The Fat Lady Sings

If anyone wants to read a good book...

Robin Cook - Mortal Fear
Dick Francis - Under Orders
Julie Garwood - Murder List
John Grisham - The Firm
Ed McBain - Downtown
Michael Palmer - The Patient
Michael Palmer - Fatal
Michael Palmer - Miracle Cure
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The above list contains the books I've read in the last month.  All were quite good; though, the heroines in Mortal Fear irritated me.  This is a medical mystery examining the harvesting of human eggs.  Cloning is also involved.  The ending is appropriate and believable. 
Under Orders is a galloping read.  This is a horse racing mystery.  It has to do with Internet betting and fixing races.  MMmmmm, I mostly love anything written by Dick Francis. 
Murder List is exceptional.  A crazy crackpot killed a jogger, then a policeman.  The policeman was on a "murder list" written by the heroine.  (She had gone to one of those seminars and the instructor told the attendees to make a list of people their lives would be better without).  The female character is one of the best!  She did not disobey any of the suggestions made to keep her safe.  I liked that!  Too often, in books - especially in murder mysteries - the heroine will do something really stupid because she doesn't want to be "told what to do"... even if it is for her own good. 
The Firm is demanding, taxing, and quick paced.  Of course, there is a movie based on the book - I hadn't seen it. 
Downtown is one of the most refreshing books I've read in a long time.  It is a mystery with all sorts of fun twists.  It starts out with one energetic crime after another... and does not stop!  I'm going to re-read it before starting on Harry Potter #5. 
The Patient is a medical mystery exploring brain tumor robotic surgery.  To top it off, there is a very rich terrorist who wants these new surgery techniques used on his very own tumor.
Fatal is a medical mystery digging in coal mines, hazardous waste disposal, testing antibodies on human subjects, and required childhood innoculations against disease.  A very scary book. 
Miracle Cure is another medical mystery.  It pumps a wicked story about heart problems.  It reminded me of the recent pharmacy recalls and lawsuits. 
The Harry Potter books are all magical stories about Harry Potter, his friends, and their escapades at Hogwarts school.  I saw parts of one of these movies, recently, on regular TV.  I was given the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a couple months ago.  I read it and realized I wanted to read the rest of them.

Today's "word of the day" is mulct.

Crossposted at It's Morning Somewhere.

A Rose By Any Other Name.....

Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
2007 Results

It's that time of year again my friends - that time when only the purplest of prose will do.  Enter the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest - international in scope, dedicated to literary parody, the competition honors the memory (if not the reputation) of Victorian novelist Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) - a man who never met a descriptive phrase he didn't like. The goal of the contest is childishly simple: entrants are challenged to submit bad opening sentences to imaginary novels. Although best known for "The Last Days of Pompeii" (1834), which has been made into a movie three times, originating the expression "the pen is mightier than the sword," and phrases like "the great unwashed" and "the almighty dollar," Bulwer-Lytton opened his novel Paul Clifford (1830) with the immortal words that the "Peanuts" beagle Snoopy plagiarized for years, "It was a dark and stormy night."

So - off to the races we go tra la!  The list being looong (and honey – I do mean looooong!!) - it continues after the jump: 

Public Service Announcement

Click on image to enlarge.

Amber Lights - Chapter 1, Part 2

OK - here we are with another section of my book.  I've cross-posted it at The Practical Press, and my own site dedicated to my fiction work, Amber Lights.  The novel is a Romantic Thriller set in England of the 1790's.  I hope you like it.

Kevin Barry lounged comfortably near the roulette wheel, savoring his champagne.  To be honest with himself - he was bored.  Overindulgence was fine when he was young; but at thirty -two, this kind of entertainment had long since ceased to amuse.

Eyeing the clubs opulent surroundings with distaste, Kevin considered his options.  This was supposed to be business.  Young Lord Darley had indicated an interest in investing in one of Kevin's shipping lines.  In fact, he might be of a mind to buy the whole damn thing, and Kevin was definitely of a mood to sell.  Traipsing around the ocean was well and good while he needed the money, but had lost its luster of late.

So the fleet was for sale – every sail and spar of it - if Darley was interested in buying.  Unfortunately, business these days was invariably done over some form of ‘gentlemanly pursuits’. 

Kevin glanced upward at the thin, blue spirals of smoke dodging in and out of the rafters.  Not all of it was due to the cigars most men held.  A sweet, heavy smell accompanied the regular puffs of smoke that wafted down the wide central stairway.

Opium, for the most part gave Kevin a headache.  Not that he was a prude, heaven forbid.  It was just that he preferred his mind clear and his body ready for action.  Lord Darley was, at present - one of those currently indulging in the hookah.  After that, the man would pursue amusements Kevin found even less palatable. 

The Quality of Mercy

I just wanted to again remind everybody that I write for a wonderful site called The Practical Press.  I have a new piece up there now - one I'm also showcasing here.  Its part of a mystery novel I'm writing.  Its companion piece is called 'Pain'.  I would highly recommend you all stop by The Practical Press for a visit.  There are some wonderful writers there - some of whom I'm sure you all are familiar with - Shakespeare's Sister, Old White Lady, Lab Cat - and of course the blogs founding spirit - the wonderful and always brilliant Kenneth Quinnell.   

The Quality of Mercy

She hated him.  With every fiber of her being.  In fact, she fairly vibrated with it, but he never noticed, intent only on his own feelings.  She fought to hide the tears, knowing it would simply fuel the childishness she had come to expect over even the simplest of requests.  Once again, she was on her own – no help of any kind.  He couldn’t just say no; no – he had to punctuate it by pouting, and snapping at her and slamming around the house.  Making her feel bad, making her feel guilty for even asking.  As if she were some sort of parasite draining him of any attempt at happiness.  Him!  What a hoot!  Damn it!  Damn her fucking, deteriorating body and the limitations it imposed.  She’d be able to walk away – if she could walk more than a few paces, that is.  As it was……

Amber Lights

Chapter 1 - Part One

This is another snippet from my completed novel.  I am still in the process of editing, while looking for either an agent or a publisher (Hello!  Anyone out there have any ideas?).  The genre is Erotic/Romantic/Mystery/Thriller.   This opens the story - so hopefully it reach's out and grabs your attention right off.  I've also posted this with The Practical Press (of which I'm now a member - Yay!!!).  I do still plan on opening another site dedicated solely to my fiction work; but it's in the planning stages, I'm afraid (only so many hours in a day).  Anyway - here we go - Amber Lights begins:

Rules – how Amber hated them! One must look just so, speak just so – never, ever set so much as a toe out of line. God forbid anyone try anything different! Well - as far as Amber was concerned, the entire beau monde could go up in flames whilst she stood on the sidelines selling chestnuts.

What did it matter, anyway? It was only a card game. And it wasn’t as if she were violating a damn thing! On the contrary - were she a man, she would be lauded as daring. So Amber didn’t understand the meddling. Especially that blasted dealer. So help her, if that man rolled his eyes and sighed one more time, she was going to smack him! Besides - strictly speaking - if any of the ton were there to pass judgment, they couldn’t exactly admit it. ‘De Sade’s’ was wickedly outside the norm. Not that it really mattered as far as Amber was concerned. The hoi polloi of haute society had cut her adrift years ago.

Amber looked down. One red Queen, one black. The accepted option (the safe one, at any rate) was to play them both together – that is, according to the entire table - all of which couldn’t help but proffer up yards of helpful advice.

But where was the challenge in that?

After all, according to those vaunted rules, she shouldn’t even be playing twenty-one. Piquet was the only accepted game for women – and betting was a great big no no. Few clubs or gambling hells would even serve women patrons, preferring to cater to an all-male clientele (sans the demi-monde, of course). Here, however, Amber could gamble to her hearts content without interference. Usually, that is. Though not tonight, it seemed. Everyone seemed to be giving her the eye – including that oh so snobby dealer. Not that it made one whit of difference. Amber had plans. Rules, such as they were, would no longer apply. This game was important. If she won enough, it could mean her freedom.

Amber Lights - Chapter 5 (Part 1)

OK - I originally posted this over at The Practical Press.  It's a very small section of my novel, Amber Lights.  I am shopping around for an agent (or publisher) while finishing off the editing process - so if you know anyone who'd be interested - please let me know!  If no one bites - I am going to offer it as an E-Book.  Anyway - hope you all like it!

Chapter 5 – Part 1

Amber ran.  Terror drove her - across the lawn, past the stables, through the garden and down toward the cliffs.  Fear pumped through her with every wild beat of her heart.  Suddenly she fell; legs tangled in the length of her sodden skirt.  Sobbing, she clawed at the ground, hauling herself up by her fingernails, tripping forward and careening into a tree.  Dawn had scarcely broken – and she could barely see a hands-length in front of her eyes, let alone where to place her feet.  Unfamiliar sounds erupted out of her chest and she could feel droplets of moisture clinging to her lips as her breath misted in the early cold.  The situation couldn’t be more desperate.  It wouldn’t be long before the entire countryside was up in arms looking for her.  She would be branded a murderer, and cast into prison or worse.  Piping cries of murder! still rang in her ears.

Amber Lights

Thanks so much for all your kind comments.  I am indeed feeling better today.  Also - just wanted to let you all know a snippet of my completed novel, Amber Lights is up and on display at The Practical Press.  I am in process of editing the bloody thing (in between blogging and working on my present book), so please keep that in mind.  Hope you like it!