Synopsis/Trailer for The Dead Travel Fast

One of my most anticipated books of 2010 is Deanna Raybourn’s The Dead Travel Fast. I was thrilled to find that she’d posted a link to its trailer on her blog today. And while there, I noticed that there was a synopsis, too.

With a modest inheritance and the three gowns that comprise her entire wardrobe, Theodora Lestrange leaves Edinburgh and a disappointed suitor far behind. She is bound for Roumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered, to visit an old friend and write the book that will bring her true independence.

She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathians replete with eccentric inhabitants: the ailing dowager; the troubled steward; her own fearful friend, Cosmina. But all are outstripped in dark glamour by the castle’s master, Count Andrei Dragulescu.

Bewildering and bewitching in equal measure, the brooding nobleman ignites Theodora’s imagination and awakens passions in her that she can neither deny nor conceal. His allure is superlative, his dominion over the superstitious town, absolute Theodora may simply be one more person under his sway.

Before her sojourn is ended or her novel completed Theodora will have encountered things as strange and terrible as they are seductive. For obsession can prove fatal…and she is in danger of falling prey to more than desire.

Raine Benares, in trouble again

It’s finally here! Lisa Shearin has posted the first three chapters of Bewitched & Betrayed on her website.

I have been waiting and waiting, and man, this book is going to be gooooood! Now, of course, it’s going to be an awful wait until April. Guess I’ll have to read those first three chapters a few times until then.

Not familiar with the Raine Benares series? Get reading!

Magic Lost, Trouble Found
Armed & Magical
The Trouble with Demons
Bewitched & Betrayed (April 27th, 2010)

Sunday Salon: Snowy Day

That’s the view from one of our back windows. It’s brightened up a bit, but snow is still falling heavily, and the sound of a plow thudding down on the street outside our house is still startling me.

The little miss and I bundled up and took the pup out. He had a blast, jumping and sticking his entire face into big drifts. But that’s not all we’ve been up to. When the weather requires you to stay in, what do you do? Bake!

I pulled out Nestle Classic Recipes – one of my favorite sweet tooth cookbooks – and we made snowball cookies. We also made peanut butter fudge bars, and they’re chilling in the fridge.

Since it’s the perfect day for it, I’m really going to try to get some reading done. That is, after some wrapping. And a few household chores. Oh, and after the little miss and I have our Rankin/Bass marathon. On second thought…If I ever do get around to reading today I’ll have plenty to choose from.

I took next week off, which meant stocking up on library books. The ones pictured here are actually in addition to a few – or six – that I took home last week.

My hope is to actually finish a few I’ve started but haven’t been able to due to a total lack of motivation. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the books, it’s just my concentration.

So that’s it. We’re going to enjoy the snow day. I hope you have a wonderful one, snow-filled or not.

Thoughts on Writing: Taking the Time

This is going to be a new feature on my blog, but likely won’t appear too frequently. Reviews and book talk will still be the focus. And for those who may read this blog with no interest in writing whatsoever, thanks for bearing with me because, really, these posts are basically for me.

If there’s one thing I’m learning about writing it’s this: Take the time.

And to expand on that, here are a couple of things I’ve come to understand:

The voice in my head telling me that I don’t need to know x, y, and z before digging into the meat of the writing? Needs to be shut up.

Taking days, weeks, or maybe even a month getting to know your characters? Is still progress.

Looking at the big picture before stressing over little details? Totally okay. And honing that big picture so that little details matter? Requires layering that won’t happen in a day.

For the longest time I would write first. Just dive right into the story. But I didn’t have much of a story because I knew nothing about what would make it grow. And because of that I stalled every time. The effect it had on me was terrible: I felt frustrated and demoralized. Stalling out fueled every “I can’t do this” emotion that already simmered inside my head. It’s bad enough having a very vocal inner critic; I didn’t need that on top of it!

But now I’ve got two projects in the works and there’s one I’m taking my time with. It’s a process I’m not conditioned to yet, and sometimes I have to force myself to apply the brakes, but I can already tell it’s the way to go. I’m getting to know my characters on a level I never had before and the pieces are fitting together with greater ease.

I’ve been very fortunate in recent months to have heard several authors speak about their writing process. Some kept writing journals, some had a dozen working documents they used to brainstorm characters’ backstories, and others used detailed outlines of both the major story arc and scene arcs. All stressed the importance of knowing all you can know. I think I’ve got it now. And I’m going to do my best to temper my impatience to get the story written.

If, like me, you enjoy reading about the writing process and other aspects of publishing, here are a few other blogs that discuss these topics: Rhiannon Hart, Help! I Need a Publisher!, Tia’s Writing Blog, The Intern

The Cybils

Did anyone happen to see this past Tuesday’s post on the Cybils’ blog? No? Well…

I’m going to be a round 2 panelist for Fantasy/Sceince Fiction in the young adult category!

I’m incredibly excited about this! Here’s the lineup of judges that I’ll be reading alongside of:

Maureen Kearney, Confessions of a Bibliovore
Anne Levy, Cybils
Sam Musher, Parenthetical
Tasha Saecker, Kidslit

(Skimming) Divine Misdemeanors – Laurell K Hamilton

Okay, so, this one veers superficially towards a police procedural plot that was developed in several of the early Anita Blake books. But this time it’s Merry’s turn; she’s called in by the police to help investigate the gruesome murders of L.A.’s demi-fey. And…that’s about where the plot ends.

Having read the first chapter on LKH’s site, and having followed that up with a few spoilers posted on various sites, I pretty much knew all I needed to know about this one. Hence, the skimming. I rifled through the pages looking for Frost’s name, and/or Doyle’s, and read those sections. The rest got a cursory glance.

So what did I think?

• Barinthus’ character “development” was ridiculous. Another good character gone stupid.
• Poor Julian.
• Mistral is still a pain in the butt.
• As much as I actually kind of like Sholto, do his “extra bits” need to be referenced in every single scene he’s in?

I could go on, but my intent is not to slam the book, or the author. I still read – okay, skim – the books, mostly because I’ve come this far. Ah, well.

Etsy Art

Odds are very good that I won’t be posting reviews until after the holidays. My reading has not just slowed down, it’s pretty much come to a stop. But I still want to post, which is why you’ll be getting things like this: Etsy art I’ve been eyeing up. A friend recently said something along the lines of “Etsy is a black hole” – so true! I browse for presents and end up adding a ton of things to my favorite lists. Like a few of the pieces below.

1. Tea Time print by studiorayyan (Left)
2. Her Message by shawnaerback (Right)

3. After the Battle by atlcopperworks (Left)
4. Siegfried and Brunnhilde by corygodbey

5. Storm Watcher by lewfoster (Left)
6. Watching and Waiting by hoppipoppi (Right)

7. Creepy Tears by philippesarts (Left)
8. Twilight Tune by kelliedrawspictures (Right)

Sunday Salon: Books Bought, Blog Goals, More on Sherlock, Etc.

It’s very hard to ignore the lure of a bookstore coupon. Every time I print one out my husband reminds me that I don’t actually have to use it. (He is *insert long-suffering sigh here* a non-reader.) With that coupon burning a hole in my bag, I headed to Borders.

For whatever reason, our nearby store never has a good selection, and they don’t tend to get new releases in a timely manner. I ended up leaving with a couple of Patricia Briggs’ older titles (with updated covers): Raven’s Shadow and Raven’s Strike. I’m a fan of her Mercy Thompson series, which is why I thought I’d give these a try. Anyone read them? Thoughts?

Other than that, it’s been a couple of dry buying weeks. I do expect that to change, however, and soon. 2010 is going to be a fantastic year!

And speaking of the new year…

Tempting Persephone is going to undergo a sort of revamp. There’ll be some changes – mostly cosmetic, but I’m really excited about it. Then there’s a reading challenge I’ve been trying to put together; since it’ll be my first attempt at hosting one it will be on a small scale. I’d also like to start doing more regular features, hopefully interesting ones, which means I should start brainstorming. I want to continue on with my soul-satisfying project, too.

Don’t be surprised if things look different around here in the near future.

And because I am on official Holmes countdown it’s going to be a recurring topic here. (My apologies in advance if it becomes annoying! But, ah, see the picture below for a smidge of proof of my Holmes adoration.)

Did anyone see the film review in Elle magazine? Karen Durbin wrote:

“As for Downey’s Holmes, he’s a grubby, charismatic marvel, a late-nineteethcentury bohemian vibrating with nervous energy and done up in Byronic disarray. His neuroses ride shotgun with his explosive, fast-talking intelligence; he doesn’t play the violin, he plucks it like a ukelele; and he stimulates himself not with cocaine but bouts of bareknuckle fighting in the roughest parts of town. If Jude Law’s Watson pales beside this flamboyance, at least he’s Holmes’ friend and equal, and Ritchie even throws in a gambling habit. But the real star of Sherlock Holmes is Ritchie’s greatest achievement: His powerful evocation of late-nineteenthcentury London. There’s nothing genteel about it. Much more than a backdrop, this is the real imperial city, majestic and filthy, fiercely, even cruelly, alive.” (Read the entire review here.)

Oh, man, oh, man! I’m already gearing myself up for multiple theater viewings!

(And this is only one shelf. I’ve got more books. And dvds. And…stuff.)

One last thing: I’ll be contacting those who entered the raffle for the poster soon!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Ooo…This looks good!

“Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and avarice of man. But the strife of King Arthur’s realm threatens even Avalon’s peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene must use her special talents to help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love.“

This book was originally published in the 90’s, but I’m willing to bet this re-release got a serious cover upgrade. (Or maybe not. Because this isn’t too shabby, either.) I’m not really a fan of pink, but is it just me or does it really work on this cover?

As soon as I saw this one I knew I was going to have to read it. And then. Then I found an excerpt, and the first line was this: “When I was yet a very young woman I threw my heart away.”

Read the rest. Go ahead. It’s beautiful.

And maybe you’d be interested in this Booklist review:

“Take heed: the feminist possibilities of the Arthurian legendary cycle were not exhausted by Marion Zimmer Bradley’s best-selling Mists of Avalon. In that book’s manner, Crompton retells the Matter of Britain from the point of view of the Lady of the Lake, here called Niviene. From her perspective, the well-known legends become a real fairy story, for the main characters are all fairies or, in the book’s term, Fey (Niviene, her mother, Merlin, even Sir Mell), and human changelings raised in a fairy Avalon (Lancelot, the Lady of Shallot). Although the resulting novel satisfies all the primal needs for narrative intensity and firm characterization, its strengths really lie in its poetic language and its finely wrought spiritual sense. The Fey philosophy is offered as an antidote to human failings as Crompton’s pagan rather than Christian, womanist rather than patriarchal fairies live in unsentimental harmony with nature and with the elemental forces. A riveting good read.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m convinced. A March release, I’ll definitely be buying this one. (Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire)

Magic Under Glass ~ Jaclyn Dolamore

From the ARC:
Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for mere pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry’s world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry’s involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.

Magic Under Glass swept me up in a fantasy that was both sweet and sigh-worthy. And if you mix fairy tale elements, a nod to Jane Eyre, and inject a lovely bit of steampunk, you’ll have an idea of what makes this novel so very charming.

The world Jaclyn Dolamore created feels familiar and yet distinct.  Nimira’s home may remind me of something out of an Arabian tale, and New Sweeling may be reminiscent of a certain metropolitan city, but Dolamore’s world-building is vibrant and visual and stands well on its own. The descriptions touched every sense; if Nimira sang, I knew the sound of her voice; if she picked up a piece of fruit, the scent was in my head. I appreciate being drawn so thoroughly into a story.

And the characters: I was happy with Nimira’s strength and perseverance, immediately fell under the automaton’s spell, and was intrigued by another that I won’t name for fear of spoiling. Would I have loved to know the characters a little better? Yes. But that in no way stopped me from enjoying their interactions, from falling a little bit in love myself, or from racing through the story to find out what would happen to all of them.

My one caution is this: The story, to me, ends abruptly and leaves a great deal unresolved. It felt like a “gun” was introduced very late in the story that never went off – meaning, something happened that made it feel like there should be more to the story, that another path was there, waiting, but not taken. And because of that the ending wasn’t quite satisfactory. I hope and pray that there will be a sequel even though, as yet, one hasn’t been confirmed. This world and these characters so deserve one.

So, I would absolutely recommend Magic Under Glass, which releases, according to Amazon, on December 22nd.

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Disclosure: An ARC of Magic Under Glass was sent to me by the publisher.