Do they know that many times we feel inadequate as parents?
What do you think the effect on a little boy will be by the time he is a teen if you repeatedly tell him that he talks like a girl? I would suggest that insecurity with his own masculinity will be the result. He probably will be quiet, introverted, and ashamed of himself. Nevertheless, all that we put inside ourselves one day must come out, and what will happen when this child explodes, perhaps in a violent outburst that shatters his and others’ lives? Read the rest of this entry » |
Tags: aggressive behavior, ashamed of self, demeaning word, domestic violence, drugs, family, gang, inadequate parent, insecurity, introvert, kids, masculinity, parents, sex
Posted in Relationship's tips | No Comments »
February 15th, 2010
The Futhark Chronicles Volume One
Author: Susan Gourley
Fantasy
Young Adult and Adult
Susan’s first debut in the fantasy genre is a five star effort. I immensely enjoyed the characters and the world she had created. It is without a doubt a page-turner, a well-written book full of surprises.
It is the story of a young man, Cage, who has taken the responsibility of protecting a woman and her daughter, Kristall. After her husband died drunk, Anadalune raised Cage as his own mother when his real mother wanted Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bastard son, castle, family fortune, fantasy genre, fantasy lovers, five star, keepers, kingdom, magical, magical battle, mansion, page-turner, secret guardianship, spells, step mother, swordsman, the keepers of sulbreth, tournament, widow, witches
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January 20th, 2010
Inspiration is an integral part of the writing process, without it you are stuck. I don’t have a lot of problems with inspiration; it seems to overrun my mind. However, once I started a book with giant eagles and was so busy with promoting my published books that a year went by. When I tried to continue writing it, I wasn’t sure what to write. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: book writing, character, inspiration, new ideas, writer's block
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November 21st, 2009
What should you do when you want to write a book?
- First thing “Keep your day job.” To publish and promote your books takes money and sometimes lots of it. Promotion may include travel, business cards, bookmarkers, renting tables at fairs, posters, and free copies for reviews, etc. Most reviewers will require one or more free copies of your book, and so will any contests Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: keep your day job, New author, promotions tips, writing a life achievement, writing is expensive, writing tip, writing tool
Posted in For Writers, Writing and Literacy | No Comments »