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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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What are you reading?

Captain's Log, Supplemental

Happy Fourth of July!

Okay, what are you reading right now? List everything, although don’t list any books you’ve partway through and probably won’t finish.

I just started (now that my manuscript is done) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I’m trying to read a few bestsellers, especially a few debut novels, to help me improve my craft. Kostova has really wonderful descriptions—I could learn a lot from her.

Right now, there are times I’m a little confused by who’s speaking since a lot of it is retellings of retellings, but on a whole it’s a good book so far. It moves a bit slowly, but not as slowly as many literary, women’s fiction, or historical books I’ve read, and there’s enough mystery and conflict to keep me going.

So ’fess up! What are you reading now?
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Christina Tarabochia said…
I'm only about 1/2 hour away from finishing Roxanne Henke's THE SECRET OF US. Wait a minute...what am I doing reading through my blog roll? I've got to go. See you later.

No, really, I'm loving it. I'm so proud of Roxy as it's the first book NOT in her Coming Home to Brewster Series. I'm sure she felt unsure about stepping out in a new direction, but I think she succeeded.

I'm also reading a chapter or two at a time of Tricia Goyer's GENERATION NEXT PARENTING. She's bringing back a lot of memories with all her 80's song quotes!

As soon as I finish THE SECRET OF US, I'm diving right in to Jane Kirkpatrick's A TENDERING IN THE STORM.

I am rich indeed. ;-)
Tue Jul 03, 11:52:00 PM 2007
Deborah said…
right now? I'm reading 3 books:

1. Moon Over Tokyo by Siri Mitchell - digging the Japanese culture

2. The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist - it's taking me longer than normal to read this one b/c I'm having issues with some of the characters

3. Don't You Forget About Me by Cecily von Ziegesar - the "last" Gossip Girl book, it's a very guilty pleasurej

Currently my library TBR list stands at 20 books while my "i own the book" TBR list is at....110 books! lots of reading to do this summer.
Wed Jul 04, 03:14:00 AM 2007
Pfingston said…
I'm not reading a novel at the moment. I DO have a pile of books that I am slowly reading depending on my mood . . . With two places of honor . . my purse and my nightstand, the book that is in my purse (the one I'm reading most loyaly) is Different children, Different Needs. Trying to figure out my kids.
The other book on my nightstand is Created to me His Help Meet, which is taking me SO LONG to get through cause it is hard for me to digest. I take it in a little bite at a time. Anyway, I should pick up a good novel. I'm in the mood.
Wed Jul 04, 08:40:00 AM 2007
crossn81 said…
I'm currently reading Primary Colors, pretty interesting. Check out my blog for other book reviews of mine.

Happy 4th!
Wed Jul 04, 08:47:00 AM 2007
Anonymous said…
I'm just finishing DEATH OF A GARAGE SALE NEWBIE by Sharon Dunn. A fun read. I can't wait to share it with my garage sale-loving friends. Next in my TBR pile is SIMPLE GIFTS by Lori Copeland.

Children's librarians always have a children's book in their reading pile. I just finished THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY by Trenton Stewart. I predict this will be a strong Newbery contender as well as be extremely popular with children ages 8-12.

Oh, dear, "So many books, so little time."
Wed Jul 04, 11:02:00 AM 2007
Brittanie said…
I am currently reading "The Elevator" by Angela Hunt. Next is "Castles in the Sand" by Sally John. There are more in the TBR pile on my nightstand. :)
Brittanie
Wed Jul 04, 02:52:00 PM 2007
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wed Jul 04, 07:03:00 PM 2007
Anonymous said…
I just read "Land Run." Yep, ya never heard of it. Maybe you will in about two years after the author (my editing client) makes it through all the necessary rewrites. : )

Next up -- an as yet untitled coming of age story the client says is 300 pages single spaced. Hmm. I may be at it awhile.

Any word if you'll have S41? at OCW?
Wed Jul 04, 07:05:00 PM 2007
Tyora Moody said…
I keep piles of books around me! In between rewriting my WIP, I'm reading.

Over Her Head
by Shelley Bates

This is my first read from Shelley and I'm really loving her style and the suspenseful plot.

Finder's Fees
by Alton Gansky

Coral Moon
by Brandilynn Collins

I'm a big fan of both authors above. One book stays in the car, one is for couch reading and the other is for bedtime reading. I have really learned how to split up the reading time. Just takes longer.Thank goodness all the plots are really different. LOL! ;)
Thu Jul 05, 08:33:00 AM 2007
Anonymous said…
No novels right now since I've been inhaling them the last month or so and need to find a new one to dive into.

Just finished The Fred Factor...such a cool and inspirational book. Almost finished with The Art of the Fresh Start by Glenna Salsbury (met her at Mount Hermon and got a signed copy). Again, very inspirational and helpful in finding your center and purpose.
Thu Jul 05, 12:21:00 PM 2007
charmed said…
The Playboy by Carly Phillips

Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury

And I just finished Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

I'm in a fluffy kind of reading mood lately. lol.
Sat Jul 07, 03:18:00 PM 2007
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