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Bibliophile Collective Tuesday – Which Novel Plot is Your Favourite?

February 21, 2023
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We all read books that resonate with us in one way or another. Some of us have a favourite genre, others more eclectic tastes jumping from one genre to another (me included). As many of my followers will attest, I love a novel called Ferny by James Long. It is essentially a love story, but across time and has a reincarnation theme, much like my own homage to this book, The Twesome Loop. Similar to the novels, The Time Travelers Wife or My Names is Memory or Mariana.

In all stories there are plots that propel the characters on a journey. Some are easy to follow, others trick us into one way of thinking only to shock us with an unexpected outcome. There are novels whose plots cause sensations in their creativity, this list includes many, although you (and I) may have our own favourites.

Gone Girl by Gilliam Flynn

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Lost Ground by Ulla Jordan

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

1984 by George Orwell

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Of course, many of these novels we have heard of, and indeed read, they are great literature from our youth and others more modern. We became involved with the characters and their plight and their essence remains with us, months, sometimes years after we’ve read the book. That is the true test of a great story.

Which plot resonated the most with you and why?

For me, Ferney, put into a story context a fascination I have in reincarnation. It is a topic I have researched and been interested in for decades, ever since working as a nurse. But not only that, it is the finding of their soulmate after years of searching – one with the certainty of prior knowledge, the other from an unknown soul deep longing.

Bibliophile’s & Wordsmith’s What Do You Want On This Blog in 2023?

December 20, 2022
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As we come to the close of the year – 2022 – I would like to know what you would like to see on this blog in 2023. I can keep the same regularly themed twice weekly posts, or do something completely different. I am always looking to engage readers and writers alike in my blog community.

Shall I continue with Bibliophile Collective Tuesday’s and Wordsmith Collective Thursday’s or change it up?

What do you want to see, read, interact about?

Is there something I have not covered or included you wish I did?

I am open to suggestions.

It’s up to you!

Bibliophile Collective Tuesday – Prequel Announcement – Rython Series

December 13, 2022
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Well, my NaNoWriMo manuscript is sitting and percolating in December. Many writers would take this time to relax, but that nagging voice of a new story was too difficult for me to resist. So, I am over six thousands words into a prequel to The Rython Kingdom and Rython Legacy series.

As many of you know the first novella, The Rython Kingdom was supposed to be a standalone, however I was contacted by several readers pleading for the ‘next’ book. This is obviously a dream come true for any writer and of course, I obliged with Rython Legacy.

I thought this series was then complete, until I was interviewed on a podcast show and the subject of this specific tale come up. Through those discussions the seed of an idea was sown. I can announce that a prequel is in the making. The title – Malgraf’s Dawning. For those of you who have not read these novella’s this is the name of the evil witch in the story. It will reveal the emergence of the witch from child to evil avenger.

I am asking for your help in creating the cover – as you can see each book has a similar image but the colours are different.

What colour(s) do you think this prequel should have on the book cover?

Your suggestions and comments are welcome.

Thank you to all my readers who made this series possible.

Bibliophile’s Collective Tuesday – Crime fiction and writing prompts

August 2, 2022
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August 1st is a holiday here in Alberta, so it was nice to have an extra long weekend. I’m please to day my ‘stalled’ situation in the completion of book two of The Delphic Murders – The Tainted Search – was overcome and I managed to finish the manuscript. It is now in the hands of a few beta-readers. It was such a relief to finally overcome the hurdle. I will let it ‘rest’ for a month and then go back to it for the next round of editing and revision. In the meantime, I have other dormant manuscripts I can return to, but as with all things it may not go to plan. I had a new idea for a contemporary novel and also have the idea for a prequel to the Rython saga. Never a dull moment in a writer’s mind!

As you know I enjoy sharing my responses to writing prompts, this is my latest:

Characters in a Crunch Write a scene or story that includes a character eating cereal. What does a character’s favourite cereal say about their personality?

Regimented Rosemary

Rosemary sat at the small round breakfast table, set for one with a place mat, napkin, silver cutlery and a pot of tea with a china cup and saucer to match. She set it every night before going to bed. Everything in its place and orderly. As she looked through the window at the garden, enjoying the fruits of her many hours of labour over several decades, she spooned mouthfuls of cereal into her mouth. As a child she always loved her grandmother’s English cottage garden. Hollyhocks, honeysuckle, roses, and all the colours of the rainbow all in perfect rows. Now, her garden was a joy to her grandchildren, she had come full circle.

With deliberate care she spooned around the bowl to make sure she had a good mixture of ingredients. She didn’t like overly sweet or one type cereal, she found it boring and the sugary treats stuck to her dentures. Over time she had created the perfect start to her day. Bran, fresh berries, oatmeal and a little honey. Her breakfast kept her regular, gave her a portion of fruit and filled her up. When she stayed with family, she took her ingredients with her, just to ensure she didn’t have to suffer store bought cereal.

Rosemary enjoyed short stays with family but had to resist tidying and organizing when she did. People lived in such chaos! Her home was picture perfect and that is the way she liked it. Orderly contents in cupboards and closets and a check list for everything. With the last scoop of her cereal she patted her lips with the napkin, then took the crockery to the sink, washed and dried everything and put them away.

Let me know what you think of this little story.