Lori Sizemore

I’m almost finished with this book, and I’ll probably update this post when I do, but I just wanted to jot down some observations about the book.  I’m not a reviewer, and there’s a good reason for that.  I’d have a hard time slamming a book even if it really deserved it (not that this one does–I usually take the ‘if you don’t have something good to say’ road) and as strange as it sounds from a writer, I don’t think I have the words.  Despite my attempts to prove otherwise, you really can only say awesome so many times (I do try to limit it to one per post).

Having said all of that, I’ll tell you what I liked about this book.  First, I didn’t know it was novelized non-fiction until I received it and read the flap copy.  I’d watched the movie, and my general rule of thumb is if I like the movie, I’ll love the book.  There’s just more to a book, and it’s usually more of what you loved about the movie in the first place (if the moviemakers did a good job).  So, that was my sole basis for ordering it.  I was not disappointed.

It may be because I did see the movie, and the actors done an amazing job, but the characters are all just so real and yet, at the same time, so eccentric and out there.  (My fave? Chablis.  The Lady Chablis, to you!)  How hard can it be to make real people interesting?  My guess: plenty hard.  We’re boring!  Think of all the hoops you have to jump through to make a fake person seem real enough and yet elicit some emotion or connection to the reader.  And you get to create them made-to-order!

I also loved the setting.  This is a perfect example of a setting being a character in the book.  Savannah.  It’s beautiful, and secluded, and dark, and crazy.  A lot like most of the characters in the book, actually.

I also found this out: Kevin Spacey looks a LOT like Jim Williams.  Or he did in the movie.  But then I love Kevin Spacey–but that’s another blog.

What I didn’t love? The book is a bit of a slow starter.  I don’t mind that, I read Stephen King, but in the world of romance writing this is one of those Rules-with-a-capital-R: start your story when the action starts.  Or something to that effect.  Look up the Rules, you’ll see what I mean.  It’s also said that there are a lot of romance novels released (true) and you’ve got to get the reader’s attention right away.

Either way, I’d highly recommend the book.

Quartet Press is no more. I had high hopes for the publishing group, after reading their blogs, their proposed plans on how to do business, and the hype.  Oh, the hype.  All I can really say now is that they came on the scene with a bang, and left with a whimper.

Read what people are saying about it.

Given the recent scientific study of zombies, my stumbling on this one night just seemed like serendipity.  It’s a very moving, engrossing, can’t-stop-reading piece of short fiction by Isaac Marion entitled I Am a Zombie Filled With Love.

Go on, read it.  Tell me it’s not awesome.

Update: Since I seem to be all about the zombies now (why?  no clue), I thought I’d throw this bonus link in: 30 Frighteningly Fantastic Zombie T-Shirts.

My favorite:

This book, by Kelly St. John, broke several big rules. There was no clear antagonist. The majority of the book, the heroine and hero’s relationship doesn’t immediately progress to HEA simply because of a verbal misunderstanding and some insecurity and doubt on both parts. And the end? The black moment is based on a huge misunderstanding that the heroine won’t give the hero a chance to explain. It breaks all the rules I’ve read, and yet… it’s a really good book.

I love the characters, I enjoyed watching as they fell harder for one another (since they both basically start with major crushes). Despite the misunderstanding premise, they didn’t spend the whole book fighting to create conflict. Conflict was generated by the two of them falling harder and worrying about the other wanting more than just the five days of sex they agreed to. Oh. And there’s a LOT of sex. Let me put it this way: the heroine has a list of all the wild sexcapades she’s never tried and wants to fulfill with Mr. Right. And they do them all. Graphically.

So, good book, great author who can break the Rules and still give a good read.

This week’s song to write to: Kelly Clarkson, My Life Would Suck Without You

I finished Ex and the Single Girl.  This isn’t a review in the strictest sense.  I’d never call someone out to condemn work they killed themselves to do.  I’m not downing people who do, reviewers are important to us as readers.  But as a writer, I’m going to respect the work whether I like the book or not.

That out of the way, I loved this book.  When I enjoy a book, I make a point to note what I particularly enjoyed about it, because it gives me more range as a writer.  I loved the friendship between Portia and Ian as it developed.  It was sweet, and God knows Portia needed a friend, but at some point it became this ticking time bomb of sexual tension when you knew they were falling for each other and you kept waiting for them to figure it out.  But done better than I’ve described.

So, my verdict.  Lani Diane Rich=awesome writer.  The book?  Buy it now.

I know, I missed the schedule this week.  I promise to do better next week, though I make no promises beyond that.  Except I’ll try to do better.  Really.

Instead of posting, among the day to day blah, I was reading Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire (he of Wicked fame, linked in the Sites to See section, fyi).  I don’t know what it is about these stories of his, but he manages to take a story that we know so well, it’s part of our psyche, turn it into something completely different, and yet… the same.  The stories suck you in, and it’s not Snow White you’re reading about, it’s Bianca de Nevada, and her father, and the dwarves–Heartless and Mute, Mute, Mute, to name a couple–and the Borgias (real dead people, Lucrezia being cast as the evil stepmother/witch, jealous of “Snow White’s” beauty).

Anyway, all I can say is: if Gregory Maguire wrote it, you should read it.  Right now.

I bought GMC by Debra Dixon. It’s genius, I’d heard, and it’s true. It’s like having someone explain brain surgery in a book you can read in a day or two, and you finish and say, “Duh.”

Before I go on, I’d like to point out that used copies can go for more then $40 on Amazon. I love Amazon, nothing against Amazon, but you can purchase the book from the publisher for $19.95. Worth every dime, btw.

If you really want to know how useful it is, just google GMC and Dixon. You’ll find thousands of hits. That’s how widely accepted, adopted, and appreciated her work is.

The GMC one sentence checker (my name, I can’t remember THE name) works perfectly. Character wants GOAL because MOTIVATION, but CONFLICT. It really is that simple. I know–duh, right? It’s full of these nuggets, like an external goal can be experienced by the five senses. Well, that makes it easier. Now I know revenge isn’t an external goal. It’s internal, because internal goals are about emotion.

However, once you have your “Duh,” moment, this hits: “I am so screwed.” Or it does if you’ve written a word. I always knew I was a little vague on my goals. I think I even started out with goals, but… maybe I didn’t like what having those goals said about my characters, so I… got vague. Either way, I think I figured out why my first act was so slow… pointless?

But, I’m making my charts, and I think I can fix it. Maybe. Doesn’t matter, not for this–my point is buy the book!