Birthdays: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805), Booth Tarkington (1869), Eyvind Johnson (1900), Stanley Kunitz (1905), Sam Sinclair Baker (1909), Chester Himes (1909), Edwin O’Connor (1918), Sharon Creech (1945), Kathleen Krull (1952), Didier Van Cauwelaert (1960), Chang-rae Lee (1965), Adele Griffin (1970), Wil Wheaton (1972)

Eyvind Johnson shared the 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature with Harry Martinson.

Stanley Kunitz was the winner of the 1955 National Book Award for Poetry and the US Poet Laureate in both 1974 and 2000.

Edwin O’Connor won the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “The Edge of Sadness”

Sharon Creech won the Newbery Medal for “Walk Two Moons”

Quote: “I love the way that each book—any book—is its own journey. You open it, and off you go….” ― Sharon Creech

“I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.” ― Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Tip: When thinking about marketing, think outside the box. Write a book about a pet shop? Try selling your books there. A hair salon figure in your story? Ask them if they’d sell some books for you. Be creative, but don’t be a pest. If you’ve never gone into a particular bookstore or shop, don’t expect them to be open to selling your books for you.

Jumpstart: There was an accident at a science lab you were visiting and you’ve been shifted into a different phase. You can see and hear everyone, but no one can see or hear you. What do you do? Remember, being out of phase with this reality means no food or other comforts for you.

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July 30

Birthdays: Emily Brontë (1818), Dominique Lapierre (1931), Patrick Modiano (1945), Archer Mayor (1950), Marcus Pfister (1960), Cherie Priest (1975)

Patrick Modiano won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Quote: “The world is full of things we can’t control. All we can do is keep trying, keep working.”― Cherie Priest, Grave Reservations

“Last century’s magic is this year’s science.” ― Cherie Priest, Maplecroft

““Writing is a strange and solitary activity. There are dispiriting times when you start working on the first few pages of a novel. Every day, you have the feeling you are on the wrong track. This creates a strong urge to go back and follow a different path. It is important not to give in to this urge, but to keep going. It is a little like driving a car at night, in winter, on ice, with zero visibility. You have no choice, you cannot go into reverse, you must keep going forward while telling yourself that all will be well when the road becomes more stable and the fog lifts.” ― Patrick Modiano

Tip: Even though it’s difficult or hurts, reading over rejections a second (or third) time can show you where you might have some weaknesses you need to work on. Especially if multiple editors are saying the same thing.

Jumpstart: You’re walking down the street, window shopping, when you hear a scream from an alley up ahead. You have no phone. What if it’s late night and you’re alone? What do you do?

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July 31

Birthdays: Brett Halliday (1904), Primo Levi (1919), Lynne Reid Banks (1929), Cees Nooteboom (1933), Susan Cheever (1943), Faye Kellerman (1952), Steven Womack (1952), Lynne Rae Perkins (1956), J.K. Rowling (1965),

Primo Levi was an Italian chemist and writer. His “If This Is a Man” is an account of his time in a Nazi concentration camp, and his “The Periodic Table” was named the greatest science book ever written by the Royal Institute of Great Britain.

Lynn Reid Banks is best known for her children’s book “The Indian in the Cupboard”.

Lynn Perkins book “Criss Cross” won the 2006 Newbery Medal.

J.K. Rowling is best known for her “Harry Potter” series.

Quote: “Auschwitz is outside of us, but it is all around us, in the air. The plague has died away, but the infection still lingers and it would be foolish to deny it. Rejection of human solidarity, obtuse and cynical indifference to the suffering of others, abdication of the intellect and of moral sense to the principle of authority, and above all, at the root of everything, a sweeping tide of cowardice, a colossal cowardice which masks itself as warring virtue, love of country and faith in an idea.” ― Primo Levi, The Black Hole of Auschwitz

“Writers often write their best when they are feeling their worst” ― Susan Cheever, Louisa May Alcott: A Personal Biography

Tip: Thinking about your writing career and where it currently is. Are you happy with it and where you’re headed? If not, what can you do to change things? Remember, you can only adjust things you are in control of.

Jumpstart: You’ve just inherited a piece of land from a relative you never knew about. It turns out to be a junkyard. But one that specializes in a particular type of “junk” – each piece is haunted. What do you do?

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August 1

Birthdays: Richard Henry Dana, Jr. (1815), Herman Melville (1819), Paul Horgan (1903), Stanley Middleton (1919), Robert Waller (1939), David Gemmell (1948), Amy Friedman (1952), James Gleick (1954), Madison Smartt Bell (1957), James St. James (1966).

Richard Dana, Jr. is best known for his memoir “Two Years Before the Mast”

Herman Melville is best known for his masterpiece “Moby Dick”

Paul Horgan won two Pulitzer Prizes in History.

Stanley Middleton won the 1974 Booker Prize for his novel “Holiday”

Rober Waller is best known for his 1992 novel “The Bridges of Madison County”

James Gleick has been a Pulitzer and Nat’l Book Award finalist multiple times.

Quote: “He who dares to teach must never cease to learn.” ― Richard Henry Dana

“Nothing of real worth can ever be bought. Love, friendship, honour, valour, respect. All these things have to be earned.” ― David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder

“Ideas that require people to reorganize their picture of the world provoke hostility.” ― James Gleick, Chaos: Making a New Science

“It’s easy to lose the energy that you need for a long piece unless the characters are surprising you and showing you something new every week, or even every month, or every other paragraph – however often it comes.” – Anne McDermott

Tip: This is national eye exam month. A writer’s eyes are almost as important as his imagination. When was the last time you had a good eye exam? If you can’t remember, schedule one.

Jumpstart: August is the only month without any sort of recognized holiday. You have been tasked with creating one. What or who will it honor? Why? Will it be national or international? Will workers get the day off?

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August 2

Birthdays: Holling C Holling (1900), James Baldwin (1924), Isabel Allende (1942), Beverly Coyle (1946), James Howe (1946), Lawrence Wright (1947), Caleb Carr (1955)

Holling C. Holling won the 1943 Caldecott for his illustrations in “Paddle-to-the-Sea”

James Howe is best known for his “Bunnicula” series

Lawrence Wright won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11”

Quote: “Banning books is just another form of bullying. It’s all about fear and an assumption of power. The key is to address the fear and deny the power.”
― James Howe

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” ― James Baldwin

Tip: There isn’t a formula for writing a blockbuster book and becoming successful, other than writing the best book you can. The rest of it is pretty much luck and marketing.

Jumpstart: Finish this: It wasn’t the first time I’d been caught (doing what?), but it was the first time I’d…

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August 3

Birthdays: Vernon Parrington (1871), Rupert Brooke (1887), Clifford Simak (1904), Walter Van Tilburg Clark (1909), James MacGregor Burns (1918), P.D. James (1920), Hayden Carruth (1921), Leon Uris (1924), Mary Calhoun (1926), Marvin Bell (1937), Martha Stewart (1941), Steven Millhauser (1943), Walter Kirn (1962),

Vernon Parrington won the 1928 Pulitzer Prize for History for “Main Currents in American Thoughts”

Clifford Simak won three Hugo awards and one Nebula Award in his career.

James Burns won the National Book Award and Pulitzer for his biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Hayden Carruth won the National Book Award for his poetry collection “Scrambled Eggs and Whiskey”

Steven Millhauser won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “Martin Dressler”

Quote: “We desire justice, and justice has never been obtained in haste and strong feeling.”
― Walter Van Tilburg Clark

“Power wielders may treat people as things. Leaders may not.” ― James MacGregor Burns, Leadership

“Who here wants to be a writer?’ I asked. Everyone in the room raised his hand. ‘Why the hell aren’t you home writing?’ I said, and left the stage.” ― Leon Uris, Qb VII

Tip: Negativity breeds negativity. If your circle of friends or crit partners is too negative, it can influence your way of thinking. Figure out a way to turn that negativity into a positive.

Jumpstart: My mother always told me… (what). I tried. I really did, but… (what?)

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August 4

Birthdays: Percy Shelley (1792), Knut Hamsun (1859), Robert Hayden (1913), Robert Beck (1918), Mary White Calstom (1948), Tim Winton (1960), Dennis Lehane (1965), Fred Khumalo (1966), Jojo Moyes(1969)

Robert Hayden was the first Black person to hold the office of US Poet Laureate – 1976-1978.

Knut Hamsun won the 1920 Nobel Prize for Literature for “Growth of the Soil”

Quote: Happiness doesn’t lie in conspicuous consumption and the relentless amassing of useless crap. Happiness lies in the person sitting beside you and your ability to talk to them. Happiness is clear-headed human interaction and empathy. Happiness is home. And home is not a house-home is a mythological conceit. It is a state of mind. A place of communion and unconditional love. It is where, when you cross its threshold, you finally feel at peace.”

― Dennis Lehane

“I always make a point of working on more than one project at a time. When I am stuck with my, say, fiction, I change gears and work on a piece of journalism or some other non-fiction. I don’t wait for inspiration. I write every day – even if it’s unpublishable rubbish.” – Fred Khumalo

Tip: If you can afford it, enter contests, especially ones that offer comments not just scores. The feedback from some can be invaluable. But be prepared for uneven results. Don’t look at the scores so much as pay attention to the comments.

Jumpstart: You’re one of the first people who get to go on vacation on the international space station. Do you go? Why or why not? What happens when something goes wrong?

Great Summer Reads from The Wild Rose Press: One Scoop or Two. Novellas centered around an ice cream theme. You’ll love them. I know I do.

https://catalog.wildrosepress.com/series.php?TWRPSeries=One%20Scoop%20or%20Two

Or check out one of these other series:

The Wylder West

The Deerborne Inn – Romance in Vermont

Passport to Pleasure

Lobster Cove

Candy Hearts Romance

Jelly Beans and Spring Things

Christmas Cookies

Knit, Purl… Murder by Lyla Lockwood

Fiction, Paranormal Cozy Mystery, (310 pages)

4****

Blurb: Savvy Swift’s life is turned upside-down when she discovers her fiancé cheating. What’s a scorned girl to do? Take off in his classic Dodge Charger, of course! Savvy is just settling into her new home in Wickerton Hollow when the woman who takes her in is accused of killing the town hussy. Strange things a talking cat grants her wishes, the gnomes in the garden come alive, and she must steal back a relic a troll took from them because – whoops! – it is her fault he stole it in the first place. All this, while trying to solve the murder so she can spare her friend from prison. Will Savvy have what it takes? Perhaps. But it will take a whole lot of luck and a little bit of magic.

Thoughts: I really debated how many stars I was going to give this story. It was quirky and fun with silly character/place names that had me cringing (but in a good way), but… a better editor is needed. That being said, I couldn’t put this down. It made me smile and even laugh and there’s a lot to be said about those happy emotions these days.

Savvy is really down on her luck. Engaged to a man she caught doing the deed with their secretary, she takes his car (that she paid for) and heads for who knows where. She just drove until she ran out of money and gas. And ended up in the Adirondacks in a strange small town with odd characters—one who ends up dead. And it’s up to Savvy to figure out who the real killer is so her friend, the sweet Ginny, doesn’t get blamed for the deed. There’s a hunky cop (Shotgun) and his newsy twin brother (Sayer), a nasty newspaper guy (Nitpicker), and the man who owns most of the town (McGreedy). There are also garden gnomes and trolls and witches and more.

It’s a cute story with fun characters – and a definite nod to more books to come as there were a lot of threads left dangling. Ignore the editorial issues and this is a fun book to read.

Recommended

BEWEPT by Colleen Coyle

Fiction, Thriller (298 pages)

4****

Blurb: Anna is finally happy-newly married to a wonderful, supportive man and living in her dream home. Just as her husband begins to announce a big surprise, his heart ceases, her future dissolves, and she plunges into grief. Grief has her stuck between what was and what is. From past experience, Anna knows how easy it is to get lost in a grief that causes odd behaviors, lost chunks of time, and forgetfulness. This time, is it a sign she is in the throes of early dementia? When past horrors resurface and collide with Anna’s uncertain present, she wonders if something sinister is at play. Discovering the truth sends her on a harrowing odyssey where each step forward unlocks another terrible memory. Successfully confronting the ghosts from her past will be key to her survival.

Thoughts: This was a challenging book to read. It’s a bit dark—okay, it’s a thriller, not a sweet cozy mystery—so there’s definitely psychological nastiness going on. And murder. And treachery. And so much more. But there are a lot of triggers for those who have them, such as: death of child, spouse. Thoughts of suicide (deciding how to best do it), spousal abuse. So for those who might have a problem with this, be aware that they are here.

That being said, I am very glad I read this in bright daylight, not during a snowstorm or blackout, and while not alone! This is a well-written story that is plausible and very scary at times. And just when you think everything is over and done with, there’s still a third of the book to go. It does exactly what a thriller is supposed to do—it scares (or thrills) you. The story is written in first person/present tense, but there are multiple points of view (Anna, her lawyer, the daughter, the neighbors)—though mostly Anna. I liked that she is older and what she is going through is realistic. The characters are believable. The setting well-done with small details that let you peek into Anna’s life. But the ending… yes, everything got settled, but it made me wonder. I’m just not sure I liked the ending.

Recommendation: If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you awake at night, pick this one up.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Blurb: The bubbly fun of a rom-com meets the irresistible quirkiness of a cozy mystery in this buoyant new rom-cozy set off the coast of Southern California. It’s the perfect vacation spot for those who want to get away from it all. Unfortunately for Santa Catalina boat tour guide Whitney Dagner and her chonky cat Whiskers, it’s also the perfect vacation spot for people who want to get away with murder…  When she’s not piloting a glass bottom boat, showing the sights to tourists, Whit sells seashells by the seashore—among many other sea and sand souvenirs—to help keep her family shop, Nautically Yours, afloat. It’s a far cry from her corporate climbing ladder life in Los Angeles, but Whit and her frisky feline, Whiskers, love calling Catalina home and being close to family. Especially Whit’s grandmother Goldy, a fun and feisty senior who always marched to the beat of a different drum. In her youth, Goldy was an item with a Catalina catch named Darren. But it was actually a ruse to fool Darren’s parents who wouldn’t have accepted his preference for men. Eventually, he left the island and chose the life—and life-partner—he wanted for himself. Back in town for his mother’s funeral, Darren takes the opportunity to heal his open wounds, and settle some scores. In a surprise to the residents, Darren produced a documentary about the history of Catalina, and has arranged a premiere screening in the local theater. But his film career is cut short when his partner’s dead body is discovered the night before the opening. Rumors start swirling that Darren’s documentary was actually about Catalina’s people—and the things they’ve done—giving a lot of folks a lot of motives. Now, it’s up to Whit and her somewhat-ex-boyfriend policeman to catch a killer, and uncover just how much Grandma Goldy knows about the back door deals tied to Darren’s past…

Amazon

After writing plays for her friends to act out as a kid, bad poetry in high school, and her high school Alma Mater song, Gabby Allan finally found her true passion—cozy mysteries. Being able to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time, and touch people’s hearts with her down-to-earth characters makes for the best job ever. This California girl now lives with her husband, daughter, and two insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Website

THE ROAD TO VICTORY by Natalie J. Damschroder

Fiction, Action/Adventure, Romance, Novella (80 pages)

5*****

Blurb: After defeating a terrible enemy and suffering an equally terrible loss, Mayne Sobol is adrift. He needs to normalize his daughter’s life, but the one job he’s done his entire career is too dangerous to continue. Bailey Fleming loves her job at Victory—too much. Her plans for her own business are ready to launch, and she’s been procrastinating since finding the kind of work family she wants to build. It’s time to break free, but she lets herself be talked into one last assignment. Bailey and Mayne start with competing interests, but in the course of foiling a complicated plot against their clients, intrigue and attraction draw them together. Neither is in a position to start something personal when their careers are in such flux…but if they don’t explore the chemistry between them, they may regret it for the rest of their lives. The Road to Victory is a standalone story between the Seismic Series and the Victory Series. It does contain spoilers for Aftershocks and Resonance , but you don’t need to have read those books to enjoy this novella, and The Road to Victory isn’t necessary to enjoy the upcoming Victory Series.

Thoughts: This is a short, fun read with lots of action and romance. Bailey and Mayne are working for two different security companies but have been sent on the same job by opposing factions – a husband and wife in the midst of a messy divorce. When a third party shows up to hijack their job, they know something else is going on. 

What I liked: The characters, the plot, and the action. Even though this is a short novella, there’s enough going on here to catch and hold your attention. Plus, it’s obvious at the beginning that this is part of a series. The author gives you background without burying you in back story details. 

What I didn’t like: Honestly, nothing unless it’s the fact that it’s too short and I’d love to read more! 

Recommendation: Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own and all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own and not influenced by anyone.

July 22

Birthdays: Emma Lazarus (1849), Margery Williams Bianco (1881), Odell Shepard (1884), Stephen Vincent Benet (1898), Amy Vanderbilt (1908), Bryan Forbes (1926), Jeremy Lloyd (1930), Tom Robbins (1936), David Kennedy (1941), S.E. Hinton (1948), David Shields (1956), Akhil Sharma (1971),

Emma Lazarus is best known for her poem “The New Colussus” which appears on the base of the Statue of Liberty.

Odell Shepard won the 1938 Pulitzer Prize for Biography for “Pedlar’s Progress”

Stephen Vincent Benet won the 1929 Pulitzer Prize for “John Brown’s Body”, a book-length poem about the Civil War

David Kennedy won the 2000 Pulitzer in History for “Freedom from Fear”

Quote: “Until we are all free, we are none of us free. ” ― Emma Lazarus

“Writing is one of the loneliest of the arts; unlike the actor we have no immediate audience and must wait many long months, even years on occasion, for the splatter of applause to reach our ears, if indeed we are not damned by total neglect.” – Bryan Forbes

Tip: As a writer, you need to develop a writing process that is flexible yet provides structure. How can you arrange your schedule to provide both?

Jumpstart: If your character was awakened out of a sound sleep and asked to describe himself in generalities (Midwesterner, engineer) what words would he blurt out?

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July 23

Birthdays: Raymond Chandler (1888), Elspeth Huxley (1907), Hubert, Jr. Selby (1928), John Nichols (1940), Lisa Alther (1944), Gardner Dozois (1947), Vikram Chandra (1961), Mohsin Hamid (1971), Lauren Groff (1978),

Quote: “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. ” ― Raymond Chandler

“I wrote for fourteen years and couldn’t get published. So I got used to the idea of not having an audience. I knew that if I were going to continue writing, I had to find other reasons than fame and riches and reactions from readers. I decided that I love to write, that it’s the most fun I have, so that makes it worth doing; and I use writing to figure out things about my life and the world, so that makes it worth doing; and it’s a craft and I can feel that I’m getting better at it and thus may hope eventually to get published, and that makes it worth doing.” – Lisa Alther

Tip: Edit your short story as if every word costs you ten dollars. How much fluff do you have?

Jumpstart: How would your main character tell a good friend about his/her current circumstances? What about after a few drinks? Describe the conversation and where it takes place.

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July 24

Birthdays: Alexandre Dumas (1802), Henrik Pontoppidan (1857), Percy FitzPatrick (1862), Lord Dunsany (1878), Edward Plunkett (1878), Junichiro Tanizaki (1886), Robert Graves (1895), Zelda Fitzgerald (1900), John D. MacDonald (1916), Aaron Elkins (1935), Albert Marrin (1936), Barry N. Maltzberg (1939), Arliss Ryan (1950), Brad Watson (1955), Banana Yoshimoto (1964), Madeline Miller (1978),

Henrik Pontoppidan was the co-winner of the 1917 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Quote: “That’s the advantage of insomnia. People who go to bed early always complain that the night is too short, but for those of us who stay up all night, it can feel as long as a lifetime. You get a lot done.” ― Banana Yoshimoto, N.P

“As an author, one of the most important things I think you can do once you’ve written a novel is step back. When the book is out, it belongs to the readers and you can’t stand there breathing over their shoulders.” – Madeline Miller

Tip: Establish POV (point of view – the person who is telling that part of the story) often. Readers put books down or are reading other things while reading yours. They tend to stop at chapter breaks so be sure to establish POV at the next scene or chapter break.

Jumpstart: Write a scene where you’re a much older—and wiser—version of yourself. What advice would you give your younger self?

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July 25

Birthdays: Josephine Tey (1896), Ruth Krauss (1901), Eric Hoffer (1902), Elias Canetti (1905), Denys Watkins-Pitchford(BB) (1905), Elias Canetti (1905), Midge Decter (1927), David Madden (1933), Robert Barrett (1937), Anne Applebaum (1964), Melissa Marr (1972), Mur Lafferty (1973)

Elias Canetti won the 1981 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Anne Applebaum won both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for her nonfiction.

Quote: “You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.” ― Eric Hoffer

“People have always had different opinions. Now they have different facts.”― Anne Applebaum, Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

“Letters to agents or editors should read like professional business letters. Don’t let your creative self get in the way of professional interactions. Sometimes that means writing replies but SAVING them as drafts for 48 hours so your mood can level. Being a professional writer (or pro artist, singer, etc.) involves switching modes between creative and practical.” – Melissa Marr

Tip: Don’t overuse your character names. Once you’ve established the last name of a character, you don’t need to reuse it unless there’s a reason. Plus, in dialogue, it’s not necessary to keep using names. As long as you’ve got tags or action delineating who is speaking, that’s enough.

Jumpstart: Your character has created a virus that will cure all ills of mankind and extend their lives by at least double—but it means they’d be sterile. Would s/he put it out there? Why or why not? Would s/he use it?

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July 26

Birthdays: George Bernard Shaw (1856), Carl Jung (1875), Aldous Huxley (1894), Paul Gallico (1897), James Berenstain (1923), Bernice Rubens (1928), Nicholas Evans (1950), Lawrence Watt Evans (1954), Rick Bragg (1959)

George Bernard Shaw is the only person to have won the Nobel Prize for Literature and an Oscar for the same work: “Pygmalion” (1938). “Pygmalion” was later made into the play/movie “My Fair Lady”

Quote: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” ― George Bernard Shaw

“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” ― George Bernard Shaw

Tip: Take classes, either in person or online, to enhance your skills, learn new techniques, or enhance ones you already have.

Jumpstart: You go for a hike in the woods, taking a path you’ve traveled many times before. It starts to snow and you get turned around and suddenly don’t know where you are….

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July 27

Birthdays: Alexandre Dumas (1824), Giosue Carducci (1835), Hilaire Belloc (1870), Elizabeth Hardwick (1916), Jack Higgins (1929), Paul B Janeczko (1945), Robert Rankin (1949), Kate Elliott (1958), Cassandra Clare (1973)

Alexandre Dumas (fils) is the son of the French author of the same name. His novel “La Dame aux Camelias” was adapted by Verdi into the opera “La Traviata”

Giosue Carducci, an Italian poet, was the winner of the 1906 Nobel Prize in Literature

Quote: “The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.” ― Elizabeth Hardwick

Tip: If you get a rejection letter that has suggestions in it, really look at it. The agent or editor took valuable time to write that to you so pay attention. Most rejections are form letters, when they even come. Having an editor respond personally to you is important.

Jumpstart: You’re hosting a dinner for a large group of people—two from each country of the world. What do you serve? What do you talk about? How do you seat them?

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July 28

Birthdays: Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844), Beatrix Potter (1866), Malcolm Lowry (1909), John Ashbery (1927), Shirley Ann Grau (1929), Natalie Babbitt (1932), Jim Davis (1945), Robert Aspirin (1946), John Feinstein (1956), William T. Vollman (1959), Jon J. Muth (1960), Michael Ruhlman (1963)

Beatrix Potter is best known for her children’s stories like “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”

John Ashbery won the 1976 Pulitzer for his poetry collection “Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror”

Natalie Babbitt’s books “Tuck Everlasting” and “The Eyes of the Amaryllis” were both made into movies.

Jim Davis is best known for his “Garfield” comics.

Quote: “The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.” ― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.” ― Beatrix Potter

Tip: If you can get into a good critique group, do so. They are invaluable. Not only will they help you with your writing, but in critiquing their work, you might learn a lot too. Just be aware, it make take several tries to find a good fit for you.

Jumpstart: Write up a zodiac profile of your main character. Is she a Leo, or a Scorpio? Or use the Chinese years – was she born in the year of the Dog or the Bull?

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July 29

Birthdays: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805), Booth Tarkington (1869), Eyvind Johnson (1900), Stanley Kunitz (1905), Sam Sinclair Baker (1909), Chester Himes (1909), Edwin O’Connor (1918), Sharon Creech (1945), Kathleen Krull (1952), Didier Van Cauwelaert (1960), Chang-rae Lee (1965), Adele Griffin (1970), Wil Wheaton (1972)

Eyvind Johnson shared the 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature with Harry Martinson.

Stanley Kunitz was the winner of the 1955 National Book Award for Poetry and the US Poet Laureate in both 1974 and 2000.

Edwin O’Connor won the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “The Edge of Sadness”

Sharon Creech won the Newbery Medal for “Walk Two Moons”

Quote: “I love the way that each book—any book—is its own journey. You open it, and off you go….” ― Sharon Creech

“I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.” ― Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Tip: When thinking about marketing, think outside the box. Write a book about a pet shop? Try selling your books there. A hair salon figure in your story? Ask them if they’d sell some books for you. Be creative, but don’t be a pest. If you’ve never gone into a particular bookstore or shop, don’t expect them to be open to selling your books for you.

Jumpstart: There was an accident at a science lab you were visiting and you’ve been shifted into a different phase. You can see and hear everyone, but no one can see or hear you. What do you do? Remember, being out of phase with this reality means no food or other comforts for you.

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July 30

Birthdays: Emily Brontë (1818), Dominique Lapierre (1931), Patrick Modiano (1945), Archer Mayor (1950), Marcus Pfister (1960), Cherie Priest (1975)

Patrick Modiano won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Quote: “The world is full of things we can’t control. All we can do is keep trying, keep working.”― Cherie Priest, Grave Reservations

“Last century’s magic is this year’s science.” ― Cherie Priest, Maplecroft

““Writing is a strange and solitary activity. There are dispiriting times when you start working on the first few pages of a novel. Every day, you have the feeling you are on the wrong track. This creates a strong urge to go back and follow a different path. It is important not to give in to this urge, but to keep going. It is a little like driving a car at night, in winter, on ice, with zero visibility. You have no choice, you cannot go into reverse, you must keep going forward while telling yourself that all will be well when the road becomes more stable and the fog lifts.” ― Patrick Modiano

Tip: Even though it’s difficult or hurts, reading over rejections a second (or third) time can show you where you might have some weaknesses you need to work on. Especially if multiple editors are saying the same thing.

Jumpstart: You’re walking down the street, window shopping, when you hear a scream from an alley up ahead. You have no phone. What if it’s late night and you’re alone? What do you do?

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July 31

Birthdays: Brett Halliday (1904), Primo Levi (1919), Lynne Reid Banks (1929), Cees Nooteboom (1933), Susan Cheever (1943), Faye Kellerman (1952), Steven Womack (1952), Lynne Rae Perkins (1956), J.K. Rowling (1965),

Primo Levi was an Italian chemist and writer. His “If This Is a Man” is an account of his time in a Nazi concentration camp, and his “The Periodic Table” was named the greatest science book ever written by the Royal Institute of Great Britain.

Lynn Reid Banks is best known for her children’s book “The Indian in the Cupboard”.

Lynn Perkins book “Criss Cross” won the 2006 Newbery Medal.

J.K. Rowling is best known for her “Harry Potter” series.

Quote: “Auschwitz is outside of us, but it is all around us, in the air. The plague has died away, but the infection still lingers and it would be foolish to deny it. Rejection of human solidarity, obtuse and cynical indifference to the suffering of others, abdication of the intellect and of moral sense to the principle of authority, and above all, at the root of everything, a sweeping tide of cowardice, a colossal cowardice which masks itself as warring virtue, love of country and faith in an idea.” ― Primo Levi, The Black Hole of Auschwitz

“Writers often write their best when they are feeling their worst” ― Susan Cheever, Louisa May Alcott: A Personal Biography

Tip: Thinking about your writing career and where it currently is. Are you happy with it and where you’re headed? If not, what can you do to change things? Remember, you can only adjust things you are in control of.

Jumpstart: You’ve just inherited a piece of land from a relative you never knew about. It turns out to be a junkyard. But one that specializes in a particular type of “junk” – each piece is haunted. What do you do?

THE SOLACE OF DENIM by Kathy Otten

Fiction, YA Paranormal, Ghost mysteries (188 pages)

5*****

Blurb: The victim of a horrific crime, fifteen-year-old Joey Kowalski has bounced around in the foster care system for six years. When his only friend Luke is murdered, suspicion falls on Joey. As evidence mounts against him, Luke’s denim jacket appears in Joey’s closet. When he puts on the jacket, he gets visions of Luke’s murder and hears Luke’s voice in his head. Can Joey convince Luke’s father, Detective Marek, to look past his grief and help him find the real killer?

Thoughts: This is not a light, fun story. Joey Kowalski has had a rough life – family violence, death, his best friend Luke killed, bullied because of his scars and limp, moved from school to school and foster family to foster family. He goes to a therapist, but gets no help there because he refuses to talk about his past. Then he overhears a dark deal going down and gets caught. Then there’s Luke’s jacket. A jacket that keeps showing up even when Joey gives it back to Luke’s father. And when he wears the jacket, weird things happen. Things Joey doesn’t understand at first, not before he realizes what the jacket means.

What I liked: The characters are well done and realistic. Joey has had a rough life and doesn’t trust easily (with good reason). His connection with Luke goes beyond a ghostly haunting with the old denim jacket – as does his connection with Luke’s dad. And the bullying happens like the author says—even in places where it’s said bullying doesn’t happen. It does. Well done. And the ending is satisfying.

What I didn’t like: There are more than a few triggers here for some people, especially the family abuse from the father. I thought it was well done, but fair warning to some readers.

Recommendation: Definitely recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

THROUGH THE FLAMES by Andrew Grey

Fiction, LGBTQ+, M/M, Contemporary Romance, 4 Heat Level (228 pages)

4****

Blurb: Kyle Wilson hasn’t had it easy. His insecurities and nasty home life made him lash out as a kid, and when he finally came out as gay, his family disowned him. Then, just when he’s pulled his life together and gotten his construction company running, he’s caught in a fire and forced to take costly time off. When firefighter Hayden Walters rescues a man from a burning building, he’s just doing his job. He doesn’t expect it to turn his life upside-down, but the man is none other than Hayden’s high school bully. He definitely doesn’t expect Kyle to come to the station to thank him in person. With awkward apologies out of the way, Kyle and Hayden realize they have a lot in common. And when it turns out someone set the fire at Kyle’s construction site to target him, they find they can solve each other’s problems Hayden needs a place to stay while his apartment is renovated, and Kyle doesn’t want to be alone in case the firebug strikes again. Things between the two of them quickly heat up—but so does the arsonist’s agenda. Can they track down the would-be killer before it’s too late?

Thoughts: This is a standard Andrew Grey story with two hunky guys who don’t like each other at first, then friendship grows, then love. Hayden and Kyle have a rough past. In high school, Kyle bullied Hayden, but he’s a changed man. At first, Hayden doesn’t trust him, but eventually sees Kyle for the kind, caring man he’s become. But a firebug is after Kyle and Hayden is part of the fire company that gets called out to stop the fires.

What I liked: Mitzi! Okay I liked the two guys too. But the dog is the best character! And the story build up is done well. The plot moves nicely with danger ramping up until the final moment. And a couple hot bedroom scenes.

What I didn’t like: Toward the beginning, Kyle claims that his father never let the family have a pet. But toward the end, his mother and sister are hugging an elderly black lab. Okay, this is a minor glitch, but it was enough for me to drop a star.

Recommendation: This is a really nice story with some hot sex, a good plot, and a satisfying ending. Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”