Warm Bodies Review

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


4.5 stars.

It’s been a long time since I simply read a book for pleasure. After seeing the film trailer for Warm Bodies and learning this was also a book, I HAD to read it. Let’s face it, it looks absolutely wicked!

I’ve never been a fan of zombie stories. I like Resident Evil and that’s about it, but this story may just hold the power to convert me. There’s not much I can say about the storyline that hasn’t already been said countless times. It’s definitely a romantic comedy with a hint of the horror genre. There’s quite a bit of action and of course, a true love story. I love all the characters, especially ‘R’ and ‘M’, how could you not? ‘R’ is a zombie and even I fell for him. Also, Julie isn’t one of these wimpy girls so she gets an A+ from me.

After watching the film trailers I can see there are going to be quite a few differences to the print version, I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with it. I don’t think for one minute this story could be spoiled.

The only gripe I had was the sheer amount of metaphors and similes. They just seemed too much and at times, I did skip the odd paragraph because things were overly explained or described. Other than that though, this is one awesome read and is now one of my favourite stories!




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Creepy Photography.

I'm my spare time I love to go out and take photographs. I have an amazing new camera, a Canon DSLR, and I love her dearly. She has more than exceeded my expectations of her.

I have had a love of photography since before I can even remember. Now I have my toy and some nifty accessories, I'm hoping to do this more seriously. Including being the photographer at my friends wedding later this year! I had practice at my own little nieces christening earlier last year and the photographs were beautiful.

Last night I was able to go out again and practice. I want to learn everything I can about all the features on my baby. What I captured put a massive smile on my face, especially when I captured these in the pitch black. They are only trees, but I think they look so creepy... and I LOVE creepy. Anyway, I thought I would post them on here.

Meet multi genre author Fran Orenstein and enter our giveaway!

Dr. Fran Orenstein, author, poet, presenter

Please give a warm welcome to Fran Orenstein. 

Fran joins us today to discuss that dreaded thing that at some point in their careers, all authors will face... Writers Block! 

You will be able to see all of Fran's work as well as find out where you can get more information on this amazing multi genre writer. 

Fran has also been kind enough to allow me to host a giveaway!



Beating Back The Block: one writer’s cure

Scenario: The Bard sits at a table, quill in hand, creating words that will live on for 400 years, perhaps a thousand years; words spoken by actors over the centuries, memorized by school children. He strokes his beard, scratches his head. Putting quill to paper he writes,   “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I come to bury Caesar….” 

Just then he is interrupted, perhaps Anne calls him to dinner, or a blot of ink ruins the paper. When he returns a day or so later his mind is blank. Why was this character Marc Anthony going to make a speech? Is it a necessary speech? What was the purpose? Is he wasting his time creating a play out of some ancient murder nobody cares about any more. He fiddles with the fire that is dying in the hearth. He checks the inkwell, sharpens the quill, stares out the window. He does everything but write the next sentence. Imagine Julius Caesar never written because William Shakespeare developed a writer’s block that he couldn’t break.

 

At some point during the writing experience, every writer gets blocked. I have gone into a manuscript that was flowing beautifully and couldn’t write another word. It seemed boring, inane, insipid. What was I thinking? Who would want to read this? Yet, just yesterday it was exciting.

Have you ever closed down the computer, covered the typewriter, or put the pen in a drawer, and your stomach churns every time you think of starting again? I have a simple solution that works every time. I go back to the beginning of the manuscript and start editing and rewriting. As I move along, I realize it’s really good. I understand why I chose to write it. By the time I reach the point of yesterday’s despair, I know what comes next. Even if I only write one page, I’ve moved on.

Once I learned that, I always go to the beginning of the previous chapter and read it through. I generally find things to add or change and it inspires me to continue writing. Bedsides breaking the block, I’ve been editing and rewriting as I go along. Every writer has some technique or there would not be any books. This is one suggestion and the next time you face writer’s block, try rereading to get back into the thread and feeling of the story. Whatever you do, don’t give up…it isn’t fatal. 

Author Bio


Fran Orenstein was born in New York. Growing up in Brooklyn and the Bronx, she experienced a fine education in the public schools and the varied culture of New York City. She has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College, a master’s in counseling psychology from the College of New Jersey, and a doctorate in Child and in Youth Studies from Nova Southeastern University.

She thrives on reading 3-4 novels a week, which she considers an escape from the real world. Her favorites are detective stories, legal mysteries , horror and intrigue. She likes books written by women about women, but also loves heroes like Jack Reacher, Harry Bosch, and JP Beaumont. Among her favorite authors are Dean Koontz for the beauty of his poetic metaphors, and Janet Evanovich, whose amazing characters make her laugh.

Fran wrote her first poem at age 8, and submitted her first short story at age 12. After a brief spell as an early childhood teacher, and full-time mother, she was an editor/writer for three national career education magazines, and then spent 22 years working for New Jersey State Government in a variety of positions. These included rehabilitation counselor, manager of women’s programs including writing policy and legislation, developing programs in child care, gender equity, and creator of The NJ Coalition on Women and Disabilities. Prior to retirement, she served as Special Projects and Disability Officer for AmeriCorps. Fran has many years of experience writing and publishing academically and professionally. She has written, articles, newsletters, political speeches, brochures, and has presented at national and international conferences on gender equity and violence prevention.
She considers her children and grandchildren her finest legacy. Fran currently resides in the Tampa Bay Florida with her cats. 

Her philosophy is three-fold:
1. There is a solution to every problem using creative and positive thinking.
2. Help others, either by a simple act of kindness, or a volunteer project. It will come back, even though it might not be obvious or immediate.
3. Life is an adventure, live it. 


Find out more about Fran here...


http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dr-fran-orenstein/1b/278/295

http//www.goodreads.com/author/show/1051466.Fran_Orenstein 

http://www.franorenstein.weebly.com/

It's Giveaway Time!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sheer beauty - also the setting of Leticia! Had to share.

So after being promised inches of snow over Manchester, we get nothing except a sprinkle. So we went higher to find it... and walked around in a blizzard! Some photos are a little out of focus, it was rather windy and I couldn't keep my camera still. However, considering these were taken between 10.30pm and 11.30pm in total darkness, I don't think I've done too bad. God I love my camera!

This is also the setting for my novel Leticia. All these photos are taken around Dovestones and Saddleworth Moors. Beautiful.

Review - Switched in Death by Sherry Foley

SWITCHED IN DEATH by Sherry Foley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I don’t normally read thrillers, however I’ve read a couple lately and really enjoyed them. I might have to start reading more. This is not a short book and yet I finished it within two days. THAT is how much it keeps you glued to the pages.

Now I need to be careful with what I say here, because the book is full of twists and turns, very few of them are predictable and I would hate to ruin anything for future readers. The characters are likeable and believable. The character Seth is great, well created and three dimensional, but then, so are all the characters.

As people who know me well already know, I’m a lover of horror and anything that gives you the creeps or send shivers down your spine etc. Well this one definitely gave me the creeps. Not scary creeps but more the fact that what happens in this book, does happen in real life. To know there are people out there committing these atrocities is rather worrying. But the way in which... (need to be careful here) everything happens (I’m telling you nothing) its genius and well thought out. Definitely worthy of the five star rating. For something to give ME the creeps... well, that doesn’t happen often so I’m more than impressed.

I will certainly be reading (and hopefully review.. hint! lol) Sherry Foleys books in the future.




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Review - The Undying by Ronnell D. Porter

The Undying by Ronnell D. Porter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


3.5 Stars

Okay, I've had this book on my kindle... forever. In fact, it was the first Kindle book I ever bought. The cover is amazingly beautiful and I admit, that's the reason I bought it.

The story however was a little disappointing. I got bored rather quickly and the main character annoyed the hell out of me from the word go! She really needs to grow up and stop crying all the time.

It picked up a little and after a while I kinda enjoyed some of it. With a little bit of work and less crying, this could be a really good story.



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Emotional review of The Last Gift by Scarlet Black

The Last Gift – Scarlet Black
5 Stars

Let me start off by saying, I know the woman who’s life this book is based on. Yes she is a friend – but this review is no way bias at all. 
I have known Deborah for coming up to two years. I instantly clicked with this woman. We talked and talked, shared similar views and thoughts on things and I had a lot of respect for her. Even though we have never met face to face I was honoured to be able to call Deborah a friend. 

After reading this, I cannot but into words just how much MORE respect I have for her. 

This book was hard for me to read. Not because I had to put it down and come back to it later. Not because it was boring. But because it’s hard to read when your eyes are constantly filling up with tears. I think if I didn’t know this woman, I may have hardened to things and not been as emotionally affected. To read what a friend has been through, especially when things have gone wrong and been filled with such sadness at times, it affects you. 

The other reason it affected me, and the reason my respect has grown even more is because my family have been through something very similar. I know what it’s like to watch someone wither away in front of you. My mum and I nursed my nana for almost 10 years. I was 10 when she became ill and 19 when she passed away. My mum was an only child (adopted) and my sister was too young to help. So it was me and my mum facing everything life threw at us. Still to this day, that’s never changed, it’s me and my mum against the world. 

On top of that, this story talks about adoption. The pain of having to give up a child when times didn’t accept unmarried mothers. It talks of the pain the mothers and sometimes even the fathers face when they have to part with something so precious to them. (on a personal note, this makes me sick and I’m glad and thankful to be born in the modern world).  In the book, the family come back together and it’s beautiful to read. My mum was adopted and spent 50 years of her life thinking she was an only child. She met her birth mother when she was 21 but they never formed a relationship. It was just her and my nana, since my granddad passed away when my mum was nearly two. They were best friends as well as mother and daughter, regardless of whether they were blood related or not. At the age of 50 she found out she had a brother from her adopted fathers side, and then learned she had two half sisters and two half brothers from her biological mothers side. This was very very emotional, but families have been brought back together. All of them are happy to have each other in their lives. So to read this book and it have so may similarities to mine and my mothers life made it even more emotionally hard to read. 

This book is beautifully written, I defy anyone not to be touched by it and I think there is something written in here that people will be able to relate to in one way or another. 

I will also say this. Deborah has always seemed like a strong but passionate woman. That’s how she has always come across to me. After reading this, I now understand why. 

This is a short story and available through Amazon.