Catching UP!

NO Books Went to Press again this Week

Galleys that went out, are Still out,
or went out again, this week.

LAINEE DELANEY: BATHING BEAUTIES: Lainey Delaney Series, Vol.2, by Frances Langley

   Lainee Delaney is back, off for the summer and lying about the pool, just taking it easy, then, as you might expect, if you read Langley's  first book...A Mystery Happens!!!

 

 

THE BOY WHO COULD STOP TIME: The Ancient Magic Book Series, Vol. 1, by Evelyn Frederick Moll.

   After strange feelings surround Josh Sparkins when he hears an old time adage, he figures out he has the ability to stop time. This exciting ability offers Josh opportunities for adventure, fun, and even revenge. However, when he realizes he ages at an accelerated pace when he stops time, he fears he is heading for his final days. 

STORYBOOK II by Elena Dorothy Bowman

   Within the pages of this book are stories that my mother once told me; of certain incidences that she remembered. But mostly it is compiled of the memories that were a part of our lives. Doors were never locked friends and neighbors were welcomed anytime they happened to pass by. And it was an era where whenever someone visited at dinner time, an extra plate was always set out for the visitor
to join in the family meal. 

 

LOST SPIRIT: A Hannah Griswold Mystery, Vol. 2. by Robert Kanehl

   In her second adventure, Hannah Griswold begins to experience ghostly visitations once more. The ones she had back in 8th Grade had nearly destroyed her. Now it’s happening again. 

   Worse, Nathan, her best friend’s boy friend, who had once teased Hannah unmercifully, is also experiencing the ghostly presence. Can Hannah solve the mystery of a missing Civil War Soldier who stands accused of desertion? 

   If she doesn’t, will her best friend ever forgive her for seeming to share more than a casual friendship with the her steady, Nathan? 

Work Began or Continued on the following Books 

 

THE KIDNAPPING OF SEN. ANDY THOMPSON: Adventures on Capital Hill Series, Vol. 2.  by Celine Rose Mariotti
  

    Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have U.S. Senators who really did their job, got along well, and stood up for what was right? This is not your typical book about politics.  It’s the perfect U.S. Senate!  Throughout the book, there is an ongoing health care debate.  Senators Andy Thompson and Hunt Wagner lead the way with a resolution to try to stop President Robinson and Secretary von Schumann from sending troops to Botswana.  But a real adventure begins when Senator Thompson is kidnapped and Brian Travors, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State is suspected of being involved.  Senators Hunt Wagner and Darius Clemens head a committee hearing to get to the truth.  President Robinson suffers a heart attack and Vice-President Barry Newman takes over temporarily.  This book is a real page turner!  Read it and you’ll have hope for tomorrow! 

 

 

THE MURDER OF SEC. JUDD CANE: Adventures on Capital Hill Series, Vol. 2.     by Celine Rose Mariotti
       Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have U.S. Senators who really did their job, got along well, and stood up for what was right? This is not your typical book about politics.  It’s the perfect U.S. Senate!  Throughout the book, there is an ongoing health care debate.  Senators Andy Thompson and Hunt Wagner lead the way with a resolution to try to stop President Robinson and Secretary von Schumann from sending troops to Botswana.  But a real adventure begins when Senator Thompson is kidnapped and Brian Travors, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State is suspected of being involved.  Senators Hunt Wagner and Darius Clemens head a committee hearing to get to the truth.  President Robinson suffers a heart attack and Vice-President Barry Newman takes over temporarily.  This book is a real page turner!  Read it and you’ll have hope for tomorrow!

 

 

IRIS DESTINY, by Joseph Daniel Carr.

   We are promised a new cover and new edition on this on, but haven't seen the artwork yet.

 

 BLEEDING HEARTS: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 1

   Winner of the Stonewall Society's 2002 Pride in the Arts Literary Award in the Whodunit Category!

REAP THE WHIRLWIND: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 2,  by Josh Aterovis.
   Suicide, or murder? That's the question in the second Killian Kendall mystery. Will Smith suspects murder when an old childhood pal drowns, and asks his friend Killian for help in solving the mystery.

TRUTH OF YESTERDAY,  by Josh Aterovis

ALL LOST THINGS, by Josh Aterovis

CHANGE  OF WORLDS, by Josh Aterovis

 

REVEREND CASTLE'S CRISIS, Rev. Castle series, Vol. 2 by Celine Rose Mariotti
   Rev. Castle is back in another cozy mystery.
 
 

Jack's News!

  by your bookstore cat, 
and gossip columnist!

 

Author Andy Nunez has copies of PIRATES and will have them for sale TODAY at the National Outdoor Show in Golden Hill (about 30 miles south of Cambridge, MD.) I was sure glad to hear the UPS man made it. I sure hope all the folks that attend, will enjoy their muskrat dinners.

 

From what I hear the "National Outdoor Show" is always fun. They have a tomahawk throwing contest, Hunting dog trials, shooting competitions, a Muskrat Skinning World Championship, plus The Miss Outdoors and Little Miss Outdoors beauty contests, along with the usual Muskrat recipes, of course.

 

Meanwhile on the home front, Shelley's husband and Roger and Arline's oldest son, David, got home from the hospital last night. They all looked okay to me, but Shelley posted this on her FB page this morning.

 

"Update on Dave: We received a diagnosis yesterday in Baltimore---Renal Cell Carcinoma---it's a tough cancer to beat but is definitely one that can be beat---we will find out today what the game plan is going to be----we are very blessed to be in a hospital that is top notch for dealing with this disease. 

 

"Dave's spirits are good and he is definitely gearing up for the fight-all prayers & well wishes are very much appreciated-thank you all for your caring and your prayers-God Bless."

I don't know what carcinoma is, but it sounds like something bad...they are all acting like it is. I'm sure tired of people pussyfooting around and whispering in corners.

 

Please don't forget to let me know 

what you are all up to! 

Just send me an e-mail with 

 "News for Jack" 

in the subject line, and 

I'll make sure it shows up right here. 
Thanks!

We'lll do Catching UP tomorrow.

Sorry folks.  I know she'll do Catching Up as soon as she can. Everybody here  is too sad to do much of anything. What is it with Humans and tears, anyway?

Last Chance -- Free Black History Book

The Story of Harriet Tubman—

           Slave, Conductor on the Underground Railroad
                           and Spy for the Union Army
By Arline Chase

Harriet Tubman was born into the soul-crushing system of slavery in America. Through her wits, intelligence, determination, and bravery, she not only changed the course of her own life, but that of her family and countless other African-Americans.

Download  this book FREE from www.writewordsinc.com

Just order as usual, you will not be charged.

Fried Corn Dodgers

This is a popular dish especially in the south. Making it is very easy and you can do it any time you wish

2 cups Corn Meal
2  tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup white flour.
1 tsp. salt.
Water as needed.
2 tbsp lard

In a mixing bowl add two cups of white corn meal, one and a half teaspoon of baking powder, 1/3 cups of self rising flour, half a cup of sugar and salt to taste. To it add warm water slowly until the dough gets a consistency of cake batter. You may need around two or three cups of water to reach the consistency.

Heat lard in skillit until  a drop of water sizzles. 
Spoon batter into skillet in small cakes and fry. Cook on both sides, until brown. Remove to a warm plate and fry more, adding more lard if needed.

For Hush-Puppies (Another popular Southern Soul Food

Grate 1 medium onion and add to the batter while mixing in water.

A Great Historical Read, and a Comma Question

Alba Series, Vol. 1

Finlay was the recognized heir to the throne of 11th Century Alba when the king began a plot to install his grandson Duncan. Finlay finds his girl is married off to his cousin, his best friend joins the opposing side, and Duncan plans war. Life becomes especially difficult when Thorfinn of Orkney and his sister take hand in the game.

Question from the E-mail: Someone in my writing group keeps arguing that we should "leave out all the commas" unless they are really Needed, "Because they just slow the reader down." Even my high school English Teacher would have screamed about that?  And how  do we know when they're really needed.

Answer:  In my earliest writing days, I  tossed in a comma every place I stopped and thought what I really wanted to say. That is, until Alice Orr, who was then an editor in a major publishing house, just crossed her eyes at me and sighed. "Your commas, Arline." Later, I was given the same advice as you, but not by Alice, and so I had more sense that to follow that without due consideration.

Officially, a comma separates main clauses joined by a coordinating injunction, such as and, but, or because. Paired commas set off a long phrase that interrupts a main clause. Commas are also used to set off transitional words and expressions, like meanwhile, however, or usually, from the main clauses that follow. Commas also separate words, phrases, or clauses in series and, when necessary, set off parenthetical elements in the sentence.

Those are the  comma rules that some say, "Follow them religiously! and other say, "Don't bother." But here's the bottom Line.

Here's my best very basic advice about leaving out commas. Put them where you'd pause for breath or effect.

There's a world of difference between:

    "Shoot John!" and

    "Shoot, John!"

In the first sentence John gets shot, in the other he is instructed to shoot. That can make a big difference to your reader, as well as to John.

Publishers only have two rules:

1. NEVER confuse the reader.

2. NEVER make work for your editor.

If you write, "Shoot John!" without the comma, and John is doing the shooting, then the editor will have to go back, reread the material again to make sure exactly who's getting shot, and add the comma for you, so the reader won't be confused about whether John is shooting, or being shot.

Black History Month Essays

Two essays by Frederick Douglass in which he tells of his escape from the LLoyd Plantation in Talbot County, Maryland, and gives his views on Reconstruction when he returned for a visit to the Eastern Shore following the Civil War.
 Heritage / Historical / Black History / Slavery / Biography

     EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION
                     SNACKIN’ CAKE

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk 
2 1/2 cups flour (sifted)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 


Cream butter, add sugar gradually, blend well. Beat eggs well and add to butter and sugar mixture. Add milk to butter mixture a little at a time. 

Mix sifted flour, salt, and baking powder, a little at a time, into the mixed wet ingredients. 

Finally, add vanilla. Use two 9" x 12" buttered cake pans. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees. 

Traditional snacking cake says to sprinkle sugar on top of layers before baking, then slice into triangles and eat.  

Non-traditionalists, can use your favorite frosting frosting and stack the layers for a more usual layer cake.

Catching UP!

NO Books Went to Press again this Week

Galleys that went out, are Still out,
or went out again, this week.

THEN CAME HEAVEN, by Gilda Arruda. 

   Then Came Heaven is a source of inspiration and guidance; it serves as a loving example of what it means to live no matter where the truth may lead you or how difficult it may be. It is also a lesson on the patience of change.
   Each page is the embodiment of hope, trust, knowledge, and self-acceptance to develop a sense of worth within ourselves. Judy’s odyssey to find peace led her through many stages
of not only seeing but sharing her vision of Divinity, adding color for each of us to our own vision of God.

 

STOYBOOK II by Elena Dorothy Bowman

   Within the pages of this book are stories that my mother once told me; of certain incidences that she remembered. But mostly it is compiled of the memories that were a part of our lives. Doors were never locked friends and neighbors were welcomed anytime they happened to pass by. And it was an era where whenever someone visited at dinner time, an extra plate was always set out for the visitor
to join in the family meal. 

 

LOST SPIRIT: A Hannah Griswold Mystery, Vol. 2. by Robert Kanehl

   In her second adventure, Hannah Griswold begins to experience ghostly visitations once more. The ones she had back in 8th Grade had nearly destroyed her. Now it’s happening again. 

   Worse, Nathan, her best friend’s boy friend, who had once teased Hannah unmercifully, is also experiencing the ghostly presence. Can Hannah solve the mystery of a missing Civil War Soldier who stands accused of desertion? 

   If she doesn’t, will her best friend ever forgive her for seeming to share more than a casual friendship
with the her steady, Nathan? 

Work Began or Continued on the following Books 

THE BOY WHO COULD STOP TIME: The Ancient Magic Book Series, Vol. 1, by Evelyn Frederick Moll.

   After strange feelings surround Josh Sparkins when he hears an old time adage, he figures out he has the ability to stop time. This exciting ability offers Josh opportunities for adventure, fun, and even revenge. However, when he realizes he ages at an accelerated pace when he stops time, he fears he is heading for his final days. 

 LAINEE DELANEY: BATHING BEAUTIES: Lainey Delaney Series, Vol.2, by Frances Langley

   Lainee Delaney is back, off for the summer and lying about the pool, just taking it easy, then, as you might expect, if you read Langley's  first book...A Mystery Happens!!!

 

THE KIDNAPPING OF SEN. ANDY THOMPSON: Adventures on Capital Hill Series, Vol. 2.  by Celine Rose Mariotti
  

    Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have U.S. Senators who really did their job, got along well, and stood up for what was right? This is not your typical book about politics.  It’s the perfect U.S. Senate!  Throughout the book, there is an ongoing health care debate.  Senators Andy Thompson and Hunt Wagner lead the way with a resolution to try to stop President Robinson and Secretary von Schumann from sending troops to Botswana.  But a real adventure begins when Senator Thompson is kidnapped and Brian Travors, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State is suspected of being involved.  Senators Hunt Wagner and Darius Clemens head a committee hearing to get to the truth.  President Robinson suffers a heart attack and Vice-President Barry Newman takes over temporarily.  This book is a real page turner!  Read it and you’ll have hope for tomorrow! 

 

IRIS DESTINY, by Joseph Daniel Carr.

   We are promised a new cover and new edition on this on, but haven't seen the artwork yet.

 

 BLEEDING HEARTS: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 1

   Winner of the Stonewall Society's 2002 Pride in the Arts Literary Award in the Whodunit Category!

REAP THE WHIRLWIND: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 2,  by Josh Aterovis.
   Suicide, or murder? That's the question in the second Killian Kendall mystery. Will Smith suspects murder when an old childhood pal drowns, and asks his friend Killian for help in solving the mystery.

TRUTH OF YESTERDAY,  by Josh Aterovis

ALL LOST THINGS, by Josh Aterovis

CHANGE  OF WORLDS, by Josh Aterovis

 

THE MURDER OF SEC. JUDD CANE: Adventures on Capital Hill Series, Vol. 2.     by Celine Rose Mariotti
       Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have U.S. Senators who really did their job, got along well, and stood up for what was right? This is not your typical book about politics.  It’s the perfect U.S. Senate!  Throughout the book, there is an ongoing health care debate.  Senators Andy Thompson and Hunt Wagner lead the way with a resolution to try to stop President Robinson and Secretary von Schumann from sending troops to Botswana.  But a real adventure begins when Senator Thompson is kidnapped and Brian Travors, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State is suspected of being involved.  Senators Hunt Wagner and Darius Clemens head a committee hearing to get to the truth.  President Robinson suffers a heart attack and Vice-President Barry Newman takes over temporarily.  This book is a real page turner!  Read it and you’ll have hope for tomorrow!

REVEREND CASTLE'S CRISIS, Rev. Castle series, Vol. 2 by Celine Rose Mariotti
   Rev. Castle is back in another cozy mystery.
 
 

Jack's News!

  by your bookstore cat, 
and gossip columnist!

 

Author Andy Nunez wrote to say he got PIRATES (yes they WERE delivered!) and he will have Copies With HIM  at the National Outdoor Show in Golden Hill (about 30 miles south of Cambridge, MD. I was sure glad to hear the UPS man made it. You won't find my little cat feetprints out in all that snow!

 

From what I hear the National Outdoor Show is always fun. They have lots of good fun. Hunting dog trials, shooting and trapping contests and even Muskrat recipes, though I'm sure I wouldn't care for those. I only eat crunchy things, you know. Nothing soft. I'm a Tom. Soft food is for pussycats!

Arline finally gave  up and went to the doctor and she is doing much better. She says she has some recipes for Muskrat if anyone is interested, just e-mail her at: arline@mail.com Supposed to warm up on Sunday.  I sure hope so!

Don't forget to let me know what you are all up to! 
Just send me an e-mail with "News for Jack" in the subject line, and I'll make sure it shows up right here. 
Thanks!

A Mystery Read and a Dialogue Question

Did you ever dream of being a hard-boiled private eye? Maybe you should try the Izzy and Vero method: just slip into your trench coat and place an ad in the Penny Saver. Hey, the ad works! Next day they get Dema, their very first client. Dema is a sweet-but-strange young woman with a tape obsession so severe she should have her own reality show. That should have raised a red flag.

Dialogue Question from the e-mail: 

I gave up writing a long time ago, but now that I've retired...anyway, you were my teacher back in the day. Any chance you could help me brush up on dialogue??

Answer: 
Sure, Teresa.  Glad to hear you're writing again. Below is the same handout that I gave you -- back in the day...

          Writing Good Dialogue

Pay attention to the way people talk. Listen to their speech patterns. Then pare them down to the bare essentials. That’s dialogue.

Avoid vernacular, or overuse of vernacular, anyway. With dialect, less is always more. We are a nation of poor readers. Dialect can be very difficult to write well. This is a lesson I learned – reluctantly I’ll admit – in a workshop with Diana Gabaldon. She wrote a book about a group of 17th century Scots, and  English Outlander. Yes, the same one that's now on TV. No dialect is a thick as that of Scotland. Diana said she listened to old Scots ballads sung both in English and in Gaelic to absorb the rhythm of the speech. There’s a great deal of difference between the speech of the Scots and the Englishwoman, and among the Scots, depending upon their station in life and educational level.  But nobody said, “Hoot mon!” She changed didn’t to didna, and wouldn’t to wouldna, and added some dated terms like “foxed” for drunk. But most of it was in the rhythm of the language. Because of the sentence construction, English sounded different when the Scots spoke it, but their meaning was never obscured.

Avoid anachronisms and use very little slang, unless it’s some you make up yourself. I read a story set in Biblical times where characters said things like “okay.” Okay is a slang term that didn’t come into use until the second half of the 19th century. It wouldn’t have been said in Biblical times. Any time you are uncertain when a term came into use, you can check it in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Slang gets dated very quickly  and slang terms may change in meaning. Avoid cliches, too. In a 1940 edition of Nancy Drew, Girl Detective, it was fine to describe her father as a “gay man about town,” even though it was a cliche. At that time it meant he was lighthearted and very social. You wouldn’t use that term today, because the word “gay” has taken on a whole different meaning.

Good dialogue should sound natural, but not too much like people really talk. Punctuating dialogue is tricky. First, never let two characters talk in the same paragraph. Commas and other punctuation go inside the quotes. And you must paragraph each time a new person speaks.

Finally, everything a person says at one time (even if they change the subject) goes in the same paragraph. I can't stress too much how important it is to punctuate dialogue correctly. Editors know immediately if it's done wrong, and they also know it will take them a lot of Extra Work to fix it. It's never a good idea to make work for your editor.

Never put small talk into dialogue, it just slows everything down. The important thing in dialogue is to leave out stuff that is unimportant and get right to the point.

Here is an example of BAD dialogue the way it might go in real life:

    “Hi, Harry. How are you? And how’s your mother?” Mary said, to her neighbor.
    “Hi, Mary. Good to see you this morning. She’s better thanks.”
    “Oh, good. I’m glad to hear it.” Mary admired the way Harry cared for his aged mother. He was so good to her. Mary wondered if Harry had heard the news about their neighbor John.  “Say, did you hear about John?”
    “No. Did something happen to him?”
    “He’s dead.”
    “John Smith, who lives across the street? You’re kidding. Right?”
    “No, I’m not kidding. John’s dead.”
    “Really? What happened?” Harry asked.
    “The postman smelled exhaust coming from the garage. He called the cops from my house. It took them 20 minutes before they showed up! Then they had to call a locksmith to get in his house, ” Mary said.
    “Wow. That’s interesting. Which locksmith did they call?” Harry asked, again.
    “Brady’s – the one over on Biscayne. Anyway, the car was still running and John was dead when they found him. But they called for an ambulance anyway. It took them another twenty minutes to get here. Then they took him to the hospital.”
    “Hospital? I thought you said he was dead,” Harry said.
    “He is dead. But they had to go to the hospital, it’s the law,” Mary said. “The paramedics said he was dead all right, but they took him in the ambulance anyway.”
    “Gosh. I can’t believe John’s dead. What was it? Suicide?” Harry asked.
    “You’d think so, wouldn’t you. He’s been so depressed, ever since Evelyn left him,” Mary said.  “But the cops found a bruise on his head. So they weren’t really sure if he killed himself or if it was murder. You know, John had a lot of enemies.”
    “Yes, he did. That Evelyn of his, for one. Not to mention her new boyfriend.”

Notice all the “saids?” Here's a neat little technique you can use. If you show a character in action within the same paragraph as their speech, the reader will assume the character who moved was also the one who spoke. This little trick can get rid of a lot of repetitive language (the saids), and it forces you to insert an image. You only have to be careful to make certain that the person who speaks and the person who moves are the same. If you want to show another character's reaction to the speech, change paragraphs, even if they don't say anything. Treat the movement just as if it were a dialogue reply.

In good dialogue, you only put the important stuff:

    “Harry, did you hear? John Smith’s dead.”
    “No! How did it happen, Mary? Suicide?” Harry’s face looked stunned.
    Mary shook her head. “They’re not certain. Could be murder.”
    “Wouldn’t surprise me – that ex-wife of his always said she’d kill him one day.”
    “You think it was her?”
    “He had a lot of enemies, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did it.” Harry’s eyes narrowed. “Her, or her new boyfriend.”

Do you see how 25 lines of dialogue were condensed to seven? And yet all the important information was still relayed to the reader.