The End

So after putting it off for weeks I finally picked up Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris.  I'll admit, I've been a fan of the Sookie novels.  I've read each one and enjoyed the cast of character, so when I heard that this was the end of the series, I hesitated to read it.   I hate when my favorite series ends.  I hate endings in general. 

But before I get to my review I just want to give three cheers to Charlaine Harris.    Charlaine was terribly bulled over this book, and I don't think it's right.  So let me just say, THANK YOU! for hours of entertainment.  And on behalf of fans everywhere, I want to apologize for the horrible way you've been treated. There come a point where fandom just turns ugly and I think we've reached that point.  Someone grab the fire hose!  People all over the internet cried foul and threaten her, threaten to hurt themselves and even cancel book orders if the book didn't end they way the fans wanted.  (most notable with Sookie and Eric together)

I honestly think Neil Gaiman's wisdom can be applied here when I say "Charlaine Harris is not your Bitch."

Get over it.  When you give your free time over to an author and their characters, you start to develop a strong attachment to them.  (I still have hopes that K. Harrison will find a way to bring back Kisten... but that's another series and another post.)  But it's particularly sad to see people take fandom to this nasty place.  Charlaine even canceled her book tour.  It's sad when an authors feel the need not to engage with fans because they're scared.  Seriously people... take a good long look at where you belong in the whole creative process.

With all that said...Now on to the review. 

 

Unfortunately, I have to say I was grateful for 'The End'.  I really feel she didn't give her most beloved series a fitting farewell.  Sure it seemed like she managed to drag out or at least mention every character that ever appeared in one of the previous book, but the story line was forced.  Furthermore, the story lacked all the things that made the other books work.  The wit.  The danger.  The hot sex. 

 Poor Sookie seemed to be right back where we started in the first book.  Taking care of the house, going to church and working at the town bar.  The whole twelve book series just seemed to be about Sookie sowing her supernatural wild oats, and now she's ready to resume life in her small town.

If you hare a fan of the series... well she does wrap everything up with an nice little bow, but if you are a lover of the written word.... it will be hard to get through.    I'm glad I read it.  I'm also glad it's over.  I can tell Charlaine Harris has grown tired of Bon Temps and her inhabitants.

Gender, POV, and Sex in SciFi/Fantasy.

I've been having this discussion with some of my fellow writers.  Fantasy and SciFi have a heavy male readership.  Male or Female POV matters a little, and is easily overlooked....But when you throw in sex, suddenly if it's a female POV, they want to plug your story into the pararomance section.

Wanting to keep as much of my male audience, while still telling an authentic story...I've been going back and forth on how much sex to put in my book.  Because my MC is female I worry about men not wanting to read (and have some evidence from the male beta readers)

So what is it about 1st person female POV and sex scenes that turns men off?   Is it the descriptive writing...describing what the man is doing to 'me' (1POV)
or
Is it the fear that once we introduce sex that the book will rattle on about angst-y love feelings and menses?

Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

It's not like men haven't sexualize women in Science Fiction and Fantasy for years.  So what's the rub?



I found this blog post (and the one early) particularly eye opening on author gender and Reviews in general.
http://radishreviews.com/2013/05/01/over-the-borderline-more-genre-gender-reviews/

Women writers of speculative fiction find themselves open to accusations of writing too much about feelings and having too much romance–and that these things are actively detrimental to speculative fiction (why is this? and “I don’t like it” is not an acceptable answer; there’s lots of stuff I don’t like and I wouldn’t necessarily call it detrimental to an entire genre). I’ve seen this in reviews of books by women–books where, if the author were a man (or if they simply appear to be male), the romantic plot would have been described as “nuanced” and possibly also as “subtle” or “sublime”–but since the book was written by a woman, the fact that there’s a romantic plot is suddenly a flaw.

Furthermore...I have a new hero!
http://geekerella.com/on-the-non-existent-lack-of-katniss-everdeens-in-adult-fiction/

Then let’s say that. Let’s say “I don’t really like reading sex scenes” instead of saying “Urban fantasy is not a good example of strong female characters because they’re having too many damn orgasms.”

 I'm not necessarily saying a good UF needs to have or not have sex.  But it also doesn't mean that the main characters should be celibate.  Most UF is current fiction, right now, and let's face it... sex is a big part of our lives, whether we're getting any or not.  It's in movies, on TV and in our magazines.  Not to have our characters talk about and think about sex is unrealistic.

Love letter to my Critters...

To all the wonderful people who take the time to read my WIP,

You are the reason I keep going.  With out all of you, I’d still be floundering.  My story would be a hot mess, just a wish and a few incoherent ideas.  You’ve helped me shape my characters, question their motives, and help me see the light in my story arc.  Because of your studious attention I’ve spit polished my word choices and fixed my horrible grammar.  You push me to be better and criticize my every word.  Not because you're are mean, but because you wish only the best for my story.

I know not everyone can find the right mix of motivation and tough criticism as I’ve had the privilege of getting, but I still encourage everyone to put their work out there.   It may take time to find the right people who not only give good advice but also ‘get’ your work.  Once you do it’s magic.  I try and return the favor, and only hope to be half as helpful as the great people who’ve worked with me here at Scrib.  I count all of you as my personal heroes!  I’m no where near done and only hope to continue getting your support and help.

Gina

Fiinding Motivation.

For a new writer, I find it hard to stay motivated.  I run a small business and have a young family so my time is always stretched thin.  Writing usually takes a back seat to everyday life.  But if you have a story that you need to write...you have to find the time.

 

 



So when asked how I do it, my response is always the same.  I schedule time, like I would for a doctors appointment or a kids activity, and guard it.  It's my time and, outside of emergencies, I don't give it up.  I find the golden time for writing in my house is between 9 and 11 pm.  My kiddos are in bed, the dishes have been done and the house is quite.  I'll usually throw a load of laundry in and fire up the old lap top.

I also use wasted time to my best advantage.  I've been known to write while my son's at Tae Kwon Do.  I eat lunch at my lap top.  I have even been know to write at the kitchen counter while trying to cook (not recommended...it leads to crappy writing and burnt food).

Another great thing I've done is join a writers group.  Mine is online, but I have a small group of people who are following my work.  I feel obligated to produce something for them to read.  So I move forward.  Ira Glass from This American Life had the best advice.  "Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story."  So my main motivation is one chapter a week at the very least. 

So do I write 3,000 words in a setting.  NO.  I'm averaging about 900.  But I'm moving forward.  Until the publishing fairy drops off a big check and I can hire someone to do my job...I'm still punching the 9 to 5 clock.

April

So April has come along and I find myself with a lot of things on my plate.  I've signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo. 

Giving myself 30 days to finish 35000 words of my novel.  It didn't sound like a lot at the time, but then life has a way of throwing things in your path.  I've become bogged down with the thought of short stories.  My little circle of writers I'm developing have been discussing using short stories for character development.  I've got some back story shorts rattling around in my head.
I signed up for The Midwest Writers Workshop and have said I'd enter the writing competition, short story or poem.  Scribophile is having an April short story competition for a chance to have your first 50 pages reviewed by David Corbett. 
I really need to put my computer in Airplane mode and just start hammering away at my novel.  My goal is still to have a rough draft completed by the end of May.  Here hoping. :)

Well here's a little taste from chapter 1  Olivia Harmon explaining her job:

When I was elected deputy coroner last fall, I didn’t realize the deputy part meant I got all the 3am calls to suspicious deaths and accident scenes. Sycamore Spring still ran on the antiquated coroners system, meaning anyone could do the job. You just had to be elected, no medical background required. I really enjoyed the work, even though the lead coroner still handled the bulk of the cases.
I was excited when the news first reported some states were allowing witches to do a death reading in lieu of an autopsy. They were still hashing out which magical working could be used and so far empathy wasn't on the list. But I still jumped at the chance to use my gifts and ran for coroner in the next election.
I was able to certify death using magic but still had to send for a medical examiner from one of the bigger towns when homicide was suspected. I held out hope that the law would change.
If I was going to keep doing this job, it would have to change. I’ve started to run out of pathologists who would still work with me. Doctors really didn’t like it when you told them they were wrong. And when I called out Dr. Fitzgerald for missing a homicide, word got around fast.
I headed towards the accident. Red flares reflected off the rear window of the black Toyota that sat a fair ways off the road. It had left a long trail of upturned earth, before coming to rest by the edge of the woods. The compact car showed little damages besides the gaping hole in the windshield. Passers-by might think the occupants had pulled off to go for a stroll in the nearby stand of trees. However, the headlights of the vehicle, like a macabre spotlight, lit a solitary white sheet that told a darker story.