Heres some advice to write a convincing and leading female character…
http://publishing-resources.org/why-it-shouldnt-be-difficult-to-write-believable-female-characters/
Category: Random Posts
My Holiday Readings: Karin Slaughter and Liz Jensen
Karin Slaughter – Cop Town & Blindsighted
Cop Town
Blurb: Atlanta, 1974: As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. She’s determined to defy her privileged background by making her own way—wearing a badge and carrying a gun. But for a beautiful young woman, life will be anything but easy in the macho world of the Atlanta PD… – Goodreads
I did like this story. It was a solid detective novel which was hard to put down at times, however it didn’t blow me away. I had a lot of suspicions as I read the book, a lot of which turned out to be the sneaky twist inserted by Karin Slaughter.
An average read. 3/5.
Blindsighted
Blurb: A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally mutilated in the local diner. But it’s only when town pediatrician and coroner Sara Linton does the autopsy that the full extent of the killer’s twisted work becomes clear.
A typical Karin Slaughter novel in all the right ways. This was much better than Cop Town in my opinion, but I thought that it was slightly too graphic and violent. The murder at the beginning of the book is certainly not a murder for the faint hearted to read. It did affect me in such a way that it had me thinking and imagining the feelings and the pain of the murder itself; I often thought about the circumstances and imagined how it would feel.
It was a good book with a good set of twists and turns and an element of difference throughout the book. I thought that it was a little too graphic at the beginning, but still had me wanting to read more. 4/5
Liz Jensen – The Rapture
Blurb: It is a June unlike any other before, with temperatures soaring to asphyxiating heights. All across the world, freak weather patterns—and the life-shattering catastrophes they entail—have become the norm. The twenty-first century has entered a new phase.
I liked the characterisation in this, and I enjoyed following the story of Gabrielle and Bethany; I liked the relationship between them too. Although not always pleasant, you could tell that Gabrielle did care about Bethany.
I feel that to enjoy this book you have to be in the right mind set. You need to be open minded and accepting of Bethany.
Overall it had many questions form as you progressed through the book, and it certainly got you contemplating throughout the book.
A decent read, I would give it a 3.5/5
I would probably recommend Blindsighted and The Rapture to friends, and potentially Cop Town if you’re a fan of detective kind of novels.
If you’ve read them, do not hesitate to let me know what you thought of them.
Writing Quote
“I do not over-intellectualize the production process. I try to keep it simple: Tell the damned story.” – Tom Clancy
Entering a different mind and body
Today I have been writing. This writing though means that I have to enter into a different kind of mind state to become this character. This mind is unlike myself and any other character of mine.
It does however make me wonder, is there any person out there who thinks the same as my character, Billy in this story? To be honest I hope not. Although his mind and thought processes are intelligent, imaginative and creative, he is dangerous.
Billy’s an interesting character, and I look forward to see where he takes me!
A Great Article For Us Self-Published Authors
I came across this article on Forbes which is about a very successful British Self-Published Author Mark Dawson. Mark makes hundreds of thousands a year from his self-published book series.
He explains that it’s mostly about his marketing tactics, and unsurprisingly Facebook being the most effective.
I’ve used Facebook campaigns in the past to advertise specific posts and my Facebook pages, and it is effective, so I would definitely agree with Mark. Only thing that differs between us is that I don’t make as much money as him!
This is a very useful article to read so go and have a look at what Mark Dawson had to say about his success and how he did it.
Interested in Writing?
If you love writing then this free fantasy writing contest is for you! http://t.co/yAQtTJLquJ
Whatever kind of genre you like to write, you can still take part. Use this competition as an opportunity to experiment with your writing. After all, it may turn out to be the genre that you are truly gifted with writing!
New Star Wars Trailer Shows Chewbacca and Han Solo!
I am very excited to see the new ‘Star Wars – The Force Awakens’ trailer, but I was even more excited to see Chewbacca with Han Solo! I love Chewbacca, I have a Chewbacca mug for work and I can do an amazing Chewbacca impression!
More to the point, check out the new trailer now – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngElkyQ6Rhs&noredirect=1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32345597
It will be awesome I’m sure!
That Could Have Ended Differently!
Retired couple win £53m on EuroMillions
Enjoying my new Copywriting role
Since Monday, I have been working in my new position as an Article SEO Copywriter.
I was planning to get a writing role after Graduation,but when this job opportunity arose I couldn’t say no. So, I took the job and now I am a Copywriter. It’s a great introduction into my writing career and I thoroughly look forward to what’s to come!
The Walking Dead Season 5 (Potential Spoiler)
I watched The Walking Dead (TWD) last night (S5, Ep 12) and now I’m intrigued.
Over the 5 seasons of TWD I have either been a little bit bored or really enticed by the story. There have been some real dark story lines, shocking deaths and great battles.
Admittedly, over season five I have been slightly bored with what has been happening; I haven’t exactly been gripped. Instead, it sometimes feels like I am watching paint dry. Now hopefully is the time where I will be gripped and repeatedly shaken.
I already find myself thinking of TWD and wondering ‘what are the group going to go through next?’
On arrival to Alexandria everyone is friendly and welcoming to Rick and the group. They are given homes of their choice to move into. The homes have running water, food, electricity etc. It all seems too good to be true and I was constantly asking myself the question ‘So what’s the catch?’
At the moment there is no catch to all of this, the only thing the community wants in return is the commitment of Rick and the group. The group are being assigned jobs, as nominated by Alexandria leader Deanna. She is seemingly assessing each member of the group with a little chat and videoing their interaction.
The episode is titled ‘The New Bad Guys’, on the first look you fear for the group that they have once again fallen into that trap. That same trap of letting their guard down and being tortured and torn apart by another group or community.
But, I believe I know what way this is heading; the new bad guys are not who you may suspect… Potential spoiler alert below (if I’m right).
The new direction TWD is rapidly moving in is to make Rick and the group ‘The New Bad Guys’.
Rick at the end says to Daryl and Carol on the front porch of their big new home, “We’ll make it work. If they can’t make it, then we’ll just take this place.”
Rick’s plan surely can’t be to kill the entire community of Alexandria?
Surely not, after a lovely neighbour cut his scraggly hair?
Well who knows, it could well be the plan. Everyone has dramatically changed over this time period since series 1. Understandable though, if it were real then I think many of us would become mentally affected and unstable.
I think that if this was to happen in WTD, it would create a huge divide in the group, turning against each other, resulting a free-for-all. Potentially two differing leaders in the group, newly appointed deputies Rick and Michonne as the leaders of their respected decision.
Question is, whose side would you take?
I wouldn’t take Rick’s. The fact that if he was stupid enough to get into another war, risking his little baby’s life as well as Carl’s would show his inability to be a good father.
At this stage it is hearsay, let us hope that Rick makes the right decision.
T. J. Blake #Author 