I thought I was going to have a bit of a personal announcement to make today but my thinking was premature. And it turns out I won't even know if I'll be able to make the announcement until Monday. Oh well, never count your beer until you've opened the can and had the first sip. Nothing major anyway.
In writing news, I’m over 15,000 words into “Under the Ember Star,” and since I don’t expect it to go much over 25,000 I’d say I’m well into the middle of the work. That almost always means a bit of a slow down for me, and it has here. But I’m still making progress and I expect to finish it by the end of June. I’d like to have it done sooner.
I finished reading two books by friends in the past week. I’ve included my reviews below.
Midnight Eyes by Sidney Williams:
Midnight Eyes is a thriller set in Louisiana, an area of the country Williams knows well, having grown up there. A serial killer is working one of the small Louisiana towns and an embattled sheriff and his FBI profiler son have to solve the case before more die. Along the way they have to deal with their own shattered relationship. The writing here is very fine and the "killer" is definitely a bit different from what the reader starts out expecting. There are some nice twists and turns along the way, and a really exciting action sequence at the end. The characters are well drawn and seem very real, including the killer. Good stuff.
Midnight Eyes for the Nook
Longarm and the Arizona Flame by Tabor Evans (Really James Reasoner):
This is what they call an “Adult Western,” which means it has sex in it. The sex is relatively graphic but not pornographic. I’ve only read a few adult westerns, and almost always because I’ve known the author, as I know James Reasoner. The key thing for me is that when James writes one of these books the book works as a “western” first and foremost. This is a very good western, in fact, and I much enjoyed it. If you haven't read any of this type of book this would be a good introduction.
Arizona Flame at Barnes & Noble
I also read my first SF book by John Ringo, called Into the Looking Glass. I liked it a lot and have already picked up a few of his other books.
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Thanks for the reviews, Charles. Both sound quite interesting, but I especially like the synopsis for the thriller. :)
ReplyDeleteI read A Hymn Before Battle by Ringo. It was a pretty good book, although quite laden with military technical terms and jargon (as an Army Vet even I got lost on occasion). Looking Glass seemed pretty good. I may have to pick that up too. You know, when I'm back on a sci-fi kick.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your announcement!
I working on Reasoner's last Longarm. A very good series in his hands.
ReplyDeleteTyhitia, haven't seen you around. Glad to see you are ok. :)
ReplyDeleteTom, I've got Hymn before battle. Will probably give it a try soon.
David Cranmer, yes the ones I've read that he wrote I really like.
15000? wow. i mean, how much you write in every session?
ReplyDeleteIf putting sex in a western makes it "adult," that seems such a misuse of the term. Westerns without sex are also "adult" if they're about stuff that interests adults... Sorry, pet gripe.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to read some Ringo, but was never sure where to start. Would also like to read EMBER STAR when it's done! Looking forward.
ReplyDeleteHope Monday brings a big announcement then! And I always struggle at the beginning. By the midsection of a manuscript, I am in full swing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations. I've added both to my wish list, which I seem to be working through rather rapidly these days.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the writing progress.
I recently read my first Longarm book, because it was a Reasoner yarn, and the one I chose was Longarm and the Pine Box Payoff because David Cranmer said it was a good one. Still have three more to read that I picked up at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Ringo titles a lot, and always thought to pick one up . . . but I could never remember if the consensus among folks I trust was whether he was a good read or not. Sounds like I should check him out.
Deka Black, I've been doing over 1000 a day on this story, but I usually don't do that much.
ReplyDeleteRon Scheer, that's just what they call them. I guess it might relate to the fact that they are meant for folks over 18 because of the sex. I think of most westerns as being adult in theme, although plenty of them appeal to readers in their teens. These days the non "adult" westerns can have sex. the term is probably a holdover to a different time, when those series like Longarm and such were starting out.
Richard Prosch, I thought "Into the looking glass" was a pretty good start, and is the first in a series.
Alex J. Cavanaugh, I'm the other way around. Beginnings are easier to me.
Travis Cody, I've been reading more the past few days as well, and enjoying it.
Chris, I've only read the one Ringo but enjoyed it. I have a friend who recommended him to me and I usually trust the guy's judgement.
"Ember Star" is evocative!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Cloudia, yeah, I kind of like the title.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good goal. Things like this make me think in Mark Twain typing (i always be telled of him being the first in send a work done in a typewriter)
ReplyDeletesince i first encountered their stuff, i've enjoyed both sw and jr tales...
ReplyDeleteas for your stuff, lemme know when, and i'll git em :)
We'll have to wait for your announcement, I guess. Don't go overboard, though, in keeping your enthusiasm in check. After all, some folks don't count their beers until after they've left the body. After that, they despute whether or not it's really beer, and not water.
ReplyDeleteDeka Black, I tell you since summer started my typing speed has gone way up with practice and I'm happy about that.
ReplyDeletelaughingwolf, will do, thanks.
X. Dell, yes, I know those kinds of folks. we call them 'academics' here. :)
How you have the time to read that much, write that much and all the rest beats me.
ReplyDeletePatty, well, with my son grown up I don't have a lot of other distractions right at the moment.
ReplyDeleteNice reviews.
ReplyDeleteOscar, thankee.
ReplyDeleteThat's good progress, and I like the reviews. I hope this announcement has something to do with interest already in 'Ember'. :)
ReplyDeleteBernardl, there does appear to be some interest in Ember, but that wasn't the announcment.
ReplyDeleteCool reviews, hon. :)
ReplyDeleteA thousand words a day?
ReplyDeleteI tried that in Mexico for a couple of weeks, took no siestas from the heat, and promptly had a nervous breakdown. Burnout at eight thousand feet in the high Sierra Orientale.
... Must have developed some sort of Moses delusion from the altitude.
My ex-wife tells me I was pretty well far gone even before Mexico.
I had thought I was Jesus Christ, but He didn't write so much.:)
Good reviews and looking forward to the announcement... -from the airport in Taipei
ReplyDeleteLana, thank youse.
ReplyDeleteIvan, I think Jesus did mostly dictating. 1000 is a bit high for me most times.
Sage, that's cool, man.
Thanks so much for the review and the kindness. I sent out a Tweet when the review appeared.
ReplyDeleteHelpful reviews, indeed. Much obliged!~~
ReplyDeleteSidney, cool.
ReplyDeleteErik, thankee.