Let me first say that I only just got a Kindle for Christmas.  I was perusing the free books and stumbled across the Mary O’Reilly series by Terri Reid.  I’m an avid lover of horror, steampunk, urban fantasy, and paranormal books.  That’s not to say those are the only genre’s I read, but they’re among my favorite.  The blurb at the Kindle store for Loose Ends sounded pretty good, so I thought I’d give it a shot.

Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat I’m glad that I did!

"Dying is what changed Mary O'Reilly's life. Well, actually, coming back from the dead and having the ability to communicate with ghosts is really what did it. Now, a private investigator in rural Freeport, Illinois, Mary's trying to learn how to incorporate her experience as a Chicago cop and new-found talent into a real job. Her challenge is to solve the mysteries, get real evidence (a ghost's word just doesn't hold up in court), and be sure the folks in town, especially the handsome new police chief, doesn't think she's nuts. Twenty-four years ago, a young woman drowned in the swimming pool of a newly elected State Senator. It was ruled an accident. But now, as the Senator prepares to move on to higher positions, the ghost of the woman is appearing to the Senator's wife. Mary is hired to discover the truth behind the death. She unearths a connection between the murder and the disappearance of five little girls whose cases, twenty-four years later, are still all unsolved. As she digs further she becomes the next target for serial killer's quest to tie up all his loose ends."

BEWARE THE SLIGHT SPOILERS!

Terri Reid wove Loose Ends together beautifully.  There were some bits that were foreshadowed a little too well.  That is to say, I knew the Police Chief Bradley was her mysterious racing partner almost as soon as one and the other were mentioned.  However, the characters are witty, fun, and despite having their own dark pasts, they aren’t broody and depressing.  They have unique personalities, flaws, and strengths.  It was also a unique perspective on someone who’s a medium and able to see ghosts.

It took me a day to read this – mostly because I was doing it in between chats at work and when I could get a moment to myself at home – but it’s an addictive read.  Reid knows how to keep the reader engaged in the well thought out plot involving politicians, missing girls, a murdered pregnant woman from the eighties, and a few ghosts that need help along the way.  The chemistry between Mary and Bradley isn’t forced, and I like that she didn’t try pushing them together, especially with Bradley still mourning his wife and child who have been missing for eight years.  Instead the attraction slowly builds more and more throughout the book instead of just smooshing them together like two blow up dolls being used as instructional sex toys.  Which reminds me – I love the fact that Rosie’s emergency fashion kit contains a blow up doll which was not just something quirky in the plot – it’s in there for a reason.

I love when writers think things through.  The little details enhance the story so much.  Reid is able to give vivid – yet not too much description to bog the story down.  It’s consistently moving forward with enough information to keep the story flowing so that the readers are fulfilled with the information, and not so much that you’re drowning in factual data.  It’s a great balance, an engaging read, and yes, I will absolutely be picking up the next one in the series.  Be careful if you decide to start on this journey.  It’s like a drug addiction.  Once you inject yourself with this creative story, you’ll find yourself jonesing for your next fix.

I’m giving Loose Ends four out of five stars. The only reason it’s not five is because for me, it was too easy to figure out a few points in the book, but that didn’t want me to stop reading it.  It only made me want more!

For more on Terri Reid and her phenomenal series you can visit here website:

http://terrireid.com/

Email: terri.reid@reidassociate.com

Holy sweet baby Jesus the holidays snuck up pretty damn fast this year.  Provided the world doesn’t end tomorrow (which it probably will just because I got all of my Christmas shopping done early) I will have a four day weekend.  At least from the boring, mundane, mind numbing, cubicle job that consumes my days.  I can’t say I’m disappointed about that.  Christmas, though busy for most, is slow for us.  That gives me time to work on stories, read new books, and find other interesting ways to keep myself from slowly losing my mind.  Okay, well I may have lost my mind a long time ago, but there’s no need to spiral down into a cesspool of madness that leaves me cackling like a frizzy haired, black toothed shrew….No comments from the peanut gallery.

In other news, I’ve been trying to find a book review blog to contribute to.  It was painstaking, grueling research, (more like luck) that lead me to "I Read A Book Once".   (The header pic belongs to the site.)Well, that and Google.  This little gem was created by a Mr. Jonathan Wilhoit – husband, father, IT guy, and devoted book nerd who turned his avid love of reading into a successful book review site filled with guest postings, give aways, author interviews, and a refreshingly honest viewpoint.  Jonathan is not at all afraid to say what’s on his mind when it comes to the books he’s reviewing.  Don’t request a review unless you want honest feedback, because that’s what you’re going to get.

The Critic-in-Chief as he is dubbed on I Read a Book Once has been awesome enough to accept my offer to become a contributor on his website.   To say that I’ve been gushing and smiling wider than the Joker on laughing gas is an understatement.  I’m uberly excited.  Yes, uberly.  If you’ve ever been a gamer you know what it means.  Let’s face it, the most prestigious thing I’ve ever done is won the Kick Butt First Line Contest a few years ago.  I’ve been entirely too shy, too self-deprecating, and doubtful to put myself out there.  Recently, between going back to school and finding a network of supportive people who are like, “Uh get your shit out there,” I figured I’d give it a go. Worst case scenario, I get rejected. 

Rejection hurts, but it’s a part of life.

The Critic-in-Chief has been kind enough to give me a shot, and I don’t intend to let him down.  Also FREE BOOKS!  What!  Okay, seriously, unleashing free books on me is like giving a sex addict multiple orgasms. I’m in heaven! I’m so, so, so, so completely, totally, utterly, and humbly appreciative of this opportunity.  Now, get your fingers off the keyboard, go back to the link and click on the site.  Wait, nevermind, I’ll give it to you again. I Read A Book Once! Go! Read!  Laugh!  Enjoy!

Thank you kindly Jonathan Wilhoit.  I hope I live up to, and learn from this experience.

It was in 2007 that I first picked up Dime Store Magic.  Little did I know, I was picking up a book that was actually the third installment of what would become one of my all-time favorite book series.  I was working at a bookstore at the time.  Lingering in the Sci-Fi and fantasy section was something I tended to do, especially when restocking.  I found so many gems while walking down those aisles, reading the backs of books that looked interesting or had a catching title.  Dime Store Magic was one of them.  I bought a copy, read the book – and then realized that Bitten and Stolen came before it.  I was happy that Kelley Armstrong was able to weave a story in a series that had enough information to be a stand-alone novel as well.

I was introduced to Paige, Lucas, and Savannah, the wonderful world of witches, cabals, and magic.  It took me a day and half to read.  After that I was scouring the net for information on the author and any other books she may have written. That’s when I found out that Bitten was the first in the series.  The bookstore I was working at also had it in the bargain section for $2.00.  So, I read Bitten, then Stolen, then the next book, and the next, until I was caught up and had to wait with the other fans in eager anticipation of the next book being released.  Armstrong intricately brought so many characters together in one world, and it was pleasure to meet all of them, following their adventures as they try to keep their magical existence a secret from the world. Armstrong didn’t create just one protagonist with supporting characters and stick them into a world.  She created a world with several stars and stories to tell. 

Picking up ‘Thirteen’ for the final hurrah left me with a feeling of dread and excitement.  There was no way that this book was going to be anything less than phenomenal, but at the same time, I knew it meant saying goodbye to so many of my favorite characters.  Watching Savannah grow from a little girl into an independent, kick ass witch who could handle her own was probably my favorite.  The reunion with her mother Eve was heartbreaking and finally seeing Savannah and Adam admit their feelings for each other had me cheering to the literary muses that spark Armstrong’s imagination.  It was action packed, with twists, turns, and cameos of just about everyone from previous books.   Riveting, full of emotional ups and downs, and ending that had everyone taking the next step in their lives, ‘Thirteen’ is perhaps one of the best series finales I’ve read.  

It’s always hard to say goodbye to people we care about.  Characters we’ve been following for years are no different.  Fare thee well you strong, independent, inspiring woman.  I shall revisit your stories often, and hope that Kelley Armstrong gives us a glimpse into your lives in the future.

I'm entering a short story into a competition.  I've only done this once before.  I'm trying to be brave.  If I don't at least try, well I'll never know if I had a shot.  Besides, even if I don't win, my husband says, "They don't announce the losers, only the winners."  This is true.  It doesn't make me want to win, or get an honorable mention or something that says I've got a shot at being a writer any less. Granted, even if I don't win or get a mention, it doesn't mean my work sucks.  People write and rewrite, go through rejection after rejection, and still continue working at it, sweating over it, pouring their soul into the words on the page.  They create world and they don't give up on it.  I'm not giving up on my stories either.  Though I am terrified of the Fiction Writing class I'm taking next semester. Fear of failing - it can be a dangerous thing.  It can hold someone back, keep them in their comfort zone.

I'm trying to step out of said comfort zone.  While the pillows are cushy, the temperature is perfect, and the out look is always good, staying in the zone may well hold me back.  I've got to push forward, I have to learn that it's okay to fail.  If I don't get the job it doesn't matter.  If I get a rejection letter, I can learn from it.  Besides, what is success if you haven't failed?  Without knowing the feeling of failure, can success truly be what's it worth? It's somewhat sweeter. Learning from failure, and knowing you succeeded because of it, that's true triumph.

I had a few friends check over the story.  If it wins, awesome.  If it doesn't, I'll be more than happy to post it here.  Just because someone doesn't like it, doesn't mean other people won't.  I've got some great friends at work who are more than happy to check it over for me.  It doesn't make me any less of a Nervous Nelly. (On that note, who remembers the Garbage Pail Kids? Show of hands?) Right, I'm getting off topic.

Wish me luck!

As a writer, I try to create a vast variety of characters so that they’re not all carbon copies of each other.  I’ve made plenty of characters that have gone through tumultuous situations that I’ve never seen or had an inkling of before.  Most of the time I think that’s all right, because human reactions vary from situation to situation as well as person to person.  Many times the phrase has been said, “There’s no right or wrong way to feel about a situation.”  It’s how we handle those feelings that dictates our next move, our next decision, and the path that we take.  There’s so many roads, so many journeys for characters to take, but what if that journey takes you somewhere that you’ve never been?

CE Murphy posted on twitter for her followers to tell her one thing about themselves.  The first thing that popped into my head was, “I was born and raised in Florida.  I’m almost 30, and I’ve never seen snow."

I don’t shun the stuff, but I’ve just never had the opportunity to see it.  The first time I went to New York was in the middle of March.  It didn’t snow, but it was the coldest environment I’d ever been in, and the result of not knowing how to deal with it was walking Pneumonia.   Still, I’ve never seen the white stuff, never felt it, or had a snow flake on my tongue, gone sledding, or any other reindeer games that come along with the snow experience.   So can I realistically write it?

There are plenty of plot environments that come straight from the imagination.  Worlds created that have new textures, geography, and so much more, but in a fictional world unlike our own, it’s much easier to simulate something, because it doesn’t have to be exact to our own.  People who’ve never been to India send characters their all the time, but is the same as someone who has actually been to India? Someone who has been to the country knows the intimacies, the crooks and crevices that Google may not be able to find.   I can use adjectives like crisp, frigid, bitter, but the truth is, I don’t personally know how that feels. 
   

As a writer it’s our job to convey the atmosphere, the tone, and emotions within the story.  Our imagination has to be wide enough, vast enough, and creative enough to draw the reader into our simulated literary world.  Each word we use has to be precisely picked; especially when it comes to something we’ve never experienced ourselves.  Delving into research, asking those around you who have experienced something you’re writing about can help.   Readers experience the world through the author’s world.  Sometimes, the writer needs to imagine the world through the eyes and experiences of someone else.

So this was the post that was meant to go up two days ago.  Since then I've posted my article, gotten my grade back on my final (93%), written another blog post, and more.  Enjoy the now outdated blog post.

The end of the semester is coming up fast.  I’ve already completed my English II final, though the professor is making me wait with agony filled impatience to find out what I got on the paper.  I’m starting to wonder if college professors get some sort of twisted pleasure out of making a student wait for so long to find out their grade.  Maybe I’m just a little high strung.  It very well could be the case.  I’m so busy these days, it’s like sleep is a dream itself.  Tonight I may forego playing on the computer to unwind and just fall into bed.  It’s a very temping proposition.

The Academy (novel I’m working on) is coming along somewhat all right.  Some of the characters make me want to bash their head into a fictional brick wall.  Maybe it will crack their stubbornness so I can get them to do what I want.  Then again, when characters go off and do what they want, it generally means that they aren’t two dimensional, that they at least have some substance to them.  Hopefully, they’ll at least stick with me long enough so I can get this finished up.  Working full time + going to school full time + blogging + article writing + trying to write a novel = a busy freakin’ bee.

On another note, I just saw that Ernest Cline’s next book will be called Armada! It’s been picked up by Crown Publishing!  You’ll notice I already wrote one blog post on Ready Player One. It was a phenomenal book, and if Armada is anything like his first book, I’ll have it read in two days, and be pimping it out to the masses.  Looks like I just found my next article topic.