Where To Open A Story?

This is an interesting question because the flippant answer would be at the beginning of course!  But what is a beginning?  There can be many entry points to a story, with each potentially leading the narrative in very different directions.  I've just completed another Writing Challenge from Wonderbook (Vandermeer) that nicely illustrates this idea.  The … Continue reading Where To Open A Story?

Book Review: “The Glass Castle” – Engaging Tale About A Spectacularly Dysfunctional Family

The book “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls was first published in March of 2005.  I had heard about the book periodically throughout the years but given the similarities of the title to a movie in the early 2000’s called “The Glass House” I think I subconsciously put the book into a B-list thriller category.  … Continue reading Book Review: “The Glass Castle” – Engaging Tale About A Spectacularly Dysfunctional Family

The Last Jedi Trailer Review: Thrilling, Surprising, and Ominous

Yes, I am such a Star Wars fan that I decided to write a trailer review. Don’t judge me! Anyway, like countless others I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the next installment of the newest Star Wars trilogy. It’s something of an early Christmas present for me this year as it has been in 2015 … Continue reading The Last Jedi Trailer Review: Thrilling, Surprising, and Ominous

Harvey Weinstein And The Things We Choose To Ignore

Like many in America I have been obsessed with the downfall of Harvey Weinstein this week.  Every day there has been a steady stream of salacious stories about how the movie mogul acted inappropriately, even criminally, during the last twenty or so years.  Some very high-profile women and many more lesser known actresses have come … Continue reading Harvey Weinstein And The Things We Choose To Ignore

Calling Female Fantasy Fans: Would You Read This Book?

I've written a fantasy novel.  It's "young adult-ish" and features a prominent love story.  I say it's young adult-ish because while the protagonist is 17 years old for most of the story there is some sexual content.  This content is not explicit or gratuitous in nature and is integral to the progression of the story.  … Continue reading Calling Female Fantasy Fans: Would You Read This Book?

A Sunflower by Any Other Name

As mentioned in an earlier post I'm working through "Wonderbook" (Vandermeer) in an effort to boost my creativity.  For Writing Challenge #2, I had to choose a subject and gather materials related to that subject from four different text sources written in diverse styles and/or points of view.  From these disparate sources a three to … Continue reading A Sunflower by Any Other Name

Book Review: The Haunting of Hill House – Atmospheric and Unsettling with a Pitch Perfect Ending

In honor of Halloween I decided to read the classic haunted house story The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I found this book on many "Scariest Books all Time" lists so I decided to give it a shot.  Full disclosure before I move on, thus far the two scariest books I've ever read were The … Continue reading Book Review: The Haunting of Hill House – Atmospheric and Unsettling with a Pitch Perfect Ending