Bound To Be Bookish

Cynthia Haggard’s “The Thwarted Queen” ~Thirteen Thursday Pre-Review Commentary!!

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:47:35 +0000

Elizabeth Woodville (1437–92), Queen Consort of Edward IV of England (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Edward IV Plantagenet (1442-1483) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“The Thwarted Queen” is a beautifully written historical novel I’ll be reviewing next week, but in preview to that, I’d like to bring you these two notices: a quick summary and “Thirteen Thursday!” Here’s a summary of the book~

“Cecylee is the apple of her mother’s eye. The seventh daughter, she is the only one left unmarried by 1424, the year she turns nine. In her father’s eyes, however, she is merely a valuable pawn in the game of marriage. The Earl of Westmorland plans to marry his youngest daughter to 13-year-old Richard, Duke of York, who is close to the throne. He wants this splendid match to take place so badly, he locks his daughter up.

The event that fuels the narrative is Cecylee’s encounter with Blaybourne, a handsome archer, when she is twenty-six years old. This love affair produces a child (the “One Seed” of Book II), who becomes King Edward IV. But how does a public figure like Cecylee, whose position depends upon the goodwill of her husband, carry off such an affair? The duke could have locked her up, or disposed of this illegitimate son.

But Richard does neither, keeping her firmly by his side as he tries to make his voice heard in the tumultuous years that encompass the end of the Hundred Years War – during which England loses all of her possessions in France – and the opening phase of the Wars of the Roses. He inherits the political mantle of his mentor Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, and become’s the people’s champion. The rambunctious Londoners are unhappy that their country has become mired in misrule due to the ineptitude of a King prone to fits of madness. Nor are they better pleased by the attempts of the King’s French wife to maneuver herself into power, especially as she was responsible for England’s losses in France. But can Richard and Cecylee prevail? Everywhere, their enemies lurk in the shadows.

This book is filled with many voices, not least those of the Londoners, who forged their political destiny by engaging in public debate with the powerful aristocrats of the time. By their courageous acts, these fifteenth-century Londoners set the stage for American Democracy.”

Now, Let the Games Begin!

Welcome to Thursday Thirteen, Ms Haggard!

THIRTEEN REASONS TO READ/BUY THWARTED QUEEN:

REASON NUMBER THIRTEEN: I came to novel writing by accident, taking courses in creative writing to hone my prose style. But once I’d started, I couldn’t stop. I love writing novels and hope that every reader enjoys reading my work as much as I enjoyed writing it.

REASON NUMBER TWELVE: I wrote this novel because I heard that British historian Michael K. Jones had come across some evidence showing that one of Cecylee’s sons was illegitimate. Since that particular son became Edward IV of England, and since the present Queen of England traces her lineage through this monarch, it throws her claim to the throne into doubt.

REASON NUMBER ELEVEN: I wrote this novel because I had a burning question: What on earth did Cecylee say to her husband Richard of York, when he returned from his summer campaign only to find her expecting another’s child? How did she manage to persuade him to keep the child and make that child his heir?

REASON NUMBER TEN: Before I wrote a word of THWARTED QUEEN, I consulted many history books about the time period (the wars of the roses).

REASON NUMBER NINE: I started the actual writing of the novel by taking THREE courses on the craft of writing.

REASON NUMBER EIGHT: I took SEVEN years to write it, to perfect my craft.

REASON NUMBER SEVEN: I solicited feedback from many people, including professional writers and editors.

REASON NUMBER SIX: I spent money to have it edited.

REASON NUMBER FIVE: I hired a professional to transform my Word documents into Mobi and ePub files.

REASON NUMBER FOUR: I organized a photo shoot to obtain images I could use for the cover design.

REASON NUMBER THREE: I taught myself Photoshop in FIVE days to design the cover. I also did the interior design.

REASON NUMBER TWO: I turned a hobby into a business, educating myself about the publishing industry by going to conferences, and taking online courses and webinars.

REASON NUMBER ONE: The story is fabulous. Cecylee is an engaging character. And I tell the whole story of her life, from age 9 to age 80.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this feature, and will come back to read the interview of Ms Haggard and more about her book next Friday, May 25th. I’m also holding a GIVEAWAY at that time!!!

Thanks for taking time to stop by! Deborah/TheBookishDame

Filed under: English History, Historical Fiction Tagged: Hundred Years War, London, War of the Roses

“Darkroom” by Joshua Graham~A Thriller Not to be Missed!

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:19:05 +0000

Dark, deceptive, political intrigue and ghostly images…all this and more await the eager reader who loves a thriller and a mystery in “Darkroom.” I lived through the Viet Nam War era, but don’t recall having read a single suspense novel that has its focus around the Vietnam cross-culture that made its way to the US. This book is unique in many ways. It has a bit of everything to recommend it: love, mystery, conspiracy, family connections to ancient times and places, politics, terrorism and murder; not to mention the Viet Nam War and the vets that brought home not only images, but other baggage, and loved ones. A must read, this book is fast moving, intriguing and beautifully written to tantalize! Joshua Graham is a fantastic writer who knows when to dangle the carrot and when to pull it back. I loved the whole reading process! His characters are rich in detail, lovable, sad, frightening and strangely familiar. I was literally up all night reading “Darkroom” having such a good time in the process. I couldn’t put it down… If you’ve ever been placed in the moral dilemma of wondering whether you should tell the truth and risk it all, you’ll love this book. If you’ve ever wondered if there are conspiracies and cover ups in political arenas we aren’t privy to, you’ll love this book… I have to give it a solid… 5 stars!!

Published by: Howard Books/Simon and Schuster

Visit Mr. Graham’s website here: http://joshua-graham.com

Also see his blog at: http://joshua-graham.com/blog/

Quick Overview of “Darkroom”:

After scattering her mother’s ashes in Vietnam, photojournalist Xandra Carrick comes home to New York to rebuild her life and career. When she experiences supernatural visions that reveal atrocities perpetrated by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, she finds herself entangled in a forty-year-old conspiracy that could bring the nation into political turmoil.

Launching headlong into a quest to learn the truth from her father, Peter Carrick, a Pulitzer Prize Laureate who served as an embedded photographer during the war, Xandra confronts him about a dark secret he has kept–one that has devastated their family.

Her investigations lead her to her departed mother’s journal, which tell of love, spiritual awakening, and surviving the fall of Saigon.

Pursued across the continent, Xandra comes face-to-face with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to prevent her from revealing the truth. But not before government agencies arrest her for murder, domestic terrorism and an assassination attempt on the newly elected president of the United States.

Darkroom is a riveting tale of suspense that tears the covers off the human struggle for truth in a world imprisoned by lies.

Click here to see the exciting book trailer: Darkroom by Joshua Graham~The Trailer

About Joshua Graham :

WINNER OF 2011 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble #1 bestselling author Joshua Graham’s novel BEYOND JUSTICE is taking the world by storm, one reader at a time. Many of his readers blame him for sleepless nights, arriving to work late, neglected dishes and family members, and not allowing them to put the book down.

Suspense Magazine listed BEYOND JUSTICE in its BEST OF 2010, alongside titles by Scott Turrow, Ted Dekker, Steven James and Brad Thor.

His short story THE DOOR’S OPEN won the HarperCollins Authonomy Competition (Christmas 2010.)

Publishers Weekly described BEYOND JUSTICE as: “A riveting legal thriller…breaking new ground with a vengeance…demonically entertaining and surprisingly inspiring.”

Joshua Graham grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he lived for the better part of 30 years. He holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree and went on to earn his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. During his time in Maryland, he taught as a professor at Shepherd College (WV), Western Maryland College, and Columbia Union College (MD).

Today he lives with his beautiful wife and children in Southern California. Several of Graham’s short fiction works have been published by Pocket Books and Dawn Treader Press.

Writing under the pen name Ian Alexander, Graham debuted with his first Epic Fantasy novel ONCE WE WERE KINGS, an Amazon #1 Bestseller in multiple categories and Award-Winning Finalist in the SciFi/Fantasy category of The USA “Best Books 2011″ Awards, as well as an Award-Winning Finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category of The USA “Best Books 2011″ Awards, and an Award Winner in the 2011 Forward National Literature Awards in the Teen/Young Adult category. ONCE WE WERE KINGS is available in ebook and hardcover editions.

Look for his next Suspense/Thriller DARKROOM (Simon & Schuster/Howard Books) to be released May 1, 2012!

For Film Rights Josh is represented by UNITED TALENT AGENCY. Please use the CONTACT button on this website for all inquiries.

You can visit his website at www.joshua-graham.com.

A Bookish Libraria is pleased to be on the virtual book publicity tour for Mr. Graham sponsored by Pump Up Your Books. To find out more about the GIVEAWAY, please go to this site: http://pumpupyourbooks.com

and search for “Darkroom” on your upper righthand “Search” section.

You can purchase “Darkroom” at http://amazon.com or http://barnesandnoble.com

Thanks for stopping by! Deborah/TheBookishDame

Joshua Graham’s `Darkroom’ is haunting tale (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Intensity at its Finest! DARKROOM by Joshua Graham (susanwingate.wordpress.com)

Filed under: Authors in the News, Male Authors, New Author to Me, Thrillers and Suspense

“The Unhappy Little Dragon~Lessons Learned” by Carole Wolf

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:15:07 +0000

A Bit About the Author: Carolyn Wolfe is a free lance writer, poet, and author of six books including her collections of poetry, short stories and her first children’s book of bedtime stories in verse, titled: The Bedtime Of The Sky and Other Sleepy Bye Stories. In this, her sixth book, The Unhappy Little Dragon, Lessons Learned, she reveals the journey of Happy the dragon, who, while trying to understand how to master his uncontrollable gift of fire, has an exciting adventure in the woods. His forest friends help him understand his gift and that he really is a very special dragon indeed! Ms. Wolfe lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her Photographer, husband Scott, and her houseful of animal companions. For more information about Ms. Wolfe and her books please visit her website at: www.whenthemoonspeaks.com.

Purchase this book at Amazon.

Little Dragon Synopsis:

This is the tale of a little Dragon who has a big problem, he cannot control his fire!

After a major mishap, he runs away into the forest and has a wonderful adventure where he meets new friends, learns that every creature has a unique gift, and also finds out the special way in which he can use his own remarkable gift of fire.

An Excerpt From The Book:

“Let me ask you something son, when you practice your fire burning skills-what do you tell

yourself?” “Tell myself? What do you mean?” asked Happy not understanding what his new friend was

getting at. (Shelley the Turtle) “Well, maybe I should ask instead, how do you feel when you practice holding in your flame? “Oh that! I feel scared, so scared that I will fail and burn everything up!” Happy answered

sadly. “Well now, I have a suggestion for you. Try feeling like you will not burn everything up.

Instead tell yourself you will succeed in keeping your fire to yourself!” Shelley told him. “But I am so scared. I really don’t think I can tell myself that I won’t burn everything up

when I know I will!” Happy argued in a worried little voice. Shelley looked at Happy’s very unhappy face and said,”I have news for you Happy, and I want

you to listen to me now!” Then Shelley continued to explain. “Dragons aren’t the only ones who have special gifts, Happy, no, no! All of the animals were

given a special gift of one kind or another. All of us had to learn how to use it wisely,

just like you. You sort of have to grow into your gift, like growing up! That’s why the

animals need a teacher. Can you guess what my special gift is?” Shelley asked, looking at Happy expectantly. Happy didn’t know the answer so he shook his head and just kept quiet. “Why Happy, I am a teacher!” Shelley said proudly.

Deborah/TheBookishDame

Filed under: Children's Authors, Uncategorized Tagged: Dragon, Fiction

Good-night, dear Mr. Sendak…

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:46:51 +0000

Cover of Where the Wild Things Are

In the Night Kitchen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Our beloved “Wild Thing” has gone back to his island in his little boat where he will undoubtedly be greeted by many a beastie and wild thing who has loved and missed him over many years. It will be such a loss for those of us still left over here in The Night Kitchen…sleeping in our restless beds, waiting for the bread to be baked and our milk to be poured.

He died yesterday at age 83.

When my children were old enough to sit and listen to music and to my reading to them, I bought Carol King‘s rendition of “I’m Really Rosie” and all the other Maurice Sendak books and poems to music. “Rosie” was a favorite of my daughter’s. But, I have sung “Chicken Soup” to my children hundreds of times, as well as to my grandchildren and other children, over the course of nearly 40 years. I’ve sung it with passion and acted it out because

I know it by heart.

I most recently bought a set of Mr. Sendak’s tiny library for my youngest grandsons. One of whom was pictured hiding under a table with a little red one in his tiny hands.

His dad did the same thing 30 years prior.

Maurice doesn’t age, you see.

“I Don’t Care” kept my grandson, Kellan, on the sofa and quiet when he had a blazing ear infection last year. He loves to hear me sing it to him whenever we get a chance.

Kellan is sometimes a petulant child, and that poem suits him just fine. :]

It and he are adorable!

And, “One Was Johnny” used to give us all a run for our money. I remember all my children and me during the years trying to keep up with that song!

I know all the songs/poems by heart.

I’ve read “Where the Wild Things Are” hundreds of times, have you? I’ve purchased “wild thing” paraphernalia for my children and grands over the past 40 years, and wished I was young enough to wear them and play with them myself. Even now, I’d take a Wild Thing stuffed animal, thank you.

So, here’s to you, Mr. Sendak….and, actually,

Hail, to the Chief!

Good-night, dear friend.

My little family and I love you and will really miss you.

A Small Note About Him from Galley Cat: (mediabistro.com)
Brooklyn-born children’s writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak. Sendak grew up in Bensonhurst and graduated Lafayette High School before going on to create wildly popular works—often dark and with an edge—like Where the Wild Things Are, which won him the prestigious Caldecott Medal. Even before his passing, the Brooklyn Book Festival had planned to honor Mr. Sendak with a special bookmark given to attendees at this year’s festival on September 23, a fitting tribute from Brooklyn—the Creative Capital of New York City and home to more writers per square inch than anywhere—to one of its native sons. On behalf of literary lovers throughout Brooklyn and beyond, I extend our thoughts and prayers to Maurice Sendak’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Please take time to read about him in this long, dedicated article on Mr. Sendak by The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/books/maurice-sendak-childrens-author-dies-at-83.html?_r=1
Deborah/TheBookishDame
Please leave your comments. Do you have a favorite memory of Mr. Sendak’s works?

Many Blessings to Mr. Maurice Sendak on his Journey to The Land of the Wild Things (arhythmrunsthroughit.wordpress.com)
Remembering Maurice Sendak (mamapop.com)

Filed under: Uncategorized

Good-night, dear Mr. Sendak, we’ll miss you…

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:40:32 +0000

Maurice Sendak, author of the children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are. Sendak was instrumental in the creation of Sesame Street, and attended Lesser’s curriculum seminars in 1968. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He died yesterday at age 83.

When my children were old enough to sit and listen to music and to my reading to them, I bought Carol King’s rendition of “I’m Really Rosie” and all the other Maurice Sendak books and poems to music. “Rosie” was a favorite of my daughter’s. But, I have sung “Chicken Soup” to my children hundreds of times, as well as to my grandchildren and other children, over the course of nearly 40 years. I’ve sung it with passion and acted it out because

I know it by heart.

I most recently bought a set of Mr. Sendak’s tiny library for my youngest grandsons. One of whom was pictured hiding under a table with a little red one in his tiny hands.

His dad did the same thing 30 years prior.

Maurice doesn’t age, you see.

“I Don’t Care” kept my grandson, Kellan, on the sofa and quiet when he had a blazing ear infection last year. He loves to hear me sing it to him whenever we get a chance.

Kellan is sometimes a petulant child, and that poem suits him just fine. :]

It and he are adorable!

And, “One Was Johnny” used to give us all a run for our money. I remember all my children and me during the years trying to keep up with that song!

I know all the songs/poems by heart.

So, here’s to you, Mr. Sendak….and, actually,

Hail, to the Chief!

Good-night, dear friend.

My little family and I love you and will really miss you.

Deborah/TheBookishDame

Please leave your comments. Do you have a favorite memory of Mr. Sendak’s works?

Remembering Maurice Sendak (mamapop.com)
Many Blessings to Mr. Maurice Sendak on his Journey to The Land of the Wild Things (arhythmrunsthroughit.wordpress.com)
RIP Maurice Sendak, Creator of Where the Wild Things Are [Where The Wild Things Are] (kotaku.com)

Filed under: Authors in the News, Children's Authors, Classics, Male Authors Tagged: Caldecott Medal, Maurice Sendak, New York Times, Where the Wild Things Are

Visit my other blog for a peak at “Endure” by Carrie Jones & to enter the GIVEAWAY !!!

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:31:39 +0000

Image of author Carrie Jones (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a link to my other blog: A Bookish Libraria~The Bookish DameReviews http://abookishlibraria.blogspot.com Go here to enter my GIVEAWAY to win a copy of “Endure” the final book in the “Need” series by Carrie Jones.

Filed under: Fantasy/Pixies, YA Fiction Tagged: A Bookish Libraria, Author Carrie Jones, Giveaways

Where Have I Been? And, “Pump Up Your Books”~A Virtual Book Touring Company for Authors and their Books

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:05:38 +0000

I’ve been reading and writing reviews which I’ve posted at my other blog, and have sadly neglected this wordpress blog for nearly a year. When I decided to reopen it this morining, I was shocked to find that there are the rareist of followers that are still coming by! OMGoodness, I feel so horrible that I’ve let them down!!

For the next few days, I’m going to be moving several of my latest reviews over to this website so I can update things for you. After which, I’m going to be specifically dedicating this site to my professional work with authors and their books through my virtual book tour company affiliation with: Pump Up Your Books.

Pump Up Your Books has proven to be the finest of the virtual book touring companies I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the past nearly 7 years as I’ve been developing my blogs, and publishing relationships. I’ve found the authors and books they represent to be of the highest caliber. I’m an eclectic reader with a strong background in many areas of interest.

Pump Up Your Books specializes in bringing its authors to those readers who are looking for a wide range of subjects and genre. From historical fiction, romance, spiritually inspired, non-fiction, health conscious, contemporary fiction, to business-related books, Pump Up Your Books has all the spread of books any major bookstore can offer! That’s why I’m excited to be a new affiliate with them.

In the past years, for example, through this touring group, I’ve been able to read and bring my readers reviews, author interviews and giveaways on books like the following:

“Equity of Evil” by Rudy Mazzocchi A Medical/Techo. Thriller Now being looked at by Oprah’s Books!

“Daddy’s Home” by AK Alexander A Psychological Suspense Novel

“The Cross Dresser’s Wife~Our Secret Lives” Edited by Dee A. Levy & B. Sheffield Hunt Non-Fiction

“Liberation: The Andrusian Chronicles, Book One” by Maria Lucia A Fantasy/Syfy Novel

“The Year She Fell” by Alicia Rasley A General Fiction/Women Writer’s Novel

“Tapestry Baby” by Carole Watherhouse A Contemporary Fiction/Women’s Novel

In addition to these things I’ve been doing above, I’ve been taking time to help my husband as he’s finished writing his first novel. It’s called “Predator,” and it’s a great read! About the early formings of a psychopath…a mafia hitman. This particular book is the prequel to his series. We’re expecting its publication within the next year.

A final word: I would like to open this website up to others who would like to post their insights or comments on books in general or specific. I would, of course, as Editor, have to have the last word about content, but I would welcome your input, and in having you choose a by-line for this with your own particular “Column,” if you like. Please contact me for more information on that at: the bookishdame@aol.com

So, busy….. I’ll be checking back in later this week! Thanks for stopping by.

Filed under: Uncategorized

New Steampunk Series Slated: “Nightshade” Author Andrea Cremer Strikes Big Deal with Penguin

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:52:27 +0000

Published by: Penguin Group

Pages: 480

Genre: YA fiction

Released: June 2010

Summary:

“Nightshade” ~ Calla is the alpha female of a shape-shifting wolf pack. She is destined to marry Ren Laroche, the pack’s alpha male. Together, they would rule their pack, guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But then, Calla saves a beautiful human boy, who captures her heart. Calla begins to question everything – her fate, her existence, and her world and the orders the Keepers have asked her to follow. She will have to make a choice. But will she follow her heart if it means losing everything, including her own life?

NOTE from the Dame:

Media Bistro’s,”Galley Cat,” newsreporter Maryann Yin has released yet another scoop detailing author, Andrea Cremer’s deal with Penguin for a steampunk series! Given Cremer’s success with “Nightshade,” I can only grit my teeth and yearn for the release of the first book!

But, first, here’s one of Yin’s interviews with Ms Cremer, who’s just a young adult, herself talking about “Nightshade”~

Interview with Andrea : October 22, 2010

Andrea Cremer (pictured) did that in her debut novel, Nightshade. She used her scholarship and research to incorporate social issues about gender, power struggles, and sexuality into her book. We caught up with Andrea to find out a little bit more.

Q: Nightshadeis about a werewolf. How do you stick to conventional werewolf canon and mythology and how do you deviate?A: One of the things about Nightshadethat I think is really different is that it’s described as a werewolf book, but I often tell people it’s not a werewolf book because it does break so much from werewolf convention. I grew up in the north woods of Wisconsin. I’m literally right on Lake Superior and in the middle of a national forest, so the wilderness to me was something that was really wonderful. I spent most of my days as a young girl out making up imaginary worlds and imaginary people with my brother and my best friend in the forest. That was the way we liked to spend our days.Wolves and other wild animals to me were always fascinating; they weren’t something that were scary or monstrous, they were just cool. And so, I never pictured myself actually liking werewolves in terms of people picking teams for either vampires or werewolves. In all my reading, I had always firmly been in the vampire camp. I couldn’t figure out why it was that I didn’t like werewolves.

So when I got the idea for Nightshade and it was inspired by the main character, Calla [Tor] who is the alpha female wolf of the pack, I knew she was a girl and I knew she was a wolf. I felt just stuck because ‘Well, I don’t like werewolves so how am I going to write a book about a girl who’s a werewolf?’ And I realized what I needed to do was to create a new mythology of wolves that matched the way I felt about them.

That wasn’t wolves who were half-man/half-beast and its hideous mutations where it took an awful amount of time to change that involved the cracking of bones and lengthening of snouts and left you with something that was just awful to look at. But, was actually a creature that was fully wolf and fully human; Calla and her pack love their ability to change into wolves. That it was an instantaneous change and something they considered to be a gift; that it wasn’t a disease or a curse the way so many werewolf mythologies have been portrayed.

Q: How do you handle writing about touchy subject matters like the violence, gender issues, power struggles, and sexuality featured in Nightshade?

A: I have a “day job.” It’s definitely more than a day job; I’m a history professor. I have a PhD in early modern history and my research specialization is the history of sexuality and violence, particularly the way it ties into warfare and religion. So just in studying the history of gender politics and sexuality for the last ten years, it was what I wrote my PhD on. It’s something that I have just been aware of in all the historical research I’ve done as a major under-fitting of the construction of human society. To write a story that was largely about power and struggles for power. It’s a coming-of-age story about this girl’s sexual awakening and her struggle to maintain her identity despite external forces that are trying to limit her strength.It was so important for me to have those issues at the forefront because I think books offer a really important safe space for people of all ages, teens especially because they really need those spaces but I think adults as well. To be able to reflect on the way society puts expectations for sexuality and gender out there and try over and over again to thwart them. Sometimes it’s in very subtle ways through media and pop culture. Other ways it’s very overt in actual forms violence for people who step out what are considered to be societal norms. I really wanted to not be afraid to touch on those issues, not just even touch on them but really explore them.In the book, I really wanted to address sexual double standards for young men and young women. It’s such a huge, huge problem that’s infuriating. More and more women are strong and in positions of power in society, yet still we have an attitude of girls have to be responsible for their sexuality but boys will be boys. I just feel like that happens over and over again. The recent slew of stories about texting scandals and bullying in schools towards LGBT students, but also straight students, the blame is almost always put on the girls for not being sexually responsible and not acting like good girls. And for boys it’s just, ‘Oh, boys will be boys. Of course, they’re going to spread around this scandal because they’re boys.’ I feel like that is something that hurts our society so much and sends a terrible message to girls about trying to figure out who they are and what their place can be in the world. I just really wanted to hit on those issues without fear.

Q: What courses do you teach at Macalester College?

A: I teach courses on violence in early American history (colonial through the Civil War), gender and sexuality, Native American history, historical philosophy and methodology, and religion in early modern history (1500-1800).Q: Describe your writing process.A: My writing process is really chaotic. I don’t write chronologically. I write scenes as they come into my mind. So what I do is, the key conflicts and key points tend jump into my head as I’m thinking about the story. I just write them down as I feel them. I feel like I almost go into a trance when I write; it takes over my entire life. When I’m in the middle of writing a first draft it happens very quickly. I wrote the first draft of Nightshade between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. There’s a lot of revising that happens after that, but the initial process is just all consuming. I’ll do things like pour orange juice on my cereal, throw clothes into the trash instead of the laundry hamper, or get into the shower and get right out again having totally forgotten to wash my hair because I’m just so lost in the story. When I write, I basically create those major scenes and then it’s almost like a web of thinking about how they’re connected. I refer to myself as jigsaw puzzle-writer because I end up with all these pieces and then it’s fitting them together to make the story.

Q: What are the differences between writing academic papers and fiction novels?

A: In academic writing you make an argument and defend it using evidence that other scholars can track, vis a vis footnotes. When writing a novel I’ve found that my process is much more about being carried away by the story rather than deconstructing its content.Q: What plans do you have for future projects?A: Nightshade is a trilogy. The second book Wolfsbane will be published in July 2011 and book three, Bloodrose, is due out spring 2012. The fourth book is a prequel to the series that chronicles the origins of the Witches War in the 1400s. I’m working on a steampunk trilogy that I describe as historical dystopia about an alternate 19th century where the American Revolution failed. The steampunk is not as yet under contract.

Full Disclosure: This GalleyCat Correspondent has been an intern at Penguin Group (USA) in the past
Now: Maryann Lin’s Newest Article: September 27, 2011Nightshade trilogy author Andrea Creamer has inked a deal with Penguin Group (USA)’s Philomel imprint for a new YA steampunk series.

The first book, titled The Inventor’s Secret, is slated for publication in fall 2013. Executive editor Jill Santopolo negotiated the deal with InkWell Management literary agents Richard Pine and Charlie Olsen.

Here’s more from the release: “The series is set in an alternate nineteenth-century North America where the Revolutionary War never took place and the British Empire has expanded into a global juggernaut propelled by marvelous and horrible machinery…As part of the deal, Philomel has also acquired a second prequel to Nightshade entitled RISE, which is scheduled for publication in summer 2013. The first prequel to Nightshade,entitled RIFT, is scheduled for publication in fall 2012.” (Photo Credit: Gina Monroe)

In addition to the Nightshade prequels, Cremer will wrap up the trilogy with Bloodrose which will be released in January 2012. She also has a collaborative book project with Will Grayson, Will Grayson author David Levithan in the works; this project is called The Invisibility Curse and will be published in 2013.

The Dame’s Final Word:My thanks to Maryann Lin and Andrea Cremer for sharing this great news with those of us who love her books! Meanwhile, any of my readers who’ve missed reading “Nightshade,” need to catch the wave!

I saw her final book in this series at the bookstore yesterday. The covers are going to look gorgeous on library shelves, y’all!

You really have to go to Amazon to see the book write-up.

Deborah/TheBookishDame

Filed under: Authors in the News, Fantasy or Sci-Fy, Reviews for Authors Tagged: andrea cremer, maryann lin, penguin group, steampunk, werewolves

Pawnography! “License to Pawn” by Rick Harrison

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:29:48 +0000

Quite often my sweet husband takes a nosedive into the unknown and takes up with a new adventure/obsession with something “strange.” I found this serendipitous oddity a very attractive characteristic when we first met (I know…red flag??), and frankly, it’s had its ups and downs on my last nerve over the years. All in all; however, there’s never a dull moment with Anthony if you just sit back and brace yourself.

The show is mind-boggling. As I sit in my little apple green recliner writing reviews while DH watches “his” shows, I’m wont to look up once in a while to see what’s going on.

Against my better judgement, sometimes I’m captured by the absurdities of men: Men in the greater outdoors hunting with lots of equipment (guns, bows & steel tipped arrows, whistles, bright florescent suits, misshapen, weird hats & assorted other “gear”), excavating big mountains with equipment they don’t know how to maneuver & in icy weather, clambering about and becoming lost without food in crumbling old caves with their teen aged daughters, panning for gold in muddy streams and gleefully coming up with minute particles which value is less than the cost of the pan, or pulling up by hand man-eating fish in mosquito infested jungles… Recently, I’ve been pulled in by pawn shops on the Tube! Ugh! This wars against every bone in my WASPish, DAR body, and would disgrace my family. It’s really tantamount to watching a strip show!

Primary among such shows is Rick Harrison’s straight from Las Vegas “Pawn Stars.” Pawn Stars is a fabulous program! I love it, and it’s become my latest dirty little secret…now out in the open! We’ve agreed it’s the only pawn show we’ll watch.

Rick is an intelligent, witty and well-informed guy who actually makes wise choices about some seriously fabulous items brought to his shop. The experts Rick brings in to evaluate some of the items are so learned they add a dimension of knowledge and intelligence that rivals experts I’ve seen and heard from auction houses and museums in Boston. A couple of them are experienced in museum collections and authentic documents of early America and England…so interesting to hear and watch. I have learned a good deal from Rick, his dad and these experts.

One of the most fetching (did I use that word?) and hilarious things about the show is Chumly, Rick’s doofus nephew. Chum is a complete novice at pawn, and life, it seems. He has no idea what’s “good” and what’s “fake,” what are stolen goods, what’s trash and what’s treasure. He is a guy whose life is chockful of accidents and mishaps; i.e., nearly everything he touches falls apart, breaks down, or costs the shop money. In fact, Chum nearly costs his grandad more money than the shop brings in on some days! In the latest episode, Chumly test flies a valuable, antique kite and snags it on a highwire electrical tower…you flew it–you can’t get it down–you bought it! And, poor Chum is always shocked by these manifistations of Murphy’s Law in his life.

Chumly is the fall guy for the show, and makes it all worthwhile to watch…just for the hilarity of it. Rick’s dad is also sooo funny as he glumly and stoically mumbles his way through all the trials and troubles of the shop and Chum. And, Big Hoss, Rick’s son, who is assigned to watch over and teach Chum, as well as to be the Ass’t Mgr., lumbers along making a couple of wise choices on the way, but mostly watching Chumly mess up and telling on him. Honestly, Chum is the best comedic character on tv.

All this to give you some kind of intro. into Rick Harrison’s new book “License To Pawn” which I wholeheartedly recommend for your sweethearts and you when you want a different ride on the wild side.

Filed under: Bookstore Finds, New Authors First Books, New Reads, Oddities and Unusuals

“Megan’s Way” ~ A Novel of Eternal Love, Friendship, Death & Dying by Melissa Foster

Deborah/TheBookishDame — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:36:03 +0000

Book Notes:

“Megan’s Way is a fine and fascinating read that many will find hope in.” Midwest Book Review

The Megan’s Way film will be entered in the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, South By Southwest Festival (SXSW In Austin Texas), Amsterdam Film Festival, as well as New York, LA , and Miami (just to name a few). This is a “Fest-Best” type of film and expected to make a major impact on festivals world wide.

My Review:

I first want to share with my readers the personal perspective I bring to this review of “Megan’s Way.” Some 29 years ago I was widowed as a young woman with three children under the ages of 9. My precious young husband died of melanoma that had metastasized to major organs: we had several months to prepare for his death. This came after the original cancer of 11 years in the first year of our marriage. So, I’m someone well acquainted with cancer’s toll on a person and those who love them. I read this book with that intimate awareness.

Melissa Foster has given us a true-to-life rendering of the process of dying. From the earliest stages of the person’s acknowledgement of impending death, to their release of loved ones, their body and spirit; to the angst and responses of those who live with and love them, Ms Foster paints a portrait of the struggles and survivals. She understands the pain of those left behind and the awareness of those who have to do the leaving.

Through her very beautiful and tender portrayals, we come to know Megan and her intimate friends as if they were family. We get a clear and close up understanding of Megan’s loving and tumultuous relationship with her teen aged daughter, Olivia. And, we are given unique insights into Megan’s personality, thoughts, fears and death and dying processes from her own perspective, as well as from the perspectives of her friends and daughter. Ms Foster is spot on in her every detail of this experience with death, in my experience.

I found Melissa’s writing, however, to be somewhat stilted in her efforts to get across all the points of the process, and then the major theme of the choices we have about our own death and dying. There is something lost in the flow of a story as the book progresses when it starts to be overtaken by a series of details on these numerous processes and points of dying, rather than having it more balanced within a storyline. This, however, does not take very much from the book or enjoyment of it in total, since I think it’s worthy on many other levels.

While Megan considers her options of ceasing any other chemo or “prolonging” measures, and as she also contemplates the virtues of taking into her own hands the method and timing of her death, we are allowed to witness her conflicts. This option to choose is one that many come face-to-face with. Ms Foster gives us a balanced and open view of a woman who looks boldly into the face of death, weighs her options and takes into loving consideration the daughter she will leave behind.

The complexity of “Megan’s Way” made this novel one that I loved reading. Certainly, it rang true to me in so many ways. It also touched my heart with its attempts to bring readers into a center of meaning and choices that will be an evitability in most of our lives.

The intertwined tale of friends and surrogate family lends itself to be a realistic possibility in light of the “secrets” that people tend to hold close in relationships. While one is living, the secret is easily kept and the “family” can pretend to overlook and rationalize…but once a foundational/pivotal person is going to be removed–the structure that holds it all together is jeopardized and must be delicately “readjusted.” This is an element I’m also familiar with, personally, and one I thought Ms Foster handled elegantly.

I recommend your choosing to read “Megan’s Way” before it’s made into the movie for the Sundance Film Festival. It’s going to have a great impact! And, it’s a very enjoyable read on the order of a Jodi Picoult novel.

Strongly urge you to read more about Melissa Foster and her outreach programs, her book “Chasing Amanda,” her soon to be released book, and her social community for women called “The Women’s Nest.”

http://www.melissafoster.com/

4.5 stars from TheBookishDame

Filed under: Book Lists, Bookish Blogs, Family Issues, New Author to Me, New Reads, Reviews for Authors Tagged: children, death, dying, friendship, secrets

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