Behind the Literature II

I previously posted a piece here (http://firestarpress.blogspot.com/2016/01/behind-literature.html) about my discovery that Jack London and Hunter S. Thompson had both once lived in Sonoma County, not far from where I live now.  I was fascinated to imagine these historical literary figures living their lives in some of the same places I now live my own.  What would it be like to run into Jack London at the local saloon, or Hunter S. Thompson at the corner market (or more likely, the local saloon)?  

On that note, I recently found myself in Charleston, SC, for work.  I'm embarrassed to admit that on prior trips there, because of my busy schedule and the time change from California, I rarely got out to see the sights or experience the famous Charleston cuisine.  People would always tell me how lucky I was to have the opportunity to visit Charleston and ask me what I saw and where I ate while I was there.  I never had much to tell them because, due to the free happy hour and snacks offered by my hotel, it was easy to just return to my room in the evening and stay in for the night.  However, I promised myself that I would make myself get out and experience the local culture on this trip.  

Fried oysters at Pearlz Oyster Bar

U.S. Custom House

Purely by happenstance while at work one day, I overheard a colleague recommending to someone a local joint called Poe's Tavern.  I didn't pay much attention until I heard, "Joe's Tavern?"  Then, "No, Poe's.  It's named after Edgar Allan Poe."  That piqued my interest as I have always been a huge fan of Poe, who is credited with creating the mystery genre with his shorty story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue."  I put my exceptional Google skills to work and found that Poe's Tavern is located on Sullivan's Island, SC. 

Now, I will tell you that this was a big leap for me, going from staying in my hotel room every night to driving out to an actual island (albeit only about a fifteen or twenty minute drive), but I was up for the challenge.  And how could I go wrong with Siri and Apple Maps leading the way?  So I took a scenic drive across the Arthur Ravenal, Jr., Bridge to the island.

Siri did not disappoint, and I arrived at Poe's Tavern without incident.

But what does Sullivan's Island have to do with Edgar Allan Poe?  Well, aside from having a tavern named after him, Poe, after enlisting in the U.S. Army under an assumed name, Edgar A. Perry, was stationed at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island in 1827 for about a year.  Poe set his short story, "The Gold Bug," about deciphering a secret message leading to Captain Kidd's buried treasure, on Sullivan's Island.  This story is said to have had some influence on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, adding an additional layer of mystique to the place I was visiting.  

Inlaid tile on sidewalk at Poe's Tavern

I ended up sitting outside on the deck of the tavern since the weather was nice.  I was a little disappointed that the place seemed more like a beach dive than a tribute to Poe, not that I'm against a good beach dive.  However, when the menu came, I was delighted to see the burgers named after Poe's stories, like the Amontillado and the Tell-Tale Heart.  

I also wandered inside and saw that there were numerous works of art, such as paintings, prints, and sculptures, depicting Poe and his macabre works covering the walls and much of the other surfaces of the establishment.  Even more interesting was the bathroom, which was wallpapered with pages from vintage Poe books.  You could also hear the spooky narration of one of Poe's stories being broadcast while, er, making use of the facilities.  (See this short YouTube video I found:  https://youtu.be/q0zIig-Ed34.  I'm not making this up!)

After an enjoyable dinner and a unique experience, I easily navigated back to my hotel.  True to my promise, I got out and about a few more times while in Charleston, but stumbling upon a piece of literary history was my favorite part of the trip.  

Angela Crider Neary is an attorney by day and writer by night. She is an avid mystery reader and especially enjoys reading novels set in interesting locales. She was inspired to write her first mystery novella, Li'l Tom and the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau: The Case of the Parrots Desaparecidos, by one of her favorite areas in San Francisco, Telegraph Hill. To learn more, visit her on Facebook and Amazon.

To Use a Prologue or Not by Jeanne Harrell

A prologue can be compared somewhat to the opening remarks in a trial. A lawyer faces the jury to explain how he will conduct his part of the trial, what evidence and items of discovery will be admitted. The beginnings of ancient books were important because the author would give some indication of the book’s contents, and define the subject to be discussed.

In today’s novels, prologues are often not used well or at all. Apparently, editors hate them, writers are confused how to use them and readers simply skip ahead to start the novel. In a novel by J.A. Jance, ace crime fiction writer, I found myself impatient with the poor victim’s story in the prologue and hurried on to chapter one to see what the protagonist was up to. Later I felt guilty at my lack of concern and read the prologue because I should. That’s not a good reason to read a prologue.

J.K. Rowling didn’t bother with prologues. It was full-speed ahead into her latest Harry Potter story; she had much to say and wanted to get right with it. Sara Blaedel, Danish crime writer, will use a prologue to set up a story and make you come back later to check certain startling details and say, “Aha! That’s what she meant.”

It seems to be the rule of thumb with prologues to not use one if it’s for: a) a massive information dump or b) if it has nothing to do with the main story. As a mystery and romance writer, the latter in that rule resonates the most with me. The spy novel I’m currently working on has a prologue I questioned from day one. Why did I write it? The scene had actually happened to me, sparking the idea for the book. Does it have anything to do with the plot? No.

There’s my answer, so I cut it.

It’s interesting that writers are turning away from prologues more often than not these days, but movies and television shows use them religiously. Older shows like Columbo and Murder, She Wrote always began with a murder but no suspects. Newer shows like CSI and Law and Order do much of the same. Even a comedy like Trainwreck gives the viewer an idea in the beginning why Amy Schumer’s character is out of control.

So if you’re set on using a prologue, make sure it has relevance. If not, it’s an effort in futility and a possible reason for a reader to put down your book. And that will never do.

Check out my blog and latest titles on www.jeanneharrell.com and my Amazon author page for news: https://www.amazon.com/SJ-Slagle/e/B00U33WYZI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1490799592&sr=8-2

Happy reading from Jeanne Harrell!

The Final Chapter

A few months ago I wrote about how my mother's books were more to her than just ink and paper, they were her friends. (Read the post HERE.) That friendship continued through the remainder of her life.


In late January 2017, my mother suffered a mild stroke and was admitted to an in-home Hospice program. Prior to Hospice swapping out my mother's hospital bed, etc., my sister decided to move mother's belongings to a different bedroom so that it would be easier to get a stretcher into the room should it be required. Moving the furniture was easy, moving the books not so much. As my husband and brother-in-law shifted furniture, my sister and I sat on the floor surrounded by piles of books, organizing them by author before putting them back on the bookshelves. It was easy to determine mama'a favorite authors - the piles of their books were the largest. Among the stack of books by Catherine Anderson was a dog-earred copy of Lucky Penny - its pages were falling out and the cover was held on by multiple strips of tape. I suggested that we throw it away. My sister said "Oh no! That's one of mother's favorites - she asks for it frequently." I was kind of surprised because while mama is responsible for introducing me to the writings Catherine Anderson, Lucky Penny was not one of the books that she had ever discussed with me.

Even as mama entered the final days of her life, her books stayed by her side or in her lap - usually The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey, with a few others sprinkled in. One of the last things she asked me for before her power of speech failed was a list of all of my books - she wanted to be sure she had read them all.

The White Dragon was with my mama the last several months of her life.

When we got the call that mama's life was now limited to hours and made the mad dash to be by her side, the much loved copy of Lucky Penny was on the table next to her. As my sister had said she would, mama had asked for it.

When we laid mama to rest, her copies of The White Dragon and Lucky Penny were with her. What better tribute is there to the power of words and books?

Goodbye, mama. I love you. When I see you again, I'll tell you about all of the new books I have written.

****

When I sat down to write this post, my concept was clear - I knew where I wanted to go. However, execution was much more hit and miss. Words failed me and tears flowed. My mother passed away one year and eight days after my father and right now, I miss her. I miss both of them. This post is a form of catharsis for me. I promise, some day soon I will get back to my humorous, lighter writing style.

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The journey continues, by Michael E. Gonzales.

In Book one, Dark Moon Rising, of the The Unborn Galaxy series, you were introduced to JILL, the Joint International Lunar laboratory, on the Moon’s near side, setting inside Mare Insularum, the Sea of Islands. Here you witnessed the horrific and unprecedented lunar quake that sent one of the habitats, and eight humans, plummeting into a sub-lunar world fraught with danger, and complicated by the gambit of human emotions, frailties, and lusts, all seeming to conspire to end their lives. And then they encountered the lost alien colony.

  

In my second book, The battle of Broken Moon, you watched as the survivors of the quake fought to stay alive and evacuate the base. You saw their efforts thwarted by traitors, and an invading force from space.

In the coming third book, look for some subtle clues that will point toward the series finale.

The third story in the series starts on JILL, with a mystery that dates back to the Apollo 15 Moon mission of 1971, and the mysterious photographs of what appeared to be a large cylindrical shaped spacecraft, lodged in a crater on the far side of the moon.

Then came the top-secret Apollo 20 mission which took place in August of 1976. The Apollo 20 mission objective, according to Mission Commander William Rutledge, was to land in proximity to the cigar shaped alien craft, spotted by Apollo 15, and then conduct a detailed survey and exploration.

A Saturn V rocket was the launch vehicle, and the Apollo space craft made the trip, and landed on the far side of the moon where two of the three astronauts, one American, and one Soviet, explored the massive alien craft before returning to Earth.

Their findings were so startling, so unnerving, so explosive, that the entire mission was buried, and both the Americans and the Soviets agreed to deny the mission ever existed.

But the films and photos remain on file, and on line, for any to see…to this day.

The story, the cover up, the controversy, the conspiracy had long been forgotten when a series of extraordinary events on the lunar surface caused a reexamination of the record.

Captain Cristóbal "Chris" Salazar, a career Air force officer, who had trained for years for the Mars mission suffers a devastating blow when he was passed over and thus prevented from joining the Mars crew. He is cast into a deep depression, but when offered a posting on the Moon…he grudgingly accepts.

Arriving on JILL almost a year after the great quake, Chris is made the pilot of a Lunar Eagle, a small low orbital vehicle designed for transport, and survey work.

When the “anomaly” begins, he is selected, because of his skill as a pilot, to fly an Eagle to the event site, and launch a probe.

The probe sends back telemetry and images that shock the scientific community.

As a result, the military want to destroy the anomaly. But instead another, more sophisticated, probe is ordered delivered into the mysterious event.

When asked, Chris volunteers for the dangerous return trip. This time the unimaginable happens. He is drawn into the event horizon and vanishes from sight, off sensors, and into an adventure both horrifying and wondrous. He will face great malevolence, monstrous creatures, zombie like humanoids, evil magic, and worse yet, his own demons.

Chris will also find a treasure worth more to him than even his life. To possess this paragon, he will forever sacrifice his chance to return home, Across a Sea of Stars.

(Take a look at the pictures and film footage of the alien craft by looking on YouTube for “Apollo 20 William Rutledge”)

Visit my page, Michael Gonzales, fictionist: 
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MAZATLAN MEMORIES: THREE FERAL CATS, by Mollie Hunt

I’d been in Mazatlán for over a week and was pining for cats. I checked all the usual places, where I had seen cats in the past: Gus Gus restaurant café, and the parking lot of the Inn, where once a stray kitten was found. The bookstore had moved and presumably so had the bookstore cat. Mazatlán is not a safe place for cats. 

Then, in the lush green lawn of our new resort, I saw one. I couldn’t believe my eyes; a good-sized tabby with dark markings and snow white paws. I neared slowly; the cat waited. I got close, moved slower, held a hand out saying “Gato gato” and “Kitty kitty” which most cats seem to inherently understand. The cat, sleek and well fed, held on just long enough to let me think I could approach, then he fled like a tiny cheetah across the grass.        

I followed, slowly, to where he paused near the edging of palms. Close by lounged a young red cat, and beside him, another tabby. I stood and stared. How beautiful they were in the sun: how luxurious! 

I took a tiny step and the three were gone, vanished like a mirage, in amongst the palm shadows. I walked back to my room, happy with my feline vision.

Check out more blogs by Mollie Hunt at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more 

Happy reading!

Goodreads Goodness #3: PROMOTING YOUR BLOG

In part 3 of my Goodreads Goodness series I take the opportunity to point out how Goodreads can help an author promote her or his blog. No matter how many followers by email or RSS reader you as a blogger may have, it is always nice to have as many avenues for getting your personal blog (and also your name and book titles) before the eyes of your readers.

One way is to set up your Goodreads author account so that it features your blog:

 

When you do, anyone who visits your author page--and every author should make an effort to steer readers to their author page--has the opportunity to read your most current post to your blog.

But wait! There's more.

Convince your readers and visitors to follow your author page, and they may receive a weekly email with links to all the blogs on all the Goodreads author pages they follow:

If your reader clicks on that link automatically generated by Goodreads, it takes them directly to your blog post right on your Goodreads author page:

 

And I don't mean just a snippet, either. The whole post is there:

 Is there any guarantee they will click on that link to read your blog post? Of course not. However, even if they don't, it is another opportunity to get your name in front of their eyes and remind them that they really enjoy reading your books. It may prompt them to look for your most recent release:

If you are an author and don't have your Goodreads author page set up to connect with your blog, consider doing so today. Then, be sure to invite your friends, readers, fans or anyone who is just plain curious about the books you write to follow you on Goodreads.