Sofia Wren — Be yourself, write for your book or business and FEEL the love. Make faster progress and always know what to do next because you hear your intuition and trust it. Use writing for transformational leadership and service.

Literary Fiction: Hand Me Down by Melanie Thorne — 4 Stars

by SofiaWren on September 6, 2012

Description:

A recipient of the Alva Englund Fellowship and the Maurice Prize for Fiction, Melanie Thorne penned this tender debut brimming with evocative prose. At 14, Elizabeth Reid is searching for a place she and her sister Jaime can call home. Neglected by a father with more vices than work ethic and ignored by a mother bent on starting a new life with an ex-con, Liz bounces between distant relatives in California and Utah. But before Liz can find peace, she must come to terms with the ugly deal she struck to ensure Jaime’s safety – one that has a hold on them both.

Review:

1. This book follows in fine tradition of literary survivor fiction.

There is something fascinating about literary fiction focused on troubled homes. It’s kindof like a trainwreck–much is constantly at stake for the main character, they make mistakes, and I can’t stop watching. White Oleander by Janet Fitch and Bastard Out of Carolina are not only compelling examples of this genre, but also of great writing.

Like those two books, Hand me Down is about a young girl Liz in a bad family situation. Her father is an alcoholic that their mother has finally freed herself from. But now her new husband Terrance is out of jail. Terrance’s record as a sex offender means that Liz and her sister Jamie cannot live in their mom’s house. Why will they end up? Nobody knows.

2. Liz is a strong and admirable character.

Because Liz is an older sister, she is especially watchful and careful. So much though that no one else seems to believe her caution is necessary. It’s an attitude problem that makes her dislike Terrance, she’s a stick in the mud for not living with her drunkard father, she’s overprotective for admonishing her little sis for smoking.

But the girl has balls and actually does speak her mind in this book. In a traumatic environment, this is not easy to do. While the adults close to her seem to forget their responsibilities, Liz stands for herself but mostly for her sister.

The other characters also are real and vivid.

3. This book is a great example that trauma can occur without direct abuse.

*spoiler*

Thankfully there is no rape or violence on Liz or Jamie in this book. They end up OK thanks to Liz.

But that doesn’t mean that Liz’s constant state of upset and fear were not legitimate.

4. Liz is a poet.

Just like Astrid from White Oleander, the main character from Hand Me Down sees the world in a unique light. Unable to trust the present or her present home, she keeps to herself. She’s sensitive, thoughtful and full of unspoken observations.

I enjoy characters such as these because they think a bit like me. Even in a world of darkness there are beautiful moments that you can churn over and over in your mind.

5. Excellent narration for the book on tape.

Definitely a nice car ride read– it got me to stick around in the car when I arrived home. That’s a great sign. The different character voices were well done.

See it on Amazon

Melanie Thorne’s Website

{ 0 comments }

Speculative Fiction: Choke Collar by Margaret Atwood — 4.5 Stars

by SofiaWren on September 4, 2012

Description:

Margaret Atwood follows up “I’m Starved for You” with another novella, to be part of her “Positron” series. The description and review may contain *spoilers.*

In this second, steamy episode of the new Byliner Serial “Positron,” the Booker Prize–winning Margaret Atwood picks up where she left off in her dystopian dark comedy, mining wholly deviant territory where a totalitarian state collides with the chaos of human desire.

“As seamless as a stocking, and shockingly believable” is how the “Globe and Mail” describes “I’m Starved for You,” the first installment of “Positron.” In this new episode, the stocking comes off, with husband and wife Stan and Charmaine facing more troubles in safe but carefully controlled Consilience, a social experiment in which the lawful are locked up and, beyond the gates, criminals roam the wasteland that is the America of Margaret Atwood’s creepily plausible near future.

Stan understands the Faustian deal he and his wife have made. What he doesn’t anticipate is the stupefying boredom. What wakes him? An illicit lover’s note written by a mysterious woman who also lives in Consilience. Breaking the rules, he stalks her and is delivered not into the arms of the nympho of his dreams but into a nightmare of mind games and some very kinky forced labor.

In the world of “Choke Collar,” when you surrender your civil liberties, you enter a funhouse of someone else’s making. Stay tuned as the episodes of Atwood’s futuristic thriller “Positron” are released, and discover if anyone can overcome the greatest treachery of all—human nature.

Review:

Yes! Another Atwood novella! I started noshing on this as soon as it came out. Here are my thoughts:

1. This book is actually better than the first book and chuck full of Atwood staples.

Perhaps Atwood was simply testing the waters with the first episode “I’m Starved for You.” Now her writing is honed. She masterfully ties together the threads from “Starved” into new themes in the second book. Atwood makes it seem effortless.

These themes include power in gender roles, the corruption of authority, sex as weapon, and the futility of being a good girl.

2. More books mean more twists.

Atwood builds upon the characters from “I’m Starved” by revealing new sides. She also builds upon the setting by adding new intrigue, new threats, and new challenges.

I didn’t forsee any of this. Especially not the kinky sex scenes, oh my! Poor Stan.

3. These novellas are potent and easy to read.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a short and sweet classic. Readers who loved it may have trouble finishing some of Margaret Atwood’s longer novels such as Cat’s Eye or Alias Grace.

The Positron Series would be an excellent follow up read to The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s very accessible.

Well, as long as you are ok with the aforementioned weird sex. You don’t have to like it– Stan didn’t.

4. Margaret Atwood is a genius to serialize short stories this way.

For the present, most people desire longer ebooks than shorter. But if great writers like Atwood use the form to showcase their page turning scenes, maybe readers will get hooked. I’m sure all writers would be grateful to wean readers off of full length books for .99 cents or less.

Personally I was happy to drop $2.99 the day “Choke Collar” came out, and will most certainly buy the next episode. If more of my favorite writers started to offer stories this way, I bet I would eat them up. And I’d feel fully satisfied. I’d pay more for frequent installments that I can easily read in my busy life. (George R R Martin? please? your books are so long and infrequent.)

Highly recommended!

See Margaret Atwood’s site

See it on Amazon

If you liked this, you may also enjoy:

Margaret Atwood offers four free poems on Wattpad

http://wrendoloro.blogspot.com/2012/05/speculative-fiction-im-starved-for-you.html

{ 0 comments }

Journal: Healing Blue Full Moon 2012

by SofiaWren on September 2, 2012

This week has been incredible. Correction: the past month has been incredible, but this week I have truly begun to heal.

I have spent most of the month on vacation. This week I returned to work. It wasn’t easy to give up the feeling of endless time. Especially the space to write, create, read, study – my passions.

That first day in the office almost made me think I couldn’t go back. I clocked eleven hours managing my wellness office. But I made it through.

After work, I relaxed by beginning a Creative Goddess course by Leonie Dawson. She began with a meditation to accept those scary parts of ourselves we fear others will see. I took a walk, and used leaves I found to paint the above picture.

The second day, I pulled a card from The Druid Plant Oracle before work. I drew Reversed Borage. (Imagine the below picture upside down or less positive in outlook.)

Borage told me that sometimes we need to hold our tongue and accept that the present situation, although difficult, may be good for us.

That day I struck up conversations with many long term clients. And that put me in a really good mood. I absolutely love to segue from small talk and really get to know people.

Suddenly, I rediscovered why I work, and why I care about my work.

My life’s purpose is to connect.

Just that understanding has caused so much healing in me. The beautiful aspect of my job is that I connect with people all over the place, and I’m good at it. And I realized this goal carries over to my writing as well. The point for me is not fame or fortune. The point is connection with like minded readers, or as John Locke puts it “the cool people.”

And like Leonie’s meditation, soul healing is a connection with the selves we have shunned. That dark and scary process of daring to be original, weird, sad, angry, opinionated, etc.

I’m still figuring out who exactly the cool people are, but I have already found some—my women’s group for instance. Usually we meet at every full moon to celebrate an archetype.

For the blue moon we focused on Chocolate. It was no joke. We made chocolate sculptures and I won a Hershey’s candle. I left FULL. On my way home I sang songs about chocolate and recorded one on a voicemail to myself.

For me I think stepping out of the distance I use to protect myself is essential to my healing. Being silly, creative and vulnerable is essential. I need to connect to others, to unconditionally love myself and my work, forgive the mistakes and give myself permission to make them. I need to connect myself to hope and love in the midst of discipline and preparation. I need to connect every potential of myself I have, the shards of my personality I have put aside in fear.

Healing is a process, but it’s happening. I’ve never felt better.

—

How has this summer help you heal?

—

This post is inspired by Jeanette Flatterud

Would you like to see my ceremony for moon phase healing? Sign up:

Subscribe to our mailing list

Shed the limitations of the past and embrace freedom as you attract everything that you desire.A simple spiritual ceremony that can be tailored to your personal faith and situation as you grow with new dreams. No expensive materials required.

{ 5 comments }

Urban Fantasy: The Succubus Gift by BR Kingsolver– 4.5 Stars

by SofiaWren on August 29, 2012

Description:

Brenna’s life isn’t the same after she discovers her unusual and mysterious heritage. In addition to being a telepath and having other paranormal Gifts, Brenna learns she has the Succubus Gift. She’s always been a good girl and isn’t comfortable seducing men, except one she really loves.

That’s just the beginning of her problems. Someone is stalking her. Then there’s the tall, dangerous woman who shadows her and hints a Goddess has linked them. And what is she going to do with a handsome, charismatic, womanizing man she knows she should avoid?

Some days a girl just wants to pull the covers over her head and stay in bed — with a willing young man of course.

Review:

This truly unique book has several things to offer:

1. A smart, attractive and kick-a** protagonist with a lot to figure out.

Brenna has battled her way from foster homes to the top of her class. Her dissertation on psychic activity is gaining attention, and she is teaching this year at John Hopkins.

When people start telling her they are long lost family and that she has some kind of gift she doesn’t want to believe them. But she has to, and once she does, she hits the ground running and takin’ names.

2. Refreshing attitudes towards gender roles and sexuality.

In a way this book is a little thought experiment–what if a woman didn’t commit to one man and instead played the field? And instead of thought of as a ‘slut’ maybe she could actually be accepted into society?

As Brenna learns more about her heritage, she comes to terms with the urges she was born with. Succubus earn respect by her community rather than being cast down.

Hey, I love some healthy escapism, and why the hell not? Guys get away with having multiple partners, so it’s about time an author went there and said, “Ladies can, too.” Sure makes a great story…

3. A complex and organized magical system.

Basically anything you can think of as “magic” or “psychic ability” has been classified into a Talent. There are 25 Talents telepaths can have. All of this are in a handy-dandy index, and are explained through the story.

Using a gift usually requires some training or things can get dangerous. I thought this was very well done, and before going into battle, Brenna gets plenty of preparation.

4. A hella-fast second half full of action.

While the first half of the book deals mostly with Brenna’s inner conflicts, things move quickly into action.

Because there are so many things to understand about the world of telepaths, I appreciated the change to orient myself in the first half.

Once it starts rolling though, it doesn’t stop.

5. Did I mention sexy?

If you prefer things to ‘fade to black’ then this is not the book for you. There is a lot of sex, and not all of it is with an emotional connection.

There are some really wild scenes. It’s not the sex per se it’s more the situation…

You’ll have to check this out to know more!

BR Kingsolver’s site

See it on Amazon

More Places to Buy

*Copy received for free in exchange for a review*

Read the Guest Post by B. R. Kingsolver on her inspiration for the Succubus Gift!

{ 3 comments }

Memoir: Just Kids by Patti Smith — 5 Stars

by SofiaWren on August 28, 2012

Description:

It was the summer Coltrane died, the summer of love and riots, and the summer when a chance encounter in Brooklyn led two young people on a path of art, devotion, and initiation.

Patti Smith would evolve as a poet and performer, and Robert Mapplethorpe would direct his highly provocative style toward photography. Bound in innocence and enthusiasm, they traversed the city from Coney Island to Fourty-second Street, and eventually to the celebrated round table of Max’s Kansas City, where the Andy Warhol contingent held court. In 1969, the pair set up camp at the Hotel Chelsea and soon entered a community of the famous and infamous–the influential artists of the day and the colorful fringe. It was a time of heightened awareness, when the worlds of poetry, rock and roll, art, and sexual politics were colliding and exploding.

In this milieu, two kids made a pact to take care of each other. Scrappy, romantic, committed to create, and fueled by their mutual dreams.

Just kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. It serves as a salute to New York City during the late sixties and seventies and to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions. A true fable, it is a portrait of two young artist’ ascent, a prelude to fame and drives, they would prod and provide for one another during the hungry years.

Review:

I’m adding “Just Kids” by Patti Smith to my list of ‘Favorite Books EVER.” Why:

1. Patti Smith is an amazing icon, known as the Mother of Rock and Grandmom of Punk.

This book begins before she went to New York with a suitcase and dreams in her pocket. She spends her first summer in NYC sleeping in parks. Eventually she meets Robert Mapplethorpe– the muse of this book– and they team up together as friends, lovers, and partners.

Patti runs into an unbelievable number of famous people including Jimi Hendrix. This book is an incredible look into the origins of modern rock, and the cast that made that up.

2. Patti Smith writes as a touching memorial of Robert Mapplethorpe after his death from HIV.

At first Patti and Robert were friends, then they became lovers, and later, partners. Their relationship is really interesting as Robert comes to terms with his sexuality–what it means to want men sexually but to love a woman so strongly.

There is nothing uncomplicated about their love, but it is clearly of enormous importance to Patti Smith.

The book is filled with visual images, most of which are photographs taken by Robert.

3. Set in the turn of the sixties to the seventies, it’s remarkable how little has changed today.

Although culture began to explode with new forms of expression– rock and rock, BDSM, photography, spoken word– the context seems familiar.

Patti Smith puts into words the difficulty of being an artist in today’s world. The challenge of finding an apartment in New York, finding yourself, finding your voice when your parents would rather you find a 9 to 5. She finds the grit and the anguish lurking in the Chelsea Hotel mixed with the light of collaboration and inspiration. Robert is a social butterfly while Patti hesitates on the fringe of the

creative society that decides ‘who’s in’ because why should she have to pander to them or anyone?

It’d be no less scary today for someone to realize they are gay, or to struggle with making a niche as an artist.

4. Patti Smith is a dreamer, a poet and a wannabe musician with blocks and no idea where she is going.

Patti’s introverted, prefers free-writing spontaneity, and spends ages trying to figure out how the hell to write a song. She has only a hand full of friends even though Robert drags her to every event he goes to. That’s not her scene, she’s the quiet type.

She’s the kind of girl someone might question is really an artist until Patti found exactly the venue she needed for her talents. She had the passion, the will and the patience to get herself there when Robert was her sole support.

I really see myself and Patti Smith as in the same boat. I’m a starting writer and I definitely know how hard it is to write songs! Introverted as well, I like the way Patti sees the world.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves early Rock and Roll, poetry, photography, the Beat Generation, or the promise of New York City.

Patti Smith on Wikipedia

See it on Amazon

{ 5 comments }

How to Become a Book Reviewer

by SofiaWren on August 22, 2012

–>

This post is an extension of “7 Reasons to Love Reviewing Books.”

There are many ways you can review books. Here are my methods:

1. Start with what you’ve got.

Post reviews of things you have read on Amazon.com, Goodreads.com, Facebook.com, Shelfari.com and/or a blog.

Read the books haunting your bookshelf.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who constantly owns masses of unread books.

2. Look for freebies.

Check out your library website to see if you can reserve books online. When you hear of a cool book, reserve it there and pick it up later!

Target free, cheap or used books on Amazon.com, bn.com, smashwords.com, and twitter.com. There are many used copies for pennies above shipping.

An e-reader really will pay for itself in free books. If you don’t have one, check the details of the publisher. You may be able to read ebooks on your computer.

More tips:

+ Check Amazon’s top 100 free Kindle books every day

+ Search through the thousands of free books on Smashwords

+ Keep an eye on your favorite authors. Follow their blogs and social media.

+ Add your name to a writer’s email lists and you’ll know about their books.

+ Add a bunch of authors and reviewers on twitter, and you’ll get gossip on a LOT of books.

+ Look often. Free books on Amazon can be shortlived–if you’re not in the know, you’re missing out.

+ Search twitter hashtag #freebook and read the feed of writers(and here) I have collected

3. Join a review program.

World Literary Cafe is where I started. Their forum helps reviewers and authors to connect. I’ve found many good books there.

But it’s not the only one, by far! Google “join book review team” for other opportunities.

4. Put it where people will see it.

Many reviewers have a blog, but you don’t NEED a blog. What you need to do is put it on sites people will see. Be consistent whether you use Amazon.com, Goodreads.com, Facebook.com, or Shelfari.com. You can copy and paste reviews on several sites if you want.

To really get visible, you need to join Twitter and Facebook. They are the social media giants.

Whenever you post a review, type up a little announcement, add the link and viola!

To get attention from the author, see if you can add their username on twitter (@______ ) or link to their Facebook Fan Page.

For twitter, it’s nice if you can continue to do this over time. That way you keep getting attention for all the reviews you worked hard on.

5. Contact authors for reviewer copies.

This is easier once you have reviews to show and if you market your reviews on a social media site.

Reviewing is a reciprocal relationship: the reader gets free books in exchange for time and consideration, the author gets word of mouth.

Read the excerpts, understand the book. Remember that if you promise a review, you must provide it. Choose well.

Look at the author’s website for email, information about requests for copies, a contact form, or social media links. If there is no direct email or contact form, then try them politely on social media.

Be nice. Absolutely do not leave a vicious review for an author that gave you a copy. You can be honest, but have respect.

6. Consider a blog.

I know, I know, I said you didn’t need one. But you might as well–there are so many free sites to host a blog on. I know that WordPressand Blogspotare great.

Add all your reviews! Covers make a great image for each post. I like to add a link for purchase out of respect for the author. (You can even make a supertiny bit of money with affiliate links)

Consider collaborating with a friend. Whether in person or online, teaming up can be really fun! You can choose a genre like “paranormal” or a theme like “snuggled reading with cats.”

7. Have Fun!

Blogs are a lot of fun and you can do a lot. There are tons of online events reviewers can participate in. All you have to do is hear about them on social media or on someone else’s site. Usually it’s open to everyone, but you have to sign up at the founder’s website.

Bloghops are when bloggers pick up a collective topic and provide links to other blogs. There may be a different person for each day. Make connections with other bloggers or people interested in your theme.

Readathons are challenges reviewers and readers set for themselves. You post information about the readathon and your goals. Through the set period you can update on how you’re doing.

Guest posts are a great way to get a break! Let an author write on a subject that interests you and put it on your blog. You can even ask authors or other people to do these. They’ll love the idea.

Giveaways are when authors offer you a free copy. You can set one up on Rafflecopter. Only one person will win, but you try to get as many people to enter as possible. This is easiest when paired with a (honest) good review or an author guestpost/interview. You can always give away anything you want!

Interviews are questions posed to the author. You can ask authors anything (unoffensive) you want! Set this us well in advance and make sure they have your list of questions. Pop the Q & A on your site.

Blogtours are when authors are marketing a book. They visit many blogs and do a combination of different things–guest posts, interviews, giveaways, giving you the book for the review, etc. Often authors advertise that they need bloggers on social media. If you know an author is preparing to launch a book in several months, shoot them an invitation. Let them know what kind of post you are interested in.

And that wraps it up.

I hope this gives you an idea of what to do next and where you are going. Have fun!

Please share any comments on the art of book reviewing.

You may also like “7 Reasons to Love Reviewing Books”

{ 2 comments }

Paranormal Romance: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness — 3.5 Stars

by SofiaWren on August 21, 2012

Description (From Amazon):

Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season

Review:

All year I have been anticipating the sequel to “A Discovery of Witches.” As usual Diana Bishop is sarcastic and fascinated by history. Used to studying history through books, Diana is thrown into a new element in “Shadow of Night.” Diana and her vampire lover Matthew go back in time to 1590.

Matthew is so ancient he is already familiar with the times. Diana on the other hand must strive to conceal her odd modern ways. The witch trials brew nearby, and they face danger from many sides. Diana must quickly learn to fit in and master her powers.

While I enjoyed the first half of the book, my entertainment leveled off half way in. The book is huge at 577 pages. I cannot forsee the events of the third book, but I definitely think that a chunk of this book could be cut out.

Page by page Shadow of Night is well written. However, the overall plot gets hidden under side trips in history. Diana and Matthew have extended adventures in England, France and Prague. This was too much for one book.

“Shadow” is peppered with famous characters: Shakespeare, Sir Walter Raleigh, Mary Sidney (the Countess of Pembroke), William Cecil, Elizabeth I, Rudolf II and more. Each location involves an elaborate cast of friends, servants, and antagonists. A historian perhaps would have an easier time of keeping this all straight, but that’s out of my ability!

Also I found this book to be a little skinny on depth. Some very important character development occurs but the other contents take away from their gravity.

I didn’t find the suspense to be as integral to this installment. Not that I wish torture on a character but it sure did make “A Discovery” compelling. I got the impression that Deborah Harkness was being too nice. Enemies made threats but few attacks on the main characters.

If you’ve been missing the characters of “Discovery” and ready for a nice thick read, then you might just love this. I recommend this highly to anyone interested in European or British history!

See it on Amazon

Deborah Harkness Online

{ 2 comments }

Steampunk: Sept 18th Stormdancer

by SofiaWren on August 21, 2012

A DYING LAND

The Shima Imperium is verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshippers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST

The hunters of the imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Jay Kristoff Online

{ 0 comments }

How Do You Rate Books?

by SofiaWren on August 21, 2012

Now that I’ve crossed six months of book blogging, I have to look back upon my method.

It’s difficult to assign a number to books. For one– my reviews are unbalanced.

I tend to stop reading and skip a review for the lukewarm books. I use reviews to process what I like, and so my average is a Four Star review.

What do the numbers even mean anyway?

On Amazon and Goodreads, you are required to give a book a rating out of 5 Stars.

Amazon:

1 Star- I Hate It
2 Star- I Don’t Like It
3 Star- It’s OK
4 Star- I Like It
5 Star- I Love It

Goodreads is a tad different:

1 Star- I Didn’t Like It
2 Star- It was OK
3 Star- I liked it
4 Star- I really liked it
5 Star- It was amazing

The problem seems to be the middle.

Amazon and Goodreads differ on what exactly the middle is.

For me lukewarm feelings should belong in the middle. My three stars got enough substance to keep me reading even if I feel conflicted.

But then, why would I need two different star categories to for the books I don’t finish?

In the past I’ve split Three Stars into 3 Stars, 3.5 Stars and 3.75 Stars.

This seems a little unnecessary. It’s also confusing because my qualifications for what goes where is from my gut, not an equation.

But OK books are different than Almost There books, and oooo Really Almost There books.

I might land a book in one category only to change it later as the number system changed. I also feel like how memorable a book is may change over time.

Forget the number system then–what I need are words. That’s where you come in.

Do you think the star system is a good guide? Should the categories on Goodreads or Amazon be used?

I’ve seen several great bookbloggers with visual images for their ratings. Once I have the words, it should be pretty easy to create some icons. Some books may need adjustments.

My idea for categories are:

This Makes Me Mad (zero stars)
Couldn’t Finish (one star)
OK (two star)
Good Potential (three stars)
Good (four stars)
Great (five stars)
This Touches My Soul (more than five stars)

{ 0 comments }

Guest Post: The Women of Russell Blake

by SofiaWren on August 20, 2012

The following is a guest post by the prolific and talented Russell Blake. His book The Voynich Cypher has rated Five Stars on this site.

Those familiar with my work know me as a writer of action thrillers in the vein of Robert Ludlum and Frederick Forsyth. But I try to avoid the stereotypical protagonist common to that genre – the male ex-CIA assassin for whom this time it’s personal. My latest novel, Silver Justice features a female protagonist, as does my first release, Fatal Exchange, and my new one, scheduled for a mid-Sept release, JET. They are novels that center around women in difficult situations, taking on the world on their own terms.

The female main characters of these three novels are very different, and I thought it might be fun to contrast them.

Tess Gideon, from Fatal Exchange, is a female bike messenger with a taste for the wild side who is living an aimless existence in Manhattan, when she becomes unwittingly embroiled in a rogue nation’s counterfeiting scheme and they send a hit squad after her. Complicating matters is a serial killer who is targeting female bike messengers. It’s sort of a combination international intrigue, whodunnit and Red Dragon, but with a main character who is reluctantly plunged into circumstances that require her to leverage her familiarity with New York’s seedy underbelly in order to survive. Tess is complex, filled with contradictions, able, sexy, brave, vulnerable, and is a woman whose background in no way prepares her to go up against the deadliest adversaries I could throw at her.

Silver Cassidy of Silver Justice couldn’t be more different. She’s a single mom FBI agent in charge of a task force that’s hunting a murderer who’s killing financial industry high rollers. Struggling to persevere in a male dominated career, she has to balance the considerable demands of her profession with the responsibilities of being a parent. Throw in a Russian mob contract on her, an ex who is battling to get custody of their daughter, a romantic life that’s complicated, to say the least, and co-workers out to slip a knife between her ribs at the first sign of weakness, and you have a woman under pressure that keeps mounting throughout the book. I envisioned a tough, no-nonsense leader who is struggling with internal demons, and who was three dimensional, avoiding any clichés or stereotypes.

JET is a third take on the female hero, but this time an ex-Mossad operative who faked her own death to get out of the game, but whose past is catching up with her as enemies from the life she thought she’d buried pursue her across the globe. Jet is her old codename, and she is a badass. Think equal parts Lizbeth Sanders, La Femme Nikita and a female Bourne. Here, I wanted a take-no-prisoners woman who was one of the most effective clandestine operatives in the world, who finds herself returned to an ugly world of kill-or-be-killed she thought was behind her, and who must take on insurmountable odds if she is to survive and protect those she loves the most. I wrote Jet as a non-stop rollercoaster, and I think the book is probably the most racing I’ve ever created. Jet is certainly my favorite female character – lethal but human, introspective, tortured and conflicted, but capable of taking on a battalion of commandoes and being the last one standing.

As you can see, three very different women with markedly different backgrounds and skill sets in dissimilar situations. And yet all of them come alive on the page, and are vividly drawn and realistic. Part of my goal in creating them was due to a fascination with the concept of the strong female protagonist battling adversity, and I find their characters much more interesting than if I’d written the characters as male. Jet especially encapsulates so many traits that aren’t typical with a female protag that I think it makes the book more engaging.

In the end, the goal of any good fiction is to keep it interesting. These three ladies definitely do that, no question. I think it would be safe to say that these aren’t your grandmother’s heroines, and they all push the limits of the female in fiction and take the genre to a whole new level.

Russell Blake is the acclaimed author of Fatal Exchange, The Geronimo Breach, Zero Sum, The Delphi Chronicletrilogy, Night of the Assassin, King of Swords, Revenge of the Assassin, Return of the Assassin, The Voynich Cypher, An Angel With Fur, How To Sell A Gazillion eBooks In No Time (even if drunk, high or incarcerated), Silver Justice and coming in September, JET. He lives on the Pacific coast of Mexico and enjoys his dogs, writing, tequila and battling world domination by clowns. His thoughts, such as they are, can be found at his blog.

{ 5 comments }

Next Posts Previous Posts