Fiction – Page 7

Last-minute Reading List

January 6, 2012 by Carey Jane Clark

This month in Friday Fiction Fix, I’ll be interviewing an author and reviewing Saving Grace by Annie Jones.

In the meantime, we are packing up for China, and I’m coming across a lot of books that were on my I’ll-read-that-one-day-when-I-have-the-time list. You know the list, right?

Only problem is, I refuse to pack up a lot of books and move them to China. A lot of these books are non-fiction, but there are some good fiction titles in there too, mostly ones I picked up at thrift stores or had passed on to me after someone else read them.

So here’s my hopeful list of books I want to read before we seal the lid on the final box:

The Muir House by Mary DeMuth
Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
An Imperfect Lens by Anne Roiphe
The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

Okay, okay, you see just as well as I do what’s going to happen here, don’t you? There are simply not enough hours in the day. Sigh.

Looks like a giveaway may be in order. Stay tuned.

Also, if you haven’t heard yet, the Grace Awards have been announced. I’d be honored if you’d vote for After the Snow Falls.

Show & Tell

December 26, 2011 by Carey Jane Clark

I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have purchased their copy of After the Snow Falls. It’s only $4.99 after all, and if you have a new eReader, it’s the perfect way to try it on for size :) If you don’t have an eReader, there’s still a chance to read it by downloading the apps for Nook or Kindle.

I had some time last week to design a new Facebook landing page for those who like After the Snow Falls, and wanted to share it with you:

To see it in operation, go to www.facebook.com/AfterTheSnowFalls. If you’ve already “liked” the page, a different image will show up, but Facebook defaults to the wall for “likers,” so to see the second image, you have to click on “Welcome” on the menu bar at the left.

Book Wishlist for Santa

December 23, 2011 by Carey Jane Clark

Today, since it’s just before Christmas, and many of you are still doing some of that last-minute shopping, I thought I’d join the link-up at the Greads book blog and write my letter to Santa for the books I want to read for the new year. As much as I am a fiction-lover, 2011 saw me fasting from books for quite a while, because when I’m writing I sometimes find there are periods I need to stop reading or I’ll lose the flow of my own writing. I don’t know if that makes sense to anyone but me, but that’s okay.

Since I’m in the early stages with my next writing project (character-development and plotting), I’m looking forward to jumping in and reading a lot more in the next little while.

There was also the fact that during the time we were in China, we were a little starved for fiction (although I did manage to listen to So Brave, So Strong and So Handsome and The Help on audiobook), so I’m stocking up:

Dear Santa,

It’s been a few years since my last letter. Sorry I haven’t stayed in touch. How are Mrs. Claus and the elves? Hope everyone is well.

I’m writing to tell you (a little last-minute, I’m sorry) about my book wishlist for this year. I’m afraid it’s a little long. But you won’t need a lot of room in your sack. A gift certificate would work, and then I could put them on my eReader. All of them have an e-version, except for the middle-grade title, but we’ll settle for the audiobook. Everything’s gotta be small, flat and light this Christmas. You know the rules:

City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell – Everything about this book makes me want to read it. Starting with the title. It was described by the INSPY judging panel as “a compelling story with complex characters that feel true to life.” Okay. I’m in.

The Queen by Steven James – Yes, I know, Santa. This book’s been out for a while, but a sequel of this title just one an award and you know I don’t like to read books out of order in their series, so I’m forced to start at the beginning and catch up. It’s a mystery/thriller, but I promise I won’t read it right before bedtime.

Falling Away by T.L. Hines – This sounds like a good story and it’s speculative fiction. Every once in a while I love me a good speculative fiction story. I don’t read them often, but this one, again, was an INSPY winner. I’ve heard good things about it.

Belong to Me by Marisa De Los Santos – I’m really not one for gushy romances, but I read this author’s first book when I picked it up on impulse at a grocery store of all places, and really fell into the whole story. To me, it wasn’t gushy. It was written in two viewpoints, and at first I couldn’t imagine how the two character’s lives could possibly collide. It was a thoroughly engaging read. Again, Santa, this author has more recent titles, but I’m catching up, you understand.

The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson – I’ve been a good girl, Santa, so I hope it doesn’t seem like I’m being greedy. To keep it balanced, I’m adding a title that our family would enjoy reading together. Sounds like a really great story, and in keeping with the small, flat and light rule to ensure things don’t add weight or volume when we pack for China, the audiobook version is unabridged!

Thanks, Santa. Safe travels.

Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Day 5

December 20, 2011 by Carey Jane Clark

I committed to participate in the Holiday Break Reading Challenge. Today is Day Five. Day One was goal-setting day. I committed to finish the items on my “currently reading” shelf on Goodreads. I’m halfway there.
As far as my participation in the blogging part of the challenge, however, my week has gone a little sideways, thanks to WordPress and my shoulder injury which gave me a little trouble this week.

However, I finally get to participate in a fun challenge. Here are the details:

Go to “Fake Name Generator” or click http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/ The name that appears is your author name.
Go to “Random Word Generator” or click http://www.websitestyle.com/parser/randomword.shtml The word listed under “Random Verb” is your title.
Go to “FlickrCC” or click http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.
Use Picnik, or something similar to put it all together and create a synopsis to go with the book cover design.

Here is my resulting book cover design:

My husband had to help me with the boxing reference. For the benefit of those as clueless as myself about such things:

Clinch – in boxing . to engage in a clinch: The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.

Synopsis:

Robert “RT” Jefferson wants to win so bad he can taste it–even more than the mixture of blood and sweat that runs down his face and stings swollen lips as he stares down his opponent.

But the championship fight is fixed when his younger brother Marcus is accused of a gang shooting. If RT doesn’t take a dive, the gang will give his brother up to the cops. Marcus says he was set up. Can RT and his girlfriend Angel clear his name before the fight?

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