Writing Tip and Reading Suggestion #CSLewis

Today's writing tip comes from C. S. Lewis (1898-1963). Clive Staples Lewis was a novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, and Christian apologist.

Here's the writing tip:

“Don't say it was delightful; make us say delightful when we've read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers Please will you do the job for me.” 

I deeply enjoyed The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, a series of letters from a senior Demon (Screwtape) to his nephew Wormwood, a Junior Tempter. 

Get a taste: 

Screwtape Proposes a Toast: http://www.samizdat.qc.ca/arts/lit/Toast_CSL.pdf

Your comments are welcome!

- Raum 

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Character Analysis: Claire and Frank Underwood #HouseOfCards

"I love that woman." says Francis "Frank" Underwood, talking about his wife and partner in crime, but then he adds, "I love her more than sharks love blood."

Claire and Frank

If you're a fan of House of Cards, you know a lot about Francis, especially because he often breaks the fourth wall. But according to Judy Berman, "It's Claire Underwood who propels the show through its second season — perhaps partially because [...] Wright has so gracefully molded an inconsistently written role into a complex, conflicted character."

If you're fascinated (or scared...) by Claire, don't miss The Mystery of Claire Underwood.

Have you ever wanted to yell at Frank, "What's your problem?" The following article is the right one to understand what's his problem: Francis “Frank” J. Underwood From Netflix’s House of Cards: A Textbook Case of Antisocial Personality Disorder, by Shaili Jain, MD.

According to Shaili Jain, "Individuals with antisocial personality disorder (or sociopaths) are difficult and dangerous; they deny, lie, and contribute to all manner of mayhem in our communities and societies. They know full well what is going on around them and know the difference between right and wrong (and hence are fully responsible for their own behaviors) yet are simply unconcerned about such moral dilemmas." It fits the profile, right?

Who do you consider more dangerous? Frank or Claire?

Your comments are welcome.

- Raum 

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Writing Tips: "Come in here. You want to know about this." #StephenKing and #JamesPatterson

Today we're getting two quotes about the relationship between a writer and his readers.

The first one is by Stephen King (source: OpenCulture.com):

“An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this.” King’s discussion of opening lines is compelling because of his dual focus as an avid reader and a prodigious writer of fiction—he doesn’t lose sight of either perspective:

We’ve talked so much about the reader, but you can’t forget that the opening line is important to the writer, too. To the person who’s actually boots-on-the-ground. Because it’s not just the reader’s way in, it’s the writer’s way in also, and you’ve got to find a doorway that fits us both.

This is excellent advice. As you orient your reader, so you orient yourself, pointing your work in the direction it needs to go. 

The second one comes from James Patterson:

I don't want them to get up until it's finished

Who are the writers who actually didn't make you get up until their story was finished?

Your comments are welcome!

- Raum

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"Fix You" by Beck Anderson...now on sale! @BeckAndersonID @ennbocci

Fix You by Beck Anderson will be on sale July 22-27. Don't miss this opportunity to read a 2014 RITA® Finalist for BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE and BEST FIRST BOOK.

Summary

When Kelly Reynolds’ husband died, he left her—the awkward, cautious one—to raise their two young boys. She’s pieced herself back together, barely. Now she takes refuge in her routine: running her kids around and running the trails near her Idaho home. 

Two years after her husband’s death, a chance encounter on a run brings Andrew into her life. But Andrew is Andy Pettigrew, the Andy Pettigrew, famous actor. Kelly hates risk, and a love affair with Andrew is certainly tempting fate. She doesn’t fit into his Hollywood world. She doesn’t own a pair of Louboutins, and she couldn’t walk five paces in them if she did. Andrew oozes cool. She reeks of dork. 

But despite this, they click. It may be inexplicable, but it works. However, it’s also becoming clear that Andrew struggles with the pressures of his fame. Kelly’s hold on a so-called normal life is already tenuous, and as much as she might want to indulge the fantasy, she doesn’t know how either of them is supposed to cope with stalkerazzi and tweet-happy fans with camera phones. She and Andrew both have secrets that seem impossible to keep. 

Beck Anderson’s witty, engaging writing yields an emotional tale of love, loss, and all the little things that make up a life. In the end, what is it that really holds us together? Kelly must decide if love can fix two people who might be broken beyond repair.

Get your copy!

• Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Fix-You-Beck-Anderson-ebook/dp/B00F35A20U/ref=la_B00F4KQIDE_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404408288&sr=1-1

• Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fix-you-beck-anderson/1116856190?ean=9781623420475

Curious about the author?

• ​Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeckAndersonID​
• ​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beckandersonauthor​ 
• ​Site: authorbeck.com ​

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Writing Tip and Reading Suggestion #Angelou

Today's writing quote comes from Maya Angelou (1928-2014). She was an African-American author, poet, dancer, actress and singer.

...then it's as if the muse is convinced that I'm serious and says, "Okay. Okay. I'll come."

Let's read one of her most famous poems, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings:

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom. 

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Analysis of a Character: Tyrion Lannister #GameOfThrones

Are you sure you know everything about Tyrion Lannister? If you haven't read all the books (yet), you can check Game of Thrones Wiki (based on the aired episodes of the TV-show): http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Tyrion_Lannister

Nick Rivera has created a presentation on Personality Analysis: Tyrion Lannister. You can find it on Prezi: http://prezi.com/qdrsur95ohjj/personality-analysis-tyrion-lannister/

CG David's character study is focused on the relationship between Tyrion and Tywin: Not the son Tywin Lannister needs, but the son Tywin Lannister deserves: http://comparativegeeks.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/a-character-study-of-tyrion-lannister/ 

The third article, Two Sides of the Same Lannister Coin, offers a comparison between Jaime and Tyrion: http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/blog/2011/08/15/two-sides-of-the-same-lannister-coin

What does make Tyrion fascinating in your opinion? 

Your comments are welcome. 

- Raum 

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#HouseOfCards appreciation post (#meme)

Have you watched House of Cards? I devoured the first two seasons, and I'm waiting for the 3rd. 

On February 4, 2014, Netflix renewed House of Cards for a third season. [...] The first public casting call announcement for season 3 roles was made on May 19 for scenes that would begin shooting on June 12. Extra casting calls were announced on June 3. (Wikipedia)

So, we understand there are still some months to go; meanwhile...

Your comments are welcome!

- Raum

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Writing Tips and Reading Suggestion #Orwell

Today's writing tips come from George Orwell (1903-1950).

His real name was Eric Arthur Blair; he was an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic.

...break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous...

My favorite among his novels is 1984. On Wikipedia you can find a selection of quotes chapter by chapter: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four.

I hope you'll enjoy the whole book.

All the best!

- Raum

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Huge @sylvainreynard Giveaway! @ninabocci #SylvainReynard

Sylvain Reynard has reached 30,000 followers on Twitter and to celebrate, there's a huge giveaway!

It will run 7/4-8/4 and there are many prizes from signed books to gift cards.

Also, it is open Internationally

​Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c195528/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

- Raum 

​

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"Tangled" by Emma Chase #SALE @ninabocci @emmachse

To celebrate the upcoming release of Tamed by Emma Chase (coming 7/15!), Gallery has put Tangled on a special sale for a few days. 

ONLY $2.99  from 7/3– 7/12 to get this romance! 

• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Emma-Chase-ebook/dp/B00DJWV11I/ref=la_B00CWDV0MA_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404404119&sr=1-2
• BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tamed-emma-chase/1116310539?ean=9781476763613&itm=1&usri=tamed+emma+chase

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she toils away the hours bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

• ​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emma-Chase/203871846413267
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmachse​

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Cover Reveal: "Crosswinds" by N.R. White

Next Chapter Publishing presents the cover reveal for Crosswinds by N.R. White:

Summary: Stranded in an airport during a storm, a random act of kindness and an unexpected encounter leads to a life-changing experience for a young sailor on his way to his first duty station overseas. When Bobby walked into the airports only smoking lounge and asked to bum a smoke, Jack knew there was a reason a crosswind had unexpectedly blown the sailor into his path. It wasn't until several hours later that Jack realized the exact purpose of their chance encounter.

And NOW... Your first look at

Release Date - August 28, 2014

Join the Giveaway for your chance to win a $10.00 Amazon card and a digital ARC of Crosswinds. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Crosswinds author N.R. White is a U.S. Navy veteran and an award-winning newspaper journalists. Born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, he and his family moved to Columbia, S.C. at the age of 10 when his father returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam — at the same time South Carolina was in the process of integrating its public school system. The son of a career soldier, he graduated high school in West Germany before attending the University of South Carolina where he majored in journalism.
Having covered assignments around the world, those experiences are captured in the characters and settings of his manuscripts.
Crosswinds is the first of a three-book series. He is currently working on the second novel in the series entitled Wind Speaker, which he anticipates being released in 2015. The inspiration for the series originated during the two years he covered the birth of the white buffalo in Janesville, Wisconsin in the mid-1990s, and the Native American prophecy that foretold not only the calf’s birth, but its significance to people of all races across the world.

Visit N.R. White on these pages.

Blog - http://nealwhite.blogspot.com/
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/NR-White/587102578055574 

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