tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41336902985392370682024-03-17T23:45:03.735-07:00 STORYWORLD MARJORIE (M.M.) DELUCA, FICTION WRITERMarjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-38445923401911317682024-02-03T11:02:00.000-08:002024-02-03T11:02:37.322-08:00"THE LONG CON": RESEARCHING THE NIGHT SIDE: <p> <b>Pre-writing: The</b> <b>Research Stage</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyP7munumzzu_GU9AwHW4XQ61QMZsjldWIwDhUR4Yn7clPqxe-vnNbzk7CtgmOqmYO8Gsi3ENmPQh9TZ1zPa8i0uNcmVXCmWUZrAQ4629dx58W_N_LIb_SoY-f7ygoLOlB16ZyWoYHT6Mzv8To-vbzwF2gbIixFJAXbQAUb7y_HW_dllccSIe6oxsW6Dg/s4032/IMG_7638.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyP7munumzzu_GU9AwHW4XQ61QMZsjldWIwDhUR4Yn7clPqxe-vnNbzk7CtgmOqmYO8Gsi3ENmPQh9TZ1zPa8i0uNcmVXCmWUZrAQ4629dx58W_N_LIb_SoY-f7ygoLOlB16ZyWoYHT6Mzv8To-vbzwF2gbIixFJAXbQAUb7y_HW_dllccSIe6oxsW6Dg/s320/IMG_7638.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>When a new story idea is formulating in my head, the first thing I do is pick out a beautiful notebook, usually a large-sized lined one that becomes the dedicated notebook for that novel. I now have two bookshelves filled with notebooks. They're a reminder of all the work that went into each book.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG13L0dDQ1OO-A3cyPhHKTxs98yw2l7Um8Fp1mO3aBN8XEtYndsNnyqu7KJibr_CAloCsaEmEiqpGMA4w28-cet4GiPoc8JS-FaOSlgJxLMipka8fJWOXvfoN9P5zw0G2JE_nFLKbpaTa7HtiLEkmBPVGfoKl0P2IuiiXKP1-bRZzdcWle2hD5yKJZxCS/s4032/IMG_7639.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG13L0dDQ1OO-A3cyPhHKTxs98yw2l7Um8Fp1mO3aBN8XEtYndsNnyqu7KJibr_CAloCsaEmEiqpGMA4w28-cet4GiPoc8JS-FaOSlgJxLMipka8fJWOXvfoN9P5zw0G2JE_nFLKbpaTa7HtiLEkmBPVGfoKl0P2IuiiXKP1-bRZzdcWle2hD5yKJZxCS/s320/IMG_7639.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Once I've jotted down some of my ideas and have a loose story structure, I begin researching for details and background info that might help me flesh out the story. In the case of THE NIGHT SIDE, I did a great deal of reading about psychics, the Tarot, and the investigators that make it their business to search out the con artists and grifters who use their psychic business as a cover for extortion and fraud.</p><p><b>The Facts and Figures</b></p><p>A recent US study on psychic businesses (Tarot card/palm readings/astrological advice etc) outlines the following statistics:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>4 in 10 US adults believe in psychics</li><li>there are at least 94,000 psychic businesses in the US</li><li> it's a $2 billion-dollar industry</li><li>online business is expanding at an increasing rate, especially since COVID..</li><li>psychics solicit business through the mail, on social media, telephone hotlines, open storefronts and sometimes even approach prospective targets on the street.</li></ul><div>While the majority of psychics offer legitimate services at reasonable prices to clients who understand what they're going to receive for their money, there are those who cross the line into criminal practices. Who might promise to remove a curse, restore a client's health, make them rich or find the love of their life <b>only if they</b> <b>come up with enough cash!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kJ2Dtk59q5s-A0kWT5L6vthyphenhyphen0v94V-gH3Aym4-6mx5jIBmrqzdc64XM0_NK843l9-6-bGwh9Q5c3fBTTrH-qfdNBX43mBou_yBIHw07a4-OlcDd8n2lp6O2UdVGZL6qKMUhs_30VpynDtra4K80xyyUhbu3cOklD4_Kjkt6B6MBhEIJSZHRLsE_ASgdg/s1200/crystal%20ball.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1200" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kJ2Dtk59q5s-A0kWT5L6vthyphenhyphen0v94V-gH3Aym4-6mx5jIBmrqzdc64XM0_NK843l9-6-bGwh9Q5c3fBTTrH-qfdNBX43mBou_yBIHw07a4-OlcDd8n2lp6O2UdVGZL6qKMUhs_30VpynDtra4K80xyyUhbu3cOklD4_Kjkt6B6MBhEIJSZHRLsE_ASgdg/s320/crystal%20ball.webp" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Manipulating the Target </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Psychic scammers prey on grieving, lonely, emotionally, mentally and physically vulnerable people. They gaslight the victim and manipulate them by:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>forcing them to pay for costly services with escalating fees</li><li>involving them in rituals that require the purchase of expensive items (candles, herbs etc)</li><li>threatening them with future bad consequences/more curses if they don't keep paying.</li></ul><div><b>What Motivates the Scammer?</b></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>These scammers are driven by complex motives, probably a combination of the following:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>greed</li><li>dishonesty: many are consummate and practiced liars</li><li>desperation/monetary burdens</li><li>ego and the drive to build wealth</li><li>the thrill of manipulation</li><li>the 'buzz' they get from fooling others.</li></ul><div>Many of these scammers rationalize their wrongdoing by neutralizing their actions, convincing themselves they're actually helping their victims who are only getting what they asked for. This eradicates GUILT!</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>More on inspiration for THE NIGHT SIDE in my next blog post!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaTX2Bm8kTCMRox3KI3Mbr8Z8ttgl6kjcbmakjyCNNnHYMIOUI4kpw53VEPDEuqNINQSwtd9Cvhgm3_SeJbMG5cXMOSM5VZ6-KyaYYUWirOMC4azdXD6HwPa0VTJ-wHHmko_w2ZguJ90OUirtW5oOq7HdRVDeW4Edwu9oJIDQX_u98Pc_cheAbN9QYeRd/s1200/Night%20Side,%20The_Facebook%20Timeline.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaTX2Bm8kTCMRox3KI3Mbr8Z8ttgl6kjcbmakjyCNNnHYMIOUI4kpw53VEPDEuqNINQSwtd9Cvhgm3_SeJbMG5cXMOSM5VZ6-KyaYYUWirOMC4azdXD6HwPa0VTJ-wHHmko_w2ZguJ90OUirtW5oOq7HdRVDeW4Edwu9oJIDQX_u98Pc_cheAbN9QYeRd/w419-h220/Night%20Side,%20The_Facebook%20Timeline.jpg" width="419" /></a></div></div><br /><div><b>BOOK NEWS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Here's some great news about THE NIGHT SIDE:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the audiobook version of THE NIGHT SIDE will be out on March 12th. You can pre-order <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Night-Side/dp/B0CQTQPGRB/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SkbgwsWlZoejdALxc6Ot9EjN_q725u6hCopdw3bE1BAa5I1A868WKzfywWl9timMQ2DRYWi6l9ahVNgijOFSHoQHnuHDISDbqdh8mcddzxY.bllb8K7OTybFCzMuHZLWqfOKbF_zn81oJKhT4xJuAEc&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">here</a></li></ul></div><div>I'm thrilled that the amazing Helen Laser is narrating it! Helen is nominated in the Audie awards for Best Audio Narration 2023. She narrated YELLOWFACE, the best audiobook of 2023 as well as THE PERFECT FAMILY MAN! You can find out more about her <a href="https://www.helenlaser.com" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the paperback version of THE NIGHT SIDE will launch in the UK on 27th June 2024. Pre-order <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Side-M-M-DeLuca/dp/1448313791/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=LCq23&content-id=amzn1.sym.3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_p=3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_r=260-4846595-4885017&pd_rd_wg=0xkQO&pd_rd_r=4365d027-f9cc-4dba-9dce-3869aa4a3789&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" target="_blank">here</a>. In the US and Canada in August. Pre-order link coming soon.</li></ul><div><b>EVENTS</b></div><div>Check out my podcast episode with Crime Writers of Canada. Listen to it <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232876/14328889-m-m-deluca-takes-us-to-the-night-side" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wAIoUXCOE3uN0eDW2L2u-OHv9zVrKGvpchjCfMcXkw-csHpsz-cj9WYJ6UDfcFAo77EDXGLAsSvUiN6R_5Z7bxY4jpy3Sy3DSlLhJMkaGtQV20ZwQ_yYFN47i8xeGSlfxi_oBYkXtLFlmlAsb6Yw5S7ILHNIdfbgXRJ3h0fR5fVkKk5KB5ynT1iWqKJj/s1275/MM%20thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wAIoUXCOE3uN0eDW2L2u-OHv9zVrKGvpchjCfMcXkw-csHpsz-cj9WYJ6UDfcFAo77EDXGLAsSvUiN6R_5Z7bxY4jpy3Sy3DSlLhJMkaGtQV20ZwQ_yYFN47i8xeGSlfxi_oBYkXtLFlmlAsb6Yw5S7ILHNIdfbgXRJ3h0fR5fVkKk5KB5ynT1iWqKJj/s320/MM%20thumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>BOOK REVIEWS</b></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Devils At The Door by Tessa Wegert (B</b>ook 5 in the Shana Merchant series)</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9CUuKhxNkLGurUCIob3487JdX6tPs7vqSXx5BHK9ICJb3Lk0qVqKzB4BHtzTgGeu4yEQz3rsYLa1XytOP00y8P7sMaOpjFlAch6itqC-zUfjFjpX3WlA-reHK6jA_fF9KeBY_o5bCLHR26i1onlcr_XT4BUs4owo8N5U63qmPzvkkV7ZJVxpbpA5IntT/s436/devil.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9CUuKhxNkLGurUCIob3487JdX6tPs7vqSXx5BHK9ICJb3Lk0qVqKzB4BHtzTgGeu4yEQz3rsYLa1XytOP00y8P7sMaOpjFlAch6itqC-zUfjFjpX3WlA-reHK6jA_fF9KeBY_o5bCLHR26i1onlcr_XT4BUs4owo8N5U63qmPzvkkV7ZJVxpbpA5IntT/s320/devil.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div></div><p></p>After I finished this taut small-town mystery, I found myself wondering why I'd never met Shana Merchant before. As a main character she's so compelling: gutsy, brave, stubborn, flawed and emotionally vulnerable. In other words a thoroughly human and relatable character. <br /><div><div>In this instalment of the series, Shana is struggling with the traumatic events of the past as well as the idea of settling down with boyfriend, Tim and maybe having children. Her life is complicated even further when her brother asks her to take in her troubled teenage niece, the rebellious and sullen, Hen. who lands on her doorstep and begins to cause havoc in their small town when she's found at the scene of a suspicious drowning that results in the death of a local teen.. Shana finds herself in a race against time to uncover the truth and find out how exactly Hen is connected to the crime. </div><div>The world of Alexandria Bay is so vivid and well drawn that I was immersed in the small town, its colourful characters and unique setting on the St. Lawrence, near the Thousand Islands and the Canada/US border. The story is thoroughly engrossing with so many twists and turns that keep you guessing right until the surprise ending. A great read that kept me luring me back for more.</div></div><p></p><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><p></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-84842140909510210252024-01-29T14:58:00.000-08:002024-01-29T14:58:12.334-08:00The Angel at the Hearth<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">THE ANGEL AT THE HEARTH</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #959595; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6623662781086527564" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 578px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"></div><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigGGZQgUr_ox5WpuoY7GtAZ9nVUQy-RAbh1FHoaJQRZtDkbMNAVI86xBZOIlNk6GYJ9ZnJwPQdjW1-gPHdmZhBAgCh_qlUVfEcLPDrE-kfHsHRwwBPVvmopvz0Bftn6gCCcWV4O8PK5i6/s1600/the+hearth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigGGZQgUr_ox5WpuoY7GtAZ9nVUQy-RAbh1FHoaJQRZtDkbMNAVI86xBZOIlNk6GYJ9ZnJwPQdjW1-gPHdmZhBAgCh_qlUVfEcLPDrE-kfHsHRwwBPVvmopvz0Bftn6gCCcWV4O8PK5i6/s1600/the+hearth.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" /></a></div><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">While doing research for my book,</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">The Savage Instinct, </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">I kept coming across a term that was used to define the role of women during the Victorian era. The term </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Angel at the Hearth </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">or </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Angel in the House </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">defined the ideal image and essence of womanhood. It was widely portrayed in the art and literature of the time and was used as a standard to define the perfect woman, mother and wife.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">This idea actually gave rise to a whole genre of painting known as </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">domestic pictures </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">in which the ideal wife was portrayed as an earthly though angelic Madonna, soothing, comforting and submitting to her husband. Selflessly encouraging, watching over and nurturing her children while presiding over a well ordered, highly moral household.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">A poet named Coventry Patmore actually coined the term in his narrative poem </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">The Angel in the House, </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">first published in 1854 and</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">dedicated his first wife, Emily, whom he considered the ideal woman.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6thiUy8bhK9wP2EVLbrN5jJZhweAvVRNLbVbKPhCkX2IxEVgrr-bLUFfm6hlhX8keP7gIfbwfilAuxaDs7v4dhvcn81s14m56UWE_r53WEz2K0CMOGIuQNTSxxvg1E31kU-mENoSu-ycW/s1600/220px-Millais_Mrs_Coventry_Patmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6thiUy8bhK9wP2EVLbrN5jJZhweAvVRNLbVbKPhCkX2IxEVgrr-bLUFfm6hlhX8keP7gIfbwfilAuxaDs7v4dhvcn81s14m56UWE_r53WEz2K0CMOGIuQNTSxxvg1E31kU-mENoSu-ycW/s1600/220px-Millais_Mrs_Coventry_Patmore.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.88px;">Emily Patmore, painted by John Everett Millais<br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Though the poem wasn't very well received at first, the ideas soon took off some years later with popular artists and writers. Julia Margaret Cameron, the celebrated Victorian photographer offered her own interpretation of </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">The Angel in the House. </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">In this portrait of Emily Peacock, Cameron frames her subject in soft, white fur and uses muted lighting to give the appearance of gentle beauty.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6mU2g8RQs_dEKoFvljWMUEbo7dsWysy0HMGR3UZPO32-TembPTFhIPjosdriHEtFmRjilHvHvKCfP0E-STPtdnhAifgQ3Oa5XZ2WG_E30JyIOjIkXFcro3TDjE0QvdZQBN3vxURh6s6o/s1600/The_Angel_in_the_House%252C_by_Julia_Margaret_Cameron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6mU2g8RQs_dEKoFvljWMUEbo7dsWysy0HMGR3UZPO32-TembPTFhIPjosdriHEtFmRjilHvHvKCfP0E-STPtdnhAifgQ3Oa5XZ2WG_E30JyIOjIkXFcro3TDjE0QvdZQBN3vxURh6s6o/s320/The_Angel_in_the_House%252C_by_Julia_Margaret_Cameron.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="236" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Painters vied to portray the ideal Victorian household. The picture below entitled <i>Home Sweet Home </i>by W.D Sadler is typical of paintings of this era.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW82uck1KmTEajaGPOb3pnrtwZP7893lphtTXTJI9yq_f1MxThUbgCXN9EOUPsSu-wbUt5lLnnLZDaCailiNdqk9PXgxu6q9pl0xNqSvGOaOmoJZq934uAs2I9480rURT8M_O5Ktq7RAJO/s1600/home_sweet_home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW82uck1KmTEajaGPOb3pnrtwZP7893lphtTXTJI9yq_f1MxThUbgCXN9EOUPsSu-wbUt5lLnnLZDaCailiNdqk9PXgxu6q9pl0xNqSvGOaOmoJZq934uAs2I9480rURT8M_O5Ktq7RAJO/s320/home_sweet_home.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">While this might seem like a perfect way of life for some, it could be stifling for a woman with aspirations or interests outside the home. Middle or upper-class women who were unmarried were regarded as "redundant" and unimportant with no actual status or role, and when they sought to fulfil themselves by working outside the home they were seen as rebellious and unusual. In popular media of the time they were often portrayed as objects of ridicule. Check out this late 19th century cartoon from <i>Punch </i>in which the elderly and <i>unattractive (of course!) </i>spinster tells her friend she's given up campaigning for women's rights, to dedicate herself to finding eligible widowers or women's <i>lefts.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOm0JkR0F8N0vQVraBTYZwrXpKP_1yySOBBQfXV5NtQVaKICSYdREmU_FQYRDelskM8t682VlUyen5x6-Y2tGt30gKS7Znnq9_byKZoDw-EAu3EcC5okzCLucEngm66mP8lE1e95y7iqb/s1600/spinsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOm0JkR0F8N0vQVraBTYZwrXpKP_1yySOBBQfXV5NtQVaKICSYdREmU_FQYRDelskM8t682VlUyen5x6-Y2tGt30gKS7Znnq9_byKZoDw-EAu3EcC5okzCLucEngm66mP8lE1e95y7iqb/s320/spinsters.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">At the other end of the spectrum, lower-class working women like seamstresses, governesses and maids were seen as objects of pity and portrayed by socially conscious artists such as Richard Redgrave whose painting, <i>The Poor Seamstress, </i>captures the image of the poor working class woman, slaving from morning till night, sacrificing her life in a dark attic to feed her children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn5qJtRlRhgXt8ZbosqyfYPqIGmZkY9AdhPQR7GoJavbIBsJqHzDmLVDAV8km7QcpjGf3cqFGBQQEBZ6oM1iwBNPXjfKsl-jsMgnj_5kOZRrGYkwZC7JIXvidBRG5yX7nHZ2XQcYzv78d/s1600/seamstress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn5qJtRlRhgXt8ZbosqyfYPqIGmZkY9AdhPQR7GoJavbIBsJqHzDmLVDAV8km7QcpjGf3cqFGBQQEBZ6oM1iwBNPXjfKsl-jsMgnj_5kOZRrGYkwZC7JIXvidBRG5yX7nHZ2XQcYzv78d/s1600/seamstress.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">And those women who dared to step away from the rigid bounds of respectability became <i>fallen women, </i>who would suffer dire consequences as portrayed in Redgrave's, <i>The Outcast, </i>in which a young woman and her illegitimate child are forced from the household into the dark, snowy night by the stern, respectable patriarch of the family. Earnest entreaties from a distraught sister go unheard, while Mother comforts her sobbing son.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kiW-Q02IAYix8epNGDwSZ_0EwHdH0ccDOKdxz8PdUiqitSx93AzrnirEIdLwtrIdR7_PPaxOnt8fO7xdM-CJ73YEOnvfDVLF1QDhxJxekpDo2N6gM-1RLBzWpJqOY_B5cvy7Y5XQw-an/s1600/the+outcast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kiW-Q02IAYix8epNGDwSZ_0EwHdH0ccDOKdxz8PdUiqitSx93AzrnirEIdLwtrIdR7_PPaxOnt8fO7xdM-CJ73YEOnvfDVLF1QDhxJxekpDo2N6gM-1RLBzWpJqOY_B5cvy7Y5XQw-an/s320/the+outcast.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Perhaps it is Edmund Leighton's painting, <i>Till Death Do Us Part, </i>that truly portrays the idea that many Victorian women had little choice in determining the course of their lives. In this picture, the dejected young bride casts her eyes downwards in sorrow as she walks down the aisle with her rich elderly suitor, while her dashing young lover looks on, knowing she's lost to him forever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-Yr38-WeU8gwnzCm8ui4J6KXtMPZM4mr07TYSal_fA4A7QzVH-BhYn-Msceur3JUSahTgJihGhZZPFP-XBxarr1kzVS7WTosaBWAW9C0cX6HDPhvkPG8S5lxxGqtrXagmq6LFAuYyC9v/s1600/Leighton-Till_Death_Do_Us_Part-1878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-Yr38-WeU8gwnzCm8ui4J6KXtMPZM4mr07TYSal_fA4A7QzVH-BhYn-Msceur3JUSahTgJihGhZZPFP-XBxarr1kzVS7WTosaBWAW9C0cX6HDPhvkPG8S5lxxGqtrXagmq6LFAuYyC9v/s320/Leighton-Till_Death_Do_Us_Part-1878.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">The only self-determined choice for a fallen woman was depicted in George Frederick Watts' painting, <i>Found Drowned, </i>based on Thomas Hood's poem, <i><a href="http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-bridge-of-sighs" style="color: #ca6060; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Bridge of Sighs</a>. </i>Here a poor young woman atones for her sins by paying the ultimate price.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq7Z16kKqLB3Vp5QwqSQR7T6wLW7MRmugz9G_mitFquP-YmvliVgLZMRUFY1Y02Htoc4CRG-IstRBQ1elz-fGGMs8H1Mu_VglM8PK04NDiZKriNW96qQZqoppnYK6f3h5FUAbO4SgVwBV/s1600/found+drowned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ca6060; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq7Z16kKqLB3Vp5QwqSQR7T6wLW7MRmugz9G_mitFquP-YmvliVgLZMRUFY1Y02Htoc4CRG-IstRBQ1elz-fGGMs8H1Mu_VglM8PK04NDiZKriNW96qQZqoppnYK6f3h5FUAbO4SgVwBV/s320/found+drowned.jpg" style="border: medium; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">These are just a few of the paintings I came across in my research, but they're a fascinating way of understanding the mindset of that era and the way it has influenced us and continues to influence us to this day! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Also, the fact that these pictures were painted around a hundred and thirty years ago is a sign of how far we've come in terms of women's rights in many areas of the world, but should also serve as a reminder that a large majority of women still suffer terrible restrictions to their rights and freedoms in many other parts of the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-33314620961004981152023-12-21T09:40:00.000-08:002023-12-22T09:02:54.726-08:00HOLIDAY NEWS, REVIEWS and RELAXATION<div><br /></div>By now you should be winding down for a relaxing weekend with friends and family. Maybe you're lucky enough to be extending your holiday by going somewhere warm and tropical. A cruise, perhaps or a stay in an exotic resort. Whatever you choose I hope you have time to sit back, relax drink some egg nog and READ a good book!! That's why today's post is longer because I'm recommending some great books I've read this year. I'm also going to mention some amazing poems to listen to as well as music I've been using while working on my latest novel. <div><u>THE NIGHT SIDE LAUNCH NEWS</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-Kt9icll0QV9bhWxCpcrSNAXGh19wIrE2ubTZkXTh8EUsJhATRzLills9DO2Q8bEc6m0JBnH_uhsAKisPVSoLroyeoW_2XZqh-ni6cTE5icBjwndS8e-hgycvzvBoBVoAU3zUN3RS4QtiN0hqae6mvjUwCWF7ntuu0CeQYVo-4ThVwS2tqe1uqJ7nQ3S/s4032/IMG_7418.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-Kt9icll0QV9bhWxCpcrSNAXGh19wIrE2ubTZkXTh8EUsJhATRzLills9DO2Q8bEc6m0JBnH_uhsAKisPVSoLroyeoW_2XZqh-ni6cTE5icBjwndS8e-hgycvzvBoBVoAU3zUN3RS4QtiN0hqae6mvjUwCWF7ntuu0CeQYVo-4ThVwS2tqe1uqJ7nQ3S/w256-h341/IMG_7418.HEIC" width="256" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u><div>I had a lovely launch party with family and friends who've also been loyal fans. If you missed any of my podcast appearances, you can still see them at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY9a-u2LVJA" target="_blank">THE THRILLER ZONE</a> and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoiNLEwW7eg" target="_blank">POISONED PEN BOOKSTORE</a>. You can also check out my article in <a href="https://crimereads.com/spirit-mediums-psychics-suspense/" target="_blank">Crimereads</a> entitled <i>Mystic Threads, Spirit Mediums and Psychics in Crime Fiction.</i> Don't forget to comment or leave a thumbs up! </div><div>Also, the best gift (gifts) you can give an author are reviews on Goodreads or Amazon or whatever platform you read the book on, as well as requesting your local library to acquire the book or a set for book clubs. Any member can make that request. I'm always available for virtual or in-person book club appearances. Check out my website for details: <a href="https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/">https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Re: the <u>Holiday Launch Giveaway</u>, four lucky winners (in B.C, Manitoba, Arizona and California) received Kindle copies or hardcovers already. Sorry I couldn't send something to everyone who entered, but I will have more giveaways in 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now, the book recommendations!!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>MEXICAN GOTHIC</b> by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7qrjAz-YXDqa_0Ieap99WjEBAz20Jkf85mUwRYvm-R5IxSdzrbyj4nESMKpAdyqk7LuEy5J3gUmW5HaaiNEzAhJ2OvIZIezoNM9zJzNAu6qGVI2sychkJFtGFpLjDj6F-CE9hsZ8rOXIYnGjEz9jcr0mcirkjTkFjIZv_GRQodLcQy34NY3jjx7pYnr3/s456/mexican%20gothic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7qrjAz-YXDqa_0Ieap99WjEBAz20Jkf85mUwRYvm-R5IxSdzrbyj4nESMKpAdyqk7LuEy5J3gUmW5HaaiNEzAhJ2OvIZIezoNM9zJzNAu6qGVI2sychkJFtGFpLjDj6F-CE9hsZ8rOXIYnGjEz9jcr0mcirkjTkFjIZv_GRQodLcQy34NY3jjx7pYnr3/s320/mexican%20gothic.jpeg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“There’re people and there’re voices. I see them sometimes, the people in the walls. They’re dead.”</em></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This chilling, feminist thriller by the brilliant Silvia Moreno-Garcia plays cleverly with all <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the</em> tropes of a Gothic domestic-noir: a decaying and apparently haunted Victorian mansion in a post-colonial burned-out mining town, exploited for years by English silver barons, a plucky heroine who comes to rescue her ailing cousin, held captive by her oppressive husband, and finally, a dark and terrifying secret just waiting to be uncovered.<br />Noemí, the main protagonist is an unlikely heroine. She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and vivid red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s tough, smart and brave, with an indomitable will. She isn't scared of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the decaying patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom (and weird mushrooms!).<br />Her only ally turns out to be the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="freight-text-pro, serif" style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;">In its review, the Washington Post rightly calls this “a creepy, intoxicating mystery that’s almost impossible to put down,” but it’s also a chilling indictment of the real-life horrors of eugenics, racism and the plunderous practices of colonialism.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was lucky enough to see this brilliant author interviewed at the Vancouver Writers' Fest this year. She's such an entertaining speaker and a diehard fan of classic noir movies. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFenqmCLYJ0G-XpF_PZjp6Fx7pV51Dw_Gx40iBcwPRLoI6gOhn9nTVNIGvVrSFuWDpHigFwIImZJWhm5PajRMVO8QGGQtlBwclkTxjTH-G-ZCulLMeBE7d5-ulSu1nw5XDCuxDsXgD3WBDxPDp6pu9kW423lN33BdR4ewbWjRg9nPyRcEtysS_135HaPtT/s282/calico.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="179" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFenqmCLYJ0G-XpF_PZjp6Fx7pV51Dw_Gx40iBcwPRLoI6gOhn9nTVNIGvVrSFuWDpHigFwIImZJWhm5PajRMVO8QGGQtlBwclkTxjTH-G-ZCulLMeBE7d5-ulSu1nw5XDCuxDsXgD3WBDxPDp6pu9kW423lN33BdR4ewbWjRg9nPyRcEtysS_135HaPtT/s1600/calico.jpeg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>CALICO</b> by Lee Goldberg</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="mb-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><div class="display" id="review-display" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: times;">This was such a refreshing read. Successfully marrying a crime thriller with sci-fi and time travel is no easy feat and bestselling thriller writer, Lee Goldberg carries it off wonderfully. Loved the period detail in the historical sections and thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and many surprises of the fast-moving plot which features a flawed and truly likeable female cop as the protagonist. It's also set in the dusty desert town of Barstow, California, which I've passed through many times on the road from L.A to Las Vegas. Goldberg makes this unlikely setting really come to life. A great read.</span></div><div class="display" id="review-display" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="display" id="review-display" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ka2KIT57SF90QU85ex-vjwF8y-ahJCwSsK6-0g0e2T17X4a_K08wAJeqIe0Z6jmoTD8aleWbFwZ0yfN5mXuHlVR7vZzyP9hW3ixB2wmzGrDcNHr5UwuxUCaRPcXDIfzeoOONPTpglgUWSYLwuZ6ahrxUMRNw0gaY4kLeYPR-A67TZwbxImk8FnRot_rk/s346/195587502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="226" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ka2KIT57SF90QU85ex-vjwF8y-ahJCwSsK6-0g0e2T17X4a_K08wAJeqIe0Z6jmoTD8aleWbFwZ0yfN5mXuHlVR7vZzyP9hW3ixB2wmzGrDcNHr5UwuxUCaRPcXDIfzeoOONPTpglgUWSYLwuZ6ahrxUMRNw0gaY4kLeYPR-A67TZwbxImk8FnRot_rk/w168-h258/195587502.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><div class="display" id="review-display" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></div><b>DIRECTIONS FOR DARK THINGS</b> by Stephanie Sowden</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: times;">This story about an aging heiress living alone in the Hollywood Hills and the desperate real estate agent who tries to help her unlikeable boyfriend by unearthing something secret and very important from the crumbling mansion, really drew me in and kept me interested throughout. The dual timeline story tells of Audrey, the heiress's tragic and dysfunctional family during the early golden age of pre-WW2 moviemaking. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Sowden takes an interesting and possibly little known historical event of a fascist plot to 'take over' the Hollywood movie industry, and pave the way for the Germans to march into California, and weaves a twisty story around it.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The well-paced story and great sense of atmosphere, as well as the intriguing character of Audrey, made this a compelling read.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL858tMM4YLClaDdovGaOtBMhF47QPDc1aShMB_xuUzzNGfCkseY3qwT1I01OxcBBSaZ8Y044cmSmiGwqqKwN0KSAokpDOcNnH6MCHNK4YtybOn3r1KeAxRKUzs4kzEeNWeMMOaHTgVJiA0jUFc_eazF2DC-D-HMBXhrHoUre7xUetH3UWJKuCxgdQ3sMw/s210/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="210" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL858tMM4YLClaDdovGaOtBMhF47QPDc1aShMB_xuUzzNGfCkseY3qwT1I01OxcBBSaZ8Y044cmSmiGwqqKwN0KSAokpDOcNnH6MCHNK4YtybOn3r1KeAxRKUzs4kzEeNWeMMOaHTgVJiA0jUFc_eazF2DC-D-HMBXhrHoUre7xUetH3UWJKuCxgdQ3sMw/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;"><b>THE MYSTERY GUEST</b> by Nita Prose</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.4px;">At first I was a little sceptical that Nita Prose could recapture the quirky appeal of Molly the maid at the Regency Grand, who readers first met in her breakout debut, <i>The Maid, </i>but after a few pages, I was soon drawn back into her world. The novel acquires more depth with the parallel development of Molly's back story covering her childhood when her beloved Gran looked after her due to the absence of Molly's mother who remains a shadowy figure, but makes a tantalizing and brief appearance midway through. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.4px;">The story centers around the possible poisoning death of renowned crime author, J.D. Grimthorpe, who we discover has ties with both Molly and her Gran. The author deftly weaves this storyline around the quest to unmask the culprit, led by Detective Stark, Molly's nemesis in the first book. Surprisingly, she soon turns to Molly, a stickler for the smallest detail, for help in solving the crime. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.4px;">This book was basically a cozy mystery, which is not my favourite genre because of the overly simplistic police procedures and slight unbelievability of Molly's part in solving the crime, but fans of the genre will find this an entertaining and satisfying read and undoubtedly look forward to the next instalment in the series.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM1Tk4MK7y0h0YbHmIFT5zFfFfmgSQeW6WkqaMnX0YwPVF5eYuWPW43aK_quvPDVWn7mN3-izUQQ2TodYytxwLYkFKXedlo5MXL-eZtrAhxVCjET1K017Ojrf4YqHqHJQK6EYFg4u0EVbgy0xaGLeTP6Vt8hBqK84K9lLPt_0KwtcsdCqMTkIuwUrH3PP/s278/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="181" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM1Tk4MK7y0h0YbHmIFT5zFfFfmgSQeW6WkqaMnX0YwPVF5eYuWPW43aK_quvPDVWn7mN3-izUQQ2TodYytxwLYkFKXedlo5MXL-eZtrAhxVCjET1K017Ojrf4YqHqHJQK6EYFg4u0EVbgy0xaGLeTP6Vt8hBqK84K9lLPt_0KwtcsdCqMTkIuwUrH3PP/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" width="181" /></a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: times; font-size: 14.4px;"><b>PROPHET SONG </b>by Paul Lynch</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: times;"> I'm a huge fan of dystopian novels. I started out my writing career in that genre and </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: times;">Prophet Song, </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: times;">this year's Booker Prizewinner,</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: times;"> ranks up there with classics like Atwood's </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: times;">The Handmaiden's Tale, </i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: times;">sharing many parallels like a strong, heroic woman as the main character and the fact that every horrific and unimaginable incident portrayed in the story is happening somewhere in the world today. An</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;"> important novel for our times, the story jogs us us out of our complacency, despite the fact we've become desensitized towards the horrors that brutal political regimes can unleash on a country. We're accustomed to watching the devastation of war and the resulting societal collapse, on TV from the safety of our living rooms. We witness the agonies of streams of displaced men, women and children driven from their homes, and risking their lives to reach safety, and we believe it can never happen to us. Reading this book sends us hurtling into the nightmarish chaos of a country—in this case, Ireland—that is suddenly and without warning, overtaken by a fascist totalitarian regime. Lynch portrays an ordinary middle-class family caught up in the complete disintegration of life as they know it. Eilish, a microbiologist, is a mother of four whose husband, Larry, a teachers' union member, is one of the first to"disappear" leaving Eilish as the sole protector of her children and her aging father. The unrelenting , barely punctuated chunks of prose give the novel a breathless sense of </span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a style="color: #385898;"></a></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">events spiralling out of control in this story of a mother’s desperation to save her family and children from destruction when all human rights have been completely eroded. Lynch reminds us that this living nightmare is happening right now in some parts of the world, but could easily become a reality for anyone, anywhere. Even those of us living in the more affluent west. It's an astonishing novel and a deserving winner of the Booker Prize.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>POEMS </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Usually when I sit down to work I take some time to listen to poetry on YouTube. That usually fires me up to keep working. You might like to listen to some as well. Some poems I've used in the past include:</div><div><br /></div><div>A LETTER TO REMIND MYSELF WHO I AM by the brilliant Shane Koyczan. Listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXpG1DNSsBM" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>THE RABBIT CATCHER by Sylvia Plath, read by Sylvia Plath. Listen to it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsQA4AOiSB4" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>STILL I RISE by Maya Angelou. Can't resist this one! Listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qviM_GnJbOM" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>RHAPSODY ON A WINDY NIGHT by T.S Eliot, read by Jeremy Irons. Listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEok6la74XA" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>NIGHT POEM by Margaret Atwood, read by Margaret Atwood. Listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRkjhe_QREg" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>MUSIC</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I listen to music. I'm writing a new crime thriller set around the music business that involves iconic older (fictitious) artists, so I've been listening to a wide variety of music from different eras and genres. Here's selection for you to check out:</div><div><br /></div><div>EVEN FLOW by Pearl Jam. Check out a dynamic Eddie Vedder, grunger extraordinaire <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxKWTzr-k6s" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>GLORIA by the iconic queen of punk, Patti Smith. Listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7sodwiQJ6c" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>ANGEL OF MERCY by king of the blues guitar, Joe Bonamassa <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=kUJsi4vuGjY" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>THE LAST THING YOU SHOULD DO by two of my faves David Bowie and Robert Smith right <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krhzq6C1EBw" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I PUT A SPELL ON YOU by the incredible Ledisi right <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otADn_GJWk8&list=RDEMDGMivWaSfVy-hNZKMM2VpQ&index=6" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>YOU BRING ME JOY by a radiant Yolanda Adams right <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WqIwZQTUB8&list=RDGMEM6CZm14o9sc-Q22TIneLI8g&start_radio=1&rv=h92aa1eGe-4" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME by the amazing Luther Vandross <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ9ZVGM7smE" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>GIMME SHELTER by The Rolling Stones and the mind-blowing Lisa Fischer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLx4xJdCcZ4" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Reading AND listening!!</div><div>Happy Holidays</div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-11107060712727907932023-12-06T11:10:00.000-08:002023-12-08T08:15:07.364-08:00BOOK LAUNCH NEWS<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauwGiyTOl3POnurog4s-XRQOTBcu_Oa8f7XKCorXM9FhhO_QlqmVZSS1Edw_jmBsTDgQ3yQx-BR-c_InoGrQbjmhIpW-c_QQ_unwNj3vuLFu99mbS52NHJ86ugBchWjllGiqfsD48onWFvdcq9R9EJdbNki-bytLgD7PTFiJAvplvphZNkSuHNYBj425o/s1081/Night%20Side%20Giveaway%20Square%20A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1081" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauwGiyTOl3POnurog4s-XRQOTBcu_Oa8f7XKCorXM9FhhO_QlqmVZSS1Edw_jmBsTDgQ3yQx-BR-c_InoGrQbjmhIpW-c_QQ_unwNj3vuLFu99mbS52NHJ86ugBchWjllGiqfsD48onWFvdcq9R9EJdbNki-bytLgD7PTFiJAvplvphZNkSuHNYBj425o/w393-h393/Night%20Side%20Giveaway%20Square%20A.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><br /><p>After an exciting week leading up to book launch day for THE NIGHT SIDE, I just wanted to send you a quick update to let you know about a special HOLIDAY LAUNCH GIVEAWAY to celebrate the book's publication. It's easy to enter. Here are the details:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>go to my website at <a href="https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/">https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/</a> and you'll find the entry form. Fill it in and click SUBMIT, and you'll be entered to win one of the following prizes:</li></ul>- one of TWO signed hardback copies of THE NIGHT SIDE (Canada and US entrants only)<p></p><p>- one of TWO Kindle e-books (US entrants only).</p><p>If you're on Twitter, you can win an extra <span style="background-color: red;">SURPRISE</span> gift by following me, retweeting and tagging my giveaway post, or if you're on Instagram, look out for my giveaway posts, follow me, Like the post and tag a friend in the Comments.</p><p>Winners will be notified by the 16th December.</p><p>I'll arrange something for all you UK readers out there in the near future.</p><p>Also I had a wonderful time chatting with Barbara Peters at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you're ever in Scottsdale, check out this terrific place. they sure do a whole lot to support authors and their readers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrwBX7VQM2_yCLS3gyf2IZJDA9MmfpN2TL1FS-Gyw1gYXSYABIiYZg6HaTJXT8jPXBAhac8SXe-z2rFlc79wqoqYXT4MkBWpbK_zOaD_8K-9XjQVaef8VYTcSyz7oKXyOJkpETqOA_7QhTEUCHKAsn-L4z3Ki3dugJQWraVw_FMMN38OA5aGxPA-WBfbC/s1500/poisoned%20pen.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1500" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrwBX7VQM2_yCLS3gyf2IZJDA9MmfpN2TL1FS-Gyw1gYXSYABIiYZg6HaTJXT8jPXBAhac8SXe-z2rFlc79wqoqYXT4MkBWpbK_zOaD_8K-9XjQVaef8VYTcSyz7oKXyOJkpETqOA_7QhTEUCHKAsn-L4z3Ki3dugJQWraVw_FMMN38OA5aGxPA-WBfbC/w374-h235/poisoned%20pen.jpeg" width="374" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>You can watch the video of the podcast right here:</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoiNLEwW7eg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoiNLEwW7eg</a></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfc2qbL0xyc6m2AvwOXUwbzRcc3JxpF5F6m2O36MxFp55DdMTAUZvz7X6dzDNz4DQ_3RD5HAvUNaGXxIyMrGcrG30563D0eDkxAGPLsE2dI6OuMIU4AVP9-toyiKUaJgA7KWG0Q8GzTBdMzEKrBFYS5wWGI02BNffdg4U3QhUH7huX2rVlcwk2Vxuh8x8/s4032/IMG_7418.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfc2qbL0xyc6m2AvwOXUwbzRcc3JxpF5F6m2O36MxFp55DdMTAUZvz7X6dzDNz4DQ_3RD5HAvUNaGXxIyMrGcrG30563D0eDkxAGPLsE2dI6OuMIU4AVP9-toyiKUaJgA7KWG0Q8GzTBdMzEKrBFYS5wWGI02BNffdg4U3QhUH7huX2rVlcwk2Vxuh8x8/w278-h382/IMG_7418.HEIC" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Pre-launch party pic!!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Happy reading and happy holidays to you all! I'll be back in the New Year with some great book recommendations and other exciting book news!</p><p></p><br /><p><br /></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-50660407462894534252023-11-29T10:09:00.000-08:002023-11-29T10:09:20.742-08:00LAUNCHING A NEW BOOK<p> </p><p>LAUNCHING A NEW BOOK</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RJAq8mBaPItxOU7_KcbN_CtB9Y1BChm-Lo3GdfAGAkPt8K46yeB2u8DrJQc-D-61viCS3HMg9GmwbEQ3eTE3YjmgrORYhiCqFxXybkxYVf3juXgi0_KkWysOWlbAoUi2Fy_7k2GBEZXu0_EkpavQUkvdQJGS3GHxOvsI6RUPC1iS_c1qehyNrE9n2q5g/s1200/Night%20Side,%20The_Facebook%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RJAq8mBaPItxOU7_KcbN_CtB9Y1BChm-Lo3GdfAGAkPt8K46yeB2u8DrJQc-D-61viCS3HMg9GmwbEQ3eTE3YjmgrORYhiCqFxXybkxYVf3juXgi0_KkWysOWlbAoUi2Fy_7k2GBEZXu0_EkpavQUkvdQJGS3GHxOvsI6RUPC1iS_c1qehyNrE9n2q5g/w469-h244/Night%20Side,%20The_Facebook%20Cover.jpg" width="469" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Being a published fiction writer isn't just about writing what you, your agent and your publisher feel is a good, hopefully great novel. <p></p><p>But first, just to be clear, as most would-be writers know, it takes a whole lot of agony, sweat, persistence and rejection to even write a book, sign with an agent who will then sell your book (best-case scenario) to a publisher, so I have to count myself as fortunate to have even reached that point. Most writers have to be incredibly patient, thick-skinned and absolutely determined to get there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVrDeTyxXTVvA7aBwBV-tOQ8uGbLcMFjFdBTFfahVAhXr0TJNIZxDAM-Fbpq3j6bMKBu3-W8khW-A1TXkFcIfRfWiGAXOocFtl9oYCuQp6snHkdRQ4kYiYJGymaHhLO18CWum65C-EVx5K3VoeBaF765K5O3DJu6wPbHc2F4mXnD1m3rXUS9Rb-Yq3baN/s303/Netgalley.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="303" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVrDeTyxXTVvA7aBwBV-tOQ8uGbLcMFjFdBTFfahVAhXr0TJNIZxDAM-Fbpq3j6bMKBu3-W8khW-A1TXkFcIfRfWiGAXOocFtl9oYCuQp6snHkdRQ4kYiYJGymaHhLO18CWum65C-EVx5K3VoeBaF765K5O3DJu6wPbHc2F4mXnD1m3rXUS9Rb-Yq3baN/w408-h225/Netgalley.jpeg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>So, once your book is finally revised, edited, proofread etc. etc. there are a few more steps before publication day:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>an ARC (advance review copy) goes onto <a href="https://www.netgalley.com" target="_blank">NetGalley</a>, a site where professional reviewers, bloggers, librarians, journalists are able to request a copy in exchange for an honest review. Then begins the long wait, during which you find yourself checking the reviews and hoping the response will be positive. </li><li>Other ARCs go out to authors, trade publications like Booklist and Publishers' Weekly and various magazines and websites in the hopes they will review the book and include some quotable comments that can be used when publicizing it.</li><li>Depending on your publisher, they may arrange appearances on podcasts, guest articles in newspapers/magazines, zines or your agent might do the same.</li><li>Most of the rest is up to you, the author to use your social media platform to spread the word about your book on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter (X), and Facebook. Anything goes here: Book trailers, aesthetics reels that convey the flavour/atmosphere of your book, posts, stories, blog posts, book giveaways. Anything to get your book out there in the public eye. It's exhausting, but maybe it will pay off if you get enough buzz going!</li></ul><div>I've discovered that readers/influencers/other authors are usually incredibly generous when it comes to helping get the word out and that's why one of an author's most important jobs is to build up a platform of loyal readers/ followers.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTYjFFvC7FVuzGTl9FEgBmshhXsFzDZnNGgI072ZcrihXmRPRCBc03HYVmv20JY_8QjZu3reeKWDjaF33KQzSZL_02UarWZRq80W1tYyPtPhaFcX4oD9wBq3eWB1Bd_A9j5k9k5HzpCJezwDDvhm9WRATZRh6FfdKAKZgarcJyukfaR98H0zB3kzGHf4y/s2250/The%20Night%20Side%20Poisoned%20Pen%20IG-Square.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="2250" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTYjFFvC7FVuzGTl9FEgBmshhXsFzDZnNGgI072ZcrihXmRPRCBc03HYVmv20JY_8QjZu3reeKWDjaF33KQzSZL_02UarWZRq80W1tYyPtPhaFcX4oD9wBq3eWB1Bd_A9j5k9k5HzpCJezwDDvhm9WRATZRh6FfdKAKZgarcJyukfaR98H0zB3kzGHf4y/w364-h364/The%20Night%20Side%20Poisoned%20Pen%20IG-Square.png" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm happy to have been on one terrific podcast so far; The Thriller Zone with David Temple was a blast. You can check out the video by clicking <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY9a-u2LVJA&t=227s" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMzEBZ6Y4eN0daBhNTEEpGHdqUnMSh3syKKvsanWgQ_6ZsV0mc-yfd9klDZY8va7MpEdWMxcY9AE01qUemaKCV_jkrG93aEHFAfkG0MRMZWjOIC0ZojdWNQewh-L17Exi3VKyT1gGcD-JdZVAwEx_nzAyscM66kQNHvSvxJj_bSn-I72KlU6jBH4y5pDI/s2000/THRILLER%20ZONE%20AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMzEBZ6Y4eN0daBhNTEEpGHdqUnMSh3syKKvsanWgQ_6ZsV0mc-yfd9klDZY8va7MpEdWMxcY9AE01qUemaKCV_jkrG93aEHFAfkG0MRMZWjOIC0ZojdWNQewh-L17Exi3VKyT1gGcD-JdZVAwEx_nzAyscM66kQNHvSvxJj_bSn-I72KlU6jBH4y5pDI/s320/THRILLER%20ZONE%20AD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm now going to be appearing on the Poisoned Pen Bookstore podcast on Friday December 1st at 5:30 p.m (MT). The links to view live or a recorded version are down below:</div><div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepoisonedpenbookstore/videos/">www.facebook.com/thepoisonedpenbookstore/videos/</a></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbRuLNmD8EhT4WrGGMVW-w">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbRuLNmD8EhT4WrGGMVW-w</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGHOMe_dgdLV7yZrjof-TmPy-aJUyElumemBLod3lGqWTS3WyaDVZIdj0eT4xW_DxriZzlmmuSM49HRfWrJU3OPc9H4xLtX1-SitWK3YJNtv4GwYhLkBpX2LZPwHTVvAvi9vkmxfTujhM2l4bPczr6e9jt64YDkAO7NAerbVkrXdYSS88Tng5jMeL7733/s1080/Event-Icon-2023-11-22T135858.183.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGHOMe_dgdLV7yZrjof-TmPy-aJUyElumemBLod3lGqWTS3WyaDVZIdj0eT4xW_DxriZzlmmuSM49HRfWrJU3OPc9H4xLtX1-SitWK3YJNtv4GwYhLkBpX2LZPwHTVvAvi9vkmxfTujhM2l4bPczr6e9jt64YDkAO7NAerbVkrXdYSS88Tng5jMeL7733/s320/Event-Icon-2023-11-22T135858.183.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So after all this, we writers hope that readers will be interested enough to pick up our book and more importantly, enjoy the fruits of our labour. I love to hear from readers and I'm always willing to make real or virtual appearances at book clubs. It's fascinating to hear enthusiastic readers find meaning in your work. Check out my website at <a href="https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/">https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/</a> to find out more details about book clubs.</div><div><br /></div><div>HAPPY READING!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-52507002301392163562023-08-13T09:30:00.001-07:002023-08-13T09:49:18.308-07:00BOOK NEWS and REVIEWS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaUsh5XfmHLH2fRl3-x-qXeSawzpwXpJHDgWC0pIQeVd5Px8Fc-MlraOaL62z8Nbhpx4xqelc7X9eVzJHJHS7L20aYJnJx7fmRg7qXjR48t_aa3aNhc_HanNTxrDBYUy3ebBSfq4EYcJJeIjJeqDS4YCiRCGNko8joyaLhiIkZCaExqZaeLZ2rVueXC1-/s2622/revised%20The%20Night%20Side%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2622" data-original-width="1665" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaUsh5XfmHLH2fRl3-x-qXeSawzpwXpJHDgWC0pIQeVd5Px8Fc-MlraOaL62z8Nbhpx4xqelc7X9eVzJHJHS7L20aYJnJx7fmRg7qXjR48t_aa3aNhc_HanNTxrDBYUy3ebBSfq4EYcJJeIjJeqDS4YCiRCGNko8joyaLhiIkZCaExqZaeLZ2rVueXC1-/w299-h471/revised%20The%20Night%20Side%20(1).jpeg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div><b>NEW BOOK COMING DECEMBER 2023!!</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so excited to tell you about my upcoming new novel from Severn House Publishers (a division of Canongate Books). It's called <b>THE NIGHT SIDE</b> and is coming out in hardback and and all major digital platforms on <b>December 5th 2023</b>. You can pre-order it now at <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-night-side/m-m-deluca/9781448312504" target="_blank">Waterstones</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-night-side-mm-deluca/1143661886?ean=9781448312504" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> as well as Amazon, Apple Books and Kobo. The Trade Paperback will follow in the late spring. Here's a synopsis: </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>TWENTY YEARS OF SECRETS. ONE DEADLY TRUTH</b> </div><div> </div><div>When Ruby Carlson was eighteen, she ran away from her home in Stoneybrook, Montana, and vowed she'd never return. Never return to life under the control of her manipulative mother, Ida, a self-styled medium and psychic scammer who made a career out of ruining people's lives. Never return to the small town where enemies lurk at every turn.
But now, twenty years later, Ruby is back. Her mother is missing, presumed dead, and Ruby reluctantly returns to a home filled with chilling memories to settle Ida's affairs. Did she really commit suicide by drowning, or is this another dark scheme? Ruby thought she knew everything about her mother, but finds herself unraveling a web of lies and secrets to reveal a story more twisted than anyone could have imagined . . .</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts with more information about the inspiration behind the novel!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>AUDIO BOOK NEWS</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC-1djUty8GY9sMt2XADhN3JxYEcTXvC8gBD34Y-WH2vfinK_ikLE7rQV-deuPCtMpfQQclKSgXVStipi6MaeGxmXuWN80lvwJbwGRsJN2PbngIV3cS5XwFKgvW1I7uSjxsitklwfcDqQfl5RtRjCcO6jv2m_37PJj-TZBMltFyfBmv9f2_wUCYxIc189/s500/PFM%20audio.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC-1djUty8GY9sMt2XADhN3JxYEcTXvC8gBD34Y-WH2vfinK_ikLE7rQV-deuPCtMpfQQclKSgXVStipi6MaeGxmXuWN80lvwJbwGRsJN2PbngIV3cS5XwFKgvW1I7uSjxsitklwfcDqQfl5RtRjCcO6jv2m_37PJj-TZBMltFyfBmv9f2_wUCYxIc189/w288-h288/PFM%20audio.jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>New audiobook versions of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Perfect-Family-Man/dp/B0C2ZW57D7/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">THE PERFECT FAMILY MAN</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Secret-Sister/dp/B0C2ZTW6TL/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=M.+M.+DeLuca&qid=1691943996&s=audible&sr=1-1" target="_blank">THE SECRET SISTER</a> are now available on Amazon and the Audible store. I was so stoked to learn that THE PERFECT FAMILY MAN is narrated by the wonderful <a href="https://www.helenlaser.com" target="_blank">Helen Laser</a> who also narrated the amazing smash hit, YELLOWFACE, July's Reese's Bookclub pick. I'll be reviewing it next blog post. Check the books out. They're amazing to hear on audio.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>NEW COVER</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Check out the new cover for my popular romantic suspense novel, <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lilah-Marjorie-DeLuca-ebook/dp/B00R3K3SZ4?ref_=ast_author_dp" target="_blank">LILAH</a></b>, available on all Amazon platforms. This one really captures the snowy winter setting of Silver Narrows, North Dakota.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4twLWgIzUauRIXn8vw34TjQEGHVPyxgxm8qj8ra8cAPFlz3Pa5J6lr12dIRwhXEbdtlVs8hrTYg8EHRyMjENyF1eGKIl319Yk2Xnuscvg9lWGc9lwpN_wLm6Z-SsOMDzYvx0F-i_FRNAKsNOdFWICqQDqq_mV-sbdyDPWkBjgZaGly5_rS91hdUjwYHW/s2700/Lost%20Tracks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4twLWgIzUauRIXn8vw34TjQEGHVPyxgxm8qj8ra8cAPFlz3Pa5J6lr12dIRwhXEbdtlVs8hrTYg8EHRyMjENyF1eGKIl319Yk2Xnuscvg9lWGc9lwpN_wLm6Z-SsOMDzYvx0F-i_FRNAKsNOdFWICqQDqq_mV-sbdyDPWkBjgZaGly5_rS91hdUjwYHW/w239-h359/Lost%20Tracks.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>BOOK REVIEW</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-UewICtGD4W-xQMpJNnmVANoUipdp-xiw6_3aEqM4j1d4xhowlsZdnd0XPzJyl6y2WPgJK5wnANbrQL-TPG5Jrphb_tgsmxjQq9g9cr9X3IhxqAM06BQGELspk1oH2XYvHt3kzhi4udNYMBAVhVc_NFpJ4v93-opsfypLxs0uP8afHzic9FwHYAUu2Gk/s2056/white%20Ivy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-UewICtGD4W-xQMpJNnmVANoUipdp-xiw6_3aEqM4j1d4xhowlsZdnd0XPzJyl6y2WPgJK5wnANbrQL-TPG5Jrphb_tgsmxjQq9g9cr9X3IhxqAM06BQGELspk1oH2XYvHt3kzhi4udNYMBAVhVc_NFpJ4v93-opsfypLxs0uP8afHzic9FwHYAUu2Gk/s320/white%20Ivy.jpeg" width="218" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">WHITE IVY by Susie Yang</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Right from the get-go in Susie Yang’s twisty novel, we understand the protagonist, Ivy, is a morally ambivalent character trained by her immigrant grandmother at an early age to use her unassuming appearance for cover to steal items from second-hand shops and yard sales. Ivy continues this trend into her adolescence, blithely shoplifting anywhere and everywhere in order to acquire all the trappings necessary to be accepted into the ‘in-crowd’ at her exclusive private high school and, more importantly, attract the attention of her idol, ‘golden boy’, Gideon Speyer. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Gideon becomes her perfect ideal of a man, but her darker side prefers loner and social outcast, Roux with whom she embarks on a torrid sexual relationship. When her hardworking parents discover her crimes, she’s sent back to China to ‘learn a life lesson’ but instead lands at her wealthy aunt’s home and continues to enjoy the excesses of materialism and learn everything she can about good taste and shopping. A short stay with the ‘poorer’ side of her parents’ family only confirms her determination to enjoy ‘the good life’ and become part of what she perceives as society’s ‘upper, privileged echelons’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Interestingly, Ivy doesn’t conform to stereotype or to her parents' expectations, with her unspectacular college career that lands her a job as an elementary school teacher. But when she runs into Gideon’s sister and re-establishes contact it seems her plan to insert herself into his ‘privileged existence’ is back on track again as she pretends to prepare for law school entrance and continue a relationship with Gideon. Too bad it’s threatened by an unwelcome ghost from her past.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Ivy is an incredibly complex character. Vulnerable one minute, ruthless the next. Yang captures her internal struggle as she attempts to negotiate a society that values white privilege and all the trapping of their perceived socio-economic superiority, yet somehow causes her to devalue the financial success of her hardworking parents who turn out to be much more business-savvy and financially stable than their white counterparts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">What follows is a chain of unexpected events and a totally unpredictable ending where Ivy realizes she’s not so different from her mother in that she’s prepared to do anything to achieve her dream. Written in gorgeous razor-sharp prose, this is a remarkably subversive debut that introduces one of the most complex but compelling characters in recent fiction and cleverly shines a light on the alienation and forced ‘otherness’ of the immigrant experience.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-43002576136867168672023-06-13T15:43:00.000-07:002023-06-13T15:43:03.328-07:00BOOK REVIEW: EVERGREENS by Liam Brown<b>
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EVERGREENS by Liame Brown</b
>
<i
>This fast-paced page-turner by Liame Brown poses the age-old question,
<i
>Who Wants to Live Forever? The answer, it seems, is not as straightforward
as we might think, particularly when the two people in a romantic
relationship hold diametrically opposite viewpoints on the issue. The story
is told from two points of view and spans a period of sixty-five years. We
first meet Sophie and Ben in the year 2070 as elderly Sophie watches a
youthful Ben as he lies in his hospital bed, aging in front of her eyes.
Rewind back to 2005 when Ben and Sophie meet for the first time as carefree
nineteen year old backpackers traveling during their gap year. Ben comes
from a troubled, more deprived childhood while Sophie's life has been one of
comfort and privilege, which Ben finds somewhat intimidating. So begins
their on-again, off-again relationship which takes many twists and turns
through the years, the most significant one being when Ben signs up for the
Evergreens Project which guarantees that the clients will not age physically
and will stay twenty-one forever. the problem is that Ben lacks motivation
and becomes stuck in a rut with all the time in the world to figure out what
he wants to do and if he even wants to do it.
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The novel is a fascinating exploration of what might happen to a person facing a life that could go on
forever. Suddenly priorities change, and relationships become risky when you
know you'll outlive all your friends and you'll do it as someone who stays
permanently young. The same goes for intimate relationships which might
work, but only for a limited length of time before the differences between
you and your aging partner become too great. Then there's the conflict
between your youthful body and your aging mind and character. You might have
the body of a twenty-one year old, but your experience and attitude towards
life will be that of a fifty-year-old, which poses all kinds of challenges
in terms of how you want to spend your time. Liame Brown explores these
questions and more through the lens of Ben and Sophie's relationship. Only
later does he widen his scope and begin to consider the societal effects
that age-reversal technology might have on society. I'd like to have seen
more of this during the novel, but perhaps narrowing the scope is a more
realistic way to deal with such a massive question. Overall this was an
enjoyable read with an intriguing premise. Thanks to Legend Press for
sending me an early copy to review.</i
><i><i></i></i
></i>
Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-26913615671964259232023-05-08T09:56:00.000-07:002023-05-08T09:56:42.144-07:00BOOK NEWS AND SPRING TRAVELS!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Z-b-Zd2eqSc9JMYYKuRVfvQPagiyydwOQAfDSQKeJqyOeeI6HR2FAv1wRrforrW8T6lQo2_xh_6nAao2FDm5JTNszsC4PiFhRTjaQuAakJjEFpPqbAAGD6q4Jg9V8EU2nLu7jdyfTUv_CCDADYavz4EKEea9KU7jZout-NLI86ofRyR4e0xayOieqA/s276/book%20deal.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Z-b-Zd2eqSc9JMYYKuRVfvQPagiyydwOQAfDSQKeJqyOeeI6HR2FAv1wRrforrW8T6lQo2_xh_6nAao2FDm5JTNszsC4PiFhRTjaQuAakJjEFpPqbAAGD6q4Jg9V8EU2nLu7jdyfTUv_CCDADYavz4EKEea9KU7jZout-NLI86ofRyR4e0xayOieqA/s320/book%20deal.jpeg"/></a></div>
<b>BOOK DEAL NEWS: I'm delighted to tell you about my latest book deal with Severn House, an imprint of Canongate Books</b>
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This new suspense novel, will be published in early December of this year, and I hope to have a cover reveal and more info by the time my next blog comes out.
I'm also excited to tell you that an audio version of my bestselling novel, THE PERFECT FAMILY MAN, will be available on July 18th, 2023 and can be pre-ordered <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Perfect-Family-Man/dp/B0C2ZW57D7/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">here</a>.
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<b>SPRING TRAVELS</b>
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This year I escaped the final chapter of one of our longest winter seasons yet, by traveling south to Arizona. We stayed in the beautiful suburb of Fountain Hills and spent a couple of weeks golfing, swimming and walking. As usual I took a whole lot of pictures to store in my "possible locations for a novel" folder and filled a notebook with observations, descriptions, potential characters,intriguing scenarios and story ideas.
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It's true that fiction writing is a twenty-four-seven obsession. As a writer, you're always on the lookout for the quirky side of humanity. Constantly watching to see how people interact and always collecting sensory details that will help you develop a rich and plausible setting for a future novel.
Since we made the journey by car, I was able to experience many different types of landscape from the endless, flat prairies of Manitoba and North Dakota to the hills and canyons of South Dakota, to the wild, undulating hills of Nebraska, to the spectacular foothills of the Colorado Rockies, to the intense desertlike vistas of New Mexico, and finally to the red-rock mountain splendor of Arizona. We returned home to a virtually snowless Winnipeg. Mission accomplished!
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<b>
In this blog I've chosen to review sci-fi works with feminist themes, starting with CAMP ZERO by Michelle Min Sterling:
This thought-provoking and intriguing read had me hooked from the beginning, with its portrayal of a world utterly changed by rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions. As a result, the greedy powerbrokers and plunderers of earth's riches turn their sights to Canada's northern regions—the only place in North America where cold temperatures make life bearable and fresh water, ice and snow actually exist. Also the only place still hiding precious mineral reserves under the permafrost.
The story follows Rose, a paid escort/prostitute who travels north from The Floating City (in Boston Harbour), to a bleak camp in Northern Alberta's old oil patch where a reclusive architect is supposedly building an idyllic campus dedicated to finding ways to live in harmony with nature. Rose's new life is reminiscent of The Handmaiden's Tale in that she's there simply to "service" the project's management who subscribe to a strongly patriarchal version of life. Another story strand follows Grant, an idealistic young academic, eager to escape his power-magnate father and forge his own future path. But the most fascinating story is of "White Alice" an all-female research group of scientists sent to the far north to monitor climate change. Instead they gradually discover the real reason why they've been sent there.
The author paints a plausible and chilling vision of a future world , and poses the question that even when earth's resources are dwindling and we are on the brink of potential disaster, how far will power-hungry men go to continue to amass personal wealth when the consequences might be the destruction of humanity and how can women band together and work in harmony to prevent them?
Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Knopf Canada for providing an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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<b>SERIES REVIEW: THE POWER</b> (Amazon Prime)Based on the brilliant bestselling novel by Naomi Alderman, this series truly brings the book to life thanks to a brilliant script by Alderman, Sarah Quintrell and Raelle Tucket and a stellar cast of Toni Collette (Margot), John Leguizamo (Rob),Ria Zmitrovicz (Roxy),Halle Bush (Eve), Toheeb Jimoh (Tunde) among numerous others. The main premise of the story poses an intriguing question—what happens when women develop a mysterious power to elecrocute at will? The answer being a complete reversal of the global power balance. Tables are turned when men are forced to realize that mere physical strength is no match for women's newly discovered ability to generate deadly electric force. Some male characters embrace the opportunity to forge a new future in which men and women work together as equals, while others see it as an unwelcome subversion of nature's natural order that must be curtailed by any method possible. The result is a thrilling and action-packed series driven by unforgettable characters. I highly recommend!!
Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-49235502858067582782023-03-09T10:30:00.004-08:002023-03-10T08:36:49.875-08:00INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAYWith International Women's day falling on March 8th, I'm featuring notable books I've read recently, written by women and focusing on women's issues, while fearlessly pushing the boundaries of fiction.
<b>ON THE SAVAGE SIDE by Tiffany McDaniel</b>
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This was an incredibly brutal yet beautiful novel. Not for the faint of heart, it tackles addiction, parental neglect, child abuse, child sexual abuse, prostitution, police brutality, male brutality and the never-ending cycle of poverty and addiction,, and it achieves all this without being gratuitous, sentimental or judgmental. McDaniel gives humanity to the women struggling with the savagery of life in a dying Ohio town.
The novel was inspired by the unsolved murders of The Chillicothe Six; six women--mothers, daughters, sisters--who went missing. When the first is found floating dead in the river, and more bodies follow, some disturbing truths about the people in this small Ohio town are revealed. This harrowing and haunting novel tells the story of twin sisters, Arc and Daffodil, who can't escape the generational cycle of prostitution and addiction and who could both be the next victims of the River Man, an elusive killer.
This novel digs deep into its main characters, tracing the course of their lives right from childhood when they still believed, with the help of their incredible grandmother, Mamma Milkweed, that "there are things that not even fire can destroy. And one of these things is the strength of a woman". Also that the savage side of life can always be mended and made beautiful.The author's brilliance shines in her ability to use poetic and lyrical language to create the kind of magic rarely seen in such portrayals of the darker side of life.
<b>TIFFANY MCDANIEL</b> is an Ohio native whose writing is inspired by the rolling hills and woods of the land she knows. Drawing from her Cherokee heritage, she is a poet, a novelist, and a visual artist.
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<b>ON HOME</a> by Becca Spence Dobias</b>
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This beautifully written debut novel is a sensitive and insightful portrait of three generations of women struggling with sexuality, relationships and belonging. Grandma Jane's story begins post-WW2 as she leaves her small town in West Virginia to go and work in the big city - Washington D.C where men in uniform seem to prey on young, impressionable women. Paloma, Jane's daughter-in-law, meets her husband, Ken in Prague while she's teaching at a university there. Cassidy, Paloma's daughter, left West Virginia behind and is a cam girl in Southern California. When her father, Ken is killed in an accident, she comes home intending only to stay for the funeral, but fate takes a turn . The setting of small town, West Virginia is a major factor in this novel. Jane sees it as a place of safety while Paloma, who at first viewed it as a good place to raise a family, feels suffocated and longs for the liberated lifestyle she left behind in Prague. Cassidy feels that returning to Buckannon is a sign of her continued failure in the eyes of her mother, and the interaction between the two is prickly and distant as they try to interact without the buffer of Cassidy's beloved father. The interaction between the three women and their attempts to come to terms with their life in the small town, and their place in the world as women, is skilfully and expertly portrayed by Dobias who weaves a well-paced, compelling story that deals with many deeply human themes such as the fleeting nature of experience as well as the sanctuary of home and family, and the power of love.
<b>Becca Spence Dobias</b> grew up in a small town in West Virginia and now lives in Southern California with her husband and two children. Her work has been published in two Writing Bloc anthologies, Inlandia: A Literary Journey, and the Inlandia Anthology, A Short Guide to Finding Your First Home in the United States. She misses West Virginia every day but playing banjo helps. On Home is her first novel.
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<b>WOMEN TALKING by Miriam Toews, WOMEN TALKING, the movie adapted and directed by Sarah Polley</b>
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Usually when one watches a movie adaptation of a novel, there's a feeling of disappointment that the images and ideas you conjured up in your head while reading, are far more engaging than the choices made by the screenwriter and director of the movie version. This is defintely not the case for WOMEN TALKING. Author Miriam Toews worked closely with director and screenwriter, Sarah Polley, collaborating every step of the way to create an unforgettable movie adaptation of Toews' bestselling novel.
Adapting this exploration of the brutality of the patriarchy without becoming gratuitous is no mean feat, and Sarah Polley succeeds in capturing the horrific circumstances of these women without exploiting them. Based on a real case fron the early 2000's of a Mennonite sect living in an isolated community in Bolivia. Toews focuses on eight female members of the community who climb into a hay loft to conduct a secret meeting. For the past two years, each of these women, and more than a hundred other girls in their colony, has been repeatedly violated in the night by demons coming to punish them for their sins. Now that the women have learned they were in fact drugged and attacked by a group of men from their own community, they are determined to protect themselves and their daughters from future harm.
While the men of the colony are off in the city, attempting to raise enough money to bail out the rapists and bring them home, these women—all illiterate, without any knowledge of the world outside their community and unable even to speak the language of the country they live in—have very little time to make a choice: Should they stay in the only world they’ve ever known or should they dare to escape? Rather than focusing on the horror of the assaults, Toews concentrates on the struggle these women experience when trying to take back the power that has been systematically stripped from them. Both novel and movie emphasise the strength of the bonds between these women, and the undeniable fact that working together as women is the only way to challenge the rigid religious rules that have bound them for so long. The book and the movie eventually become a compelling examination of all patriarchy and the possibility that those who have been most brutally oppressed by it, can actually remove themselves from its influence.
<b>Miriam Toews</b> is a Canadian writer of Mennonite descent. She grew up in Steinbach, Manitoba and has lived in Montreal and London, before settling in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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Finally I can't let this International Women's day pass without spotlighting some incredibly powerful female artists that I've always admired: first off, <b>LAURA NYRO
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One of the greatest performers and songwriters of the 20th century, check out Nyro's incredible appearance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival For some inexplicable reason, her brave, impassioned performance of THE POVERTY TRAIN didn't make it to the final film version of the festival and lay on the cutting floor. Check it out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-75Tn58dJ4">here</a>.
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LISA FISCHER has been a favorite of mine since her early diso days when she won a Grammy for her hit, HOW CAN I EASE THE PAIN. Later she garnered praise for her work with The Rolling Stones when her incredible vocals transformed GIMME SHELTER into a rock and roll masterpiece. Check it out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSxzNUS0gZ8">here</a>.
Lately she's branched out as a solo artist and also appeared together with the incredible singer LEDISI in some unforgettable performances. Check out this amazing collaboration with LEDISI,VULA MALINGA and SHARLENE HECTOR at The Royal Albert Hall when they perform FOUR WOMEN. Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r132Hdela6M">here</a> to enjoy.
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<b>BOOK NEWS</b>.....
I'll have some incredible news in my next blog about my new, upcoming book, so STAY TUNED to find out more about it, and when it will be coming out!! Can't wait to tell you.
Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-30853359941334186872023-01-03T15:18:00.003-08:002023-01-03T15:18:53.592-08:00HERE'S TO 2023!It's always exciting to welcome in a new year even though that means cold, snowy winter weather here. It's even more exciting now that I have new agency representation from Trident Media Group and have completed two new novels. More news to come later about that! For now I've attached reviews of two novels I read recently. Both very different. Hope you enjoy!
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WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje
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Only Michael Ondaatje could pull off a novel like Warlight. Named after the twilight that shrouded London during World War 2 when all the streetlights were dimmed to avoid lighting the way for German bombers, the story itself seems to flicker in dreamlike fragments as the world awakes from the horrors of war. The world in this novel is post-war London, brilliantly captured in loving detail in Ondaatje's achingly beautiful prose. This is a battle-scarred and battered London where people who have worked covertly in the shadows, find themselves emerging into the changed world of the Cold War where actions taken during wartime must be answered for. The story begins when teens Rachel and Nathaniel's parents disappear, leaving them in the care of a mysterious guardian named The Moth and his enigmatic friend, The Darter. Over the next year a selection of strange, elusive characters pass through the house. They stay for a while, impart their wisdom, and leave. Rachel struggles with feelings of abandonment while Nathaniel, whose story this really is, finds school difficult to stick with as he's drawn to the fascinating world of The Darter who proves to be an unlikely mentor. The Darter is a barge rat who knows every inch of the River Thames. Nathaniel starts to accompany him on his trips to pick up illegal French greyhounds which are then taken back to the docklands to fuel the newly growing greyhound racing racket. The Darter also gets him a job in a restaurant where he meets and become romantically involved with Agnes.
There is a mystery at the heart of the novel that results in a catastrophic end to the arrangement and comes to dominate Nathaniel's life even after he goes to work for the Foreign Office but it's clear that his parents' actions have a lasting impact on his life. This is a haunting story that stays with you long after the last page is turned. Perhaps because of its fragmentary structure where memories drift in and out, mirroring the nature of true human experience and life.
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It's clear from the start of this page-turning novel that the main character, Nadine is on edge and burdened by secrets that have clouded her life for a very long time. The story unfolds over the course of one day as she prepares to host a sixtieth birthday party for her mother, a best-selling author. Right for the onset Nadine seems suspicious of other people's motives, a little paranoid and not a little unlikable as a person. But she's a fiercely protective mother to her two children Isobel, 16 and Damien, 14, both of who are struggling with their own personal crises.
We already know from the prologue that someone at the party will be dead by the end of the night, so Stuart artfully builds up the tension, introducing characters who may have a motive to uncover some secrets Nadine would like to keep under wraps.
Set in a small town somewhere in North America, the setting felt a little generic and lacking atmosphere, though the author does capture some of the drawbacks of small town life where all eyes are on you at all times.
A well-written and interesting read.
Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-63458215442707314612022-06-11T08:46:00.000-07:002022-06-11T08:48:47.663-07:00THE SHORTEST SPRING ON RECORD<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6_qJf0GhvXbybOahZdOr9BVSvALgX1VN1Le1OwPuzTJuFduHt6IptGrvVrOYmw2nkwbTPlV2QCVBkj8kdtu7tPoR-jeFqpS_T41j1wi5Lg2dxtNCLX-VxN47PQfVzI36E5JxWGtPQ4pJ82UdLPf4T6nyE4mrUMgNm-vc5o6ZruDhF6IUUBENYHkEhg/s4032/IMG_5287.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6_qJf0GhvXbybOahZdOr9BVSvALgX1VN1Le1OwPuzTJuFduHt6IptGrvVrOYmw2nkwbTPlV2QCVBkj8kdtu7tPoR-jeFqpS_T41j1wi5Lg2dxtNCLX-VxN47PQfVzI36E5JxWGtPQ4pJ82UdLPf4T6nyE4mrUMgNm-vc5o6ZruDhF6IUUBENYHkEhg/s320/IMG_5287.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>After a crazy, turbulent winter season that lasted until April, we here on the prairies entered a brief spring period that has now transformed quickly to summer with temperatures in the high 20's and blossoms only just blooming on the trees. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgTmd1EpPCNUxh2EmsSovCAtGqt3iGjZAvgCX8ShWcgyboE8-d4e-MB6awuZHgRKgT7TYfs3RpNB1T_vQi0NT_-DU50u_VFTxcrbAscncvNgIpZulj0ieRK1UpD4gyTN_3UinVQ6SspVjWqHM7vs3hYEz-_WHZOX0XdtRIeYT2pQNtlsDTYcYWcCX1g/s4032/IMG_5154%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgTmd1EpPCNUxh2EmsSovCAtGqt3iGjZAvgCX8ShWcgyboE8-d4e-MB6awuZHgRKgT7TYfs3RpNB1T_vQi0NT_-DU50u_VFTxcrbAscncvNgIpZulj0ieRK1UpD4gyTN_3UinVQ6SspVjWqHM7vs3hYEz-_WHZOX0XdtRIeYT2pQNtlsDTYcYWcCX1g/w213-h323/IMG_5154%202.HEIC" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A walk along English Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Thankfully we were able to escape the unexpected April blizzards and rainstorms by escaping west to British Columbia in April where spring was in full bloom . We flew out of Winnipeg just as the storm approached, and landed in the mountain-ringed, oceanside, leafy green city of Vancouver. The city is a bustling beautiful metropolis and perfect for endless walks around English Bay, Granville Island, Davie Village, Yaletown, Robson Street, Gastown and the stunning harbour front.</p><p>I can highly recommend the location of the hotel we stayed in: <a href="https://www.executivehotels.net/mobile/vancouver-hotel-vintage/leisure.html" target="_blank">The Executive Suites at Vintage Park</a>, which is a short walk away from the Granville Island taxi and the sweeping panorama of English Bay. It's also just across the street from <a href="https://www.freshstmarket.com/contact/vancouver-house" target="_blank">The Fresh Street Market</a>, an amazing grocery and deli that we visited almost every day.</p><p>On our first morning walk we marvelled at the green grass, bright flowers and lush cherry blossoms, knowing we'd left a screaming blizzard behind us. That was just the beginning of our daily outings spent walking up to 20,000 steps a day!</p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LMxUE92mA0Em1r-axocEj4HCLGbChakiHOU76Y7SC8EYube5gJRtr8crTVfr64azPDxnnP7B_D5jAekjCaSKMoLthnwhb33V3zeVub63slw-ITcAqj82qyhe4ijc_vV9CnSeCZIViZYwI59w4I0sJWsWbqF39gK-iqWPXtreK1thBb2kgOQgdopW_Q/s4032/IMG_5181%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LMxUE92mA0Em1r-axocEj4HCLGbChakiHOU76Y7SC8EYube5gJRtr8crTVfr64azPDxnnP7B_D5jAekjCaSKMoLthnwhb33V3zeVub63slw-ITcAqj82qyhe4ijc_vV9CnSeCZIViZYwI59w4I0sJWsWbqF39gK-iqWPXtreK1thBb2kgOQgdopW_Q/s320/IMG_5181%202.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant<br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br />Vancouver is home to incredible restaurants and we soon found our favourites: </span><a href="https://happy-noodle-house.business.site" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">The Happy Noodle</a><span style="text-align: left;"> on Davie Street serves handmade noodles and amazing stir fries. Spicy green beans were one of our favourites. </span><a href="https://granvilleisland.com/directory/sandbar" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">The Sandbar</a><span style="text-align: left;"> Seafood Restaurant</span><span style="text-align: left;"> on Granville Island boasts stunning waterfront views of Vancouver at night and serves the freshest, tastiest seafood. I also enjoyed a mouthwatering lobster and shrimp risotto at </span><a href="https://www.ancoradining.com/falsecreek" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Ancora</a><span style="text-align: left;"> another gorgeous oceanfront restaurant that serves Japanese/Peruvian cuisine and looks out onto a marina of luxury yachts and across to Granville Island.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">On our final day in Vancouver we discovered another gem of a restaurant—</span><a href="https://www.camarchecreperie.com/menu" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Ca Marche Creperie</a><span style="text-align: left;">, hidden away under the Granville Street Bridge. Their specialty is savoury buckwheat pancakes. I had the mushroom pancake, which is filled with sautéed mushrooms cider onion jam, asparagus, goat cheese and a perfect soft-boiled egg. They also serve the most decadent dessert pancakes—strawberry, caramel apple, salted caramel served with buckwheat ice cream. </span><span style="text-align: left;">After all that eating it's good that we were walking so much!! </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlCUgnziASXhUEJ1NRt2jibT-jvE3CMsG5_SXe0T98fcafuCweXmCr3tLgHMhxWJydZvIN8h3FOBExPykI3L1ZQMFgkj19pih0Rcyvbkk8oUrrzc1pIToZkPBazhZMfW9o2Rz-leYa4g7ctozYSpb21gzNx7RsM5bycIsKuTMc-sfkzLv7dKJWgbZww/s4032/IMG_5312.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlCUgnziASXhUEJ1NRt2jibT-jvE3CMsG5_SXe0T98fcafuCweXmCr3tLgHMhxWJydZvIN8h3FOBExPykI3L1ZQMFgkj19pih0Rcyvbkk8oUrrzc1pIToZkPBazhZMfW9o2Rz-leYa4g7ctozYSpb21gzNx7RsM5bycIsKuTMc-sfkzLv7dKJWgbZww/s320/IMG_5312.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushroom Crepe from Ca Marche Creperie<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br />We did take side trips, driving through the mountains along the famous Coquihalla Highway where the clouds truly meet the road, to the beautiful city of Kelowna. Afterwards we cut down south and had a short stay in the fun city of Seattle. There I can highly recommend <a href="https://www.mediterranean-inn.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw14uVBhBEEiwAaufYx1AuXIr6zK6X_sObUt6et3iSKrIW4XIegaddhgSalA9VMjTa2mOV5BoCNqcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">The Mediterranean Inn</a>, which has a great rooftop patio, and is in a quirky, hip part of Seattle—close to great restaurants, the incredible <a href="https://www.mopop.org" target="_blank">Museum of Pop Culture</a>, and the Space Needle.</p><p>It was a great three-week trip, the first we've taken since the pandemic, and just the beginning of many more.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">BOOK NEWS</b></div><p>In-person book events and conferences are going full-swing now and I'm happy to say, after many virtual book club appearances, I've been able to attend some book clubs, the most recent being with a group who'd read The Savage Instinct. It's so good to get live feedback about your work. So much of a writer's life is spent alone in front of a laptop, it's great to emerge and chat with enthusiastic readers who make all those long hours worthwhile.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9URwGfiOoAY-jt3_jJ8hhc6Ro8hAk293UA50avPHASXOM2B4rEyrgXXyL98dxIc2xNhMPqbjREi24UipxG6Lh0L5TnFaeNVoMyJICluw1t9nnqm5svrNLlUh-nSXjU84n3QiSEqvlbcSZzjwWsHbdtzZBGOPkqjMjLKFEVfGiCTU3FzHGrmhOE2OcHg/s2160/bookcover0021589-banner-2022-03-10-11-15-58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9URwGfiOoAY-jt3_jJ8hhc6Ro8hAk293UA50avPHASXOM2B4rEyrgXXyL98dxIc2xNhMPqbjREi24UipxG6Lh0L5TnFaeNVoMyJICluw1t9nnqm5svrNLlUh-nSXjU84n3QiSEqvlbcSZzjwWsHbdtzZBGOPkqjMjLKFEVfGiCTU3FzHGrmhOE2OcHg/s320/bookcover0021589-banner-2022-03-10-11-15-58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I've re-released my romantic suspense, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R3K3SZ4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i4" target="_blank">LILAH</a>, with a brand new cover. It's available in paperback and e-book on all Amazon platforms. Also I still have some great new projects on the horizon, but I can't talk about them yet, since they're in the development stage with an agent and publisher. Same goes for some exciting film projects under consideration with a Canadian production company.</p><p><b>CONFERENCE APPEARANCES</b></p><p>I'm happy to announce Ill be presenting at two major writers' conferences:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy1JMZy7y5kBa8ypghZVSbWrVVt2T51YFNQ1nxw8cV13vlHz0rc50zUUI_6t470qJjjB2_G3k5hjw3XlTM4EVBL2F2NwLTY3HOcF8I3raPrObGindizb4KF7PxyXdEjZWW2_3mQzK31Tlgv2TtSYhaNRZ1imRqzImsR4DGLEfIhmAmAau70NfdTz09w/s2048/IMG_4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy1JMZy7y5kBa8ypghZVSbWrVVt2T51YFNQ1nxw8cV13vlHz0rc50zUUI_6t470qJjjB2_G3k5hjw3XlTM4EVBL2F2NwLTY3HOcF8I3raPrObGindizb4KF7PxyXdEjZWW2_3mQzK31Tlgv2TtSYhaNRZ1imRqzImsR4DGLEfIhmAmAau70NfdTz09w/s320/IMG_4518.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://hns-events.com" target="_blank">THE HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY 2022 CONFERENCE</a>: The leading conference for writers of historical fiction is being held in Durham City, UK in September 2022. As you all know Durham City is my birthplace and the setting of THE SAVAGE INSTINCT. So I'm honoured to be presenting a session there.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_Pbl2AkpIFrXtFRgvIVm9MlqmAv1h4KVZTifuTz-pC72nnJZZ332KJQiuSDMnT1f_0N2DBEu8kSOiHe0fKY13T3kRkkmCOHl3_pqVznOGkbJfaWA864XTr3ExONtx9cf5EPP1VFRRFCrKh79YCn9EhEI0QXydXsobXEAY1crm6r8youFBmsCZOv-3w/s5453/2020-Co-Gold-Lift-Up-Lift-Off.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5453" data-original-width="4362" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_Pbl2AkpIFrXtFRgvIVm9MlqmAv1h4KVZTifuTz-pC72nnJZZ332KJQiuSDMnT1f_0N2DBEu8kSOiHe0fKY13T3kRkkmCOHl3_pqVznOGkbJfaWA864XTr3ExONtx9cf5EPP1VFRRFCrKh79YCn9EhEI0QXydXsobXEAY1crm6r8youFBmsCZOv-3w/s320/2020-Co-Gold-Lift-Up-Lift-Off.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><p>COLORADO GOLD WRITERS' CONFERENCE organized by <a href="https://rmfw.org/conference-2022/" target="_blank">THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FICTION WRITERS</a>: I attended this conference in Denver about ten years ago and it really inspired me to keep going with my writing. I'm thrilled to be presenting a hands-on workshop there as well as doing some mentoring sessions.</p><p>Hopefully I'll be able to update you on my new projects by the time the next blog comes out. In the meantime, happy reading and don't forget how much authors appreciate your reviews on Goodreads and Amazon!</p><p><br /></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-91281382544517533592022-03-28T09:03:00.000-07:002022-03-28T09:03:13.954-07:00BACK TO BLOGGING: THE PUBLICATION ROLLERCOASTER<p> I'm so happy to get back to my blog after a long hiatus spent writing, revising, experiencing three book launches and seeing those novels catapulted out into the big, wide world. It's been an exhilarating experience, but one that's not for the faint of heart.</p><p>After years of self-publishing, in 2021 three of my novels were picked up by publishing houses. <i>The Savage Instinct </i>was published by Inkshares in May, <i>The Secret Sister </i>by Canelo in April, and <i>The Perfect Family Man </i>by Canelo in October.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ03SF5WamBeWBfpVjs9w80j5VqOxoTPL63_DAHVsie6ygknoMFvjO_rgw2BSu137R5i7P96twpihna6gBVzWg8YwC83vvMVrE1tHkwTzZU3zxH786adzLwtIWOjnrb7RTtlRRC6SwHlXyvOubc-F00vrtb5n05cVdlKokbVQNgAPlQzNDIKuD6CdICQ/s3200/9781800323285_amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ03SF5WamBeWBfpVjs9w80j5VqOxoTPL63_DAHVsie6ygknoMFvjO_rgw2BSu137R5i7P96twpihna6gBVzWg8YwC83vvMVrE1tHkwTzZU3zxH786adzLwtIWOjnrb7RTtlRRC6SwHlXyvOubc-F00vrtb5n05cVdlKokbVQNgAPlQzNDIKuD6CdICQ/s320/9781800323285_amazon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Here are some of my takeaways from this dizzying year:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Many would-be authors strongly believe that getting an agent and an offer of publication means their troubles are over and they won't have another anxious moment. That's like saying, once the wedding is over, you'll never need to worry again! Publication opens up a whole new set of concerns: reviews—how will the readers respond? Will they love the book and become your newest fan, or will they pan it or worse still DNF it! Reviews are all-important. Publishers watch them, future promos are dependent on them. Writers find themselves obsessively tracking them!!</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You can't sit back on your laurels and kick up your feet for more than a few days, because if you want to stay in the business, you need to keep writing the next one - or two - or maybe even a few more, just in case the other two are rubbish!</li></ul><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Accept that not everyone truly understands the amount of time, effort, skill and imagination it takes to write a novel. You may end up with 90,000 words, but that word count is a result of scouring your imagination for the best, most original ideas; extensive structural editing, careful revisions; backbreaking editing sessions and a whole lot of self-doubt and angst. So be prepared not to receive the level of adoration or appreciation you think you deserve—especially from those close to you, some of whom may not even read or comment on your masterpiece! It's not personal. People are busy. Learn to find your own satisfaction.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ5sxatrZDEJX6A-OcJUep-ugILUfqIBADXq83Nyrcf-A4lHLayDRwhcJbNhe8-21Da2nHba1rfI1XmmBSCjurqywwtST_j7CF5r52trR_MAS7m2MNjqRVmuplzGwp62sz-YhKoFZ5TrRdLklXjEMBIVLSMIKGX5vx1YbeO0Mi4OjACnkEkgMVbEgnA/s1316/SAVAGE%20INSTINCT%20COVER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="876" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ5sxatrZDEJX6A-OcJUep-ugILUfqIBADXq83Nyrcf-A4lHLayDRwhcJbNhe8-21Da2nHba1rfI1XmmBSCjurqywwtST_j7CF5r52trR_MAS7m2MNjqRVmuplzGwp62sz-YhKoFZ5TrRdLklXjEMBIVLSMIKGX5vx1YbeO0Mi4OjACnkEkgMVbEgnA/s320/SAVAGE%20INSTINCT%20COVER.png" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Reader feedback is the force that drives you to keep going. I've had some incredible feedback from readers about my books. Dedicated beta readers who take the time to read early drafts and give honest feedback are an invaluable help. Reviewers on Instagram, Tim Tok and Facebook are a dedicated army whose support is inspiring. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to wake up and see a list of Instagram notifications from readers who read your work and have taken the time to post thoughtful reviews and eye-catching pictures featuring your novel. It was also a real thrill to receive personal fan messages and invitations to online and in-person book clubs. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Don't go into writing for the money! Believe me, there are easier ways to make a buck! And if you don't like waiting for your money then this is definitely the wrong career for you. While some writers hit the bestseller jackpot and get movie deals and spots on Reese's Book Club, most writers toil long hours and make sporadic money, many working other jobs to keep afloat. Do it for the love of it! If you can.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaUYBVpgzwc3xWREk9f5ar15ExfgZEuo1GXlEHZIN5WfZBWUkur6qg0uUsGy-Z5NP4_ZNvSw1L86t1TVuqeteppRERL4xI0k3lKiIqR4MnXjTTI-PkigdEl4Wi6AvCNc7lZ2vpNWAlAqiJeKhg9eqa01Ah3MsTMfHn4_65KKeGTd-sQfNwaZLDLT3WA/s1200/Perfect_Family_Facebook_OutNow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaUYBVpgzwc3xWREk9f5ar15ExfgZEuo1GXlEHZIN5WfZBWUkur6qg0uUsGy-Z5NP4_ZNvSw1L86t1TVuqeteppRERL4xI0k3lKiIqR4MnXjTTI-PkigdEl4Wi6AvCNc7lZ2vpNWAlAqiJeKhg9eqa01Ah3MsTMfHn4_65KKeGTd-sQfNwaZLDLT3WA/s320/Perfect_Family_Facebook_OutNow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Other writers are generous with their friendship and form an incredibly supportive network. One of the best aspects of this year was meeting other writers and sharing our experiences, answering each other's questions and generally reassuring each other that we weren't bonkers for taking the road we've chosen. I've also discovered that some bestselling authors truly believe in paying it forward and have been floored by their generosity in providing reviews and shoutouts.</li></ul><div>So those are just a few of my takeaways from an incredible year that has been an absolute rollercoaster! I'll be posting again soon with other book news and reviews of some terrific books I've read this year, but I simply have to mention one novel by an author from my home province. If you're looking for something witty and suspense filled, then <i>The Retreat </i>by Sherri Smith is one for you. See review below.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp2_jNfBxahWbk4er3k9VlidA0p7VYZjEGiUdbRqWQBrqanLf4qSl9kdGN6fLXQoKu8RtYX2SU-MKn-OIUjT1dmFaCBBXvtcdiDK-TrE4w9NHIrSjy_TEW8aKdBomdqk3K-p8UCpnE4WbmbKp8xSupEpmYDO8lLxcenLUeyFMHgz8cTRQlUA2Cq1vgQ/s400/retreat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp2_jNfBxahWbk4er3k9VlidA0p7VYZjEGiUdbRqWQBrqanLf4qSl9kdGN6fLXQoKu8RtYX2SU-MKn-OIUjT1dmFaCBBXvtcdiDK-TrE4w9NHIrSjy_TEW8aKdBomdqk3K-p8UCpnE4WbmbKp8xSupEpmYDO8lLxcenLUeyFMHgz8cTRQlUA2Cq1vgQ/s320/retreat.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">This fast-paced, captivating thriller is a hidden gem featuring fresh, original characters that jump off the page and a tone that is wry, witty and laugh-out-loud hilarious at times in its send-up of the wellness industry and its pretensions. Reminiscent of Liane Moriarty's earlier novels, this book is far funnier than some of the more hyped books out there that involve groups of disparate people thrown together in challenging locales where inevitably someone dies. The central character, Katie, is a washed-up child star, with no direction, now living a totally messed-up life. When her future sister-in-law, the perfect Brit, Ellie, suggests they go for a wellness weekend to a wilderness camp famous for its hallucinogenic tea ceremony, Katie invites her two college friends along, unaware of the personal crises in their lives. The camp is run by the Uber-hip, good-looking and promiscuous Dr. Dave and his much older wife, Naomi, a wealthy ex-student who ruthlessly keeps the admirers at bay. When a bloodied knife is found and a guest is missing, the hi-jinks begin and suddenly everyone is concealing secrets. This is such an entertaining read, told from four points of view, each with a unique, distinct voice. I highly recommend it.</span></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-10777663362610662682021-04-22T08:30:00.000-07:002021-04-22T08:30:06.816-07:00WHEN HISTORY COMES CLOSE TO HOME<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: start;">THE SAVAGE INSTINCT, release date May 18th 2021</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs04U1NiDm8ATuaydaLcK5qv_QIjI0-6msJkvrZNGTYgG2zfMyOZ0YH1u5j3P0PhXg48fqOf6cS1oGiuQuNDtHGJ3YZGTb9w_ibqnM9w4tP3sJ2M6O0oCH3KNksaFuPKylMqfaH6UsHte/s500/SI+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs04U1NiDm8ATuaydaLcK5qv_QIjI0-6msJkvrZNGTYgG2zfMyOZ0YH1u5j3P0PhXg48fqOf6cS1oGiuQuNDtHGJ3YZGTb9w_ibqnM9w4tP3sJ2M6O0oCH3KNksaFuPKylMqfaH6UsHte/w270-h405/SI+cover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">It's been almost eight years since I made the startling discovery that the street just around the corner from my grandmother's house in Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear, UK was actually the birthplace of Mary Ann Cotton, one of Britain's most prolific murderers. Once I started reading about her case and the sensation it caused in the newspapers of the time (1872-73), I knew I had to write a novel inspired in some way by the events at the time.</span></div><p>I didn't want to write it from the murderer's point of view. Many articles written since that time have argued about the extent of Cotton's guilt, and there is still wide disagreement about how many people she actually killed. Instead I was more interested in how the case influenced the men and women reading the newspapers at the time and how it caused sensation and outrage at a time when women's roles were restricted to the domestic sphere, and fulfilling one's role as the selfless " angel at the hearth" was the only role deemed important for women.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN-vieh-SbB1l9y95T_LSgWRlfmYMQbo_fhC2q2Ajw2QtqHSjTlb2mGUeZ3s2ZMANirR34YjIbyUSg-EpSD69t_Dhsr78MHTsXL0hukcbxVWS4gSzXMKVmcXrBFnkNs0Muc2iWI5K3Q_0/s1600/MARY+ANN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN-vieh-SbB1l9y95T_LSgWRlfmYMQbo_fhC2q2Ajw2QtqHSjTlb2mGUeZ3s2ZMANirR34YjIbyUSg-EpSD69t_Dhsr78MHTsXL0hukcbxVWS4gSzXMKVmcXrBFnkNs0Muc2iWI5K3Q_0/w165-h220/MARY+ANN.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only surviving photograph of Mary Ann Cotton</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>I created a fictional character, the childless and unhappy Clara Blackstone, a woman on the edge - trying desperately to maintain her sanity after a traumatic second miscarriage. A troubled woman who has blocked the memories of her spell in an asylum, the terrible events leading up to it and the role her husband played in her committal. The story opens when Clara travels up to Durham City to meet her husband, Henry, so that they can make a fresh start. On her way from the train station, they encounter a mob gathered to witness the arrival of Mary Ann Cotton at Durham Jail - and so the problems begin to unfold...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This book was a long time in the making. I've had nightmares about the murderer, learned a whole lot about Victorian women - their trials and tribulations, and the mind doctors who preyed on them in the guise of treating "nervous complaints and hysteria".</span></div><p><br />I truly hope you enjoy <b>THE SAVAGE INSTINCT, out on May 18th 2021!</b><b> </b><br /></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-4609340248323625282021-03-16T09:01:00.001-07:002021-03-16T12:29:06.860-07:00Publishing Countdown For THE SAVAGE INSTINCT<p>The publishing date for <i>The Savage Instinct </i>has been moved to May 18th<i>. </i>I never realized how much promotional work is done in the months before a book is launched. Here's a quick rundown:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsmkaN7PYNdYLIjObNVsBMSL2FlE0IZFbRnlnMR5mowkYX678mPl3XBGjgadlDZqSI1wFgcZ_S5uo-QReNF6Nh15eFP2QlQjZfz5eLBnYw5C95Z3aSAd-79ed2MG5Y7pz6VkjSzjTtCMu/s1316/9781947848672_FC+%25282%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="876" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsmkaN7PYNdYLIjObNVsBMSL2FlE0IZFbRnlnMR5mowkYX678mPl3XBGjgadlDZqSI1wFgcZ_S5uo-QReNF6Nh15eFP2QlQjZfz5eLBnYw5C95Z3aSAd-79ed2MG5Y7pz6VkjSzjTtCMu/w243-h365/9781947848672_FC+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="243" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Once all the line edits and copyedits are done (and they're exhausting), the book goes onto Net Galley. That's the online site where numerous reviewers from media to librarians to educators and book bloggers apply to read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of your book and provide a review, which is usually shared to Goodreads. This is a nail-biting time for authors, waiting to discover how your book will be received by people in the biz. You find yourself checking back numerous times a day to see if someone else has left a review and what they have to say. With <i>The Savage Instinct </i>it's been a great experience. So far the book has garnered over 83 amazing reviews.</li><li>There's such an active community of Instagram book bloggers. I'm amazed at how many of these people are dedicated to promoting books and creating visually stunning posts accompanied by very insightful reviews. These people drive readers towards great books. I have nothing but admiration from them and gratitude for the way they've received <i>The Savage Instinct.</i></li></ul><div><i><br /></i></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The publisher puts a great deal of work into getting established writers and reviewers to give feedback on the book. One or two of these are incorporated into the paperback cover. I had the greatest moment of my writing career when I learned that Publisher's Weekly, the premier publication in the publishing business, gave <i>The Savage Instinct</i> a starred review. That's a great honour reserved for select books!! Check it out <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-947848-67-2" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>The publisher works to set up events, including a launch, which will happen around the time the book is published. It will be a virtual launch, hosted by McNally Robinson, Winnipeg, which means more people will be able to participate. More details on the exact date and other events later.</li><li>It's been amazing to see how the cover has evolved into something very beautiful. You'll be able to see the complete cover when the book comes out. But I have to say, I can't wait to finally get the book into my hands!!</li><li><br /></li></ul>CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S ARTICLE IN <i>THE LANCE!!</i><div>Click <a href="https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/lance/St-Boniface-writers-book-spotlights-Victorian-era-murderess-574000131.html" target="_blank">here</a> to see the writeup about The Savage Instinct. Please note, the publishing date for the novel has been updated to May 18th, 2021.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-53619246658097907152020-12-03T12:57:00.000-08:002020-12-03T12:57:51.503-08:00Publishing News<h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Abel, "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px;"><br /></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFYEq5el-9Uz-9dyuwUYi9Ddb6-chX_B3Elyril9dj6dQeRPZIbuX4JR4NALQW5LVHvoyGV1mRiko6utBFFhCXFgPKYfJprDfrSyqY6ySNHsR8Fw-9X1EWYHvek4fv-zGnKVr37gB6f9e/s500/MMDeLuca_Canelo_acquisition.height-250.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="500" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFYEq5el-9Uz-9dyuwUYi9Ddb6-chX_B3Elyril9dj6dQeRPZIbuX4JR4NALQW5LVHvoyGV1mRiko6utBFFhCXFgPKYfJprDfrSyqY6ySNHsR8Fw-9X1EWYHvek4fv-zGnKVr37gB6f9e/w448-h224/MMDeLuca_Canelo_acquisition.height-250.png" width="448" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Abel, "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px;">Canelo set to publish two dark and twisty suspense novels by M. M. DeLuca.</h1><div class="rich-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Abel, "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Commissioning Editor Leodora Darlington has acquired WEL rights to new standalone suspense novels by M. M. DeLuca in a two-book deal. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Secret Sister</i> is a gripping suspense novel with a twist that will leave readers reeling. We follow our protagonist, Anna, on her whirlwind romance that ends in her marrying almost-too-perfect Guy. But how much does Anna know about the man she has married? And how much does Guy know about his new wife? She’s certainly keeping her share of secrets, and the biggest one of all is the identity of the sister she lost many years ago, the sister she is still searching for now. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">M. M. DeLuca studied psychology at the University of London and now resides in Canada. She studied Advanced Creative writing with Pulitzer prizewinning author, Carol Shields. Her first novel, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Pitman's Daughter</i> was shortlisted for the Chapters Robertson Davies first novel in Canada award in 2001. She went on to self-publish it in 2013 where it became an ebook bestseller in the literary category.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Leodora Darlington says, ‘I’m beyond excited to be bringing M. M. DeLuca’s writing to suspense fans around the world. Her writing is brilliantly taut, and her protagonist, Anna, is so delightfully complex and intriguing. My heart broke when reading about Anna’s tragic past, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the explosive reveals that would be sure to shatter her relationship with Guy. I just know that readers are going to fall in love with this novel and its publication can’t come soon enough.’</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">M. M. DeLuca says, ‘It’s a dream come true to have signed a two-book deal with the wonderful team at Canelo and to work with the most amazing and enthusiastic editor, Leodora Darlington. Leodora’s passionate support of my new psychological suspense novel, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Secret Sister</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">,</i> has made this writer’s journey a truly pleasurable one, and I’m so excited to share my work with all the great readers out there in March 2021.’</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Secret Sister</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </i>will be published in March, 2021, in simultaneous print and ebook formats, with audio to follow. For more information please contact <a href="mailto:publicity@canelo.co" sl-processed="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e4636f; text-decoration: none;">publicity@canelo.co</a>.</p></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-83937769459638903722020-11-30T17:30:00.004-08:002020-12-01T12:51:29.760-08:00TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah<p>TAKE IT BACK, an explosive and riveting drama.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA_VhBjTu94El9wAIAr1NySIBZeu0lp1v9lcaE3VH-FQ49gZgJVsmzW8eXHb2_a_IJAf0NXVNdls5-GoQUfr4LCvBgmFoc4ZdvR6xukxfwVeJ02kgo0HWWXVbEOQbJYVzkEcaspXoaldo/s388/TAKE+IT+BACK.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA_VhBjTu94El9wAIAr1NySIBZeu0lp1v9lcaE3VH-FQ49gZgJVsmzW8eXHb2_a_IJAf0NXVNdls5-GoQUfr4LCvBgmFoc4ZdvR6xukxfwVeJ02kgo0HWWXVbEOQbJYVzkEcaspXoaldo/s320/TAKE+IT+BACK.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Kia Abdullah has written a bold and compelling novel that deals head-on with difficult and divisive issues. This page-turning novel explores the conflict between justice and pursuit of the truth versus family and cultural loyalty; rape and the sexualization of women; women's rights versus cultural misogyny. If that's not enough, then there are also thematic threads related to substance abuse and bullying.</p><p>The main story centres around Jodie, a genetically disfigured 16-year-old who reports that she's been raped by four young Muslim boys from her school. Main character, Zara, ex-hotshot barrister, now a sexual violence legal advocate, takes the case and is immediately thrown into an explosive and highly publicized courtroom drama where the focus immediately switches to race rather than rape. Pitted against her estranged Muslim family and her community, Zara is branded a traitor to her race and nothing more than an "Uncle Tom", when she tries to protect Jodie, a quiet, tragic girl with a neglectful, alcoholic mother, and support her in her fight for justice. Tensions soon escalate and Zara becomes a target in the centre of a violent fight between white supremacist, anti-immigrant groups and disgruntled Muslim extremists.</p><p>Abdullah creates a strong, conflicted and vulnerable character in Zara, a woman who rejects the female role prescribed by her family and community, yet still struggles to find love, acceptance and confidence in her own identity. The novel explores the case from multiple perspectives which allows the reader to understand even the alleged perpetrators' feelings and realize that the entire situation is a tragedy for all involved. This powerful, riveting and provocative novel is sure to resonate with many readers. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHjugpYDc7NKbsm0uhZ6nFhAsrfF9CfQaEpLYPmf9J0RLRmpikvFECePzi-vJ59c16kCgKJlVtAmwwej8nHEsmnqxP8Bx3v1gAaU-SDcKO1A2SL-LRunnUBkuyxkhp166uxmfSx03Tak0/s251/kia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHjugpYDc7NKbsm0uhZ6nFhAsrfF9CfQaEpLYPmf9J0RLRmpikvFECePzi-vJ59c16kCgKJlVtAmwwej8nHEsmnqxP8Bx3v1gAaU-SDcKO1A2SL-LRunnUBkuyxkhp166uxmfSx03Tak0/s0/kia.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> KIA ABDULLAH</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">KIA ABDULLAH is an author and travel writer. She has contributed to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Guardian</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, BBC, Channel 4 News, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The New York Times</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Kia currently travels the world as one half of the travel blog Atlas & Boots, which receives over 200,000 views per month.</span></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-89073532827510805212020-09-30T06:51:00.004-07:002020-09-30T06:57:17.723-07:00WHERE THE EDGE IS by Grainne Murphy. A Review<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYbm7SbYYNM1j-rckUQ-7bCv-7Be8LjVxz6reI8bqKRkHZr0xsR9yE24G5eZmevhCdfyqGPHo4J6M0_EmhDsdPC2_O92sVJGXqsffhyphenhyphen3oN2p0H8i_3-Ra7yYpNmBl3QyyTBAUg3XntxQL/s2048/Where+the+edge+is_High+Res.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1336" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYbm7SbYYNM1j-rckUQ-7bCv-7Be8LjVxz6reI8bqKRkHZr0xsR9yE24G5eZmevhCdfyqGPHo4J6M0_EmhDsdPC2_O92sVJGXqsffhyphenhyphen3oN2p0H8i_3-Ra7yYpNmBl3QyyTBAUg3XntxQL/w236-h361/Where+the+edge+is_High+Res.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">On first appearances, this novel by Grainne Murphy appears to be a suspenseful, disaster story centred around the lives of a group of innocent people trapped in a bus teetering on the edge of a massive sinkhole. While the central catastrophe does play an important part in the novel, the story really becomes an in-depth study of human love and loss and grief and our fragility and strength in the face of tragedy. Hence the title and the bus disaster becomes a metaphor for the knife-edge we vulnerable humans tread as we struggle to overcome adversity and survive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The story begins when a road in rural Ireland collapses and swallows a bus carrying eight passengers. As the bus threatens to fall deeper into the sinkhole, the authorities scramble to set a rescue plan in place. What follows is partly the poignant story of some of the victims inside the bus, but mostly the novel focuses on the people involved in the rescue, mainly Nina, a news reporter on the scene, and her ex-husband Tim, a fire-fighter in charge of the rescue. Their shared grief over the death of their 11-month-old daughter comes to the forefront as the pressure of the rescue intensifies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The author is not afraid to tackle sensitive themes and when Alina, a visible minority passenger is rescued by Richie, the bus driver who was recently suspended over his use of a racial slur, rumours about terrorism soon start circulating, despite the fact that the woman has lived her entire life in Ireland. Murphy really nails Richie’s struggle to come to terms with his new hero status and Alina’s questioning of her true place in her adopted country. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Murhy’s writing is lyrical and intense, though relieved by some humour. Difficult themes are tackled with great sensitivity and insight, particularly in some of Nina’s heartrending reflections on the details of her child's death and its catastrophic effect on her life. At times, however, the pace slows a little and events lose their emotional impact when Nina appears to be going over the same ground. Also the final rescue is underplayed, which may be disappointing for some readers. But for those who are looking for an exploration of family, connection, self-identity, faith, belonging and all the things that make us complex humans, this will be a most satisfying read.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Thanks to Legend Press for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Check out these other great sites for reviews of the book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzritvzwgXGTfudRGlIEC97QlM7Z_sx981cHMk3-c-62S8hknC6NrZ6ZK8J8ZrjXKHtr3mooTB2l6qxUm9eh2Ij_Cf-R-IytcXrBlsOxr_A3F5vt_-VdHgeVk3OU4d2CoF-ZHDQaShD6V/s2048/Where+the+Edge+Is+Book+Tour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzritvzwgXGTfudRGlIEC97QlM7Z_sx981cHMk3-c-62S8hknC6NrZ6ZK8J8ZrjXKHtr3mooTB2l6qxUm9eh2Ij_Cf-R-IytcXrBlsOxr_A3F5vt_-VdHgeVk3OU4d2CoF-ZHDQaShD6V/s320/Where+the+Edge+Is+Book+Tour.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-39791554918142987292020-09-10T09:53:00.002-07:002020-09-11T08:49:21.076-07:00SUMMER WANDERINGS Part 2<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: left;">Now the evenings are cooler and summer is drawing to a close, it's time to reflect back on some of the other local trips we took and wonder how I ever complained about the endless sunshine and heat! Here are some of the highlights of our wanderings. </span></div></div><p>DELTA BEACH and FORT LA REINE MUSEUM</p><p>Fort La Reine, on the outskirts of Portage la Prairie, is an interactive museum where you can wander through completely furnished houses and shops from every era in Manitoba's history from an authentic trapper's hut to a 1920's house to a fully functioning local newspaper office complete with printing press. Every detail is lovingly preserved. Set aside a few hours to get through every intricately furnished room.<img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQFiKp6VJ2uesMJeAO3XDNi_Sh6QGCN0OX_mhNAgwIWNGnewvavAXVdLOymCnEJN6ZY0Ec3WVePaxI4Dg2fa6gg-xSuq7_UwMz_RDotz5m_OERJqK8RKnclBAW0r-4mn8-V-ozd11XtMo/s0/IMG_3392.jpg" /><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfCuKdttidiKGW7ZWkqUoHeUCcBlAdHXG-DK10nOEGL15fvuEBmiIeiHRNW2lKbG9htt2W2hWFHBIS-UT8gLsw3no1LnK7peFAiF_DNXWhyIY_tGsdho9Z55TikQ4eTyUqY0clZ1kqMCG/s0/IMG_3391.jpg" /></p><p>Delta Beach on Lake Manitoba is a wild and windswept place next to Delta Marsh - a favourite spot for hunting lodges since the Victorian era. Shallow, clear water and gnarled, uprooted tree trunks left over from the last major flood, make this a haunting place to visit.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpk0Dy6Tvq148IIjxauBnAXs9FgUPbS8YmeLycOcGN13sIoLKKfxnQrSXANz-FD1KOinibxwNALO8-cXYuJpgiK-4FdS_Ibf0IfqHJr7KBPJAiOvqJDaLfbhHUGDDOb6kQCin0vZoP07v/s0/IMG_3378.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnfN2RgzNbYQzi2m6VF8FYstHdSBERz3uaIyw9RwA858UKDg2MoMeBnZrGca-1tKL9polnzth3PQELVtpwbux84s4raGhkwnTimPygTWbj70eXMXKaA8ddYi6EV5Dd2G-OBSk6kByK093/s0/IMG_3379.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>HECLA ISLAND/GULL HARBOUR </p><p>Located an hour away from Gimli, Hecla Island is a pristine piece of wilderness sitting on Lake Winnipeg. Originally an Icelandic settlement, Hecla village retains its charm in the tidy, well kept houses that stand along the road. Drive through to reach Gull Harbour and its charming pier, and for those who love to golf, the Lakeview Hecla resort is an oasis of luxury in the wilderness.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRhtlBuzA-tBODlhxoGe7B__w6g7LCUc9thN-AdXTsMHnTLCZgtl3Kk2WPS9yLoT9Ti9vJD0l-bSvSyHt7WE235rjmPuhEuV4GT3HIJR8-tkhtorBoKx8rtQPE4LM-nidUsQsQGi0oB7t/s0/IMG_3402.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmiXxwflnKNn-N9A827xZhhoPSK9k6ylHpOQqL075RgwAb1N-XxtwK94guy6fctKeyeFciIj2rprSr2HetOBqQYqPooKxv_k1dZzNus4oN60pjKw56d_p89iKO1bUR-58HkBylvQWIAdU/s320/IMG_3407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmiXxwflnKNn-N9A827xZhhoPSK9k6ylHpOQqL075RgwAb1N-XxtwK94guy6fctKeyeFciIj2rprSr2HetOBqQYqPooKxv_k1dZzNus4oN60pjKw56d_p89iKO1bUR-58HkBylvQWIAdU/s0/IMG_3407.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><p>MATLOCK and WINNIPEG BEACH</p><p>Only an hour's drive away from Winnipeg takes you to prime cottage country and beautiful beaches on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Towns like Matlock and Winnipeg Beach have been popular resorts since the turn of the 20th century when they were first accessible by rail. Up until the late 1950's a train nicknamed "The Moonlight Special" ran every Saturday night, transporting starry-eyed revellers from the Winnipeg CPR station to the famous "Pavilion" at Winnipeg Beach with its 1400 sq. ft. dance floor. The massive roller coaster and dance hall are long gone, but the old wooden piers on Matlock Beach are still there and the main street of Winnipeg Beach has been recently renovated and now has an outdoor stage and picturesque boardwalk giving it a nice retro feel .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZnXuxOp_x53Ip6Qcb8Ye53TZP_tZBljfwA10KfgsEeRtKmbt-gVll4rg8Ch0R3tHT5yl9v9lpi24Lkh2AOQ0YFWj-kWCsQd_ipiVcbGGZ8GqtDHc66SNiI3x-9nSWUPz4ISoDG-4b_bZ/s320/IMG_3428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZnXuxOp_x53Ip6Qcb8Ye53TZP_tZBljfwA10KfgsEeRtKmbt-gVll4rg8Ch0R3tHT5yl9v9lpi24Lkh2AOQ0YFWj-kWCsQd_ipiVcbGGZ8GqtDHc66SNiI3x-9nSWUPz4ISoDG-4b_bZ/s0/IMG_3428.jpg" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAdNyF0csJaolLdotKDqiluP3YA5dSxJhoInIR0fmcxUcKAzs43n_4fFrR0lq6LxiMmq17SAkzZytjw9j8l-5B64iFtE_9clRVsn8Yph4yqa_CI_RD8pDvylPhJuoQcoAcRdQu1nis5hW/s0/IMG_3430.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><br /><p>STONEWALL and OAK HAMMOCK MARSH</p><p>In the early days, the limestone escarpments of Stonewall were used by indigenous populations as "buffalo jumps" when riders would funnel the animals towards a steep cliff during the hunts. In the 1880's a quarry was opened to produce quicklime. The massive limestone kilns can still be seen at the entrance to Quarry Park, and the Kinsmen Pool boasts gorgeous greenish water perfect for cooling off on a hot day.</p><p>Oak Hammock Marsh is a 36 sq. km restored prairie marsh and beautiful interpretive centre. Home to a wide variety of birds and mammals, the area is a vital staging ground for fowl migration when up to 400,000 birds a day can be seen landing or taking off from there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWUgOha4ATepOWLucD8rqOaLb3XhkkMsNpq8vgeUAesSWdyqKyYA_-iy-ynlJBqLqapXwlXJIxwNcHJz9ns0c-5LyPokmzNk6H5u520pSiHUvedEOaNQOLiV34Gx-q6_ss6_vinjVu0D4/s320/IMG_3467.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWUgOha4ATepOWLucD8rqOaLb3XhkkMsNpq8vgeUAesSWdyqKyYA_-iy-ynlJBqLqapXwlXJIxwNcHJz9ns0c-5LyPokmzNk6H5u520pSiHUvedEOaNQOLiV34Gx-q6_ss6_vinjVu0D4/s0/IMG_3467.jpg" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_41MWMMHEn8w8KavfR3MOeOIbKtuj-P7P-x5MhiM_q3H62qVmTKBeyU2N7NDfORYjDMlzxjVxcoAMKEuokv1iDv2Y73UawyYObpPETUAtiBvWjWVgy7TJmcVwaIWPivulgD90nyu3z4ah/s0/IMG_3463.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><p>It's been a great summer travelling to these and many other places nearby. Just shows you how many great places there are close to home.</p><p>Check below for my review of an amazing new novel:</p><p>BOOK REVIEW</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl888K25gkcc-tK9RGcDIXjeYdlcOJdhOP60jH7bBJd0mHTAha6qRVAw9YxhiIjOxiHhj2Q9iuYRtO5_ksl01KbZFJ23QxXDVkIwLL8vKSk3KfMJSd97EQGL6WQa3KJLFBKtEHx9lwCl_k/s272/songs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl888K25gkcc-tK9RGcDIXjeYdlcOJdhOP60jH7bBJd0mHTAha6qRVAw9YxhiIjOxiHhj2Q9iuYRtO5_ksl01KbZFJ23QxXDVkIwLL8vKSk3KfMJSd97EQGL6WQa3KJLFBKtEHx9lwCl_k/s0/songs.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">It is indeed a strange experience to read this book about a pandemic when the world is presently in the grips of one. Apparently Saleema Nawaz began to write this novel in 2013 and completed it in 2019, just in time for fiction to become reality. The story, therefore, becomes eerily prescient, the face masks, hand sanitizers, quarantine periods and crowded E.R's strangely familiar. A major difference is that though the virus in the story is a coronavirus that attacks the respiratory system, its primary victims are children rather than the elderly.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">What makes this such a great novel, however, is that it never falls into cliched dystopian imaginings or a doom-filled story of world apocalypse. Instead it takes time to examine the interaction between a handful of seemingly disparate people who find themselves living through an unfolding catastrophe. These people all turn out to be connected in both direct and indirect ways, therefore their actions all impact on one another and their lives intersect in unexpected ways.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">The publisher's blurb outlines the main characters: "Elliot is a first responder in New York, a man running from past failures and struggling to do the right thing. Emma is a pregnant singer preparing to headline a benefit concert for victims of the outbreak–all while questioning what kind of world her child is coming into. Owen is the philandering author of a bestselling plague novel with eerie similarities to the real-life pandemic. As fact and fiction begin to blur, he must decide whether his lifelong instinct for self-preservation has been worth the cost." A host of other characters chime in to tell their stories too.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Nawaz moves back and forth in time, carefully providing back-stories that establish exactly what motivations drive her characters and how much they stand to lose if society succumbs to the unrest that, in her own prophetic words from a recent interview, "is being primed for fear by the 24-hour news cycle and by politicians stoking divisiveness." Sound familiar?</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">This is such a wise and in-depth study of the human condition and how it either triumphs or fails in the face of impending disaster. Though some parts in the mid-section could have been trimmed a little, the story gradually picks up steam, making the final section so powerful and compelling I found it impossible to put the book down until I was finished.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-82215899890513568602020-08-21T08:15:00.001-07:002020-08-21T08:18:35.817-07:00THE BEAUTY OF YOUR FACE by Safar Mustafah<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSO7BZt_YEAKJhRpXMxbPWBWQx9UfkUmcPLnEWl7K2bOqW6PF0x2-InieOTBau5IQcK9d6CSDh29V18goHIdPYYsWcW8-YAwyxYHBsDJD9-Mb69NqegF8miNJPJtdGgB7ZVmFA6HAbj6J/s2048/The+Beauty+of+Your+Face+final+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1321" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSO7BZt_YEAKJhRpXMxbPWBWQx9UfkUmcPLnEWl7K2bOqW6PF0x2-InieOTBau5IQcK9d6CSDh29V18goHIdPYYsWcW8-YAwyxYHBsDJD9-Mb69NqegF8miNJPJtdGgB7ZVmFA6HAbj6J/s640/The+Beauty+of+Your+Face+final+cover.jpg" /></a></i></div><i><span lang=""><br /></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang=""><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="">The Beauty of Your Face </span></i><span lang="">by Safar Mustafah is a compelling and authentic novel that not only explores the complex struggles of a culturally conflicted daughter of Palestinian immigrants, but also touches on universal themes such as identity, loss and the pain of a middle child rejected by her mentally fragile mother.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="">The book follows dual storylines of Afaf , principal of a Muslim school for girls just outside Chicago, opening with the shocking arrival of a xenophobic shooter who kills girls at random. The eventual tense standoff between Afaf and the shooter frames the more in-depth story of her earlier life leading to this point. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang=""> A bright, intelligent teenager, Afaf negotiates the difficulties of life as the daughter of secularized parents in a town where she faces casual but cruel racism on a daily basis. When a tragic loss causes major family upheaval, she struggles to find a place to belong when she’s spurned by all her classmates and even her own mother who seems to hate her. She becomes rebellious, experimenting with casual sex and growing to hate herself in the process. When the incidents of 9-11 occur, the racial slurs intensify and her life becomes close to unbearable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang=""> Afaf eventually follows in her beloved father’s steps as he becomes a “born again” Muslim and she finally finds a place and people that welcome her. The author, however, avoids cliché and sentimentality by portraying the complexity of a family divided by their level of faith. In other words, religion is not presented as a magic “cure” for the problems of this family. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="">The story builds to an inevitable climax when Afaf confronts the shooter. The author uses a classic suspense technique and makes us wait until the end to find out the outcome, a good choice because by this time the reader is heavily invested in the pitfalls and victories of Afaf's life. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="">This was a well written book that provides a window on the struggles of second generation immigrants in a country that often misjudges and even fears them. Afaf is a compelling and sympathetic character whose experiences prove that despite the colour of our skin or our differences in religion we are all still striving for love, happiness, acceptance and a place to call home. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="">Thanks to Legend Press for sending me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Check out the other stops on the blog tour to see what others have said about the book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazSBsH6vT9uuE8pSIAUaGnkR71MWm45Ej6q931ST4eEHrCo7tvqyp6tOuCwNz-4zFmRkFqnUo4o1zamcLTCM8TZzkw6Gs8ElIM46Z8iASW1UTevzh6ZVWvAhTgEAajFqCBm-XsdfOelEc/s2048/The+Beauty+of+Your+Face+Book+Tour+Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazSBsH6vT9uuE8pSIAUaGnkR71MWm45Ej6q931ST4eEHrCo7tvqyp6tOuCwNz-4zFmRkFqnUo4o1zamcLTCM8TZzkw6Gs8ElIM46Z8iASW1UTevzh6ZVWvAhTgEAajFqCBm-XsdfOelEc/s640/The+Beauty+of+Your+Face+Book+Tour+Banner.jpg" /></a></div><span lang=""><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang=""> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-20447935741965411622020-07-16T17:12:00.001-07:002020-11-21T10:35:20.694-08:00SUMMER WANDERINGS Though the summer of 2020 has kept us close to home, for many of us it's offered a golden opportunity to explore places we may have taken for granted in our mad dash to fly around the globe.<br />
Summer here in Manitoba, Canada, has turned out to be a glorious one despite the occasional thunderstorms so I decided to take advantage of the incredible weather and explore some of the beautiful sights of my home province.<br />
Manitoba's staggering size of 647,797 sq.km (101,593 sq. km of that is water) and relatively small population of 1.38 million people makes it easy to find remote, unspoiled areas by driving only a short distance. With a widely varying landscape from arctic tundra and the Hudson Bay coastline in the north, to dense boreal forest, prairie farmland, and white sandy lakeside beaches in the central and south regions, you can take your pick of amazing sights and experiences for even a short day trip.<br />
Here's a few highlights of some of our day trips:<br />
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THE WHITESHELL<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzGujkH4myAd3nsllVt-Z3UVaETzXyzb0XbsdI0UuJkAi1yKglmZI88KTszty6bwWhhA1kqblE_X14HhyphenhyphenemW1kCA_OhsKXIny6gnPvYZ467NbuUqQedTBe3AnliwXyCSbtoeAIbNUBCKY/s1600/whiteshell+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="335" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzGujkH4myAd3nsllVt-Z3UVaETzXyzb0XbsdI0UuJkAi1yKglmZI88KTszty6bwWhhA1kqblE_X14HhyphenhyphenemW1kCA_OhsKXIny6gnPvYZ467NbuUqQedTBe3AnliwXyCSbtoeAIbNUBCKY/s200/whiteshell+2.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMijNLf7YPqVsIw3PwmNe6YDmMCeQpLVwoSLE-nM1y409hhyphenhyphen2qlPn_dTUDykcJleoTwZNYHmRlLKIv-cFXII3d28DDKRRNHSX6hP_YEwbI6E8Q5E4zAsQoRDRQOtUFJXdC2sqDce690O9/s1600/WHITESHELL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMijNLf7YPqVsIw3PwmNe6YDmMCeQpLVwoSLE-nM1y409hhyphenhyphen2qlPn_dTUDykcJleoTwZNYHmRlLKIv-cFXII3d28DDKRRNHSX6hP_YEwbI6E8Q5E4zAsQoRDRQOtUFJXdC2sqDce690O9/s1600/WHITESHELL.jpg" /></a></div>
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Almost 3000 sq. km of pristine lakes, rivers, waterfalls, beaches, hiking trails and the incredible Pre-Cambrian rock of the Canadian Shield. Home to black bears, lynx, moose, wolves and white-tailed deer as well as a host of smaller fauna, this protected provincial park is an unspoiled paradise.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtle Petroform</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIb9iCNvaYtr0_IF6Q6q5Gp1VKbVMbLWRgIrOC0aHWoCGB9w3TPA7JEzr-G0gheQlgSlm3nyY5mQS1rJpUxiG3MsZrazRxS_ICz13p3-K2rR40xUIZc3RPToVDynThNhnO6eP4QXiztta/s1600/IMG_3317.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIb9iCNvaYtr0_IF6Q6q5Gp1VKbVMbLWRgIrOC0aHWoCGB9w3TPA7JEzr-G0gheQlgSlm3nyY5mQS1rJpUxiG3MsZrazRxS_ICz13p3-K2rR40xUIZc3RPToVDynThNhnO6eP4QXiztta/s1600/IMG_3317.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Human Figure</td></tr>
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BANNOCK POINT PETROFORMS<br />
Located in the Northern Whiteshell, this mystical site goes back 1500 years and is a physical reminder of instructions given to First Nations people by the spirits. Anishinabe, also known as Ojibway or Saulteaux, regard these petroform sites as places of special teaching and healing, still sacred and revered today.<br />
This area is completely open to any visitors and is accessible by taking a short hike through the forest. The area must be treated with great respect as a sacred and mystical place. Offerings such as cloth bundles, tobacco or coins can be left on a rock at the beginning of the unmarked trail.<br />
Only two other people were there the day we visited. They soon disappeared into the forest, so we found ourselves alone in this haunting and serene landscape. Surrounded by trees at the perimeter, we walked onto the stark rocks of the Canadian Shield, and wound our way through the endless trail of petroforms, stones intricately placed in the shape of snakes, turtles, humans and other forms. The sun beat down on us from a cloudless sky, but we took the time to stop and wonder at the mystery of the place and the people who had first come together here over 1500 years ago to carefully construct this amazing ceremonial place. <br />
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OTTER FALLS</div>
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About 30 mins from the petroforms we stumbled on a perfect sandy beach on the shore of Margaret Lake. We parked the car for a picnic. It was a sweltering day at 30C so I took a welcome swim in the pristine waters. With only four or five other people on the beach it was like a little slice of heaven.</div>
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RIVER ROAD, ST. ANDREWS</div>
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The original Selkirk settlers put down roots in this area. A beautiful road runs along the Red River. Many sections are completely untouched so it's possible to imagine the famous Hudson Bay Company York Boats making their way along the river on their journey to the Hudson Bay.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-4_bwfHgRG5RvhOwEBnXfLYCJabTl1E92RP_Ru4dAwyz923IYjBcQyOXZDqT7LZEvKULrdWRJFToRkYTYPE1wPq0lZim7GOkXKEnAm3P95Rz3v2wx47MGhGg6ZhBPCzW8SzVf0fitj6Y/s1600/Unknown.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-4_bwfHgRG5RvhOwEBnXfLYCJabTl1E92RP_Ru4dAwyz923IYjBcQyOXZDqT7LZEvKULrdWRJFToRkYTYPE1wPq0lZim7GOkXKEnAm3P95Rz3v2wx47MGhGg6ZhBPCzW8SzVf0fitj6Y/s1600/Unknown.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful picnic spot on the Red River<br />
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LOWER FORT GARRY</div>
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The Hudson Bay Company's first major fort along the Red River has been lovingly preserved so that visitors can see how the company men and women lived during the height of the fur trade. Buildings range from workers' cottages, the company store, fur storage warehouse, a working blacksmith's shop and the Big House complete with working kitchen and elegant reception rooms.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxevfi666SFMOd8_xj8SbBtn_La3SrVNtX97QxCgUawaldDvOdF1-3MlNaG4dMA5_HjSVsYk2as3g_NpEljr91qQxCMaT0zlEyYiDWoPDNTVAINFIAlAKzp20OSxBJBr44s26pHGvQ_l9/s1600/IMG_3355.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxevfi666SFMOd8_xj8SbBtn_La3SrVNtX97QxCgUawaldDvOdF1-3MlNaG4dMA5_HjSVsYk2as3g_NpEljr91qQxCMaT0zlEyYiDWoPDNTVAINFIAlAKzp20OSxBJBr44s26pHGvQ_l9/s1600/IMG_3355.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffnjKU-KxOxJNDAT7d6FoPscxnyD12RyGuEF-g_CHA_kZU5yJeKh5U-uINjSdwhDiiIkCG9iZXO5Yc5h6qOpc7696K-0yI9kbekkvWQIk6sfrs_yHWuzxmyVPGSc_Zcosht4wa85e84ro/s1600/lower+fort+g.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffnjKU-KxOxJNDAT7d6FoPscxnyD12RyGuEF-g_CHA_kZU5yJeKh5U-uINjSdwhDiiIkCG9iZXO5Yc5h6qOpc7696K-0yI9kbekkvWQIk6sfrs_yHWuzxmyVPGSc_Zcosht4wa85e84ro/s1600/lower+fort+g.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'll feature more of our travels in the next blog, but in keeping with the Canadian content of the blog, I'd like to share some memorable performances by Canadian artists and musicians. Click on the title to get to the video. Here goes:</div>
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LEONARD COHEN: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8-BT6y_wYg" target="_blank">ANTHEM</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAtQlfFoPqZ8K_K2_p-WS5smPNTf2N95aoqwdves196vzlYWzui-pMfyCPeCjB64MckFnYrE5kUjOTUtGAKFMapqPfpPuItTmhYtdl7LoO6JpuORmEXQm7X89JNErvX1hBTdG1Wv4jSz0/s1600/Leonard+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAtQlfFoPqZ8K_K2_p-WS5smPNTf2N95aoqwdves196vzlYWzui-pMfyCPeCjB64MckFnYrE5kUjOTUtGAKFMapqPfpPuItTmhYtdl7LoO6JpuORmEXQm7X89JNErvX1hBTdG1Wv4jSz0/s1600/Leonard+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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The master of cool gives a heartfelt performance of one of his best known songs.</div>
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K.D. LANG: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcOQSk_cMO0" target="_blank">HALLELUJAH</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPQyYaM5SkeR0WFWi50UyqATBH7YOwmoo9pDr7r2o9FT_ZaiNT5ZFarfSDM6CU1lbGIZW5pim1iBw3OttEyjRiPfLamvzv4enmv1yaNG9xpCC5Xx7Av_3LdJthEtgOUnI_kqJ3__4bSmA/s1600/kd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPQyYaM5SkeR0WFWi50UyqATBH7YOwmoo9pDr7r2o9FT_ZaiNT5ZFarfSDM6CU1lbGIZW5pim1iBw3OttEyjRiPfLamvzv4enmv1yaNG9xpCC5Xx7Av_3LdJthEtgOUnI_kqJ3__4bSmA/s1600/kd.jpg" /></a></div>
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K.D. LANG dazzled audiences at the Vancouver Winter Olympics opening show, with this brilliant rendition of a classic song.</div>
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JONI MITCHELL: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXe95iTtci0" target="_blank">CHELSEA MORNING</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWZhTpy4Yk4q3QY6qxag-gR8BKD7yiZIMumdJ61vRG0rzsFKpWU9TNp8qrwqisgJCPluGH5SMXjn2O2mxAk1IlJatDGKvWdI4M_iyDWQXAA99P3jmg2lbB_SaBg1Rshd6EFC-TtRr5mcv/s1600/JONI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWZhTpy4Yk4q3QY6qxag-gR8BKD7yiZIMumdJ61vRG0rzsFKpWU9TNp8qrwqisgJCPluGH5SMXjn2O2mxAk1IlJatDGKvWdI4M_iyDWQXAA99P3jmg2lbB_SaBg1Rshd6EFC-TtRr5mcv/s1600/JONI.jpg" /></a></div>
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This beautiful song is filled with incredibly poetic images, written and performed by the sublime Joni Mitchell.</div>
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<h2>
BOOK NEWS!!!</h2>
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COVER REDESIGNS</div>
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Check out the new cover for my novel A CREATURE OF FANCY. If you haven't read this one, you can get it on Amazon in Canada, the UK and the US.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KUDtNx7FKn0TmkupZbTU4H9XFAMbMwZga8wUygJONWcISdJ6UrKpjl5ZivLE6NvYNoS61yQ6_hr_C4aJ_cvp9Nl5yvchm9msLHeenitMWBNCTzcwQeJs5Ieg2tPmdF4iziYnH_D18nbv/s1600/Creature+of+Fancy+cover+July+15+KINDLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KUDtNx7FKn0TmkupZbTU4H9XFAMbMwZga8wUygJONWcISdJ6UrKpjl5ZivLE6NvYNoS61yQ6_hr_C4aJ_cvp9Nl5yvchm9msLHeenitMWBNCTzcwQeJs5Ieg2tPmdF4iziYnH_D18nbv/s320/Creature+of+Fancy+cover+July+15+KINDLE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Also my popular romantic suspense, LILAH, has a gorgeous new cover. Check this one out:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb33MrHt-VS30NLgeo8eObVQjTGgmL6IEs_UFFWHj4j3EDs6roF3Lj5rjr30_xxiYqyNdtJJ_9RHjsa45mK3CY8Lb0zCaideBWmgcma6AyMynaeS6DhEHgVClRE4l7D7dtVx4nTYxo1ec/s1600/BookdesignBetiBup33_6458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb33MrHt-VS30NLgeo8eObVQjTGgmL6IEs_UFFWHj4j3EDs6roF3Lj5rjr30_xxiYqyNdtJJ_9RHjsa45mK3CY8Lb0zCaideBWmgcma6AyMynaeS6DhEHgVClRE4l7D7dtVx4nTYxo1ec/s320/BookdesignBetiBup33_6458.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-5383423270025375732020-04-15T16:53:00.004-07:002020-04-15T17:09:55.930-07:00CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS: A CLASSIC 'NOIR' DETECTIVE STORY<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS</b> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">by Paul Buchanan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZvwO2maPLOAc0acRJQs_yge5olHLpzG6T_lR8fR6Fj1srH93lCI99aN7oPsowOR5sL3QKYEYn0ztpIClztV8Ca2H5rIx1f8t_Bwd_RjexbGgUDHzwYk9HVUXKQctDKuI4a2KsoOx4BCE/s1600/City+of+Fallen+Angels+High+Res.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZvwO2maPLOAc0acRJQs_yge5olHLpzG6T_lR8fR6Fj1srH93lCI99aN7oPsowOR5sL3QKYEYn0ztpIClztV8Ca2H5rIx1f8t_Bwd_RjexbGgUDHzwYk9HVUXKQctDKuI4a2KsoOx4BCE/s320/City+of+Fallen+Angels+High+Res.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Set in Los Angeles in the sweltering summer of 1962, this classic ‘noir’ detective novel beautifully captures the blistering heat and languorous mood of 1960's LA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Private eye, Jimmy Keegan, used to be a hotshot crime reporter, but is now a lonely, middle-aged private eye, haunted by the recent suicide of Marilyn Monroe and grieving the death of his mother. When he’s approached by a mysterious man with a lucrative assignment that involves finding a young woman, he turns down the job but is surprised when the same woman turns up on the doorstep of his mother’s Hollywood Hills cottage. Soon events take a bizarre turn when man is killed and Keegan finds himself the prime suspect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Keegan is a likeable and sympathetic character at a low point in his life. Alone and doomed to a solitary existence, his most meaningful relationship turns out to be the little dog, Nora, that he inherits from his mother. But at heart he’s a good guy who’s had some bad breaks and now regrets the way his life has turned out. Details like this make him come across as more flawed and human than the great Raymond Chandler’s iconic and hardboiled detective, Philip Marlowe. The narrative does lack the dark, sarcastic and often biting tone of Marlowe’s novels but Buchanan manages to capture the lush and decadent romanticism of the city of Angels, the damp, oppressive heat of its summer and the colourful cast of characters that Keegan comes across. Having spent a good deal of time in Los Angeles, Keegan's vivid lyricism frequently transported me back to the decaying grandeur of the City of Angels, albeit an earlier, simpler version of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Plenty of unexpected twists make this novel a real page turner and I predict (and hope) we’ll be reading another Jimmy Keegan case in the foreseeable future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">***** </span>5/5 stars</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Thanks to Legend Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-77341175860737742502020-04-10T10:25:00.001-07:002020-04-11T08:25:43.001-07:00POETRY FOR THE SOULSince April is National Poetry Month I decided to offer you a selection of poems for your viewing and listening pleasure. I challenge those of you who claim not be be poetry lovers to take a look and listen to this eclectic and spellbinding collection. Some are read by the actual poets and some by actors you may or may not recognize.<br />
Poetry is food for the soul. Poetry has the power to move you emotionally and intellectually. As the great poet T.S Eliot said, "Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood," so don't worry if you can't grasp the meaning of every phrase, just soak up its beauty!<br />
Hope you'll revel in these lush creations and their celebration of language, imagery and the senses. Just click on the title to go to the video.<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIqjL8Nb-je2f-sgp7-rU92j0x_2rIMhjXhJFdaXFlC-XBjJrczUaLQExL0vJSvUXFNAp8rco1C5plJSlkOhJWEFyKzaaSpBBURRMl-mAmK9sSJh0nnmD4oVnoIR0wZUqmaq2KEnH5ypi/s1600/Maya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIqjL8Nb-je2f-sgp7-rU92j0x_2rIMhjXhJFdaXFlC-XBjJrczUaLQExL0vJSvUXFNAp8rco1C5plJSlkOhJWEFyKzaaSpBBURRMl-mAmK9sSJh0nnmD4oVnoIR0wZUqmaq2KEnH5ypi/s1600/Maya.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qviM_GnJbOM" target="_blank">Still I Rise</a> by </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px;">MAYA ANGELOU:</span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;">Watch a young and playful Maya Angelou present this inspiring poem about personal power.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV0nFPZ8ostgsyUJaCL4K5BGdzftYDFNexBg0OsnpgF_dXOTYvqhx-6flsOIZsqqvDIJwpsip9n7SviGTnGWigWEzwE-aGqfJMqDhB3BJByg1oXUc9ufEzQ5nMn9DGWKASgUPoaxbD1dj/s1600/Shane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV0nFPZ8ostgsyUJaCL4K5BGdzftYDFNexBg0OsnpgF_dXOTYvqhx-6flsOIZsqqvDIJwpsip9n7SviGTnGWigWEzwE-aGqfJMqDhB3BJByg1oXUc9ufEzQ5nMn9DGWKASgUPoaxbD1dj/s1600/Shane.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXpG1DNSsBM" target="_blank">A Letter to Remind Myself Who I Am</a> by </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px;">SHANE KOYCZAN</span><br />
Forget the isolation blues! Brilliant Canadian spoken word poet, Shane Koyczan, performs this motivating poem that will light a spark inside your heart!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8Z874ABhhmLrJyJuIiZ4QXkleZwtRV7hLqb6TqD9YMoi9QManylbGFmVXlmkawfEV6Iej4t-TWbjc78w8Wlu5wrHRzsy8zjlEoTwICXZnBEb6DL79iiDPPQ2Or6ERFlCOSZvcopX3Ic-/s1600/Lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8Z874ABhhmLrJyJuIiZ4QXkleZwtRV7hLqb6TqD9YMoi9QManylbGFmVXlmkawfEV6Iej4t-TWbjc78w8Wlu5wrHRzsy8zjlEoTwICXZnBEb6DL79iiDPPQ2Or6ERFlCOSZvcopX3Ic-/s1600/Lewis.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipZDD-SGjNE" target="_blank">You are Old Father William</a> by LEWIS CARROLL (unknown reader)<br />
The nonsense poems of Lewis Carroll are always so refreshing. Here's a cute animated version of the classic from the Alice stories.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7oMHBNtgZ3nHw08z9k5OLHZ1e01cQvifRAV6Vm3Jr9AgnNMHv-5_f_vhzPNU3QUi8__HkNd2d_HVKS-mfGRKGP9ozvrEdJeAME82jnfPdtnS7oATyZu7nBq9btaJNexGykYAG3MlOnRl/s1600/Eliot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7oMHBNtgZ3nHw08z9k5OLHZ1e01cQvifRAV6Vm3Jr9AgnNMHv-5_f_vhzPNU3QUi8__HkNd2d_HVKS-mfGRKGP9ozvrEdJeAME82jnfPdtnS7oATyZu7nBq9btaJNexGykYAG3MlOnRl/s1600/Eliot.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEok6la74XA" target="_blank">Rhapsody on a Windy Night</a> by T.S ELIOT (read by Jeremy Irons)<br />
Ever wondered whose words inspired the famous <i>Cats </i>song <i>Memories? </i>Listen to this gorgeous work by genius wordsmith and my personal favourite of all poets, T.S Eliot and you'll find out. Read by the wonderful Jeremy Irons. Who can resist that velvet voice?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEkeK6iSC4Z81F-MP28rBaFuybfyQy2YKMR8IAWOARF2nE_h6PFK-eny6fu5yCbpRfRJ7DKtfYmTygo4hfP9coaQn3HslUUBIQx3YUnonEDbQoV6Mj2FlInk5HPqrdFQRdEqPCyD0ibNh/s1600/Burton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEkeK6iSC4Z81F-MP28rBaFuybfyQy2YKMR8IAWOARF2nE_h6PFK-eny6fu5yCbpRfRJ7DKtfYmTygo4hfP9coaQn3HslUUBIQx3YUnonEDbQoV6Mj2FlInk5HPqrdFQRdEqPCyD0ibNh/s1600/Burton.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDNCEp8Utjo" target="_blank">The Greatest Poem in the English Language</a> by RICHARD BURTON<br />
Speaking of gorgeous voices. Check out this short but incredible piece performed by Richard Burton.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s9GsUBViA7Tblrqgqp2eYXzpfxCIk_8ZIVbWzpQmOnMf4Lf1ie54fkN8SLUDZ7GA_UKGtawEDOrL-_XikMqTn3ESGvpIlQs2s_A6bLU8g5cc631x2Pud0b6ghivQAgm5EW6WKkHLtamZ/s1600/Atwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s9GsUBViA7Tblrqgqp2eYXzpfxCIk_8ZIVbWzpQmOnMf4Lf1ie54fkN8SLUDZ7GA_UKGtawEDOrL-_XikMqTn3ESGvpIlQs2s_A6bLU8g5cc631x2Pud0b6ghivQAgm5EW6WKkHLtamZ/s1600/Atwood.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRkjhe_QREg" target="_blank">Night Poem</a> by MARGARET ATWOOD<br />
It's a rare treat to listen to the brilliant Canadian writer read one of her poems. Most people don't realize Atwood is a gifted and renowned poet as well as novelist. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6e71beFMeX7aYWjSyQ9rYV2vpE1qiSVgeM1zDGivG2EkKKSqzbWwyiAVB7yJz2ZO2_TutIIFkaQR8IhurSZoeM-VUUGuGgb1yrzKdAgrYqAE_Kld8I4eKVlnR3DMKBBOkxPVrfuY7MLE/s1600/Neruda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6e71beFMeX7aYWjSyQ9rYV2vpE1qiSVgeM1zDGivG2EkKKSqzbWwyiAVB7yJz2ZO2_TutIIFkaQR8IhurSZoeM-VUUGuGgb1yrzKdAgrYqAE_Kld8I4eKVlnR3DMKBBOkxPVrfuY7MLE/s1600/Neruda.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN3v3WoaR_Y" target="_blank">Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines</a> by PABLO NERUDA: read by Andy Garcia<br />
Here's something for the romantics among you. A translation of the great Chilean poet's wistful, heartrending piece, read with sexy restraint by Andy Garcia. Break out the Kleenex, you'll need one after listening to this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnP7J63xBzjyIdgGF-S3ui3NQqXP08WoBQB4uXNkkVxPjo7xiSDrgUF9kCSy9HMqtEO4wruZd8bDoNJVxlA8SJ2aSsi8dSAWSbbCtiKXkVG0_2kByRae_bKXncbZIbUNNEd-BoCCGnMy-/s1600/Neruda+young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnP7J63xBzjyIdgGF-S3ui3NQqXP08WoBQB4uXNkkVxPjo7xiSDrgUF9kCSy9HMqtEO4wruZd8bDoNJVxlA8SJ2aSsi8dSAWSbbCtiKXkVG0_2kByRae_bKXncbZIbUNNEd-BoCCGnMy-/s1600/Neruda+young.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00xrj1OnJg" target="_blank">Naked</a> by PABLO NERUDA: read by Sting<br />
The first minute and a twelve seconds of this recording is a master class in romantic and erotic imagery, read impeccably by Sting. What follows is a song by Josh Groban which sadly doesn't measure up to the brilliance of the poem.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAF1rUtN26DzebhobrY7E0sz0LAtlACD_fyJ5PrPk3DUa3vMeHaDrlpLKT3h70IvS3jkflMeiogb9z-GCHiOG0UTDmDgtM_P_g5p90FLQs7c1A9FAyCg10Vrd9Ne2vI1n89M4dzNFyQ6I/s1600/Michael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAF1rUtN26DzebhobrY7E0sz0LAtlACD_fyJ5PrPk3DUa3vMeHaDrlpLKT3h70IvS3jkflMeiogb9z-GCHiOG0UTDmDgtM_P_g5p90FLQs7c1A9FAyCg10Vrd9Ne2vI1n89M4dzNFyQ6I/s1600/Michael.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A2ekfA8Kn8&t=34s" target="_blank">The Cinnamon Peeler</a> by MICHAEL ONDAATJE<br />
Staying with the sexy poems, here's a treat. Watch incredible Canadian poet and novelist, Michael Ondaatje read this gorgeous poem. Born in Sri Lanka, the poem reflects the lush and sensual imagery of his birthplace.<br />
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Looking for something a little more cerebral?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn2lCS_tgEtOmIJi7xkpylSun6f2MqWFXJhxEMDpk2JDPNJKhjexAb2MlUR_wczLMxG_YsrLGIicyy2T6GQDsm99OYiOhhFKJeMV1FsptwwoQUtvo9tKlF8DkR4Xay8zPHdM1r_j3yGKr/s1600/Gwen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn2lCS_tgEtOmIJi7xkpylSun6f2MqWFXJhxEMDpk2JDPNJKhjexAb2MlUR_wczLMxG_YsrLGIicyy2T6GQDsm99OYiOhhFKJeMV1FsptwwoQUtvo9tKlF8DkR4Xay8zPHdM1r_j3yGKr/s1600/Gwen.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaHTMxvxNGc" target="_blank">Dark Pines Under Water</a> by GWENDOLYN MACEWAN<br />
The late Canadian icon of modernist poetry reflects on the internal journey of the reader as triggered by the reflected landscape. Some interpretations also claim this is a tribute to Group of Seven landscape artist Tom Thomson, an intrepid explorer who drowned mysteriously on Algonquin Park's Canoe Lake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmz32xeBzJ046ySemksD54saMBv5RODPDKNmowdlNS78nxuSiaV7cjpQkHpn4bpmzrzPSU6lJS7pQOl4AZnsKGahbMGcovCjRwtZYJuT5uv4JooKhro-L8kqGtgBA6V4FS7Y1FZoMeTruZ/s1600/TS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmz32xeBzJ046ySemksD54saMBv5RODPDKNmowdlNS78nxuSiaV7cjpQkHpn4bpmzrzPSU6lJS7pQOl4AZnsKGahbMGcovCjRwtZYJuT5uv4JooKhro-L8kqGtgBA6V4FS7Y1FZoMeTruZ/s1600/TS.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-dQUF4zJ2Q" target="_blank">Burnt Norton</a>: Part 1 of The Four Quartets by T.S. ELIOT (unknown reader)<br />
Listen to Eliot's haunting reflection on time, beauty, faith, alternate realities and possibilities. Inspired by his time spent at Burnt Norton Manor in Gloucestershire, this beautifully presented masterpiece read by a talented female reader is rich with phrases and images that will revisit you in dreams.<br />
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Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-17831663540067380672020-03-24T08:44:00.000-07:002020-03-24T08:44:21.702-07:00ENTERTAINMENT FOR STAYING AT HOMERight now our lives might seem like they resemble scenes from a dystopian novel. We're confined to our homes, either alone or with loved ones, looking for ways to occupy these long hours. So, if you can tear yourself away from the endless streams of newsfeed and the worry about what might happen in the days ahead, let your mind escape to something more stimulating.<br />
Here's a list of books, movies and TV shows that might help:<br />
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BOOKS<br />
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<b>Thrillers</b><br />
You can't go wrong with Irish writer, Tana French.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHowSdySGCSlNNsPeSjygzVNlAQv_oIPThR9n-zIHE8Gl4gOk1XXI32s6Za7zdGRPfQVKHC8zLlNptxM-RtYGSsIep60MGIkPiEs0in2sLHcCTF_-fQfs-2WPoj10HEUi8n6TFcmCHXpGy/s1600/the+likeness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHowSdySGCSlNNsPeSjygzVNlAQv_oIPThR9n-zIHE8Gl4gOk1XXI32s6Za7zdGRPfQVKHC8zLlNptxM-RtYGSsIep60MGIkPiEs0in2sLHcCTF_-fQfs-2WPoj10HEUi8n6TFcmCHXpGy/s1600/the+likeness.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPmitcplQkrxPyLuSFZP9ZTv8a4hJsW4SEAqOtvFCoGvzSJzLbKMEwhqw4ln6oVd2K8_uLUhly0U5zq0F3a7Au4IP0x0cfHOuRMARIJjHHu5qjVEZ75yMwHUydurf4nCAqzEQ2ALok0iM/s1600/trespasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPmitcplQkrxPyLuSFZP9ZTv8a4hJsW4SEAqOtvFCoGvzSJzLbKMEwhqw4ln6oVd2K8_uLUhly0U5zq0F3a7Au4IP0x0cfHOuRMARIJjHHu5qjVEZ75yMwHUydurf4nCAqzEQ2ALok0iM/s1600/trespasser.jpg" /></a><br /><b><br /></b><br />
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<li><b>THE LIKENESS</b>: Cassie Maddox has transferred out of the Dublin undercover squad. Months later she's summoned to a murder scene. The victim is her double and bears the identity of Cassie's last undercover alias. Cassie is forced back undercover to find the killer.</li>
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<li><b>THE TRESPASSER</b>: Tough no-nonsense cop Antoinette Conway has clawed her wayup the ladder against all odds and despite constant harassment, but when a pretty, blonde murder victim turns up and Antoinette feels like she and her partner are being forced to arrest the boyfriend, she senses that a cover-up is in the works. Is police corruption playing a part?</li>
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Or Ruth Ware:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5tWhKbkpYIXzAlztpGUGdZlXLNIkLQqV4QfYxy8yDt-4BsfpRyPzRyu0eheK6CSPqC6vWlBC9ft53ZZlV9Dg7aXC22S4W_GXNTPcYSxmMHOEkJW5b2sWOt8mzmkk7Xpe380WKAL2OKF1/s1600/turn+of+the+key.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5tWhKbkpYIXzAlztpGUGdZlXLNIkLQqV4QfYxy8yDt-4BsfpRyPzRyu0eheK6CSPqC6vWlBC9ft53ZZlV9Dg7aXC22S4W_GXNTPcYSxmMHOEkJW5b2sWOt8mzmkk7Xpe380WKAL2OKF1/s1600/turn+of+the+key.jpg" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b>THE TURN OF THE KEY</b>: When Rowan Caine finds an ad for a well-paid nanny in the Scottish Highlands, she jumps at the chance to work at the luxurious smart-home. She doesn't realize it will end up with a child dead and her in prison. Writing from the prison cell, Rowan tells exactly how she got to this terrible place. A real nail-biter and a fast read full of twists and turns. </li>
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Or Kate Atkinson:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69HkwP2Wf7kphfN7_qn4qStwha8BmJkT7m3DeQU9__OI3aGlXOB8g9KhloALGy-AvjI_SxiOsXNO7_vLwbluPs6TDnUMH18lIGnjaGvsIQbfjcUwdNQomNhTcJX5UVFZ0qcH1o_C2wX6P/s1600/transcription.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69HkwP2Wf7kphfN7_qn4qStwha8BmJkT7m3DeQU9__OI3aGlXOB8g9KhloALGy-AvjI_SxiOsXNO7_vLwbluPs6TDnUMH18lIGnjaGvsIQbfjcUwdNQomNhTcJX5UVFZ0qcH1o_C2wX6P/s1600/transcription.jpg" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b>TRANSCRIPTION</b>: In 1940 eighteen year old Juliet Conway is reluctantly enlisted into the Secret Service, to help with the wartime effort of rooting out Fascists and Nazi sympathizers. Though at first the work is tedious and routine, Juliet becomes more embroiled in dangerous undercover operations. After the war she takes up work with the BBC, assuming that chapter of her life is over, but when figures from her past begin to appear she realizes she may have made more enemies than she realizes.</li>
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MOVIES</div>
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Here's a list of movies to check out on Netflix:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1XhCd9F0pq5uXpnyhi4UQBeKJFiZwKdavOuOWH3DEvwx6JSAgtG4QeEj1MWtzHJgYNGp-FXIxNlbfYo81vOiyD25NU3M5jUVBui2h9bAXVatN0p_RKq9qOlHflsjb2bAWYcmPf1XbBi-/s1600/thunder+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1XhCd9F0pq5uXpnyhi4UQBeKJFiZwKdavOuOWH3DEvwx6JSAgtG4QeEj1MWtzHJgYNGp-FXIxNlbfYo81vOiyD25NU3M5jUVBui2h9bAXVatN0p_RKq9qOlHflsjb2bAWYcmPf1XbBi-/s1600/thunder+road.jpg" /></a></div>
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<li><b> THUNDER ROAD</b>: with a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, writer-director-lead actor, Jim Cummings presents a <i>tour de force</i> with this story of Southern cop, Jim Arnaud, who tries to raise his daughter as a love letter to his late Mom, while facing a personal breakdown as he deals with grief and the breakdown of his marriage. Hilarious and heartbreaking.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmOlDq9UoTu31B3kqE-K747VCF033FZHxGVJChIOYbkvkcorQYz2O3SAYmxPo0srLE-40Zv9MPuVMJzIlmG5DpE-FW6kTAGRYDxr5j3hyrHFAc2AAC87MMGGOXcd3Kcoz4P6iLE2fYx8_/s1600/moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmOlDq9UoTu31B3kqE-K747VCF033FZHxGVJChIOYbkvkcorQYz2O3SAYmxPo0srLE-40Zv9MPuVMJzIlmG5DpE-FW6kTAGRYDxr5j3hyrHFAc2AAC87MMGGOXcd3Kcoz4P6iLE2fYx8_/s1600/moon.jpg" /></a></div>
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<li><b>IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON</b>: A Philadelphia cop struggles with a lifetime obsession to track down a serial killer whose crimes defy explanation. Compelling movie with a shocking sci-fi twist.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl8oHlpcbYslfu8U87QeS6HGehfHIHFFhgtjZpD92cJ038Ic2jlAUB3MYkMJrbBUv8uEhuludoO82auhCB8A13bGRDSZ5myWQkegCljMuCRPCj5TFJwv7F8TnOT5JY7eR7mcJHefXWC-6/s1600/starred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl8oHlpcbYslfu8U87QeS6HGehfHIHFFhgtjZpD92cJ038Ic2jlAUB3MYkMJrbBUv8uEhuludoO82auhCB8A13bGRDSZ5myWQkegCljMuCRPCj5TFJwv7F8TnOT5JY7eR7mcJHefXWC-6/s1600/starred.jpg" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b>STARRED UP: </b>starring Jim McConnell and the brilliant<b> </b>Ben Mendelsohn, this tough, gritty movie tells the story of tough guy, Eric Love, 19 who's locked up in prison. On his first day he assaults an inmate and several guards. He's sent to group therapy, but when his dad—an equally tough lifer in the same prison—steps into the picture, the tension ramps up. Can Eric be rehabilitated? (R rated movie).</li>
</ul>
<div>
SERIES:</div>
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<div>
<ul>
<li><b>THE CROWN: </b>lush escapism about the royal family</li>
<li><b>RECTIFY: </b>thoughtful drama about a wrongfully convicted murderer released to his home</li>
<li><b>ANIMAL KINGDOM: </b>heists and hi-jinx among a California crime family.</li>
<li><b>DR. FOSTER: </b>the great Suranne Jones stars as a middle class doctor with a cheating husband and revenge on her mind.</li>
<li><b>LINE OF DUTY: </b>another great British cop series about a team of detectives tasked to root out police corruption.</li>
<li><b>LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX: </b>after 50+ years apart, ex-teen sweethearts Celia and Alan decide to marry. Major family fallout follows. Starring the brilliant Derek Jacobi, Ann Reid and Sarah Lancashire.</li>
</ul>
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<b>BE A MOVIE STAR</b> </div>
<div>
If you're sick of watching movies and TV series, then why not go to <a href="https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts/" target="_blank">this website</a> and star in one yourself:</div>
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<div>
https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts/</div>
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<div>
Download movie scripts and do a table read with your family! It's fun and you could discover a star in your own family!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEl6Wb20qZMAFZcSYy7W0O37fEaDSCzibFDsbhyphenhyphen7zKG_EjEhd9qpnsAaVjTbT6cY0Yur6hwtx9nmUD5FnUwdNaNISQDUpKh1YYqhnEZcZBa7P3R2gkHxsDaqU0VQtqS9_FJMCA2QUuW5vX/s1600/katie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEl6Wb20qZMAFZcSYy7W0O37fEaDSCzibFDsbhyphenhyphen7zKG_EjEhd9qpnsAaVjTbT6cY0Yur6hwtx9nmUD5FnUwdNaNISQDUpKh1YYqhnEZcZBa7P3R2gkHxsDaqU0VQtqS9_FJMCA2QUuW5vX/s1600/katie.jpg" /></a></div>
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Also I've been offering some of my e-books for FREE on Amazon. Tomorrow CHASING A THRILL is free for three days. I'll follow that up with some others. Check out my Amazon page to see when.</div>
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Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-6732955052929654842020-02-12T08:10:00.000-08:002020-02-12T08:21:02.143-08:00RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown</b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">In her new novel, <i>Recipe For A Perfect Wife, </i>Karma Brown explores the idea that things haven’t changed that much for women in the last fifty years when it comes to marriage, and the perfect, stay at home wife of the 50’s actually has more in common than we’d like to admit with her counterpart in 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Told from dual narratives of two new wives—Nellie, in the 1950’s and Alice in 2018, the story is a little slow to get going. Brown begins with Alice making a move from the big city to the suburbs with Nate, her husband. Alice as a character is difficult to get a handle on at first and tends to come off as unsympathetic and secretive. But once Nellie is introduced, the story really takes off as she her attempts to fashion herself as the perfect wife for husband, Richard. Perfectly groomed, with seamed stockings, lipstick and cocktails waiting at the door for her work-weary husband she conjures up numerous bizarre (to our modern, health-conscious tastes) dishes in her kitchen, following the recipes passed down by her mother. But we soon learn that all is not perfect in her little slice of suburban heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Alice’s motives, on the other hand, are not quite as clear and she comes across as somewhat scattered and indecisive until she stumbles upon a box of old recipes and 1950’s Ladies Housekeeping magazines in her basement. Though this is a slightly clichéd plot device, Karma Brown really makes it work and brings Alice to life as she experiments with Nellie’s old recipes and struggles to write her book while dealing with the pressures of Nate’s expectations. I found the recipes fascinating, though some are pretty gruesome—Hollywood dip for one—and I’m determined to try some of them if I can get my hands on the ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">With the help of her neighbour, the daughter of Nellie’s best friend, Alice dresses in retro clothes and starts to channel the ‘50’s persona as she pieces together Nellie’s sad story. Her relationship with Nate begins to suffer, and soon conflict creeps into their seemingly perfect relationship. Nate’s form of oppression is less obvious than Richard’s, but it still is evident in his attempts to steer the direction of Alice’s life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This is also a book about secrets—in Alice’s case, they jeopardize her relationship, in Nellie’s case they save her life. It’s also about how women as wives and partners are inevitably expected to make sacrifices for their husbands and fit their lives around their husband’s needs. Finally, though I guessed the twist at the end of the story, I did enjoy the road to get there. A very entertaining book.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Thanks to Legend Press for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karma Brown<br />
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Check out these other great blog pages for more reviews of Recipe For A Perfect Wife</div>
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Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4133690298539237068.post-12784994429447270752019-12-23T19:36:00.000-08:002020-02-05T08:55:56.881-08:00THE GIFT OF READINGAs we head into the holidays and possibly into a mad frenzy of shopping, cooking, eating and entertaining, it's a good idea to make some quiet time for reflection and most importantly of all—for reading.<br />
This year I've spent a whole lot of my time working on the revisions of my novel THE SAVAGE INSTINCT, which is to be republished in a second, very different edition 2020 by Inkshares, but I've also enjoyed reviewing books for NetGalley and Legend Press, a UK publisher.<br />
I've shared below some of my great reads of the year. Hope you can find the time to read one or buy as a gift for friends or family.<br />
Happy holidays!<br />
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FIVE WIVES by Joan Thomas<br />
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Local Winnipeg writer, Joan Thomas was the most deserving winner of this year's Governor General's Award for fiction with her novel FIVE WIVES, a fictionalized account of the lives of the real women left behind when their husbands were killed in a misguided attempt to contact the Waorani, a reclusive tribe from the Ecuadorean rain forest. "Operation Auca" as it was called, was undertaken in 1956 by a group of evangelical Christian missionaries, eager to share their faith and 'convert' the 'savages' to the word of God. Their wives and children were left to fend for themselves.<br />
The book moves back and forth in time, from a present-day storyline of one of the grand-daughters who is given the opportunity to star in a movie version of the operation, then back to the past where each woman's story is explored. In this way, Thomas pieces together the events from different viewpoints, which makes for fascinating reading as some of the women are more zealously committed to the operation than others who fear the plan is ill-thought out but—since it's the 1950's—acquiesce to their husband's 'better' judgement.<br />
While the story doesn't dwell on the actual details of the tragedy, Thomas deftly builds in a sense of soaring, almost boyish hope in the husbands as they set out on a great adventure while their wives wrestle with niggling fears of impending doom as they are left to deal with the uncomfortable realities of surviving in a primitive tropical setting with small children.<br />
Throughout the entire novel Thomas's sly sense of humour is ever-present as she subtly reveals the short-sighted arrogance of the evangelical philosophy and its attitude towards third world peoples as well as the strength and foresight of the women who survive the tragedy and ultimately prosper in roles that their husbands could not. Beautifully written, this is a truly compelling read.<br />
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DARLING ROSE GOLD by Stephanie Wrobel<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel is a compelling page turner, surprising since the two main characters are highly unlikeable women. Patty, Rose Gold's controlling mother is a disturbed, damaged woman whose denial of her crimes makes her all the more threatening and dangerous, Rose Gold, the daughter, is a sad, pathetic young woman whose childhood was destroyed by her mother and whose adult years continue to be affected by the trauma. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The story begins with Patty being released from jail after serving five years for poisoning, starving and reducing her healthy daughter to invalid status until concerned friends help Rose to break free and report her mother's crimes. Strangely, however, Rose meets her mother from prison and invites her to stay. Keen to re-establish her dominance, Patty is surprised and accepts, hoping to slot right back into Rose Gold's life. But is the daughter offering an olive branch and putting the past behind her, or is something more sinister at hand as these two damaged women jockey for the upper hand using an arsenal of weapons—lies, secrets and devious cunning?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Told from alternating points of view, Wrobel ratchets up the tension with some surprising twists and turns until you simply have to find out who wins in the surprising ending. A terrific read.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Thanks to Net Galley for providing a preview copy in return for an honest review.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">THE FORGOTTEN HOME CHILD by Genevieve Graham</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">This heartwarming yet heart wrenching novel deals with a little-known chapter in Canadian history—the shocking treatment received by a large number of British Home Children at the hands of those Canadians who paid UK authorities to employ these unwanted children, using them as indentured servants, slaves and in many cases, treating them worse than the animals they tended.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Genevieve Graham interviewed survivors of these Home Children and unearthed a painful chapter of suffering that lasted from the late 19th century until 1948. Sent from large orphanages like Dr. Barnardo's and other smaller institutions, these children were promised a fresh start in an exciting new country. What they encountered was much worse than they could ever imagine. Graham tells the story of Winnie, friend to siblings, Mary, Jack, Edward and Cecil. Abandoned by their parents, they scraped a living on the streets of London until they were caught and put into an orphanage. Reunited on the ship headed to Canada, they vow never to be separated, only to be torn apart on arrival. The brothers stay together, but Mary and Winnie go to separate farm families. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Winnie is treated cruelly by her employers, sleeping in the barn with the sheep and slaving night and day to keep the farm going, though her mistress softens her approach much later and takes an interest in her future. Mary, however, doesn't fare as well and it is her tragic story that shapes the remainder of the novel and impacts Winnie's and her brother Jack's lives in an irreversible way.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The story is written with warmth and empathy but doesn't hold back on the shocking and terrible details of the brutal treatment received by some of these children. Graham does, however, provide a balance by recognizing that many children were adopted by loving families and others found opportunities in Canada that they wouldn't have received in the UK and therefore their lives did improve, though they carried a deep burden of shame that they hid from their families. Only recently online support groups have sprung up so that descendants of the Home Children can share their troubling legacy and find some closure to this terrible chapter of Canadian history.</span>Marjorie DeLucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11882176271402911229noreply@blogger.com0