Sunday, May 31, 2009

Friends and books

I heard from my old friend, Lynn Underwood. When the kids were little we used to get together and read romances, confession magazines, watch kids play in the wading pool etc. Her son, Chris escorted my daughter, Lori, to the Princess Contest at the Fannin County Fair one year.

If you've read "Privy to Murder" or especially "Bloody Murder" you know why those things sound familiar. Some of the basic atmosphere of the setting revolves around memories of the house, town and county in North Texas where I lived for twenty years. I think that is why the books work, setting becomes character. The characters are formed by where they live.

One of my daughters recently met a knew friend who is a country girl like she is and she'd been missing that common thread. Most of her friends were city kids and just didn't relate to her background of going to school in a rural community of 1000 people. So, when you write what you know, put your background to good use, or shamelessly eavesdrop on people's conversations to use their back ground. Exaggerate it and make it your own. It's too much fun.

In Changeling I'll be using my Texas background, but the big city, Big D atmosphere for a more Urban Fantasy feel for this Paranormal Mystery.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend

Did everyone have a good weekend? I did. The weather here was lovely, not too hot or cold, not too rainy, little wind. Sat outside to write some but of course I was distracted by birds etc.

I have a new member of the family and will have to post pics. He's the most adorable little black poodle named Jasper P Poodle. He's about a cutie. He's scared of the cats.

I finished the latest Harry Dresden and halfway through the new Sookie Stackhouse book. Had a book and TV marathon, watched several episodes of "American Gothic" well done. Joe, from Medium is so young.

Tried to keep in mind that this weekend is not just the beginning of summer, swimming pools and watermelon, but thought about those who died protecting our country, important to never forget. What does Memorial Day mean to you?

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Summer Sun

Remember the song in "Grease" about summer sun, summer lover etc. As a kid that wasn't me, not that I wouldn't have killed to be Tammy, Gidget or any of the Bikini Beach girls. Nope, not me.

I was the one that walked up to the bookmobile or took the bus to the library to check out as many books as I could get away with. I'd bring them home, take them outside with Koolaid, a sandwitch, and a blanket and spend the day reading while my friends went to the pool with their bikinis. I was busy reading Oz books, Anne of Green Gables, Frank Yerby, Angelique and Peyton Place, Gone With the Wind twice. I lived in my head and in the worlds writers created for me.

The scent of honeysuckle in the heat will forever mean summer and books, strange new worlds of Asimov, Bradbury and Heinlein. All the Nancy Drew mysteries, Agatha Christie and Daphne DuMaurier. Not that I didn't have my moments of slathering my body with baby oil and iodine, burning in the sun and listening to the Everly Bros. on the radio, but even then I'd be reading.

My world was books, still is...without the unlimited time to read without interruption and lack of responsibilities. What worlds did you travel to in the summer as a kid?

Friday, May 15, 2009

4 star review-Museums are Murder

I'm a writer. Writers Brag about ****Star reviews.

AUTHOR:­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Carol Shenold

They say every myth is based on reality, and Tali Cates has found out just how true that saying is. Her Mother, fondly called “Mumsie”, is constantly babbling on about spirits and the supernatural. Tali only halfheartedly takes in Mumsies warnings. After secretly investigating a murder at the museum, Tali is in for a fight for her own preservation. It isn’t until Aiden, the sexy vampire, teaches her to draw on her own special powers to protect herself from demons and werewolves that Mumsie’s prophecy comes to light.

What a little gem! This book proves you don’t need a lot of words to make a great story with equally great imagery. Many of us have a busy lifestyle with little time to read, but Carol Shenold has solved that problem. This short book is packed with action, passion and the creatures of our nightmares, making it the perfect read for the subway ride, the waiting room, or that quick read before drifting into dreamland.

REVIEWER: Little Wing

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

ISBN: 978-1-926640-57-0

Publisher: Eternal Press

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Fido

If you have a truly dark sense of humor, get nostalgic for the fifties or Lassie movies and enjoy zombies, you must rent FIDO. I don't know when it came out. I never saw it in the past and found it hysterical on many levels.

I cracked up when Fido went home to get Mom and lead her to where Timmy was tied up by the bad guys. Absolutely priceless. A must see for Zombie lover everywhere.

Also, back from OWFI conference. Tess Garritson was a great speaker, enjoyed her so much. I found a great alliteration exercise. How about a contest? I'll put one of my exercises on this post. In comments, post yours. If ten different readers post one, I'll draw a winner for a print copy of either "Museums are Murder" or "Fairy Dust."

Here's mine.
Marshmellow
mushy marshmellow
messy mushy marshmellow
messy mushy marshmellow melting
messy mushy marshmellow melting messily
OK Tag you're it. It's your turn....