How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell

This is a book that was required reading for a class that I am taking. Despite it being part of my course materials, I enjoyed reading this book; it didn’t feel like I was reading a textbook. I found it to be very informative without being boring. It offers a lot of information and helpful advice about what causes many dialogue problems for writers and a variety of ways to fix these problems. As there is no one correct way to do anything when it comes to writing, there are a variety of exercises described for writers to try in order to improve their own dialogue writing skills.

Dialogue is something that a reader wants to flow naturally without feeling forced or obvious. There are many ways to do that, and while it may seem a simple matter, anyone who has sat down for the first time, trying to write natural sounding conversations that won’t leave a reader wondering why you are choosing to include it in the story, but that are also not so ‘right in your face’ obviously meant to get vital information to the readers likely already knows how difficult it can be. I like the way in which this book approaches the subject and offers a variety of different methods for a writer to work on improving something that is often more difficult to get right than readers may realize.

The exercises and suggestions offered in this book are fun and interesting, as well as varied. Some of the ideas may work better than others for different people. I enjoyed reading this book and giving some of the exercises a try. I think that anyone who is a writer, an editor, or who hopes to become either at some point in the future could benefit by reading this book and practicing some of the suggestions that Mr. Bell gives us.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Hells and High Water by Alex Andre

Golden Dragon Shang, one of the leaders of the Kowloon nation has heard rumors of a nation that has survived the E, and have either managed to protect their technology from the event that destroyed most nations technological equipment and knowledge, or who have managed to rebuild and recreate much of what was lost when the E hit. Putting together an unlikely group to take him on what he hopes to be a mission that will unite the two nations in trying to restore what was lost while protecting him along the extremely dangerous way there, only time will tell whether his hopes are justified or merely foolish dreams.

This was the third book in the E Apochrypha series. I read a review copy of this book and found it to be just as good as the first two books in this series. A far as trigger warnings, readers should be aware of themes involving violence, rape and kidnapping. This is a very action-packed book that takes place in a world that is more than a little dangerous. Even within the areas where society has rebuilt itself into what may seem a safer area, many people still live dangerous lives, facing raiders and bandits. Many societies are still rather isolated, and some actively hate technology and advanced knowledge, seeking to destroy all they come across. Those people believe that technology was what brought about the worldwide disaster known as the E, and the only way to avoid it from happening again is to destroy any and all they encounter.

Those are among the many dangers that Shang and his group must face on the way to find what they hope to become allies. But even within the group he has assembled, not everyone is able to get along, and that only adds to the drama and danger on this trip. I enjoyed reading this book. Many familiar faces from the first two books in the series return in this book, and we are also introduced to new characters. All of these keep the action and drama going as this group  of individuals must find a way to come together as a unified group if they hope to succeed in their mission. The question is, can they manage to do that without tearing each other apart along the way?

If you enjoyed reading the first two books in this series, then you will enjoy this book as well. The author has done a wonderful job of bringing this story to a satisfying close, while leaving the door cracked for more should he decide to continue on with this story and any of these characters. While parts of this book may not be the best for some readers (as mentioned in my trigger warnings above), this is an excellent story about several groups of people who managed to survive an apocalypse and are trying to rebuild their world. I enjoyed it, and I hope that you will too.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Understanding Show, Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy

This is a book that was required reading for a class that I am taking. It goes through many of the different ways that writers often wind up telling rather than showing in their writing. This book does mention that not all “telling” is bad, and gives examples of when it might be better to ‘tell’ rather than ’show.’ It also explains the different methods of ‘showing’ something, and offers ways to catch the spots where a writer might accidentally be telling more than they ought to be and why.

The rules regarding showing vs telling are not always as simple as someone ‘told’ a story rather than ‘showed’ what happened within it. As I mentioned above, there are instances when telling something does work better. But those tend to be fewer than most writers realize. And sometimes, telling can feel like showing, just not in the way the writer really intended for it to be. There is a subtlety to show vs tell, that can make it feel confusing. This book does help to clear up some of that confusion and explain the whys behind the various types of show vs tell.

This book also offers writers the words to watch for that can indicate where someone is telling rather than showing, or at least telling more than they intended to be within a scene. It also shows possible ways to help improve or avoid such writing traps that can leave something feeling less exciting or interesting than the writer had intended.

I bought this book to read as part of a class that I am taking, and while I am not an author/writer, I did find this book to be quite helpful in a number of ways, and it will definitely help me to improve my own writing.

I would recommend this book to anyone working on writing a story of any length, as it will very likely help to improve your story by allowing you to spot potential problem areas in your manuscript. I also feel that it would be of great assistance to anyone who is working in editing. There are a great number of tips on how to spot “red flag” words and possible ways to help avoid them, making one’s writing much more dynamic and likely to keep a reader interested.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Deadly Veil by Nelson Mckeeby

Princess Nazira is meant to rule the country with her husband after they have an heir. But her family has been conspiring her whole life to keep her from what is rightfully hers, and she knows that once her child is born, unless she has succeeded in maneuvering enough of the pieces in this game of politics in her favor, she will be killed and her father will continue as the Dominar, denying her child their rights. Things appear to be stacked against her in this game of political intrigue, but if she plays the game right, she may yet manage to survive and see herself on her rightful throne.

I received a review copy of this book and enjoyed reading it. This book is a sequel to On other Shores, and while the first book told the story of her husband, this book is her story. She begins as a young girl, who is too soon forced to grow up if she intends to survive this political landscape and have the life she both wants and deserves. She must learn the game of politics and finding allies quickly, or else will soon find herself dead once her child is born.

I enjoyed seeing her grow and learn. She is a strong, independent character in a world where it was intended to be nothing more than a means to an end. Instead, she is attempting to change the game in her favor. And watching her try to outsmart those who have been at the same game far longer was quite interesting. I think anyone who enjoys stories with strong female characters, foreign cultures and religions, as well as fantasy political intrigue will enjoy reading this book.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Nobody is Safe by October Kane

In the town of Quill Point, a Rot God has begun to be woken by the town’s mayor, who is seeking ultimate power for himself. Beyond the town, the effects of this emergence is being felt around the world as people fall victim to the helpless feeling it spreads. But there are a few who refuse to give up, seeking to help others and to both find and save their loved ones who are trapped within Quill Point, being tortured and killed by the monsters who have taken control.

I read a review copy of this book, and it is every bit as creepy and dark as the previous two books were, but in this one, we begin to see a tiny sliver of hope at times, showing that just maybe, not all is lost or without hope. Yes, there are monsters and evil god-like beings who can’t seem to be hurt, but is that really all there is to the world any longer? Many seem to have given in to despair and are simply seeking to stay alive as long as possible, but not everyone believes this. The question remains, though, how do you fight against a supernatural force that can create hellscapes while forcing everyone to labor in them, completely believing the reality that is being presented to them by the monsters? 

This book, like the previous ones in the series, I would describe as a cross between Steven King and the Twilight Zone. It is extremely creepy and disturbing. And be warned, there is also a great deal of violence and gore in this book as well as in the series. (As is true of most horror novels.) There is also a psychological aspect of the horror the monsters in this book use against humanity, playing on the known fears and tropes that we are all familiar with, especially when it comes to the different aspects of said monsters. I found the realization of these differing monster tropes quite revealing about what each monster’s domains and potential downfalls might come into play later on in the series, and am looking forward to discovering if I am at all right about what I suspect will be coming in future books. Only time will tell if I am correct in what I think might happen or if the author surprises me by taking the story in a completely different direction.

I believe anyone who enjoys horror novels, scary and creepy stories, especially ones with a psychological aspect should enjoy this novel. I would, however, suggest that if you have not yet read the first two books in the series, that you read those before starting this one so that you won't miss out on any of what has led up to this point. I will definitely be watching for the next book to be released, as I have been enjoying reading this series so far.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Person who Hated People by Steven Paul Leiva

C.D. Beekman is a University History Professor. He has written a number of books and knows a great deal about history. It is his passion, and something he is very opinionated about. He has a rather blunt personality and says what he thinks on any subject, and he values intelligence and learning above almost everything else. Most people do not appreciate his demeanor, but when he meets, falls in love with, and marries Trudee, she slowly helps him to find ways to better tolerate those who annoy him or who grate upon his nerves. And though he may not feel that he has changed, many of those around him marvel at the fact that she has found a way to turn him into someone at least a bit more considerate others' feelings. When Trudee lies dying, he promises her that he will try to be nicer, even to those he considers fools or idiots. And along the way, he becomes known as “Mr. Nice Guy,” even though he still considers himself someone who hates people.

I received and read a review copy of this book. And as with Mr. Leiva’s other books, I needed to think about this one for a while before I was able to understand what I believe was actually happening in this story. From my perspective, I suspect that C.D. is on the autism spectrum, as some of those I know who are autistic do not always understand that those they are speaking with see their responses as somewhat blunt and uncaring. Others may not realize that they are not trying to offend, they are merely stating the facts of a matter as they see them. It is this type of behavior that leads me to believe that C.D. Beekman may have been on the autism spectrum, even if he and those around him may not have ever known it. (Those who are autistic can still be highly intelligent, and if they have never been tested for autism by a professional, it isn't always obvious that they are actually autistic.)

On his own, C.D. was not a social being, preferring to spend his time alone in a library researching for historical books he was writing, but he loved his wife (who was a very social person who enjoyed being around a variety of people) and thus he also spent more time around others. And it appears he learned from her how to allow others to see the side of him that she saw, the kind and generous man. The man who cared. And while on some level he may have only actually cared about others because his wife did, he wanted to keep her happy, even after she died. And so, he did his best to be the kind, friendly, nice guy that she had helped him to present to the world around him.

I don’t believe that he ever actually hated all people. I believe that he did not truly understand people, and they did not truly understand them. And that was why he usually came across as a grumpy, unfriendly individual. He always did care about some of those around him, but not everyone knew how to bring that side of his personality to the surface where everyone could see it. And while he often claimed he hated people, I believe it was more frustration and a lack of understanding than hate.

When he became known as Mr. Nice Guy, he had never truly changed who he was, but those around him instead looked at him from a different perspective than they may have before. And while, yes, some of it was due to his trying to follow Trudee’s dying wish, I think that on some level, she wanted him to see the world and those around him the way she did. Many things can appear completely different when looked at from a new point of view

And that only really explains the first part of the book. After that, there are quite a few twists and surprises in the story. And once you get to the end, you will likely be just as amused by the events that followed his becoming “Mr. Nice Guy” as I was. Especially when you see how the story ends. (Hint: I certainly didn’t see the ending coming. It was a complete surprise to me.) 

I truly enjoyed reading this book. Mr. Leiva’s books always show a unique view of people and the world that I don’t often get to see. His books truly make me stop and think about what he is trying to say before I am able to describe any of them to others. You might find different messages within his books than I did, but I think that is one of the things that makes his stories so enjoyable. The message within the story does not necessarily jump right out at the reader, but it sticks with them long after you finish the book. And the more you consider the story, the more you discover hidden within it. Highly Recommended.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Poison or Protect Written by Gail Carriger Narrated by Suzanne Lavington

Lady Preshea Villentia is an Assassin who was trained at an unuual finishing school that no longer exists. (If you’ve read some of Ms. Carriger’s other series, you’ll know what I’m referring to here.) And she has one last assignment to complete before she will be released from her indenture. After that, her future and any assignments she takes on will be of her own choosing. But before that can happen, she must complete this one. It seems an easy enough assignment, though this one does not involve any killing. But what happens when she meets a Scotsman during this assignment who both sparks her interest and causes her to fear the desire she begins to feel for him.

I listened to the audiobook version of this novella while I was working in my garden and enjoyed it. Having read several other books in this universe, I was already familiar with many of the characters mentioned in this story, and knew the background behind how Preshea had been trained. The character voices were well done and easily distinguished from every other character in this audiobook, I enjoyed listening to the story as I worked in my garden.

I do need to warn you that this story involves some sexual encounters, and thus may not be the most appropriate of books for younger readers. It does involve both men and women as well as women who prefer the company of other women. So you will have to decide if you feel this book is right for you. While not extremely graphic, there are a few scenes that may not be appropriate for younger readers/listeners..

I enjoyed seeing the main character, who had a very colorful background story, begin to discover that not all men were only interested in their own desires, and that some men actually cared whether or not their partner was enjoying their time together as much as they were. This book was set during a time period where women were often married off by arrangement rather than for love. Actual love was something she, and many other women were not fortunate enough to find. It was simply not a consideration when it came to arranged marriages.

If you have read (or listened to) any of the other books set within the Parasol Protectorate universe, then you will enjoy this book. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys steampunk romances with more than a little bit of a “spicy” nature to them.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.