If you’re looking for another retelling of the Frankenstein novel, this isn’t it—but The Frankenstein Chronicles is a fascinating and creative tale in which the book figures. It’s horror, mystery—and sci-fi. And who *is* the antagonist?
A Drift of Quills: Fiction Shots (Department of Stories)
A Drift of Quills: Fiction Shots (Department of Stories) — We’re doing it again: one picture, three authors, little bitty writing space.
Chocolate Fix: Oatmeal Brownies
Oatmeal Brownies—because we can’t have too many delicious brownie recipes, right? These came about after a little experimentation with an old recipe that had a good flavor but was a little too dry. And let me tell you, experimenting with brownie recipes is such a trial! (Not!) Brownies are a traditional go-to treat, and why not? One bowl, a few minutes of prep, and then the delicious and mouth-watering scent of chocolatey goodness baking in the oven. On movie night when our kids were still home, my husband would team up with one of them in a race to get […]
All the Secrets of the World
“All the secrets of the world are contained in books.” I love this quote by Lemony Snicket. Books are like treasure chests, full of the most wonderful things. When I first began reading, it was to discover adventures—And those adventures taught me all kinds of things, from moral ideals to exciting new ideas. To my delight, I discovered that the learning never stops. Whether we’re reading fact or fiction, reading helps us understand the world we live in and the people we live with. It introduces us to different ideas and inspires us to think. To make sense of our existence. To indulge in creativity.
There’s no such thing as a passive reader.
Book Storage (Five Different Flavors of Library Heaven)
I’m in the mood for a little library heaven. Books comfort me. I love being surrounded by them, teased by the words and the worlds tucked between the covers, soothed by row upon row of orderly spines inviting me to come discover new places and people and things. Take a virtual walk with me!
A Drift of Quills: Book Spine Poetry Redux
Welcome to A Drift of Quills, and today’s fun topic of “Book Spine Poetry.” This form of literature is pretty simple, and we’re excited about simple this month. Book spine poetry is a kind of “found” art. First, you need books. Start with one or two that spark your interest. As you stack them up, swap them around until they create a poem or a poetic “story.” The limitations encourage creativity, and we love creativity! My taste in poetry is questionable. I gravitate toward freeform (usually only my own—how arrogant!), the unusual (sample below), or limericks and “revised” song lyrics […]
3 More Crow Novels in the Works—and a Map!
Crow here, taking over for the sluggard otherwise known as Robin Lythgoe. She was going to post something about alleged “good things” out in the internet. (She’s explained what that is, but I keep picturing the Beisyth Web, and that thing was nasty. Ask the dragon it hit. Oh, wait, you can’t. It’s no longer breathing!)
Cover Candy #10 (On Fire!)
Cover Candy #10: (On Fire!) It’s a good thing cover candy isn’t bad for my health, because I consume a lot of covers. With my eyes, that is! I look at covers of every genre, and I am always fascinated by the stories they tell. Do they match what’s inside?
A Drift of Quills: Authors vs. the Dire One-Star Review
Face it—nobody likes a one-star review, whether we’re authors, parents, employees, or anything else. Today A Drift of Quills discusses how they feel about those zingers. Are one-star reviews ever helpful? The more I thought about this particular can of worms, the more I wanted to put a lid on it! Yes, people have the right to express their opinion. No, it’s not always kind, helpful, or even necessary. Yes, the person under the glaring light of criticism might learn something valuable. No, that doesn’t give Everyone Else the right or the duty to shred someone’s work to pieces. Did […]
Hooked on TV: Colony
I’m hooked on TV. I like to watch television to unwind—but also to see how stories and characters are developed, plots twist, themes are addressed, weird things happen. The current addiction is “Colony,” USA Network’s science-fiction drama series starring Josh Holloway and Sarah Wayne Callies.